In short they are not

Until this week I was Secretary of Walton Angling Society and like many other clubs they have a work party schedule that costs the members money if they do not attend one. This is great in theory but how are the small clubs ever going to turn members away when they do not bother to attend a work party when they are absolutely desperate for members? In short they are not. The impossible situation exists, sad but true. Regardless of that, one of Waltonís major work party tasks was to rejuvenate the stock pond situated at Painshill Park.Nice idea, the water is about a half acre with a depth of about three feet. The main problem was cormorants, so to restock it meant constructing steel cages for the stock fish to hide in during the winter, nice idea again. All this meant draining the small lake to clear the mud and weeds and get the remaining fish out. Okay, then we found that we had so much rain that draining the stock pond through the pipe to the adjacent river Mole was impossible because the level of the river Mole was higher than the pond. Nice one, no progress. Then the brilliant idea of the cages; the dimensions would mean they would be proud of the water level anyway. This on a park open to the public, I think not! Oh what a mess, no wonder I am glad to relinquish my post, let’s get back to the fishing!The AGM was also this week and it was a surprisingly well attended affair, surely the members had turned up to give yours truly a fond farewell? Well maybe not, the free food and beer probably helped! However as I have said before, the Society have a wonderful carp lake in Painshill Park that will produce some big old carp in the next few years despite everything and the fact that the majority of the fish have been infrequently caught adds to the attraction. It is time for yours truly to return big time! I have a nice hole in my fishing schedule that pushes me in that direction, especially without the burden of being on the committee.Back to the AGM. No present, thanks guys!! But for those who remember, a few weeks ago I crashed out at a mates place in Weybridge and fished for his lovely Leney carp in a small pond outside his pad. I had to repeat the pleasure so as soon as the business of the AGM was over we made tracks and were soon dangling free lined crusts in the margins. The weather was mild and cloudy and the carp were having it. After just an hours effort, a couple of low double mirrors had seen the grass. The feeling of touch fishing for free lined crust carp fishing is amazing, I have done this for 30lb plus carp as well in the past, awesome!I love this sort of fishing; I just cannot get enough of it. I can put up with static fishing but always hanker for the close-in stalking stuff. Last year in May I was fishing a small lake in the Colne Valley and the carp were getting so close – yet others were ignoring them. I was lowering crusts, worms and mixers on the carps noses, getting really fast takes. The carp were only small, relatively, about 15lb but they were so fast and hard fighters that it was wonderful fishing. This small water in Weybridge was the same, enhanced by the fact that it was dark it was a wonderful feeling. It takes me back to the mid 70’s carp scene, but Iíve bored you with that enough in previous articles.I went back to my new water for a mid-week stalking session, at least it was dry. The carp were under the snags in the out of bounds areas. I put loads of trout pellets out to attract them to come out. Just as it got dark a couple were feeding over my baited area. I set up stall in the nearest swim for the evening and night. Just as it got dark I had a fast take, had to be a carp surely. A crayfish was attached to the bait! Come morning the carp were where I had seen them the evening before, under the snags.May will bring some warmer weather and I will get to grips with these carp, if it kills me! Other waters are thick with weed, or flood at the moment, my water is low and there is not a strand of weed to be seen, bizarre!I did another work party at my favourite club water last week. I put some bait in and within two hours I had carp feeding on my favourite spots, I can’t wait until 1st June, okay Iíve caught most of the carp there already but my obsession 30lber was having it under a bush – it will be mine!Meanwhile Iím going to put a full months effort into getting a biggie out of this new water, watch this space! Anyway, keep at it, or keep planning, summer is round the corner.

Have fun!