Old Lake Latest Catches week ending 8/1/17
HEADLINES
Lure anglers land pike from ‘duck hole’ in ice
Matchwinning bream bag of 28 lb despite the chill
Mild window of opportunity before chilly nights to come
Yo-yo weather continues, with mild set to follow the freeze
THIS WEEKS FISHING (IN BRIEF!)
The yo-yo weather has continued, with icy weather followed by mild spells when even the lake’s bream fed.
Anglers have adapted and managed to winkle out a few fish despite the conditions, the most resourceful being two lure fishermen who found the lake frozen.
Up for a challenge, they located a ‘duck hole’ that was free from ice and had a savage take from a 5 lb pike, messaging on the way home that they had enjoyed a great day’s fishing, despite the cold.
It looks like being a week of two halves, weather wise, chopped down the middle by the Full Moon on Thursday morning, which changes everything from mild, overcast and frost free to bright and sunny with sub-zero temperatures overnight. After a wet start to the week due to the south-westerly winds, bringing temperatures of 9 degrees C, the weather should dry up on Tuesday, though still cloudy and 7 degrees, before the warmest day of the week on Wednesday with 10 degrees. But that halves to 5 degrees on Thursday and zero overnight into Friday, which will be slightly cooler still and sub-zero overnight into Saturday, with colder still on Saturday and into Sunday, when the slide should halt, but only at 4 degrees by day and zero at night. In terms of the winds, the light south-westerlies of this Monday and Tuesday look set to give way to north-westerlies on Wednesday, drawing in the chilly conditions coming from the Arctic that have been freezing rivers in Russia with minus 30. But Sunday should bring a switch back to mild weather and frost free into Monday, which could bring 9 degrees on Tuesday. So the yo-yo weather continues, but Wednesday of this week looks a good bet for a few fish as the mildest day of the week and a window of opportunity for fish to feed before the big freeze.
• The predator fishing season begins 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
After some cold nights that iced the lake for a short time, not much was expected from Steve Gardner’s Open match in the week.
But the bream surprised everyone by feeding well, and it took 28 lb to win it.
Ian Dickson won the day with nine good fish from peg 32, to hold off Brian Nesbitt next door at peg 33, who also had nine fish, this time for 27 lb 8 oz.
Third were Brian Spiking and Will Raison with 26 lb 10 oz each, on pegs 17 and 19.
Best tactics were long-range feeder with pellets, maggots and small boilies.
Two brave anglers opted to fish in the freeze that covered the lake in a sheet of ice on Thursday, and they managed to find a ‘duck hole’ of open water along the Long Bank.
And David Gale was delighted when his brightly coloured small lure was hit hard by a mint-condition 5 lb pike, which made the adventure worthwhile.
Now that milder temperatures have removed the ice, exploring the lake with artificials is proving popular with pike and zander anglers, who are enjoying a more active approach, locating concentrations of predators and getting action from smaller fish while also having a chance of a specimen.
Dark lures in particular have proved effective, dark green and black accounting for a good number of fish.
TEMPLE LAKE – CARP
Difficult conditions made it a quiet week on Temple, but milder weather could bring an upturn in sport.
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, as well as offering some prime roach fishing, having produced fish to 3 lb in recent seasons.
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.
