KRACKING CATCHES – Anglers Paradise

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Nick Dudaniec joined us for his annual holiday, and booked the Kracking Carp Lake exclusively for his week’s stay. Being the hardest Lake on the whole complex, having this time on there would give him more chances of catching one of these elusive fish. He ended up with 5 Carp in total with the biggest being Parrot 🦜 at 48lb 5oz!
Nick shared –
“I arrived on Saturday and set up in peg 2. After a couple of laps of the lake I baited 7 or 8 different spots. The first run came on Sunday evening, but I lost the fish – a good common – at the net. I thought that was it for the week, but saw 4 more runs over the course of the week resulting in mirrors of 22lb 8oz, 32lb 12oz, 33lb 5oz and 35lb. At this point I was a very happy angler, and so was surprised when another run came on Friday morning whilst I was packing up. After a long battle I landed a large mirror known as the Parrot at 48lb 5oz.
I was over the moon to say the least. All fish came to 18mm boilies fished over pellet.
WELL DONE NICK & CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR CATCHES – IT’S A HARD LAKE TO ‘CRACK’!
Anglers Paradise

Stafford Moor – One of Devon’s most prolific carp waters

I have been visiting Stafford Moor for over forty years collecting a wealth of memories from its banks. During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s the fishery was one of the top Stillwater trout fisheries in the country. When I first fished there the lake was owned by Andrew Joynson and managed by Gordon Eveleigh. The lake was well stocked with rainbow trout and brown trout to over 10lb . I well remember tempting a rainbow of 12lb from the lake which is now Beatties. The fishery was extended in the eighties with the higher lake excavated to offer more scope for the trout anglers.

In 2001 the fishery started a new chapter when it was bought by Andy Seery who transformed the lakes into an outstanding coarse fishery offering superb match and coarse fishing.

Today Stafford Moor is owned by the Coombes Family who have invested much time and energy and money into the fishery ensuring it remains one of the country’s top match and specimen venues with luxury Canadian style lodges.

www.staffordmoor.co.uk

            I had been intending to pay a return visit to target the venues carp for some time and arranged a visit in early May. Joanne Coombes and her daughter Millie offered a warm and cheery greeting as I walked into the shop to purchase some bait and bits for my trip on Lodge Lake. The shop is extremely well stocked with bait and tackle for both match and specimen anglers. The shop also has fresh milk, bread and snacks.

            I was very impressed with the clean and well maintained onsite facilities that include toilets and showers for anglers to use.

            I parked up in the Lodge Lake car park and had a scout around to choose a swim to occupy for the next 24 hours. Fortunately, I had several to choose from and settled for the Big Island Swim. With a gentle breeze blowing into the corner and the odd fish showing I felt confident that this would produce.

            I loaded the barrow and wheeled my ridiculous mountain of gear to the swim. First job was to have a cast around with a lead and float to find the depth and potential features. The Island directly out in front was an obvious point of interest and I decided that I would put a bait on each end of the island fishing a third bait out into the clear water to my right.

            On the left of the island, I found around three foot of water close in with around five foot to the right side. I carefully measured the distance to my chosen spots and spodded out a mixture of pellets and broken boilies.

            I then cast out  my baits into each of the chosen spots and set about erecting the bivvy as ominous rainclouds started to build. With the bivvy set up and tackle sort of tidy I put out a few more boilies with a throwing stick. The middle rod was suddenly away the indicator screaming its warning! I lifted the rod to feel a momentary heavy weight. Sadly, the fish came off within seconds and I cursed my luck. Encouraged I hoped this wouldn’t be my only chance of the session.

            The swims are well laid out with a gravel base ensuring you do not end up fishing amidst a sea of mud. I put the kettle on and made a fresh brew of coffee sitting back on the bed chair to savour the tranquil surroundings.

            When I first fished this lake for trout close to forty years ago there was only sparse vegetation with the banks showing the scars of recent excavation. Today the lakes have matured with the lush greenery of late spring all around. My mind drifted back over the years at the fishery and how it has matured into a haven for wildlife and a fantastic venue for anglers and their families.

            Ominous rumbles of thunder came from nearby as the storm clouds gathered. Rain started to fall with intensity and I was glad of the bivvy’s sheltered interior. I love looking out across lakes as the lights and shades play upon the water. At times the rain pelted the surface with great intensity and I sort of dreaded a run for to leave the bivvy would result in a drenching.

            I hadn’t expected any extensive rain with the met office forecasting 10% chance of showers! I looked that the rain radar and noted that the rain should eventually move away by late afternoon.

            At around 6.00pm the rain did indeed stop and weak sunshine broke through the clouds. Surely the carp would come on the feed anytime soon. I cast out fresh baits and spodded a few more boilies

            As darkness eventually descended I expected a run at any moment. I soaked up the atmosphere relishing the onset of darkness as owls hooted in the nearby trees. The occasional star could be glimpsed in breaks in the cloud. I snuggled into the sleeping bag ever hopeful that a screaming alarm would wake me from my slumbers.

            A breeze picked up overnight and the occasional single bleep came from the bite alarms raising expectation as I woke sporadically during the dark hours.

            The soft cool light of dawn brought with it a sense of disappointment. The confidence that is so vital was ebbing slowly away. I expected to see signs of life as the temperature climbed but all was still except for the ducks and robins that frequently visited my swim.

            I reeled in the middle rod and checked the bait that was all good. I put on a fresh bait and topped up the bait in the swim with a few boilies and pellets. The other rods were left in place as I was confident that all would be present and correct with the baits.

            I brewed a fresh coffee and sat back to survey the lake and analyse why I had failed to connect with any of the lake’s residents. It would have been interesting to know how other anglers on the complex had caught during the 24 hours I was present. I had a degree of confidence in my bait and rigs. The swim I had chosen seemed to be likely to hold carp with good features and a gentle breeze blowing into the corner.

            Perhaps the heavy rain had resulted in a dramatic drop in water temperature suppressing the fish’s appetite? It was possible that the carp were preparing to spawn?

            I compared notes with a good friend who told me that his mate was fishing a prolific water and had not had a run for 36 hours. So maybe the conditions were just not conducive for good fishing? Or was I just a bad angler?

            I am not a regular carp fisher and fish very few longer overnight sessions. With many species of fish to target I am wary of the addictive nature of carp fishing. The desire to hear that bite alarm scream out and subsequent bending rod is a strong compulsion.

            Non anglers struggle to comprehend the whole notion of spending days trying to catch a fish that is returned to the water. I have given up trying to explain or justify the obsession. There is certainly something rather special about carp fishing that attracts a huge number of devotees.

            I am looking forward to my next visit to a carp lake when I will hopefully get it right and bank a fish or two.

Recent reports at Stafford Moor show some very impressive specimens with several carp of over 30lb banked.

(Below) Andy & Jack Burrett  fished on swims 1 and 2 on Beatties lake and banked 43 fish  including a new Common lake record ! ………….. a stunning 36lb 3oz common.

( Below) Ben Smith banked 7 fish out up to 31lb 12oz from the inlet swim on Beatties lake , Ben used pva bags with pellet and 12mm pink wafters.

            I called into the shop after packing away having to admit to Jo that I had blanked on what is one of Devon’s most prolific carp waters. I joked that I was able to blank and still leave with a smile. The fishery owner’s life is certainly not easy as Jo quipped that she could write a book on the strange comments made by visiting anglers. “ How many fish can I expect to catch in a 24 hour session?”. Or “I am off now; I have been fishing for nearly three hours and caught too many fish! Meeting the needs of anglers is certainly a challenge.

My own impression of Stafford Moor is that of a very well run fishery that offers the chance to catch some superb specimens. Next time I intend to put things right!

 

New carp fishing spot alert!

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New carp fishing spot alert! 🎣
This May and September, we will be introducing carp fishing at Roadford Lake. This is an ideal, naturally beautiful location, just off the A30, perfect for anglers living in both Devon and Cornwall.
This will be a trial venture in a designated area at the lake, including 12 swims.

Set in the rolling Devon hills on the edge of Dartmoor, just off the A30, Roadford is primarily a brown trout fishery. Carp fishing is now being introduced as a trial across two months of the year – May and September 2023.

There is a large stock of carp in Roadford, and this period of carp angling will be used to monitor the carp and move them to other lakes for restocking purposes.

Carp fishing is permitted in 12 swims: on the west side of the lake, left of the old road of ‘Big Oaks’ and the Grinnacombe bank.

Fly fishing is not permitted in this area in May and September.

Fishery Information:

Address: Roadford Lake, Near Okehampton, Devon. PL16 0JL

Fishery Size: 738 acres

Number of Swims: 10 available for 24 hours and two day swims

Species: Carp

Fishing Times: Two months of the year – May and September 2023, 7am-7pm for day swims

Permits: Available online or from South West Lakes on 01566 771930

Contact: 01566 771930

Car park what3words: slicer.cookie.supposing

Mainline Baits Carp Competition Results – Upper Tamar Lake

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 Nigel Woods and Richard Ford won the Mainline Baits Carp Open at Upper Tamar Lake from peg 21!
Their 3 biggest fish were 17lb 15oz, 18lb 8oz and 19lb 8oz adding up to 55lb 15oz .
Well done to them, they take the £2000 first prize!
2nd place goes to Chris Hudson and Matt Pepperell from peg 33. Their 3 biggest fish were 15lb 14oz, 17lb 12oz and 19lb 11oz adding up to 53lb 5oz, who take the £1000 home.
3rd place goes to Scott Bowden and Mark Brett from peg 34. Their 3 biggest fish were 13lb 4oz, 15lb 13oz and 16lb 13oz adding up to 44lb 14oz, who take £500 in prize money.
Biggest fish award goes to Jordan Dziadulewicz who had a 25lb 9oz common.
Thank you to John Kneebone and Mainline Baits for sponsoring the event.
Big thank you to the bailiffing team that Marshalled the event.

Upper Tamar Lakes Carp Fishing

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(Above ) A cracking 31lb 12oz common that Dean Compton caught from Upper Tamar.
Charley Fowler with good Upper Tamar Common
(Above) Jason McEvoy had plenty of fish to 25.8lb on a recent session at Upper Tamar
(Above) Simon Richards had this 21lb 8oz mirror on Baitworks Atlantic heat at Upper Tamar

 There are still places on the The Mainline Pairs competition at Upper Tamar on March 24th to 26th.

Upper Tamar Carp

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Aaron Bunning recently had this mirror from Upper Tamar on Nashbait Scopex Squid

It’s nearly time for the first Mainline Baits Carp Pairs competition on 24 – 26 March, limited tickets remaining! 🎣
✅ £3,500 in prize money
✅ All entrants will receive a goody bag
✅ All tackle and equipment are transported to and from your swim
✅ Full food menu for the weekend delivered to your swim
Kindly sponsored by Mainlinebaits

LAKE RECORD CARP 44lb 12oz

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Chris Connaughton who works at Quay Sports has banked a carp known as the bullet at a weight of 44lb 12oz from Hacche Moor Fishery near South Molton. The capture of such a fine carp highlights the journey carp fishing has been on over the past 70 years. In 1952 Richard Walker banked a carp weighing 44lb from the legendary Redmire Pool on the Welsh Borders. The carp made headlines and beat the previous record of 26lb caught by Albert Buckley in 1930. Walker’s record stood until 1980 when Chris Yates caught a carp of 51lb 8oz from the same pool. The record has been broken on numerous occasions since 1980 and I like I suspect many others  have lost track of the carp record. Today’s carp anglers are very fortunate to have carp dwelling across the country that exceed those old milestones in fishing history. In North Devon there are numerous waters that contain carp of over forty pounds. This is a reflection on fishery owners, fish breeders, anglers’ baits and the potentially changing climate.

In North Devon we have several waters that would rival Redmire’s stock of carp.

New Lake Record 
News from Hacche Moor Fishery
“Congratulations to Chris Connaughton on his capture of the “bullet” at a new personal best and lake record of 44.12… Chris has been quietly plugging away this winter and was probably starting to ask himself a few questions, truth be told, as he was yet to have a bite on his winter ticket after several nights angling. This soon changed thou as he opened his account with a lovely fully scaled mirror then the following day he had the bite he was after; the king of the pond at 44.12.. it’s first ever capture during the winter syndicate period too so well done mate.”
Chris is also the owner of Remix bait’s
Can’t believe I’m writing this second fish of my winter campaign on @hacchemoorfishery and I’ve got ‘The Bullet’ which is a new PB and a New lake record caught using ‘Cellnapple’ pop ups. Buzzing!!!

PARADISE CARP CATCH

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Sam Passmore with a beautiful, clean 28lb 3oz Mirror from Nirvana’s Day Ticket Kracking Carp Lake.
Sam caught the Mirror using a hinge stiff rig made up of DSD end tackle and finished with a mad baits boosted wicked white cast to a showing fish.The only show in the 3 days of fishing and the only bite he had, and he landed it!
Sam shared – “Another fish from the lake that’s been so good to me and hopefully I’ll be back to finish the business when the time comes!
Anglers Paradise