Heatwave In Paradise

           I joined a group of friends at Anglers Paradise fishing the Eldorado day Ticket Catfish Lake. We had booked the lake for the weekend ensuring we would have exclusive use throughout our stay.

            The weather forecast predicted high temperatures, unbroken sunshine and light winds, perfect for catfish based on Bruce Elston the groups organisers previous experience.

            Due to other commitments I could only attend for the first full day of the session which reduced the need for bivvies and associated camping gear.

            We met up on the Saturday morning off-loading a mountain of gear and assembling on the lakeside for a discussion on where to set up. This was based around likely location of fish and the focus on enabling a vital social aspect of the fishing.

            By the time we had debated where to fish, tackled up and baited swims it was late morning and the sun was beating down from a cloudless sky upon calm waters. Lush summer growth surrounded the lake with many summer flowers in full bloom.

            Five anglers two rods each. The wait began with a steady intake of cool water and snacks. Anticipation was high as we soaked up the sun with the England versus India Cricket match results punctuating the day.

            The sight of a grass snake crossing the lake was appreciated by all present an indication of the rich diversity of nature provided by the vast complex of lakes nestled deep in the heart of Devon.

            Whilst we all shared a deep passion for angling I think we all appreciate the vital role being with nature plays in supporting our mental health during these strange and challenging times.

            It was late afternoon when Bruce’s bite indicator sounded the alarm as something moved off with his bait in the far margin. The rod hooped over as Bruce began persuading what was undoubtedly a good sized catfish to the waiting net. Large swirls in the lake raised expectations as Bruce put his tackle to the test. Eventually a large eel like shape emerged from the murky water  and was coaxed over the waiting net to a round of congratulations.

 

            The fish was kept in the net for a few moments whilst the unhooking mat and weigh sling were drenched with cool lake water. The scales were checked and zeroed and cameras switched on in readiness with some thought given to where the sun was and its likely impact with shadows etc.

            This first cat of the weekend scaled 30lb 12oz and was one of five catfish to be landed by Bruce over the weekend.

            Anticipation grew with the capture of this specimen catfish and it was a happy bunch of anglers who wound in their rods to savour a delicious pizza delivered by Bruce’s wife from the local Inn at Halwill Junction. https://www.thejunctioninnhalwill.co.uk/pizzamenu/

         

  As the sun slowly sank below the horizon it was time for me to leave and head for home. The rest of the party remained and I was sure more catfish would grace their nets over the remainder of the weekend.

            The following morning, I was delighted to check my phone and find an array of images showing catfish caught by Bruce and John Hughes. The total catch for the weekend was eight catfish. Bruce landing cats of 38lb 10oz, 37lb 10oz, 30lb 12oz, 22lb 5oz and 21lb 12oz. John Hughes banking three cats the best scaling 20lb 8oz and 15lb 4oz.

 

John Huges with 20lb 8oz catfish

 

Bruce with a 30lb plus catfish

Bruce with a fine catfish of 38lb 10oz  

Despite Mitch, Ben and myself blanking it had been a pleasure to relax in Paradise with good company beneath a cloudless summer sky. Plans are already being made for a return next year or maybe sooner.

Anglers Paradise

BIg Cat from Paradise

FISH OF THE WEEK WINNER 1st JULY 2022 IS…
Paul Brennan who caught a PB 46lb 5oz Wels Catfish from Nirvana’s Specimen Cat Lake.
Paul shared –
“We came here last year where I caught my first ever 16lb catfish and knew we wanted to come back again with the intention of getting a new personal best. On the second night of fishing we went into the speci cat lake where I ended up catching 17lb trust me to catch 1lb more than last years…I wanted bigger as that was just a tease so for the third night stayed there again and at around 7 o’clock in the morning i had a nice wake up call of getting into the freezing cold water to bring in my catfish, after 20-30 mins it was worth it as it was finally in my net and Weighed 46.5lb. Thanks anglers paradise be back soon to get another big one.”
Anglers Paradise

Kracking Carp from Paradise

posted in: Carp Fishing, Sidebar | 0
George West caught a 33lb Mirror from Nirvana’s Kracking Carp Lake.
George shared –
“So far the campaign is going ok, I’ve done about 8 trips and been lucky enough to net 4 carp, all be it 2 and 3 were the same fish a week apart! The pic attached is from last weekend, I managed to hook this one after an early morning swim move onto showing fish.
I fished a washing line set up to the far margin, placing the rig on a small flat area on the marginal shelf using the baiting pole. End tackle was a heavy drop off inline to a simple bottom bait hooklink with a 12mm krill active as a hookbait.
The fight was quite tense as by the time I lifted into the fish it had gone through a load of pads, however a slight change of line angle and steady pressure on the 20lb fluorocarbon got it moving again.
Bait was crushed krill active, 2mm krill pellet, sweet corn and pure calanus liquid.”
Well done to Karl Cartwright for catching a 42lb 8oz Mirror from Nirvana’s Day Ticket Kracking Carp Lake.

Anglers Paradise – Get Fishing Family Fun Day

            The Angling Trust are always at the forefront of events to promote angling ensuring its future for generations to come. Anglers Paradise was founded by Zyg Gregorek over forty years ago and has undoubtedly sowed the seeds for many anglers who have visited the venue with their families.  On Easter Sunday 2022 I attended a family fun fishing day at the day ticket Eldorado complex that was supported by Anglers Paradise, The Angling Trust, Shakespeare, Angling Direct, The Environment Agency, Dynamite Baits and Nash Tackle.

Dean Asplin from the Angling Trust with Zenia Drury Gregorek

            Zenia Drury Gregorek was undoubtedly the driving force behind the event that attracted over seventy eager participants. Coaches from the Angling Trust were joined by keen local anglers to introduce families to the joys of angling. All tackle and bait was provided at this free event with a wealth of expert advice on tap for both total beginners and the more experienced angler. All juniors who took part earned a Get Fishing Certificate Award and badge from the Angling Trust presented by Dean Asplin who is Angling Development Manager for the South of England and South West Angling Development Officer.

            I arrived at the venue shortly before the start and enjoyed chatting with  the coaches who had travelled from far and wide to assist and support on the day. Amongst the coaches were Roly, Tony King, John Thompson, Andy Payne, Joe Drury, Hassan Khan, Steve Manley, Dan Murrell, Joe Dietrich, Callum Regan and Mark Thorneycroft.

Roly
John Thompson
Mark Thorneycroft – Angling Trust Volunteer
Tony King
Joe Dietrich
Hassan Khan & Steve Manley

Andy Payne

It was to prove a busy day for the coaches with families descending on the venue from far and wide. The event was blessed with warm sunshine during the morning session with the sounds of children’s laughter and adults banter filling the spring air. A few swallows swooped over the water as the coaches explained the finer details of fishing. The majority of families gathered around a lake stocked with  a wide variety of smaller fish with whips used in conjunction with float tactics. The young anglers were fascinated by the brightly coloured wriggly maggots and soon focussed upon the brightly coloured floats that bobbed optimistically upon the water to disappear delightfully from time to time as a bejewelled fish from another dimension was lifted from the cloudy waters.

Tony King and Andy Payne with the Ezsias Family proudly displaying their certificates. ( many thanks to Tony King for the above image)

            Many caught their first fish and it was  great to see the joy and fascination upon so  many faces. The coaches gave guidance on how to unhook the fish carefully and return them to the water with minimal harm.

            On the lower Lake Hassan Khan of Nash Tackle was joined by Steve Manley and Dan Murrell of Catch to explain the complexities and technicalities of carp fishing. During the morning session the carp showed on the surface in abundance allowing Hassan and his friends to demonstrate the frustration of carp fishing as the carp ignored the carefully presented hook baits. They made up for this in the afternoon session helping a young angler to bank two fine double figure carp.

Leon Mortimer with a fine double figure carp
Leon Mortimer with his dad Floyd Mortimer with the biggest fish of the day.

The event proved a huge success with many families being introduced to angling for the first time. For some this could prove the gateway to a lifetime spent in the great outdoors gaining an in depth appreciation of nature. Angling is recognised as providing a great deal of well-being with significant benefits for mental health.

Joe Drury of Fat Mammoth with a family of happy anglers with a fine koi carp

            During the day I attempted to capture a few images of the fishing that will hopefully do more justice than words alone.

 

Hugo Clayton with a golden tench

 

Tony King and Oscar Ody

Dillion Bandy with fine perch ( Image – Kevon Jefferies)
Dillion Bandy with a golden tench ( Image – Devon Jefferies)

Zenia Drury Gregorek would like to say a special thank you to Get Fishing and the Angling Trust for helping and supporting this Event, also to Zyg and Rose Gregorek for letting us hold the wonderful event at Anglers Paradise’s Day Ticket venue Eldorado Big thank you to Shakespeare Fishing for sponsoring the Event with prizes for the kids. Dynamite Baits for providing all the bait, and to the Angling Times & Improve Your Coarse Fishing for providing copies of their awesome magazines to all that attend!! Not forgetting the volunteers to help on the day – Dean Asplin from the Angling Trust, the Angling Trust Coaches, Hassan Khan, Joe Drury, Tony King, Andy Payne, Steve Manley, Joe Dietrich & any that I have forgotten – THANK YOU!! It really was a wonderful event to see so many smiling, happy families & share the MAGIC OF…FISHING!
Anglers Paradisehttp://www.anglers-paradise.co.uk

Kracking Thirty

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Callum Regan banked  a 34lb 10oz Mirror from Nirvana’s day ticket Kracking Carp Lake.
Callum shared –
“After seing a fish show on the wind I quickly set a trap consisting of a multi hinge rig paired with a munch baits citrus pop up. Introduced a scattering of approximately 50 munch baits bio bottom baits generously dusted in bio liquid food and bloodworm complex with a dusting of bio stick mix”.

A Kracking Forty

posted in: Carp Fishing, Sidebar | 0
Congratulations to George West from Plymouth who caught a new UK  personal best 41lb 5oz Mirror Carp from Nirvana’s Kracking Carp Lake.
George used crushed boilies, sweetcorn and 2mm Manilla pellets to entice the Specimen from Swim 4 with the help from his baiting pole.
Anglers Paradise