Before the lake takeovers and 48-hour weekends, there was a day on Partridge Lake at Woodlands. We had talked for ages about getting subscribers together for a social, and in December 2021 we finally made it happen.

Wayne and Foxy arrived hoping people would turn up, fish a little and enjoy meeting each other. What followed was a bank full of conversations, a few memorable captures and the beginning of something we wanted to do again.

One shared peg and a lot of introductions

We shared a peg so there would be more room for everyone else, taking one feeder rod each rather than setting up for a full specimen session. The plan was simple: spend time walking around, say hello and fit in a little fishing if there was a chance.

For a December day, the weather was kinder than it might have been. We reckoned it was around 10°C at the start, although the short winter daylight still put a limit on how much time we could spend with everyone.

We already knew Partridge from an earlier visit, so we hoped the lake would give people a chance of a carp. It soon became clear, though, that some areas were producing while others were much quieter.

Putting faces to familiar names

The walk around was the heart of the day. People told us how they had found the channel, which local-venue videos they enjoyed and where they had tried fishing after watching them.

Some had followed us since the channel had only around 100 subscribers. Others had returned to fishing after years away, or were starting to build a tackle collection and learn as they went. There were younger anglers meeting the team too, alongside parents and friends enjoying a day together.

It felt a little strange at first: viewers knew us from the videos, while we were meeting many of them in person for the first time. That quickly gave way to the same tackle chat and banter you would expect on any bank.

Methods, little rods and a few good carp

The peg visits brought plenty of comparisons between method feeders, solid bags, hookbaits and tackle. There were immaculate setups, small rods and anglers experimenting with different approaches to find a bite.

One of the catches discussed during the rounds was a 14lb carp, reported on a small yellow wafter with a bag of maggots and crushed pellet. Other anglers showed fish around 10lb, while some were simply pleased to have caught at all.

Those reports were a useful reminder that the session was not just about the biggest carp. A fish after a long wait, or a result close to someone’s personal best, could make a day just as memorable.

A December lunch on the bank

Food and a warm drink gave people another reason to stop and chat. The turkey-and-cranberry sandwiches, with stuffing and gravy, were a particularly fitting choice for a December social.

We also caught up with Bri from Aquatic Colledge, comparing filming setups and talking about his own fishing videos. Those conversations captured what the day was about: a shared hobby bringing people together, whether they were behind a camera or just there to enjoy a session.

A strong finish for some of the subscribers

As people started packing up, a father and son reported six carp between them, three each, with the biggest estimated at around 12lb. Another catch-up brought news of a new personal best.

Not everyone had the same result. Some pegs were hard work, and a late chance ended with a lost fish. Wayne and Foxy finished without a landed carp, having spent most of the day walking and talking rather than fishing.

That did not spoil the session. We had brought the rods, but the real reason for being there was to meet the people who supported the channel.

The start of a Fresh Fishing tradition

At the end of the day, the turnout mattered more than our own empty nets. More people had come than we expected, several had enjoyed good fishing and everyone had given us a reason to plan another meet-up.

Looking back, this social shows the idea in its simplest form: choose a venue, get people together and give them time to talk fishing. The longer weekends came later. This was where meeting the Fresh Fishing family on the bank began.