Winter Carping on The Cricket Ground

A lot of carp anglers turn there attentions to easier waters during the winter due to the difficulty of their usual hard big fish venues during the colder months. The Cricket Ground pools is one venue that will fish well straight through the winter but yet offer the chance of a few good fish. I am going to write this article based on a recent session to the Cricket Ground Pool. This session is intended for the article and was written as I fished.

As I awoke to the alarm clock at 6.45am, a quick look out of the window showed it was still dark and judging by the sparkling rooftops, we'd had another heavy frost. I steadily got dressed doubling up on trousers, jumpers, etc. to keep me as warm as possible. After filling my flask it was time to go. I pulled up in the car park to the perfect untouched frosted cricket pitch which was just being lit up by the increasing light. I loaded up and was away to my peg.

As I reached the pool, the water was shrouded in mist. I decided to head for the deeper water at the far end of the pool. In the past I found the fish shoal up in two main areas, one near a snag on the far reed bed, and one just in front of peg 14. As not many anglers were fishing the pool recently at this end, I opted for peg 25 which gave me the possibility of targeting both areas. I baited the far reed rod (on my right) with two 10mm scopex squid liver boilies which had worked well for a friend in past winters, the left rod towards peg 14 was baited with a maple-8 boilie which I rate as a good winter bait. Both were single hookbaits with no free offerings. This is the best tactic i've found for this pool at this time of year.

The rising sun made it difficult to accurately cast to the reed bed but on second attempt the rig fell perfect. With the other rod in place it was time to pour the coffee and sit back. An hour passed with a few slight line bites, before the right swinger slowly dropped back a few beeps, following by a slow lift. The takes in winter can be often like this so it pays to have an ultra sensitive set-up. As I lifted the rod the fish immediately swan towards me waking up under the rod tip. The fish thrashed around for a few minutes before what can only be described as 'tail walking like a trout'. I've never seen this done before by a carp but it new what it was doing as this maneuver through the hook straight back at me. My first take and the carp had won. I quickly re-baited the rod and put it back to where i'd hooked the previous carp.

Another hour went by and another angler, fishing for pike sat a few pegs to my left. It was long before his dead bait took off and he had landed a pike about 12lb. It's worth saying the pike fishing at the Cricket Ground in winter is highly under-rated with several doubles and a twenty plus fish in there.

After helping out with the weighing and picture I returned to my peg wondering what to do next. I decided to have a go for the bits on a small rod and leave only my right rod in. Doing this keeps me alert and just adds to the enjoyment of the session as I had approx 10 or 12 perch in about ten minutes. Not long after re-casting the left carp rod, I received another slow drop back on the right rod. I lifed up and I once again into a Cricket Ground carp. After a short battle a 6lb common was posing for the camera and claiming his place on this web-site

(Sorry about the pose as the fish really didn't want to keep still)

Another hour passed, and I decided that the left rod should be switched the the other end of the reed bed with the 10mm scopex boilies on to maximize my chances.

Before I could even turn the alarm on, the right rod received a more positive take. This time the fish felt heavier and gave a much steadier fight. I quicker slipped the net under her and weighed her in at 15lb 2oz. This weight of fish is not un-common at the Cricket Ground and a multiple catch will normally through up a few nice doubles.

That turned out to be the last action of the day as I had to back up at 4pm due to the Firework and bonfire display taking place on the cricket pitch later that night. However, i'd done what i'd set out to do and landed a couple of winter Cricket Ground carp. I'll finish with a picture of the swim that produced the only carp action of the day. (Swim is centre of the image)

Now its your turn!!!!

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Copyright Daniel Goddard