Old Lake Latest Catches week ending 24/12/17
This weeks fishing! in brief
The yo-yo temperatures look set to swing back in favour of anglers this weekend as they look likely to triple between Thursday and Saturday.
After a mild week last week that made carp, bream and zander more active, there is expected to be a dip in values, starting with a fall to 4 degrees C on the day after Boxing Day, the first day of opening following the Christmas break.
But after two days of 4 degrees, there should be a rise to 12 degrees by Saturday, providing an ideal window of opportunity for good sport before the one-day closure on New Year’s Day.
Wednesday looks like being the coolest day, with rain to go with the low temperature and a moderate north-westerly wind.
But then Thursday should bring a change to dry weather with lots of sunshine all day and a falling away of the wind.
This will herald a frosty night in the clear conditions, with temperatures going down to just below zero, but then in the evening the winds should swing round to a westerly, becoming south-westerly, prompting a rise to a high of 7 degrees on Friday, with a mixture of sunshine and showers with strengthening winds.
Overnight temperature should be around 3 degrees, leading to steadily rising temperatures on Saturday, continuing into Sunday after a very mild night of double-figure values, with moderate, soft, south-westerly winds and damp conditions that should be just what the fish need to get them moving around and searching for food.
And after another slight dip on Sunday night to around 3 degrees around the Full Moon, it should be back up to 12 or 13 for when the fishery re-opens on Tuesday week, after New Year’s Day.
• The predator fishing season began 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
This week’s milder conditions are expected to bring a return to form after the cold weather, attracting more anglers to the bank to get a visit or two in during their winter break.
The reduced number of anglers means a wide choice of swims or the chance to adopt a roving approach to locate shoals.
And both carp and zander are in prime condition in the cooler weather, fighting harder and recovering quickly in the well-oxygenated water.
Taking advantage of windows in the weather when mild conditions prompt feeding activity and an increase in the urge to search for food is a major factor in winter success.
TEMPLE LAKE – CARP
A slower week for reported catches on Temple, but as fish become accustomed to the cooler temperatures they should start falling to anglers’ baits, in particular to bright pop-ups with a high leakage rate or bottom baits tipped with buoyant yellow or pink artificial corn.
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.
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.
