crusian

Thanks fellas , even you Newmarket . I may well take you up on your kind offer at some point Gaz , as although I have already joined a club this year they are " improving " the lake , and I'm not sure how things are going to turn out . So are you a Spurs fan Gaz ? , because we could do with some balance on this forum , what with Gooners and Irons .

Hello everyone . I was looking on the Paxman's A.C. website and it looks like their Alresford Lake is the most picturesque , with lots of pictures of 20lb commons on the picture gallery . I guess if I contacted the club I could arrange a viewing , but I would be very interested to hear from anyone who fishes Paxman's waters . Ta .

Hi Paul Best of luck for your trips , and I'll look forward to learning how you got on .

" Carly " - is this more of your Crafty Cockney rhyming slang ? .

Hi Newmarket As I understand it , a Wild Carp is a direct descendant of the original Carp that were imported into this country for the Monks to put into their Stew ponds to eventually eat . However, if there are other strains of Carp , Mirrors , Commons etc , how do you guarantee a pure bred Wild Carp ? . Nick , would Suffolk Water Park allow Paul a concession to drive around one or more of the lakes and park behind his swim ? . I'm guessing it's not just carrying his gear around to his swim that he needs his Camper Van for , but also so he doesn't have a long walk to the toilets .

Well there you go Ddgx I knew Nick would come up with something ! . Look East has just finished on the t.v. , and there was a feature on Abberton Reservoir . The Reservoir has now filled to its' limit , so if I read Nicks' link correctly the resumption of angling will now be considered ? .

Hi Ddgx As Mufty says I remember Abberton as a Pike and Roach water . I think I can remember , maybe 30 + years ago Pike anglers fishing from the concrete banking off a causeway that crossed part of the reservoir . I wonder if Nick knows anything , as I understand he has fished Ardleigh Reservoir in the past - maybe he also looked at Abberton ? .

Hello Jay Did you join Lakelands in the end , and if so could you share your thoughts about the place please ? . Ta

Hi Yes I remember that wall , I think it leant over at an angle ? . The wall could have indeed been to divert water into the Bottom Lake . I don't blame you for not wanting to Winter Carp Fish the Bottom Lake I remember it as rather dark and uninviting even during the Summer , in Winter I think it would be really cold , damp and depressing , probably full of leaves breaking down and giving off gasses . I hope to see a 'photo of you with a Danbury Lake carp before March . All the best .

Well we are talking about coming up to 40 years ago . I can still remember float fishing sweetcorn on the far bank of the smallest / Bottom Lake - it's probably classed as out of bounds now , but in those days there never really were any proper swims as such . Anyway on that evening I had caught a Rudd , then I hooked the big 15lb ish Mirror which calmly swam all around the lake . This wasn't really a problem as no one else was fishing there so no lines to avoid , and no snags as such , but it didn't help my nerves on my float rod and low breaking strain ( 4lb ? ) line . I had no scales , and had to run to a nearby phone box to call my Dad to come and take a 'photo , and then use my front bike light so my Dad could see to take the 'photo . Do you know Sandford Mill , Sandon ( or would it be Gt. Baddow ) ? . The road runs downhill past the entrance to Manor Farm and comes to a dead end by the Water Works unless you are on foot / cycling then you can cross the bridge over a backwater of the River Chelmer . Anyway the lake nearest Manor Farm house is the one I think the Danbury Lake carp were moved to . Yes I understand The Mill is a syndicate . If you do get to fish the Bottom Lake I remember fishing to a fallen tree by some overhanging rhododendrons in the top right hand corner .

Blimey Danbury Lakes , that takes me back ! . I first fished there when I was probably 11 or 12 ; I don't know when I stopped possibly when I got my first car at 17 / 18 . When I first started fishing there it was for Roach and Gudgeon in the Top or Car Park Lake . Later it was ledgering for Bream in the Middle Lake , with the chance of a large Crucian . Then finally it was for Carp in the Bottom Lake , with the large Rudd . I have a 'photo of me with what was at the time my biggest fish , a Mirror Carp - I was so excited I forgot to weigh it ! . I'm guessing it would have been around 15lb . Later I caught a few more around 5lb float fishing luncheon meat . I heard a story around the time 2 of the 3 lakes were closed to Anglers that the fish ( well the large Carp anyway ) were transfered to what was Manor Farm Bottom Lake in Gt. Baddow - I think it's now called The Mill .

I was just about to ask the question - " where are the Carp , still in shallowish water , or have they started to slide off to the deeper water , because I can't seem to find them , or if they are where I have cast they are not blinking biting ? " , when I saw this thread . I can't remember who suggested it ( Newmarket ? ) , but 2 out of 3 of my last sessions were with a Northerly breeze , so when what wind there was swung around to the South I thought " this is it " - it wasn't . Usually after a hot , windless August , September brings big South Westerlys that oxgenate the water and shake things up , but apart from Newmarket in " Chicago " ( that'll teach him to live in Essex ! ) I don't remember any big winds . I guess that although it's unseasonably hot , the fish know it's Autumn because of the reduced daylight hours , and so are starting to slow down / stopped dead ! . It's very helpful to learn that I am not alone in my struggles to get a bite , at least it has stopped me fiddling unecessarily with my rig and / or change my bait .

Hi Essex carper I'm surprised Nick hasn't been along to help you as I'm sure he has had a campaign on Ardleigh in the past - I guess he's busy .

I have a spool of the Light Blend , and I was thinking about getting a spool of the Dark Blend , but I notice that Richard Gardner has Darth Vader as his Avatar ! . Dare I go over to the Dark Side ? ! .

Hi Is anyone fishing The Nunnery ? . Perhaps adders60 ? . If anyone is fishing there perhaps they could post a review . Ta

Thanks Mozibay . I took one of my rods out of its' padded sleeve , put it together and noticed the hook point of the Medium Curve Shank had " turned over " . So what with your comment on how you have had this brand of hook open up on you Mozibay I'll be keeping a close watch on them .

Thanks Kev. When I went to my local tackle shop to buy my first pack I was told that these new Ace hooks were the best selling hooks they had ever stocked , so I was expecting something super wonderful . The Curves may well " spin " without the need for a kicker ( I've only just started using them ) , but I wouldn't say they are definitely the sharpest hook I have ever used . So I may well have to keep using the JAG files ! .

Hi B.B. I think it was this week someone started a thread about a syndicate at Swan Lake , Hatfield Peverel .

Thanks for your helpful comments fellas .

Thanks Blank . I have been sharpening my hooks with the Jag files , but I'm wondering now if I've been caught up by possible marketing hype ; and hooks like the Ace range are already sharp enough especially as I'm fishing in the margins or only a few rod lengths out ? .

Hi Has anyone used these hooks , particularly the Medium Curve Shank , and if so what do you think of them please ? . Ta .

Cheers Nick . I might take a couple of mates and spread the cost , or I could go for the Traditional Lake as I like to fish close in to a feature - lilies , reeds etc.

Thanks Nick . Have you Nick , or anyone on the forum fished Jacobs Creek please ? - I have heard the weed can make it a real struggle to fish . Ta

Hi Nick Could you take the time please to give YOUR opinion on the different lakes at SWP , it would be much better than any official version . Ta .

Thanks for the update Nick