[South derbyshire new syndicate]

Guys- just wanted to get an opinion really. As a long time east midlands resident- the lack of decent carp waters has finally driven me to start the search for a gravel pit in south derbyshire to rent and stock. I dont know how viable it is- but I've started down the road. I'm not an experienced fishery owner- just a middle aged guy who's naffed off with the lack of 'serious' carp waters and stupid rules that commercial fishery owners apply.

 

So the question- If it comes to fruition- how many people would want to join the syndicate- and what do we call a reasonable amount of money per annum to fish? It would be a low number syndicate which I would look to stock at low levels with mid sized fish (high teens, twentys and a spinkling of thities). Assume a typical mids gravel pit of 12 acres. A bit of a pipe dream- but I'm sure one that everyone has had when the local chavs decend onto your water and cast over you/ try to bum some bait.

 

Clearly I'm not looking for any commitment- just some honest thoughts or experience of people trying this thing before.

[40lb armoured braid]

kryston quicksilver- tough as old boots- 35lb or 45lb

[luke moffatts graviers]

Try readin bill cottams book- a couple of chapters are dedicated to it and might give you some ideas.

[Behind the rods]

Just finished Bill Cottams book. Great read, some good tales that normal anglers can relate to about early days fishing, through an angling career progressively catching bigger and more sought after fish.

Definately not a "I sat for 300 days without a bite" book, or "heres the latest fantastic rig, rod, reel that I owe all of my success to".

[Narrow parts of the ebro]

I think you may be frustrated by trying to fish the ebro for the first time on your own. Especially if you try it on the narrow sections. The amount of water coming through the narrow sections is invariably the same as in the wider sections so it will run deeper and faster. This will have an effect on teh fish that inhabit/ feed there, the amount of lead you will need to hold bottom, the debris coming through and wiping out your lines and your loose feed being taken downstream.

There are plenty of big hits to be taken on the segre/ ebro junction in relatively slow water and equally on the top lake where the water is virtually still (and you can find swims with no one around you for miles).

my advise would be to have at least one or two days guided fishing out there. a little local knowledge can make up for 2 or 3 wasted trips on your own.

[Mequinenza Carp Fishing Spain]

you should be in for a treat. dont worry too much about the cats- at that time of year there will be a lot of melt water coming down and they won tbe too active. you could put 10kg of maize and 10 kg of pellets in a day and it wont be too much. some of the best hits I have seen have been over 25kgs of pellets!!!

 

dont worry too mcuh about tackle too as there are two well stocked tackle shops in the town.

 

Just step up your normal gear that you fish with in the UK and you will be OK. If you are fishing at distance you may have to go up to 6 oz of lead to hold bottom. Take some plastic corn and fish with a few grains of maize on the hair aswell- as an alternative to pellets. dont ignore the margins either- sometimes they will be ripping the bank to pieces right under your feet.

 

good luck.

[What are the best hooks ?]

I've had a lot of hooks giving me issues- but the fish that I have been using them for are a little bigger than the average. Ive had several Korda's open out on me, two owner MUtu's where the eye opened and esp raptors bent out of shape. I can however recomend Raptor Big T's and solar stronghold longshanks. I have landed carp to 80lb on the esp's and arapiama to 300lb on the solars.

[Decent carp waters in Derbyshire]

Unfortunately the east midlands is somewhat lacking in decent carp waters. It depends what you want out of life. You can sit on some busy day ticket waters like allestree and hope for a twenty or stick out all season on a head banger like swarkestone and stand a chance of a 40 but do so in peace and use good angling skills. The trent is under fished and rewarding with unknown and unamed fish that fight like stink.... or move down south

[Has Anyone Ever Fished Higham Farm Before ???]

I've not fished it for around 6 or 7 years, but its a set of nice little pools with a relatively good stock level. The speci pool see's a lot of action, but the otehr pools also hold reasonable fish. The average seemed to be a fish per 24 hours- upper doubles were the target back then. Nice pub at the top of the drive.