BIG Carp action as thirties start to feed! - 15 02 2009

FISHERY REPORTS
WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, 15th February 2009
 
PREDATOR & TENCH STOCKING
The planned predator and tench stocking started last week with around 50 plus small pike and 100 odd tench between 2lb and 5lb being stocked in the Old Lake with a further 100 tench between 1lb and 2lb stocked into Milton Lake. A second stocking of larger fish will arrive in the next couple of weeks.
 
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http://www.buryhillfisheries.co.uk/fishing-tackle.phtml
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http://www.buryhilltackleandbait.co.uk/

WATER TEMPERATURES
Another cold week generally with heavy frosts and ice on all lakes most days forcing water temperatures down further to 3.3 degree’s this morning whilst oxygen levels have also dropped to 25%.
However, the good news is that warmer weather is now with us, so expect water temperatures to start to increase over the next few days, which in turn will have a positive effect on the fishing.

THIS WEEKS FISHING!
Despite water temperatures being at an all time low, the fishing has actually been reasonable for the conditions with a few fish being caught on all lakes, ice allowing, although the main focus this week has been on the Old Lake where the aeration system has helped to keep the area around the boathouse along with part of the long bank free of ice.
Following the recent stocking of pike and tench into the Old Lake, predator anglers have been catching a few more pike although nothing huge with a fish of 14lb being about the best reported. Whilst the cold conditions are not generally regarded as being great for the zander, a stonking fish weighing 13lb 3oz was caught on Thursday with a few smaller fish also reported in the week.
Despite the ice, the general fishing was again better than expected this week with a few bream, skimmers and even the odd tench reported from the deep water areas, so with increasing water temperatures expect to see sport pick up no end this week. Despite best efforts, both Bonds and Milton Lakes were iced over for most of the week again, although the odd angler who managed to find a hole or two did catch a few fish.
The carp fishing has also not surprisingly been pretty tough with only the odd ‘crazy man’ fishing, however saying that the Old Lake saw ‘Shoulders’ caught weighing 31lb 8oz last Sunday and I have just been told that the Ghost has been caught on Temple weighing a hefty 37lb. So all in all, not too bad! Indeed, a 31lb 6oz Italian has also just been caught.
 
OLD BURY HILL LAKE – PREDATOR FISHING
The predator fishing this week has been surprisingly good, despite the ice with quite a few pike showing from all areas, although nothing huge with a 14 pounder being about the best reported and even the odd zander which included a good double weighing 13lb 3oz. Whilst most the weeks fishing has been restricted to the deeper water swims along both the front and long banks owing to the ice, anglers have also found sport further along these banks on days when the ice melted.
Regarding tactics, these remain much the same as in previous weeks with small baits definitely working better than larger baits with diagonal head and tail sections of both sea and freshwater baits working particularly well. Single hook rigs are also taking a few more fish with hair rigs also making hooking easier and safer. These tactics, will not only catch pike and zander, but will improve takes and moreover help to avoid a deep hooked fish.
Ian Welch’s pages in the Anglers Mail recently featured Zander fishing at Bury Hill, see link below.
http://www.buryhillfisheries.co.uk/press/
This weeks catches
Regular Steve Hazeldine from Twickenham had a great result in the week catching a surprise 13lb 3oz zander. Fishing peg 19, Steve ledgered a mackerel head 20mts out into 7’ of water catching his new PB just after lunch.
Another angler to catch this week was Peter Taylor who managed three small pike all around the 5lb to 7lb mark and a cracking 14lb’er. Peter fished peg 27 along the long bank catching on small sections of roach and sprat, which he fished on a single hook set up on a light ledger.
Nick Malcolm from Halifax made his second visit to the fishery in search of a big zed catching a small 6lb pike on a ledgered skimmer dead bait.



OLD BURY HILL LAKE – GENERAL & BOAT FISHING
Surprisingly, despite most of the lake being iced over for a good portion of the week, the few anglers who have been braving the conditions have been catching a few bream, skimmers and even the odd tench.
Whilst both the front and long banks have been producing fish, the deeper water swims have been the best with small open-end groundbait feeder tactics working particularly well. Whilst smaller baits such as maggot, caster and worm have all been catching, larger baits such as corn, hair rigged punched meat and banded pellet are also working, particularly for the bigger fish.
This weeks catches
Regular Haydon Woods fished a freezing session on the Old Lake mid week catching a few bream and skimmers from the deep water. Returning Saturday, Haydon fished peg 21 catching 3 bream and a bonus tench. With water temperatures just above freezing, Haydon did well to catch on a small open-end groundbait feeder catching on Flouro Maggot.



OLD BURY HILL & TEMPLE LAKE - CARP
An AMAZING WEEK on both the Old Lake and Temple Lake with three more thirties reported, ‘Shoulders’ weighing 31lb 8oz from the Old Lake and ‘The Ghost’ weighing 37lb and Italian 2 weighing 31lb 6oz from Temple, see catch reports below.
Despite these three great catches, the general carp fishing has been hard with only the odd double reported from the Old Lake whilst Temple has been pretty much iced over for most of the week. Saying that, the fish are looking to feed and with temperatures due to top double figures this week, expect a flurry of activity as water temperatures start to rise.
Bait wise, much the same as in previous weeks with most good baits working but certainly Icelandic Red, Fusion, KG1 and Cell boilies are worth a go! Thinking out of the box also works on Temple and small pieces of white or yellow pop ups are also worth a go at this time of year over a few free offerings or just on their own.

This weeks catches
Following the capture of Temple’s Italian1 last week weighing 36lb 2oz by Mark Savage, this week saw just a handful of anglers braving the conditions which included Temple guru Sean Howard who caught not only his first fish of 2009, but a brace of thirties to boot ‘The Ghost’ weighing 37lb and Italian 2 weighing 31lb 6oz. Fishing peg 14, Sean fished a small section (corn size) of a sweet cream pop up singularly to the open water to both his left and right rods with no additional feed around his bait. Sean’s first fish, ‘The Ghost’ weighing 37lb was caught at around mid afternoon Saturday from just in front of peg 15. This is the second time Sean has caught ‘The Ghost’ having last caught her in April last year when she weighed 35lb 9oz. Sean’s second thirty of his session came mid morning Sunday when his popped up bait was taken just in front of the island to Sean’s right resulting in Italian 2 being landed at a new record weight of 31lb 6oz. Both fish were in stunning condition and without doubt would have been a fair bit heavier if it were not for the freezing conditions over the past 7 weeks or so.




Another angler to get a result for his time and effort this winter was Bury Hill regular, Gavin Campbell braved ice cold conditions last weekend to be rewarded with a new PB in the shape of 'Shoulders' weighing 31lb 4oz. Fishing peg 24, Gavin fished a single piece of popped up corn on a sinking snowman rig over a bed of crushed hemp and particle mix just short of the right hand margin into approximately 6' of water. With water temperatures just above 3 degree's, Gavin not surprisingly had had no runs and was about to pack up at 4.30pm when his right hand rod tore off. As the big mirror kited in front of the boat house, all hell broke loose when Bury Hill's best known lady passed in front of the aerators prompting her to make a very strong run up the long bank taking 100m or so of line before Gavin could turn her, eventually landing his prize at 16.38 just as it was getting dark.
Gavin's end rig was a size 8 curved shank hook tied to a super natural hook link with 2oz dung lead fished with a 6 feet lead core which he fished as a helicopter set up. Gavin used a Terry Hearn Mark 2 12' 9" 3 1/4 tc rod with a Daiwa SS3000 reel loaded with 10 lb Nash Bullet line.

Please Note!
Temple Lake can only be fished by Specimen Carp Members who are also able to night fish the Old Lake. With membership numbers strictly limited to anglers with some experience of catching bigger fish, membership includes Old Bury Hill Lake and Temple Lake, our new specimen carp lake. Following recent stockings, Temple currently holds just under a 100 fish to upper thirties, which now includes 35 known thirties, the average size is close to 29lb. To date there has been a waiting list to join, however there is a small number of places available for 2009 which will be available on a first come first served basis, anyone interested should contact David or Jane on 01306 877540, or download an application form from our website.
To view the latest carp catches and pictures click the following link:
http://www.buryhillfisheries.co.uk/carp-catches/
 
BONDS LAKE
With Bonds being iced over for most of the week, the few anglers who have fished the lake, finding a hole in the ice did manage to catch a fish or two. Whilst most methods working, smaller baits such as maggot and caster have been catching best whilst surprisingly larger baits such as corn have also been taking the odd fish.

MILTON LAKE
The story is much the same on Milton as on Bonds, which has also been iced over for most of the week, with just a few anglers finding a hole or two in the ice. Fishing ultra light float rigs and with small baits such as single maggot and caster, a few anglers have been catching small roach, rudd and perch.