Fishy Tales & Stories

After a few days of scratching my head, poring over weather apps, wind charts, and half-forgotten notes, I finally made the call. Easter Sunday morning. Something about the timing felt right—maybe not scientific, but instinct counts for a lot in this game. I loaded the gear and headed back to a place that has lived in my head for years now—Airfield Lake. The mythical monster common had been circling my thoughts again, and whether it's real or just legend, I couldn't ignore the pull any longer.Some say it's been seen, others swear they've lost it. Hell, I've even glimpsed it myself once, a broad back breaking the surface on a still morning like a submarine turning in the shallows. There's a whisper that someone may have had it and kept quiet, and I wouldn't blame them either. But regardless of whether that fish exists or not, Airfield is just one of those lakes that gets under your skin. It's not just about chasing a fish—it's about the magic of the place itself. Peaceful. Timeless. Fishing here is therapy.I pulled into the car park just before 09:30. There were nine other anglers spread across the complex, which surprisingly still left me with a lot of freedom to choose a swim. It's rare to get that kind of opportunity on a bank holiday, so I made the most of it. I lapped the lake twice, watching for signs, and trying to make sense of what the lake was telling me. The weather had been up and down all week—high pressure slowly building, with southwesterly winds and light rain forecast for the afternoon. Classic carp-catching conditions.Tight lines and be lucky!

Trip 12 Carp fishing- more Nutrabaits Blank Saver Testing

We tried

The Blank Saver Test: A Week of Unexpected Turns This week didn't turn out quite the way I expected. Things changed, and the fishing trip I had planned was completely altered by circumstances beyond my control. At one point, I seriously considered not going at all. But then, I thought that would be silly—a wasted opportunity. Instead, I opted for my club lake, mainly for the peace and quiet it offers, and I figured it would be a good opportunity to test out a few things. I arrived around 11:30 am to find the lake completely empty—just what I needed. But that presented a new challenge: choosing a swim. I've always been drawn to the dam end, mainly because of the thick lily pads that grow there, but I knew I needed to fish somewhere else. I've only fished seven of the twenty available swims, and it's time to explore more if I want to truly understand the layout of the lake.

After a false start on Wednesday, which saw me heading home just a couple of hours after I arrived, I found myself once again back at the lake. Somehow, I'd gravitated back to the same swim—tucked under the trees, shaded from the harsh sunlight, and blessed with a cool breeze that occasionally drifted across my face like nature's own sigh of relief. It felt familiar. Safe. A natural corner that always seemed to hold potential.The Fox Voyager tarp giving me shadeBut this session was already different.The carp were twitchy, moody—on the verge of spawning. You could feel it in the air. That thick, humid pressure before a storm. The kind of atmosphere that makes you sweat without moving and question every decision. I was praying that the forecasted weather change due on Friday or Saturday might delay the inevitable. It had originally been predicted for Thursday, but like everything in carp fishing, it had drifted—just like the carp, always unpredictable.I've always believed they know what's coming before we do. Some sixth sense about them. The kind that makes them vanish into snags or appear out of nowhere when you're least expecting them.I wasn't entirely sure how to approach this trip. With the temperature rising fast, I knew I had a narrow window before the day turned into a furnace. I flicked both rods out to obvious spots just to get something fishing while I set up camp, cracked open a drink, and let the place talk to me.Tight lines and be lucky!

It finally feels like we've turned a corner with the weather. Night time temperatures are now holding at 6-7 °C, with daytime reaching a comfortable 15-16 °C. The pressure is dropping nicely for a day or two—just about perfect conditions.I wasn't sure I'd even get a swim for this last full week of fishing. With so many anglers planning trips, I half-expected to end up on Airfield Lake—something I hoped to avoid until May.Pulling into the main car park, I was relieved to see just two cars. Promising. In my head, I'd mapped out my top three swim choices, plus three backups, keeping myself focused on Meadow Lake. Swim No. 1 was already taken, along with a couple of my backups, so I pressed on, mindful of which swims had been occupied the night before.

The hard work paid off.

Hiding away from the heatwave under the trees.

With only two trips available for me to fish on Meadow Lake, I'm back at it. There's a good chance there will be a few more anglers this week than last. Apparently, it was very quiet here. I can only assume the weather played a part in that, keeping many away from the banks.After an entertaining drive, trying to avoid a traffic jam, I arrived at the lake just before 9 am, only to find three other anglers fishing. I took a drive around the lake and chatted with them. First and foremost, there was no way I was setting up with the east wind blowing into my swim. I'm too old for that hardcore fishing anymore. Some might wonder why I even bothered going in such conditions, while others completely understand my reasoning.After much toing and froing between about four swims, I eventually settled on one. I took some time leading around to confirm what I already knew from my numerous past sessions in this swim. Initially, I considered fishing long out of the swim, but I couldn't find anything worth putting a bait on. The best options were the closer-in spots, so that's what it was going to be. My left-hand rod would go to one of these closer features, while my right-hand rod would be positioned just about where I always prefer to have it—but slightly onto the gravel this time, as I like to fish just on the edge.

It was hard going.

That was an ok start.

It was the kind of decision that required careful thought. After hours of analyzing weather forecasts, reading reports, and thinking about how Meadow Lake had been fishing over the weekend, I finally decided that it was the right time to head down to the club water for a few nights. Hopefully, I could bag a couple of decent fish during my stay. I had been itching to get back, and the timing felt right.I arrived at the lake just after 08:30 hours, the morning sun barely peeking through the clouds. As I made my way down to the water's edge, I bumped into another member who was also booked on for the same few nights. We exchanged pleasantries and had a good chat. He had already dropped his bucket into one of the swims at the back of the wind—a sensible choice, considering the weather. He had spotted a carp already, though he mentioned that there were fish showing all over the lake. According to him, the back of the wind was looking like the most promising spot, and I had to admit, it made sense.

Trip 7 Crap Fishing - It look so good, i had to catch

Trip 6 Carp Fishing - 2025 - I've finally had some action, its been to long

The thunderstorms arrived.

With a change in the weather I simply had to be out on the bank.

Trip 5 Carp Fishing - Things can only get better

Wow that was hard work.

Fingers crossed this goes better than my last trip.

Trip 4 Carp Fishing 2025 - Another cold one

That really didn't go to plan.

Fingers crossed it goes aswell as last week's trip.

A white blank saver, saving me on the last night.

It's slowed right down and now theses signs of spawning.

What a fantastic start.

Trip 2 Carp Fishing - Roll on March

This certainly isn't what I expected after last week's trip out.

Trip 1 - Carp Fishing - 2025 - Hard times on the syndicate

Not what I was expecting for the first night.

Trip 43 Carp Fishing 2024 - Winter Social Time

It's been very nice being back on this lake again.

Trip 41 Carp Fishing- This weather is killing it - Syndicate fishing

I'm back out on the Airfield Lake for the first time this session and I'm off to a good start.

Trip 40 Carp Fishing - P2 - Cold Times

Trip 40 Crap Fishing 2024 - High pressure and rain issues

Trip 39 Carp Fishing - When the snow came down. - Syndicate fishing 2024

I'm back out after spending a week at home on 3 x 500mgs of antibiotics each day! Hopefully, this has finally kicked into touch my never end bouts of illness, I'm not 100%, but I feel 80% better than I was on my last trip. I checked in with Ian on Tuesday about the weather and where would be a favorable area. With the wind blowing from the Northerly direction and the lack of sunshine, which would, unfortunately, vanish after the first day. We came up with a fair few options, and with not much coming out over the past few days, it didn't look brilliant. The daylight hours are getting closer to 12 hours, I feel this is the magic moment for the carp, when they really start waking up and getting their heads down.

The wife and kids are in Ireland to visit family, so I have the opportunity for a few nights fishing. Unfortunately, the ever lasting cough has reared its ugly head again since my last trip out. My youngest was also starting to show signs of her having it before I headed off last week. I was hoping to avoid it, but alas, it's back, I'm still planning to come this week. I'm hoping it's on its way out and once I'm pitched up, I can just relax and rest. Plus the weather has turned a lot warmer and a lot more favorable over the coming days.I was hoping to fish the same swim as before, but margin fishing when you are coughing like I am isn't going to catch carp. I felt a bit sorry for the other anglers on the lake, as there were quite a few, 6 or 7 of us.I was now looking for a swim that gave me a good 16 wrap out away from the coughing lunatic that I must be, coming out fishing.

Trip 38 Carp Fishing - Episode 2 - Winter Campaign, off to a good start

Trip 38 Carp Fishing- Episode 1 - Winter Campaign, starts here

What a horrible end to a fantastic trip.

Episode 2-Trip 36 Carp Fishing -Tough Times, But hard work paid of

strange night, that was.

Episode 1-Trip 36 Carp Fishing -My Last Trip on the Airfield Lake

First 24hrs and 4 carp.

Trip 35 Carp Fishing-Two nights on the winter water- Syndicate fishing 2024

Wow, what a start.

Episode 3- Trip 34 Carp Fishing - I Just Don't Like Full Moons

Episode 2- Trip 34 Carp Fishing - Couple of nice lumps

Episode 1- Trip 34 Carp Fishing - Quick Bite

Episode 4_ - Trip 33 Carp Fishing - The weather slowed things down