Norfolk's Greatest Carp Fisheries

I've been wanting to go carp fishing for a while now. I just had to wait for the weather to break into sunshine and the lakes to come to life again after what seemed like a never-ending winter. So the plans were made, carp fishing tackle purchased, and the place and holidays booked for beginning of March. The choice of place this time fell on my mate Adam, and he decided to go to Taverham Mill.

Taverham Mill Fishery is a quite little place set on the outskirts of Norwich in approximately 100 acres of countryside and boasts 4 lakes and 3/4 mile of the river Wensum. We have not been back here since spring last year. At first glance it appears that some things have changed. A new boardwalk has been installed by the fishery management accross the meadow making it a flat and even surface. This newly installed boardwalk will certainly help us later on to push through our fishing trolleys. Other than that, the lake looks cracking as always and there are plenty of carp anglers about.

In terms of stock, over the last couple of years the lake has gone from strength to strength. Last years record was set at just over 34lb mirror carp.

In the summer, the lake is covered by expansive patches of lilies, which always hold lots of carp, along with beds of Canadian pondweed, gravel bars and plateaux, depths range from a few inches to 10 feet. What I also like about Taverham Mill Fishery is that they is a carp fishing tackle shop on site where you can get everything from fishing clothes to cheap carp rods and carp fishing reels. Based on past experience we have booked two swims for three nights. Our swims were in the centre of the lake which usually delivers well in colder months of the year. This time round we did not get a chance to prebate our swims so we are just going to set up our carp rods and reels and get the swims sorted. Then, hopefully we can bag a carp or two in the first night.

As I unpacked my fishing trolley, got out my carp rods and loaded my carp fishing reels, Adam came over from his swim to say that he had just seen a couple of very big carp rolling out in font of him, including a mirror and a common, both at least 30lb each. I went over to his swim to have a look and had also seen quite a few turn over in the waves in front of us, although there had not been a sign of anything on my side of the swim.

By dust both of us were completely sorted. The promised cold and wet weather was still long way off and we were both enjoying the early spring evening sun. As soon as it got dark, the indicators on Adam's carp rods in his swim came alive, but not with carp. It seemed that the feast of red maggots we had put into our swims was attracting everything that swam past.

By midnight Adam had caught a trench, bream and a couple of ells. By this time I started to wonder if I was doing something wrong as I was having no luck.

Later on, as we had been promised the weather began to turn colder and with it came rain. In this weather good fishing clothes are absolutely essential. Adam's swim still seemed alive, through, and after seeing a few shows and getting several liners, he was suddenly into not one, but two more carp. Seeing the second, a big wide-backed common, go into the net was such a buzz. We knew that it was one of Taverham's big ones and so it proved, weighing in at over 35lb. Adam's swim was mayhem with rods and nets everywhere. Before doing anything, though, he spodded out a few rockets of fresh maggots to keep the swim ticking over while everything was sorted out.

Compared to Adam's side of the swim, mine was pretty lifeless. A very welcome mid-twenty common saved me from what was looking like a blank and I decided to change my baiting tactics and add in a water a bag of Nash top rod frozen boilies and half a bag of Dynamite carp fishing tackle pellets.

My rigs were light and refined – there were no weed or snags to contend with and the water was clear, so I elected for hook link tied from 10lb Guru Drag Line, whipped to a size 10 Wide Grag Line. The hair was made from Supernatural braid, held tightly under the hook whipping. This gives the bait more natural movement and helps the hook end of the rig to sit flat on the bottom. The hook bait was made from a tiny match hook on which I impaled about five maggots and then pulled down into a piece of white night-glow plastic corn.

Within a couple of hours my carp fishing reels had finally seen some movement. I had caught a brace of thirties from two different spots and both on the same bait mix. Not long after, both of Adam's rods gone off at once. The first fish was safely netted and then the second one. Both fish were commons between 23lb and 27lb. It is safe to say that we had an excellent fishing session.

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Predator Fishing on the coast of Norfolk

Last month I was on one of my weekly trips to the coast of Norfolk, well equipped, on the mission to catch cod. On the day of my arrival, the sea of Cromer was flat and calm, the tide was nearing low water and the time was shortly after midday. I like coming here mid week as at this time you are far less likely to find yourself surrounded by locals and holidaymakers. This trip was no different. The beach was almost destitute with the exception of a couple of sea anglers well spaced out alongside the rocky shoreline.

When fishing for cod, I like deeper water with a snag free bottom, so I had carefully assessed the best place to land my rods. Finding a perfect spot is something which I like to do before setting up my sea fishing equipment. I cannot tell you how many times I had to waste time to pack my fishing tackle up not long after unpacking it in order to move some place better. But this time I did well, the spot which I found is going to be perfect for now and maybe even for later when tide is high as there is more than plenty of rocky shore left behind me. I've unpacked my fishing tackle and set up both of my sea rods so I am ready to go.

Everything around me was so peaceful, in fact I almost started to drift to sleep. Then suddenly my tranquillity was shattered by the sound of a screaming bite detector. I stood up from my fishing tackle seat boxes and stepped forward to pick up my rod. I soon realised that the line was quickly disappearing from the spool of my reel as the fish tore out to sea. I lowered the tip of my sea fishing rod, put the reel in gear, disengaged the ratchet and swept my sea rod smoothly upwards to ensure the hook was firmly set. I kept calm, allowing the fish to run against a well set clutch. Then, about 5 yards out a big dorsal fin appeared through the water and eventually revealed a good size tope.

I lured the fish to the edge and leaned forward to drab its tail. It was so strong and within seconds it thrashed for freedom and slipped from my grip. It was at least 35lb.

My second attempt to grab its tail also failed as he was just such a powerful fighter. It is only on my third attempt that I have finally managed to firmly grab the tail and lift it out of water onto the rocks. My weigh sling was already set up so I carefully lifted the top into the sling and watched as the scales settled at 42lb. Good result. I took my camera out of one of the seat boxes to take a picture of this beauty before finally releasing it back to the water.

It was starting to get dark, looks like I am not going to get this cod after all. Nevertheless, I was very pleased with the end result and will look forward to coming back here again and I strongly suggest you try the same.

If you have never tried fishing for cod or any other large size predators before, let me give you this small advise. It is important to be equipped with appropriate sea fishing equipment. You definitely need a good quality and robust beach-caster rod or any other similar sea fishing rods will suffice as long as they are capable of casting up to 9oz. Don’t forget to get a good quality tough line, shock leader, pulley rig and plenty of fish bait. Good Lack.