The Bristow’s were delighted with their Cherry Mere visit

I would like to start this update by thanking the small number of you who commented on my last update, and whom very much encouraged me to keep my head down and keep writing about Cherry Lakes and the fishing.
It’s good to know that I have at least 5 readers! 😂

This Latest News update opens with a very special fish. This Mirror Carp looks like a Goldfish and/or a Koi, but it is a Carp and has spent all its life in Cherry Mere. This unique fish is known as ‘Carrot’ for self-evident reasons.

It is amazing because it survived the multitude of predators, despite the fact it is so visible to become our most famous home-grown Carp. As an egg and small fry it avoided the efforts of cannibalistic attention of the Carp, and managed to keep away from the Perch (and there are lots of them in Cherry Mere). Equally, the Kingfishers, Grebes, Herons and Cormorants were all unsuccessful.

As I am away and cannot edit the lead photo. So just in case you see the photo with Jack’s head cut off, I have repeated again here.

A couple of weekends ago, Carrot was caught for the second time this year, this time by Jack Bristow. Jack and his Dad Steve are regulars in Pochard Lodge, and Carrot was a real target fish for Jack. Indeed he was so excited, and concerned about the fish’s welfare, that he forgot to weigh it! My best guess is a low-mid double?

At this weight, the only natural predators to fear and avoid are Otters and Mink, and anglers who bad handle their captures! Let’s hope the fencing continues to do its job!

In all of our lakes, and especially our smaller exclusive lakes, it can be very hectic when the Carp go on the feed. Just about every year, I get sent a ‘double take’ photo, where two anglers have caught at virtually the same time ( this is why we have two nets and cradles). As you can see, this time we have a great ‘Dad and Son’ shot, with both Steve and Jack catching a 20lb+ Carp. One to be framed?

Steve Bristow was also delighted to catch one of his target fish. The Mirror above set a new lake record and was weighed twice (including once by yours truly), coming in at 39-08.
I can’t remember how many Carp they caught during their weekend stay, but it was a lot. As in previous years, they baited heavily and got the Carp going. They got through a Haulin pack comprising a mix of Cherry Red and Cherry Banoffee boilies.

Well done guys. An excellent visit and see you next year

The high pressure of the last two weeks has meant that the fishing has recently been a little disappointing. The Cherry Lake Carp have certainly not been giving themselves up. First time visitor Richard Williams had the most attractive of the Cherry Lake Carp caught during the last few weeks. What a cracker. Wait until this is 30+.

Colin Galvin had the biggest Cherry Lake Carp since my last update in the shape of this Common of 34-08. He was part of Andy Watts 60th birthday fish-in. He even beat Andy, whose biggest of 10 Carp caught during his stay was a 31lb Common.

Paul Sheppard, another one of Andy’s guests, had over 20 Carp from Kingfisher Lodge including a 3-08 Crucian on a snow-man! Sorry but I don’t have a photo.