Jun 2016

Big Swim Number 3 Is In., 28th Jun

Last weekend we all put our backs into it and got the biggest decked swim on Lake Lauren built. It’s a whopping six and a half meters by two and it only took five of us to lift the main frame work into place!

The bank behind it can accommodate two bivvies so two anglers could fish from the same deck if they wanted. The deck also incorporates a step to get you closer to the water as the bank is a little higher here than other places on the lake.

All we need now is a drop of rain and a bit of summer sun to get the grass growing back quickly.

Jun 2016

Two More Decked Swims Go In., 20th Jun

Following on from the work started in April, two more decked swims (No’s 4 & 5) have gone in, this time closer to the very popular shallower end of the lake.

All the new swims will help preserve the banks from erosion caused by foot traffic, waves and nesting catfish. They also come with the added bonus of increasing the bank space for ever bigger bivvies! We are also taking this opportunity to level out any ruts in the banks as we go.

With four now finished, a total of six are planned for the Willow Bank and a further three slightly smaller platforms for the Dam Wall.

All work should be finished by the end of this season. Nature will obviously improve each swim in time as grass regrows and the careful planting around each swim matures.

Watch this space for more news and pics as we progress.

Jun 2016

Spectacular Week of Lake Records!!!, 12th Jun

Having arrived Saturday afternoon, the Chandler Party of five decided to set up bivvies and prepare rods to crack on with the fishing first thing on the Sunday morning after a relaxing night at the farmhouse.

The fishing started with a flying start and by mid-week, the tally was stacking up with fish coming from all corners of the lake, despite the hot weather and bright sunshine.

Wednesday, around 13:00, Construction Design Office Manager, Julia Chandler from Walton-upon-Thames in Surrey, bagged a beauty of a beast from the shallows on one of Quest Baits Rajah Spice boilies. The gorgeous Mirror gave her a run for her money, right around lili-pad islands where it dug in and refused to budge. Julia thought it best to put the rod back on the rest and wait for the fish to move, the tactic paid off as the lump was soon back on the move, and this time in the right direction. By 13:30 the big Mirror was in the net and the Ladies Lake Record was raised by almost 5lb to a respectable 41lb 8oz.

An hour and half later, Julia only went and bust another lake record; the Ladies Lake Record Grass Carp came out at 15:00 on the 8th June 2016 on a Mainline Cell boilie, weighing in at 24lbs on the nose, the heaviest Grassie to come out so far. Julia takes home two bottles of white wine for her troubles as a memento.

Not to be out done, fellow angler Bernie Walker from Weybridge also broke a lake record; The OAP Lake Record Mirror. He achieved this in serious style by taking it OFF THE TOP!!! In over ten years, no one has managed to take fish off the surface here and this was his fifth in two days!

A lot of stealthy pre-baiting and preparation was involved in BBQ Corner, and once he was happy that he could see fish visiting regularly and feeding on the Omega dog biscuits, he then snuck in with his favourite stalking rod. By Friday Bernie had taken four good Carp to 32lb+ off the top but at mid-day he came across a stonking 40lb 1oz Mirror. The big beauty was taken on a Curly-Wurly rig tipped with a dog biscuit. Bernie takes home a personalised bottle of red wine as souvenir.

Big big well done to both Julia and Bernie