Old Lake Latest Catches week ending 11/2/18

Headlines:

Some zander still being caught despite icy weather
Deep water around the Boathouse proving best
Small baits producing the most action

THIS WEEK’S FISHING! (In brief)

Some cold nights and frosty mornings have concentrated the Old Lake’s predators in the deepest water, close to the Boathouse.
Pegs either side have produced the most action, and small baits have been working best.
A mild spell is what is needed to get the fish hunting for food, and to spur the bream and carp into responding.
Although there is no big lift in temperatures forecast, sunny weather and near double-figure values are a step in the right direction to a hint of spring to come.
There’s a fair bit of sunshine in the forecast this week, and daytime temperatures could touch double figures, though the nights will still be chilly. Monday looks like being the sunniest day, with blue skies all the way and 5 degrees C, though falling to 1 degree overnight, before a similar temperature but the wettest and windiest day of the week on Tuesday, falling to the lowest temperature of the week, which could be minus 3. But after that there should be an improvement, with 6 on a cloudy Wednesday and 4 that night, then 9 on Thursday with some sunshine, and 2 that night, before similar values by day and night into the weekend. After Tuesday’s wetting it should be largely dry for the rest of the week, and winds should become lighter towards the weekend, starting at moderate and south-westerly on Monday, before Tuesday’s strong southerlies that become westerlies late in the day, then strongish southerlies for Wednesday and south-westerlies for Thursday before lighter winds on Friday and Saturday as they start to turn more westerly. So with the temperatures picking up a little by day later in the week and some strength in the sunshine now, the middle of the day on Thursday looks the best bet for a fish or two.

• The predator fishing season began on October 1 and continues until March 14.

• Anyone who fancies being part of the night syndicate of anglers who are allowed to fish Temple and the Old Lake after dark for a £50 joining fee will be interested to hear that there are places available. To apply, get in touch with the office on 01306 883621.

• Anglers are reminded that fishing on Temple and night fishing on the Old Lake is available exclusively to members of the Bury Hill Specimen Carp Club. Membership cards must be carried at all times when on the fishery, and be available to bailiffs when they carry out checks prior to the evening lock-up.

OLD BURY HILL LAKE – GENERAL & BOAT FISHING

One weather pattern in winter that seems to lead to an increase in action is a day of strong south-westerly or westerly winds.
That’s what’s forecast for Tuesday, and although it is likely to be wet and be followed by a frost, the extra colour in the water from the wave action could trigger a feed later in the week, especially by the lake’s zander and perhaps the bream and carp.
Thursday’s mild temperatures and sunny weather following a mild night on Wednesday could be what the fish are looking for to start moving around in search of food.

TEMPLE LAKE – CARP

A slower week for reported catches on Temple, but anglers are still fishing, in the hope of being on the bank when conditions trigger a feeding spell. In particular bright pop-ups with a high leakage rate or bottom baits tipped with buoyant yellow or pink artificial corn are good winter offerings.

BONDS LAKE

Bonds regularly produces multiple catches of carp to double figures on a variety of methods, from pole to feeder and straight lead to waggler.

Anglers are reporting multiple catches of carp, despite the cool conditions, one young angler having had five carp when he called in at the tackle shop at lunchtime, with more expected in the afternoon, helped by the mixture of warm sunshine and cloud cover.

MILTON LAKE

Milton Lake is the place to try for a catch of prime roach, using a waggler on a running line or pole just a short distance out, close to the pads, where they can be lined up with a little-and-often loosefeeding approach. And in the mild spells there are crucians, tench and bream to be caught, along with occasional carp.