2017 14 July 2nd Chittenden, Edenbridge, Kent

Today was going to be another afternoon/evening session at the club's carp fishery at Chittenden near Edenbridge in Kent.

As usual for this type of session I arrived at the fishery just after 1 pm. There were cars in the car park but not as many as I was expecting considering the heat.

I made my way down to peg 1 which was the scene of my last really successful outing here. The sun, for once, was really blazing down.

I was only going to use one rod today as there really isn't enough room in the swim to use two especially as there was another angler in peg 2.

I had set up the feeder rod and was ready to make my first cast by 14:00. I was hair rigging meat as my choice of bait today.

Throughout the very hot afternoon I didn't get as much as a tickle. It was at 18:06 when the tip went round for the first time. The result was my first catfish of the season, the bad news was it only went about a 1lb!

Less than ten minutes later and I was in again, this time it was a small bream that took a liking to my bait.

Just before 6:30pm I landed my first carp, a nice specimen which I estimated to be 6lb or so.

I had to wait nearly 45 minutes for my next bite, however it was worth waiting for. It was a strong bite but I knew it wasn't a carp. When it broke the surface I saw it was a very good bream. A personal best equalling one at that as it tipped the scales at 3lb 8oz.

My last fish of the session came at 19:30 and was another carp. This one went 10lb 12oz. Another double for the season.

So a good end to a strange session. Only 5 fish caught and all in the last 90 minutes!

2017 13 June 9th, Long Lake, Warwick Wold Fishery nr Redhill Surrey

Today I thought I would try a different venue. I had seen Warwick Wold Fishery from the M25 several times and quite liked the look of it.

As the fishery didn't open until 7am it wasn't a problem for me to be there dead on opening time. The gate was open and two other anglers were there however the bailiff wasn't!

When the bailiff eventually turned up I paid my money and told him I was new to the venue. He explained the rules and pointed me in the direction of Long Lake.

As it was a new venue I decided to only use my match rod today. Also the lake was quite narrow so I could easily fish close to the reeds on the far bank.

I was set up and ready to make my first cast at 7:46. It wasn't good as I put the float straight into the reeds. The second attempt was much better though. I started with corn as the hook bait.

The fish were on the feed straight away, The first hour yielded 2 roach, a tench and 4 small carp. A good start. Alas I also lost a float in the reeds so when I set up again I took the opportunity to change the bait to pellets.

An hour later the combination of pellets and better casting brought 7 small carp to the virtual net. My total for the day was now 12.

A mix of pellets and corn for the next hour in attempt to lure a bigger fish. Alas, this didn't work. Nine more small carp made the net though bringing my total to 21.

For the next hour I tried strawberry pellet and was rewarded with a further 7 fish, two tench and 5 small carp. My total for the day was now 28 and it was still a few minutes before noon.

The next hour was the best so far, numerically speaking anyway, one tench and eleven small carp made the total now 40.

Just before one in the afternoon I switched back to halibut pellets and in the next hour I was rewarded with my first 2 chub of the day, another tench and nine small carp. My total was now 52.

Never change a winning hand they say but I did, halibut out crab in. The result was my slowest hour to date. One roach and one carp improved my total but only to 54.

Is this the smallest carp I've ever caught?

A change was needed so it was back to strawberry flavoured pellets for the next hour. It did get better but not by much as I only caught four carp. My total for the day was now 58.

Here's one.

In the next hour the swim came alive ago as fourteen fish made the virtual net, 2 rudd, 4 carp, 3 tench and 5 roach. Total for the day was now 72!

By the time I packed up at 18:00 my total for the day was 86, bolstered by a combination of tench, chub, rudd, roach and carp. These were all caught on the near bank close by my feet.

So that was it for my first visit to this venue, I will return.

2017 12 June 2nd, Nursery Fields, Edenbridge

Today it was back to the club's mixed fishery at Nursery Fields near Edenbridge in Kent.

Another early start saw me arrive at the fishery around 6:15. There was no one in the car park so I could afford to take a leisurely stroll around the lake whilst I made my swim selection.

After a bit of a think I chose peg 15 which is about midway on the back stretch of the lake.

As you can see from the photo above I intended to spend the day fishing down the margin.

As my primary target was the non carp species I decided to set up the float rod first and then if the fishing was slow I would use the feeder rod as well.

I started at 7:15 with corn as the hook bait and was rewarded with a roach and tench in the first hour. At least the fish were feeding today.

Two hours later, and back on the corn after a fruitless change to meat, I'd added another 4 fish to the virtual net, 1 roach, 2 crucians and a bream. The total for the day was now six.

I tried meat again for the next hour and was rewarded with a tench and another crucian.

I was back on the corn for the lunchtime session and managed to get another of the lake's crucian carp, not massive but nice looking.

At 13:15 the feeder rod, which I'd set up about 10 o'clock, sprang into life and produced a nice tench.
I had also decided at that point in the session to switch to pellets.

By 14:30 the pellets had attracted one roach and a tench. The feeder rod had also chipped in with a tench.

The next hour was very slow, only one roach made the net.

My last fish of the day turned up at 17:20 and was predictably a tench with a liking for meat.

So that was it for the day, 15 fish split between four species. Not really a sensational day.

2017 11 May 26th Chittenden, Edenbridge, Kent

Today was going to be another all day session at the club's carp lake at Chittenden.

Early start today as I wanted to be on the road before the traffic built up. Due to this reason I was at the fishery about 6:30.

I unloaded the car and made my way down the lake to my favourite swim. As seems to be the case this year my swim of choice was free.

I decided today to set up the feeder rod first. That way if there were any early morning feeders about I thought it was with this approach that I would be most successful.

I then set up my waggler rod and was ready to make my first cast on it by 7:28. For the initial period of the session I decided to use meat as the hook bait.

Within minutes the float shot away and I was into a good fish. Sadly, it wasn't to be because after a few minutes of fighting the carp came out on top and escaped. My theory of an early feeder was correct I just got the rod wrong!

It wasn't a complete disaster though, when the first hour came to a close I'd caught a couple of the lake's good bream.

For the next hour I switched hook bait from meat to corn and was rewarded with three fish, 2 more bream and a rudd. I don't catch these on this lake very often.

Back on the meat I managed to bag a bream of about 2 lb. So by 11 am I'd five fish, none of them carp.

Just after lunch at 13:17 the feeder rod decided to join in the party, The result was a nice carp which I estimated to be about 7 lb. The waggler chipped in with another bream.

At 15:00 I had to stop using the waggler rod as the sun reflecting off the water made bite detection very difficult so I reeled in the feeder rod, changed the bait to meat and flicked it out to where I'd been fishing the float.

The swim then went through another quiet period until 15:17 when it suddenly switched on. First up was a carp of 11 lb 11 oz, another double for the season.

The following one arrived at 15:50 and was another carp, this one was smaller coming in at around 4 lb.

I had to wait another hour before the next one arrived. It was worth the wait though, 10 lb 5 oz another double double!! What a season I was having.

At 16:47 I caught my last fish of the session, it wasn't a carp but another bream of about 2lb.

So that was it for the session, only 8 fish but two of them doubles, so can't really complain about that.

2017 10 May 19th, Hare Lake, Gabriels Farm, Edenbridge

Today I was going to pay a return visit to Gabriel's Farm, only this time I intended to fish Hare Lake.

I arrived at the fishery bang on opening time at 7 am. After paying my fee I made my way to the car park along the mile long dusty trail.

As I was only using one rod today it didn't take me too long to set up. In fact I was ready to make my first cast at 7:55.

The swim I chose today was one that had a set of lily pads about 3/4 of the way across the narrow lake which I could easily reach with a medium sized waggler.

I started with corn as the bait. The first hour things were very quiet. The lake is full of roach so I was a bit surprised that some hadn't immediately shown up. I did lose one carp in the lily pads though.

Here was my set up.

The next hour was a repeat of the first, corn on the hook, and no interest from anything other than another carp that I lost in the same bed of lily pads.

Things were really slow today. By 13:00 I'd managed to land a couple of roach on halibut pellet. I also lost another carp in the lily pads. I was getting a tad frustrated.

Here's one of them:

Here's another:

Things might have been slow but I did have company:

Another hour passed and I'd added another roach and my first carp of the day to the virtual net. I also lost another carp. What was going on?

Another hour slipped by and all I had to show for it was another lost carp. It was definitely one of those days.

The last three hours of the session saw things change every so slightly, I managed another roach and three small carp!!! That made my total for the day, eight.

A disappointing day but then again you have to have them to appreciate the good ones.

2017 09 May 14th Chittenden, Edenbridge, Kent

Today was going to be another Sunday afternoon/evening session at the club's carp lake at Chittenden.

There is a swim that I have never fished but always fancied and that is the first one on the top of the lake nearest to the car park. It has over-hanging trees, reed beds and looks very fishy.

It was just after noon when I arrived at the lake. I jumped out of the car (!) and headed through the trees to see if the swim was vacant. To my surprise it was and so were all the other swims on that bank. The only other anglers I could see were the ones on the disabled bank.

After I'd unloaded the gear and carried it to the swim, it was too close for the trolley, I saw that the water was covered in flotsam and jetsam and everything else that falls from the tree at this time of year.

There was no way I'd be able to float fish so it was to be the feeder rod and a cube of meat on a hair rig approach that I would have to adopt.

Having a simple setup meant that it didn't take me too long to be ready to make my first cast. It fact after leaving my house at noon I was fishing by 13:20. Nice!

I'd quite heavily fed the swim with meat, corn and some pellets as I wasn't expecting any serious action until the sun began to retreat.

While I was relaxing in my chair a small head popped out of the water in front of me and my first snake of the year then headed towards the reed bed. You can't help but have a shiver at that sight can you?

I got my first take at 15:37, it wasn't a monster but it was a carp. This was came in at around 2lb. I was away!

An hour later I'd landed another carp, This one was a bit better coming in at 7lb.

At 17:15 the tip went round again and I was into another carp. This one felt like it was a good one because the fight just went on and on. Eventually when it broke the surface I could see, by my standards, that it was a monster! I tried to remain calm as I finally guided it to the net. Once it was in I had to sit down to compose myself! Could this be a personal best? It certainly was a possibility.

Alas it was not to be as the fish came in at 17.5lb, close but no cigar. I was very pleased with it though.

What could possibly follow that? Well by the time I packed up which was 18:30 I'd caught a bream and another carp. This one coming in at 12lb 5oz! Two more doubles in one session. I was on a roll.

2017 08 May 12th, Nursery Fields, Edenbridge

Today, it was back to Nursery Fields for another all day session at the club's mixed fishery.

It was just before 7am when I pulled into the empty car park. Great I thought, this gives me an opportunity to take my time and maybe fish a swim I hadn't, as yet, fished previously.

I loaded up the trolley and starting from the bottom of the lake on the far side I examined all the swims until I came to the one almost opposite the two islands. This gave me a good swim to fish to on the far bank with a feeder rod and some lily pads to fish to with the waggler. Excellent, I thought.

I set up both rods and was ready to make my first casts at 8am. On the feeder rod I was using 10mm tutti fruitti boillies and on the waggler rod I stated with 6mm halibut pellets.

Sometimes when you start a session early and have fed the swim with a fair amount of food it shouldn't be a shock if a biggish fish is attracted into your swim. Basically what I'm saying is, don't be caught off guard when you encounter a decent bite early on. That's my advice, pity I didn't take it. I lost three good fish in the first hour.

It wasn't a complete disaster though as I managed to catch an Ide first cast and a carp of about 2lb a short time later.

I then decided to switch to another flavoured pellet - this time I chose crab. I only caught one with it in the next hour but it was a nice crucian.

For the next two hours I switched back to halibut pellets but only managed to get 1 solitary roach. It wasn't a total disaster though as the feeder rod came to life with a tench and a bream.

A mixture of flavoured pellets brought me another Ide and two tench in the next hour. The feeder rod chipped in with another bream and a reasonable carp.

Another hour passed and I'd added another 6 fish to the virtual net, a crucian, a roach and four scrappy tench.

Here's how my set up looked:

It was back to crab flavoured pellets for the next hour. As always seems to happen here the fishing died at lunchtime. Proof of this was the fact that I only caught a roach and a crucian. The feeder rod hadn't obviously heard of this rule as it produced another four tench.

As I reached mid afternoon (15:00) things had slowed right down, A 2lb carp came in on the feeder rod and a single Ide joined it in the virtual net having shown a liking for tangerine dream pellets.

It was at 16:00 that the action began in earnest, the waggler rod produced absolutely nothing however the feeder produced a tench and 2 carp, one of which went 12lb 8oz. Another double! I must be close to a personal best on the number of doubles for a season.

By 17:20 which the time I decided to call it a day, the tangerine dream pellets had accounted for a bream and a tench. The feeder rod had gone mad again. A carp of 13lb took the boillie which was significant in that it was the first time I'd ever had two doubles in one session.

Where the good carp came from:

I'd hardly settled down again when the buzzer went off and I was into another good fish. I could tell it wasn't a carp, barbel or tench by the way it fought or rather didn't. I was proved right when it broke the surface to reveal itself as a very good bream. This was confirmed by the scales, 3.5lb, which equalled my personal best.

So that was it for the day, 26 fish caught, two doubles and a near personal best bream. I went home a very happy man.

2017 07 May 7th Chittenden, Edenbridge, Kent

As we entered the month of May, traditionally the time of the club's spring shutdown, I decided to have another go at the carp lake at Chittenden. "It's closed" I hear you say - not this year it isn't. This year it is staying open to protect the fish from the predatory fish eating birds that can decimate a fishery.

This was also going to be my first afternoon/evening session of the year at this particular lake.

I arrived home from Junior Kickers at 11am. I sorted my tackle out, ate a very nice fry up and was on the road by noon.

I'd decided on the way there that I would forego my favourite swim and instead, try the one on the far side of the first island. I knew that I would be able to get a waggler quite close to the far bank.

When I arrived there weren't too many people there so I was confident of getting the swim I had planned on. Sure enough as I made my way down the path I could see that it was unoccupied.

It was going to be a two pronged attack today, a waggler fished close to the island and a small leger set up also fished tight to the island but a bit further away to the left.

I was set up and ready to make my first casts at 13:50. I started with crab flavoured pellets on the waggler and 6mm tutti fruitti boillies on the feeder rod.

The action was fast and furious from the start. Unfortunately it wasn't as successful as it sounded. Two of the first three bites I missed. I knew they were good ones as they both took line before spitting the hook. The third bite at 14:10 I managed to land, a nice carp of 9lb 3oz. I was chuffed.

It was a full hour before I caught my next fish, it was one of the lake's many bream.

Another hour passed and into the virtual net came another bream and a 10lb 10z carp. Another double I was on a roll!

For most of the session I had these little fellas for company:

I had to wait a further 2.5 hours for my next piece of action. When it came it was on the feeder rod. The result was a carp of 8lb 6oz. Life was good!

My last fish of the session turned up at 19:15 and was another bream.

I decided at that point to call it a day. Three carp, an 8, a 9 and a 10 plus three bream. I went home very satisfied with my efforts.

2017 06 April 28th, Silver Lake, Gabriels Farm, Edenbridge

Today was going to be my first visit of the year to Gabriel's Farm Fishery on the outskirts of Edenbridge in Kent.

I've been to this venue many times in the past so it was a bit of a surprise that when I rang the bell the barrier did not go up straightaway. I tried again but with no more success than the first time. Then, out of the rear view window, I spotted the ticket lady strolling towards me. It transpired that they no longer walk around collecting the money but now do it as anglers enter the complex.

After the barrier went up I drove the mile from the entrance to the car park, scaring a few rabbits and pheasants as I went.

After I'd loaded the trolley I made my way to peg 2 on Silver Lake which was my choice of swim for today.

As I was only using one rod it didn't take me long to set up. I decided to use my match rod with a waggler float on 5lb line with a size 16 hook.

By 8am I was ready to make my first cast. Today, I'd decided to start the session on sweetcorn as I wanted to avoid the many small roach that inhabit this lake.

The action was non-existent. I wasn't even getting line bites. What was wrong? I was loose feeding pellets, hemp and corn in moderate amounts every hour and a a couple of cornels of corn every cast. Could that have been it?

With a dry net at noon I decided to forego the corn and switch to 6mm halibut pellets. Thirty two minutes later I'd bagged a carp of about 2lb.

By 13:00 I'd added a roach to the total which now stood at a miserly two! Not good at all.

I did, however, have this fellow for company all day long. He spent the day nicking my bait!

The next hour was considerably more productive. I managed two bream and two more small carp on crab pellets. Total for the day was now six.

I switched pellet flavour again, this time to tangerine dream. Over the next ninety minutes this only attracted one very small carp.

For the next hour I went back to the crab flavoured pellets and was rewarded with another small carp of about 1.5 lb. The time was 16:22 and I wasn't happy with the day.

At 17:23 I decided to pack up and call it a day. The last hour or so had yielded three carp, one small one and two very small ones (ounces rather pounds).

Eleven fish wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I was the only one on the lake all day, do other people know something I don't?