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Diary 2011

September / November 2011

I probably say it every month, but seriously where does the time really go ???? It's now mid November and I've just come in from raking up piles of leaves from the garden. It did not seem that long ago that Summer was in full swing and we all had our holiday heads on. Although very mild at the moment, you just know that some proper Winter weather is just lurking just around the corner. In truth the lakes have quietened down throughout the week now as most day ticket anglers seem to pack their gear away when the clocks go back. It's a shame really as I have always regarded around this time of year as being one of my favourites, especially when the weather is being kind to us as it is now. Obviously there's far to much to mention on all the coming and goings throughout the last 3 months so i'll just stick to some of the highlights.
As you can see from the pictures below, Jenkins Lake has produced a stack of cats again this year. The difference being this year, is that they are now all happily swimming around in our new Cat Lake, due to open next year. Construction of one large double swim will be started over the next few weeks so it will be ready for the start of the warmer weather next year. If you like a spot of cat fishing or if you have never caught one, then this lake should provide you with the very best chances to do battle against these awesome creatures.

With the reduction of bio-mass from Jenkins we expect the carp to get a better look in on available food and hopefully therefore increase their weight. This was certainly true of one of the inhabitants of Jenkins that was always hovering around the 28-08lbs. Towards the end of October the fish which i'll most likely name 'Black Spot', due to an old healed wound on one of its flanks, made an appearance at that magical 30lbs mark. The angler I only know as Steve W, tempted the big mirror on one of our CW Bollies, fished tight the far margin. Well done mate and great to see the fish already responding to not having to compete with so many cats for their food.

'Black Spot; at 30-02lbs from Jenkins

Another recent memorable weekend was the Carping For Charity 24hrs match held on Jenkins and Churchwood. Ten anglers entered the competition, 6 on CW and the other 4 on Jenkins. The fish didn't really play ball although I came in 2nd place with 'Shaggy' from CW at 27lbs, a fish I've personally never caught, so I was well pleased. 1st place went to Chris Donovon who managed a 17lbs and a 13lbs from CW Lake. 3rd want to Joe Turnball who caught a low 20lbs common from Jenkins. It was a great weekend and one that will hopefully become a annual fixture at the fishery.

Chris Donovon from Baitzone with his 2 winning carp from CW Lake

Yours truly with Shaggy at 27lbs and Joe Turnball with an old original common from Jenkins

A good weekend and a good cause.......

Well thats about it till next time.........hopefully will get one more update in before the end of the year. We are already getting many enquiries with regards to bookings for next year. The new diary will be open in the next few weeks. If this year was anything to go by then weekends will quickly get booked up and the diary busy as anglers book early to save disappointment in not getting their preferred dates.

July / August 2011

Where has the Summer gone ? These two months always seem to just fly by and as per normal I seem to find very little spare time. Even these brief updates seem to get lost in all that goes on this time of year. The weather has been relatively poor, although the lack of sunshine and hot temperatures seem to have drastically improved catches, especially on CW Lake. August has typically been a tough month for Carp fishing. The abundance of natural foods and some intense angling pressure from early Spring always seems to make our quarry that little bit harder to catch. The lakes also benefitted from a couple of weeks that we closed the fishery so that my family and I could take a well deserved holiday. We have seen some great catches throughout July and August although a couple have stood out from the rest.

Regulars Paul & Bill fished a 48hrs session on CW Lake. They booked out the entire lake between just the two of them, which is obviously a big advantage to start with. The inhabitants of both lakes certainly know when anglers are present and will become very cagey once there are a number of lines in the water. I always advocate to anglers the use of slack lines or back leads to help a little to combat this potential issue. Personally I use very slack lines on both lakes and seem to catch my fair share of carp. Bill and Paul had something like 25 pick ups between them although they only managed to land around half of these. Paul had the best fish in the shape of 'George' at 28-08lbs, which is a great Summer weight and hopefully she will be banging on around 30lbs during the early part of next year. George has been out 3 times over these past 2 months and certainly seems to have its munching head on. The high quality fishmeal bollies (CW Fish) that we are currently using at the fishery, certainly seem to be doing the fish a lot of good as all the fish seem to be up on previous Summer weights. The 'Long Common' is back to 26-08lbs, which again is a good weight for this time of year.

'Welsh' Ray and 'Chopper' Paul with George from CW Lake.

Another 3 lads who enjoyed their 1st trip to the fishery were Jacko, Mick and Tony from Dagenham. In total they managed 15 fish, 3 of which were named target fish. Again 'George' was one of these at 28lbs, the 'Long Common' at 26lbs and 'Shaggy' also at a little under 26lbs. They all lost fish as well and could have easily ended up with 20+ fish on the bank. All were very capable anglers and it was good to see some lads down at the lakes who really applied their skills and worked hard for a great result. Well done boys and hope to see you all soon.

Jacko, Tony and Mick with a few of their recent captures from Churchwood Lake Jenkins Lake has also been producing some good fish. The biggest being 'Scar' at just under 29lbs. Unfortunately I have yet to track down a picture of this one but hope to do soon. We continue to remove any cats and re-home these into our new Cat Lake which we hopefully will have up and running next year. The largest cat so far stocked was a 56 pounder. We have had several 40's go in with loads of 30's and 20's. If all goes to plan then this will be an awesome cat lake to fish and will provide anglers wishing to catch this species some great entertainment.

Local youngster Alex with a cracking Common from Jenkins. Brothers Ricky and Micky with one of the many big cats

........and a few more crackers recently out of Churchwood and Jenkins Lakes.

As you can see from the selection of trophy shots above, the fish are in absolute A1 condition. This is obviously my biggest goal and it's very rewarding for a fishery owner to see the fruits of all the hard work that goes into running a top class fishery. By carefully managing the water quality, managing the stocking / bio-mass density, feeding the best food available, sensible rules protecting fish welfare, these are just some of the factors that make a great fishery and a fishery that can produce specimens like you see on a regular basis on this webpage. Thats about it from me for another month or so, or until I get a spare few hours again. The diary looks pretty full for the next few weeks but Autumn is just around the corner and is one of my favourite periods throughout the season to get some fishing in. If you fancy a chance to have a crack at these cracking carp then I suggest you get on the phone sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment !!! .

June 2011

The Last month I said we could all benefit from a little rain to help freshen up the lakes, be careful what you wish for ! The lakes have certainly had a good flush through and are filled to the brim which is what you want in the middle of Summer. Like a true weather whinging Brit, it would be nice to see the Summer return once more.
Someone who has not been whinging this month is young Alex who has been helping around the fishery, along with getting himself a fair few fish on the bank. If the world of carp fishing had a few more Alex like young fisherman then I'm sure it would be in a better place. Alex has been carefully watching and listening to various anglers visiting the fishery and has then applied some new thinking to his already capable skills. In addition to this he has also been helping me out in giving advice to anglers who may otherwise struggle to catch fish from this sometimes tricky venue. I can think of at least 3 anglers who broke their PB's with help from Alex along with numerous anglers who have thanked him for his help and advice. If you see him around the fishery, pick his brains, it may help you bank some additional fish.

Top carpers Joe Turnbull and John Bassili, paid a visit to Churchwood earlier this month whilst their syndicate was unavailable due to it's close season. Joe is best known for his 'Bait World' articles that are published in 'Carpworld' magazine. Both anglers managed to catch, with John banking the largest in the shape of 'George' at just under 28lbs. Joe was impressed with our range of bollies and dips supplied by CW Baits at the fishery and will hopefully feature the range in one of his articles sometime in the near future.

In general the lakes have fished relatively well considering how unsettled the weather has been. Typically the lakes slow down a little after heavy downpours and then recover after a few days once the water temperature and other variables have stabilised again. At this time of year the abundance of natural foods within the lakes are at their peak. Snails, shrimps, mussels, bloodworms and other larva's make up an appetizing irresistible feast to the carp. The fish can easily become pre-occupied with this food source and reject anglers bait. Although catching can become challenging during the summer months, getting results are still achievable.

My top tip for anyone planning a visit to either Jenkins or Churchwood Lakes over the next few weeks would be - Fish critically balanced baits, rigs pinned down with tungsten putty in conjunction with slack lines. Fish this method over a natural feeding area and you will be in with a good chance. If Alex or myself are around then we will be sure to let you know the productive areas in your chosen swim.

That’s it for another month, tight lines and see you soon.

May 2011

The weather has certainly been glorious for some time, but I think we could all do with a little rain now to help freshen up the lakes and the surrounding areas. The fishing has also been very productive on both lakes with plenty of carp visiting the bank. There's been no real pattern to feeding times with fish being caught throughout the day and night. With the increase in water temperatures, we have been feeding the lakes on our new CW Fish Bollies. Made from a high grade HNV fishmeal along with a specially designed oily crab flavor, this new bait has been accounting for the majority of the captures. With the recent bank holidays during May, I've managed to get myself on the bank a few times over the long weekends. My best was a mirror named Carlos from Churchwood Lake, which weighed in at 27-08lbs. It was a fish that I had not previously caught and being one of the prettiest carp in the lake, it was certainly high on my list of target fish. In truth I lost count of the fish I caught in May but the majority of carp came to fishing half a CW Fish Pop Up in conjunction with half a CW Fish bottom bait, fished over a decent amount of freebies. Slack lines, small hooks and rig putty along your hook length are also a couple of tips worth remembering. I mentioned last month the importance of keeping bankside disturbance and noise to an absolute minimum. You can have the best bait and rig in the world, but make excessive noise on the bank, you could easily go home with a blank !!

Local youngsters Alex & Darren have been commissioned by myself to try and extract the last few carp from the stock pond where they have been growing over the past few years. As you can see from the pictures below they have been doing an excellent job. They have had some absolute stunners which I'm sure you would agree will be highly desirable once they have put a few pounds on in the future. I'm hoping by next year to turn the stock pond into a dedicated Cat Lake for anglers wishing to target these species, more on this project later in the year.

Our new lodge has now been up and running for a few weeks and has proven to be a big hit with the visiting anglers. The lodge consists of a toilet, separate shower and a kitchen area complete with sink, kettle, microwave and fridge. We have seen a steady increase in the demand from anglers wishing to book and fish week long sessions here at Churchwood Fisheries. This demand was one of the main drivers for us to improve the facilities that were previously on offer. Another reason to invest in such a facility was to bring this fishery up to another level and to set it aside from other day ticket venues around the country. Anglers are already requesting to book for next year which is a testament to where this fishery is currently and the direction we are taking it for the future.

Weekend availability naturally remains very much in demand with mid week dates providing a better chance to get onto the fishery. I'll leave you this month with a selection of pictures that I have collected over the past few weeks. Tight lines and hope to see you soon.

March / April 2011

It's been a manic few months here at Churchwood Fisheries. As always its an extremely busy period for a fishery owner. Apart from the general routine maintenance around the lakes, I have always had a major project planned during the 1st quarter of each of the last 7 years that I have been running the fishery. Last year was the reinstatement of the moat around the house and the creation of a new rearing area, this year saw the redevelopment of the fishing hut situated on Jenkins Lake. I won't go into too much detail here, but to say that the end result is the absolute nuts, would be a massive injustice to the time, effort and money that had been channelled into this project to ensure that the facilities at this day ticket fishery is second to none. Our website is also currently going over a major makeover, so I will wait until that is up and running before we start to showcase our new facilities. Watch this space !!! The fishing has also been manic on both lakes with far too many captures and results to mention. I've got a few decent pictures to share with you this month but as is often the case, many anglers do not seem to be in possession of a decent camera to take that trophy shot. Personally, after all the time, effort and money spent in pursuit of your chosen quarry, then surely a decent trophy shot is worth a little effort ? Each to their own I guess, if we were all the same then the world of carp fishing would generally be a very dull place to be !
Carp catching machines Lee Merritt & Rob Marsh made a return visit back in early March and fished a 24hrs session on Churchwood Lake. Great to see you both and here's what Rob had to say on his website

"Just got back from Churchwood fisheries in Essex had some excellent action in absolutely freezing conditions! All the fish fell for Mainline fluro pop ups and dumbells fished on a small braided hooklengths with a size 8 Atomic Stinga hooks fished Kd style. Solid Atomic Grenade pva bags filled with Hinders Mini-combi pellet. A top fishery !"

I'll leave you with some of the pictures that I have received these last few weeks. Naturally the diary is looking pretty full but it's still worth a try to get booked in, especially if you can manage a mid week session. It's nearly the Easter break and the weather has been absolutely stunning. It won't be long before the begin to spawn and those long summer evenings are in full swing. Happy days -

February 2011

As usual with this time of year, the lakes see very little pressure from day ticket anglers. It's the ideal time to get the necessary maintenance work started around the lakes. In truth it's probably the busiest time of year for a discerning fishery owner. It's also a time of year that I enjoy getting my rods out and I invariably end up getting the lakes to myself. There's always a chance of hitting a 'Red Letter' day early in the year and it was exactly that what happened to me a few weeks back. Conditions looked cock on, low pressure and a strong Westerly wind hacking into the far end of Jenkins Lake. I had been baiting a few spots around the lake with our new CW Red bollies on a regular basis. A matching CW Red pop-up was presented over these spots along with a kilo or so of free offerings which consisted of whole and broken baits. It was not long before I was into my 1st fish of this very short session. After a spirited fight I slid the net under a pretty 15lbs common. That signalled the start of a 2-3 hour feeding spell which ended up yielding me 9 carp, the biggest being a fine 28lbs mirror. I also had a scraper 20 common, the rest of the fish being mid to upper doubles. All the action came from 1 rod and it just goes to show you that it's certainly worth making the effort at this time of year.

The 28lbs mirror and one of the upper doubles from a productive 9 fish short session on Jenkins Lake

Bill "Fooking Hange Me" and Paul, two anglers who have been making an effort this year, also have been rewarded with some early action on Jenkins. Both of them have a couple of fish already under their belts which should stand them in good stead for the sessions they have booked throughout the year. Speaking of which, come the end of March, weekends are getting extremely full and it's proving difficult to accommodate new bookings. Mid week are still available along with a scattering of weekend bookings. If you do want to get down to the lakes this year, I strongly advise you to book sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.

Over on Churchwood Lake a few carp have also been making their way to the bank. Unfortunately not too many pictures collected but I did manage to get a copy of Keith Dalton's 22lbs common along with a pretty stockie caught by local angler Martin. I've also had a few out but unfortunately not any of the lumps. The weather looks set to continue improving so I would expect CW Lake to really turn on over the coming weeks with some good multiple catches being made. Thats it till next month, tight lines and hope to see you soon. Oh I nearly forgot, cousin Richard Grimes managed to sneak out 'Tom's Common' at 28-08lbs from Jenkins while he was meant to be working on the lakes. Nice work if you can get it !!!

January 2011

Happy New Year to everyone !!! The year has started off being very very wet. We have not seen so much water come through the lakes than what we have seen at the start of this month. The lakes spent the last few weeks of 2010 and the first few of 2011 under a thick sheet of ice. Aerators were kept running 24/7 to help keep free small areas of the lake to minimise any risks that could potentially occur if the lake remained sealed for a long period of time. Obviously the build up of gasses and the lack of oxygen could be fatal for anything living in the lake. Therefore, due to the fairly rubbish weather conditions, the lakes have not seen much angling pressure throughout the month of January.

Those brave, keen or stupid enough to have braved the elements have been rewarded with some sport. Scott 'Geezer' Grant was itching to get down and wet his lines for the first time this year. Scott turned up for a 36hr session with one of his mates on Jenkins. The weather was not kind and pretty much rained persistently throughout their stay. Scott managed a nice 18lbs Common on his second day which bought a smile to his face. Well done Geezer and hope to see you again soon. As Scott was leaving James Darling and a mate turned up for their first ever visit to the fishery. It was a session that James will not forget in a hurry. They both doubled up in Swim 1 on Churchwood Lake. Geezer had given me his left over bait, Nash Monster Squid, which had been successful for him on Jenkins. Being we had yet to start introducing this years bait into the lakes, CW Red, I gave James a few kilos after he asked to purchase some of the house bollies. I suggested to James that he fish one bait into the middle of the large dead lilly bed in Swim 1 as a few fish have been caught there in previous Winters. The overnight temperatures plummeted and cat ice formed in the margins. I was on Jenkins for the night and had just been awoken by Geezer telling me that he had just been on Keith Arthurs TalkSPORT radio show and that he had mentioned his recent session at Churchwood Fisheries. As I walked towards the shed to listen to the radio, I could see two figures on CW struggling to lift a net out of the water. Before I even parted the mesh of the net to reveal James prize catch I recognised the Mirror to be George. The fish looked to be mint condition which at the end of the day is my main concern. George was 28lbs+ the same time last year, but unlike the previous Winter when a few of us fished hard throughout and pilled in the bait, George was down to 26lbs which was clearly down to the lack of available food over the past few months. Still, James was more than happy as his previous PB was just 14lbs and he had just smashed that. Lee Walford was down in Swim 5 for the night and was soon in the Swim after a quick call to help with the photos. Lee had also managed a small double during the night and even had to break the ice to land the fish. The sun was just poking its head up and the ground had a white sprinkling of frost. George looked absolutely cracking in the soft morning light, so good that it graced the font pages of Carp Talk a week later !!! Well done James and a cracking fish to kickstart Churchwood Lake off for 2011.

I also managed to bank myself a couple of Winter crackers as well. Not the biggest but anything in January is a bonus and just goes to show you that you always have a chance when you have got a line in the water. Both my fish fell to the bright yellow CW Pineapple Pop Ups fished over a kilo or so of the new CW Red V2 bollies that we will be feeding and selling this year at the lakes. Now the lakes are free from ice and the fish seem to be looking around for bait, I have been putting in a scattering of bait on a regular basis to keep the fish moving and searching for food. This will hopefully keep them interested and I would expect the lakes to continue fishing well.

Due to the bad weather at the end of last year we had to postpone a scheduled netting for the lakes. The first available chance to harvest the silver fish was at the end of January. As is the norm on these netting days, the sheer numbers of Roach, Rudd and Bream are truely a sight to behold. Each year we take several hundred pounds of weight out of the lakes to help with the bio-mass and every year we are amassed that the silvers are so abundant in numbers. |It really just shows you how prolific and healthy these lakes are and that all of the hard work that goes into ensuring the water is managed correctly is paying off. I will leave you this month with a selection of great pictures from the netting, but before I go I must warn you that the diary is very quickly filling up with bookings. Therefore we suggest you get in sooner rather than later if you want to get down this year and to avoid disappointment....

Yearend Update

 Another year is just about to take its bow as we head into 2013. Its been a busy year here at Churchwood Fisheries and I believe the venue has continued to go from strength to strength. Undoubtedly the highlight for us was being named in Simon Crow's Top 5 'Open Access' day ticket fisheries in the UK. For CW Fisheries to be mentioned in the same list as the legendary Redmire Pool was just awesome and the best accolade that we could have wished for after all the hard work and effort that is poured into running this fishery. The fish have continued to gain weight at a healthy rate and the quality and condition of all the fish caught during 2012 was a testament to the quality of the environment that we provide our fish stocks. Running a successful fishery is all about water quality management. If you get this part right then all the other parts should fall into place and a vibrant and healthy habitat is created. Obviously sensible rules need to be put in place to protect the carp on a day ticket fishery due to the different levels of angling experience that they are likely to encounter throughout their lifespan. Even with certain rig restrictions, carp can still become badly injured or even worse killed due to bad angling practices. My attention is being drawn to one incident late this year when an angler on Jenkins discovered a tethered carp in some over hanging branches. Thankfully the fish was treated and returned although it was in a very poor state and if survives will lose one front fin along with some ugly scaring. The reason this fish was tethered was that the angler pulled for a break when the fish become snagged in some branches (which are now due for removal). Instead of going out in the boat provided for such instances he chose to pull for a break and some 20-30ft of line was left attached to the fish. The rig itself was actually fine and it even had a barbless hook. Unfortunately even with a barbless hook, if the fish is trailing a rig with the lead sill attached and with this much main line, sooner or later it will become snagged and end up in the same circumstances. We provide boats and lifejackets to avoid this and we we will be strongly be condoning any such activities if we see in the future. Protecting and fish welfare is paramount here and the fish ALWAYS comes 1st. 

Take a look at Steve's Blog for the latest news or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to keep up to date on all the coming and goings here at Churchwood. Tight lines for 2013 and a very happy and prosperous New Year. 

Autumn Update

Winter has certainly began to take it's grip as we rapidly head into December. The lakes have already seen the first few heavy frosts and water temperatures have steadily declined. Most of the leafs have now fallen from the trees, along with the lilies and rushes that have began their annual Winter retreat. As expected the fishing has slowed, both in terms of the number of carp being landed and the number of anglers who are prepared to venture out this time of year. For me this is certainly one of may favorite times to get on the bank. This is mainly due to the lakes obviously being available for me to fish but more importantly the fish are in peak condition and at good weights. Right up until we see the lakes totally freeze up, it's very much worth having a crack at these fish. I remember last Winter, just after Christmas, a few of my friends had some great results on CW Lake. As I type this blog, temperatures are at 11-12 degrees, the pressure is below that 1000mb number and we have a nice SSW breeze. Some would say perfect conditions for this time of year, certainly conditions that I would be happy to fish in. If you were unlucky not to get a booking this year, then it's definitely worth wetting your lines before the inevitable freeze does arrive.

The 2013 Diary is now open and bookings are coming in thick and fast. Again like this year, week long bookings are proving very popular now that the facilities have been upgraded to 5 Stars. We have also seen groups of anglers wishing to book all 3 lakes on an exclusive basis for next year. There's very few places around that can offer what we have here at Churchwood Fisheries. Therefore if you do want to get on the lakes during the Spring and Summer next year we would encourage you to make a booking early to avoid disappointment.

Summer Update

Where does all the time go ? As we head into September another Summer has been and gone in what feels just like a blink of an eye ! For one reason or another we have not been able to get regular updates throughout the past 5 or so months. Hopefully this has all been sorted now and I am planning to update my 'Blog' page on the new website on a much more regular basis. We will also be soon on Facebook and Twitter, so if this is something that interest you please keep an eye out for this. As you can see, the new website is getting there and is now very close to completion. The new design has bought it up to the new technology that is now required on many search engines. It will be much more interactive and therefore of much more use to the customer. We hope you like it.

The fishing has been steady on all three lakes over the Summer months. The fish have been in cracking condition and in great health. As I type this short update, the weekend weather has been stunning, although not great for carping. A few fish came out but otherwise the carp have been sunning themselves throughout the days. Im sure that once we begin to see a drop in temperature, the fish will get their munching heads back on and provide some great sport for those lucky enough to get a crack at them. The lakes have been busy throughout the Summer but we should start seeing some availability free up although weekends remain busy. We will send texts out for any cancellations, so if you do not receive these then please call asking to be added to the distribution list. We will also be advertising available dates on the new 'blog' page.

I'm not going to go on too much this time but instead leave you with a few nice pictures of some recent catches. Tight lines and hope to see you soon.

 
 


 
 





April 2012

April is certainly the highlight so far this year. In fact this month could well be the one to top them all since I have owned the fisheries. We find Churchwood Fisheries not only in April’s edition of Carp World but Simon Crow compiled his top 5 'Open Access Waters' (day ticket waters) and put us in at No 5 !

Not only was I well chuffed in getting in his favourite top 5. I felt so privileged to be in a list that contains some historic and extremely famous venues from the UK. How's this for a line up of lakes to be compared against.

No1: Redmire Pool, the birthplace of modern day carp fishing, former venue of three different British record carp, including Dick Walkers significant 44lbs common, Clarissa. Not to mention Chris Yates famous catches from this truly special lake.

No 2: Weston Park, a truly stunning venue set in the grounds of a magnificent stately home which is steeped in history.

No3: Birch Grove, bags of history, numerous books dedicated to this very well know water.

No 4: Orchid Lake, another well know lake that has also had so much written about it over a long period of time and again a truly stunning water.

No 5: Churchwood Fisheries !!!!

Whatever way you look at it, to be in a list with these four waters makes you realise you are doing something right. It's great to receive this kind of recognition after so much time, effort, energy and money is poured into what started out as a dream. To read the full article, pick yourself up a copy of Carp World at your local newsagent. Here's what Simon Crow had to say about the lakes:

"I've only been to Churchwood a couple of times to fish, but I really fell in love with the place. Not only did the owners make me feel very welcome, but I just loved the setting, because here you're not paying solely for the fishing, but also for the quality of the experience. Basically, if there was ever a house with it own lake that I'd want for myself, this would be the one. Set in a rural part of Essex, there was almost complete silence when I was down, it was simply beautiful. It's well stocked too, and for the middle of winter, angling companion Glyn Leach and I both had a few fish in what you'd class as a typical winter conditions. Of the two waters containing carp, Churchwood is the main one, and in the Summer its looks absolutely stunning. There are some lovely lily pads bordering the margins and with one bank out of bounds it makes for very rewarding fishing. I wouldn't class it as easy, but it’s not far off, perhaps in between easy and moderate. You should expect to catch a couple if the conditions are right. I'm hoping to go back again this year in the summer for another fish, and I can’t wait to get down there."

Fishing News

Whoever mentioned the word 'drought,’ then surely it needs redefining! I have never seen so much water flow through the complex, it was truly unbelievable. Although we are lucky that flooding would not really occur here, the lakes struggled to discharge the excess water due to the sheer volume and velocity that it was entering the lakes. It's great to get this turn over and dilution of water, but it can have adverse effects on fish behaviour due to conditions being volatile. Any fluctuations in temperature and pH levels are just two factors that can upset fish and turn them off feeding. Even with these not so ideal conditions, plenty of fish have made an appearance and in general I have been relatively happy with anglers results.

Looking through the 'Catch Report Log Book', there's far too many fish to mention throughout April, so I will just mention some of the ones that have particularly impressed me. Recently 'Chucky' was caught at its best weight of 28-05lbs from Churchwood Lake. A day later another mirror was caught at 26-08lbs. After studying the two different carp I have now realised I have been confusing and mixing these two very similar carp up. I could never fathom out why 'Chucky' fluctuated up and down by around 2lbs throughout the year. I now know why, there is another carp that has been following 'Chucky' in the growing department and is also doing very well. We have christened this carp 'Chucky’s Mate'. Chucky’s Mate 26-08lbs

Plenty of 20lbs+ carp have been out of both Jenkins and Churchwood Lakes. 'Black Spot' has made a couple of appearances from Jenkins, weighing in around 27lbs - 28lbs. 'George' has also made a couple of appearances from Churchwood Lake, best weight was at 29-04lbs, caught by Nic Ayres who also had 'Chucky' at 28lbs+ in the same night. The fish have been in great condition and they all seem to be putting some decent weight gains on. Here's a selection of pictures that I have collected over the past few weeks.

Over on our new Cat Lake. This small intimate lake, set in ancient woodlands has kicked off in big style. Several upper 40's and numerous 30's and 20's have been making regular visits to the bank. On the right day or night, action can be hectic and hard work. These awesome fighting machines will test your tackle and your strength to their limits. Popped up worms and luncheon meat have proved to be the most successful methods although fishing bottom baits over large beds of pellets have also been paying dividends. I can only imagine that action is even going to get more manic as the water warms up over the next few weeks. If you are a Cat fish lover or just fancy in having a go at this species, then this lake is for you and I strongly urge you to give it a try, you will not be disappointed. Here are just a few recent pictures of some of the cats that have been out.

As normal I will finish off by saying that weekend bookings are now extremely full and it is becoming difficult to get booked in. Mid week sessions are by far your best option in getting a booking on Simon Crow’s Top 5 Day Ticket Waters in the UK !!!! Tight lines and see you all next month.

February / March 2012

The main goal for the start of the year was to get the Cat Lake up and running before the warmer weather arrived. A weeks hard graft and help from an army of volunteers ensured that the deadline was accomplished. I was more than happy with the end result and the new swim looks the absolute nuts ! The lake will only be available to book for a maximum of 2 anglers and the swim that we have constructed can more than easily accommodate 2 of the largest bivvys. This small intimate lake holds a very impressive head of large cats. The largest resident currently stands at 56lbs along with a number of 40's and 30's. The water temperature has nearly reached a level where the cats will actively feed and already we have seen a few wake up and made a visit to the bank. If you fancy something a little different and a chance of doing battle with one of the many cats then it's certainly worth giving our new Cat Lake a crack this year.

The weather has certainly been somewhat volatile over the past few months. We saw the lakes freeze up for a couple of weeks at the start of February along with a few mildish days later in the month. The fishing has been a little mixed but in fairness the lakes have remained fairly quiet, especially during the week. Steve Hitchcock had a relatively good session mid way through February just after the lakes defrosted. Steve banked George at just over 29lbs, its 2nd appearance already this year, along with a 19lbs, 17lbs and a 14lbs carp. Not bad considering the water temps were absolutely freezing and conditions were not that great. Martin Sontag also bagged a couple of upper doubles from CW Lake during similar conditions. Steve Hitchcock and his friend Elliott Rowland made a return visit to CW Lake and again saw some action. Elliott had a cracking scraper 20 mirror along with Steve banking a pretty mid double mirror. The scrapper 20 mirror is very similar to 'Chucky' and once a little bigger will be christened 'Bride Of Chucky' !!!.............

Steve Hitchcock with 'George' and a double caught in freezing conditions

Over on Jenkins Lake Chris Rainbow banked 'Tom's Common' at 29-12lbs, another fish making its 2nd appearance in front of the camera this year. Chris used Eclipse Baits Nut Mix bollies fished tight to the far margin snag. Local youngster Alex Bauer was back in the action with a nice 24-12lbs common from Jenkins. Alex was using the every reliable CW Baits yellow Pineapple Pop-ups fined over a scattering of CW Blackcurrant and Green lipped mussel bollies. I also managed a short session and was rewarded with a nice plump upper double common. A few other punters also got lucky but unfortunately no photos were received. In general the lakes have been fishing steadily for the time of year and the fish are as always looking in great condition along with showing some decent weights. Weekend bookings are really getting busy so your best chance is to try and get a few midweek dates booked up in the diary. I'll be sending out regular TEXT messages for any relevant news along with cancellations / late availabilities. If you have yet to receive one of these text messages and wish to do so then please call 01277 375499 and let us know your mobile telephone number.

Chris Rainbow with 'Toms Common' at 29-12lbs & Alex Bauer with a nice 24-12lbs Jenkins common

Yours truly with a nice Winters day CW Lake Common

January 2012

Happy New Year !! The mild weather and near perfect carping conditions we saw over the New Year certainly proved prolific for the lucky few anglers who got out on the banks. Regulars Bill and Paul popped in for a quick 12 hrs session and was rewarded with the 1st carp of the year from CW Lake in the shape of a nice plump 20lbs+ common. They also had several pick ups which unfortunately were not converted to fish on the bank. Dave Morris netted the 1st carp of the year from Jenkins with one of the old original warriors at 27-10lbs. Craig Hawkes and a few mates were next up on CW Lake for a 36hr session. Between them they managed several good fish with the best being 'The Long Common' at 27lbs along with 'Chucky' at 25lbs+. I was itching to get on the lakes myself but was holidaying in France over New Year. Not wanting this feeding spell to go begging I made a quick few phone calls to some mates who were more than happy to take my spot ! Lee Walford was one of those lucky anglers and managed to get a 24hr pass from the missus to go fishing. Lee banked 3 of the CW 'Target' fish, Bubbles at 28lbs, Shaggy at 27lbs and Carlos at 25lbs. James Sumner landed 3 doubles in 2 hrs and Alex Bauer took a cracking 23lbs common and a upper double common from Jenkins. All this action coming in less than a 24hr window, cracking sport and a brilliant start to the year. The fish were in top condition and were more than happy to get their feeding heads on. I have been trickling the bait in whilst there have been no anglers, just really to keep them searching for bait and to avoid them shutting themselves down for the Winter. The lakes have seen very little angling pressure over the past few weeks, so its a great time to get down and give it a go before the diary becomes full once the better weather arrives.

Alex with his two crackers and Dae Morris with his 27lb 10oz mirror

Lee Walford striking gold with Carlos, Bubbles and Shaggy

Ryan with Chucky ( right ) and the Long Common

James Sumner with 2 of his 3 stockies caught in just a 2hr visit... good angling

Bill 'Hang Me' and his friend Paul were back for another go, but this time on Jenkins. Paul was 1st off the mark and what a corker. 'Tom's Common' at a all time high of 30-03lbs ! The common was in mint condition and looked great with the extra weight it was carrying. Previously it's best Winter weight was 28-08lbs. Again the benefits of removing so many cats during the Summer was paying dividends and allowing the carp to take advantage of the decrease in biomass to gain that extra little weight. Then it was Bill's turn to get in on the action when 'Black Spot' the mirror took a fancy to his CW Baits yellow pop-up. The old warrior weighed in at 28-08lbs and was the 2nd time already that this fish has graced the bank in the past 2 weeks. Bill then followed this up with 'Zara's Fish' at 26lbs. To top of his great session Bill landed a great looking 24lbs common as well. I believe they also dropped a couple of fish between them, so all in all they had a pretty action packed couple of days.

Tom's Common 30ld3oz and Black Spot at 28lb8oz

Zara's Fish at 26lb

Not wishing to miss out on the potential action, as well as to take full advantage whilst the lakes were void of too many anglers, I decided to give it a go with my good friend Phil from CW Baits. I went into the large double swim which produced well over the Ne wYear for Lee Walford, leaving Phil to concentrate on the top half of the lake. My other reason to fish was to pick up all the branches and twigs from around and from within the lake that had fell during the strong winds that we had previously experienced. A few days earlier a large tree crashed into the lake where I was going to fish, so this had to be dealt with as well. Phil managed a nice 19lbs mirror during the 1st night and I blanked. In truth I was hoping to get my hands on 'George' as she had yet to make an appearance along with the other big girls that had recently been out. Unfortunately for me, but fortunate for Phil, George was residing up in the top half of the lake, most likely spooked from where the carp had been heavily feeding in my swim a week earlier until the tree smashed into the lake. This old mirror looked great in the January Winter light, pulling the scales around to a 28-08lbs. 'George' graced the front cover of Carp Talk this time last year but weighed then at 25lbs. Although totally different weather and feeding conditions from last year, it was pleasing to see her at a decent weight and looking in such good form. Well done Phil......that fish had my name on it !!! I only managed a small AJS fully scaled mirror which made up on it's lack of size by its sheer beauty.

Phil with George at 28lb8oz and my cracker of a scaley carp

Just a few of the branches and twig removed from the lake...

As you can see from the pics, the carp are in stunning Winter colours and are hopefully set to have a very good year ahead. Bookings are coming in quickly so if you want a crack at these stunning fish then book your place early to avoid disappointment. The new lodge with its toilets, shower and kitchen facilities, is already proving very popular for anglers wishing to book a week long session. In addition to Jenkins and CW Lake we have our new cat lake opening on 1st March. Cats have been stocked to 55lbs+ along with several 40's and loads of 30's and 20's. This small intimate lake for just 2 anglers should provide some great sport once the weather warms up a little. Thats it for this time so tight lines and hope to see you soon.

Also visit Steves Blog for all the latest news.

Diary 2013

Autumn / Winter

Where did the year go ? It's just a couple of weeks until Christmas and then it will be 2014 ! It's been a great 12 months here at Churchwood Fisheries, maybe even the best in the 8 years that we have been running the fishery. The fishing has been consistently good, but above all the carp have all been in superb condition and are making steady, healthy weight gains. All the hard work that has gone into the lakes over the past few years, has started to pay dividends and the rewards are there for all to see. I can only imagine the lakes will go from strength to strength over the next few years and will continue to be one of the premier day ticket carp waters in Essex. There have been many highlights throughout the year but arguably the recent netting of both Jenkins & Churchwood Lakes was the most enjoyable. Personally I really only fish the lakes these days purely to check on the health of the carp and to hopefully get some decent pictures for the website and the weekly magazines. Therefore to be able to net, hold and check numerous carp during the netting, this for me was the most rewarding. In addition to this, the benefits of removing over 3,500lbs of unwanted Roach, Bream and Rudd, is such an important part of running a healthy and successful fishery. 

The removal of 3,500lbs+ of unwanted silver fish

Another high point of the year for me was getting to know two awesome carp catching machines known as Mr Adam Penning and Mr Dean Macey. I would put Adam & Dean up there with Simon Crow, three of the nicest, most genuine people I have ever met in the fishing industry. Their fishing ability and knowledge is second to none and I share many of their views and opinions on our sport. Even with over 30yrs of fishing experience, I have learnt so much from observing and listening to some of the carping tutorials that Adam has hosted at Churchwood Fisheries throughout the year. I cannot recommend these tutorials enough and I can guarantee even the most seasoned carper would benefit in a tutorial with Adam. Watching Dean apply his fishing skills this year at Gillhams Resort in Thailand and also on his Fishing Gurus Sky TV shows, really demonstrated to me what an all round angler and super nice guy that he is. I'm hoping to get both Dean and Adam together sometime early next year for a catch up over dinner and a few glasses of wine.

Crowy, Penners and Macey, my Top 3 Carpers 

The 2014 diary has already began to fill up quickly, especially for the more popular Spring months. If you fancy a crack at some of the best looking carp around, in tranquil, safe and picturesque surroundings, then I suggest you get booking soon to avoid any disappointment. I will leave you this year with my Top 10 favourite pictures throughout the past 12 months, although as I flick through all the pictures, I may changed my mind, so many good pics. Tight lines, have and great Xmas and a happy New Year.

Summer

My New Year's Resolution was to keep my diary and blog up to date, so much for that ! Even though during the summer months I took a 10 week sabbatical away from my regular job, I still found myself having very little spare time. This may have had something to do with the 6 holidays that we took during this period ! One of these holidays was a late decision to join Mr Nice Guy Dean Macey, who was filming a series for Fishing TV, at Gillhams Fishing Resort in Krabi, Thailand. I had wanted to visit this venue for some time in the hope to land some of the monster Arapaimas, Giant Mekong Catfish and above all, my favorite global species, the awesome Siamese Carp. My good friend Phil Stockwell from CW Baits had no hesitation in joining me and we both had an absolutely cracking weeks fishing, landing Arapaima to 250lbs and Mekong's to 130lbs. I have already book two trips for next year as I desperately want to land a 100lbs+ Siamese Carp !

Video of our trip to Gillhams Resort

250lbs Arapaima & 135lbs Giant Mekong Cat Fish from Gillhams Resort 

Back to reality and a quick update on what's been going on here at Churchwood Fisheries. All 3 lakes have fished consistently well throughout the summer. Spring never really materialised, instead we pretty much went from some awful weather, straight into one of the best summers that we have experienced over the past 7 years. The carp caught have all been in mint condition, which is something that we are very proud of at Churchwood Fisheries, it basically tells us that we are doing something right here. The lakes have been in strong demand all year, with many new and regular customers looking to fill any available swims. It's always going to be a difficult venue to get booked onto due to the limited space and due to the fact that we never overcrowd the fishery. We have a reputation for quality, both for the carp you can catch along with the 5 star facilities that we provide. We have already received many booking inquiries for 2014, although we will not be opening the diary until around late October. Keep an eye on Twitter / Facebook and my blog for news on when the diary is open.

Just a small selection of the quality of carp that have been out recently

There is a definite autumnal feel in the weather now and its certainly my favorite time of year for getting the rods out. Already the fish are showing some wonderful bronze and chestnut colorings, along with some impressive weight gains. Using last winter as a barometer, then we can hopefully expect some good action throughout the colder months ahead of us. As always we will be trickling the house bait in throughout these months, keeping the fish feeding and on the move. A carp that has been actively feeding throughout the winter will always come through into spring much stronger and therefore more likely to fight of any nasty viruses that can cause a fishery owner so much grief as the temperature again starts to rise. Judging by the amount of anglers interested in spending the winter on the lakes, then hopefully we will see some regular action and some happy customers. That's it for now, try not to be a fair-weather fisherman this winter, get out there and enjoy some great sport. There is no excuse these days that’s it's too cold, not with all the quality clothing that is now available at affordable prices. You know you want to !!!

May

Another productive month on all three lakes, with many multiple catches being made. Jenkins Lake has fished very well since the recent introduction of 23 stockies. With the increase in stocking density, competition for food has increased, hence the improved catch rates. Stocking levels is just a small part of the overall balance of a lake, with water quality and quality food sources also being of up most importance. I am also more than happy with the stocks overall health, as all the carp caught this year have been in absolutely stunning condition.  Since the completion of the lodge, week long bookings have increased dramatically. The facilities here at Churchwood are really 5 Star and it's no wonder why we are seeing a growing number of anglers looking to spend a week long session with us. There is virtually no availability on Jenkins and Churchwood Lake during June, July and August. The Cat Lake is your best chance getting onto the complex over the Summer months. We do get the occasional late cancellations, so it's always worth following us on Twitter or Facebook ( @churchwoodfish ), just to ensure you at least get a notification and a chance to get booked onto these lakes.

Churchwood & Jenkins Lakes now looking truly magnificent...

Top carp angler Adam Penning, recently described Churchwood as his favorite lake. Adam was again back recently performing a tutorial to a bunch of guys. If you are looking to improve your angling skills or even want to sanity check how you go about your fishing, then I cannot recommend these tutorials enough. Apart from being one of the nicest blokes I've meet in this business, Adam certainly knows his stuff and can offer so much even to a seasoned angler like myself. It's now the start of June and both lakes have had their 1st spawn. Historically, these lakes never seem to do well in the reproduction area. The original stock is now most likely too old to have a successful spawning resulting in a few fingerlings coming through. With any luck, the new stockies will rectify this and provide us with some home grown specimens, only time will tell. I will leave you this month with a selection of carp caught over the past few weeks.

April

The weather saw a massive improvement over the month, the freezing, wet and windy conditions now seemingly a distant memory. Jenkins and Churchwood Lake continued to fish very well throughout the month and some good catches were reported. Although many anglers have been doing well, a couple of sessions have stood out for me. Martin Sontag had a good hit on Churchwood Lake, landing some 12 or so carp, the biggest being a 22lbs common. Daniel Page and Bradley Mason from Norfolk smashed Jenkins when they took 26 fish between them, the best going 29-14lbs. Obviously good angling plays a huge part in being successful at any fishery, but also getting the timing right when conditions are nailed on is obviously more luck than judgment. The Cat Lake has also awoken with a bang, with several 40lb+ cats making their way under duress to the bank. We have also added 20+ cats to the Cat Lake which have been caught from either Churchwood or Jenkins Lake over the past few weeks, the largest being a 45 pounder. The diary has now become very full and there is very little availability throughout the month of May. The best chance you have to get onto the fishery is probably a few days on the Cat Lake. I'll leave you this month with my favorite pictures received over the past month.

March

Pretty happy getting that month over and done. I know we English like to moan about the weather but so far this year it was more than justified. The freezing temperatures certainly played a big part in the months activities, from the number of anglers willing to brave the elements along with the number of fish being caught. In truth, considering the conditions, both Jenkins and Churchwood continued to fish reasonable well. Last count in the catch report diary, I believe there were some 80-90 entries, probably one of the most productive starts to a year that we have had at Churchwood Fisheries. The fish have been stunning and all in immaculate condition. Yellow / Pink and White pop-ups, fished on stiff-hinged rigs, again accounted for the majority of the fish. Anglers not scared of putting some bait in also seemed to fare better than those who were just fishing for a bite.

Certainly the highlight of March was the draining down of the moat around the house, allowing me to move the remaining stockies into Jenkins Lake. We never knew the exact numbers remaining, so I was more than pleased with the 23 crackers that we ended up stocking into Jenkins. There was a good mixture of commons and mirrors, all of which will complement the existing residents. During the warmer months over the past few years, we had been feeding these carp on floating pellets, allowing us to keep a close eye on their development. There was one carp we christened 'Tango' (you can obviously guess why by picture below) that I was very excited about getting a closer look at. Although not a traditional carp and not every carp anglers cup of tea, for me this creature is absolutely awesome and has bags of character. It went into Jenkins around the 14-15lbs range and will hopefully continue to grow well.  Believe it or not, this fish displayed very little difference in coloration to the others in the same batch when it arrived some 5 years ago at less than 2lbs. Over the years it has slowly turned into the wonderful specimen that it is today and certainly a fish that will make many anglers happy when gracing their nets. I'll leave you this month with just some of the video of these new additions, I'm sure you would agree that they are stunning !!

February

Churchwood Lake continued to fish well throughout much of the month despite the volatile weather conditions that we have been experiencing of late. The fishery has also received some good press in Carptalk and Total Carp magazine, along with a feature due out in the next Big Carp magazine that the guys from Chronicle wrote. Although the fishery runs very well of if its own merit and it's reputation for quality, it's very satisfying for me to see the venue and it's fish in the fishing publications. There is much hard work that goes into running a successful fishery, most of which the anglers do not get to see or do not realize actually takes place. Naturally it can be sometimes challenging to run a fishery with the passion as I do, along with a full time job within an investment bank in the City. Long hours Monday to Friday, followed by hard graft at weekends can take its toll.......but would I change it ????

'Chilly' Chillcott featured his carp from Churchwood in his recent Total Carp diary piece  

Busy at work removing fallen trees & roll on the Spring

All the fish that have graced the banks so far this year have all been in excellent condition. This is the most rewarding accomplishment for the fishery owner and one that most pleases me. This basically tells me that I am doing it right and that I am maintaining a healthy and vibrant environment for the fish to flourish. It's at this time of year that can also be of concern for the fishery owner. As water temperatures rise, so does the risk of viruses and potentially harmful bacteria's. Depending on how a fish has faired over the Winter months, will very much depend on if these viruses have any adverse affects on its wellbeing. A healthy fish that has fed well over the colder months will be far stronger than a fish that has been dormant for the same period. This is one of the reasons that I feed the carp on a mixture of micronized maize and wheat, providing valuable carbohydrates and proteins when little else food is available. As you can see from some of the pictures below, the carp are in peak condition and ready to combat any nasties that mother nature might want to throw at them. Here's some of my favorite pictures that I have received over the past few weeks from recent captures.

January

It's certainly been a cracking start to the year here at Churchwood Fisheries. Like previous Winters, the lakes can fish well throughout the colder months. What with the aerators running continuously, the lakes very rarely completely freeze over which allows us to continue feeding the fish and thus keep them actively searching for food. A bunch of lads who go by the name of the 'Chronicle Fishing Team', paid their 1st visit to the fishery at the start of the month. Between them they managed 7 carp with the largest weighing in at 24-08lbs. Like many other anglers that visit the fishery for the 1st time, this group of lads have now booked a session for every month to the end of the year. The booking diary seems to be getting busier earlier each year and the Spring is already looking full, especially weekends. If you are looking to fish either of the three lakes this year then I strongly recommend you get a date in the diary very soon to avoid disappointment.

The boys from 'Chronicle Fishing' certainly got into some Winter action on Churchwood

We have also seen a couple of big name anglers visit the fishery during the month. Ian 'Chilly' Chillcott was on Churchwood Lake to obtain a little material for his diary piece in Total Carp magazine, Ian managed to bag a couple of Winter mid doubles. Adam Penning also made a visit to the fishery for a carp fishing tutorial that he had arranged with two regulars that fish Churchwood. It was a great chance to have a social with these guys, both seriously top anglers and all round extremely nice blokes.

Mr Ian 'Chilly' Chillcott / Adam Penning and yours truly with a mid double mirror from Churchwood Lake

I have also managed a few sessions already this year which have been more than productive. I very rarely get on the banks during the Summer months due to the lakes being fully booked. Personally for me, I enjoy fishing at the start of the year when there is far less competition from other anglers bait and even less competition from the natural food sources that are abundant during the warmer months. The capture that sticks out the most is certainly the mighty 'Bubbles' from Churchwood Lake at 28-08lbs. Its a carp that I had not previously caught, so I was more than happy when I slid the net under its impressive frame. At this time of year I always use yellow pop-ups and rank the Absolute Pineapple pop-ups that we stock as the fishery as being the best that I have ever used.  I have also been giving the fish plenty of bait when I am fishing and it's certainly been paying dividends for me. Currently we are feeding the fish on our own all season low temperature fishmeal boilie which is made for us by Absolute Baits. As you can see in all the pictures, the carp are doing extremely well on them and they have all been in stunning condition and some as fat as butter. We are close to the end of the month now and temperatures are set to rise once again. There's a nice low pressure system approaching and conditions are again looking great for a few fish. Cannot wait to get my rods back out !

That's it for this month, hopefully I can add to the below pictures of the crackers that i've managed to catch so far this year.

Also visit Steves Blog for all the latest news.