Just got back from a weeks carping in Echo Pool in the south of France. It was a 1300 mile around trip from Brecon in total. The drive was hard but the fishing was worth it. Between me and Katie we had 23 fish despite the fact they were spawning in middle of the week for a few days. I probably lost another 6 fish too. We had 6 30's and they rest were mostly low 20's. I broke my PB with a 30lb,32lb and 34lb mirror and she smashed hers with 30lb,35lb and 37lb. All the fish were caught on Bait Craft T1 & Super K bar the 37lb which we had on Mainline Cell. Over the week I got through 15kg of boilies and 50kg of mix particle. Heres some of the photos:

First carp off the new syndicate

Joined a new syndicate for the year called the Birch. Its set between newport and cardiff right by the sea front. I have spent the last 4 weekends there without anything to show, bar a hollow in my bait boxs. This weekend though, saw the banking on this 15lb scaley mirror caught from the top tripple hut. Very happy to get off the mark there and look forward to banking some more, especially after the grassey thats in there over 20lb.

Freezed Off

We hit up Rookery Meadow this weekend. Its my winter sydicate which I havent fished as much as I originally intended too. Its just outside Evesham, which was only about a 2 hour trip from the house. When we got there, half the lake was frozen. Its a small 5 acre lake thats stream fed. It's little in the middle of nowhere, where you have to go through 5 farmers fields to get too. Its tea dropped shaped, and deepens stealdy as the lake progresses. It's got some nice fish in there, with 2 over 30lb.

Due to the lack of water available to us, me and my mate bivvyed up pretty close to each other and shiverd our way through the day drinking tea and eating bacon buttys. It didnt feel crazy cold until just before dark when everything was slowy turning white. No signs of any fish bar 2 liners, and we retired to the bivvy for a early night. When we woke, the whole lake had now frozen over. I had to smash through the ice in front of me with rocks that we lying around inorder for me to get my rods in, which is something I have never had to do before. Hopefully the weather will start to get better soon, and I can sleep in just 1 sleeping bag!

First Carp Of 2010

Last weekend,the mrs and I hit up White Springs, just outside Swansea for the day. Nothing was brought to the bank that day, but we fancied trying somewhere different. Due to having to goto Birmingham Sunday night for a gig, I decided to fish there again for 24hours this time, from Saturday 8am to Sunday dinnertime ish.(instead of fishing the syndi near brum and drive all the way home to shower before driving back to the gig) It was a a pretty clouded over day and was cold even though I had enough layers. It got milder as the day went on and the fog cleared from around the water within the hour.

When I got there I had a good selection of swims to choose. I already had one in mind from the last trip, but I choose one that went out on a kind of point and it had alot of water in front to work with, and the closest swims to do me were quite a way off, so noone could interfer with me or annoy me, like they tend to do on day ticket waters like this.

I spent a good half hour slamming a marker about before setting the rods up, to try and get a idea of what was going on under the water. There was a few hard spots, and a few gentle slopes but that was about it. I had 2 islands in front of me, so it would be rude not to have a bait tight to one of them. The one then was position on quite a small hard/gravely area in open water, and the third was on a deepish margin spot.



Not much activity in the day, with very little fish showing. I think I heard someone on the far end of the lake get a take, but didnt find out if it produced a fish.

I was tucked up in the bivvy by 8ish as it got pitch black, listening to Radio 1 and warming myself up with a curry and constantly drink cups of tea.

The rods were icy and the net was frozen to the mat!





I drifted off until 2:30am when I had a few single bleeps followed by a screaming take on a the margin rod.(i was in shock for a few moments due to not having a run for a while now) After a slight struggle to find the zip on the bivvy door and putting my boots on, I lifted into a nice fish. It kited around a bit, taking only about 20yards of line. It stayed very low in the water when playing it out in front of the peg, but I eventually got her in the net. When I lifted the Reubens and she was 29lb bang on, i was chuffed.



First fish of the year, and what a beauty. After waking up the guy a few swims down to take a photo, I slipped her back, re baited and recast, and went back to sleep hoping for another, thinking they were on the munch.

The buisness end - simply running rig with a 2oz pear and a size 10 raptor hook, on a 6inch hooklength, with both a flying backlead and a standard baclead. Due to it being a pressured water, I believe it's vital to keep the line pinned down as much as possible. I fished text book winter tactics, with a 15mm Cell popped up 2 inches with no free offerings.

First time on the bank this year

Was up at 6:45 as usual, to be at works unit for 7:45. Even though it took me about 10 minutues to get out of my estate, I still ventured in. I knew i would'nt be able to get to the site I was working on at the moment, but i thought there would be local jobs in town that could keep a few of us busy, but there was no small ones on, so i was sent home, unpaid!!

Seen as though I hadnt been able to get onto the bank since before Xmas due to all the things going on and most places being frozen over, I headed to my local "Ddrew Farm" Pool.

This lake is only about 2 acres with a small island in the middle and a stream running in and out either end. I expected there to be some areas that would be fishable, so i went for a look. I have fished her literally thousands of times when i was growing up and before being able to drive. My old man would drop me off on a Friday after school and then pick me up on a the Sunday night. The lake itself is full of common pastys averaging at 10lb. The biggest i have had out was 12lb or something. This was years ago when i thought i had caught the biggest carp alive! This lake is far from my usual type of venues but its better than being inside. It's only being a mile away from my house, so I'm used to going there now and again after work in the summer and taking them off the surface on hot August evenings, as you can see from the photos the conditions were far from that. There was areas around the Island that was frozen and all around the margins, but it was only a thin layer. The ducks were walking across and then dropping in when the ice gave way beneath them.







I managed to man up and stay there for just over 3 hours before my hands were numb. I think I could of easily managed a longer session, but i wasn't prepared as I literally jumped out of my works van, and into my carp van so had no drinks/food etc with me.

Although nothing was caught, it was good to get out and start the year off. Doesn't look like this bad frost with lift before the weekend so I'm not sure of the plan for carp is just yet, but i hope to get out.