Gardner Tackle’s articles. Written by our team of highly experienced carp and specialist anglers.
After a few successful seasons on the front lake and with my amazing journey across Germany behind me, now felt like the perfect time to go after the remaining 27 known carp from the original stock that were left swimming in the back lake...
I have been fishing Rockford on and off for the last 2 years with only 1 capture, and one loss to a cut off. This year I decided to give it my full focus and hopefully capture another one of the gems of the lake. I started early, with a few trips in January and February, mainly to explore different areas of the lake and start to work a few things out...
I've gone from fishing what is probably one of the busiest club waters in the country, to now being part of an exclusive fifty-man syndicate. I still remember that moment my phone buzzed, and I looked down to see an email entitled 'Roach Pit ticket offer'. I could not wait to get started!
As anglers, our number one priority should be to protect the quarry that we fish for. I often hear people saying that braid is dangerous in the wrong hands, but personally I disagree with this statement. Whichever way you look at it we are aiming to put a baited hook into a fish’s mouth...
Towards late afternoon we headed back to the carp zone, and this time we found some fish feeding; one being a dark mid-20 common. With the fish moving off Wiggy lowered his rig onto the spot and we sat back waiting to see if we could catch one of these black carp swimming around in the deep clear water...
At just after midnight the alarm sounded and I saw the bobbin rise slightly before dropping to the end of the chain – a good reason to use long chains when targeting bream as the vast majority of bites are drop backs...
In early 2016, I found myself itching to get back down the ultra-low-key venue known as Wellington Country Park, to try and get amongst the phenomenal stock of carp whilst they were at their optimal weights. However, with all good things in life, they come at a price...
On the angling front, it had been a very slow winter by previous standards, and I really couldn’t work out why? Conditions had been perfect; wet and warm, and you would have thought the carp would have been climbing up the bank. But for whatever reason they most certainly were not...
We were soon off the mark with a few stunning scaly fish banked. The details of each capture were documented, and a few subtle tweaks made. As we were starting to build up the picture, bite times started to emerge and certain approaches outshone others...
For me, listening and watching the water very closely during those first couple of hours of dawn breaking can be the most critical in the day. Maybe you didn’t catch last night, but are there any tale tell signs that something could still happen over in your area?
It was at this point that I peered down into the net and saw I had the ultimate prize laying beaten, and a rush of sheer elation swept over me. This was the fish I had joined the lake for, and she was finally mine and looking incredible!
I needed to come up with a plan to help remedy my issue with the abundant bites off the Tench and Bream I was catching. Now I do not dislike Tench or big Bream per say, but they are not the intended species, so this train of thought took me right back to the drawing board regarding approach, rigs and bait...
Being known for fishing primarily short overnight sessions in between work an instant attraction to Brooklands was that anglers can drive and park behind most of the swims on the lake, and in addition to me it also attracts lots of other anglers thanks to good access and a great stock of carp...
Luckily enough, the carp hadn’t managed to get too far down in the bay near to the snags, so after continuously pumping the carp soon came into view, as it was lying on its side wallowing yards from the boat, gulping for air...
One thing I must say was it was a right buzz playing a fish in from 80 yards with the sky full of fireworks. In fact, I was actually in awe of the moment and that might actually be why it found the marginal weed and fell off after hitting my other line...
The excitement was building, and frankly I was going crazy waiting to get started. Doing the same thing, I elected to turn up before first light, see where the other anglers were and then find the fish. Low and behold the fish were doing their usual, showing long out in the middle...
The carp looked massive and had not been out for a few months, and the weight was a massive shock to us, and I was absolutely over the moon. It felt great to catch one of my target fish from the venue...
Finally, I was attached to my quarry. Leon came over and helped me shuffle into my waders and help pass my rod under the other as the carp powered out of the bay. I soon lent into the carp, with the tip held low I slowly put the brakes on it...
St. Ive’s itself is a venue steeped in carp angling history, and is home to some stunning original big carp that have grown up to the 50lb+ bracket, a stock that also includes a few very elusive up and coming fish which have barely seen the bank. In fact, ever since I saw Dave Lane holding the awesome ‘Fat Lady’ I always dreamt about fishing St Ives Lagoon...
Summertime is the best time for fish spotting, as the river will be running clear most the time. Big chub often giving themselves away, so it is not usually too hard to find them. Early in the morning, during the evening or in the afternoon sun are all great times for fish spotting...
