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Summer Days on Bayeswater: Andrew Buonaiuto’s Essex Carp Fishing Diary
Carp Social | Feature Date: 14th June 2019
A Memorable Summer of Carp Fishing at Bayeswater Syndicate in Essex
As the year drew to a close, Carp Social caught up with Andrew Buonaiuto to reflect on a memorable summer campaign at Bayeswater Syndicate in Essex.
From spawning season frustrations and feature finding missions through to PB-breaking carp and long summer evenings shared with mates, Andrew’s first full season on the syndicate delivered more action than he could ever have imagined.
Summer Begins on Bayeswater Syndicate
“After my last diary piece it wasn’t long until I was back out on the banks of Bayeswater Syndicate in Essex,” Andrew explained.
Unfortunately, the timing coincided with the carp beginning to spawn, resulting in the lake entering its annual two-week shutdown period. While frustrating at first, the closure offered a unique opportunity to prepare for the months ahead.
Rather than staying away, Andrew spent much of his time on the lake feature finding, baiting spots and observing carp movements around the venue.
“I couldn’t just walk away for two weeks though. The next two Fridays I spent most of my time at the lake with a marker float, aquascope, H-block marker, prodding stick and two big buckets of bait. I was happily floating about, priming spots, carp watching and generally getting ready for the next few months.”
Feature Finding, Boat Work and Carp Watching
Bayeswater fishery manager Gary Bayes allowed anglers to continue feature finding and preparing areas during the spawning closure, provided no baited rigs were fished.
For Andrew, it became one of the most enjoyable periods of the entire season.
“Gary Bayes allows this time for feature finding, baiting and boat work. In fact anything goes really just as long as you haven’t got baited rigs out. To be honest this isn’t the norm on most syndicates but then this place isn’t the norm anyway!”
“There’s certainly something rather special about drifting round in a boat on a lovely bright summer’s morning, clear water and no one in sight other than some rather special carp.”
Early Success and The Sheriff
When the lake eventually reopened, bites initially proved difficult to come by. However, persistence eventually paid off with a fish known as “The Sheriff” at 34lb 8oz slipping up from an area Andrew had quietly introduced bait into over time.
“The first few weeks after the lake reopened were quiet for me. I only managed one bite from a fish known as ‘The Sheriff’ at 34lb 8oz from an area I’d been trickling bait into from time to time.”
Although the capture wasn’t from the main area he wanted to target, Andrew remained confident in his longer-term approach.
“The area I wanted to focus my efforts around had, by now, seen a lot of bait not just from me but from a small group of anglers and the fish just seemed to hold up in this area.”
A Memorable First Proper Season
Despite a quieter July that produced mainly stock fish, Andrew knew the lake was building towards a productive late summer and autumn period.
By the time August and September arrived, the action really switched on.
“I had more bites than I ever could’ve imagined during my first year on the syndicate. I even caught four fish in a weekend!”
Considering it was his first proper season on the lake, Andrew admitted he couldn’t have been happier with how things unfolded.
Over the course of the campaign he managed to break his personal best three separate times, although the magical 40lb barrier narrowly escaped him.
“I came close but it wasn’t meant to be this year. But hey ho, that’s fishing and there’s always next season.”
Essex Carp Fishing and the Social Side of Angling
While the carp captures themselves stood out, Andrew reflected just as fondly on the atmosphere around the lake throughout the summer months.
“Looking back at the summer, it really turned out to be a season I won’t forget in my angling. A small group of mates sharing the buzz with beer and BBQ-filled summer evenings and a few lovely old carp along the way.”
“PB’s broken for some of us and all shared with a group of blokes that I can now call my mates. Lovely times indeed.”
The social side of carp fishing continues to play a huge role within the UK angling scene, whether fishing Essex syndicates, day ticket venues or even embarking on carp fishing holidays in France and across Europe with friends.
Looking Ahead to Spring
As autumn turned to winter and bites slowed down, Andrew switched his attention towards other waters and occasional day ticket sessions before already looking ahead to the following spring campaign.
“I can’t wait to get back at it in February. Roll on the New Year!”
“And on that note I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you again in Spring for another diary piece and hopefully a few carp along the way.”
Compiled by Carp Social | June 2019
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