Old Lake Latest Catches week ending 22/1/17

HEADLINES

Smashing time for match anglers
Will Raison wins midweeker through the ice
Pike action for ice-breaking angler
Fingers crossed for end of week thaw
Date set for charity predator day

THIS WEEKS FISHING (IN BRIEF!)

The coldest UK day for four years has left an inch-thick covering of ice on the lakes and deterred all but the hardiest anglers.
But a midweek match went ahead after competitors smashed a fishing area in front of their pegs, and Will Raison took the honours with 7 lb 12 oz of bream, perch and roach.
A few predator anglers have given fishing a try, heading for patches of open water near to the aerator, or next to the boathouse at peg 24, which produced a 6 lb pike for regular Janusz Kansik through the ice.
Indications are that it could take until after midweek for the ice to thaw, but with milder weather forecast, the fishery should hopefully be back to normal by next weekend.
Among those looking forward to the thaw is the heron that has resorted to sitting on the roof of the boathouse waiting for staff to come out to feed it with deadbaits from the freezer, which it will almost take from their hand.
A date for the diary is Saturday, February 11, when the annual Macmillan Cancer Support Predator Day will take place on the Old Lake, with a big, fishing-related raffle to end the day.
High pressure is still dominant this week, bringing dry, often sunny weather with highs of around 4 or 5 degrees C and overnight temperatures around zero or 1 degree. However, Friday should herald the start of some milder weather, with 8 degrees forecast and the same for Saturday, Sunday and Monday, though overnight values will edge up only slowly, from 2 degrees from Friday into Saturday to 4 degrees from Saturday into Sunday, and 6 from Sunday into Monday. Winds look to be generally light and southerly or south-easterly after two days of westerlies on Monday and Tuesday, when overcast conditions may restrict the amount of sunlight to start the week. South-westerlies look like taking over on Friday, bringing the milder weather, as the high pressure slowly gives way to a low from the west and a relief from the frosts. Once the fish have acclimatised to the change, there should be some feeding to be done to catch up after the lull in activity.

• 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

Twenty anglers braved the freezing weather for Wednesday’s Open, when temperatures of minus 6 were recorded.
Yet whenever ice is broken, fish are often surprisingly quick to turn up, as if they come to investigate the area of open water and light.
Of the 20, over half caught fish, bream and skimmers being the most responsive species, despite them being associated with switching off after a frost.
Will Raison drew peg 27 and fished the deep water with 14-metre pole and maggots or pellets for 7 lb 12 oz to win (see photos below).
His catch included three bream, a few perch and a roach, and gave him more than double Terry Harrison’s 3 lb 9 oz from peg 17 for second, ahead of John Redford with 3 lb 8 oz from peg 31.

Janusz Kansik has become a regular, fishing for the lake’s zander, and was undeterred by the ice, cutting a hole next to the building at peg 24 and landing a 6 lb pike.
The annual Macmillan Cancer Support Predator Day will take place on the Old Lake on Saturday, February 11.
All participants will receive a Gold Label Tackle goodie bag, which includes single-hook pike rigs, and following the fishing there will be a bumper raffle.
Tickets are £20 for adults, £15 for juniors and OAPs, with all money raised going to Macmillan Cancer Support. They are available from alan@stoneyandfriends.org.uk or applications can be obtained from the office by ringing David on 01306 883621.

TEMPLE LAKE – CARP

Difficult conditions made it a quiet week on Temple, but milder weather could bring an upturn in sport.

BONDS LAKE

As the ice thaws out, 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.