Earlier in the Summer I had enjoyed some success with carp on the Fly at the club Lake so before the Autumn set in I was keen to once again try my hand with the fly. A brisk North wind was blowing as I arrived at the Lake with white clouds scurrying across a blue sky. The occasional swallow swooped over the water a sight I savoured knowing that in a few weeks they will swooping over the vast plains of Africa where buffalo, Lions and elephants roam.
I had come armed with a 7/8 weight Fly Rod, a floating line and a 10lb leader. A deerhair Fly tyed to imitate a dog biscuit was tied on. I catapulted a steady stream of Krill floaters on the lake and watched the water carefully. I was concerned that the cool wind would put the fish down but within a minutes a few carp started to slurp down the loose offerings.
Once the carp were feeding confidently I put out the fly and waited in anticipation. I didn’t have too long to weight before carp appeared and sucked in my fly. I strip striked and was thrilled to feel the power as the carp surged away. I kept a tight line putting on as much pressure as I dared allowing the line to cut through the dense weed. After a tussle the a mirror carp of around 13lb was safely in the net its bronze and gold flanks a refection of the coming season.
After landing the carp I had to wait another half an hour before the carp began to feed again. A low double succumbed after missing numerous takes as the carp seemed to have an uncanny knack of ejecting the fly before I could set the hook.
Two more carp and a small tench ( a first on the fly) followed before I ran out of time and headed for home.
A new Lake record carp for lodge lake at Stafford Moor. Steve Tancock caught this 43lb beauty using Mainline cell boilies , there were 4 other witnesses on the lake to verify the weight , Steve popped in the day before and said it was quiet up on the lake then had a few out including a 28lb, 32lb, 35lb then smashed it with this 43lb!
Having met Ashley Bunning while he was working at Anglers Paradise I feel sure he will promote angling across SWLT’s waters following on from the excellent work undertaken by Ben Smeeth in recent years.
September 2022
Hi all, I’m Ashley Bunning, the new Head of Angling at South West Lakes.
I am a keen angler who has fished the South West Lakes reservoirs all my life. I grew up in Holsworthy and when I finished school I moved away from home and studied Fishery Management and Aquaculture to a Bachelor of Science level at Sparsholt College in Winchester.
After completing my course, I worked at various fisheries around the country, then settled at Anglers Paradise in Devon for the last six years.
Over the years I have volunteered for South West Lakes and when the opportunity came about to have a role here as Head of Angling I jumped at the chance! I look forward to pushing fishing forward and improving the experience for anglers on our waters.
Nathan Jennings enjoyed a session to remember during the Vader Baits Social event. Nathan banked thirteen carp including five twenties and fours thirties the best a mirror carp of 31lb 8oz.
Richard Stone fished on Beatties Lake and banked 11 carp all of which were caught on Mainline cell boilies.
Heidi Woods stayed in Stafford Moor’s Cherry Specimen Lodge located on Beatties Lake complete with hot tub! Heidi & Steve banked 20 carp out up to 32lb all fish were caught on Sticky baits Krill boilies and home made boilies.
David Jenkins pictured here with a colourful koi of 18lbs caught on his latest trip to Bulldog Carp Fishery in North Devon!
Paul Martin banked 12 fish including this stunning 29lb 14oz common from big fish corner on Beatties Lake which is now Pauls new personal best. Paul was fishing with crushed boilies and pellets.
David Jenkins normally targets sea fish but decided on a change of scenery targeting carp at Day Ticket Torridge Carp Lakes. He was rewarded with a superb carp of 28lb 6oz.
