In reply to Post #60
I had previously seen photographs of two, very special ex Thames fully scaled. Both of which had previously been caught by friends from the Nursery pit. These fish interested me massively. Unfortunately, one of them had since blown up spawn bound and died. It's the one Cooperman is holding in the attached photos. But I knew that there was another, also that she was one of the most beautiful carp that I had ever clapped eyes on. Being a lifelong Thames angler, she was the ultimate prize for me. But I knew of some other very special ex Thames carp in there as well, and I simply could not wait to fish the pit. I knew I could have access for parking, I knew the pit would fit in well with me needing to work constantly. I would just need to keep myself well hidden away from any birdwatchers that would so regularly walk the lake, and the out of bounds on the back of RDAA Sonning. I would also need to make my hard earned time fishing really count. I would always wear 'normal' non fishing clothes, and anyone who approached my swim would be cut off long before they got close to seeing any fishing kit. I blagged two bird watchers, and a Lafarge employee during my short time on the pit, none of whom ever saw my rods or my kit.
My first walk around the pit, revealed very clearly that the much older more shallower area closest to Sonning, was the area anyone fishing the lake previously had mainly concentrated their efforts. Once you got behind the maze of impenetrable gorse bushes, a hidden world was revealed. A hidden world of truly lovely swims completely cut off from the outside world's knowledge. Clearly lovingly prepared by anglers who had poached the lake previously. The last thing I wanted to do was tread on anyone else's toes. So this area was immediately written off. Little did I know, that I would have the pit to myself pretty much for the next six weeks. I could have fished where I wanted, but I did not want to fish near anyone else, so I went to the opposite side of the lake to where it was obvious anyone fishing was going. At the end of the main path on the opposite side, there was a fence, with access to the back of the Nursery centre. It was here that I chose to start fishing up next to this fence. It had a large plateau to my right, with bars running from the more newly dug half of the pit like roadways. The swim that I chose, was right on the meeting point of old and new Nursery. Basically on the outside corner of the L shape. To my right, was the much deeper, heavily weeded newer part of the lake. The weed was the thickest most horrible you could imagine. Full up with zebra mussel at all depths. Directly opposite me at range, was the shallower, much older part of the pit. I would later find out that the pits very small stock of carp, would spend the vast majority of their day time in this shallower area. All of them. They very rarely visited the deeper, more heavily weeded part of the lake. But when they did at night during darkness, they just had to use the road ways right out in front of me in my mind. I knew the first time I went out in the boat and looked, that this would be the area for me to target. The two bars that came off the side of the plateau to my right, both ran for around ten to fifteen yards and broke up directly in front of me. Both bars were completely covered in really thick Canadian pond weed. My first task was to clear this weed. An eight foot bamboo cane was placed at the start of the furthest bar, which also ran slightly longer than the closer bar. The cane was placed, so as I could see it from the bank. To normal people it would just look like a stick caught in weed from the bank. The photo with the rod leaning on bivvy was just after the fully was banked. If you zoom in you can see my cane. At the time I was living very close to the Nursery, having moved to Sonning for a year. I was working every single day, but I could visit the lake just before dusk and bait it. And that is what I did. My fishing time was kept to the bare minimum really.
I had previously seen photographs of two, very special ex Thames fully scaled. Both of which had previously been caught by friends from the Nursery pit. These fish interested me massively. Unfortunately, one of them had since blown up spawn bound and died. It's the one Cooperman is holding in the attached photos. But I knew that there was another, also that she was one of the most beautiful carp that I had ever clapped eyes on. Being a lifelong Thames angler, she was the ultimate prize for me. But I knew of some other very special ex Thames carp in there as well, and I simply could not wait to fish the pit. I knew I could have access for parking, I knew the pit would fit in well with me needing to work constantly. I would just need to keep myself well hidden away from any birdwatchers that would so regularly walk the lake, and the out of bounds on the back of RDAA Sonning. I would also need to make my hard earned time fishing really count. I would always wear 'normal' non fishing clothes, and anyone who approached my swim would be cut off long before they got close to seeing any fishing kit. I blagged two bird watchers, and a Lafarge employee during my short time on the pit, none of whom ever saw my rods or my kit.
My first walk around the pit, revealed very clearly that the much older more shallower area closest to Sonning, was the area anyone fishing the lake previously had mainly concentrated their efforts. Once you got behind the maze of impenetrable gorse bushes, a hidden world was revealed. A hidden world of truly lovely swims completely cut off from the outside world's knowledge. Clearly lovingly prepared by anglers who had poached the lake previously. The last thing I wanted to do was tread on anyone else's toes. So this area was immediately written off. Little did I know, that I would have the pit to myself pretty much for the next six weeks. I could have fished where I wanted, but I did not want to fish near anyone else, so I went to the opposite side of the lake to where it was obvious anyone fishing was going. At the end of the main path on the opposite side, there was a fence, with access to the back of the Nursery centre. It was here that I chose to start fishing up next to this fence. It had a large plateau to my right, with bars running from the more newly dug half of the pit like roadways. The swim that I chose, was right on the meeting point of old and new Nursery. Basically on the outside corner of the L shape. To my right, was the much deeper, heavily weeded newer part of the lake. The weed was the thickest most horrible you could imagine. Full up with zebra mussel at all depths. Directly opposite me at range, was the shallower, much older part of the pit. I would later find out that the pits very small stock of carp, would spend the vast majority of their day time in this shallower area. All of them. They very rarely visited the deeper, more heavily weeded part of the lake. But when they did at night during darkness, they just had to use the road ways right out in front of me in my mind. I knew the first time I went out in the boat and looked, that this would be the area for me to target. The two bars that came off the side of the plateau to my right, both ran for around ten to fifteen yards and broke up directly in front of me. Both bars were completely covered in really thick Canadian pond weed. My first task was to clear this weed. An eight foot bamboo cane was placed at the start of the furthest bar, which also ran slightly longer than the closer bar. The cane was placed, so as I could see it from the bank. To normal people it would just look like a stick caught in weed from the bank. The photo with the rod leaning on bivvy was just after the fully was banked. If you zoom in you can see my cane. At the time I was living very close to the Nursery, having moved to Sonning for a year. I was working every single day, but I could visit the lake just before dusk and bait it. And that is what I did. My fishing time was kept to the bare minimum really.
In reply to Post #61
The Nursery poaching pit, Sonning Eye, close season 2017.
Within a few days of leaving Burghfield, I was baiting the Nursery. The tackle company hat had come off through my choice, never to be replaced after what happened on Burghfeild. The poaching pit, is a SSSI, former no fishing venue owned by Lafarge. It lies directly next to Sonning Eye, very close to the river Thames. At one time, half of the Nursery, was actually a part of the montros Sonning Eye gravel pit itself. The lake, is an L shape, one original half of the lake being much shallower than the other, much newer and more deeply dug half. The shallower part of the lake, was the bit once a part of Sonning itself. A causeway was built across the entrance to a large bay, which formed the original part of the Nursery pit. For years, every year during flooding, this causeway would be under water and fish would enter and exit the Nursery at times of flood. In exactly the same way that they always have from Sonning itself, which very regularly floods into the river Thames. Often the Thames can be flowing in and out of Sonning, in various different places in the depths of winter. At a much later date, Lafarge dug out the newer much deeper half of the Nursery to extract gravel. It would be this 'new ground', which would lead some of the fish in the pit to grow on to truly incredible sizes. The pit is approximately fifteen acres or so at an uneducated guess. The Nursery gets its name, from the Nursery centre which backs onto the lake on the Henley road. At some point, the barren causeway separating the Nursery and Sonning Eye sprouted gorse bushes. As the gorse bushes grew denser and denser, they formed a natural impenetrable barrier, which would eventually stop the fish being able to enter or leave the pit during times of flood. At this point, the pits stock became more static. The entire stock of the pit, was made up of former Sonning Eye (ex river Thames carp). When I fished there in 2017, me, and anyone else who fished there before me had to hide in the bushes. It was a strictly no fishing venue which very few people knew about in reality. The pit lies directly in between Sonning Eye, and CWA Long lake. In 2018, CWA fisheries got the fishing rights for the Nursery pit from Lafarge, and a small five man syndicate was formed on the pit. It's not a secret anymore. My fishing on the pit in 2017 was so very brief, but ultimately incredibly successful. The very momentous to me personally fully scaled which I went on to catch, has never been banked again since unfortunately. Since my time on the pit, otters have had their say, clearly decimating the stock. Although no bodies of the specific fish I am about to speak about have ever been found. It's looking more and more likely with every year that goes past that this is indeed the case and otters took them all. The pit contained some absolutely incredible carp, the like of which I have never seen before or since. Monsters, left alone to grow to incredible sizes in a totally unmolested environment. The account below, details my fishing on the pit from Late April 2017, until June 2017 when the river Thames reopened. 2017 was a great year for me in fishing terms, I had moved out of London, and was going to take full advantage living close to the river I loved. I had already been chasing the former, and now long dead river Thames record over two stretches for a few years. Me and my friend Sam had enjoyed some truly incredible pike fishing on the Thames that winter in 2017, culminating in Sam catching the third largest pike ever banked from the Thames at 32lb8oz. With me also banking numerous large 20's. On the last day of the river season I had got it into my head that I needed to christen some new Darent Valley 1.25lb Avon rods my friend Gary Peet had given me from the Tackle Box. So I baited a swim on the river for barbel with spiced meat and garlic hemp. That evening on a very flooded and powerful river, after a stupidly long battle where I was completely under gunned with those light 1.25lb Avon rods... I landed what I was told at the time was the third largest barbel ever caught from the river Thames, on my first ever Thames trip specifically targeting them. I had fished the Avon & Dorset Stour extensively as a child targeting them, but that was my one and only ever Barbel session fishing the Thames for them. What a session that turned out to be.
The Nursery poaching pit, Sonning Eye, close season 2017.
Within a few days of leaving Burghfield, I was baiting the Nursery. The tackle company hat had come off through my choice, never to be replaced after what happened on Burghfeild. The poaching pit, is a SSSI, former no fishing venue owned by Lafarge. It lies directly next to Sonning Eye, very close to the river Thames. At one time, half of the Nursery, was actually a part of the montros Sonning Eye gravel pit itself. The lake, is an L shape, one original half of the lake being much shallower than the other, much newer and more deeply dug half. The shallower part of the lake, was the bit once a part of Sonning itself. A causeway was built across the entrance to a large bay, which formed the original part of the Nursery pit. For years, every year during flooding, this causeway would be under water and fish would enter and exit the Nursery at times of flood. In exactly the same way that they always have from Sonning itself, which very regularly floods into the river Thames. Often the Thames can be flowing in and out of Sonning, in various different places in the depths of winter. At a much later date, Lafarge dug out the newer much deeper half of the Nursery to extract gravel. It would be this 'new ground', which would lead some of the fish in the pit to grow on to truly incredible sizes. The pit is approximately fifteen acres or so at an uneducated guess. The Nursery gets its name, from the Nursery centre which backs onto the lake on the Henley road. At some point, the barren causeway separating the Nursery and Sonning Eye sprouted gorse bushes. As the gorse bushes grew denser and denser, they formed a natural impenetrable barrier, which would eventually stop the fish being able to enter or leave the pit during times of flood. At this point, the pits stock became more static. The entire stock of the pit, was made up of former Sonning Eye (ex river Thames carp). When I fished there in 2017, me, and anyone else who fished there before me had to hide in the bushes. It was a strictly no fishing venue which very few people knew about in reality. The pit lies directly in between Sonning Eye, and CWA Long lake. In 2018, CWA fisheries got the fishing rights for the Nursery pit from Lafarge, and a small five man syndicate was formed on the pit. It's not a secret anymore. My fishing on the pit in 2017 was so very brief, but ultimately incredibly successful. The very momentous to me personally fully scaled which I went on to catch, has never been banked again since unfortunately. Since my time on the pit, otters have had their say, clearly decimating the stock. Although no bodies of the specific fish I am about to speak about have ever been found. It's looking more and more likely with every year that goes past that this is indeed the case and otters took them all. The pit contained some absolutely incredible carp, the like of which I have never seen before or since. Monsters, left alone to grow to incredible sizes in a totally unmolested environment. The account below, details my fishing on the pit from Late April 2017, until June 2017 when the river Thames reopened. 2017 was a great year for me in fishing terms, I had moved out of London, and was going to take full advantage living close to the river I loved. I had already been chasing the former, and now long dead river Thames record over two stretches for a few years. Me and my friend Sam had enjoyed some truly incredible pike fishing on the Thames that winter in 2017, culminating in Sam catching the third largest pike ever banked from the Thames at 32lb8oz. With me also banking numerous large 20's. On the last day of the river season I had got it into my head that I needed to christen some new Darent Valley 1.25lb Avon rods my friend Gary Peet had given me from the Tackle Box. So I baited a swim on the river for barbel with spiced meat and garlic hemp. That evening on a very flooded and powerful river, after a stupidly long battle where I was completely under gunned with those light 1.25lb Avon rods... I landed what I was told at the time was the third largest barbel ever caught from the river Thames, on my first ever Thames trip specifically targeting them. I had fished the Avon & Dorset Stour extensively as a child targeting them, but that was my one and only ever Barbel session fishing the Thames for them. What a session that turned out to be.
Milton Pan, Swirly the common, around 1993-1995 I think.
At this time I was working in a Mayfair casino in London. I have a Ted Baker flannel shirt on purchased from some expensive designer shop. Burt Bruin Nike, ltd editions. Those trainers would be worth an absolute crazy fortune now second hand. How mad Ted Baker help produce OMC fishing kit these days. This was my second session on Milton Pan. A Mid Kent fisheries venue. At the time Conningbrook and Two-Tone were their flagship, but rammed with full timers. Milton was such a gorgeous lake back then. Barely fished, it had an incredibly tough reputation among the locals. The lake itself is full up with gravel bars. On my first trip I saw a few fish out in the middle. I never used to use a bed chair back then, but always a lilo whenever the banks allowed it. It was a big edge. I had gained the unfortunate nickname of Lilo-Lil at Littlebrook. A character from the TV show Bread. I was mustard on an inflatable lilo. I used to carry a long wooden seven foot handle in my holdall. This would be laid across the front of the inflatable, while a rig was hooked into the wooden stick at either side, hanging a few foot clear of the inflatable. The stupid things we do when we are young. A bucket of bait on the front and off I would go 3.30am just on first light. Two rigs placed on a dinner plate with a bucket of corn over the top. I had gone out to the middle on a lilo and placed a couple of bags of frozen corn behind a bar. I had two bites, but lost a really big fish which ragged me down the bars and cut me off. They loved the sweetcorn, but I was going to have to fish a lot closer in if I wanted to land them. The next trip was fishing next to the little wooden gate in the corner by the entrance bay. On this day the bay was full up with most of the lakes fish. There was a tiny little bar that ran out from the margins, on that sunny day the bigger fish loved that spot so much. It was instantly recognised as the ‘spot'. That very first day that I fished it, I got two 30lb+ mirrors feeding right in the edge. They were absolutely mowing down the 1.5kg bags of frozen value corn. I would add brown sugar and allow them to sweat in the sun. Before I could even think about placing a rig, the queen of the pond came in and started bullying the two mirrors off of the spot. Although I had no clue what fish it was at the time, it was the best common swimming around in Kent that I was looking at. She was demolishing the corn at a rate that I could barely keep up with. All day I fed her, little and often. She would pick up the rig once, blow it out, and would not feed again until that rig was removed. We played this game of cat and mouse for many hours before I eventually got the bite. I fed her, alone, 17.5kg of sweet corn. Watched her trough every single grain up close and personal. You could never imagine that one fish could eat this much food, this quickly. But if the food is the right stuff, they can literally eat it as fast as they are crapping it out. They cannot do this with boiled baits. Imagine that spot being out in the lake. I would have never known I was getting done over and over again. I would have never banked her. I had to move the rig likely twenty times that day. Once she knew it was there, she simply would not go near it again. She was without question the most intelligent carp that I have ever watched. It was actually quite scary how simply she could deal with the rig. In the end it took a single grain of corn, on a 2” rig to get the bite. I never went back stupidly. I met the dearly departed Brett White that day. He wanted to catch Swirly, he did so a few years later.
Swirly was still swimming up until just a few years ago, she got huge at one point. The 30+ mirrors that she was bullying.... One of them was the Milton Mirror which went on to become another famous in Kent carp.
At this time I was working in a Mayfair casino in London. I have a Ted Baker flannel shirt on purchased from some expensive designer shop. Burt Bruin Nike, ltd editions. Those trainers would be worth an absolute crazy fortune now second hand. How mad Ted Baker help produce OMC fishing kit these days. This was my second session on Milton Pan. A Mid Kent fisheries venue. At the time Conningbrook and Two-Tone were their flagship, but rammed with full timers. Milton was such a gorgeous lake back then. Barely fished, it had an incredibly tough reputation among the locals. The lake itself is full up with gravel bars. On my first trip I saw a few fish out in the middle. I never used to use a bed chair back then, but always a lilo whenever the banks allowed it. It was a big edge. I had gained the unfortunate nickname of Lilo-Lil at Littlebrook. A character from the TV show Bread. I was mustard on an inflatable lilo. I used to carry a long wooden seven foot handle in my holdall. This would be laid across the front of the inflatable, while a rig was hooked into the wooden stick at either side, hanging a few foot clear of the inflatable. The stupid things we do when we are young. A bucket of bait on the front and off I would go 3.30am just on first light. Two rigs placed on a dinner plate with a bucket of corn over the top. I had gone out to the middle on a lilo and placed a couple of bags of frozen corn behind a bar. I had two bites, but lost a really big fish which ragged me down the bars and cut me off. They loved the sweetcorn, but I was going to have to fish a lot closer in if I wanted to land them. The next trip was fishing next to the little wooden gate in the corner by the entrance bay. On this day the bay was full up with most of the lakes fish. There was a tiny little bar that ran out from the margins, on that sunny day the bigger fish loved that spot so much. It was instantly recognised as the ‘spot'. That very first day that I fished it, I got two 30lb+ mirrors feeding right in the edge. They were absolutely mowing down the 1.5kg bags of frozen value corn. I would add brown sugar and allow them to sweat in the sun. Before I could even think about placing a rig, the queen of the pond came in and started bullying the two mirrors off of the spot. Although I had no clue what fish it was at the time, it was the best common swimming around in Kent that I was looking at. She was demolishing the corn at a rate that I could barely keep up with. All day I fed her, little and often. She would pick up the rig once, blow it out, and would not feed again until that rig was removed. We played this game of cat and mouse for many hours before I eventually got the bite. I fed her, alone, 17.5kg of sweet corn. Watched her trough every single grain up close and personal. You could never imagine that one fish could eat this much food, this quickly. But if the food is the right stuff, they can literally eat it as fast as they are crapping it out. They cannot do this with boiled baits. Imagine that spot being out in the lake. I would have never known I was getting done over and over again. I would have never banked her. I had to move the rig likely twenty times that day. Once she knew it was there, she simply would not go near it again. She was without question the most intelligent carp that I have ever watched. It was actually quite scary how simply she could deal with the rig. In the end it took a single grain of corn, on a 2” rig to get the bite. I never went back stupidly. I met the dearly departed Brett White that day. He wanted to catch Swirly, he did so a few years later.
Swirly was still swimming up until just a few years ago, she got huge at one point. The 30+ mirrors that she was bullying.... One of them was the Milton Mirror which went on to become another famous in Kent carp.
Love these stories Mark , please keep them coming , i'm not a carp angler as Barbel is my passion but i love reading about the lenghts you went to and the results you had , incredible stuff mate 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
In reply to Post #63
Thanks Mark love these stories and great pictures
Thanks Mark love these stories and great pictures
In reply to Post #65
Thank you Dave & Chris. That first photo of the fully is the best photo I have of any carp. The way the natural sunlight is coming through the trees and pinging up the blue hue on its back makes that a personal favourite. I only showed that particular photo anywhere for the first time when Paul F died. That was five years after I caught it.
There's plenty more to come yet.
Thank you Dave & Chris. That first photo of the fully is the best photo I have of any carp. The way the natural sunlight is coming through the trees and pinging up the blue hue on its back makes that a personal favourite. I only showed that particular photo anywhere for the first time when Paul F died. That was five years after I caught it.
There's plenty more to come yet.
In reply to Post #66
Dave Little was in the pub with the Woolpack bailiff yesterday night. The bailiffs friend has been really struggling the past winter. The bailiff asked Dave for some advice. Dave gave him three S2 and told him to try them.
The bailiff's mate caught his first fish in a long time from Woolpack this morning, after casting out one of those S2 for the first time.
Well done the bailiff's mate, that is a beautiful carp.
Dave Little was in the pub with the Woolpack bailiff yesterday night. The bailiffs friend has been really struggling the past winter. The bailiff asked Dave for some advice. Dave gave him three S2 and told him to try them.
The bailiff's mate caught his first fish in a long time from Woolpack this morning, after casting out one of those S2 for the first time.
Well done the bailiff's mate, that is a beautiful carp.
In reply to Post #62
Incredible Mark. Got the juices flowing. There's a private estate lake 2 miles from my house which there's no fishing on and that hasn't been fished for ten years or more. which I know used to hold some high 30s...this has got me going ten fold to have a cheeky fling. Good writing too.
Incredible Mark. Got the juices flowing. There's a private estate lake 2 miles from my house which there's no fishing on and that hasn't been fished for ten years or more. which I know used to hold some high 30s...this has got me going ten fold to have a cheeky fling. Good writing too.
Well done that man belter fish and ever better to the fella who gave him the bait to try
Richie, 38 & 32 this morning. First trip with 13mm balanced S2 Fizz.
The 38 is another one of the special ones from his lake. Good angling Richie.
The 38 is another one of the special ones from his lake. Good angling Richie.
In reply to Post #67
Thats a proper early spring carp pic ain't it?
A good read those long posts too - just had a slow read over a coffee, thanks for sharing. Always like reading about the adventures and tricks you guys who are really really into it and have a propper eye and drive for going after it.
Braving carrying hooks/rigs on a lilo... hope it was one of those pink ones with the glitter inside it
Thats a proper early spring carp pic ain't it?
A good read those long posts too - just had a slow read over a coffee, thanks for sharing. Always like reading about the adventures and tricks you guys who are really really into it and have a propper eye and drive for going after it.
Braving carrying hooks/rigs on a lilo... hope it was one of those pink ones with the glitter inside it
Any news mark on the fizz release date can't wait to get my hands on them and some garlics looking for the fizz for a trip at the beginning of April thanks
Hi Mark what are the s2 fizz?
In reply to Post #52
Fair play! Only just came in second. Good use of a free bet e/w for me. It's only little wins my end but £54 up from free bets today isn't half bad. Think it'll be well spent with you Mark!
Fair play! Only just came in second. Good use of a free bet e/w for me. It's only little wins my end but £54 up from free bets today isn't half bad. Think it'll be well spent with you Mark!
In reply to Post #73
You can find out Woody and tell everyone else what you think.
I said when I was back I would pick some winners to try them. I've been so stupidly busy. Made up on the spot now. Last five posters on this thread and last three posters on whole site from the latest posts button. Please all PM your full name and delivery address. We will send you a couple of tubs of the soon to be released S2 Fizz.
Please do not all PM or message asking for them. We have loads done, they will be available as special orders end of next week. We cleared all orders completely up to date yesterday. FishOn have bundles of yellow Banoffee S2 on the way to the shop today. TackleBox will have bundles of pink Hutchie S2 this weekend too. This allows the Fizz to come end of next week.
Forum names below.
D J Strauss
RKB
DaleG 2008
Greekski
Woody71
Whitey79
Andy C
Karmh
You can find out Woody and tell everyone else what you think.
I said when I was back I would pick some winners to try them. I've been so stupidly busy. Made up on the spot now. Last five posters on this thread and last three posters on whole site from the latest posts button. Please all PM your full name and delivery address. We will send you a couple of tubs of the soon to be released S2 Fizz.
Please do not all PM or message asking for them. We have loads done, they will be available as special orders end of next week. We cleared all orders completely up to date yesterday. FishOn have bundles of yellow Banoffee S2 on the way to the shop today. TackleBox will have bundles of pink Hutchie S2 this weekend too. This allows the Fizz to come end of next week.
Forum names below.
D J Strauss
RKB
DaleG 2008
Greekski
Woody71
Whitey79
Andy C
Karmh