Brilliant Pike fishing despite cold conditions! - 14 02 2010

WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, 14^th FEBRUARY 2010

Saturday 27^th February will see 80 predator anglers battle it out for £3000 worth of Fox tackle vouchers, we still have a few places left, please contact the office to book in. The day also includes a raffle and auction, with over £9000 worth of raffle prizes already donated and some very special auction prizes up for grabs giving you the opportunity to fish with some of the stars of angling, check out www.haitianglingappeal.co.uk to find out more.

Due to demand, we have now added a silver fish match on Milton Lake to the day’s itinerary. With £800 of prizes up for grabs, please book in with Russ in the tackle shop, as tickets are limited.

The fishery currently opens around 7.00am both weekdays and weekends. Current closing time is approximately 5.00pm. Boats in by 4.15pm sharp.

Open 7 days a week, 363 days a year, when you need it!

Check out Bury Hill’s tackle and bait shop here and our Christmas/New Year specials:

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The next few months will see major stockings taking place on all the lakes at Bury Hill. The Old Lake will receive some large tench as well as a good number of skimmers, whilst Milton Lake will see most of the carp removed (this has now been done) which will be replaced with tench as well as quality roach, rudd, perch and skimmers, all of which will come from Temple Lake. In addition, we have just purchased 3000 crucian for Milton, which will ensure the lake return to a tench, crucian and silver fishery. Bonds Lake will also see a further stocking of small carp from Milton (this stocking has now taken place with 400 fish being stocked) as well as a few roach, rudd and skimmers from Temple Lake.

It is hoped that all of the above will be completed by the end of March.

It is no surprise that water temperatures dropped back to 2.5 degree’s today whilst oxygen levels increased further to 88%.

Outlook for the week ahead is very mixed and dare I say it, with the possibility of further snow!

Despite some pretty cold weather this past week which again saw snow flurries and cat ice back on the lakes, the predator fishing continued in much the same as previous weeks with lots of pike being caught which included the odd fish to just under 20lb. Not surprisingly, the zander are still not showing in any numbers due to the cold weather, but expect to see a few fish show as soon as water temperatures start to increase.

The general fishing on the Old Lake has also been pretty good for the time of year with a few bream and skimmers being reported by the few anglers venturing out.

Dredging work has now started on Milton Lake and as such few anglers have been fishing the water, however those who have had a go have managed to catch a few fish from where the dredging work has been completed. Bonds Lake is also worth a go with anglers catching the odd fish or two, although not surprisingly the fishing remains pretty hard.

Despite some pretty chilly water temperatures, the predator fishing continues to go from strength to strength with plenty of pike being caught again this week with most anglers bagging a fish or two! Indeed, I really wonder if the pike fishing can get much better?

The week again saw fish a number of big fish caught which included fish weighing 19lb and 18lb along with plenty of doubles. Both sea and freshwater baits have been catching equally well, although smaller baits did seem to work best particularly when fished with single hooks and light ledger rigs. Light ledger tactics seems to be working best although float fished bottom baits are also working, particularly from the boats.

Catch of the week must go to Darren Scoullar who managed 4 fish during his day, which included three doubles topped by a cracking 19lb’er. Fishing whole roach dipped in a Predator Attractor which he ledgered to the open water from peg 28, Darren’s fish weighed 19lb, 13lb 8oz, 10lb 4oz and 6lb 8oz.

Bury Hill regular Colin Allchin has made it into the predator news again this week catching another six fish to 13lb 8oz. Switching from the front bank to peg 27 along the long bank, Colin found the fish responded to smaller baits with both sea and freshwater baits catching with Lamprey working particularly well. In addition to Colin’s 13lb 8oz fish, he also caught fish weighing 9lb 12oz, 8lb and a brace of 7’s with one smaller fish.

Chris Ball from Plaistow had a good day afloat when he fished the open water in the jungle catching four pike which included a couple of doubles weighing 11lb 8oz and 10lb. Chris fished half a sprat under a small float catching his fish just on bottom.

Another angler to do well this week was Jonathan Travis who caught two pike during his session weighing 10lb and 7lb 2oz. Jonathan fished peg 37 catching on a light ledger rig and half a smelt which he fished 2/3rds of the of the way to the far bank.

Although not the biggest fish of the week, Tommy Hall had a good day catching a lively 5lb’er from peg 41 on ledgered roach dead bait.

The latest round of the Southern Pike Anglers winter series took place last week. Despite some pretty grim weather, some 50lb of fish were caught with Steve Mable taking top honors’ catching 3 pike for just under 30lb. Steve’s fish weighed 15lb, 11lb and 3lb and were all caught on ledgered roach.

Last Saturday also saw the latest Pro-Fish Predator Big Fish day take place. Fishing pegs 38 - 43, the 6 lucky anglers managed a 30lb of fish with Steve Dolling catching a very lively 8lb’er. All the fish came to ledgered roach section fished half way out.

Ron Headon, who was helping on the day, chucked out an extra rod and was rewarded with a cracking 18lb pike, which fell to similar tactics.

Despite water temperatures dropping this week, there were a few bream and skimmers caught by a few hardened anglers. Whilst all methods will catch the odd fish, pole and feeder seem to be the best tactics for the cold-water conditions with single red maggot and small pellet working best.

A very quite week for the carpers with only a couple of brave soles out on the bank.

Whilst Temple Lake remains “rock hard”, the fish will start to show as soon as the weather breaks with a good chance of a thirty coming out as soon as water temperatures start to rise. However it was the Old Lake that produced the odd with the back of the island seemingly being one of the best areas! This weeks catches

Just one report off the Old Lake this week from Daniel Eke who fished peg 75 catching a well-deserved 16lb 8oz mirror on Icelandic Red baits which he fished to the open water and island margins. Interestingly, Daniel also caught a couple of tench, which goes to show that some fish are feeding, you just have to get the tactics right.

Much the same as last week, pretty quite on Bonds with only a handful of anglers fishing the lake. Whilst the fishing has been hard, the odd carp has been caught with small ground bait and maggot feeder to the island seemingly being the best method with mini boilies and pellet also catching.

As reported last week, we are currently dredging Milton Lake. However it is definitely worth a go and particularly where the dredger has been working as this kicks up the bloodworm whilst also providing much more water in the areas, which have been completed.

With a few roach, rudd and perch showing and even the odd tench, float and pole tactics seem to be the best method with both the pole line and margins producing bags to 10/15lb plus. Bait wise, things are now a lot finer with single red maggot and caster the best baits, although pellet and even corn are still catching. Chopped worm and Predator Plus additive is also worth a look at.

Following the dredging which take a further week, we will be stocking 600/800 small tench, 3000 crucian and simply loads of quality roach and rudd as well as quite a few perch and lots of skimmers.