Four 40's in 48 hours from Cherry Lake

Just as I decided to disappear for a week's fishing in France, Cherry Lake's big fish decided to go on the feed, and I was not here for all the action. This was particularly ironic as I only caught two Carp during my trip.......and I could have caught more and bigger by staying at home! For me that's two French trips in a row where I have caught little (the last trip was a glorious blank!). Judith says she does not know why I bother! This also means I am light on the fishing detail of the last week or so.

As you know from my last update, Liam Knight had an amazing 3 hour spell in the early hours of Friday morning when he landed 'The Patch' at 45lb. This one I witnessed, but I missed 'Dick' at 50-02 (I was on the road to France at 05.30) and the fireworks of the next 36 hours.

David Berry was visiting Cherry lakes for the first time and stayed in Cherry Lake Cottage with his partner Hayley. At just before 01.00 on Sunday David had a good take and was soon waking Hayley up to do the honours taking some photos. David using Active Baits Hydra K wafters over Hydra K boilies had landed one of the Carp I had been looking for. This cracking Mirror was caught at 39lb in January by Steve Townsend. This time she went just over the magic forty pound mark at 40-02.

This chunky Mirror is the 8th different Carp over 40lb+ from Cherry Lake in 2022

Well done David, I owe you a 40+ fleece!

Elliot Lee and James Hine are regulars at Cherry Lake, normally visiting once during the spring, and again in the autumn. Fishing from Osprey and Grebe Lodges they shared a 4 Carp catch. In fact I understand that Elliot was on an 'unofficial honeymoon' break with his new wife Cam.

Elliot certainly celebrated his recent marriage in style because he landed the 'Two-tone Common' at 40-06 from Grebe Lodge. Elliot fished a small wafter over crushed and chopped fishmeal boilies.

This distinctive Common has been come out several times over the last couple of years in the 38-39lb weight range. Just like many of our Carp, it is showing some weight gain. It is up just under 2lb since it was last caught in June at 38-08. The Two-tone Common was the 7th different 40lb+ Carp of the year. Well done Elliot. I also owe you a 40lb+ fleece!

Four Carp over 40lb+ in 48 hours is from our perspective amazing. It is not too long ago when 4 Carp over 30lb in 48 hours would have been hard to imagine for us. Now it is 4 over 40lb+. Wow! Fantastic, so exciting and a reward for all the hard work put in by fishery manager Dave and ourselves over recent years.

Whilst I have worried endlessly about water levels (they are still very low) throughout the summer, the Carp have obviously been more comfortable in the heat and have been putting on weight.

James Hine also had this lovely fully scaled Mirror. Whilst being over-shadowed by the two forties, this Carp was by far the most attractive of the weekend, and at 31lb a good weight to boot! Very nice!

Whilst I have no photos, Shane Smith enjoyed his Monday to Friday stay in Pochard Lodge on Cherry mere last week. He landed 17 Carp including 8 twenties to 26-04 including a new PB Common at 25-08. Well done.

Talking about Pochard Lodge, very unusually we have had a cancellation for this weekend 07-10 October. If you are interested please give me a call on 01285 869887