Wellingborough Lakes: The Inside Scoop

Introducing our supreme venue section, Smithy kicks us off with his detailed review of Wellingborough lakes over a year, follow his trials and tribulations and get all the info you need to decide whether or not to get your self on Wellingborough’s finest carp fishing Syndicate.

Wellingborough Lakes: Lake Choice

Wellingborough Lakes consist of 3 waters ranging in size from 5 to 23 acres and all are capable of producing 40lb fish to a current top weight of 45lb+.

The Lakes – Heron, Island and The Mill are certainly not rated Easy, I would rate them all Moderate to Hard depending on the day and conditions. They all hold stunning fish and their surrounding are equally special, what’s more the site has easy access to most major routes notably the A45 and M1 making travelling to the complex from any part of the country an easy prospect.

It is also worth noting that the fishery manager has just signed a lease on two more waters on the edge of the county, although details are a closely guarded secret at the moment I think it’s fair to say that these two waters will one day equal the standards already established by the fishery manager on the magical Wellingborough Lakes Complex.

The anglers fishing Wellingborough are a friendly bunch and I can honestly hold my hands up and say that I never met a person that I didn’t get on with; in fact I would go as far as saying that I have made some lifelong friends through fishing the waters. The lakes are very well run and unlike a lot of other waters in the area, if work needs doing it will be completed in a very short amount of time without fail, whatever the cost involved. It is very obvious that the fishery management hold the complex close to their heart and pride themselves on the up keep of the site. In recent times the fishery has undertaken a strategic stocking programme which includes some stunning fish from the country’s finest fish farmers as well as fish grown on in the complex’s own stock ponds.

Smithy’s time on Wellingborough Lakes

Below is a detailed account of my time on Wellingborough lakes, I do hope you enjoy reading it.

I first became aware of the “Big Linear” whilst scanning the pages of Carp Talk, a fish caught my eye and I looked on in awe.
To my surprise the pit was only located about 14 miles from home and before I knew it a ticket had been purchased and landed on my doormat a few days later.

I started my pursuit of the “Big Linear” in the spring, I was slow off the ground to begin with but gradually as the season wore on I tuned in with the water and began to meet its’ resident’s including the infamous “Dumpy” twice! and the “Baby Linear”.

My Old Friend Dumpy….

I fished hard through the winter and kept the bait going in on my productive spots, I woke up to a frozen lake on more than one occasion but the thought of that bar of gold kept my fire burning.

It was now mid-march, as I drove round the far bank to the car park I glanced over the lake and could make out “Grumpy” netting a fish. Shortly after he punched the air, “that’s gotta be something special for him to show emotion” I thought!!!
As soon as I pulled up in the car park I jogged round the frosty path to Russ just in time to see him hold up the “Big Common” for the camera, he was absolutely over the moon, he had worked hard for that fish so I knew what it meant to him. I congratulated Russ on his superb capture and shook his hand then walked back to the van to load the kit onto the barrow.

I set up back on my productive spots which due to the nature of the lake was only a swim down from Russ so a social was on the cards that night to celebrate his capture. My baits were placed on their respective spots with little effort required and 5kg of my fishmeal mix were spread over the 3 rods.
The fish were showing well that morning but as the day wore on the shows began to slow down although that evening whilst having a brew with Russ we could make out the sound of the odd lump boshing in the darkness over my baited area, I went to bed confident that I would be woken by the Neville.

It was about 6:30 am when I heard the unmistakable sound of the alarm screaming, I jumped out of the bag on the rod. As soon as I lifted into the fish I knew it was one of the better ones, I shouted up to Russ for some assistance and after a tense 10 minute battle I gradually steered it towards Russ with the waiting net,it was then that I saw the row of scales glisten in the morning sunlight……it was the one I’d dreamt of, my heart started pounding and the beast shook its’ head in vain trying to escape but eventually the old girl rolled over the net cord. I parted the net to double check, there was no mistaking it, I looked at Russ who just said “Go on then”…..so I let out the roar waking every carper in the Valley.

I had landed my dream, the Big Linear!

To catch the fish of my dreams was a special occasion and to share it with a close friend only made the moment even more special especially considering his slice of good fortune the previous morning. Once alone I sat on the edge of the bedchair reflecting on the last season, I couldn’t believe I had finally done it, my mobile went into meltdown as the news had filtered through the grapevine before my battery gave up the ghost.

I had a slow pack up and left for home, it’s fair to say that I was on cloud 9 for weeks!

I had endured a tough winter whilst chasing my dream fish…

After the capture of the Linear I was keen to return to the complex and explore some of the other water, I could now relax as I had landed the fish I wanted. It was time to hone some other skills notably my floater fishing which up until the summer of 2010 had never really been one of my strong points but it was after a chance encounter with the legend that is “Brownie” my views on the tactic changed dramatically as did my confidence, I soon had another weapon in my armoury – let me explain….

I got down the lake at 4pm and was soon set up in the “Trees” on The Island Lake, I placed one of my baits by hand with a good scattering of hemp over the top, the other two were put on proven areas with the ever faithful “Ninja Rigs”.

A stunning sunrise on Island Lake….

I was soon sat on the bedchair enjoying a coffee watching fish roll over my bait when Pete arrived and set up next door, a social was on the cards, and a huge Chinese delivered to the lake…..Perfect!

We sat up late into the night discussing anything and everything Carp related, before moving on and moaning about life in general…….the mood soon lifted though when the liners started and the fish started rolling in huge numbers over both of our swims, we both felt that it wasn’t a matter of if but when we will get a take!

The liners continued all night, I didn’t get any sleep at all and a few times I jumped out of the bag and straight onto the rods thinking it was going to rattle off!
Dawn soon arrived and we were treated to a stunning sunrise, a proper Carpy morning if ever I saw one…..the fish thought so too, the area I had baited with hemp resembled a Jacuzzi! There were fish everywhere, I scratched my head wondering why I hadn’t had a take, I just couldn’t understand it.

Pete lost a good fish in the weed at about 7:30am, I felt absolutely gutted for him……so much so that I got him to make me a Bacon roll!

At about mid-morning I noticed a few fish starting to mooch about on the surface, I didn’t have any floater gear with me at all so begged all the bits and bobs I needed off Pete, including 3mm floaters.

I managed to get the smaller carp feeding quite confidently close in, then typically just before I was about to introduce a hook bait the seagulls turned up and spooked them off whilst smashing the water to foam.
I spat my dummy out and just chucked the hook bait out somewhere into the lake, just after I heard a voice “you floater fishing bud?” it was Ian “dirtydog” Brown, “I’m trying, but I’ve had enough – the bloody seagulls have ruined any chance I had” I said. Ian said “Come on we will get them going”.

Ian pulled out a tub of what he referred to as his “magic mixers”, they were about 8mm – the same size I normally use (if I had brought them!), these were perfect as they could be catapulted further to where the bigger fish were showing just past the Island, Ian flicked single mixers out one by one for probably an hour, we both sat eyes fixed to the water, they were certainly getting a taste for them so I introduced a hook bait, seconds later I had a decent take but pulled out of it, 3 1/4 TC Torrix`s are really not built for floater fishing!
Ian started flicking baits out again and once again I placed my rig amongst the freebies. It didn’t take long for the bait to disappear, as I struck there was a huge explosion as what was obviously one of the better fish tried heading to the nearest weed bed, I applied as much pressure as I dared but it was soon stuck solid in the middle of the lake. At about this point Pete appeared, he had watched the fish take from up a tree, I didn’t even need to ask him…..he just said “I will go and get my waders!”.

Returning from battle with Snub Nose in Tow….

Me and Pete were soon wading out to the Island, all the while Brownie was documenting the fight with my SLR. Once on the Island I managed to get the fish moving before it weeded itself up again, this continued for a good 20 minutes….the Torrix was at full battle curve and I honestly thought I was going to lose it but inch by inch I managed to get it towards the bank before the fish and half a tonne of weed was expertly netted by Pete, we both knew at this point that it was “The Snub Nose Mirror” as Pete had caught it a few months before, I actually photographed it for him and said I would love to catch it at the time, now it was my turn and I was chuffed to bits!

We both waded back to the bank, Pete kindly carried the fish as I was still sweating from the fight!
She behaved perfectly on the bank and we weighed her at 31lb 08oz, the photographs were soon done and she was returned to her watery home.

Snub Nose, a floater caught Chunk!

As soon as we had released her Pete’s alarm went into melt down and he hooked into another powerful fish but again he lost it in the weed……I really felt gutted for him now, losing a fish is never nice but two on the bounce is awful!
We bid Brownie farewell and both had a coffee before packing up and heading for home.
In conclusion, it was a great 24 hours Carping with great company…..I just wish Pete could have been as happy as I was when we left.
Finally I just want to thank Brownie for giving me a kick up the butt when I needed it and Pete for being an expert Gillie.

It’s fair to say that the two short stories above are just a few of many magical moments that I was lucky enough to have whilst I spent my time on the complex, it’s moments like these that make carp fishing special and I just hope that I am lucky enough to share many more landmark memories with special likeminded friends in future sessions. I really hope you have enjoyed my ramblings and learnt a few things about the wonderful complex that is Wellingborough Lakes.

Be Lucky,

Smithy