This diary dates back to a holiday in 2003 when I think the urge to get back into fishing took off.
From around 2007 the trips became more frequent with 2010/11 probably being the peak of activity.
Things again pick up in 2020 - a sort of rebirth!
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More photos in the full report
Tuesday's session was so successful I returned to the same spot with the same rig (float tackle).
I arrived at 07.00 and didn't have a touch on bread or sweetcorn. Changing to luncheon meat I got a bite first cast; a 10lb 6oz leather carp [09.00]. I then had to wait until 13.00 for my next bite, but again it was worth waiting for; a 10lb 12oz mirror carp on luncheon meat.
More photos in the full report
After some really disappointing trips in February, which were effectively blanks, I decided to forgo the perceived wisdom of fishing to the middle of the lake and revert to my preferred margin fishing. As the temperature had also increased a bit I was hopeful that this would prove more productive. I also decided to switch to conventional float fishing (waggler) and use lighter tackle; a carbon Avon style rod with centre-pin reel and and 4lb hook-length.
After the unsuccessful trip on the 9 October I decided to revert to the reed swim and try some float fishing in the margins with the hope of some perch or roach, and perhaps a stray carp. I took some maggots, a very rare thing for me these days.
Well, the day was a disaster. The float fishing yielded minuscule perch on maggot, and the only success was when I tried float-fished sweet corn and picked up a small carp.
More photos in the full report
Painting the external woodwork of the house and a week's holiday contrived to keep me away from Fields End during September, but I managed to fit a trip in early in October. I have never fished the lake so late in the year, and what I soon found out was that my 'summer' tactics didn't work too well.
More photos in the full report
This second day at the lake was better. The pumps were off and the fish were a bit more active. I managed to take seven or eight fish, the best being 4¾ lb.
More photos in the full report
We had a week away at Bashley on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire and Orchard Lakes was just down the road. I had two visits, one for a day and the second for the afternoon. It was a lovely week, this first day in particular being very warm.
I fished the largest of the five lakes.
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