I have of late put a lot of effort into trying to catch barbel on the Swale, but with the closed season still with us I planned a trip with my wife to Lakeside Caravan Park in East Yorkshire. This is about 50 miles away from my hometown of Middlesbrough.


The lake at Lakeside Caravan Park

We have been to this site several times in the past, it always gets my wife’s vote as the site is very well run and the toilets and showers are always spotless – women! It gets my vote because the five acre lake is perfect, well landscaped with two islands and nicely spaced out pegs. None of your muddy puddles here. It also has a nice head of bream and in the past I have had good catches of them, the best day when I caught five fish all over 4lb. I live in hope that one day I will catch one of the 10-pounders the lake holds.

I made a decision not to take my match fishing tackle as I normally do but instead took along my river trotting rod and centrepin, both of which have yet to catch a decent fish. I also took my Carp rods.

I started the day fishing close in with my float rod, trying to connect with the bream and tench. I was getting pestered with small bits which this year seam to have exploded in numbers. Having witnessed a lot of carp activity in the reeds on the small island in front of my swim I decided to put my carp rods up and have a go for them.


Geoff and another carp towards the ton
I made up some method mix consisting of Ringers groundbait, expander pellets, hemp, chopped meat and a few grains of corn. I had two method feeders with me and put one on each rod, using corn on one and meat on the other. No sooner had I sat down than the first rod baited with corn flew off the rest, the fish diving into the reeds, resulting in a lost fish and feeder. I switched to corn on the second rod while tackling up and again off went this rod, and another fish lost. I changed to cage feeders and things started to improve from then on.

The reel’s clutches were set hard up and the casts were made just a little further off the reeds. I started to catch one fish after another, in some cases the rod was getting pulled around before I could get it into the rests. Most of the fish were between 7lb and 9lb, but no doubles. Then, at about fish number 14, I caught a fish just a little bigger. It weighed just over 10lb, much to the appreciation of the now increasing audience of caravaner’s wives. Not a monster but beautiful nevertheless.

As the day went on I started to think I would make 100lb, but at the end of the day I finished with 22 carp and three chub and realised I had topped the magic figure. The carp averaged over 7lb, plus three one pound chub, which by my calculations added up to a bag of over 150lb. This on a day when the lake for most people did not fish well. I was chuffed to bits! On the downside I lost 12 fish, which if landed would have taken me to the 200lb mark – next time, I hope!


Yes, I made the ton!
Give Richard Smith, the owner, or Mary and Terry, the site wardens, a ring on 01759 318100 if you fancy a trip to Bielby.

The lake is stocked withb Bream, carp, tench, crucians, roach, chub, ide and perch.

As I have shown, catches of over 100lb are more than possible over the summer months and a weight of 30lb through the winter.

Day Tickets are £ 6 for one rod or £ 7 for two – Adults only. Fishing is from 7am till dusk. No boilies, barbed hooks and nothing over 3lb to be kept in keepnets.

Directions
From the York ring road take the A1079 Hull road and just after the Pocklington turning take the road to the right at the Montessori nursery and sign-posted to Lakeside Caravan Park and Bielby. Follow this road and go over the small bridge and turn right at the next junction. The Lakeside Caravan Park is about 1 mile down this road on the left.

Tight Lines!

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