Syndicate Fishing.

This was to be my first fishing trip of the year and I was well excited,

syndicate fishing is not something I do often for obvious reasons but now and then I get invited to come along as a guest and its hard to turn down. This lake is in Thatcham and I have heard it holds very large Carp. 

To be honest I very rarely Carp fish in the winter as there are many fish that feed more willingly, but decided as there are some stunning fish in this lake I decided to have a go. 

It wasn't till the morning I arrived that I was told that the lake, which is about 5 acres or more, only had a whole 125 Carp. Nice. 

The water was crystal clear and as there were a few shadows down the far end that's where I headed. I baited lightly with a few boilies and a handful of corn spread about 40 yards in front of me. My left rod had a inline lead system shocker style with a boilie on as bait in a solid pva bag full of low oil pellet and crumbed boilie. The right rod was fished with a lead clip system with 2 grains of plastic, the top one being fluro pink. Lots of people use corn on this lake so I just thought I would try something new. The first couple of hours went by quietly but there was still activity in the area so I left the baits as they were. I was just looking through the binoculars at the far bank as there was some movement in the bushes when the right rod ripped off. When I picked up the rod I said I think it's a Bream. Then it got a bit heavier so I thought maybe a Tench. It was a strange fight, but by now I saw the Carp in the gin clear water it just seemed to hang there, maybe it's just I don't go Carp fishing in the winter much. When in the net I thought it was a definite 20lb and a real nice looking fish.

On the scales it went 19lb 12oz, not 20lb but on a cold day I was over the moon. With the shots taken I slipped the fish back which is great to watch in the clear water. The rest of the day slipped by with a friend catching a 18lb common but no other fish on the lake were banked. This was a truly mesmerising lake and can see the point of syndicate lake fishing, buts its more socialising than fishing. But if I get a chance ill return in a blink of an eye.