The Forgotten Lake - Martin Noble

The Forgotten Lake

Martin Noble

With waters becoming increasingly busy from anglers I try my best to search out quieter places to fish. A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to find an old estate lake which had almost been forgotten about and managed to secure a lease in which I could run the water myself. Of course the first thing I wanted to do once the paper work was signed was to get on there with my rods & see what lurked beneath the surface.

Old Estate Lake

A place of beauty!

The lake is only a small little place, no more than an acre in size but with depths exceeding 15ft or more, hidden away deep in a thick wood where the only sounds that can be heard are from the abundance of wildlife & birdlife. I already knew the lake held some fairly decent carp as I had seen them sunning themselves within the fallen tree snags when I first discovered the place.

I decided to do an over night session giving me 2 days to see what I could try and catch. I got to the lake around 9am with all my gear and before even thinking about setting up I quietly walked the banks to see if I could see any signs of fish. Within minutes I came across 6 upper doubles sunbathing on top amongst some old fallen trees in the water, what a lovely sight! Great to see but there was no way I could fish for them there surrounded by sunken trees, they would just instantly snag themselves & it wouldn't have been fair on the fish.

Carp Sitting in the Snags

I quietly moved on trying not to disturb them to see what else I could find. As I got nearer to the far end of the lake I could see some larger shadows moving tight to the far margin. With a clearer area of water I decided this would be an ideal place to fish. I quickly got the gear & set up keeping as quiet as I could not to spoke the fish on the far bank.

Seeming these fish had barely been fished for I decided to go with a Hi-Vis White Pop-Up presented on a blow-back rig & a little PVA bag of pellet & broken up Shoreline Baits GLM Redbull Boilies and a few grains of corn to add some colour.

The first rod I put inches from the far margin just to the right of where I had seen the shadows of the carp moving, the second rod I put just in front of a thick bush over hanging on the far bank to the right & my third rod I put down to my left under some large over hanging willow braches, the sort of ones you would see on Redmire Pool.

Off the mark - 15lb+ Mirror

Traps set & I started to sort the rest of my gear out & get the bivvy up when suddenly the far margin rod was already ripping off! It had barely been in the water 5 minutes. After a good old battle a lovely old looking Mirror of around 15lb+ rolled in the net. A great feeling to see the first fish on the bank. After a few quick photos I slipped it back and got the rod straight back on the spot.

Since the disturbance of catching the fish I decided to put a little bit more bait across the far margin spot. If fish were there or visiting the area regularly I wanted to try & keep them grubbing around on the spot. I catapulted a bed of pellet, corn & crushed boilie.

Over the next few hours I watched the water carefully, enjoying the songs of the birds, often seeing fish moving along the far margins & also moving in & out from under the far over hanging bush so I knew I was on the right spots. Not much was happening to my own margin rod down to my left under the willow branches but I kept gradual handfuls of bait going in over the day, I felt confident this would be a cracking little spot once the light of the day had gone.

Another Mid Double Mirror

Around 1pm my right hand rod under the over hanging bush on the far margin burst into life ripping off to my right, I was quickly on the rod & into another carp. After a short battle another mid double Mirror was in the net. With 2 fish off both my spots I was feeling confident there was more to come.

The lake is located far down in the bottom of a large valley surrounded by tall trees so it starts getting dark a lot earlier than normal. Around 8pm the light was starting to fade when the far magin rod ripped off again. I hit into something that felt a little better this time. It was staying down deep and was hard to stop when suddenly it went solid. I kept the pressure on for about 10 minutes or so but nothing was giving so I let off the bail arm & some slack & lay the rod down in hope that the fish would free itself. After another 10 minutes had passed when the slack line suddenly tighten up, I quickly picked up the rod and was back into the fight & the fish which had freed itself.

After a lengthy battle a chunky Mirror came to the surface & slipped into the net. This one looked a bit better than the last 2. Another mint fish that went just over 21lb on the scales. A decent fish but I had seen bigger cruising the margins. After a few quick snaps I gentle put her back & got the rod back on the spot along with a top up of crushed boilie, corn & pellet again.

Chunky 21lb+ Mirror

Beautiful Sunset over the lake!

With the light fast fading the clouds in the sky started to pick up the highlights from the falling sun which produced a beautiful sunset, the sound of the birds in the surround woods slowly starting to quieten down for the night ahead.

About half an hour had passed as I sat there soaking up the beautiful moment & surroundings when suddenly my right hand rod was away & I was in to yet another fish. After a scrappy battle I landed a cracking looking long old lean Mirror of around 13lb+. This fish although smaller had alot more character, hopefully some of the larger residents in the lake might look as lovely as this fish! 

After a few snaps I quickly got it back & got the rod back on the spot before it was to dark to get the accuracy right.

I put the kettle on and gathered my thoughts, not a bad start to the day with some nice fish on the bank on what looks to be a promising little water. I was excited to see what the night would bring & if any of the bigger girls might show!

Cracking Old Character!

As the night set in, the temperature dropped slightly & the whole place went dead silent, you could of heard a pin drop it was that quiet, quite an eerie feel which I've never experience at other lakes I've fished. 

About midnight the moon started to rise above the tall trees letting beams of light down onto the lake & my swim. This place was getting more magical by the moment!

I decided to get some sleep & tucked up in my sleeping bag & nodded off at the thought of what monsters might be lurking under the surface.

Around just after 3am my own margin rod under the willow branches went into meltdown, as I woke I saw my rod flying off the alarm as it was getting wrenched to the left. I flew out of my sleeping bag and grabbed the rod, the fish stripping line off the reel as it powered up the left margin under the over hanging brances.

After finally managing to get the fish to turn I slowly started to gain some line back & get it out fighting in the open water in front of me using only the moonlight to see what I was doing as I didn't want to spook my swim with my head torch light. 

After getting it in the net & on my mat only then did I turn my head torch on to find a beautiful dark Common laying in front of me. Another pristine upper double!

I quickly got the rod back out & topped the area up with a bit of bait & got back in the sleeping back as it had got a lot colder now with the clear sky. Not much happened for the rest of the night, I think the drop in temp probably put them off a bit.

I woke up early & decided to have a wonder about to see if I could see fish moving about around the lake. It wasn't long before I came across a group of 4 fish cruising along together, the biggest around the 20lb+ mark.

They didn't seem to be feeding, rather just cruising about but they were heading up towards my end of the lake so I decided to stay put.

By around 9am the sun was starting to rise above the tree line bringing the lake back to life with colour & warmth. I could start to see fizzing around my spots so I knew the fish were on the feed again. Hopefully the new day might bring something a little larger this time.

About an hour passed as I watched the water carefully when the far margin rod was away again, quickly on the rod I was into something which felt a little better again. The fish stayed deep & was slowing pondering around in the open water. Eventually after a 10 minute battle a long lean Mirror was in the net, this one looking a little better in size!

23lb 7oz Long Lean Mirror

The Mirror went 23lb 7oz on the scales, biggest of the session so far, it was a long old fish & had a lovely colour to it. If this was the sort of fish that was stocked in the lake it made me even more excited to see what else the lake was hiding!

A few photos & I put the fish back and got the rod back on the spot. I think the disturbance of fighting this fish spooked the swim a little & it went quiet for the next few hours which I didn't mind as I got to sit back & enjoy the surroundings and wildlife for a while. This truly is a magical place, not just the fishing but the whole surroundings!

Early afternoon came and not a lot had happened since, I was just thinking maybe to try a couple of new spots for the last few hours when my right had rod had a few bleeps. I position myself ready to pounce, suddenly the line tore off the the right & I was into another fish. This one didn't feel quite as big this time, splashing about on the far bank. After a short battle it was in the net, and what a stunning little fish it was, probably just over the 11lb mark but was the prettiest fish by far, a heavily scaled Mirror. I was over the moon with this fish & this was another glimpse into what this cracking little water might hold.  

Cracking Scaly Mirror!

Early afternoon I decided to call it a day, I had caught more than I ever imagined I was going to on my first session, I cant wait to get back down for another bash & see if I can find where some of the bigger girls are hiding! 

Martin Noble - Noble's Fishing

Little Hatchet: Short Session Success - Sam Crouch

Little Hatchet: Short Session Success

Sam Crouch

I had been planning to do some time on Little Hatchet, but after walking round the lake and speaking to different anglers I found out that most of the original stock had died including fish known as The Big common & The Horse etc.

However there was one fish that had been on my mind since seeing a photo of it, the biggest mirror in the lake, the one they call ‘The Ugly One’.

One evening after work I decided to wet a line in there for the first time, so I had the car loaded ready for the short session ahead. I arrived at the lake straight from work and set off for a walk round.

As I was walking round I managed to locate some carp in a reedy bay next to some lily pads. I quickly got my gear from the car & carefully placed a single pop-up to where I could seen the fish.

After an hour or so of not seeing any signs that the fish were feeding I was starting to think I might have spooked the carp off the area but just then I saw a fish move in over my spot next to the pads, a big chunky big mirror, with its tail just breaking the surface right on my spot.

Within seconds my rod ripped off with the fish charging straight into the pads. After a dodgy battle I manage to work its way out of the pads & shortly after it came to the surface and after one last fight for freedom it was  in the net, it was mine!

I knew straight away which one it was because it is the only big mirror left in Little Hatchet and is also a proper old character known by many anglers but rarely seen on the bank. I was over the moon. 

'The Ugly Fish' 30lb 10oz

She went 30lb 10oz on the scales. After a few snaps & a few water shots I gently let her back to fight another day!

Sam Crouch - Noble's Fishing

First Day of the Season - Sam Crouch

First Day of the Season - Hatchet Pond

Sam Crouch

After fishing the main lake for the odd day through the summer months last year I decided to give it a good go this year so after walking the lakes in the close season I couldn't wait to get on there for my first session of 2015.

On the evening of June 15^th I decided to pre bait an area that I had seen fish consistently throughout the closed season.

The morning of June 16^th arrived and I was at the lake for first light, unfortunately someone was already at the lake and in the swim that I baited the previous night.

I walked the lake hoping to see signs of feeding fish and lucky enough for me I did. I set up in an area where I had fished the year previous and had some success & I flicked out my baits feeling confident that something would happen and that I was in the right place.

It started off slow for me but at 11am my right hand rod was away! While playing a scrappy little common my left hand rod went into melt down, after netting the first fish I quickly unhooked the common of around 13lb in the net and let him go. I got to the other rod which resulted in another small common around the same size.

After getting the rods back out it wasn't until around 4 o'clock when I had my third take. After putting up a hectic fight & weeding me up a couple of times I managed to slip the net under yet another carp.

Original Hatchet Mirror - 21lb+

 This one was a bit more special, it is the only original mirror left in the lake weighing in at 21lb+.

Over the moon with catching the last fish, I changed the rig, tied a PVA bag and got it back out there in hope of maybe just one more fish before I called it a day. Just as the kettle boiled for a cup of tea the right hand bobbin smashed against the alarm and it was away! 

After another awesome fight I landed a hard fighting common of 19lb+. I quickly got the rod back out on the spot in hope of getting one more bite.

19lb+ Hatchet Common

I gave it until dark which didn't result in any more takes but I was happy the way the day went, a great start to the season and I couldn't wait to get back up there for a few more!

Sam Crouch - Noble's Fishing

A Winter Obsession! - George West

A Winter Obsession!

George West

 

It was the winter of 2014 when I finally decided to venture over to a park lake nearby, known as lakeside country park. I had been looking for a decent winter venue to target, as I'm not one for hanging the rods up during the colder months and actually find it my most enjoyable time of year to fish. Whether that was due to the banks being quieter I don't know, but I always got more satisfaction bagging a proper one in the winter, as opposed to in the warmer months.

One of the main reasons for joining this particular park lake was because it contained a fish known as ‘seven scales’ that regularly topped the 40lb mark and was a 'proper' looking carp. There was also a good back up stock of fish in there to keep me occupied while in pursuit of my target fish. The social side of things was also good, as I knew a couple of other lads on there at the time, which always helps during the long cold winter nights.

That first winter I experienced some savage weather while on the bank and at times I questioned my sanity but I knew the reward was there so I kept at it. On the other hand the weather was unusually mild for winter and the fish kept coming and I banked a number of fish to over 29lb. 

The biggest of the winter at 29lb 2oz

The big girl eluded capture for the whole winter that year, although we regularly saw her show which kept the spirits up. Although seeing her show on your spot and then having a mid double common raffle off wasn't ideal! Still the fishing was good and I averaged 2 or 3 fish a session so I knew I wasn't too far away. Eventually though I had to give up as my syndicate was calling but I would definitely return the following winter. 

Another nice winter common at 25lb 8oz

During that summer I was put onto Oxford carp baits and in particular the mc nut by a friend. Winter was soon upon us again and I decided to get back down lakeside early December, to try and bank my target fish. A similar scenario to last winter saw me a bag a number of commons on my first couple of sessions and at times I felt like given up as there was so many factors against me. The weather was a lot colder this winter and the small commons took a particular liking for the mc nut, which kept me on my toes.

2015 soon crept upon us and my first session of the year was surprisingly mild and I knew something had to come out. I had the obligatory upper double common during the evening but I then hooked into something completely different. The commons usually do a lot of head shaking but this one stayed deep, producing powerful lunges in its bid for freedom. As it got closer to the net I noticed it was a mirror with a huge set of shoulders and thought to myself this is the one. Eventually I slipped the net under her and on closer inspection I realised she was a carp known as the 'dumpy lin', which looked very similar to my target fish. She tipped the scales round to 31lb 8 so I definitely wasn't complaining! 

‘The Dumpy Lin’ caught on a Linch Special over MC Nut

That turned out to my last session until the end of Feb so I was itching to get back as the big girl still hasn't been out. There was 4 of us on that night and we all tucked into our takeaways talking about the prospect of bagging her and how big she might just be. Just before dark I moved onto some showing fish and received a take straight away. After a mental fight an angry 23lb 6 common has me convinced I was attached to my target fish but it wasn't to be. I followed this fish up with another 3 to 25lb 6 during the night, all on the pink Linch specials, which was a good result for the time of year. 

An angry Common at 23lb 6oz

I knew time was running out before I ventured off again for the spring, so I thought I'd give it one last go. I arrived early Monday morning and a steady wind rippled the surface. The odd fish pushed itself out of the water, in the same area I was fishing last week which was encouraging. I preceded to the get rods out and put around 100 baits out as I knew this is the time of year where they start to wake up and their heads down. 

Around 1:30am my left rod signalled a twitchy take which alerted my attention. As I struck into it I was fully expecting another one of the resident commons to be on the end and this was still in my thoughts as I played the fish into the margins with relative ease. This was when it suddenly woke up and I must admit I was rather bullish with it as I tried to get it in the net. The fish refused to give up though and after another 15 minutes of cat and mouse in the margins I was starting to think I was attached to a better fish. Finally I caught a glimpse of a huge frame in the water and my legs turned to jelly as I knew it could only be one of 2 fish, either the ‘dumpy Lin’ that I’d previously caught or the big girl herself. My thoughts were soon confirmed a few minutes later when she was engulfed in the net and there was no mistaken it was her and my target for the last two winters. An 18mm mc nut wafter hanged loosely from her lip as she sulked in the net and the reality finally hit in. I hoisted the sling up onto the Reuben’s and the needle settled on a healthy 41lb 4 which was a new pb……What a buzz! I made a few phone calls and mumbled a load of rubbish to a couple of mates in the excitement. They both agreed to come down in the morning for the photos which was more appreciated.

She looked lovely in her winter colours!

Throughout that winter I baited heavily and the fish really did respond to it. The combination of Linch specials and mc nut was proving hard to resist most sessions and in the end I managed 12 fish in 7 nights. I thoroughly enjoyed the fishing and socials on there and it will definitely be missed, although the bream and small commons waking you up at two in the morning won’t be!

Good things come to those who bait!

George West - Noble's Fishing

Lake Juvanze - George West

Lake Juvanze

George West

Another year had flown by and it and it was time for the annual trip across the channel in search of some French lumps... We set off on the Friday morning and decided to stay in a hotel Friday night so we were ready for the Saturday morning fishing spotting. Unfortunately this didn't quite go to plan as we found a bar right next to the hotel and a few Stella's later we stumbled back to our room regretting what we did in the morning.

We arrived at the lake not quite as clear minded as expected but after a quick look round and a chat with the bailiff we soon found a fair bit of fish activity.. The lake itself was called Juvanze Lake and was only around 2 acres in size so the fish spotting wasn't too tricky.

Sunrise!

 There were 5 of us in total and as luck would have it I came out first in the draw….. Ideal! I picked a very carpy looking swim with obvious carp holding features and I excitedly went about getting 3 rods out with little disturbance, as it was clear there were fish in the area. Two were cast tight to the far margin, as it looked like an obvious patrol route for any carp and the other was placed in open water where I'd seen some activity. 

The first night was un-eventful for all of us and although the fish were still active it was clear the fishing wasn't going to be as easy as we first thought. The weather had been all over the place recently so maybe this would have an effect upon the fishing. That was our excuse if we blanked anyway!

 The following day we sat around the dinner table getting stuck into some of the lovely grub they prepare there, when I had a couple of beeps on my receiver. As I went down to my swim which was only a few meters from the table, I shone the head torch down at my bobbin and saw that it was jammed to the top of my rod with an ever increasing bend on my right hand rod. I struck into it and felt solid resistance straight away. Initially the fish wallowed into my margins without too much of a fight and it was then that I saw a great big common appear from the depths. It was a proper lump and I knew I just had to get it into the net but as is always the way it decided to beat me up from then onwards, fighting hard along the marginal shelf. The other lads were by my side at this point and kept reminding me just how big it was which didn't do the nerves any good! Finally the energy started to fade from it and bit by bit I slowly teased her up towards the net until Matty managed to bundle the huge frame over the net cord.

We were all buzzing at what was clearly one of the bigger fish in the lake. To get the first one in the net is always a relief but a potential 50lb common was even better. The usual handshakes followed and then the weighing was done and when the needle settled on 50lb 10oz I was more than made up. The bailiff then informed me that it was the biggest common in the lake, not bad for my first fish!

 

50lb 10oz Common

Back She Goes!

That same night I somehow managed to lasso a mid 50 mirror, which must be some sort of record. Obviously I slipped it straight back but I'm sure some of the lads would have claimed it! I then received another bite which resulted in a 35lb 5oz mirror, that was this time hooked in the mouth! With over 85lb of fish in one night, I could now relax a little and enjoy the next few days.

35lb 5oz Mirror

The next couple of nights were fairly uneventful but on the fourth day my middle rod cast next to an overhanging tree finally did a bite. The hook bait had been out there for 48 hours which may suggest the fish didn’t feel too confident about feeding on baits straightaway and that a more washed out bait would be more likely to get a bite.  The fight was incredible and time after time line zipped of a burning clutch before a 39lb 2oz mirror finally succumbed and was embedded in the mesh of my landing net.

39lb 2oz Mirror

As the session progressed a few of the other lads started to catch the odd fish but the fishing was still far from easy.. One particular fish in front of me kept ‘boshing’ out repeatedly, so we decided to nickname it ‘boshing billy’! On the final morning it did it once more and this time I sent a single white pop up on a multi rig to the zone and within minutes the rod tip buckled round and she was in the net, which made a decent end to another memorable French session. At 38lb 8oz it was another good fish as well.

The fishing was hard going at times but the social side of things more than made up for it, which is what in my eyes going to France is all about.

38lb 8oz Mirror

George West - Noble's Fishing