Weather wise, it couldn’t of been hotter at the start, coming out from home where we are lucky to get twenty odd degrees, into the cauldron of 33 degrees was almost unbelievable for some of the lads, then early Monday morning a short but brutal storm, brought a welcoming weather change a bit of rain, wind, overcast and much cooler, however this rapid weather change and the carp just finished spawning as well, saw a big drop in the amount of action we are used to over here!!

Lake 2, for instance had a host of fish sunning themselves, but loathe to get their heads down, which can be pretty annoying, sometimes its not enough to know they are in there, you want to catch a few as well!! It would appear that all caught carp, not many though for most 14 carp hauls the best for John Tingley Peg 6 had 14 carp on a blend of Cell and Fusion boilies.

Keith Geer peg 12 had 12 carp on Active-8 and Cell. Damian Knaggs, Peg 1 (closest to the lodge) also had 14 carp out inc. 5x30’s and a 40lber, all on the Cell.

Lake 1 fished bit better as the fish in here had spawned earlier on. This weeks Top Bombing award goes to Scott McGregor in the Hornets with a catch of 35 carp. Scotts haul consisted of 17x20’s, 14x30’s and 3x40’s all caught on his fishmeal boilies.

Scott Greathead in Westbar (that’s next door to the other Scott) took 28 carp prisoners that week, again on their fishmeal boilies, a 42lb-8ozs common the best.

Jim Smith had unlucky 13 from the Snags swim on Active-8 boilies. Richard White Eastbar caught a dozen (12) on Premier baits boilies.

Steve Cripps set up in the Beach swim had 8 out inc. a new P.B. Common of 49lbs, which looks like it was a really big 50 before it spawned. Crippo was using the “New Grange” bait from Mainline.

Down the track to lakes 3-4-5, 5 suffered the same fate as Lake 2 with the weather and spawning, which is a shame as all the anglers on Lakes 3 and 5 are all Essex boys and Zen’s mates, bet they give him some grief??

Crafty Carper Chris Cade winkled out 10 fish with the best a creditable 45lber mirror on the Cell. Kev, next peg (pictured right) had 10 fish, again on the Cell.

Young Owen Fretwell 13yrs usually hauls whenever he goes, only managed 6 fish, so you know it wasn’t fishing well!!

The lads on Lake 4 had a few out, Ian Cameron peg 2 had a catch of 23 carp inc. 2x40’s of 44lbs and 44lb-12ozs both mirrors on the Cell.

Colin Cleveland peg 3 caught a total of 18 carp inc. 7x30’s and 3x40’s all mirrors using 10kg of the Cell and some Active-8.

Danny Burden, Peg 8 caught 20 carp (no weights wrote down,) but he had a 40lb+ mirror on a mix of Cell and Fusion boiles.

Lake 3 still managed to perform despite the conditions, Top Rod being a one Darryl Humphreys peg 16 with a catch of 31 carp for the week, a shed load of 20’s and 30’s and rounded it off with a trio of 40’s up to 42lb-8ozs all mirrors too!!

Darryl baited heavily for his catch using 40kg of Mainline bait (don’t know which one).

Trevor Knight peg 9 had a total of 24 carp all taken on the Cell.

Rob Willingham Pegs 8-12 (upcoming superstar is he) also had a catch of 24 carp inc. 4x40’s inc. 2x40lb commons and 2x40lb+ mirrors taken on Nosh Squid baits, and the Cell.

Dave Springall “The Cagefighter” as he is known in Peg 7 caught a total of 17 carp for the week including 4x40’s, 2x40lb mirrors and 2x40lb+ commons, the best a respectable 46lb-2oz. Dave used 15kg of Acive-8 boilies.

Now our old mate Ian Hearsum, known as the "Window dresser” because of his immaculate hair, decided whatever happened he was going to have a holiday and he still managed 19 fish, and he lost as many do, “too light on your toes mate!” Not only did the constant buzzers ruin his holiday, the other lads refused to let him wear his Kermit the Frog thong!!

Gavin Reynolds peg 14 had a haul of 15 carp using 15kg of Nash bait.

Oliver Hill peg 4 had 9 out plus a 40lb+ common and 40lb+ mirror on Scopex/Grange baits.

I’ll start with the weather we had this week, it was slightly unsettled, with high pressure, warm with odd showers, when I say warm it’s in the mid 20’s, 25-26 degrees, most days, a lot hotter than back home.

Some of the carp have had a go at spawning, though not all do it at the same time, as our fish stocks came from different areas and are of different strains, totally unplanned, but the good thing is when the carp are spawning there are always feeding fish as well.

There’s a couple of "Top Bombing" awards this week, one for the best catch the other, goes to our bailiff Barty, who set a new distance record when four of the biggest blokes ever!! picked him up one meal time and tossed him so far into our stock pond, outside the lodge, setting new records for "distance thrown" and "splash!!" Well done lads!!

On to more serious things, like the fishin’ for instance. Down on 3 those four big guys (luckily for us) bagged a few fish between them fishing pegs 12, 13, 14 and 16, all on D.T. Baits. Mark Goodwin sneaked out a 45lb grassie, these go up to 70lb-90lb in 3.
Jeff Barlow had half a dozen up to 40lb mirror.

Paul Gray managed to winkle out a whacker of 55lb common right at the end of the week, well done lads, and thanks for your help too!!

The 2 Stoke lads; Paul Wilton and Carl Sheppard thought they’d give 3 a go in hope of one of those 60’s.

Both armed with the Active-8 poor old Paul in swim 8 found it a struggle, and Carl opposite in swim 9 went on to catch 18 carp, using Active-8 a white Hi-Viz 12mm pop-up on the K.D rig transformed his takes.

Carl ended up with 8x40’s and used 20kgs of the Active-8.

Aaron Bance on Lake 4 peg 1 had 14 fish the best a 45lb common and an 82lb cat as well on KG1. James Humphrey in peg 8 had a total of 21 fish from Lake 4 inc. 2x40’s both mirrors, using 10kgs of the Maple-8 and a 58lb cat, to boot!

Top rod on DL5 was Paul Matthews in peg 6 who went on to take a haul of 24 carp, a 51lb mirror on the Cell.

Kenneth Wood peg 3 had 10 fish inc. 2x40’s and topped it of with a 52lb mirror again on the Cell.

14 year old Anthony Fox peg 8 caught 11 fish, but the highlight of the week was his monster 110lb catfish, caught on D.L.Specials Opal would you believe. Well done laddie!!

Up top now, to D.L.1 where Dave Samuel in the “Kingfishers”, using his homemade baits, he tells me, caught 14 fish inc. 3x40’s two of which were over 48lbs.

Dave Pillman “Cherries” had 11 fish, topped of by a 50lb+ common on the Cell.

Jeff Pope “Three Steps” had unlucky 13 fish on Active-8 and Cell up to mid 40’s.

Richard Forty “Ladies Lair” had 11 fish and as the name suggests a Forty of 46lb’s a common again on Acive-8 and Cell boilies.

Danny Birch “Gables” ended the session on 30 carp, looks like he had a 55lb common late on, on the Cell, plus a further 7 cats up to 70lb’s.

John Allcock “Herbies Hole” had 18 carp on Cell.

Darren Bellerby “West Point” had 9 out on S.B.S inc. a 41lb Mirror and 47lb common.

Over on DL2 Steve Rock in peg 3 gets this weeks "Top Bombing" award for his haul of 33 fish, all taken on the Cell, 30kg of it to be exact.

Lee Simms peg 19 had 16 carp on TI. Colin O'Gorman also on TI had 10 out up to 44lbs from peg 20. Chris Herbert peg 12 had 14 fish on the Active-8. Paul Broadhurst peg 30 had a catch of 18 carp inc. 2x40’s all on Pro-Active Pineapple the best common of 48lbs, using 20kgs of bait.

Paul Mantell peg 29 had unlucky 13 on the Acive-8.

Mark House in peg 27 looks like he had the only grass carp this week, with one of 44lbs on the Cell.

Craig Williams peg 2 near the lodge end had a total of 16 carp inc. 2x40’s and a 59lb cat on Nosh baits.

Darren Seymour peg 6 had a dozen carp inc. 2x40’s, using 25kgs of Assasin-8 and the Cell.

The bubble burst a bit this week. Weather wise we started off well Sat and Sun, then the weather changed and slowed it down, the constant water temps had the carp looking to group up, then a really cold deluge of rain put a stop to that and slowed up the sport for the rest of the week. The Cell baits are really working well, also light colored (Hi-Viz) baits like Mainlines “Diamond White’s”, Pink Glow?? Topped with plastic corn, most carp this week came from the gravel patches, and the cats from the silt beds. At least nobody blanked this week.

Lake 1 produced between 5 and 28 fish top rod on 28 fish was Adam Everett who fished the ‘Sunset’ taking 19 x 20’s and 16 x 30’s on the Cell. Simon Braywood next door in the ‘Ladies Lair’ again in the open end of Lake 1 had a haul of 27 fish inc. 4 x 20’s 10 x 30’s up to 39lbs and 3 x 40’s inc. mirrors of 40lbs and 44lbs all taken on the Active-8. Gary Brett the” Pads “caught 11 fish inc. 30’s up to 39lbs, and 2 x 40’s both mirrors inc. a terrific 48lb-10oz mirror, on the Cell.

Lee Moore “Embers” had 18 carp on Scopex Squid. Nick Cooper “Hornets” had a 10 fish catch witch included 3 x 40’s up to 46lbs and topped it of with a proper biggie of 56lb-8ozs common on the Active-8.

Joe Player moved between the “Cherries” on one bank to “Herbies Hole” on the opposite bank, the extra effort paid off with 10 fish inc. 2 x 40’s up to 44lb-8ozs common and a 50lb-6ozs common on the Active-8. Rob Pettengell “3 Steps” also had 10 fish to 45lbs on the Cell.

Moving over to Lake 2 now this weeks "Top Bombing" award goes to Andy Gowan ”24” with a catch of 30 fish 19 x 20’s 10 x 30’s, most over 37lbs inc. a 35lb grass carp, bet that shot off!! And topped it of with 2 x 40’s up to 48lb-10ozs all taken on plastic corn.

Alan James in “16” had a catch of 27 fish topped by 3 x 39lbers then a 45lb common on Matrix. John Taylor on the opposite bank in peg “17” had a catch of 21 fish inc. 4 x 40lb commons on the Cell or Squid. Kevin Shone peg “22” took 21 fish on D.L.Specials Tiger nut boilies, and Active-8. Mark Taylor peg “6” had a haul of 21 carp on Cell and Active-8 inc. a 43lb grassie as well! Daniel Hill in peg “4” up near the lodge end had a 10 fish bag but his best being a rather large 53lb-8oz common taken on Cell and Active-8 topped by a bit of plastic.

A quick trip down to 3 – 4 – 5, as I said no great shakes this week not that the lads never tried, just that conditions weren’t the best, everyone caught. D Smallwood on 3 in peg “14” had a dozen out inc. 4 x 40’s up to 45lbs and topped it off with a 51lb-12oz common on the Cell. Lee Philpott in peg “15” had 9 fish inc. 3 x 40’s on the Cell. Steve Workman peg “8”, Cell had 10 fish from DL5. Paul Collins also DL5 had fish up to 42lbs on the Cell. There were 2 x 50’s from Lake 4 one fell to Andrew Major a mirror of 50lbs on Cell and bailiff Barty guesting on 4 also had a mirror 50lb-8ozs on Active-8.

That now brings the 50+ clubs "Roll of Honour" to 50 carp over 50lbs in the first 7 trips.

More next week lads!

The weather this week has been splendid 20 – 30 degrees throughout the week, mid teens at night time, and just the odd occasional shower.

Lake 5, looking at my initial reports seems to have fished a bit slow this week, the other lakes have fished well, with a good amount of large fish caught! Stick mixes and bags again doing the bizz. Rich Hardy (Lake 2 double) and Buzz Burnett (Lake 1 Beach) both introduced a good bed of bait each throughout the week, resulting in 2 x 50lbers each and several 40’s. Dave Manning the previous week used the same tactics to take a 99 fish haul on Lake 2.

Headlines this week:
67 x 40’s, 11 x 50’s and a 62lber
Another 10 ton haul or there abouts, who cares if you’re haulin !!!?

Lets start on Lake 1 (28 x 40’s and 5 x 50’s) Paul Sanford (Herbies Hole) took a total of 21 fish Inc 11 x 30’s and 2 x 40’s all on the Cell. Josh Sandford (Gables) had 18 fish but also included 3 x 40’s and a lovely 51lb+ common also on the Cell. Tony Grove just up in the Deer Dip, winkled out 27 carp inc. 6 x 40’s and a monster mirror of 55lbs, again on the Cell.

Lake 2
23 x 40’s and 4 x 50’s. This weeks "Top Bombin" award goes to Jamie McFarlane peg 27 with a big haul of 56 fish inc. 32 x 20’s 10 x 30’s and two 30lb+ grass carp as well on the Cell. John McFarlane next door in peg 26 took one of those 50’s a 53lb common to be exact on the Cell.

Richard Hardy peg 9 had a big hit as well taking a haul of 45 fish, 20 x 20’s, 14 x 30’s and 3 x 40’s then rounded of the trip with a brace of 50’s, two commons of 55lb-8ozs and 54lb-8ozs taken on just of 20kgs of Mainlines Cell. Scott Saunders peg 3 had 27 carp on the Cell. Mark Brown peg 10 took a catch of 25 carp on the Cell. D Bullock peg 21 had a total for the week of 34 carp, 23 x 20’s and 12x 30’s on Nash bait.
Sorry if I have not mentioned all you lads as you may realize there is just too many of you.

Lakes 3 – 4 – 5
16 x 40’s, 2 x 50’s, 1 x 62lber

Lake 4 saw regulars Charlie Last and Dave Moult, who paid for all 4 spots and had the lake to themselves they caught over 60 carp between them on Mainlines D.L.Specials Pineapple, as well as a fair number of big cats too.

Lake 3
Lee Philpott (1) had the week’s biggie yet another 60lber and the 3rd this season from 3 a 62lb common as well as a 52lb common on the Cell. Malcolm Bullock (10) came a close second with his wacker of 58lbs also a common on Mainlines Maple-8.

Finally Lake 5. Wayne Dobson peg 7 took 21 carp inc. a 44lb mirror on the Active-8.

More next week.

The week started of with our first patch of rain Saturday till Monday were a bit wet Tues was stormy, the temps rose to 22 degrees Wednesday to Friday.
Can I ask you lads to please complete the catch report forms we hand out to you, this week it’s fished really well, but I’ve only got 10 back from DL1 and only half from DL2, it makes it really hard to write my updates which you all seem to want to read.

I’ll start down on the Lakes 3 -4- 5 this week, mainly because 3 was still in fairly good form again, and threw up yet another monster 60lber, an also some big old cats as well with two over the magical 100lb mark from DL5.

I have noticed this week talking to the anglers, that many of the big fish have been coming out too small sticks, and, or single hook baits. Lots of quality fish again this week, with a good amount of 50’s. Great feedback and the anglers were well happy.

Alan Granger peg 16 used Solar baits to take a dozen carp inc. 2x40’s and a bonus cat of 62lbs. Steven Butcher in the peg next door had a 14 fish haul inc. a 41lb mirror again these all fell to the Cell. On the opposite bank, in Peg 9 Paul Whirley I bet his head was ‘spinning‘ after his haul of 36 carp inc. 11 carp over 30lbs a further 10x40lbs and a monster common of 60lbs, again all fell victim to the Cell bait. Martin Starkey in Peg 5 took a credible 20 fish catch inc. 2x40lbs and 2x50lbs + cats again the ever consistent Cell boilies.

...so three of the lads each catch over 20+ carp each. Terry Pugh took a 25 carp haul including 4x40’s + a further 4x50lbs + cats, and rounded off the session in fine style with a monster of 127lbs again to the Cell.

Steve Moutrey in Peg 1 had one less with 24 carp including 8x30lbs and 2x40lbs, Cell yet again.

Phil Norman Peg 8 took 20 carp including a lovely 49lb mirror and a bonus cat a shade over 106lbs witch fell to a pineapple pop-up.

I’ve only got half this info to work with but Paul Brunskill fished the Snags to take this week’s top haul for 1 with a catch of 51 carp, all of which were caught on the Cell.

Paul Hook Westbar had 31 fish, the biggest a 46lb common on Squid boilies. Stuart Newbold Kingfishers had a total of 24 carp, an 85lb cat and 4x40lbers inc. one of 47lb-3ozs. Elliot Warren 3 steps, 24 carp Cell.

John Arnold Ladies Lair had just over a dozen inc. 4x40lbs on the DLSpecials. Leon Turner the same inc. a further 4x40lbs on Cell, and biggest fish of the week for Lake 1 was Lenny Chandler with 14 fish but including an impressive 58lb Common.

Lake 2
This weeks “Top Bombing” award goes to 27yr old Dave Manning for his tireless efforts in landing a massive total of 99 carp during his session, all taken on Premier Baits. Graham Carter per 24 had a catch of 58 carp on K.G.1, followed by Will Bowens in 17 with 49 carp on Nutrabaits, Cindy Verdonk in peg 19 totaled 20 fish, again on Nutrabaits and Denis Linden peg 20 with 23 fish these were Dutch anglers who fished ‘Voyage’, and really enjoyed fishing English Style! Lastly Mick Carter peg 22 with 22 carp the biggest being a 48lb common.

Fill those reports in lads please!
More next week.