The view looking down Lake 1

Getting Started
Lake 1 was our prime target as this held the larger carp. Our first and most important task was to find out about the depths and the consistency of the lake bottom. This can be done with a marker float, but to do the whole lake takes time. For this very reason I acquired a fish finder several years ago. This is a brilliant piece of kit (I wouldn’t go abroad without it) and not only tells you the depths, but also gives a good idea about the bottom, the darker the bottom the softer it is. The whole lake was surveyed in about half an hour.

This picture shows that the lake in this area is 4.7 feet deep. The bottom has a soft layer (shown by the dark region), but is very hard underneath (shown by the light region under the dark region). A fish finder is useless for finding fish in shallow water as the fish swim away from the boat.

The lake gently shelved from 2 feet at the north end to around 5feet at the dam end. The island looked very carpy having overhanging trees and snags with a depth of 4 feet in the island margins.

We both fancied the island and the dam end as we thought the carp would be in the deeper water (it was the end of October) or near the snags/overhanging trees. As we are mates and on holiday an agreement was reached about which areas of the island and dam we both could fish. We didn’t think the carp would be too difficult as the stocking density was far higher than we are used to in England. It was therefore decided to bait fairly heavily with hemp, carp pellets and Quest crap special plus boilies. These boilies are currently underdevelopment, I hadn’t used them before but Paul had achieved some outstanding catches on the Mangrove on them, which was good enough for me.

Part of the island margin, very carpy.

Dam end with the deeper water

Thoughts behind my approach Jim Kelly
I am not a big fan of chopping and changing rigs or baits as I like to have a long term view on how effective they are. I have been using the same basic hooking arrangement for the past 8 years and my results have been very good, so why change? Bait wise until 3 years ago I always made my own baits from individual ingredients as I had some additives that I believed gave me an edge. Three years ago Shaun Harrison, the Quest bait supremo, invited me to try some of his special crap boilies and I was hooked. This was the first time I had used boilies that I hadn’t developed myself and I have been carp fishing since 1982!

Blow back ring attached to the eye of the hook via braid

My standard hooking arrangement consists of a blow back ring which carp find difficult to eject without pricking themselves. Mono hook links are usually my first choice for clear water or pop-ups as they are less visible. Coated hook links with about an inch of the coating removed for murky conditions. The short flexible length makes it easier for the fish to suck the bait into their mouths. As long as the rigs don’t tangle and carp are caught I stick to my tried and trusted arrangements. Semi-fixed leads are usually my first preference changing to running leads if I think carp are mouthing the baits without giving an indication. A running lead will give a beep when a fixed lead gives no indication. Some anglers think that running leads result in bite-offs, dropped takes or fish getting away with mouthing the baits without pricking themselves. This is not my experience; it is very difficult for a fish to mouth a bait, fished on a free running set-up without giving at least one beep. If beeps occur but don’t develop into runs I can ring the changes (either hit the beeps or alter the terminal arrangement).

If a fixed lead is used a carp could be mouthing the baits without giving an indication. On the subject of leads I use uncoated sea lead that cost me between 30p and 35p each. They are shiny when purchased, but if they are left exposed to the elements they soon become nice and dull.

The most important aspects of carp fishing are location, location, location and getting the baiting situation correct. Get these right and any efficient rig will catch carp.

My Fishing by Jim Kelly

Line marked with electrical tape and line clipped

Saturday Two areas of the lake were chosen, one by the dam and one by the island. A marker was cast to each area and the distance of the fishing rods were set to suit. This is done by casting close to the marker float, clipping the line and marking it with electrical tape. When this had been completed, a circular area about 4m in diameter, around each marker float, was baited with hemp, carp pellets and boilies. The marker floats were wound in and baits cast to the required spots, making sure that a suitable mark on the sky line was used as a target. The line was unclipped and I was fishing, simple. All rods were fished with bottom baits as it is my experience that pop-ups are inefficient when fished over a bed of hemp. If a take should occur the distance is set by casting away from the baited area, reel in to the electrical tape and clipping up. The hook bait is then cast precisely to the baited area, even in the dark. Conditions for the first night were ideal, having a warm westerly wind.

Sunday
Both Paul and I blanked when we thought we should have caught. We were both uneasy about having too many lines in a small area of lake; even though lines were hidden by either back leading or using slack lines. I therefore decided to give Paul a better chance and sacrifice my fishing by moving to the unfancied shallower end (the last time something like this happened there were three wise men and a star). After a good look around the area some carp were found under an overhanging tree in the far margin. The urge to bait up was resisted until they had moved off; the area was then baited heavily by walking around and catapulting the bait in.

Far margin trees where I found some carp.

Rods were split between the far tree line and the island margin baited the previous night. The wind got up to gale force during the night with twelve hours of torrential rain, thank god that I had brought the extended over wrap for the armadillo. Paul and I both blanked even though the conditions were excellent. Monday I was bivvied up on the thin strip of land that separated both lakes; hence both lakes could be fished. At 9 O’clock on Monday morning one rod was reeled in and a stringer was cast into open water on Lake 2, 45mins later I had a screaming run and hooked into a lively fish. The net was soon slipped under a nice fish that went 22lbs 11oz on the scales, at last a fish.

Bivvied up on the thin spit of ground between the two lakes

A fish at last

The rods were reeled in for breakfast. The food at windmill is magnificent, breakfast was sausage, bacon, mushrooms, eggs, beans and hash browns; it beats cooking breakfast on a Coleman. After breakfast one rod was fished in Lake 2, resulting in a fish about every hour, all doubles. Nothing happened in Lake 1. Around 3 o’clock the rods were wound in to prepare for the night, all rods would be concentrated on Lake 1.
The terminal arrangement was changed to running leads to see if the carp were mouthing the baits and getting away with it. Paul had the theory that baiting up using the boat was spooking the fish, hence we both decided to bait up the areas not reachable by catapult, with a spod. I baited my island spot up early and then Paul started. He lost his spod on the island, had to go out in the boat to get it and said he may as well bait up whilst he was at it (what a stroke puller).

Tuesday
Monday night was a total blank. Tuesday was a repeat of Monday, one rod being fished in Lake 2. Lake 1 was a total blank and the rod in Lake 2 produced a fish about every hour, all pristine doubles with no marks at all in their mouths. Obviously Lake 2 was a lot easier than Lake 1. Tuesday night I decided to fish one rod in Lake 2 for a cat. Extensive reading about how to fish for cats was undertaken before the holiday as I had no catfish experience. Most authors agreed that cats would not tolerate resistance; hence I used a running lead and a very light indicator. One of the lake 1 rods was changed to a pop-up arrangement and fished away from the baited area with a PVA bag as an alternative to the heavily baited area.
Nothing happened on lake 1, but I had a quick run that stopped on lake 2 was it a cat?

Wednesday
Fish were bubbling around that baited areas when there were no lines in the water, but stopped as soon as we cast in. Were the fish really that spooky? We decided to bait an open water area each, very heavily, before breakfast and leave it all day without lines in the water. If we could get the carp feeding confidently perhaps we would have a chance. I put about 10kg of maize, sweetcorn, carp pellets and boilies into one area. I would fish this area and not bait up again until I had a fish. Paul and I fished Lake 2 after breakfast, both catching fish.

Paul is trying the ancient art of carp divining

Critically balanced using bottom and pop-up halves.

Sometimes lateral thinking can produce the goods, Paul is trying the ancient art of carp divining. The multiple rod set up acts as the antenna, a stainless steel pod is used due to its conductivity. The proximity of a carp is detected by a tingling in the hands due to the currents induced by the magnetic field from the carp. Does it work? Paul had the first lake 1 carp shortly after this picture was taken. This method is not mentioned in his write up as he is trying to keep it secret (your secret is safe with me). Paul is currently trying to develop this method by including a micro ammeter; this should tell him the size of the carp without even seeing it, the larger the current the bigger the carp. Future developments may include the use of a copper pod as it conducts electricity better.

Around 3 o’clock we retreated onto Lake 1, I decided to stop messing about and fish critically balance hook baits. I usually do this with cork ball inserts in the boilies, but I didn’t have any. I therefore compromised and fished half an 18mm boilie and half a pop-up. I really liked the way the bait behaved in the water, if a carp so much as farted close to this I was confident it would be hooked. One rod was again fished in Lake 2 for a cat.

Black Thursday
Wednesday night was another blank; I had another quick run on the catfish rod which abruptly stopped another missed cat? I was really in a foul mood; I was convinced that there were no fish in my swim. Paul could see that I would not be good company and kept well away. I did manage a few fish from the top lake, but I wanted a lump from Lake 1 (stamp feet and throw toys out of pram). Paul being a mate came around at about 5 to try and cheer me up, I was just having a moan that there were no fish in my swim when I had a screamer from lake 1. Paul thought it was hilarious, but I had to point out that I must be the dog’s if I could catch a fish from a swim with no fish in it!

The catfish rod was out for about 3 hours when I had a one noter. A very powerful fish was on the other end that wanted to get around the back of the island. I walked along the dam to get a better angle on the fish, the power was awesome. A few yards of line was gained and then it took line against the clutch. This continued for around 15mins and my arm was starting to ache, every few yards of line gained was quickly won back by the fish. Eventually I got the fish onto the surface and it came in like a pussy cat. The head torch revealed a large cat that was obviously too long for the 42inch arms on my landing net. Paul put the cat mat into the water and slid the cat onto it by grabbing its lower jaw (wear a glove for doing this). On the scales the cat went 46lbs 8oz magic, happy Thursday after all.

The willow had a gulley just in front of it

I had caught my cat and hence concentrated all my rods on Lake 1 as I still wanted a large carp. Thursday night was very foggy and nothing else happened.

Friday Night
Lake 1 was again the focus, it was a real pea souper and nothing was caught.

To sum up Windmill lakes are situated in a beautiful location and are ideal for a relaxing holiday. Lake 2 is runs water with a large head of carp. Lake 1 is a challenge, but there are definitely large carp present. During the winter the owner intends to stock Lake 1, this will create more competition for food and the carp should be easier to catch.

Meals are an optional extra at 110 euros per person per week and the variety, quality and quantity is excellent. I put a stone on in a week! These lakes can be booked exclusively and are definitely worth considering for a holiday. I would fish them again, the carp are currently showing an excellent growth rate and with the increased stocking the fishing should become very interesting. Windmill is one of the angling lines waters, for details on any of their waters phone (08712) 004466 or check out their website at www.anglinglines.com.

Jim Kelly