Some stuning carp continue to be tempted at Stafford Moor where Kash Watkens banked a new personal best.
(Below )Kash Watkins who had a 36lb 14oz from swim 14 on lodge lake which is now Kash’s new pb
The Riverton syndicate new lake record scared lin for Rizzo at 53lb 4oz. An awesome fish; one of North Devons biggest!
(below)Neil Liddicott fished on Beatties lake and had 28 fish out up to 30lb 1oz which is now Neil’s new pb . All fish were caught on Sticky baits Krill boilies and Sticky baits krill pellets.
(Below) Dave Lovell- Abbaze stayed with his family in Silver birch lodge located on Beatties lake. Dave had 14 fish out up to 28lb 5oz all fish were caught on our house boilies and house pellets plus one fish caught on CR2 bottom bait.
(Below) Ross Mckee banked 2 fish from the beach swim on Beatties lake up to 26lb 2oz fishing with Mainline cell and Essencial cell boilies.
(Below)Declan Gent fished up on lodge lake and had 4 fish out up to 24lb all fish were caught on Sticky baits krill boilies and Krill pop ups.
Kenny Burgess tempted this stunning 27lb 14oz mirror carp at Lower Slade Reservior .
I have been privileged to have been invited to fish the new carp lake at Bulldog Fishery on three occasions in the past twelve months and it has been a pleasure to see it develop into a beautiful venue.
On my first visit in April 2021 the banks were still a little bare, with no completed swims and vegetation still not yet flourishing. Despite the cool early spring weather, I was pleased to spot a couple of dark shapes cruising in the clear water and relished the opportunity to try and tempt these fish that had not yet endured much angling pressure.
Swallows and Martins were swooping above the water in profusion and I was thrilled to once again see these harbingers of summer after a bleak winter of COVID lockdowns.
On this first trip I was delighted to catch a 27lb 8oz mirror carp and a very colourful 16lb koi.
I returned again in August to find most of the swims now completed and lakeside rushes starting to grow to give the lake a more natural feel. As always I was given a warm welcome by father and son team Nigel and Tom Early. On this occasion I was to fish a twenty four hour session.
The session got off to an encouraging start with a mirror carp of 8lb tearing off as I erected my bivvy. A couple of hours later a common of 12lb 3oz graced the net.
As the sun dipped below the horizon I relished the reflections in the lake and the peace and quiet of this lush wooded valley. I lost a good fish in the fading light when the hook pulled and hooked two more big fish as darkness fell.
The night was still and quiet with the occasional splosh as big fish rolled sending ripples out across the lake.
As daylight broke a couple of bleeps resulted in a bream of 6lb 6oz.
At half past seven as the early morning sun shone through illuminating the lake. Bullrushes reflected in the water, early morning mist slowly rising from the calm waters. The kettle started to whistle and then a screaming bite alarm. Minutes later I was cradling a pristine 16lb mirror carp in the morning light.
Skeins of geese flew above silhouetted against a brilliant blue sky. A heron glided up the valley its wings pulsing rhythmically like a prehistoric bird. I watched all of this and noted in my diary. “This sure beats working”.
Late May 2022, Nigel and Tom invited me to a carp fishing social weekend event and I was delighted to attend for a few hours on the Saturday afternoon into evening. On arrival at the lake, I was surprised to hear that just one carp had been tempted.
This was to change over the coming hours however as the lake came to life in dramatic fashion. I settled into the deep corner of the lake where Chris Connaughton had already got a few fish interested in floaters. I put a bait in the margin to my right and catapulted out a steady stream of floaters. Eventually the occasional fish could be seen slurping down baits and after an hour or so I put out a floater set up.
After a few close calls the water eventually erupted as a carp hooked itself against the heavy controller. After a spirited tussle a mirror carp of 18lb was safely netted. At the same time on the opposite bank, I noted another carp being netted by Thomas Rushby
Food was due just after 7.00pm so with other things to attend to that evening I packed away my gear and loaded it into the car. I returned to the lake to chat with fellow anglers.
The sound of a bite alarm rang out and Thomas Rushby lifted his rod to commence battle with what appeared to be a good sized fish. We gathered around to watch the tussle and offer encouragement. After a few tense moments the fish a handsome common carp was safely in the net and a weight of 27lb 2oz was recorded. After a few images were captured the carp was lowered back into the lake to swim back into the calm waters.
I took the opportunity to learn a bit more about the complexities of modern carp fishing. The intricacies of zyg-rigs and application of washing lines to tempt the wily carp.
During the next hour Chris Connaughton banked a brace of fine mirror carp. Nigel delivered a delicious tray of roast pork and potatoes. That were washed down with a few cool drinks as tales of fishing were swapped.
I left the lake as the sun set wandering what more secrets would be unlocked during the next twelve hours or so.
These are a few additional images kindly provided by Chris Connaughton.
Bulldog Carp Lakes are due to open sometime this year and will undoubtedly offer another excellent venue for North Devon’s carp angling fraternity.
(Below) Matt Rice banked 6 fish up to 25lb in 24 hours from the outlet swim on Lodge lake all fish were caught on Pallatrax jungle squabs and carp pellets.
(Below) Nigel Bassett with his 31lb catch from swim 2 up on lodge lake fishing with pva bags with pellets and wafters.
(Below) Neil Liddicott who had 10 fish out from the inlet swim on Beatties lake including a few stunning commons , all caught on Sticky baits krill boilies and pva bags of pellets.
So after nearly 14 months since it’s last capture, the bullet has finally made an appearance at 41.14 … the lucky angler was Josh Critchell who after doing a draw found his swim to be full of carp. We stood and watched probably twenty or more fish in a little bay and there amongst them was this particular fish, it took over 24hrs before the big mirror made a mistake with Josh’s baitworks Atlantic heat hookbait…the fish was also a new pb for Josh and his first English 40 and a Devon one at that!!
A warm breeze with high clouds drifting across the late Spring sky. Bird song filled the air and the countryside has reached that moment in time when everything is lush, fresh and vibrant.
It is always good to escape to the water’s edge and a few hours was all I could manage for this visit to Bideford Angling Clubs carp lake. Karen’s lake opened in June 2019 and has matured into a wonderful lake in the three years that have followed.
https://www.bidefordanddistrictanglingclub.com
In fact, looking back at the opening day pictures it was a similar day to that on this recent visit.
I had visited the lake a week previously and caught one carp on the surface and with limited time and warm conditions I hoped that surface tactics would again bring rewards.
I catapulted out a few floaters on arrival and set up two sets of gear. A modern floater set up with an artificial dog biscuit and a 7 weight fly rod, floating line and a deer hair dog biscuit imitation.
I sat back and poured a coffee watching the surface for signs of feeding carp. It wasn’t long before there were a few swirls.
With the fish within range of the fly rod it was this option I chose putting the fly out just past the weed where several carp could be seen slurping down the floating baits.
This was exciting visual fishing as the carp cruised in the clear water clearly visible with the help of a good pair of polaroid’s to reduce the surface glare. A couple of fish moved into the left of my swim and I put the fly in amongst the free offerings. A good sized carp swam slowly towards the baits slurping down several of the free offerings before treating my fly with disdain.
Another carp swam purposefully towards the fly. Its orange lips opened, the fly disappeared and I set the hook! The surface erupted as the carp surged away diving for sanctuary. With large weed beds all around I was determined to keep the fish on as short a line as possible and piled on as much pressure as I dared. The 7-wt rod was straining as the reel spun as I attempted to slow the carps first run. It’s surprising just how much pressure you can apply with a fly rod if you have the confidence.
A few tense minutes followed as the tussle ebbed and flowed. The carps bronzed flanks gleaming in the sunlight as I coaxed it towards the waiting net. I breathed a sigh of relief as the fish came over the net cord. I secured the net and ensured that the unhooking mat was wet along with the weigh sling. The scales recorded a weight of 21lb 6oz my biggest carp on the fly.
I was grateful to see two club members arrive at the entrance gate opposite and called them over to capture an image. It is always good to share the joy of success.
After a short break to savour and reflect upon success I continued to put out free offerings. By now the carp were a little more wary and I missed several chances as the fish managed to eject the fly before I could make contact.
I had a few tries with the floater rod further out but by now the Canada geese had got an appetite for floaters and each time I cast the heavy float headed straight for my set up.
The fly rod could be wielded without attracting the geese and I switched back to these tactics partly because of this and because the fly rod was far more exciting and rewarding.
My time was running out as early afternoon arrived and last cast time was approaching and had in fact gone when a couple of fish appeared slurping down a few floaters to my left.
The fly disappeared; the reel sang its song the rod took on an alarming curve and a few minutes later 12lb of mirror carp lay safely in the net.
A brace of carp on the fly is a great morning’s fishing and a reminder that fly fishing is not just a quirky tactic but on its day a very successful one.
