Fishing Tales And Stories

With one of my gardening jobs cancelled, and it being a quieter Monday than usual, I switched my Wednesday work over and started early both days. By Tuesday afternoon, I was finally on the road down to the lake, although I honestly hadn’t got the slightest clue where I was going to set up. The weather had barely changed all week either — it’s been that cold I’ve even had the heating on for a few hours during a couple of evenings over the last seven days.
I was slightly put off by the bottom lake after last week’s effort. There wasn’t another soul down there, and, truthfully, it was very tempting to give it a go, but the conditions pushed me towards settling on my favourite island instead. Westerly winds were gusting close to 40mph, and there was absolutely no chance I was pitching up on the east bank. It just felt far too cold and exposed. The south bank swim on the first island, however, looked absolutely spot on.

Trip 11 Carp FishingWelcome back to another fishing adventure. With Meadow Lake only producing at night, I took a chance on a quick overnighter at Airfield Lake—despite it not being known for fishing well in March. Armed with a simple but proven baiting approach using quality boilies, pellets, oils, and solid PVA bag mixes, this session was all about building confidence in daylight bites and reading the water. Sometimes it’s not just about catching—it’s about trusting your instincts, refining your tactics, and reconnecting with a venue that just feels right.Tight lines and be lucky!

Trip 2 Carp Fishing - 2026I wasn’t sure I’d even make it out this week. With a house full of sick people, I was convinced it was only a matter of time before I went down with it myself. Thankfully, I stayed well enough to take a chance and load the car.With Monday night forecast as a washout, I had to think carefully about venue choice. Meadow Lake was ruled out straight away, leaving the club lake as the best option—despite fallen trees, closed swims, and water levels sitting right on the edge of flooding. As it turned out, those closed swims worked in my favour, giving me more space and less pressure.In this session I talk through my approach on a shallow, bait-boat-dominated lake, why I avoid spombing here, and how my simple “chuck-and-dump” baiting strategy helps keep the carp confident. Three spots, three hookbaits, steady pressure, and classic winter conditions set the scene.Mid-afternoon, the right-hand rod tore off and resulted in a hard-fighting 21lb 3oz common—a result I genuinely didn’t expect given how quiet the lake felt afterward. Silent nights, dropping temperatures, and tricky conditions followed, making that early bite feel even more special.A realistic winter session: one chance, one fish, and plenty of lessons. With February approaching and daylight stretching out, I’m hopeful things will soon start to turn.Until next time,Be luckyRichard

“Effort equals reward” is a phrase that should be ingrained in every angler’s mindset. But I believe it goes beyond just putting in work and expecting results. The real key is understanding that the effort you put in should be measured by what you personally want to achieve—not by someone else’s standards. Fishing is an individual pursuit, and comparing yourself to others can not only be pointless but can also harm your enjoyment of the sport.
Understanding Effort and Reward
For some anglers, just getting to the bank is a reward in itself. The time and effort required to pack up, drive to the lake, set up, and enjoy a session is their goal. Whether or not they catch is secondary; they’ve already won by simply being there and unwinding in nature. Others won’t understand this mindset because their own version of “effort equals reward” is completely different.
Some anglers are obsessed with catching, which is fine if that’s what motivates them. However, falling into the trap of fixating only on catching can lead down a dark path—a pit of frustration that’s hard to escape. This can suck the joy out of fishing, leaving you feeling like every session is a failure unless you land a fish. I’ve seen people quit fishing altogether because their obsession with results destroyed their love for the process. Some even sell their gear, completely disillusioned.

Boosting Your Baits for an Edge Over Other Anglers
Fishing is all about small edges, and one of the most overlooked aspects is bait preparation. Over the years, I’ve refined my approach to bait enhancement, ensuring my boilies are primed and ready before each session. I don’t believe in drowning baits in excessive amounts of flavour or liquid, as that can sometimes have the opposite effect. Instead, I take a measured and consistent approach, allowing my baits to absorb attractants gradually over time.
I like to keep my bait supply constantly rolling, so I always have well-prepared boilies on hand. My process is simple but effective. I start with several 3kg tubs of my chosen boilie and a larger 10kg bucket. Into each 3kg tub, I add 10ml of Classic Corn or Catalyst food dip, depending on what I’m favouring at the time, along with a tablespoon of Berrocel. Once these additions are made, I give the tubs a good shake every day for a week. This ensures an even distribution and helps the liquid penetrate deeply into the bait. After a week, I transfer everything into the larger 10kg bucket, where it will sit until needed.
When I’m preparing for a session, I take a portion of these enhanced boilies and place them into two small RidgeMonkey buckets, ready for my next trip. As soon as I return from a session, I repeat the process to maintain my bait supply. This rolling preparation ensures I always have top-quality, fully-boosted bait on hand.