Fensmere Carp Fishing Holidays

23/12/2024

Merry Xmas everyone

12/12/2024

Over the weekend we added to the incredible stock at Fensmere with two incredible fish from Fensmere Fish Farm. The biggest weighing 58.08 a fish I have a photo of from the summer and a huge shouldered brute in the mid 40’s. These two fish will go onto big things in Fensmere away from the more competitive environment at the farm.

16/11/2024

The final week of the year of Fensmere was another tough one for Dan Steadman and Keith, but the guys fished hard and with smiles and finished with 3 fish and one loss on the final night.
I was a mega week with the lads, loads of laughs and great times. One of the great things about lake ownership is meeting likeminded people and sharing the peace and tranquility of being lakeside, it really is a special part of fishing for carp.
The fish now have a long period of rest until March of 2025. In 3 weeks time the fish farm will be netted and a few very special fish will make their way back to Fensmere to add a little extra to the already incredible stock

04/11/2024

It has certainly been tough fishing for the past few weeks when Fensmere welcomed anglers. Simon and Andy were first up and battled through a super hard week to land the one fish for Andy. It was however some fish as the mighty Big Scale tipped the scales at 68.01 a new PB for Andy and what coming to fish a venue like Fensmere is all about.
Next up we had the return of Billy and Graham who had scored well in April taking 12 fish up to 66lb. This time although the fish were active they just didn’t seem to want to pick up a bait and the guys ended up with the one fish for Bill a cracking 53lb fish I call The Dozer.
This week we welcomed Andy and Neil and with high pressure dominating the forecasts it was looking like a potentially tough week again. The fish were still active and enjoying the sun on their backs, but were they going to feed.
On Sunday afternoon in blazing sunshine I got the call that Neil had landed a beautiful common. This fish is the only Leney Common in the lake and went 25lb. Fitting named Clarissa she looked awesome and is destined to becoming a mighty fish in the low stocked pristine waters of Fensmere.
I have been working up the fish farm all day on Monday and returned to grab a beer and sandwich to observe ripples emanating from the dam end, had the guys had another? No sooner had o thought it the phone rang and I answered have you caught a lump? Yes was the reply a belter at 63.08. With a cold beer in hand I raced down to the main swim to see Andy in the water cradling the very special Split Lateral looking dark and resplendent in the afternoon sun. A new PB for Andy and what coming to Fensmere is all about, special memories of very special fish. Too angling lads and the week has just started. Hoping to see more gems on the bank as the week progresses.

20/10/2024

If you haven’t had the chance to see it yet Part Two of Kevin Ellis’s visit to Fensmere back in March is now out on YouTube.
It was truely an amazing session with some incredible huge Carp and a load of laughs along the way.

Concludes a memorable trip.Thanks again Sally & Mark

05/10/2024

The first of two parts when earlier this year Kevin Ellis had a week at Fensmere. A great weeks fishing and some incredible Carp caught https://www.facebook.com/share/zsKU7z5kmKppsWWQ/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Having met Mark, the owner, at Rainbow along with Wayne his booking agent, opportunity came up to fish this cracking venue in central France.EnjoyKev

01/10/2024

Well the past couple of week went by so fast. Having goid mate and alround top bloke Kevin Gardner come to spend a couple of weeks at Fensmere. He shared his weeks with two Andy’s and as Sod’s Law would have it the fishing was hard.
After the late spawning and then the early onset of autumn/ winter the cooling water temps and explosion of naturals meant the fish were just preoccupied on the bloody worm beds. Tempting bites was hard and the guys did everything they could to tempt a Fensmere beast.
A few fish did slip up and what cracking fish they were. The General made an appearance for Andy a new PB of 69.12. And Kevin managed two 61+ fish a 36 and a beautiful upper double linear Leney.
Hard fishing, but bloody good times with plenty of banter and laughs along the way.
Until next time chaps 🎣🎣🎣

26/09/2024

What a tough couple of weeks it has been, but perseverance has paid off for Andy landing his new PB last night in the form of the mighty General all 69.12 of her. Congratulations mate, I couldn’t be happier for you.

22/09/2024

It was a super tough going for Kevin and Andy on Fensmere last week with just the one fish out. This was the stunning Split Lateral at 61.14, so it wasn’t all bad.
After a huge drop in water temp from the previous week of over 5 degrees the fish just didn’t want to touch baited areas. The fish were active, but seemed to be only harvesting the bloodworm beds and naturals around the lake.
With Kevin staying on for the two week session and a big change in weather this week I am hoping the fish start to play ball and a few more of Fensmeres finest trip up and grace the net.

16/09/2024

It’s late, but I had to post after getting the call from Kevin Gardner down at the lake saying he had a big fish in the net. I quickly threw my wader on and grabbed the DSLR and flew down in the buggy. There was an air of excitement as I arrived as is always the way when a special fish is landed and I was eager to see what fish it was. The guys said she went 67+ without the sling being taken off, so for sure it was a 60+. As soon as the retainer was pulled back I could see it was The Split Lateral a very special fish which hadn’t seen the bank for a couple of years when she was last caught at 53lb. Even after the late spawning it was obvious she had grown considerably and looked incredible. With the retainer weighed a weight of 61.01 was given and high fives given all round. Top angling Kev after the first few hard days in the cold Northerly winds and chilly nighttime temps a truely very special fish 🤩

07/09/2024

What a fantastic week of fishing for the guys as we reopened for the Autumn season here at Fensmere. Dave and Glenn fished really well throughout the week and moved around the lake to optimise their catch rates. At the end of the week the guys totalled 15 fish;
Mirror 48-8
Mirror 20
Mirror 51-6
Mirror 42
Mirror 36-6
Mirror 55-14
mirror 40-14
mirror 37-12
mirror 43-13
mirror 21-12
mirror 18-2
mirror 54-8
Mirror 66-15
mirror 16-6
common 36-1

The fish spawned in mid July and weights were down as the fish were still regaining weight. The overall condition of the fish was however incredible as seen in the photos for the week.

06/09/2024

It’s never over until the last rod is reeled in at the end of a trip. Earlier in the week Dave landed his new PB The General at 65.15. Last night he landed another smaller Linear Leney and followed that today by the first Common (just 5 in Fensmere) caught this year at 36lb. Another fish that was fully spawned out, but looking fantastic. What will the final night bring for the guys, will they land another of the Fensmere A Team🤞🤞🤞

05/09/2024

The fishing had slowed a little for the lads after a flying start to the week, but yesterday still saw Glenn get amongst a couple of the beautiful Leneys that reside in Fensmere. Although not the biggest fish in the lake, these fish are destined to grow into incredible specimens of the future. They also provide a balance to the lake with younger fish to come through. The zip linear was a low 20 and the smaller less Scaley Leney followed just under 20lb. These fish were sexually mature this summer and would have had their first spawning a little over 6 weeks ago, so both I am sure will quickly regain that condition and will be upper 20’s just scraping 30lb next spring.
With nothing occurring for the lads overnight I checked in with them before shooting up the fish farm early to refill the auto feeders. Just after my return I got a message from Dave that Glenn was in again and needed assistance. I jumped in the buggy and shot round to the Rocky Single to find a Cheshire Grin on Glenn’s face and a superb Fensmere kipper in the net. On the scales she went 54.08 and looked resplendent in the morning light.
Glenn’s super quite approach fishing in less than a meter of water with light leads and allowing the fish space to back off into the old cut tree snags has kept the fish in the area and made for some superb close range angling.
Top work mate, old Big Fish Thursday did its thing again.

03/09/2024

After a 36 hour quite spell which allowed the guys to regroup Glen decided to move over to the Rocky Single swim on the far bank.
The fish in lower stocked smaller lakes (6 acres) like Fensmere fish will always move away from pressure and Glen had seen the fish really close off the Rocky Single. The move this afternoon has proved to be worth while in the rain as in 3 hours of fishing he has landed 3 fish just a few rod lengths out. Two great 40’s obviously down in weight after spawning, but still in amazing condition and an upper 30.
Well done mate I love seeing anglers work for their fish and not just sit and wait. Close quarter combat with stunning fish is just epic and being able to share the experience is what’s it’s all about👌

02/09/2024

It’s a fantastic part of lake ownership seeing anglers not only catch a few incredible fish, but to be there and witness the take and landing of a new PB.
I got an early morning message from Glen saying he had Split Peck in the net and she looked big. I originally messaged to say I would leave it up to the guys to sort out, but then lay there wanting to know her condition after the late spawning in July, so I quickly walked down to the lake.
On arrival Glen was buzzing and had actually had another fish which the guys thought could also be over 40. We had a quick brew and started to sort the fish out. The first fish a solid upper 30 was quickly photographed and returned and attention was diverted to Split Peck. Previously out once before this year at 59lb it would be interesting to see how she was doing. As we lead the fish around the platform Dave had an occurrence on his left hand rod. The bobbin pulled up and dropped and pulled up again holding tight at the top, but not taking any line. Something was on for sure Dave lifted into the fish and the rod bent over. To begin with it looked and according to Dave felt like a tench, but after maybe a couple of minutes the fish started to take some line, it was definitely a carp. This pattern of behaviour during the fight is something I had seen before and I mentioned it sounded like The General’s behaviour. In the pitch black Dave did battle with the fish in the deep water off the end of the swim, but finally the fish was ready for the net and I slipped it under the fish. I knew what it was straight away and congratulated Dave on what was certainly his new PB, The General.
I was very interested to see if indeed the fish was a male as weight fluctuations had never been huge since stocking and with such a huge frame the fish had always carried its weight over its whole frame never being gutty. We left the fish in the net and proceeded to weigh and photograph Split Peck which turned out to be 55.12 in stunning condition.
We then turned our attention to The General. Hoisted on the scales, He became a She with a spawned out weight of 66.14 an incredible fish and now clearly a female which was obvious now looking at the vent. Photos were done congratulations given and coffee drunk as the first hint of daylight started to appear.
Great work guys a top result and some truly awesome fish.

01/09/2024

Well what a great start to the Autumn season at Fensmere for Glen and Dave.
The guys took advantage of booking the Gite for the Friday night and arriving at 3pm in afternoon. This is a great option to be able to fully make use of the time on the lake and allows for anglers to get down the lake to suss out spots, put a little bait in and also set up their gear before starting on Saturday. As no anglers ever fish the week before I let the guys head down to the lake when they want in the Saturday morning and I heard the gravel crunch just after first light as they crept down to start their session. After a red hot day where The General was spotted many times doing his signature wafting of his white tipped tail tie evening looked large and it looked good for a chance or two. I left the guys after a quick beer as the sun went down and wished them luck. It wasn’t long before a whatsapp
rang out and it was Glen with a 48.08 called Spike a cracking start to the week. Just before dawn Glen had his second fish a low 20 Half Linear Leney and as I was about to head down to look at that fish I noticed ripples moving down the lake hinting at another fish for the lads.
It was Glen again with what looked like a solid fish in the net. This one turned out to be a first capture of a fish I will call Joe at 51lb. This fish was stocked in January from the Fensmere Fish Farm at 46 and is obviously already doing very well in the low stocked environment. This fish is a tank and I am sure it will be packing the weight on in the coming years to join some of the A Team.
A great start lads and I am sure after taking a few fish on the right hand side of the main double the softly softly approach Dave is applying will pay dividends as the week progresses and fish move onto his areas.

25/08/2024

A little update on what’s been happening at Fensmere and the fish farm before our Autumn anglers start to arrive in a weeks time.

https://www.facebook.com/share/nPJ6mtPGXRBabeVV/?mibextid=WC7FNe

26/05/2024

Sundays are still work days when your a fish farmer, but after clearing trees and filling feeders there was a little bit of fun as well.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/YMgdkwCQJSWH8cDN/?mibextid=WC7FNe