Pike and bream continue to feed despite blizzards - 8 02 2009

FISHERY REPORTS
WEEK ENDING SUNDAY, 8th 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.
 
NEW LARGER TACKLE & BAIT SHOP NOW OPEN
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:
http://www.buryhillfisheries.co.uk/fishing-tackle.phtml
Also our online shop here:
http://www.buryhilltackleandbait.co.uk/

WATER TEMPERATURES
Well what a week that was, blizzards and ice made for a very tough week here at the fishery, although even I have to admit that it was very pretty. At least half the Old Lake is open today with no new ice overnight, however water temperatures were just 3.8 degrees this morning, which is a further drop from 4.1 degree’s last week, oxygen levels continue to sit around 30%.


THIS WEEKS FISHING!
A very very cold week with 10” of snow Falling Monday followed by ice with all lakes being iced over for most of the week. Saying that, we have managed to keep part of the Old Lake open and the few hardy soles who did venture out amazingly caught the odd fish or two.
On the predator front, the recent stocking of pike certainly helped the fishing with one or two being caught in the week. The general fishing was also surprisingly better than expected with a few bream and skimmers being caught from both the front and long banks.
Despite best efforts, both Bonds and Milton Lakes were iced over for most of the week, although a couple of angler early week who found a couple of holes on Milton manage a few nice roach and perch. The carp fishing has also been pretty tough with only the odd ‘crazy man’ fishing.


 
OLD BURY HILL LAKE – PREDATOR FISHING
Despite appalling conditions, the few predator anglers who did brave the conditions were rewarded with the odd small pike from both the front and long banks.
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
Terry Cripps had a good day for the conditions mid week catching 3 small pike to 7lb. Terry fished the deep water catching on roach dead bait which he ledgered out from peg 24.

OLD BURY HILL LAKE – GENERAL & BOAT FISHING
Incredibly the general fishing on the Old Lake has been pretty good despite the atrocious conditions and those anglers with a bit of know how have managed to catch a few fish from both the front and long banks.
Whilst both float, pole and feeder tactics have been working, small open end feeder tactics have been working best with smaller baits such as maggot, caster and worm all catching although surprisingly larger baits such as corn, hair rigged punched meat and banded pellet are also working, particularly for the bigger fish.
This weeks catches
The Three Kings match on Saturday surprisingly produced a few fish for 7 or so lucky anglers who stuck with it. Despite half the Old Lake being iced over, everyone pretty much opted to fish a small feeder. John Colbin won the day with 10lb 3oz of skimmers and bream, which he caught from peg 30. Fishing a small cage feeder filled with 3mm pellets soaked and mashed, John alternated between hair rigged punched meat and banded pellet to catch bream to 3lb 1oz. In second place was Jason who caught three fish for 3lb 5oz from peg 26 on feeder and single red maggot and in third place was Alan with 2lb 11oz catching on a single pinkie and 4mm pellet.




OLD BURY HILL & TEMPLE LAKE - CARP
No carp reports from either the Old Lake or Temple Lake this week, the following report is from last week.
Hooray!!!! Temple threw up its first fish of the year today in biting cold conditions, one of the ‘Italians’ weighing a record 36lb 2oz, see catch details below. The Old Lake has also producing a few fish, although the fishing has certainly got harder as we headed into this weekend and the forecast of heavy snow.
Bait wise, much the same as previous weeks with most good baits working but certainly Icelandic Red, Fusion, KG1 and Cell, white and yellow pop ups are also worth a go at this time of year over a few PVA bagged pellet.
This weeks catches
The man to beat this week was Bury Hill regular Mark Savage who despite freezing conditions managed to bag not only a new PB but also Temple’s first fish of the year, a stonking 36lb 2oz mirror known as Italian 1.

Fishing peg 4, Mark who had been on the water since Friday fished a number of different methods and baits before settling on a light running rig and a balanced Questbait RahJa Spice boilie tipped with a fake corn which had been glugged for 3 months in a trick glug. Fishing a size 10 long shank blow back, Mark decided to try something different by using a 12” of Korda super natural hook length which he pinned down. With tag number 138134, the big ‘Italian’ is a new PB for Mark beating his previous fish, Temple’s Ghost which Mark caught last year.

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
No reports from either Bonds or Milton Lakes this week owing to ice, the following reports are from last.
Despite the cold conditions, Bonds Lake fished pretty well this week with anglers catching up to ten fish with the odd fish topping double figures. Whilst most methods and smaller baits such as maggot and caster have been working, larger baits such as corn have also been catching, particularly when hair rigged over little feed to the island margins. Fishing with dead red maggots also accounted for some good fish again on the tip or a small loaded waggler cast over to the island.

MILTON LAKE
No reports from either Bonds or Milton Lakes this week owing to ice, the following reports are from last.
Generally a pretty good week on Milton with a number of anglers reporting bags of roach and perch to over 30lb which has included individual fish to over 2lb. With both the open water and margins producing, now is the time to get on Milton for the chance of a big roach or stripey. Single red maggot and small hooks over a small offering of chopped up worms are irrestible to these big-mouthed predators whilst single maggot, caster and worm will wheedle out the better roach.