No comparison

Since May 2011 I have captured a large number of carp all, but eight, from the local commercials where they are an extremely easy target. At Long Shaw, on a good day, it is possible to experience catch rates of three fish an hour, off the top! It is incredible fun, but it ain't carp angling - it's "scamping!" Ravenous hoards of small/medium sized fish that exist to provide the casual/pleasure angler with just that - pleasure!

If you are going to target carp it is essential that you use the right kit!

I have used these type of venues as a facility where I can go to get a bend in the rods after extended periods of blanking elsewhere, or to have a social with Benno & Luke on a sunny afternoon when we've nothing better to do. Commercial fisheries are there to provide easy fishing for anglers in the modern, instant gratification, world in which we now live. Exciting, enjoyable, fun - yes they fulfil all these requirements, but what they don't provide is challenging, thinking, carp angling. In no way will these fisheries assist in your development, as a carp angler, beyond the basic skills of tackle control, playing, landing and handling the species. Location, rig mechanics and presentation, bait selection and umpteen other of the finer points, of carp fishing and water-craft, cannot be learned whilst on the banks of these overstocked carp puddles.

Fish of this stamp are able to test you, and your tackle, to the very limit - not a challenge for the feint hearted?

It is certainly not my place to question how other anglers choose to spend their time and money - if the commercials work for you? Fill your boots! From my own perspective, I will also continue to visit them; particularly Sandwich Coarse Fishery, in order to test ideas for knot strength/reliability and hook patterns but, my real quest is in secluded spots, away from the crowds, where it will just be me against the fish. Venues with low stock density, where location is fundamental to any chance of success. Bait choice and rig effectiveness, however thorough their preparation, count for zilch if fished in the wrong place. Just as I had set myself targets when I returned to pike angling, I have a goal, a benchmark, which I would like to reach before once again seeking new angling adventures. Between now and the end of 2016 I would like to have captured four carp in excess of twenty pounds, one of which weighs more than 23 lbs 14 oz. I make this statement of intent to draw a line in the sand, so to speak!

A "scamp" from a commercial fishery. I cannot deny that they provide great fun, but they ain't a challenge!

Obviously there is much which could conspire to stick a spanner in the works - but this will do as a template for my angling journey through the coming year. It will also serve as a kick up the arse should I get distracted. Four twenties in a calendar year is, actually, a pathetic target in 2016 - I managed five in the season 83/84 and three of them were on consecutive casts! Some of the carp anglers, I work with, would expect to beat this target during the first weekend session of the new season. so I'm not aiming at the stars! However, unlike my work mates, I will not be bivvied up at some syndicate venue, or club lake, my carp fishing will be short sessions on very unfashionable venues. I think that "Hit and Run" might be the best way of describing my tactics. I've a head swirling full of ideas. I am actually getting quite excited by the prospects - silly me! Until I complete my eel challenge, this carping lark will take the back seat, but I already have a window of opportunity coming my way. I will know more after Friday - the 3rd anniversary of my Mum's passing - time flies! Emily was five yesterday - and that's proper scary! Where's all that time gone?

A proper carp, from a proper venue. I very much doubt if this fish has ever been caught before - a
magnificent wild English carp from an East Kent drain - four more of the same please.

Birding bits

Newland's Farm is, for the most part, totally devoid of birdlife at present. A couple of Meadow Pipits flew over, as I walked to work, yesterday and a Rock Pipit was in the factory compound, feeding in the bunded area below the solvent tanks. Golden Plover and Lapwing have taken to roosting out on the ploughed cauli fields and are regularly disturbed as I walk home, their calls betraying their presence out in the darkness. A Chiffchaff has been seen in the garden on a few occasions over the past week, it is quite possible that it is the same individual as was present this time last year - a strange coincidence or regular occurrence? Chris Hindle's re-trapping of a Chiffchaff, one year on, at Reculver points towards wintering individuals being faithful to favoured spots.

Sorting out bits and bobs in the study, this morning, three Rose-ringed Parakeets dropped into the garden, pausing just long enough for me to grab a couple of photos. A Jay flew through and there is a light, but very deliberate, passage of Black-headed Gulls passing East, high overhead. Not much, I agree, but if I can't get out fishing, watching the local birds will do very nicely as a fill in!

Achievable goals - too much time spent thinking about stuff?

It was May 2011 that I caught my first double-figure carp, since December 21st 1988! An awful lot had changed, in carp fishing, during the twenty-three years between these two dates. Not that it should be any great surprise, just look at how so many other aspects of our lives have altered, massively, since the 80's. Information technology is probably the most influential, of many advances, which we all now take for granted. If, for instance, I wanted to share my opinions and ideas about carp angling, in 1988, I would have to write, using a typewriter, my "article", double spaced on A4 paper, and post it, via The Royal Mail "recorded delivery" network, along with any images (my precious slides!) I wished to accompany my thoughts, to one of the National Monthly publications - most likely David Hall's Coarse Fishing - because he was my mate! It would only get published if the editor (David, or Des Taylor?) saw fit and would very likely be altered, from the original due to space restraints and other such considerations. One thing it could never be, was instant! It would always be two months, minimum, between sending and publication - very often it was far longer. On the plus side, I did get paid for my efforts in those days.

27th June 1984 - Stanborough Lake, Welwyn Garden City - 18 lbs 10 oz

May 2011 - Long Shaw Farm - 14 lbs 6 oz; my first double-figure carp in 23 years!

Today I have no such restriction and, even with my lowly understanding of this technology, can post news, views and pictures almost instantly. (Not always the wisest choice - as many of my fellow bloggers will testify!)
However, back to 2016 and what this is all about - my carp angling ambitions going forward. I am incredibly fortunate to live in a part of the UK that is full of fisheries which are able to offer wonderful carp angling opportunities. Some of the biggest carp in the country are to be found in the lakes of Kent and I could, if I so desired, join the massed ranks of cult devotees and fish at many of these venues, for a price! If things were different, it is quite likely that I'd join this circus and go off chasing monsters but, fishing must now fit into my life and not the other way around. My targets, therefore, need to be adjusted accordingly, so as to remain realistic and, as such, achievable. I have neither unlimited time, nor money; two fundamental requirements for the full-on "big carp" angler in 2016. There is a third piece to this obsessional quest for monster carp - the angler must be of a totally focused mind-set. There is no room for distraction or compromise - it has to be all or nothing, there are no intermediate stages when "that'll do" is tolerated. Not a situation suited for me, any longer, as there's so much else that I enjoy doing.

23 lbs 14 oz - the one to beat! (It was a very good fish in Feb '84)

So where am I at today? My PB carp is easily beatable, even at the local carp puddles, where fish of 25 lbs+  are a realistic proposition. Most of my local clubs have waters offering a chance at fish well in excess of 30 lbs. - what am I waiting for?  Well, just like everything else I have done, since my return to angling, any carp fishing has got to done my way. I can see them becoming central to my 2016/17 season in much the same way as Barbel and , most recently, Eels have provided the challenges.
I have a list of "Do's & Don'ts" which I am going to attempt to adhere to if the project develops? With seven weeks still remaining, in which to complete my eel challenge, all of this carp stuff is just "pie in the sky" at present. I've been working in the "packing section" of digital for the majority of last week; on a manual bay, where there is plenty of opportunity to think about anything which takes your fancy! Digital ink packing is a repetitive task which, if you allowed it, could become incredibly tedious and boring. One way to combat this outcome is to engage in idle "tittle tattle" with fellow members of the workforce - my way, however, is to explore random thought and see where it leads? It is of no surprise that the majority of my colleagues think that I'm a miserable old git, because I try to avoid "gossip"! My mental explorations have been down some rather weird back roads as my mind has wandered - however, angling and natural history nearly always provide the inspiration for a starting point.
So there I am, packing away, thinking about various projects that might, possibly, be worthy of pursuit. I have a desire to see a PB carp landed on the Mk IV - it's that dream scenario again, but I have been to many other places. I've a few ideas for improved particle mixes, hook baits and rigs. Being an old git does have some advantages - I can think back to previous campaigns, draw inspiration from bygone experiences, and it frequently works for me!

The realisation of a dream - my first twenty since returning to angling after an eighteen year
sabbatical - my pike fishing has gone downhill ever since!

Pike fishing has also been, very much, an afterthought, thus far this winter. My results being very underwhelming. It seems that since the fulfilment of my ambition to land another "twenty" - coming to fruition just day's after my Mum died; I've taken my eye off the ball.  It appears that my/our Scottish exploits, as pike anglers, now mirror the antics of UK carp anglers who head off toward France, and beyond, to get their fix of "big fish". My pike angling has now become focussed upon a week of intensive effort - then nothing special for another year. I've morphed into a "holiday piker" - that isn't good! I have two trains of thought to counter this, moving forward - a) I join a local club and have next pike season on a big pit or b) Don't fish for pike at all over the next winter and concentrate on getting to grips with the chub/roach in The Stour ? Neither scenario is important, as yet, there's loads to see and do before any decisions about next winter need to be made. As I mentioned recently, making plans is like wishing your life away - I'm far better living each day as it comes and seeing where it leads me - digital packing = too much time thinking! May be I'd be better off bored?

Sunday social and a face to a name!

Benno and I spent a few hours, this morning, on The Royal Military Canal beside The Imperial Hotel golf course. I don't mind letting this location be known - we both blanked and it is not a section that I'll be in any hurry to return to. We had a nice session chatting about ideas for future angling challenges and our holiday plans. We've both come to the conclusion that pike angling, at our chosen local venues, is not up to much, at present, and we need other species to provide the spark of inspiration. Ben is taken by the idea of perch, whilst I, on the other hand, still have my eel project to complete and already have a, Mk IV, summer carp challenge in the advanced stages of preparation.
One subject that was broached - "A Mk IV - glass v's split cane challenge on the river!" Could have some potential?

Apologies for the poor quality of these images - it was almost dark! The final photo, of a 1st winter,
with a very strangely deformed upper mandible.

It was a grotty morning, actually getting darker after 09.30 hrs, any attempts at photography required ISO 1600-1/500th sec exposure for anything close to a usable image. I managed to add two more birds, to my year list,now on 82 species, in the shape of Tawny Owl (several individuals calling from the wooded hillsides above the canal) and Mediterranean Gull (difficult to be certain, but a best guess is around 35 birds feeding on the golf course - all three age groups represented, although only two 2nd winters seen together).

Double-striped Pug - potted from the bedroom ceiling

Moths also made themselves obvious - a Double-striped Pug was potted from our bedroom ceiling and several examples of Winter Moth were seen on my drive down to the RMC. The real highlight of the morning was a meeting with Ian Roberts, the guy responsible for Folkestone & Hythe Birding, ( www.freewebs.com/folkestonebirds ) , a proper nice bloke and we spent a good time chatting about the local birding and other stuff relating to the natural history of the area. Always nice to be able to put a face to a name.

A mad half hour!

I'm back home, just in time to hear Wayne Rooney score against Derby County in tonight's FA Cup commentary match on Five Live. I've been out on the marsh eel fishing. I arrived a little after 16.15 hrs and had three rods cast out, over a scattering of freebies (Bluey and Sprat sections), within fifteen minutes. Before I left home Bev had questioned my sanity - "Why would anyone want to go fishing in that?" The howling wind, gusting around the bungalow - Storm Gertrude was announcing her arrival. It is ridiculously mild, the temperature a constant 11C and conditions look good for another session after eels. "I've got to push myself - or I'll learn nothing!" being my response as I was packing my gear into the car.

Two Duncan Kay's with ABU 66X's in a very tight little swim. Angled needles with light weight monkeys
being as simple as I need it - reels set up with open bail arms.

Am I glad I went? You bet - I had a very special learning experience, discovering more about the feeding habits of these fascinating fish during the colder months. I was fishing one of the, three, spots that I'd pre-baited last week. I hadn't introduced any further bait, since last Monday, until I arrived today. Sunset was predicted to be 16.39 hrs - probably was, but it was so grey and overcast, that it simply got darker as the never ending banks of thick clouds scudded across the heavens. Wind driven, light rain, meant that I, and my gear, got soaked as darkness fell. Almost 17.30 hrs and my right-hand rod was away;  a screaming take which resulted in a "bumped" fish. As I was sorting out the re-baiting, my left-hand buzzer announced a bite - resulting in an eel of a pound, or so, visiting the landing net. I had just got both these rods back in the water, when the middle rod was away - an absolutely screaming take which saw me striking into thin air. Quickly re-cast, the same rod was away again within 15 minutes - same result!

A very small eel in my 42" landing net - the Stanley craft knife to give scale (and to cut up dead baits!)

Four bites in, little more than, 30 minutes and then nothing! My February eel seems just a formality; turn up and go through the motions - unless we experience another "Ice Age" I can see nothing, apart from a lack of focus, preventing me capturing my February eel quite early in the month. I packed up just after 19.00 hrs and have spent the majority of time thinking about what had just happened. I'm firmly convinced that these fast takes are those of small eels and my rigs and bait size are not suited to their very small mouths?
I will wait, until the end of the season, before I offer any form of summary of my thoughts and methodology. Off out pike fishing, with Benno, on Sunday morning; back down the RMC. Should be a bit of a social as we've a few things to get sorted out prior to our next adventure.

Reality slap - part two

I was back out on the marsh, fishing the drains, yesterday afternoon/evening - full of confidence and very happy with all my preparations. The weather has reverted back to the incredibly mild, as predicted by the BBC forecast, and "everything in the garden is rosy!" Early on Friday morning (22nd January 2016) I had been out and done a bit of pre-baiting. Five kilo's of particle mix, plus some diced Peperami, (for carp) and around a kilo of bluey sections (for eels), in total, had been introduced to three spots along a single drain - what could go wrong?
In all honesty; not a lot! It was a cracking afternoon out there. For the first time, in a long while, I failed to see any owls but there was still loads of stuff to look at. As it got dark, so the wildfowl started to flight over the marshes - there was quite a lot of shooting going on, especially in the direction of that "flight pond" I will be visiting very shortly. I was completely at ease, within my little world, and surely a bite would occur soon? Time simply melted away and, before I knew it, the clock announced that I should be headed for home - a complete and utter blank, not a single bleep!

A pairing made in angling heaven? 

Phone conversations, with both Sye and Benno, suggested that I might just have overcooked the pre-baiting? I'd probably fed these fish off? The scale of my introductions being disproportionate to the number of feeding fish present in the drain following such a dramatic fluctuation in the weather patterns. No fool like an old fool? Had I missed the blatantly obvious - overlooked a basic fact of watercraft - air temperatures don't always equate to water temperatures! I have placed too much faith in the forecast and not taken into consideration the time lapse in the associated rise in water temps?
I got some more bait into the swim, before I left, and have the opportunity to get back out there one evening during the week - we'll see.

I'd like to think that Fred (Crouch) would approve of this particular use of his reel?

If everything I did went according to plan, I'd be an expert - never something I have ever aspired to become. I am perfectly happy to be ordinary - it's where, and how, I'm most comfortable, which is very fortunate, therefore! An ordinary bloke, engaged in ordinary employment, in an ordinary place - yet able to marvel at the extraordinary via the simple gift of getting outside and looking. Not such a bad place to be when seen in this context?

How much longer will I have to wait before I am able to realise my dream of a carp on that Mk IV?

A, much needed, reality slap!

I meander along life's pathway fairly oblivious to the rest of the world - what I see, what I do is very much a selfish and individual slant upon the reality that is life in 2016.  Fortunately there are fellow bloggers who have their fingers on the pulse, and are able to attract my attention to some magnificent postings which would, otherwise, have gone un-noticed?
Today I was directed to a post by Lucy (naturalworldnotes.blogspot.co.uk/ ) which makes all my drivel completely irrelevant. For anyone to have laid themselves, so bare, to scrutiny by so many is testament to the character of the individual and the bravery within.
I play games with my mental capacity, take the piss out of those who need to "Man Up!" - yet when confronted with such an open, and honest, insight into the mysterious world of mental illness - I find myself truly humbled. Please visit her blog and read what Lucy has to say about her condition. It was an incredible experience for me - I feel that I could, so easily, have travelled a similar path - but for the grace of God (or whoever else you hold responsible?)