fishtopher

bearing in mind I was still an apprentice fisherman at the tender age of 10- 13 years old (now 30 years ago) In those days it was a mess, very shallow, lots of grass growing in the middle, many swims unfishable. The only swims I recall were fishable were at the top end nearest the hill. We use to use bread paste, a size 16, and a porcupine quill float - God I sound even older now. We use to catch 20-30 small crucian carp on a good day. I remember the grass snakes swimming all over the place and the maretail weeds. Are they still there or has some manicured the place like a back garden? Do you know what it was originally built for - I'll tell you what I was told when I fished it all those years ago. It was a ressy for the Army encampment at the top of the hill. There was a big gun emplacement for the AA battery having a pop at the Germany airforce in both the 1st and 2nd world wars who used the Thames Estuary to fly up and bomb London.

is this the one on the old Salvation Army farm? If so I fished over 40 years ago- God I'm old! Used to be full of crucian carp in those days.

caused quite a few conversations yesterday at my club water during a pond clearing. I was told it is now £5.40 per rod plus £2.80 to park your car. Never really liked the place. Quite a few idiots amongst the sensible anglers so quite a bit of litter, lines get cast over, and you can't leave your gear and go to the toilets without a buddy to watch the gear while your gone. Shall be giving it an even wider berth from now.

I sometimes fish the Luton stretch from Ivinghoe to LM. Ihad a few out to 15lb but lost much bigger fish in the past in the far side snags. Reports coming thru last year reckoned someone had a 30+ out. No night fishing though so either go early and fish until the boats start moving around or go late after the owners are encamped in the local pubs. Keep your rods as far out in the canal as you can to keep the towpath clear and watch out for the cyclist too. Some are polite, some ain't and will take any opportunity to run over your rods. I use a bucket or trolley either side of my swim to give them a warning that someone is fishing but some of the loonies come past at 20mph +. We all have to use the canal so be polite - this plea also refers to the cyclist if your reading this!!

never fished this venue BUT I fish a silty estate lake and there are few tricks to negate the silt and present the bait on the top of it and not buried in it. Note that some fish prefer the silt and positively hunt it out in less silty waters though. remember silt often contains bloodworm - find them and you generally find a hotspot. 1) use light leads and feather the bait down when you cast. 2) use pop ups or balanced baits 3) use solid pva bags which lower the tackle onto the lake bed as they dissolve. 4) use achod rig - there are plenty of threads on the website about these rigs. 5) try and find some gravel areas (most silty waters will have them) as these are generally silt free as the fish have disturbed the silt.

used to belong to BDAC over 25 years ago when they first got hold of Barleyland and before that nasty farmshop and showground was there. Must go back sometime. It used to very good for roach and bream, never fished for carp in those days. I fish a ressie up in beds now. The advantage with these farm ressies is that the water level goes up and down as the farmer needs water. This leads to the lake bed constantly being covered and uncovered so the food levels are kept high and the fish seem to be bigger than in a lake with a constant level.