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First trip got here just after 10am Sunday 15th Nov. Speaking to Trev in the shop not been fishing for 2 weeks, nothing out apparently. First lap Kingfisher and it's quiet, few on but most are packing up. My favourite swim is free 1st Point so I put the water bucket down and continue round. Speaking to the two guys in DVD corner they haven't had anything, I ask if they've seen any and both say they heard them boshing in the winter deeps corner. Interesting! Then round the corner onto the Nene bank I ask the same of the pair packing up, after a chat both said the same they heard them in the deep corner last night. I walk past those on the final bank without stopping coz my mind is made up, start in the deeps and take it from there. Collected the car, loaded the barrow and parked up in the centre of the 3 swims that you'd say cover the deep corner. Although after an hour moved it to the third one up as it covered those 2 anyway and gave more range in front should I want it. I see some fizzing close in just round the corner and a splash in the opposite corner so go for another walk along the causeway bank, sitting down in the willow peg beside 1st point where the splash was. There's a small fizzer 5 wraps out in front and another right in the corner where my mate caught from in May. I stayed 20 mins and went back, passing the guy nearest to me round the corner in Rats he points one out 3 ft out in 2ft of water - it's dorsal just breaking the surface - weird but good! Rain cuts the chat and we went and ate MY sandwiches in the car. Once the rain slows I go set up camp, then return to the car for the dog. Having not fished this area at all I used the cheatcraft for a look at the bottom. At around 5 rod lengths the fairly steep drop levelled off at 15ft before dropping down again to 17/18 at maybe 8 wraps. I thought it was gonna be a bit deeper tbh, maybe it is further out but I was happy with 3 areas to start with. Rods went out identical, 5 inch wafter rigs - slip D style with the Korda hookclip and Gardner XL Tungsten kicker, size 6 widegape - with funnel web threaded down the hooklink and a palmful of the crumb mix. The rods went out left and right on diagonals to the 15ft ledge with the middle further to the 17/18ft level. Not long after getting them out I see a fizzer very close the the right rod looking to be on the 15ft ledge which moves accross me to the centre of the swim. Then more further out near the middle rod - this is looking promising. Standing by the rods as it was getting dark a fish sticks it's head out right over the right rod then soon after again just to the left. Then two more show a bit further out - game on surely! The rain starts again so I go back inside to make dinner. Oh no I realise no coal for the cobb cooker, I forgot to fill a little bag up from the garage and all my meals need it! Disaster So I decided sausage bagels will do for tonight and tomorrow I'll try the local garage or go home for it if I must. That's it for today's report, still raining but I'm warm and dry coz of the Fortis clobber as is Jack in his new outfit and sleeping bag lol. More 2moz in the noddy files... 😄

quick update, met with the surgeon on the friday, nice reassuring greek chap turns out he is clinical lead of the department with a very impressive track record we are looking at surgery taking place feb/march next year and agreed on the carbon fibre valve

They'll be sunning themselves in the warmer water at the surface during the day. They won't find much natural food on the bottom at 25 ft (or is it metres?).

I've seen them at all locations but still no bitting. All at the surface.

Good luck 🤞 Sadly can no longer do colder sessions, keep us posted how you get on mate

Look for the carp. If you can see them, fish for them. Generally they'll follow the temps as the water cools but they're animals..... they don't follow any rule to the T.

This is a lake where I'll be fishing all Autumn. Temps are finally hitting highs of 50f-55f instead of 70f. Even though we're mid November, it feels like the start of fall. Carp are still all over the surface and sun is shining almost daily. Should I look for drop offs or keep in the shallows?

i like the idea of the toggles But I don’t like a firm pillow I guess if it sells then they may bring out a wider range of stuff to suit. heated blankets in 12v I know a couple do those already though. at least it’s made in Britain 👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

I think the 2 year guarantee, makes it worth a punt

Not seen that but I have got the carp life pillow case and filled it with 2 nice new pillows, that's great and more comfortable than the Aqua one I have on my lightweight spare bed. Interesting a major brand has chosen to make a fishing product, will have a look for this 👍

Seen this been posted on another forum but thought I would share: Just spotted Slumberdown have launched a bivvy pillow. They’re a massive UK bedding brand, so could be an interesting one for us anglers! Anyone tried one yet?

Good luck 🤞

Best of luck @kevtaylor.

Going Sunday to Tues for the first trip, been getting bait ready. Moved over to the Live System range for winter. Pics: Bag mix bucket: crumb, bag mix, 2ml pellet, 6ml pellet and 21 bags ready to go! Glugged boilies bucket Mix bucket: crumb, mixed pellets, boilies Everything is glugged in a few liquids lol: Corn steep liquor, Amino Blend 365, Bait Booster, Feed Stim XP, Hemp Oil Kits been moved into the barrow luggage so I'm quicker to move. Oh and the dog has a new Merino wool jacket and fleece, to say we're ready is an understatement. Weather looks to be changing perfectly for the 1st trip, rise in temps, southerly winds, rain and a pressure drop - fingers crossed 🤞

2pm sunday I was packed up ready for a move or home with just the rods left out when the weed started moving again, this time a tail came right out and again swirls and the weed lifting up as they hunted snails or mussels or whatever. As you can imagine the camp went straight back up and another night was on the cards. Changed the rods over to longer hinges as the bottom wasn't great, placed one rod at the near side and one the far side of the potamogeton bed. Again nothing overnight, then as I'm packing up 9am I see a ripple coming from the left treeline, then 30 seconds later a carp comes up at the far end of the weedbed and starts pushing the weed around again, swirling and tail out. So I leave it until 11am but no more activity and can't wait all day. I can see me doing more time on the medium sized lake next year and these little ignored areas round the back are right up my street!

2nd time I've seen the odd bubble come up in this tiny back bay, this time though the culprits moved about up in the kelp bed on the left, didnt look big but a bites a bite. Nothing overnight but heard a slosh amougst the fireworks last night, fingers crossed - last trip before a venue switch.

Fogged out ! 🤞🤞

Finally on the bank for a night 🤞

I liked the colour, I now got a lifetime supply of marker braid lol. Luckily it went on my spare spools instead of stripping the SBX.

Bought the Bluebell Lakes winter ticket which runs 9th Nov - 12th March for £299, setting this up to encourage me to document the trips and see if I end up getting value for money. Not sure when the first trip will be as I'm still giving it a go down the syndicate.

I'd be using a sinking braid at that range. I believe the DBX is neutral buoyancy where the SBX is sinking. Why did you switch mate?

Hi, I've just purchased some of the new Thinking Angers DBX braid for my fishing rods. It says it can be used for general fishing along with feature finding and spoding. I've used SBX exclusively, The DBX looks like marker braid. Does it matter if it floats before a bobbin is attached? once the bobbin is in place and the braid is under light tension I guess it don't matter or am I missing something here and it's not a good idea to use on my baited rods? I don't fish at distance, 10 wraps max. Thanks

I've started on my 1:48 Harrier GR9

It's not just deep water that is risky! The water depth at Botesdale is currently no more than 1.6m, or 4feet. That is water depth, but the silt itself can be a couple of feet deep. The causeway itself is wadeable, you can walk across it, it is a proper stone causeway built around the 15 or 1600's, a stone pathway built across the marshland to the manor house before Lancelot Capability Brown created the lake. Step off the causeway towards the shallower (east) end and most of it will go to no deeper than thigh depth, however carp have fed up and created holes that go chest deep. Step off the causeway to the dam end and you will be going into water chest deep, but with around 1-1.3mm or 3foot of silt you can sink in. Put a marker float out and if the float comes up you will get 3-4feet of water, the lead sits on it, as @greekskii says, it has a hard crust, except, again where carp have fed and it is softer. There is also a stream bed running along the lake on the house side, which is a metre of silt.

Yeah I bet ! I have a severe fear of deep murky water where I can't see the bottom ! So wading for me would be out of the question anyway unless absolutely necessary as said the waters I've fished over the years wading wasn't allowed .