The McIlwaine Faminly Catch -up.

Following on from the previous photos, thanks to you guys for sending over these extra photos & write up.

It certainly seems your 2 week stay was another good one with 196 carp – over 2,300lbs of fish!

A pattern soon emerged over the 2 weeks, with bites being most productive late evening through to the early hours of the morning as it was just too warm throughout the main part of the day with the carp much more interested in sunbathing than feeding.

However we did manage to tempt a few of the top, often with in a few feet of the bank, it really is the most exciting and rewarding, but at the same time most frustrating way of catching carp, regardless of size.

We managed to bank 196 carp between us ranging from high singles to just over 17lb with the first week producing slightly more fish. The Lonsdale tropical fruit, and the new nut mix which we really liked were the 2 baits producing the goods for us fished over the top of the new krill pellet and particle range, all of which get the thumbs up from us and come highly recommended.

Ryan was gutted when he hooked and lost a huge common at the net, Arran was then on a mission to get the better of his brother but sadly it did not happen – so it’s on the hit list for the next visit!

As always we had a thoroughly enjoyable time, with my own personal highlight being catching my first ever grass carp an ambition I have been trying to fulfil for some time, and I finally achieved my goal on my last night with a fine specimen of 14.6lb.

Thanks again for another great stay, looking forward to seeing you in the New Year,

Michael, Aaron and Ryan Mcilwaine.

Late Availability

Cottage available from 7th August.

For details call 07770 825896

Fay Family

Hello Paul

Firstly I just want to say thanks for a fantastic week and making us feel welcome. We came up on the 26^th July and stayed in the lodge, we fished off the lodge pegs most of the week. I came up with my partner (mark) and his Nan, granddad (Bill) and uncle (Chris). Bill and Chris caught a lot of roach averaging around 1-2 pounds , caught mostly on maggot or small bits of lunchenmeat , they also had a couple of small carp around 6 – 7 pound on tropical fruit boilies. Mark having the best week of us all caught 49 carp this week all being from 9 lbs to 18lbs (matching his personal best),all caught on tropical fruit and peach & black pepper boilies. My fishing week seen me beat my personal best twice first with a carp at 9lbs then followed by 11lbs both on frankfurter an snail boilies I also caught a couple of roach and tench on booster lunchenmeat, also getting the smallest fish was the best of all.  Not only was the fishing enjoyable this week seeing all the wild life was great feeding the mice, hedgehog, and birds out of my hands. Thanks again for a great week see you next time J 

Thanks Emma for sending over your write up & photos.

TheMcIlwaine Boys are Back

Here are some more photos of the McIlwaine Boys from Belfast who are on the second visit of the year.

Last week they had over 70 Carp  between the 3 of them, mostly taken on our Tutti Frutti Boiliies. Aaron is hoping to beat his previous PB of over 60 Carp.

Late availability 26th July

26th July - Late availability

For details call 01228 562655 or 07770 825896

Dowels Delight

Thanks Anthony for sending over the write -up  & photos from the week-end.

 all were caught between 8pm to 6am using frankfurter and snail frozen baits I was simply chopping 1 down as a hook bait sometimes adding artificial corn and then breaking 6 to 8 up  (boillies) into little pieces and putting them into a mesh bag and casting them towards either Lilly's or other features. I was resting my swim through the hours of midday until 5pm were i would go and get freshend up and a good cooked meal but after that it was back to the arches. Overall I fished 2 nights and 2 mornings on the arches  managed 7 tench 4 to 6 1/2lb and 4 carp 17 to 18 1/2lb all on frankfurter and snail baits including the tench, who were only showing up early hours of the morning 4am then they would quiet down about 11am but they were great fun and kept it interesting when the carp were quiet so all in all a great weekend can't wait to go back. Anthony Dowell