This weeks latest catches week ending 20/1/19
• Milder temperatures forecast for next weekend
• Chilly nights caused by the ‘super blood wolf moon’ to end on Thursday
• Northerly winds set to change to more ‘fishy’ south-westerlies for Friday
• Boat anglers enjoying the calm conditions
FISHERY OPENING TIMES
The fishery currently opens for day ticket fishing at around 7.00am on weekdays; 6.30am weekends and Bank Holidays. Current closing time is approximately 4.30pm.
TACKLE & BAIT SHOP OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
Open 7 days a week, 362 days a year, when you need it!
• PLEASE BE AWARE, ENVIRONMENT AGENCY ROD LICENCES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THE TACKLE SHOP. THEY CAN BE OBTAINED FROM POST OFFICES AND ONLINE AT www.postoffice.co.uk/rod-fishing-licence
• The predator fishing season begins on October 1 and finishes on March 14.
THIS WEEK’S FISHING! (in brief)
After the recent spell of unseasonably mild weather that provided double-figure temperatures for almost a week, the change to more normal values for January and chilly night has taken some getting used to.
But the influence of Monday’s Full Moon, a super blood wolf moon, is set to wane as the week goes on, and by Friday there is a small window of mild weather expected, lasting through the weekend.
The northerly winds that have made it seem colder than the daily highs of around 5 degrees C are expected to come to an end this week, to be replaced by south-westerlies and westerlies, bringing a comparatively balmy 8 or 9 degrees for Friday and Saturday, with a slide back to cooler weather for the week after.
So this weekend could be one to try, especially as the chilly weather has meant fewer anglers on the bank recently, meaning less disturbance and more likelihood of fish finding your baits.
There is expected to be a run of frosts through this week, following Sunday’s very sunny weather, dropping to minus 2 degrees C overnight into a more cloudy Monday, which is likely to have a high of 4 and then 1 overnight into a sunnier Tuesday of 5, but minus 1 again into Wednesday, which offers some sunshine but no more than 3 degrees, with minus 2 into another sunny day on Thursday and 3, but minus 1 into Friday. But Friday should make 5 degrees, and no lower than 2 overnight into Saturday, which is expected to reach 8, with 3 overnight into Sunday and 5, before a slip back to zero into Monday with the prospects of a run of frosts returning. Winds are expected to start the week as light north-westerlies on Monday, becoming more westerly on Tuesday and a little stronger, then lighter and more north-westerly on Wednesday and Thursday, but moving round to light south-westerlies on Friday, strengthening just a little on Saturday but becoming lighter and more north-westerly on Sunday. So, with double the temperature likely next weekend compared to this Monday, and the run of frosts set to end in time for next weekend, the forecast looks favourable for taking advantage of the lull in the chilly weather that is nicely timed for next Friday, Saturday and into Sunday.
FOR ALL THE VERY LATEST CATCHES AS THEY HAPPEN, CHECK-OUT THE BURY HILL FISHERIES FACEBOOK PAGE AT www.facebook.com/BuryHillFisheries
OLD BURY HILL LAKE – GENERAL & BOAT FISHING
The first in a series of Steve Gardener winter league matches illustrated how there’s a good day’s fishing to be had on the Old Lake, even in chilly weather.
And if big weights are achievable under match conditions, even bigger weights should be possible with fewer anglers on the bank.
Despite a dip in temperatures in midweek, the Wednesday contest produced a 68 lb winning weight for Terry Harrison, at peg 75, just ahead of Geoff Vallance on 65 lb, at peg 74.
There were section wins for Jimmy Bullard with 37 lb from peg 13, and Steve Gardener with 30 lb, while one angler had his wafter grabbed by a pike of about 15 lb as he brought it in, showing that the lake’s pike are putting on weight and are willing to take an artificial of a wobbled deadbait.
Zander anglers are also still getting plenty of action, Mike Edgar, from Leatherhead, landing eight of up to 5 lb on roach tails, using a light running lead.The chilly weather has reduced the number of anglers on the bank over the past few days, but there have still been fish caught, including another match win for Terry Harrison, following on from his midweek bream weight around the back of the island the week before, this time from the middle of the Front Bank in a weekend contest.
The calm weather has also encouraged anglers to go afloat, for a pleasant day and the opportunity to keep on the move until a group of fish is located, an important ingredient in success at this time of year.
With low temperatures increasing the challenge, finding signs of fish or casting around to look for liners when trying a few swims, to indicate activity, can make a big difference, along with keeping bait offerings to a minimum, grouped tightly around hook baits, such as with small PVA bags of a few crumbed baits and some pellets.
And bunches of maggots become the first choice for many of the most successful carp anglers in winter, with the bonus that they can also bring action from other species, to fill in the time between runs and show that your baits are attracting interest.
TEMPLE LAKE – CARP
A slower week for reported catches on Temple, but a few anglers are still putting in some time and are hopeful of getting some action.
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PLEASE NOTE: LEAD CORE IS BANNED ON BOTH TEMPLE AND THE OLD LAKE. PLEASE SEE KEN IN THE SHOP FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
BONDS LAKE
Bonds is a popular choice among visitors, because of its track record for producing multiple runs, and also because a variety of tactics work, meaning visitors can fish in a way that they enjoy, and still catch plenty of fish.
Pole or feeder, straight lead or waggler, or pellet waggler up in the water with baits fired over the top all work well, and the fish keep on the move, giving lots of anglers a slice of the action.
MILTON LAKE
Milton Lake is the place to head for if you want tench, bream, crucians and specimen roach, along with a chance of a bonus carp, either on waggler with a running line, or pole close in or up against the lily pads, where fish can often be lined up with a little-and-often loosefeeding approach using small baits.