Richard Hinks Masterclass Day Decoy Lakes

20.04.2015

brilliant catch Richard

This was a special birthday present from Richard’s wife Heidi. His good fishing friend Lee Wright had also come along for the day. The wonderful Decoy Lakes near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire was the chosen venue, Diane the owner had kindly allowed them to use keepnets.

Richard with his first fish

It was a sunny spring morning, with a light cool easterly breeze. I decided that Elm lake would be a good choice.

Lee with a 5lb mirror carp

Pole at between 10 and 12 mts was the chosen method, cupping in with a small pot plus loose feeding a few 4mm hard feed carp pellets with a 4mm soft pellet on the hook. Within a few minutes both anglers were into fish. It was nonstop action which never slowed. A switch to up in the water with a banded pellet was also very productive, but the barbel and bigger carp all came from fishing at full depth. So many fish were being caught that the keepnets had reached the maximum 50lb allowed by 2 pm, so Richard and Lee were returning fish as they caught them.

We left the bank at about 4 pm Lee having caught about 150lbs and Richard with the help of some big fish, even more, probably close to 170lbs.

Bob

Some more pictures:

a massive 5lb barbel

this feels like a big fish

a beautiful mirror carp

a 6lb common carp in perfect condition

a 3lb common carp

a 3lb barbel

biggest fish of the day over 6lbs

brilliant catch Lee

Anthony Woodward Masterclass Day Decoy Lakes

23.04.2015

great day Tony

This was a special 70th birthday present from Tony’s wife. His son Paul had also come along for the day. The wonderful Decoy lakes near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire was the chosen venue.

Tony with his first fish

it was a sunny warm spring morning with a light westerly breeze. I decided that Elm lake with its good head of barbel and carp would be the best lake to fish.

Paul’s first fish a 2lb F1

Tony opted to fish a waggler in the margins, loose feeding with 4mm carp pellets with a banded 6mm pellet on the hook. Paul decided to use a method feeder also with a 6mm banded pellet hookbait.

an 8lb mirror carp

Tony was soon catching. 3 barbel at the start and then a run of quality carp, which included a really big mirror carp close to 15lbs. Paul had a slower start and then began to catch with a really good run of carp and F1’s in the afternoon.

We left the bank at about 4pm and although neither angler had opted to use keepnets, I guess Tony had caught close to 70lbs and Paul about 50lbs.

Bob

Some more pictures:

this feels like a big fish

just in the net

a 3lb common carp

a 3lb barbel in perfect condition

biggest fish of the day, close to 15lbs

Anthony Gill Masterclass Day Decoy lakes

24.04.2015

brilliant catch Anthony

Anthony had contacted me to arrange a fishing day. His brother James had also come along for the day. The wonderful Decoy lakes near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire was the chosen venue, Diane the owner had kindly allowed them both to use keepnets.

Anthony with his first fish

It was a bright spring morning, with a light westerly wind making it feel a little cool. I decided that as Elm lake was fishing really well, we would fish there.

James with his first fish a 5lb koy carp

Both anglers opted for the pole, Anthony at about 10 mts, while James decided to fish the margins, feed was 4mm hard feed carp pellets with a 6mm banded pellet on the action. It only took a few minutes for the fish to respond to the feed and soon both anglers were catching well. Anthony switched to up in the water with a banded 4 mm pellet and was catching quality carp. By 2 pm both anglers had reached the 50lb weight allowance in each net, and were returning fish as they caught them.

a 4lb mirror carp

We left the bank at about 4pm Anthony and James having caught about 140lbs of fish each.

Bob

Some more pictures:

a 3lb barbel in perfect condition

just in the net

first ever barbel for James

almost in the net

Yes, it’s mine!

a 6lb common carp

brilliant catch James

John Gamble Masterclass Day Decoy lakes

25.04.2015

brilliant catch John

This was a special 50th anniversary present arranged by John’s wife and his daughter Joanne. Her husband David had also come along for the day. They had both been out with me 2 years before. The wonderful Decoy lakes near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire was the chosen venue. Diane the owner had kindly allowed them to use nets.

John’s first fish a 4lb mirror carp

It was an overcast spring morning with a moderate cool westerly wind. Saturdays are always busy here, but luckily Beastie lake was free as it was officially closed for the day to give it a rest.

David with his first fish

John opted to fish the pole and David the method feeder. Both anglers were quickly into fish. John was loose feeding 4mm hard carp pellets with a banded 4mm pellet on the hook. Carp, tench and barbel were coming to the net almost nonstop. David was a little slower in numbers but his fish were all big. He did switch to pole in the afternoon and immediately after a long battle, hooked and landed a double figure common carp, which we returned to the water. John had reached his net limit by 2 pm and was returning the fish as he caught them.

We left the bank at about 4pm. I guess John had caught close to 140lbs and David about 120lbs.

Bob

Some more pictures:

a 2lb tench

a 6lb mirror carp

Yes, it’s mine!

a 5lb common carp

just in the net

a 10lb koy carp

a beautiful 4lb barbel

brilliant catch David