mattpope
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Winter Catch ReportMy Carp fishing this summer was satisfactory, with a new PB gracing the banks, however I wasn’t happy with the way I was fishing, the waters I was fishing and what I was catching. Therefore, I decided to move onto a new water, still part of my clubs waters, but a more secluded lake. My club has a private policy about some lakes so I cannot say much about its location however I can describe it to you.
The lake is 5 acres in size, heavily weeded with gin clear waters. The northern end of the lake is lined with reeds and is inaccessible to fish from, however it is possible to cast to the reeds from one of the eastern banks. The area around the reeds is roughly 3-4ft deep and a perfect spot to fish on the cold days when a warm southerly wind is blowing, all the carp will be found sunning them selves in this reeded bay. The south end of the lake (or bottom end) is always seen as dark, weedy and surrounded by over hanging trees. There are three islands on the lake, however, only very small. The underwater topography is, rather plain due to the heavy weed growth, however closer into the margins there are some lovely ‘carpy’ looking gravel spots.
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The stock of the lake is probably only made up of around 50 carp. The majority being twenties, however, there are the two thirties - the big common and the big mirror. The amount of bream and tench is insignificant (luckily) however the tench and bream that are in the lake, are corkers, averaging 7lb +.
My tactics this winter, are to stay in one chosen swim, which is the ‘eastern swim’ facing the reeds. I would be casting to two different spots; one against the reeds, and one into open water, with a third rod as a spying rod for showing fish. I would bait the two chosen spots lightly, maybe half a kilo a session between the two, possibly more. I would be using my home-made baits, a bait with low oil levels, high protein, and a spicy kick to it. These would be fished in conjunction with p.v.a sticks and double bottom baits. However, if and when the temperature, becomes consistently lower than 10°C, I will up-sticks, and take up a mobile approach, using a mixture of pop-ups and bottom baits, casting to showing fish and likely looking areas.
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mattpope
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Session 1:
Temperatures at a mild 16°C with a nice south-south westerly blowing right into my chosen bay, my confidence was at a high, however i had to keep telling myself that it wasnt going to be easy.
Sadly, things didnt go to smoothly to begin with. As i cast my first rig, i saw it tangle on the way out - gutted. Anyway, i left that rod out whilst i rigged up my other rod. Once that was cast out, i reeled in my tangled rod and then attempted my second cast..... Right in a tree! 
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Both rods out, settled down, and just taking it all in - Bleep - my right hand indicator starts jigging a bit, as if teasing me. A few more bleeps and i set, but sadly into nothing. As im recasting, a carp jumps head and sholders out, just to the right of my swim, so i bang out my rig there.
20 minutes follow and off goes that rod! But no, as my hand just about wraps around the reel seat, the alarm stops screaming and all is quiet. i set anyway, thinking maybe it weeded it self, but nothing there, and i find that my bait as been taken from the hair.
The carp then decided to give an arabatics show so i put both rods on the spots where the carp were jumping. A few more bleeps, but most likely liners or drifting weed. The baliff then showed up and told me nothing had been out in 6 weeks, but that they were starting to get their heads down, so some should be out soon.
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Sadly my time ran out this session, but i found some good spots, and learnt where the carp lie up during the day, so hopefully, next time, i can turn some runs into carp on the bank!
Fingers crossed! 
Matt
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Mac
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Fantastic write up and pics Matt
Looking forward to the next installment 
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bigkipper
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great write up matt
and that lake looks awsome mate 
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CHADDY321
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Excellent write up fella
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NOSEY WIFE
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well done great write up
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mattpope
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Firstly, thanks for all the replies guys!, glad you liked it 
Session 2:
I arrived at the lake a little later today sadly, still on my mum's schedule, but im driving soon! When i got to the lake, fish were showing in the same swim as last time so i settled back down in there. Once set up, i cast one rod, onto the showing fish, and one rod into a weed bed where i saw fish rolling last week. The weather forecast was said to be cloudy with sunny spells and a 10mph northerly wind blowing with slightly high pressure, so not that great, however, when i arrived at the lake a slight southerly wind was blowing right into my bay, which always helps!
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-Morining, at the lake, now in full autum colours-
Just as i had finished pulting out about 1 kilo of bait, onto the spots, the bailiff showed up. We had a nice chat and eventually got onto the stock of the lake, and he said that there were now atleast 6 30lb carp! great i thought! But, sadly, two large carp have also been found dead in the margins in the last week, the biggest 28lb, and the lake is not fishing right at the momment supoosedly. 
[img] [/img]
-Gulls dive bombing for my boilies- 
The session slowly began to ebb away, with only a single bleep occuring on each rod. However the carp were still active over my spots, but sadly nothing else occured. My plan next week, is to use chod rigs, and cast into the weed with freebies being fired over the top, hopefully the carp will be able to get to and see my baits easier.
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-Sunset over the lake-
Until Next time,
Matt
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Marcus C
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.Im not sure but is that an ocean fruit boillie
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Mac
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Fantastic stuff Matt, keep up the good work
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bigkipper
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top stuff as always matt
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Markerfloat
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great write ups matt, what lake is it as i see your not far from me
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NOSEY WIFE
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nice one matt
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02jlloyd
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good write up mate
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mattpope
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Thanks all!
Nope, its a home made 
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robvford
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keep up the good work. you'll soon crack it
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mattpope
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Evening all, thought i would give a quick up-date.
The reason why i havnt had any reports up lately is due to a 'fish kill' on my lake. 5 big fish, up to low 30's turned belly up, and a small garden pond koi was spotted swimming around, some one had obvioulsy chucked it when it grew to big, so KHV was suspected. We all pulled off, and sent off water samples etc. results came back, all clear, so i am good to get back on soon, as soon as i finish my As modules in janurary, but i will keep up dated as much as i can!
Matt
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24hr carper
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there are some nice pics there matt like the lake 
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