2015 23 August 23rd Chittenden, Edenbridge

Confidence was high as I leaped out of bed ready for my next assault on the club's carp lake at Chittenden.

I was up and out of the house by 5:45 ready for the run down to Edenbridge. It takes about 35 minutes with a following wind and so it was around 6:20 when I pulled in to the car park.

Full of enthusiasm, I unloaded the car and quickly made my way down to the far end of the lake where hopefully, my favorite swim would be free.

My luck on this occasion was indeed 'in' as when I passed the island I could see that all the swims were free. As soon as I arrived at the swim I fed both my intended swims with generous amounts of maize. It worked before so why not today?

Next, I set up both my rods, a waggler rod for the corner reeds swim and a feeder rod for the maize fed sleeper swim. By 7.05 I was ready to make my first casts.

For the waggler rod I started on corn and was rewarded with a bream, par for the course really. For the feeder rod the first hour brought a carp that I estimated was about 3 lb.

For the next hour I switched to meat on the waggler rod and managed to bag a carp which weighed around 4 lb.

I got nothing on the waggler when I switched back to corn for the next hour. I did however manage to snag a carp of 5 lb or so on the feeder rod.

Nothing on the waggler for the second consecutive hour, I was beginning to get worried. To help keep my spirits up the feeder rod chipped in with another bream.

The next three hours, which for arguments sake we will call lunchtime, was very quiet. The waggler produced a solitary bream. The feeder rod however, produced the best carp of the day so far, a specimen(!) of about 7 lb.

The afternoon session was all about carp, three of them to be exact. A 7 lb one on meat was the waggler rod's contribution and a duo weighting 8 lb and 3 lb was the feeder rod's.

Between 16:00 and 18:00 it all went quiet again. I was back to using corn on the waggler and yes it attracted just the bream. One to be exact.

After 18:00 and before I packed up at 19:00, I went back on the meat and was rewarded with 3 carp, 2 small ones and one about 3 lb. I finished the day off with a small bream.

So sixteen fish in the day, not my best but a satisfying one all the same.

2015 22 August 14th Nursery Fields, Edenbridge

Although I'd had a really good session the previous week at Chittenden I felt I hadn't really cracked it at Nursery Fields this season, so today I made the decision to try and put that right.

I arrived at the lake at about 6:20, by now you'll know that I always arrive at this time in the summer months - creature of habit or what!

I unloaded the car and set off for the far side of the lake where, in my opinion all the best swims are and (by and large) there are less people.

Same approach as normal again today, one waggler rod swim by the lily pads and a sleeper feeder rod into a swim baited heavily with maize.

I made my first casts at 7:20 and then sat back and waited for the action to begin. For the waggler rod I started with corn as the hook bait.

The first hour wasn't very productive just the one bream however there were signs of fish in the swim so I remained hopeful.

The next hour was pretty barren to. I'd switched to meat to see if that could generate any interest but alas, no, all the swim gave up was a small rudd!

I was back on the corn for the third hour, the result, a bream of around 2 lb and a small roach. I'd doubled my total!

Another switch to meat brought my first tench of the day as the time reached 11:20. I also got my first carp on the feeder rod, although it only weighed about 1.5 lb.

Nothing on the waggler during the next sixty minutes however the feeder rod chipped in with a bream that was about 3 lb and a tench.

Lunchtime brought one fish from each swim, a 2 lb carp from the feeder and a bream from the waggler. Quiet but steady if you get my meaning.

I was back on the corn for another hour. The result was a rudd and strangely a small perch! It upped the species count if nothing else.

The afternoon session, especially the early part was very quiet although towards 16:00 it did pick up. The waggler produced a bream of 2 lb and the feeder rod produced another tench and a brilliant carp of 9 lb 14 oz.Just a few ounces short of being a double! I was made up.

The next hour was my best of the day, a roach and a rudd on corn and a nice tench on meat was the waggler rod's contribution and a two tench, another carp was the feeder rod's. Six fish in a hour at Nursery Fields a miracle by this season's standards.

By the time I packed up at 18:40 I'd added a further three fish to my day's total. Two carp on the waggler using meat and a bream on the feeder rod.

So by my calculation that makes the day's total 24. I'd call that a success in anyones book.

2015 21 August 7th Chittenden, Edenbridge

A disappointing day at Nursery Fields the previous week prompted me to make the decision to give the club's carp lake at Chittenden a go this week.

As usual I was up at 5 am and out of of the house by about 5:45. The sun was shining and it felt even at this early hour that it was going to be a hot one.

I arrived at the fishery around 6:15. I unloaded the car and quickly made my way to my favorite swim at the bottom end of the lake.

Yet again, I was going to use my trusted two rod attack, a waggler by the reeds and a small bomb on the feeder rod a little to my left. I was determined to stick with the maize. I fed both swims heavily on arrival with handfuls of the stuff.

I was set up and ready to make my first casts at 7:22. The session had started, I wondered what it had in store for me today.

I started on corn for the first hour and was rewarded with a couple of the lake's bream. A good start to a good day?

After that first hour I switched hook baits to meat. It was really just to see if any non bream had been attracted to the handfuls of maize. One had, a carp of 6 lb 14 oz! The maize on the feeder rod also went into action, a carp of about 3 lb! My confidence was now quite high.

A switch back to corn slowed proceedings down somewhat for the next sixty minutes. My only capture was a small skimmer bream.

The feeder swim in the next hour seemed to have attracted some bream as three of them were caught on the maize. The waggler chipped in with a couple of fish on meat. A good carp of 8 lb 6 oz and another bream. A day I couldn't complain about so far.

As lunchtime approached I was back on the corn and so apparently were the bream. One on corn and one on it's big brother the maize.

The lunchtime session brought another four fish, two on the feeder rod (a 4 lb carp and another bream) and two on the meat loaded waggler (a 4 lb carp and a smaller one of about 2 lb).

By 14:20 the fish were still coming on both rods, a 4 lb carp on corn and a 2 lb one on the maize. I was enjoying this!

Then it happened, at 15:20 I was using corn on the waggler and when the float went under I thought it would be another bream however when it shot off I knew it wasn't. I played the fish as best I could and eventually it came in the net. When I saw it I suspected it could be a double. I was right 10 lb 6 oz!

Between when I released the carp and when I packed up at 18:00 the carp in the swim seemed to go mad. Five of them made the net, all of which took meat. Two of them were about 3 lb, two were about 4 lb and the last one of the day came in at 8 lb 4 oz.

What a great day I had, 24 fish in all, one of them a double. I shall be back.

2015 20 July 31st Nursery Fields, Edenbridge

After a very wet trip to Chittenden the previous week it was good to see that the sun was shining as I got up at 5 am to get ready to head off to the club's mixed fishery at Nursery Fields.

The car park was empty when I arrived which was an indication that the lake was still not fishing well. The majority of members clearly staying away.

I loaded up the trolley and headed off to the far side of the island where to be honest most of the swims are isolated from the ones on either side. I like it that way.

Two rods in action again today. The waggler fishing close to the lily pads and a feeder rod about 10 yards away by some reeds, As usual this was using maize as the hook bait.

I was set up and ready to make my first casts by 7:30 am. The sun was shining and I was feeling confident of  having some good sport today.

The Feeder swim:

I had to wait until 11:09 for my first bite. It came on meat and the culprit was a small roach. Oh dear.

Over two hours later I got my second bite, again it was on meat and again it was just a small roach.

Half an hour later I caught my first non roach of the day, it was on corn and it was a rudd!

Six minutes later and again on corn I was into another rudd. Boy, could this day get any better.

At 14:50 normal service for the day was resumed. Again another roach and again it was taken on meat.

Between 15:45 and 17:00 I went back on the corn. The action on the waggler was just as sparse, two small roach was my reward.

Also just before 17:00 the feeder tip went round for the first time and I found,  much to my surprise that I was into a carp! I did get it in. I estimated the weight at around 7 lb. I had to estimate the weight as the rain last week had killed my electronic scales.

As the session came to a close I decided to have a go with meat down the edge. To my surprise the float disappeared straight away and off went the fish. After a few minutes I landed a carp of 10.25 lb. My first ever double from NF.

So all the action in the last hour! Fishing, that's why we love it.

Nine fish caught in the day. I'll be back as things can only get better, can't they?

2015 19 July 24th Chittenden, Edenbridge

Well today didn't turn out like I planned but let's start at the beginning and work up to it.

After a disappointing visit to Nursery Fields the previous week I decided today to visit the club's carp lake at Chittenden.

I was up at 5 am to ensure that I got a nice early start which hopefully would enable me to get my favorite swim down at the far end of the lake

I arrived at the fishery just 6 am with the sun shining on the sheep in the nearby fields. "What a glorious summer's day" I thought to myself as I drove down the track to the car park. Only a car or two in the car park so my plan was coming together.

I unloaded the car and made my way down to the dam end of the lake where my favorite swim was awaiting me. The lake looked in fantastic condition, I was anticipating a great day.

As usual today was going to be a two rod attack, The first would be a waggler set up of 6 lb line to a size 16 16 hair rig hook on a 6 lb hook length. The second was a straight bomb using maize as the bait fished at an angle of 90 degrees to my left.

With the swims fed I was set up and ready to make my first casts at 7:05. The sun was still shining.

I got off to a flyer on the waggler rod. I started on corn and immediately the bream were on it. Five of them in the first hour,to be exact. It had now begun to spit with rain.

I switched to meat for the next hour and was rewarded with one of the lakes smallest catfish! The rain was getting harder and the skies were very dark.

It was quiet for the next sixty minutes, the only action was that I missed a good carp with a liking for corn. The rain was really coming down now. It was time to put the umbrella up.

Between 10:00 and 13:00 the rain really came down. The wind also got up to make matters worse. Most of the people around the lake had packed up and gone home. Only the idiots remained! Still one bream in three hours kept my spirits up!

Just after 1 pm the feeder rod's tip went round and I was into a fish. It didn't dash away with any power so I knew it wasn't a carp. I was right as when it broke the surface I saw it was a bream that weighed 3 lb exactly. Nice one!

On the waggler I was still using meat as my bait. I was rewarded with my first carp, which came in at 6 lb. I and everything else was totally soaked by now.

They were going mad now, a few minutes later I was into another carp with a liking for meat. The one was bigger coming in at 9 lb 7 oz, almost a double.

My 13th fish came in soon after, this was another carp with a weakness for meat however at 8 lb 10 oz it wasn't as big as the previous one.

The rain was really crashing down now and I was beginning to feel uncomfortable and cold. Did I pack up and go home? No, this moron stayed on. By 15:00 I'd added another four fish, three bream and another carp, this one came in 2 oz under 10 lb. Not my day was it?

I was back on the corn for the next 90 soaking wet minutes. I did get a couple of fish, both carp and both estimated as it was now too wet for the digital scales. The first was about 8 lb and the second a bit smaller at 5 lb.

Between 16:00 and 18:00 when I packed up I managed to get another five fish, four of them on meat. Three bream and a carp of 9 lb. The fifth was my second fish on the maize, a carp of 8 lb 6 oz.

I did have a bit of luck at the end of the day, the rain stopped when I was about to pack up!

So despite getting absolutely drenched I finished the day on 22 fish, one of them almost a double. Not too bad, Sting in the tail when I got home it was raining again so got drenched unloading the car!

2015 18 July 19th Nursery Fields, Edenbridge

After my somewhat unsuccessful trip to Boulthurst farm a couple of weeks back, I decided today to return to the club's mixed fishery at Nursery Fields.

For a change today's main bait tactic was the small (6 ml) halibut pellet banded on a size 18 hook. I would still use a feeder rod with maize as the bait as back up in case the pellets failed. 

I was up at 5 am and out of the house around 5:45. The drive was uneventful despite the rain! I wasn't looking forward to setting up in the wet.

I arrived at the venue at around 6:15. I loaded up my trolley and headed off round the back of the lake.

The rain was still coming down as I set up my Shimano float rod and my Maver feeder rod. It generally takes 45 minutes to an hour to set up which includes, mixing the ground bait, setting up the two rods, plumbing the depth, feeding the swims and organizing the peg so that everything is to hand.

With the pellet safely banded on the hair I made my first cast at 7:13. The first hour passed without any action. It wasn't until nearly 9 am that the float finally dipped and I was into a fish. The result a skimmer bream of about a pound.

The going was tough, I began to doubt whether or not my choice of tactics for the day was correct as first one hour passed and then another without a bite. It wasn't until 11:49 that the float went away again and I was into another skimmer bream.

After another two hours of inactivity I put a piece of corn on the hook and was rewarded with another skimmer. It was now just after two in the afternoon and I'd only caught three skimmer bream. Oh dear.

The pattern was now fully established as I had to wait until nearly 16:00 before I was into another fish. This one was taken on the pellet and was indeed another bream however the good thing was that it weighed 2 lb 13 oz very nice.

At 16:31 I caught my first tench on pellets. So that was something to be proud of!

For the last 90 minutes of the session I decided to fish down the margin using cubes of meat. This was fairly successful as I caught three fish of differing species: a bream, a tench and a barbel. None of them unfortunately were of any size.

That's was it for the day. eight fish caught, none on the feeder rod, half on the pellets. Was it my tactics or something else? I shall have to go back.

2015 17 June 29th, Boulthurst Farm, Oxted. Surrey

Today I decided to take myself back to one of my old favorite venues, the Holland A.S. controlled small pond at Boulthurst Farm in Oxted, Surrey.

Today's target was not the carp that everyone goes for but the crucians. Could I get one and if so could I get a good sized one?

When I arrived at the small car park (there are only 5 swims on this pond) I was glad to see no one else there. Choice of swim was therefore all mine. There is only one swim with lily pads to fish to and it was this one that I chose.

I was set up and ready to make my first cast at 7:05. For bait I started on single maggot. Immediately I could see fish activity in the swim. It was however only the usual small roach, I caught two of them in the first hour.

It seemed to me that if I stayed on maggot I would always be bothered by these small roach so for the next hour I switched to corn. The result was another roach albeit slightly bigger than the previous two and the first small skimmer bream of the session.

I used the same tactics for the next hour however my reward was less, just the skimmer bream. Perhaps it was the heat. Today felt like it was going to be a really hot one.

Due to the slow going I set up a feeder rod, baited a swim with maize and cast that out. By noon I'd only added another four fish, three roach and a skimmer bream. I think the extreme heat was affecting the fishing.

For the next three hours I decided I would try small cubes of meat. I did get five fish, four roach and a carp but not the crucians I was looking for.

The next two hours was just the same, blazing heat and next to no fish. One small roach and that was it.

Just before I packed up, the feeder rod's tip went round and I was into a carp. They like maize here apparently.

Sorry about the photo, I had to use my phone as my camera has broke.

I decided at point to call it a day. Sixteen fish in the day wasn't what I was expecting. I think the sun and the heat had beaten me on this occasion.