Fishing Reports
FISHING REPORT 15th February 2020
Well although |I have not got the official catch figures for the last week of the season those members who gave it ‘a last go’ did pretty well totaling approximately 55 fish over this six day period with a rod average of over two fish per rod visit. And what super conditioned fish they were to with nearly all weighing 2lb + and quite a few nudging the 3lb mark. The fish caught were all taken ‘down a bit’ with the intermediate and slow sink lines with small lures doing the business (black and green particularly) although I saw one member when I was down catch three fish quickly on a floating line with a medium poly sink tip and black buzzers. Best spots were in the reeds on the east bank and the north bank gravels area when wind permitted.
Well with the season now closed until 1st March my first look summary ( to be confirmed) was that we stocked 7432 trout for the season and caught 5165 giving us a % of fish caught v fish stocked (ignoring any overwintered fish left in lake at start of season) of just on 70%. Better than we thought in October but down from 2018 owing, we believe to the number of fishing days lost through the very hot weather and high water temperatures over the summer and early autumn months.
Well what does 2020 season have in store for us? By the time the season opens on 1st March three stockings of trout will have gone in (1100 fish approximately in total averaging just over 2lbs each) thereafter followed by weekly stocking of between 300 and 400 fish each drop until mid May when the position will be reviewed. Inevitably these fish will shoal up especially at the start of the season and finding where they are and the depth they are feeding will be key to success. These two factors, in my view anyway, are far more important than patterns of fly / lure used as I guarantee that if you ask the successful anglers what they caught on the answer will often be a different pattern whoever you ask. So do be prepared to fish at different depths and do be prepared to move. If you have tried different depths and retrieve rates and are not catching or had any pulls say after half an hour do be prepared to move. In fact it often pays to have a walk around the lake and see how other anglers are doing before starting to fish. This can save quite a lot of time with location which, as I have already said, is paramount to success particularly early in the season where you may not see many, if any, fish rising. Based on previous seasons and obviously depending on wind direction and strength good early season spots will be the pegs on the south bank just up and down from the club Pavilion; the swims in the top bay of the south bank along and down from the haul road bridge; the gravels and adjacent swims on the north bank; the top north west corner and the swims in the reeds on the east bank. But as I have said, and I make no apology for repeating it, location of the fish and depth they are feeding is key so do be prepared to move and alter tactics if you want to be successful. If I was asked to suggest one method for the start of the season I would say use a slow sink / intermediate line, a 12 foot leader ( minimum 8 lb B.S) with a black and green; white and green or olive gold head tadpole type pattern. However many other methods will work so do be prepared to change to meet the ‘situations on the day’ – such is the joy of our wonderful sport.
Do have a great season and I look forward to meeting members own and new at our Fishery.
Roger 22/02/20
Fishery Report 3rd to 10th February 2020
Well although |I have not got the official catch figures for last week it seems from feedback I have that most members who like the challenge of winter fishing enjoyed some pretty good sport with at least a couple of members having 8 fish bags and five or six I know of enjoying catches of 4 fish plus. One member I believe was successful on floating line and buzzers whilst others stuck to intermediate or slow sink lines and small lures. Spots where I know fish have been caught are in the top bay and just down from the haul road bridge on the south bank; the pegs just by the club hut; the swims in the reeds at the east end and the area between the small island and the gravels on the north bank. How these latest storms and rain will affect the fishing I am not too sure but with only six fishing days left (we close Saturday 16th February) and based on last week it is well worth having a final fling to try to add a fish or two to your seasons tally.
Roger 10/02/2020
Fishery Report 22nd January to 1st February 2020
Well the floods have receded, the river is back ‘in its banks’ and all of the platforms are clear of water and fishable. Cars can also now be taken again around the Lake. This period has seen 44 visits result in 66 fish being caught with the best rainbow weighing 3lb 8 oz and the vast majority of the rest being 2lb +. The first 4 platforms on the south bank from the Haul Road down have produced most fish with intermediate lines and small lures and blobs proving effective. I also know of fish being caught on the west bank by the small island and from the swims just up and down from the Club Hut. Again these fish have been caught ‘down a bit’ with slow sinking lines and small lure patterns proving favourite. With another 12 days of the season left (finish Saturday 15th February) there is no reason (provided you can find the hot spots ) why a few more fish should not be added to the seasons tally.
Roger – 02/002/20
Fishery Report 16th – 21st January 2020 Well the floods are receding; the river is back ‘in its banks’ and although quite a few of the platforms have some water on them the lake is quite fishable with care and the water relatively clear. Although this flood did not seem to switch on the fish like the last one there is some reasonable albeit challenging fishing to be had with 28 member visits resulting in 31 fish of which the best was 3.5 lbs and 29 were 2lb +. The fish are still down a bit and although a couple have been caught on floating lines, sinking lines such as di3 or di 5 with lures such as gold head damsels, cats whisker; humungous and snakes, are producing better than smaller imitative patterns. I know fish have been taken on the west bank towards and in the top north west corner; cromer pier on the north bank; the last 3 platforms on the south bank and the pegs just up and down from the club hut.
Owing to the muddy conditions we regret but for the time being members are not allowed to take their cars around the Lake. They can however drive along the south bank from the Haul Road Gate to the Club Hut but not beyond. This situation will be reviewed regularly.
Roger – 22/01/20
FISHING REPORT 16th JANUARY 2020
Fishery Report 3rd – 15th January 2020
Well sad to say but as I write this our lake is flooded for the second time in 3 weeks with the unprecedented rainfall on Tuesday night causing the river to rise by a good 2 feet and burst it’s bank throughout the Wensum Valley. I understand all the platforms are covered but the water is reasonably clear and fishing with care is allowed. It will be interesting to see if our fish feed as well in this flood as they did three weeks ago during the last one when some very respectable bags were taken. Up to the flood 68 trout had been taken in this period to 53 rod visits with nearly all the fish taken being 2lb + with the biggest rainbow weighing 3lb 4 oz and the best brownie (picture on this website) weighing 4lb 7 oz. A really lovely conditioned fish – well done Graham.
The most effective methods would seem to be an intermediate / Di 3 line fished about 6 or 7 feet down with small lures such as cats whiskers; orange tadpole; damsel or fry pattern producing fish. I also did hear of a fish or two being taken on a black buzzer fished deep on a floating line and longish leader to ‘get down a bit’. Spots that I know have produced fish during this period are the west bank towards the north west corner; the swims between the small island on the north bank and cromer pier; the swims in the reeds at the east end; the last four platforms at the bottom of the south bank and the swims just in front of the club hut. Season to date has seen 7432 fish stocked and 4982 caught giving a stocked v caught figure of 67%. Let’s hope that the last 4 weeks of the season can continue to provide some reasonable fishing for those hardy ones who like the challenge that winter fishing can provide and help to put a percentage or two on our catch returns.
Roger 15.01.2020