Some socials are remembered for a run of catches. Our 2023 Southfield Fisheries day was remembered just as much for the burgers, the welcome and two young anglers becoming friends.

We hired both lakes for the day, hoping to give subscribers a chance to fish together, meet the team and enjoy a relaxed session. The carp proved difficult to tempt, but there was still plenty worth filming.

Two lakes and a warm welcome

Southfield’s owners helped make the day possible, preparing the venue, making room for parking and lending us the barbecue and utensils. The tidy surroundings and countryside backdrop made a good impression as everyone settled in.

There was a choice between the lakes, with many anglers drawn to the bigger-fish prospects on the harder, weedier water. Wayne and Foxy wondered how the increased number of lines would affect the fishing.

That was a question rather than an answer. By the end, bites had been scarce on both lakes, but the video does not establish a single reason for the difficult fishing.

Meeting the people behind the comments

The first walk-round brought familiar names and new faces. Connor talked about following the channel from the feeder-fishing days and making the move into carp fishing himself.

Other anglers compared hookbaits, method feeders, solid bags and the places they had chosen to fish. Everyone was trying to find a bite, with some presentations tucked close to cover and others looking for fish elsewhere in the swim.

It was the sort of conversation a social makes easy: ask the angler next door what they are doing, see how their session is going and perhaps take away something to try yourself.

The carp make everyone wait

Early updates were unusually quiet. At one stage Pond B had not produced a fish, while the other lake had managed only one. Even the water expected to offer more regular bites was proving slow.

A few captures finally gave the cameras something to follow. One lovely dark carp came on an Oreo wafter, and Connor eventually got a fish of his own to end his blank.

There was no string of easy catches to write about. The fish that did appear mattered precisely because anglers had worked and waited for them.

Burgers and a break from watching the tips

Lunchtime brought everyone together around the barbecue. There were rolls, sauces and plenty of opinions about the cooking, with Wayne and Foxy providing their own version of Cookery Corner.

Food gave people a chance to stop concentrating on their individual swims and enjoy the social. The group could talk about the fishing, watch a little football and then head back out for another try.

It was a welcome part of a day where sitting behind the rods had often meant waiting rather than playing fish.

Two new fishing friends

One of the nicest later conversations was with two young anglers who had not known each other before the social. After meeting around lunchtime and chatting about what other people were using, they had become fishing pals.

They were still trying different baits and watching for a bite, but their day had already produced something valuable. For us, that was exactly why putting on a day-session social was worthwhile.

It also gave families and younger anglers a way to be involved before the longer, 48-hour socials that were being planned at the time.

A 10lb 14oz carp takes the cap

The biggest fish reported before the team left was a 10lb 14oz carp, landed by one of the young anglers on Pond B. He received a Fresh Fishing cap for the result.

Most-fish honours were harder to settle because several anglers had one fish each. Rather than pretend there was a clear winner, the team gave the spare crew-neck jumper to Ash in recognition of the long journey he had made to join them.

It was a friendly way to close a tough day, with some of the younger anglers having caught and everyone able to share in their results.

A successful social on a difficult fishing day

Southfield did not deliver the catch rate we had hoped for. It did deliver a welcoming venue, a good turnout and people enjoying time together on the bank.

The owners earned a particular thank-you for their help, while the two youngsters making friends gave us a moment that mattered every bit as much as the winning carp. Fishing socials have room for both.