03/11/2025 - In Search of a Wild Carp Martin James
Chiddingstone Castle
In 1945 it was reported in the Anglers News or the Fishing Gazette that Mr Costin had caught a bream of 13 lbs 8 ounces, which at the time was claimed as a new record from Chiddingstone castle lake near Edenbridge in Kent, certainly in those far off days, a very big bream from a water not reputed to contain such big fish. I along with many other anglers young and old visited this reputed record holding lake, not once did we see any angler catch a big bream from this water. Soon this big bream was past history. If you wanted to try and catch a big bream. The Tring reservoirs, were without doubt some of the most noted venues in the country to seek big bream, though today there are several river venues that have produced a big bream IE 10lbs plus are the Thames, Ouse, Suffolk Stour, Medway and Beult, the latter two river fished extremely well in winter when the rivers are bank high. The Thames at Goring, another potential venue for good size bream, though I doubt if any of those could produce double figure bream today. In the 1960’s and onwards there was a huge growth in the expansion of gravel pits across the country, through the construction of motor ways, and house building. These gravel pits soon become the venues to seek big fish of several species notably, tench bream carp pike roach and Rudd. It was the big gravel pits, that were the target waters of those anglers seeking big bream headed for, apart from Tring, other big bream venues were TC pits, also Queenford, soon these three venues were soon producing many double figures fish, at the time of writing the current record 22lb 12oz
Chiddingstone Castle lake in my book had a far more important fish than the mystical 1945 bream. These are the wild carp, which sadly today are becoming an endangered species of carp, due to the spread of the common carp which grow to huge weights, also they are far more popular than the wild carp where a very big fish would be 10lbs.
Chiddingstone Castle lake has a fascinating history.
Its situated in the village of Chiddingstone, near Edenbridge, Kent in the upper valley of the River Medway. The castle was built by the Streatfeild family and served as their seat from the early 16th century until the beginning of the 20th century when the family left the castle. The Streatfeild’s sold the castle to Lord Astor in 1938. Since 1977, the castle and its 35 acres (14 hectares) of grounds have been held in trust for the nation by the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest, and both are open to the public. Much of the current structure dates from the early 19th century, but incorporates elements of the earlier buildings on the same site.
Chiddingstone Castle’s Lake covers approximately 3.5 acres it was created by damming a stream. The water contains Carp, Bream Rudd Roach and Perch. Fishing at the venue cost just £10-00 a day from 0730 hrs until 1830hrs. You can use two rods, but make sure you have a suitable landing net, also please use an unhooking mat for all the fish you catch. Remember to take away any rubbish also, do not discard line, where birds can get trapped. There is no fishing from the bridge.
As anglers I like to believe we are the protecters of not only the wild carp, but our historical buildings. While you seek the wildies, your wife or partner can spend a pleasant few hours in the grounds, also if the hall is open, it’s well worth a visit, at the same time enjoy the tea rooms.
An Autumn Visit.
Paul Watts and myself had arranged a visit back in the summer, to coincided with my visit to Sussex in late September throughout October.
We left Hove around 1000 hrs for the drive to Chiddingstone, going via Burgiss Hill so I could pick up a new camera from Park Camera centre, I must say I have always had a good advice and service from the staff over many years. Once we had left the M23 and M25 the driving was mainly on country roads also through picturesque villages, sometimes driving through an archway of trees, many in there Autumn colours. After an hour or so we arrived at our destination, I wasn’t disappointed. The castle and the surroundings were as I’d expected, even after some seventy odd years since my last visit. After parking the car, we walked across a field to the lake side, on the far bank was a tree in all its splendour, looking as if it had a cloak of gold which was reflected in the water.
Back at the car Paul sorted out the parking permit while I looked for the warden, a jovial character who welcomed me with a good morning and a smile asking” Can I help you”? I asked “where is the honesty box so I can pay our fees for fishing” It seems there no longer such a box, as it had been broken into several times, it seems these low life scum bags are operating even in such lovely villages, though I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised in this day and age. After paying for our fishing and shaking hands with the Ranger, we were free to enjoy our day in search of the wild carp.
Two different approaches to the way we fished.
Paul chose to use a match anglers’ approach; I must say from fishing with Paul he is very successful? He started by choosing a feeder rod matched with a fixed spool reel, holding 8lb bs Maxima mainline, a Preston 20g banjo feeder fished as a running rig, and a Pretied short hook link with size 12 guru QM1 hook and 7lb leader. Dampened micro pellets were used on the feeder, and 6mm and 8mm wafters in various colours, the hook bait was attached with a pellet band.
A second rod was matched with a fixed spool reel. A size 4 Pallatrax barbless hook was tied to the mainline, so Paul could freeline bread on the surface.
Within twenty minutes of casting out Paul had his first fish, a bream, I was impressed at the condition of the fish, unlike those caught on many commercial and club waters, where many fish have damaged mouths.
A further bream followed, then the first wild carp of the afternoon fell to the feeder tactics. Although a relatively small fish, it made a valiant effort to avoid the landing net. A lovely sleek fish with dark colouring in super condition.
I chose to use my Kennet Perfection, a rod made by Andrew Davies, using Ted Oliver’s excellent Kennet Perfection tapers, which is far better than the old Kennet Perfection, it’s my first-choice rod when seeking wild carp. Being a bit more powerful, it can cope not only with barbel, but big tench and bream. It’s a bit more powerful, than the original Kennet Perfection, with a progressive action, it’s a two-piece rod, with separate handle, making it 11ft overall. It’s often my go to rod when seeking big chub, when the rivers have an extra two or three feet of water on.
The Mitchell 300 was filled with 6lb bs line, I then tied on a size 4 Pallatrax barbless hook. I felt I had the perfect combination for the wild carp of Chiddingstone. Before going off in search of my quarry. It was time for a brew, using my Jet boiler, within two minutes the water was boiling, I quickly had two mugs of fresh tea, it beats tepid tea from a flask, hands down, why not give it a try? As I walked down to give Paul his tea, I spotted a fish take a bit of crust, under some far bank bushes, where the light breeze was blowing. I thought to myself “That’s a good omen” Having had my tea, I walked up to the top of the pool, where there were plenty of water lilies, an area I expected to find the carp, though I did notice the water was very low. Having catapulted out some bits of bread crust and flake I sat down on the bank to see what happened. Within minutes small rudd and roach were on the bread, but no sign of carp. After an hour or so I walked slowly down to the Dam end of the pool where Paul was fishing, He surprised me with more bream, also some rudd. It was brew and sandwich time, as we sat enjoying the quiet surrounding Paul was soon hooked up to a fish, it certainly wasn’t a bream, thankfully it turned up to be the second wild carp of the day, caught on an 8mm wafter. I said to Paul “You have saved the day well done”. After taking a photograph, it was quickly returned to the water.
As the afternoon progressed fish started showing on the surface. I spotted a group of 3 wild carp in my swim, but missed the chance to try for them.
I threw in some free bread offerings; Paul followed my lead, by changing his outfit for fishing floating crust. The fishing was tricky as the carp were wary, also the bread attracted the attention of the rudd which were now feeding readily on the surface, also gulls, which were a menace. The Moorhens also put in an appearance; I find them very attractive I’m also certain from watching carp and moorhens over many years. They don’t constitute a problem, yes, they might occasionally take a bit of bread, but I haven’t noticed they spook the carp like gulls do.
We persevered by trying to cast our bread baits to moving fish, Paul was eventually rewarded with a lovely 6.25lb fish which ended our visit to this historic lake, it had been a very enjoyable afternoon.
Fishing was tricky and the carp were wary but we managed to winkle out a few wildies, bream and rudd. Best fish 6.25lbs.
Trees in Autumn colours
6 lb wild carp caught by Paul Watts
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