Karl Yates has been back on Upper Tamar after his 14 fish haul to 33lb last week. This time another 7 fish in two sessions up to just under 20lb but some real beauties!
UPPER TAMAR CARP HAUL
Karl Yates had a session to remember at Upper Tamar. He banked 14 carp haul with the best being a 33lb common. Karl also had 4 fish over 20lbs – 20.04, 20.08, 20.12 and 23.12. Joined by his grandad late in the session he also had a couple with a 18.00 and 22.12! Well done Karl (and grandad) great fishing!
Stafford Moor – Carp
(Below) Jarek Cheery and friend Kamil fished up on Lodge lake and banked 4 fish in a 24 hour session, all fish caught on our house pellet in a pva bag and Sticky baits krill wafters.
Torridge Carp Lakes – In Fine Form
North Devon’s recently open Torridge Carp lakes have been fishing well over recent weeks with numerous twenty pound plus carp. Rob Jewell enjoyed an overnight session banking five carp to 33lb 7oz.
Kracking Carp
KRACKING SESSION
Taro Bell had an absolute cracker of a session on Nirvana’s day Ticket Kracking Carp Lake! Taro caught a 40lb 8oz, 33lb & 22lb Mirrors, caught on Remix Baits with a standard supple rig.
Melbury Carp
Deano Johnson caught this superb 23.12 mirror from Melbury Reservoir.
Stafford Moor Carp Catches
The Devon Fishing Diary group’s social organised by Jamie Lashbrook enjoyed great sport fishing on Beatties and lodge Lake at the weekend. Here are a few of their catches & also 4 of the guys now have new pb’s including Ashley Marsh with his 32lb 7oz stunner & Michael Goldrick’s 30lb 2oz. (Below)
(Below) Martin Stiling fished on the beach swim on Beatties lake banking nine fish up to 27lb 7oz which is Martin’s new personal best. All Martin’s fish were caught on Mainline cell and our house pellets.
MAINLINE CARP COMPETITION RESULT – UPPER TAMAR
South West Lakes Trust hosted Mainline Baits Upper Tamar Carp Open Pairs Match with the £2000 first prize taken by John Kierle and Sam Fowler who banked nine carp for a total weight of 117lb. In runner up spot were Karl Yates and Allan Jones with four carp for 56lb 5oz winning £1000 and in third David Bellew and Josh Bellew with four carp for 51lb 15oz receiving £500.
RECORD DEVON CARP FROM PARADISE
Congratulations to Joe Drury who has set a new Devon Record with a stunning carp from Anglers Paradise Kracking Carp Lake. I have posted the below direct from the Custom Made Rigs Facebook Page.
Once again well done Joe who I know has a very difficult time and deserves this stunning capture.
JOE CATCHES DEVON RECORD…..I rarely set my targets on a particular fish, but this trip was different!
Like many anglers and friends, myself and Matt were well overdue a social. What with the recent world issues and our own health problems, we hadn’t fished together for a few years.
We decided the ‘Krackin Carp Lake’ on ‘Anglers Nirvana’ at Anglers Paradise would be the most suitable. There’s now stone chipped swims which was an important deciding factor. Natural is nice, but not suitable for anglers with disabilities. Unfortunately I have to put myself in that category these days, a level chipped swim has now become a must.
Although the ‘Krackin Carp’ is just down the road to where I live, I hadn’t seen the lake for a long time (years)! However I have a lot of knowledge on the water and the fish that reside in it.
Over dinner the night before my sons (Zaine and Zeejay) were asking questions about the lake. I explained that it was a hard water with Carp that don’t have the same feeding habits as most. I told them about a male fish aptly named ‘Silver Back’, and how I believe it should be at its best weight. With an arrogance that’s been missing from my fishing for atleast 6 years, I said, “it’s the only fish I’m interested in, it’s a mid 50, the biggest in the lake, and that’s why I want it!” I say it’s an arrogance because when you talk this way it comes across that you wouldn’t be grateful for anything less. Not true of course, they’re all welcome! I’ve needed to find a way to install some confidence, and setting that target was the ingredient I needed.
I had previously said to Marti that I’m so grateful to be back on the bank with all the help from friends that catching fish had become secondary, but I needed to get my confidence back. A recent interview I did with Kev Hewitt Angler reminded me just how important confidence is. I’ve said it a million times before, “confidence catches”! Practicing what I preach hadn’t been coming easy.
Retuning to the lake after many years felt good. I felt comfortable and confident. Although I had set a target, I didn’t feel any pressure. Matt and I had prepped well. We were confident in our bait choice too. Both of us had opted to use ‘Monster Tiger Nut’ by Dynamite Baits, crumbed up with sweetcorn. We chose to match our hook bait with our mix so we used ‘Sweet Tiger & Corn’ pop-ups (also from Dynamite Baits). Both the rig and the crumb were shipped out to the spots using a homemade baiting pole and spoon!
At 4.30am on Saturday morning I made a call to Matt. “Mate….I’ve just landed ‘Silver Back’!” His reply was predictable 
xxxx
! He came over with an excitement in his stroll. I swear he was more excited and nervous than me!
xxxx! He came over with an excitement in his stroll. I swear he was more excited and nervous than me!Silver Back weighed in at a record 55lb, a new personal best, the complex record carp and the biggest carp ever caught in Devon.
After having fishing taken away from me to this! Fishing is an incredible sport; the highs, the lows, the stories, THE LIFE!!
The response has been incredible!
The support from my wife has been essential!
Thank you everyone 
Joe
Carp Known as the Parrot at 46lb 9oz
Ian Fuller caught a PERSONAL BEST 46lb 9oz Leathery Mirror known as ‘Parrot’ from Nirvana’s Day Ticket Kracking Carp Lake.
Ian used a couple of kilo’s of full, half & crushed CR1 Boilies on a spot just off the lillies.
After leaving it for a few hours, he put a Rod over the spot on last light with a CR1 Wafter over the top on a size 6 Ronnie Rig and caught this beauty!
