MID WINTER PROGRESS.
With Christmas and new year celebrations a distant memory and the temperatures well below zero and the lake frozen over it felt like a good day to spend some time in the office. We are now in full flow with the winter work in order to prepare the lake for the new season which starts in late March so I thought it might be good to update everyone on what’s been done and what’s yet to be done.
There’s been lots of bits and pieces done plus repairing the pot holes to the drive. Simon and I also had the challenge of cutting up the big oak the fell into the lake and, believe me that was some challenge. We took off the crown branches and then cut the main trunk into, just about, manageable chunks. Unfortunately this was made doubly difficult because the oak is so dense that it sinks so every branch and chunk had to be manually dragged to the bank. That took quite some time but cutting them further and then splitting, logging, borrowing and stacking them took even longer. Anyway that it done but we also need to do some more tidying to a couple of the other trees but that can wait until the lake thaws.
We have now managed to cut all of the reeds to the long bank and we are currently in the process of burning them. The remaining work to that side includes a few more small rafts of reeds which we are waiting to blow in, some more tidying of fallen sticks etc (until the next gale), and then a couple of swims which I would like to improve before we spread some gravel.
We then need to cut and remove the reeds to the meadow bank but there a lot less on that bank.
I have been feeding the lake but haven’t seen signs of carp moving onto the bait and with the lake now frozen that process is on hold.
During February I plan to carry out the annual dose of calcium carbonate but this year I will try the fine powder rather than the micro granules we have used previously. I believe that we may get a better “floculant” effect from the fine powder so we shall see.
I have lots of thoughts and plans with bait but that can wait for another few weeks.
Be lucky.
Our 2019 season has just finished and our hard work is about to begin. We now face the slog of general maintenance in order to get our lake ship-shape and Bristol fashion before the start of the 2020 season. We will keep you up to date as work progresses but it is a good time to take a brief look back at the last couple of weeks plus the odd highlight which will lead us to the excitements and expectations for next year.
28th October 2019.
Another very enjoyable week done with a great bunch of lads. Our lives can, sometimes be very easy when groups are so easy to look after so I’ve got to say a massive thank you and well angled to one and all.
The angling certainly wasn’t easy but I think part of it was because, with just five anglers on the exclusive booking, the fish were able to move away to quiet areas of the lake and were left undisturbed. My reason for saying this is simply that the week started very well but went quiet for the last 48 hours.
Anyway, it wasn’t too sad as the lads managed to Bank 21 Carp and these included 7 forties, 3 fifties to 59lbs+ and “Horseshoe Scale” at 61lbs 1oz.
Well angled fellas.
Plenty of photos to look at so I will keep the verbiage brief.
As is often the case, some anglers did considerably better than others but, in general, a good week was had by all.
I met some new additions to the Moorland family who are already friends with plans to return next year and 2021 so we must have done something right.
A special mention must go out to one of our regulars. Ben Newton chose Oaks swim and fished it extremely well to end with 14 good carp rounded off with a new PB in the shape of a 51lbs common. Well angled mate.
In total the lads had 49 carp including 13 forties and 6 fifties, two of which were 59lbs plus.
Be lucky!
This is going to be a weekly report about the lake but will be built around the session of a lifetime for one angler.
I’m pleased to be able to record that everyone of the five anglers caught so nobody blanked but 
the results of one angler were astounding.
It was rewarding to see some of the anglers take note of exactly where the fish were feeding and use that information to their advantage. It was also interesting to see Oaks go from producing just one fish the previous week to 15 last week, including the biggest of the week at 63lbs. This could easily be related to the bait being used as we see, very regularly that some of the most popular baits done work well out here. I’m pleased to report that every one of the 8 anglers caught at least one carp over 40lbs and the total catch was 59 carp, which included 19 forties, 2 fifties and 2 sixties. Well angled fellas.
I must admit that I wasn’t expecting to be adding to the blog this quickly but last night’s captures prove just how quickly the situation can swing. I mentioned in my last post that the area in front of Oaks and Royal Box hadn’t produced anything of note during last week but had banked Pipesmoker at 60lbs on Saturday night.
It continues to produce the goods and while Royal Box banked Pipesmoker, last night it was Oaks turn to shine with a double pick up made up of a 47lbs mirror and “Peach” at 63lbs. Both fish look in stunning condition and the recent history of the Peach is worth recounting.