Fishing Reports
FISHERY REPORT 14th to 21st MARCH 2020
Fishery Report 14th to 21st March 2020- Firstly and very importantly our Lake does remain open for fishing but it is imperative that all members and guests follow the strict coronavirus procedures that David Shannon, our Secretary, has e mailed to all members and displayed on posters on the Club Pavilion and Weighing in Hut Doors. Your Committee will continue to review these procedures on a regular basis.
Now with regards to the fishing, another good week with 235 fish taken with a rod average of just on three fish per visit. Best fish taken was a lovely rainbow of 6.75 lbs and there were plenty of 2 to 3lb fish and a sprinkling of ‘4 ‘s thrown in for good measure. Weekly stocking will continue and to date 2320 fish have been stocked with 785 fish taken. Intermediates and slow sink lines with small lures and boobies again proved successful but more and more members are moving over to floating/midge tip lines with buzzers and nymphs. Some good buzzer hatches are taking place particulary round about the 11 am to 2 pm period and members have reported seeing quite a few fish ‘on top’. Fish seem to be well spread around the lake and I have heard of fish being taken from the large willow below the club hut down to the end of the south bank; the reeds on the east bank; cromer pier and the gravels on the north bank and by the willow in the middle of the west bank. Also I know of one good catch taken on the peninsula in the first bay on the left and fishing down towards the east bank. However it is still cold and fish will continue to shoal up a bit so do ‘make a move’ if you and others around you are not catching. Finally do keep safe, look after yourselves and please do all you can whilst at our fishery to implement the essential coronavirus prevention measures your committee have laid out to you all.
Roger – 21/03/20
FISHERY REPORT 8th to 14th MARCH 2020
The ‘pretty good fishing’ continues with 88 rod visits resulting in 241 trout being taken. The best rainbow taken was just over 5lbs and there were two brownies of 4lb+. It was good to see these brownies as they were in super condition and have obviously overwintered as we have not stocked any since last October. Methods and patterns continue to be many and varied although the majority of fish have been taken ‘down a bit’. However nymphs such as black buzzer, pheasant tail and hares ear with a little bit of weight in them and fished on a longish leader have produced some fish and I expect this method to increase in popularity as temperatures start to rise and fish become more active. Incidentally I spooned two fish this week and both were crammed with various coloured buzzers with black and red predominating – a good sign. Also fish have been seen rising during calmer and milder conditions. Best spots depending obviously on wind conditions are the north bank from the first platform up to the gravels; the top north west corner; the middle of the west bank by the willow; the first three swims on the south bank in the top bay; just up from the club hut ; the last four platforms on the south bank and in the reeds on the east bank. This variety of options just shows how well the fish are spreading out something which is ‘good to see’. Further weekly stockings are planned until mid May so a good level of stock in the lake should be maintained.
Roger 14/03/20
FISHERY REPORT 1ST – 6TH MARCH 2020
Well 1500+ Trout with an average weight of just over 2lbs and a few ‘biggies’ up to 5lb+ have gone in since mid February and this is being reflected in this first weeks fishing of the new season. Despite some cruel winds, rain and low temperatures members have caught 264 Trout during this period with a rod average of just on three fish per visit. Average weight has been 2lb + but a couple of four pounders and a five pounder have been taken. Very few fish have shown on top making location often difficult. However the most consistent spots so far have been the top of the south bank; the north west corner; just up and down from the Club Pavilion; the last 4 platforms at the bottom of the south bank and in the reeds on the east bank by the outlet. Methods and patterns have been many and varied but on most occasions you have needed to get down a few feet to find the fish. Intermediates and slow sink lines with small lures have been productive as have floating lines with longish leaders and gold heads, particularly olive damsels. A favourite method which has caught a lot of fish is an intermediate line with a gold head (black and green; white and green; olive; orange) on the point
and a small booby on a dropper about 5 feet above the point fly. This set up allows you to be fishing two different depths something which is very useful when fish are hard to locate as they often are at this time of year. However we all have our own favourite methods and I know of catches being taken on hi d lines and boobies; di 5 lines and snake patterns so you really can take your pick as to what is best method. Currently although there is much evidence of buzzer activity I am not aware of many fish being taken on buzzer or nymph patterns yet although it should not be long before our normally excellent buzzer fishing ‘takes off’. Summing up therefore the method is up to you but location of fish and depth they are feeding at remains key to success. Stocking continues on a weekly basis with approximately 300 fish going in each week.
Enjoy your early season fishing with hopefully some warmer weather and some rising fish soon to come.
Roger 06/03/2020
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