Old Lake Latest Catches week ending 1/4/18

Headlines:

Double Row Linear at 38 lb 4 oz
Over 2 lb up on last reported capture in September
Old Lake producing good catches of bream and tench
Bonds Lake angler’s ten carp
Father and son’s three carp from the back of the island
12 crucians on pole from Milton
Temperatures on the climb to 15 degrees next weekend

THIS WEEK’S FISHING! (In brief)

The capture of the Double Row Linear from Temple at 38 lb 4 oz by Conor Cook could herald the start of the traditional April feeding spree, during which all of the lake’s biggest fish normally fall to anglers’ baits.
And its weight, at over 2 lb up on the last reported capture in September, suggests that there could be some surprises in store this spring when it comes to the size of the known heavyweights.
On all of the lakes, there are signs that fish are almost ready to feed properly for the first time this year.
Pleasure catches of ten bream and seven bream from the Long Bank, and also a good catch of tench on waggler from the same area, suggest that on the right day the fish are in the mood.
The back of the island on the Old Lake has been a productive area this season, and father and son Dan and Connor Lucas found carp there willing to feed, Connor landing the biggest, at 19 lb 12 oz.
And judging by past Aprils, there should be a steady rise in the temperature through this month, starting with a pleasant 15 degrees next weekend, albeit with traditional April showers.
Temperatures look set to climb this week, with double-figure highs each day, reaching 15 degrees C by next weekend, which should be dry, after a showery first half of the week. Monday should become dry after a wet start, giving a high of 12 degrees and no lower than 9 overnight into Tuesday, which should be very similar but with lighter showers until lunchtime. Wednesday is likely to bring sunshine and showers all day, and the chance of cooler overnight values, but that should be the end of the wet weather, as a dry but cloudy Thursday and 10 degrees with a cooler 5 overnight gives way to a dry and cloudy 12 on Friday and then 15 on Saturday and Sunday. Winds should start from the south east on Monday, moderate to strong, becoming south-westerlies and strengthening in the afternoon and through Tuesday into a blustery Wednesday, before calming a little on Thursday and becoming more westerly, and calmer again on Friday as the direction becomes more south-easterly, becoming lighter again on Saturday and Sunday. So for those willing to brave the rain, Tuesday looks to be a good bet for a fish or two, and Sunday’s 14 degrees on the back of 10 overnight.

• The predator fishing season begins on October 1 and finishes on 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

Pleasure anglers are already enjoying good catches of bream and tench despite the cooler than usual start to spring.
Ray Parker, from Guildford, had seven sizeable bream in a morning, and another angler had ten during his session, while a third landed several tench on waggler and maggots.
All three catches came from the Long Bank, where Ray was using a 13m pole and small white wafters, at peg 32
And on the carp front, father and son Dan and Connor Lucas braved heavy rain to share a catch of three carp at pegs 74 and 75, the biggest, a 19 lb 12 oz common, falling to Connor.

TEMPLE LAKE – CARP

The capture of the Double Row Linear at its best ever weight of 38 lb 4 oz by Conor Cook could be the start of the spring feeding spree on Temple, when fish abandon their normal wariness in response to rising temperatures and lengthening days.
The fish was last reported in September to Jon Botting, at 36 lb 1 oz, and came out in mid-April last year to Simon Longhurst at 35 lb 7 oz in a brace with the Ghost.
It’s best reported weight was 36 lb 10 oz, to Clive Elson in May 2015.
This time Conor was fishing peg 9 with Sticky Baits The Krill boilies in a snowman presentation, getting the run at 7am last Monday, having arrived after the weekend anglers had left.
Conor, who has previously landed the Ghost and Two Tone, had been after the distinctive fish for years, and one of the photographers who is taking photos around the lake for the website, Chrissie, was on hand to capture the moment.

BONDS LAKE

Pellet feeder is a tactic that works well at Bonds, and Zultan Toth used it successfully on his latest visit, landing ten carp from peg 3, soaking Bait-Tech Sticky Method Micro pellets, which he finds bind well around a pellet feeder.

MILTON LAKE

Lake regular Alan Derbyshire was back in action, and despite the chilly weather he was still able to land 12 crucians and three tench, along with an 8 oz rudd.
Fishing peg 25 with a 13m pole, Alan fed 2 mm expander pellets and used 4 mm hooker pellets, hard on the bottom.