Old Lake Latest Catches week ending 2/2/20

When we get a sustained run of cold weather, with ice on the lake, which is likely in the week after this one, the bream seem to get used to it after a few days and can be caught even after several sub-zero nights.
But a quick dip to not much above zero followed by a fast rise back up to mild temperatures makes for difficult fishing, followed by a feeding spree, as if the fish know that an improvement is around the corner and wait for it to come along.
Steve Gardener’s match on Wednesday was won by Pete Turnbull, from Leatherhead, with just 16 lb 8 oz, from peg 21.
The next nearest weight was 9 lb, by Steve Collins, from peg 9, and then Steve Gardener himself with 7 lb 2 oz from peg 6, these being the best weights from a field of 20 experienced anglers.
But roll forward the clock to Saturday and Wayne Hughes won Round One of the Geoff Vallance series with 36 lb 8 oz of bream, on feeder or pole, from peg 14.
Runner-up was Paul ‘Tommy’ Hiller with 36 lb 6 oz, from peg 1, ahead of Geoff himself with 34 lb 12 oz from peg 11, and Arped Sabian, with 31 lb 7 oz from peg 4.