Carp Fishing (FP11)

I've gotten into this carp fishing. What started as floating a bit of crust about as a fishing-fix has really become my fishing summer. Pond carp have never really been my thing - but as summers get hotter and drier perhaps it's becoming a better option than the rivers.

Now I don't think I'll be sat in a bivy behind 3 rods any time soon, but I think I'll have a more serious crack at it next summer (running out of time this season). I'd like to find a fairly local water where there is a chance of a thirty - and a quick search seems to show a few options.

Ideally somewhere within an hour's drive where I can fish for 3 or 4 hours an evening. Boilies on one rod, something more traditional on the other - crust or float-fished corn. Plenty of time for more research. And a few more trips to the Farm Pond before it's time for pike...

Last Second (FP10)

Packing up the kit - leaving the rods in until the last second. Totally worth it - both away at the same time. A fully scaled mirror & a common carp in the dark - and I thought I was looking at a blank!

No Water, No Problem

I have pretty much neglected The Wye this summer - it's the lowest I've ever seen it. But I knew one fish that is always on the munch - chub!


Stick 'n' pin, half a loaf of bread & a wander about - couple of fish from each swim then move. Probably two dozen chub fell for it!


Oh, and saw a couple of skinny dippers - who seemed unfazed by my sudden appearance opposite them - the things you see when fishing!!

Reluctant Perch (FP9)

I've seen some nice perch in the Farm Pond - so had to try and bank one. Even though there were pound-plus fish in front of me I could only tempt the wasps (4 of them) - little beauties - but their big brothers didn't want to play. Perhaps a lure would sort out the bigger perch...


Nice double common carp.


Roger helped himself to a small carp.

---

And he's only gone and landed double barbel number 30 of his 40 River Double Challenge - which I believe is only 2 away from the record! Sailing towards the target!! Blog post is here.

Shortening Days (FP8)

Pike time is coming, you can feel it in the air. Evenings are getting shorter and the leaves are starting to fall. But enough time for a few more trips to the Farm Pond. And three hours saw 5 carp landed (too dark to photograph the last one). Starting to get a handle on it..!

---

Oh, and while we were struggling on the beach the other day I got a call from James, who'd added yet another barbel to his 40 River Challenge - fantastic! Blog post is here.

Chesil Burn

The annual trip to Chesil Beach with Steve & Dyl. A nice sunny day on the beach with some old mates from school - which was just as well because the fish didn't want to play...


If wishes were fishes...


Blank for me but Dyl managed a gurnard...


Steve had a gurnard and a little thornback...


And we all got sunburnt! But we'll be back...

After Dark (FP7)

I gave up night fishing years ago - but when they're feeding in front of you - you've got to give it one more cast! The best from the Farm Pond (so far) - 16lb 1oz - is there a twenty in there?

Rain Dance

A wander along The Wye, and I rather optimistically took some perch gear with me - no chance. Good grief we need some rain! And very few fish spotted in the shallow, clear water - where have they gone?

I did eventually spot a shoal of roach about 15 minutes walk from my house - over 100 strong - and a lot of them over a pound. I'll try and track them until conditions improve. Until then, back to the ponds...

Carp Blog (FP6)

With no water in The Wye this blog really is turning into Carp Blog! But when those Farm Pond carp look like this I really don't care. Until pike time rolls around once again...

Small River Common

More mooching about on the Small River - I had to go back for a common carp that had outsmarted me a couple of days before. Not today mister carp! And seven barbel to celebrate..!