A Carpheadbangers time at Farlows
Dec 3rd - Dec 6th 2014
I awoke on the Wednesday morning, a warmth flowing through my body telling me I was getting up out of my warm bed for 3 days of fishing at one of the best day ticket waters in England....I was going to Farlows.
With 4 months of zilch bank time, after the arrival of our baby boy, the excitement of fishing this historic venue was let's just say, "totally awesome". I was also going to be meeting with a new friend I had made over social media, Mr big B.
However, I would realise my first cock up as I passed Stonehenge....my boilies once again were still in the freezer at home!....what a numpty!
With 4 months of zilch bank time, after the arrival of our baby boy, the excitement of fishing this historic venue was let's just say, "totally awesome". I was also going to be meeting with a new friend I had made over social media, Mr big B.
However, I would realise my first cock up as I passed Stonehenge....my boilies once again were still in the freezer at home!....what a numpty!
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After the 115 or so miles and a short spell on the worlds biggest car park (M25) I finally arrived at Farlows around half past 10am. Eggy took my money and I drove around the lake to find Bangers in swim 44. Swim 43 next to him was free and he told me he had seen fish showing at around 96 yards straight in front. Bangers had one the night before, a 24lb linear, a great winter prize.
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This was also the first time I would be using new rods, an early Christmas present, I prayed they would do the business for me. The new rods had a very different feel and I struggled to hit the clip with a 3oz lead, I was probably mentally aware these rods were brand new and blocking myself from giving them some welly. Now I've never been the best caster I'll admit but when I fished linear years ago 100 yards was a doddle. Perhaps with the last two years of regularly fishing only up to 60 yards or so on smaller waters had unconditioned me too. I would get some bigger leads just to help me get out there the next morning and also get some boilie from the shop. After some silly rig mistakes and rusty mistakes and tangles I eventually had all 3 rods out to the clip, just. All were on singles (pop ups) with small bags. I would hopefully get them out more confidently tomorrow.
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A slick came up in the afternoon over the area and we both thought we would have a chance but it didn't seem to last long. Perhaps a quick in and out feed?...But they were visiting the area, so a positive sign.
A good chat with Eggy as he done his final rounds of the lake and it was then a curry and shut eye time, I felt knackered I have to admit.
I awoke a few times in the night but only for calls of nature, no signs from the Delks. I awoke properly at 5am and soon had coffee on the go whilst watching the lake as the late morning light eventually started to brighten the surroundings. The wind was cold and now pushing slightly more into my bivvy entrance. I lay nice and warm in my winter suit watching through the door taking the occasional sip of my warm waker up coffee.
Bangers only had one single bleep through the night and I decided to wind in and walk around the lake to the shop. What a fantastic lake, so many different swims to be found, the pads being the typical type of area in would normally fish if I was on my own I thought to myself as a walked past and around towards the shop.
A good chat with Eggy as he done his final rounds of the lake and it was then a curry and shut eye time, I felt knackered I have to admit.
I awoke a few times in the night but only for calls of nature, no signs from the Delks. I awoke properly at 5am and soon had coffee on the go whilst watching the lake as the late morning light eventually started to brighten the surroundings. The wind was cold and now pushing slightly more into my bivvy entrance. I lay nice and warm in my winter suit watching through the door taking the occasional sip of my warm waker up coffee.
Bangers only had one single bleep through the night and I decided to wind in and walk around the lake to the shop. What a fantastic lake, so many different swims to be found, the pads being the typical type of area in would normally fish if I was on my own I thought to myself as a walked past and around towards the shop.
I made my purchases from Eggy and headed back the way I came. Some fish movement in the pads area but not enough to make me wanna get all my gear around there. Besides I was here for a social with Bangers too, so I was more than happy to stay in my swim.
Once back Bangers and I discussed our tactics and we decided to prime a shorter area in front of me, a gravel bar to which I wanted to be on the back of at only 40 yards straight at the big pylon in the background sky. I found another bar shorter but decided on the 40 yard spot.
The idea was to work a little more as a team and cover 2 or 3 areas/distances in an attempt to locate fish in our area of the lake.
A single bleep at around quarter to 4 had me at my rods waiting for them to go.....nothing.
I sat with Bangers and we chatted about our lives, we probably righted all the worlds wrongs (ha ha) and around 6 pm the left hand rod lit up....we rushed over to the glowing rod...most likely a liner. Very frustrating but at least some positive signs again I concluded.
The night was uneventful and I slept even better than the night before. I awoke at 6.30 the wind had completely dropped the previous evening and was now only very slight but it had shifted direction none the less. A cup of coffee and some oats later I went to see Bangers who was doing some filming. He had only had a couple of single beeps on his left rod through the night. He went off to do some filming and I recast my right rod back to the longer range after seeing a show a little further past that area Bangers was covering. Today I was hitting the clip without a problem so definitely some kind of mental issue the previous time. I also decided to put the other two out further at approx 75 yards to a hard area....both leads had a firm thump as they hit bottom.
A little later I decided to recast the right rod, I hadn't really felt the lead make much impact (I often find this the further I cast out) and it was bothering me. As I was winding in I could feel resistance and noticed I had picked up a line.....nothing coming from Bangers delks so must be a trailing line I thought to myself. As it got closer it suddenly freed itself. I told Bangers to check his left rod...it was his line and his bobbin had dropped....not sure how as I had seen his cast and it was not near the position mine had gone, i was a good 15 to 20 yards left of his left rod position. Perhaps the bleeps was a pick up last night I discussed with him.
Bangers decided to reel in and go and do some filming at the shop. I got my kettle on and whilst it was boiling I made some more PVA mesh bags up.
Some signs in the margin had me baiting a spot to the left, just in front of the bush,and my left rod would be on that spot for the evening.
Once back Bangers and I discussed our tactics and we decided to prime a shorter area in front of me, a gravel bar to which I wanted to be on the back of at only 40 yards straight at the big pylon in the background sky. I found another bar shorter but decided on the 40 yard spot.
The idea was to work a little more as a team and cover 2 or 3 areas/distances in an attempt to locate fish in our area of the lake.
A single bleep at around quarter to 4 had me at my rods waiting for them to go.....nothing.
I sat with Bangers and we chatted about our lives, we probably righted all the worlds wrongs (ha ha) and around 6 pm the left hand rod lit up....we rushed over to the glowing rod...most likely a liner. Very frustrating but at least some positive signs again I concluded.
The night was uneventful and I slept even better than the night before. I awoke at 6.30 the wind had completely dropped the previous evening and was now only very slight but it had shifted direction none the less. A cup of coffee and some oats later I went to see Bangers who was doing some filming. He had only had a couple of single beeps on his left rod through the night. He went off to do some filming and I recast my right rod back to the longer range after seeing a show a little further past that area Bangers was covering. Today I was hitting the clip without a problem so definitely some kind of mental issue the previous time. I also decided to put the other two out further at approx 75 yards to a hard area....both leads had a firm thump as they hit bottom.
A little later I decided to recast the right rod, I hadn't really felt the lead make much impact (I often find this the further I cast out) and it was bothering me. As I was winding in I could feel resistance and noticed I had picked up a line.....nothing coming from Bangers delks so must be a trailing line I thought to myself. As it got closer it suddenly freed itself. I told Bangers to check his left rod...it was his line and his bobbin had dropped....not sure how as I had seen his cast and it was not near the position mine had gone, i was a good 15 to 20 yards left of his left rod position. Perhaps the bleeps was a pick up last night I discussed with him.
Bangers decided to reel in and go and do some filming at the shop. I got my kettle on and whilst it was boiling I made some more PVA mesh bags up.
Some signs in the margin had me baiting a spot to the left, just in front of the bush,and my left rod would be on that spot for the evening.
Other than being picked up by a coot that afternoon the rest of the day was very uneventful. A liner around 10pm also had me watching the rods for half an hour before retreating back into my sleeping bag.
A very cold night, turning the bivvy tops and surrounding puddles to ice with ease, i awoke properly around 6.30am and was soon tucking into some warm oats and a coffee. Soon after 8am a slow pack away had started in my swim whilst watching for any late signs of fish. 10am and big Bangers shouts across!...."I'M IN!"
A 27lb 8oz mirror eventually graced his net, I filmed some of the capture etc which I hope turned out OK....and then the gorgeous girl was slipped back into the Lake. It was a massive reward for him after some hard days of fishing.
A 27lb 8oz mirror eventually graced his net, I filmed some of the capture etc which I hope turned out OK....and then the gorgeous girl was slipped back into the Lake. It was a massive reward for him after some hard days of fishing.
Eventually we were packed up and we headed over to the cafe before our journeys home.
Farlows is not only a massive lake in carp history but also an absolute peach of a day ticket water. The lake is simply stunning, the staff are very friendly, the toilet and shower facilities are better than some hotels I have stayed in and the café serves an awesome breakfast.....what else can an angler want from a venue?
I had a great time with Bangers at Farlows....disappointed not to have caught? Not really, it was just great to be out again....and in good company too.
I will definately be Returning to farlows in 2015.
Thanks to:
