Trip #44 - Tri-Nant (Mixed Lake) – Fortune favours the bold!

This week’s episode of Fishing with Guy would leave me at a bit of a quandary. We had already visited Mathern Mill in the search of a “lump”, but I think Guy left that fishery slightly disappointed. After speaking with my father-in-law I decided on fishing Tri-Nant fishery near Llantrisant. I’ve been told that there is a good head of fish in the lakes and although there is a carp only lake, the mixed lakes also offer various other species which could prove to be good sport.

A very fishy looking peg!

Trip #43 – Mathern Mill

After my disaster of a fishing trip to Acorn fishery in Clevedon, my next trip had to be filled with fish to compensate. After a Google search and speaking to some friends I decided to try Mathern Mill. This hugely successful match fishery frequently produces 200lb bags of carp, and as I would be accompanied by one of my friends who was after a “lump” I thought this would be the perfect place to catch some good quality fish. Speaking to my local tackle dealer, he warned me that the main carp lake usually has matches on both weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) and fishing the same lake on Monday might prove tough. There was only one way to find out...

After a slow start this was the third double of the day!

Trip #42 – Acorn Fishery, Clevedon

Having never done much serious carp fishing, and with the recent spell of warm weather, my brother and I decided on an overnight session to a fishery which came heavily recommended by other anglers. Acorn fishery has several lakes, split between match and specimen venues, this time we would be targeting the specimens. After some research into the venue, I found out that huge match weights are possible (this summer Des Shipp managed 300lb+ in one match), which could only mean good things for us chasing the bigger fish.

Looks fishy!

Trip #41 - Woodstock and Morgans Pond – A Tale of 2 halves.

With the weather on the change, I decided that this week’s fishing adventure - again re-introducing Guy to angling, should be spent targeting F1’s and the other species that we had caught previously on Lamby Lake. After a bit of research and a few phone calls, I decided to fish Woodstock, one of Newport Angling Associations’ waters just off Bettws Lane. The lake was heavily stocked with “everything that swims” and seemed to offer a good all round mix of fish without it becoming a glorified stock pond.

All the pegs around Woodstock looked fishy!

Trip #40 – Peterstone Lakes

After reading recently that Peterstone Lakes was fishing well for good mixed bags, I thought it was time that I paid the fishery a visit. The drive to the venue goes very close to the coast, and is surrounded by small waterways which got me thinking about fishing them. A trip involving jungle warfare for another day perhaps. Today I would be fishing with my grandfather (Colin), and together we had decided to fish the pole on one of the smaller match lakes to try to entice out some fish that these lakes held. The Biggest lake on the complex is now part of the Birch Syndicate and although it has previously been a match fishery, it is holds some big carp, and some equally large Pike.

I stayed firmly on the bank after seeing these platforms.

Trip #39 – Hazel Court Ponds

Hazel Court Ponds is a 5 lake complex near Cowbridge, which is absolutely stuffed with fish. It is also one of the very few fishing venues in South Wales which can honestly boast that it legally has Catfish, up to the 30lb mark! I have fished there previously with the children’s charity Ty Gwyn; catching small Roach, Rudd and Koi Carp, but that was a few years ago. It was time to pay the venue a visit and see if any of the fish had put on a few pounds (like I have!).

Lots of features

Trip #38 – Lamby Lake (Tredelerch Park)

One of my friends recently asked me to take him fishing after a break away from the water side for more than 10 years. I was under strict instructions that he wanted to go somewhere with “a bit of nature”, a variety of species but preferably Roach, Rudd and Perch and most importantly “not a featureless carp puddle”. Thanks for making it easy for me Guy. After a quick search I had a shortlist ready, and after a brief discussion we chose Tredelerch Park or Lamby Lake. The lake is known for being a tough big carp water with 9 fish over 30lb and numerous 20’s, but after speaking to a relative who had fished it recently, the place was full of quality silver fish. Perfect, as this is what we would be targeting! Arriving at the lake and unpacking the car there was a hilarious moment when something fell out of his old rucksack that neither of us expected.

It wasn't one of "those" fishing trips.

Tackle Store Review – Cwmbran Angling

Finding bait on a Wednesday can be difficult living in South Wales. Mid week match day, as it is sometimes referred too, means that my nearest store is closed as it is run by a keen match angler. I only remember this after I pulled up and parked at the rear of the shop. This left me in the tricky situation of having arranged to go fishing, but potentially not having any bait. (School boy error!) A quick re-think involving Google and a few phone calls and I was on a rather impromptu trip to Cwmbran Angling to pick up the bait and see what else they had on offer.