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TheCarpCatcher
A solid wall of resistance
This week I decided to continue where I left off from last week, fishing to the first island over a decent bed of bait. The weather was less favourable, plenty of sun was forecast and the south-westerly winds that had prevailed all summer had been replaced by a north-westerly. Now generally when this occurs I get on the sou... read more
This week I decided to continue where I left off from last week, fishing to the first island over a decent bed of bait. The weather was less favourable, plenty of sun was forecast and the south-wester... read more
This week I decided to continue where I left off from last week, fishing to the first island over a decent bed of bait. The weather was less... read more
Woolpack lake 8 special
Two sessions in late august 2018 on the woolpacks lake 8, the first a day session and the second an overnighter.
The fishing had been going well of late but it's always nice to have a change and lake 8 always presents a good challenge with the chance of a few nice fish if you get it right.
The swim I choose was one I knew... read more
Two sessions in late august 2018 on the woolpacks lake 8, the first a day session and the second an overnighter.
The fishing had been going well of late but it's always nice to have a change and lake... read more
Two sessions in late august 2018 on the woolpacks lake 8, the first a day session and the second an overnighter.
The fishing had been going... read more
I could see it was a beast
Since the beginning of August when I first secured a ticket for Cawcutts lake I've been doing short targeted sessions three or four times a week. Some sessions were spent in just one area and others spent moving around, as much as anything it's a fast way to get to know a lake. Luckily for me I have managed to pick up a few... read more
Since the beginning of August when I first secured a ticket for Cawcutts lake I've been doing short targeted sessions three or four times a week. Some sessions were spent in just one area and others s... read more
Since the beginning of August when I first secured a ticket for Cawcutts lake I've been doing short targeted sessions three or four times a ... read more
It all means so much
I've come a long way from that freshface lad who set out to fish the river with his first proper fishing rod in 1968. The memories of getting up before dawn and sneaking down to the river, cycling through the silent village streets. The absolute magic of it all and the complete sense of freedom it gave me still lives with m... read more
I've come a long way from that freshface lad who set out to fish the river with his first proper fishing rod in 1968. The memories of getting up before dawn and sneaking down to the river, cycling thr... read more
I've come a long way from that freshface lad who set out to fish the river with his first proper fishing rod in 1968. The memories of gettin... read more
Golden Commons
In 1952 Richard Walker caught a record Carp from Redmire pool using a split cane rod he built himself, the MKIV.
This was the very first purpose built carp rod.
That same year he commissioned B. James & Son to build the rods for him.
Over the years the rod went through a few small changes until they ceased building them ... read more
In 1952 Richard Walker caught a record Carp from Redmire pool using a split cane rod he built himself, the MKIV.
This was the very first purpose built carp rod.
That same year he commissioned B. Jam... read more
In 1952 Richard Walker caught a record Carp from Redmire pool using a split cane rod he built himself, the MKIV.
This was the very first pu... read more
Built like Mike Tyson
I did four sessions this week on Cawcutts lake. Monday's 10:00 am start saw me walking around with the minimum of kit and a single rod for a few hours, more in the way of getting to know the place again than anything else.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays sessions were spent getting to know one particular swim where I had ... read more
I did four sessions this week on Cawcutts lake. Monday's 10:00 am start saw me walking around with the minimum of kit and a single rod for a few hours, more in the way of getting to know the place aga... read more
I did four sessions this week on Cawcutts lake. Monday's 10:00 am start saw me walking around with the minimum of kit and a single rod for a... read more
Cawcutts Lake pictures
It was first stocked with carp back in the late 1980's by the club that held the lease. Many of the fish died off but the ones that remained grew to good proportions reaching high twenties within ten years. Then in 2016 it was taken over by Embryo angling and restocked, three years later in 2019 I secured a ticket.... read more
It was first stocked with carp back in the late 1980's by the club that held the lease. Many of the fish died off but the ones that remained grew to good proportions reaching high twenties within ten ... read more
It was first stocked with carp back in the late 1980's by the club that held the lease. Many of the fish died off but the ones that remained... read more
First fish
It was 15 years ago when I last fished this lake and back then I also caught a 20lb+ common so I guess it's apt that my first fish on my return should also be another 20lb+ common.
Right now I'm fishing short day/stalking sessions before or after work which is enabling me to get around the lake and in just a few sessions I... read more
It was 15 years ago when I last fished this lake and back then I also caught a 20lb+ common so I guess it's apt that my first fish on my return should also be another 20lb+ common.
Right now I'm fish... read more
It was 15 years ago when I last fished this lake and back then I also caught a 20lb+ common so I guess it's apt that my first fish on my ret... read more
Living the Dream part Nineteen
There's nothing like finding somewhere where you can fish in relative peace & quiet and just get on with doing your own thing. Where the carp are not so pressured that they stop behaving naturally. Where you can study them in their environment feeding on your bait and moving around the lake.
It's my last session on this lo... read more
There's nothing like finding somewhere where you can fish in relative peace & quiet and just get on with doing your own thing. Where the carp are not so pressured that they stop behaving naturally. Wh... read more
There's nothing like finding somewhere where you can fish in relative peace & quiet and just get on with doing your own thing. Where the car... read more
All my birthdays
My sessions on the Great Ouse river are mostly short 6-8 hour affairs where I usually concentrate on just one swim. All the work like finding the actual areas/spots and sussing them out has been done before hand so when I move into a swim all I have to do is fish. Same as when I fished the river Cam I spend more time lookin... read more
My sessions on the Great Ouse river are mostly short 6-8 hour affairs where I usually concentrate on just one swim. All the work like finding the actual areas/spots and sussing them out has been done ... read more
My sessions on the Great Ouse river are mostly short 6-8 hour affairs where I usually concentrate on just one swim. All the work like findin... read more
Worth every single journey
The previous four sessions on the ouse were spent in bright sunshine and high temperatures, not the best conditions for carp fishing as we all know. On a river finding the carp can be hard enough but with temperatures so high and floaters being a difficult tactic (they just float down river to be picked off by the gulls) op... read more
The previous four sessions on the ouse were spent in bright sunshine and high temperatures, not the best conditions for carp fishing as we all know. On a river finding the carp can be hard enough but ... read more
The previous four sessions on the ouse were spent in bright sunshine and high temperatures, not the best conditions for carp fishing as we a... read more
River Great Ouse Pictures
It's been an ambition of mine to fish the river Great ouse for carp for many years now but with one thing and another I never managed to get around to it. But then a casual conversation with a mate in a local tackle shop in the spring of 2019 sparked my interest again. There was no mention of fish or locations it was all ab... read more
It's been an ambition of mine to fish the river Great ouse for carp for many years now but with one thing and another I never managed to get around to it. But then a casual conversation with a mate in... read more
It's been an ambition of mine to fish the river Great ouse for carp for many years now but with one thing and another I never managed to get... read more
Living the Dream part Eighteen
It's monday and I'm back down the pool for another morning session.
This time I drive past the morning swim and head straight round to the back of the lake. With the sun getting up high in the sky I expect the carp to arrive around 10-11 AM so plenty of time to get myself sorted in time and put on the kettle.... read more
It's monday and I'm back down the pool for another morning session.
This time I drive past the morning swim and head straight round to the back of the lake. With the sun getting up high in the sky I ... read more
It's monday and I'm back down the pool for another morning session.
This time I drive past the morning swim and head straight round to the ... read more
A rare riverbeast
Of all the fish I have caught from a river this has to be up there with the best. I've managed a number of fully-scaled carp since I started in 1980 but never one from a river. I know that mirrors exist having had many from the river Cam. Over the decades of flooding plenty have escaped from the lakes along the Ouse valley ... read more
Of all the fish I have caught from a river this has to be up there with the best. I've managed a number of fully-scaled carp since I started in 1980 but never one from a river. I know that mirrors exi... read more
Of all the fish I have caught from a river this has to be up there with the best. I've managed a number of fully-scaled carp since I started... read more
That bit in between
I think it's got to be one of the most exciting things in fishing, hearing your alarm go off whilst fishing a river. Even more so perhaps when you get it in the net, but that bit in between, that's the bit that leaves you breathless. It all means so much, it's no wonder it gets the emotions going and the heart racing.
This... read more
I think it's got to be one of the most exciting things in fishing, hearing your alarm go off whilst fishing a river. Even more so perhaps when you get it in the net, but that bit in between, that's th... read more
I think it's got to be one of the most exciting things in fishing, hearing your alarm go off whilst fishing a river. Even more so perhaps wh... read more