Catch Reports
| There are 11 catch reports online | Click here to send us your catch report. |
A change of hookbait saves a Blank.
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Lee Wheeler Email: Stevewheeler27@googlemail.com Venue: club water
Details: Waking up to a beautiful sunny morning made me want to get down the lake. Recently me and 4 other friends were using white hook baits, We managed to pull out 7 fish between us. I started off by using the Magnum White on the trusty pop up rig but couldn't get a bite all day. After a good think I was debating whether the fish had gone off the white baits due to the amount of fish being caught on them recently. I decided to be the only one with a different colour hook bait and used a Ghurkka fluoro pop up on the chod rig. After about 40 minutes the rod tore off and resulted in this lovely 11lb common in its winter colours! I was the only person to catch all day so the idea worked! ( :
Lee.
Magnum White tempts the carp even after the big freeze!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Lee Wheeler Email: Stevewheeler27@googlemail.com Venue: Club Water
Details: When I arrived at the lake I had a good look and decided to set up in a swim with a good amount of water that covers the main body of the lake. I was using a pop up rig with the hookbait sitting about an inch off the bottom, the rod was cast at about 80 yards on to a nice and soft silty patch. About 10 minutes later the rod was off! Which resulted in a stunning little 10lb 8oz common. once released, a new rig was on and the rod was back on the spot. Within about 5 minutes the rod was off again. This resulted in a absoloutely stunning little mirror.
This was my second time using Magnum White on the lake and it goes to show how good it is! 4 Days earlier the lake was completely solid with ice!
Lee.
Another First Time on the lake 'Magnum White' Capture
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Stuart Adair Email: Venue: Undisclosed U.K.
Details: Hi Shaun,
This is the 24lb leather I caught yesterday the very first time I used Magnum White on the water. I fished it at the side of a well proven bait from last year but the Magnum produced the take.
I honestly think Magnum White could turn out to be an all time classic winter and cold weather carp catcher.
Magnum White scores in a Minus 1 Wind Chill Factor!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Shaun Harrison Email: shaun@questbaits.com Venue: Local Gravel Pit
Details: I didn't manage to get away from the office until late Saturday morning so decided to do my first ever night on a local pit to save a load of driving.
Very strong winds were howling waves into the bank but for some reason it looked so right to me.
I battled in the wind to set the bivvy up and settled in for the night.
As the light dropped so did the temperature particularly out in the strong biting wind. My phone App said minus 1 degree wind chill.
Between 10pm and midnight I had a series of strange occurrences on the middle rod. Eventually I wound this in and found the long hair I was using to be wrapped up with the hook and the hook upside down which mean't I was unable to hook anything on it. With that sorted and being pretty certain I'd been having carp action on it I cast another mesh bag back out into the windswept pit.
I didn't have to wait long before that rod was away and another big winter carp was in the net.
Yet another water this winter to respond to the new Magnum White boilies.
Pineapple/Crab combo does it again at Croix Blanche!!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Gareth Watkins Email: gareth@croixblanchelakes.com Venue: Croix Blanche : Tortue Lake
Details: I managed to get out again this week for an overnighter and once again got amongst the fish. Since my last trip a week ago, in unusually mild conditions we’ve had something of a cold snap the last few days with several heavy frosts, and cat ice in the edge of the lakes. I’d guess the night time temperatures got down to -6°C.
So Wednesday morning, with the frost still on the ground and ice still in the edge, I set up on the Peg 14, where I’d managed the fish last week. I reasoned that if they were active they may still come on the plateau in the Tortue to feed.
Again tactics were the same, a PVA bag of pellets and chopped boilies & some 14mm Quest Pineapple, with a Pineapple/Crab snowman combination.
As we settled in, things didn’t look anything like as promising as the previous visit. There I’d seen activity right away, but here with a cold wind and spitting rain, nothing was visible.
With my mate Laurent we settled back in the shelter of my tarp to enjoy a couple of beers and some dinner. As the night and the cold came in we decided to call it a night and Lolo went off to his bivvy, while I climbed into my comfy hammock and was soon out like a light., wrapped in a toasty down sleeping bag.
I was awoken around 2:30 am by a couple of beeps in my central rod. Before I could get out of my bag and put my boots on the fish was motoring. Once I made contact it plodded a bit but came fairly easily to the net.
It turned out to be a nice clean looking mirror of 29lb. I was well chuffed, as I really thought with the frosts I’d missed out on the feeding fish. After recasting as I lay back in my bed listening to the rain patter on the tarp a large carp turned over in the margins with a big splash. Less than an hour after the first fish, I was off again. This one really did motor. It had taken probably 30 or more yards of line before I leaned into it and continued to pull hard once I had made contact. It gave a spirited fight before going into the net. A smaller fish this one at 25lb 8oz.
Anyway another bag was lobed back out into the blackness and I was off to the land of nod, waking at after 9am when Laurent popped his head into my swim and looked chuffed when I suggested coffee.
A couple of cups each later and we were talking of packing up… Two Dutch chaps came round for a chat, and my centre rod dropped back before tightening up again. I struck but with 3.5lb rods only felt a slight resistance. I suspected one of the large bream was the suspect…. But no it one mighty big Crucian carp of 7lb 8oz. The biggest one I have ever caught.
Minus 4 degrees and still 3 carp on the first trip of the year!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Spencer Powell Email: Venue: Local Syndicate Lake
Details: Hi Shaun, I went fishing first time this year on Saturday 14 th - 4 very cold had these three doubles out two fell to Ghurkka Spice and other to Chilli Chocolate fluro pop ups. I had two in the morning and one mid afternoon and both in areas of strong sun lite just moving rods out of the shade and into sunlight.
Hope to see you soon
Many thanks
Spence
January Barbel on the Rahja Spice.
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Pat Gillett Email: patgillett@ymail.com Venue: Lower Severn
Details: Hi Shaun,
Had a couple of afternoon / evening trips on the rivers last week (before the cold snap set in again). Was really a few days late to get the best of the conditions (all the extra water had run off), but still managed to winkle out some fish.
Tuesday evening produced a smallish barbel of 6 or 7lb on the Upper Trent.
Thursday evening produced 4 barbel with the best fish being 9lb 6oz and 10lb 3oz on the Lower Severn.
All the fish bar one falling to the Rahja Spice / Paste & mini mixed pellet combination.
The Rahja has now proved to be instant on the Lower Severn, Upper Trent & River Dove and in many different conditions.
Cheers,
Pat
Another 20 tamed by the chod rig!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Lee Wheeler Email: Stevewheeler27@googlemail.com Venue: Local Club Water
Details: Due to the heavy frosts we have had these past few days, I thought the carp wouldnt be feeding at all. I still wanted to go for a day on the local club lake. There were 5 other people there but no one had caught a thing.
At about 3:20pm my slack line pulled tight and was off. After a short fight the fish was in the net and it looked decent. Once weighed the fish came in as a beautiful 20lb 4oz common! Happy days (:
Ghurkka pop ups are the way foward in the winter!
unfortunately i've ran out ):
Winter Campaign starts
Date: Jan 2012 Name: David Gowing Email: djgcanary@btinternet.com Venue: Parc Farm 1 - Great Linford Lakes
Details: I am fishing Parc Farm 1 on the Great Linford complex to try and catch my first ever 30lb winter carp (December to February). It is a 2 to 3 acre shallow lake with a good stock of carp, mostly doubles, but including 10+ 20s and 3 to 5 low 30s. I am using Rahja Spice as my main bait as I have been successful using it elsewhere but will also use Fruity Trifle as an alternative. Both baits are known for all year round use. I aim to fish a one day session or an overnighter and day each week. Tactics are to fish with pva bags (mesh or solid) filled with pellets and chopped and crumbed boilies or stringers and bait up with at least 1kg of boilies when I leave. A friend is fishing an overnighter on the same lake each Friday and he also baits up when leaving.
My first three sessions were blanks (discounting a few bream which unfortunately have taken a liking to the bait).
On 22nd December I finally caught my first carp of this winter, a small but very welcome 10lb 11oz golden common. Two overnighters since Christmas have produced five runs but I only managed to land three of these. The best fish was a 19lb 5oz linear which was camera shy and escaped from my recovery sling before its picture was taken. I must remember to zip up both sides next time! The other fish weighed 11lb 14oz and 15lb 8oz. All were caught on a 15mm rahja spice boilie topped with a yellow or pink rahja spice pimple pop. The only downside is I have caught far too many bream. The fish like the bait and I hope to be able report more success soon.
Croix Blanche Lakes get off to a Flying Start in 2012 on Quest boilies
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Gareth Watkin Email: Venue: Croix Blanche
Details: With the unseasonally mild weather the carp have continued to be very active on the lakes. In fact we have not had any frosts so far this year, let alone negative temperatures.
When a couple of Dutch lads wanted to have a crack for a few days in early January it seemed a good idea. They landed a total of 8 carp, the best fish was a magnificent 45lb mirror.
Fuelled by their success I decided it was time I had a go myself. My last session back in November had resulted in a blank; but now there were clear signs of active fish.
I set up in peg 14 on the Tortue Lake and cast out three PVA bags with carp pellets and Quest baits Pineapple Crush 15mm boilies. I wanted a bait with instant appeal, light coloured that hopefully would stop a browsing fish. I also wanted them in a smaller size than I usually use. I happened to have a full bag of the Pineapple in the garage. These had previously been very instant for myself and my son.
Rigwise, I kept my usual fluorocarbon D rig hook links, but used a very slow sinking snowman combination. A Quest Crab popup fitted the bill nicely here.
I knew the swim would still have a fair amount of residual weed, but a quick cast around with a marker revealed that it was not too thick. I placed the whole rigs in the bags, which combined with the buoyant hook baits I reasoned, should see me fishing okay.
I had my first take just after dark, and was a nice clean 22lb mirror. The rod was cast back out, and after dinner I hopped into my hammock for some shut eye, just as the rain started to come down.
Around 3.30am the centre rod bleeped and ripped off. I connected with a good fish that straight away took line. After a few minutes I got it near the bank where it plodded around in the deep margins. I somehow had picked up my left hand rod by now and this made the fight more awkward. I was now pulling against the line and lead and the fish..not an ideal situation.
Anyway luck was on my side and a chunky common rolled into the net. I heaved the weigh sling up on the scales I’d hung from a tree and it bounced round to settle at 46lb.
A new PB common…I was over the moon.
I do wish though I’d caught it in other circumstances. Here I was alone, at night, in pouring rain with a big fish.
What to do?
I had to make a decision and I did not want to sack the fish. So I took a couple of shots on the mat and let her go. Such is life…To my mind the fishes’ welfare is paramount.
I had seen the fish on two occasions in 2011, when the fish was 42lb. I’m glad to see her gaining weight.
First Fish of the year. 21lb!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Lee Wheeler Email: Stevewheeler27@googlemail.com Venue: undisclosed
Details: The lake had been fishing hard all week, There was 5 other anglers on the lake, And they all blanked. Like I mentioned in my winter carp fishing blog, Chod rigs have been producing me a few fish his winter. I managed to fool this absoloutely stunning winter linear in its true winter colours.
Lee.
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Lee Wheeler Email: Stevewheeler27@googlemail.com Venue: club water
Details: Waking up to a beautiful sunny morning made me want to get down the lake. Recently me and 4 other friends were using white hook baits, We managed to pull out 7 fish between us. I started off by using the Magnum White on the trusty pop up rig but couldn't get a bite all day. After a good think I was debating whether the fish had gone off the white baits due to the amount of fish being caught on them recently. I decided to be the only one with a different colour hook bait and used a Ghurkka fluoro pop up on the chod rig. After about 40 minutes the rod tore off and resulted in this lovely 11lb common in its winter colours! I was the only person to catch all day so the idea worked! ( :
Lee.
|
||
Magnum White tempts the carp even after the big freeze!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Lee Wheeler Email: Stevewheeler27@googlemail.com Venue: Club Water
Details: When I arrived at the lake I had a good look and decided to set up in a swim with a good amount of water that covers the main body of the lake. I was using a pop up rig with the hookbait sitting about an inch off the bottom, the rod was cast at about 80 yards on to a nice and soft silty patch. About 10 minutes later the rod was off! Which resulted in a stunning little 10lb 8oz common. once released, a new rig was on and the rod was back on the spot. Within about 5 minutes the rod was off again. This resulted in a absoloutely stunning little mirror.
This was my second time using Magnum White on the lake and it goes to show how good it is! 4 Days earlier the lake was completely solid with ice!
Lee.
|
|
|
Another First Time on the lake 'Magnum White' Capture
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Stuart Adair Email: Venue: Undisclosed U.K.
Details: Hi Shaun,
This is the 24lb leather I caught yesterday the very first time I used Magnum White on the water. I fished it at the side of a well proven bait from last year but the Magnum produced the take.
I honestly think Magnum White could turn out to be an all time classic winter and cold weather carp catcher.
|
||
Magnum White scores in a Minus 1 Wind Chill Factor!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Shaun Harrison Email: shaun@questbaits.com Venue: Local Gravel Pit
Details: I didn't manage to get away from the office until late Saturday morning so decided to do my first ever night on a local pit to save a load of driving.
Very strong winds were howling waves into the bank but for some reason it looked so right to me.
I battled in the wind to set the bivvy up and settled in for the night.
As the light dropped so did the temperature particularly out in the strong biting wind. My phone App said minus 1 degree wind chill.
Between 10pm and midnight I had a series of strange occurrences on the middle rod. Eventually I wound this in and found the long hair I was using to be wrapped up with the hook and the hook upside down which mean't I was unable to hook anything on it. With that sorted and being pretty certain I'd been having carp action on it I cast another mesh bag back out into the windswept pit.
I didn't have to wait long before that rod was away and another big winter carp was in the net.
Yet another water this winter to respond to the new Magnum White boilies.
|
|
|
Pineapple/Crab combo does it again at Croix Blanche!!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Gareth Watkins Email: gareth@croixblanchelakes.com Venue: Croix Blanche : Tortue Lake
Details: I managed to get out again this week for an overnighter and once again got amongst the fish. Since my last trip a week ago, in unusually mild conditions we’ve had something of a cold snap the last few days with several heavy frosts, and cat ice in the edge of the lakes. I’d guess the night time temperatures got down to -6°C.
So Wednesday morning, with the frost still on the ground and ice still in the edge, I set up on the Peg 14, where I’d managed the fish last week. I reasoned that if they were active they may still come on the plateau in the Tortue to feed.
Again tactics were the same, a PVA bag of pellets and chopped boilies & some 14mm Quest Pineapple, with a Pineapple/Crab snowman combination.
As we settled in, things didn’t look anything like as promising as the previous visit. There I’d seen activity right away, but here with a cold wind and spitting rain, nothing was visible.
With my mate Laurent we settled back in the shelter of my tarp to enjoy a couple of beers and some dinner. As the night and the cold came in we decided to call it a night and Lolo went off to his bivvy, while I climbed into my comfy hammock and was soon out like a light., wrapped in a toasty down sleeping bag.
I was awoken around 2:30 am by a couple of beeps in my central rod. Before I could get out of my bag and put my boots on the fish was motoring. Once I made contact it plodded a bit but came fairly easily to the net.
It turned out to be a nice clean looking mirror of 29lb. I was well chuffed, as I really thought with the frosts I’d missed out on the feeding fish. After recasting as I lay back in my bed listening to the rain patter on the tarp a large carp turned over in the margins with a big splash. Less than an hour after the first fish, I was off again. This one really did motor. It had taken probably 30 or more yards of line before I leaned into it and continued to pull hard once I had made contact. It gave a spirited fight before going into the net. A smaller fish this one at 25lb 8oz.
Anyway another bag was lobed back out into the blackness and I was off to the land of nod, waking at after 9am when Laurent popped his head into my swim and looked chuffed when I suggested coffee.
A couple of cups each later and we were talking of packing up… Two Dutch chaps came round for a chat, and my centre rod dropped back before tightening up again. I struck but with 3.5lb rods only felt a slight resistance. I suspected one of the large bream was the suspect…. But no it one mighty big Crucian carp of 7lb 8oz. The biggest one I have ever caught.
I was well pleased to get a couple more nice carp. I’ve only rarely fished the winter’s here, but have always done quite well. This year looks to be no exception.
|
|
|
| Nice Mirror just under 30lb | A pretty 25lb 8oz mirror | A monster Crucian of 7lb 8oz |
Minus 4 degrees and still 3 carp on the first trip of the year!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Spencer Powell Email: Venue: Local Syndicate Lake
Details: Hi Shaun, I went fishing first time this year on Saturday 14 th - 4 very cold had these three doubles out two fell to Ghurkka Spice and other to Chilli Chocolate fluro pop ups. I had two in the morning and one mid afternoon and both in areas of strong sun lite just moving rods out of the shade and into sunlight.
Hope to see you soon
Many thanks
Spence
|
|
|
January Barbel on the Rahja Spice.
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Pat Gillett Email: patgillett@ymail.com Venue: Lower Severn
Details: Hi Shaun,
Had a couple of afternoon / evening trips on the rivers last week (before the cold snap set in again). Was really a few days late to get the best of the conditions (all the extra water had run off), but still managed to winkle out some fish.
Tuesday evening produced a smallish barbel of 6 or 7lb on the Upper Trent.
Thursday evening produced 4 barbel with the best fish being 9lb 6oz and 10lb 3oz on the Lower Severn.
All the fish bar one falling to the Rahja Spice / Paste & mini mixed pellet combination.
The Rahja has now proved to be instant on the Lower Severn, Upper Trent & River Dove and in many different conditions.
Cheers,
Pat
|
|
|
| 10lb 3oz | Winter sunset over the Malvern Hills | |
Another 20 tamed by the chod rig!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Lee Wheeler Email: Stevewheeler27@googlemail.com Venue: Local Club Water
Details: Due to the heavy frosts we have had these past few days, I thought the carp wouldnt be feeding at all. I still wanted to go for a day on the local club lake. There were 5 other people there but no one had caught a thing.
At about 3:20pm my slack line pulled tight and was off. After a short fight the fish was in the net and it looked decent. Once weighed the fish came in as a beautiful 20lb 4oz common! Happy days (:
Ghurkka pop ups are the way foward in the winter!
unfortunately i've ran out ):
|
||
Winter Campaign starts
Date: Jan 2012 Name: David Gowing Email: djgcanary@btinternet.com Venue: Parc Farm 1 - Great Linford Lakes
Details: I am fishing Parc Farm 1 on the Great Linford complex to try and catch my first ever 30lb winter carp (December to February). It is a 2 to 3 acre shallow lake with a good stock of carp, mostly doubles, but including 10+ 20s and 3 to 5 low 30s. I am using Rahja Spice as my main bait as I have been successful using it elsewhere but will also use Fruity Trifle as an alternative. Both baits are known for all year round use. I aim to fish a one day session or an overnighter and day each week. Tactics are to fish with pva bags (mesh or solid) filled with pellets and chopped and crumbed boilies or stringers and bait up with at least 1kg of boilies when I leave. A friend is fishing an overnighter on the same lake each Friday and he also baits up when leaving.
My first three sessions were blanks (discounting a few bream which unfortunately have taken a liking to the bait).
On 22nd December I finally caught my first carp of this winter, a small but very welcome 10lb 11oz golden common. Two overnighters since Christmas have produced five runs but I only managed to land three of these. The best fish was a 19lb 5oz linear which was camera shy and escaped from my recovery sling before its picture was taken. I must remember to zip up both sides next time! The other fish weighed 11lb 14oz and 15lb 8oz. All were caught on a 15mm rahja spice boilie topped with a yellow or pink rahja spice pimple pop. The only downside is I have caught far too many bream. The fish like the bait and I hope to be able report more success soon.
|
|
|
| 10lb 11oz common | 15lb 8oz mirror | |
Croix Blanche Lakes get off to a Flying Start in 2012 on Quest boilies
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Gareth Watkin Email: Venue: Croix Blanche
Details: With the unseasonally mild weather the carp have continued to be very active on the lakes. In fact we have not had any frosts so far this year, let alone negative temperatures.
When a couple of Dutch lads wanted to have a crack for a few days in early January it seemed a good idea. They landed a total of 8 carp, the best fish was a magnificent 45lb mirror.
Fuelled by their success I decided it was time I had a go myself. My last session back in November had resulted in a blank; but now there were clear signs of active fish.
I set up in peg 14 on the Tortue Lake and cast out three PVA bags with carp pellets and Quest baits Pineapple Crush 15mm boilies. I wanted a bait with instant appeal, light coloured that hopefully would stop a browsing fish. I also wanted them in a smaller size than I usually use. I happened to have a full bag of the Pineapple in the garage. These had previously been very instant for myself and my son.
Rigwise, I kept my usual fluorocarbon D rig hook links, but used a very slow sinking snowman combination. A Quest Crab popup fitted the bill nicely here.
I knew the swim would still have a fair amount of residual weed, but a quick cast around with a marker revealed that it was not too thick. I placed the whole rigs in the bags, which combined with the buoyant hook baits I reasoned, should see me fishing okay.
I had my first take just after dark, and was a nice clean 22lb mirror. The rod was cast back out, and after dinner I hopped into my hammock for some shut eye, just as the rain started to come down.
Around 3.30am the centre rod bleeped and ripped off. I connected with a good fish that straight away took line. After a few minutes I got it near the bank where it plodded around in the deep margins. I somehow had picked up my left hand rod by now and this made the fight more awkward. I was now pulling against the line and lead and the fish..not an ideal situation.
Anyway luck was on my side and a chunky common rolled into the net. I heaved the weigh sling up on the scales I’d hung from a tree and it bounced round to settle at 46lb.
A new PB common…I was over the moon.
I do wish though I’d caught it in other circumstances. Here I was alone, at night, in pouring rain with a big fish.
What to do?
I had to make a decision and I did not want to sack the fish. So I took a couple of shots on the mat and let her go. Such is life…To my mind the fishes’ welfare is paramount.
I had seen the fish on two occasions in 2011, when the fish was 42lb. I’m glad to see her gaining weight.
|
|
|
| 46lb Common | Better weather in the swim | |
First Fish of the year. 21lb!
Date: Jan 2012 Name: Lee Wheeler Email: Stevewheeler27@googlemail.com Venue: undisclosed
Details: The lake had been fishing hard all week, There was 5 other anglers on the lake, And they all blanked. Like I mentioned in my winter carp fishing blog, Chod rigs have been producing me a few fish his winter. I managed to fool this absoloutely stunning winter linear in its true winter colours.
Lee.
|
||
