Winter Carping on The Mill Pond by Daniel Goddard The Mill Pond has always been known for producing carp right throughout the winter. The main beleif is that the water movement created by flow running from Knypersley Reservoir keeps the water well oxygenated and therefore the fish continue to move and feed. The day started out at 7.30am, as I pull up on the dam wall. The wind is blowing from the south east but the predicted gales haven't yet picked up, although it was definetly raining. The inflow of water was that strong, it was almost like fishing a river but thats not a bad thing on this water. I decided to spread my rods in two areas, one going into the middle of the lake and one near the house wall by the outflow, which made peg 15 ideal. I baited the middle rod with a method feeder and hair rigged hot pepperami (for some reason they prefer the hot stuff) for hookbait. The other rod near the outflow would be baited the same but I introduced the groundbait by hand rather than use a method feeder. It wouldn't be long before I recieved my first take. A steady lift on my swinger and a few beeps from my bite alarm and I was in. It was the outflow rod and the fish hugged the bottom before swimming out infront of me. I quickly landed her though and was plesently suprise at a 11lb 2oz mirror.
Not long after releasing the fish the method rod was away, and I was latched onto a much smaller fish. A scrappy fight produced a small mirror of about 3lb.
The morning continued to be productive with another 6 carp between 2 and 7lb, coming to both rods. To finish the day off, whilist packing up I received the best take of the day with a screaming run on the outflow rod. A cracking fight lasted about 5 minutes before I eventually landed the fish. Just like the first fish, it took the scales round slightly more to 11lb 12oz.
I left about 2pm, finally arriving at the top of the steps during a heavy downpour of rain which wasn't welcome, but I didn't really mind. I shall be definetly back nearer christmas to enjoy some more cracking sport, and hopefully catch one of the bigger residents.
Copyright Daniel Goddard |
