Old Lake Latest Catches week ending 28/1/1
Headlines:
Over 60 lb of bream wins midweek match
50mph winds stir the fish into feeding
8 lb 8 oz zander on a sprat
Up to eight zeds per angler
THIS WEEK’S FISHING! (In brief)
Strong winds this week brought a big reaction from the Old Lake fish, boosting weights of bream in the midweek match, and giving zander anglers a noticeable increase in action.
The 50mph south-westerly winds made fishing difficult, but those who braved the conditions found the fish keen to feed.
A top weight of over 60 lb won the latest Steve Gardener contest, and there were up to eight zander per angler caught, with action for most of the rods on the water.
An 8 lb 8 oz zander just before winding in to head home gave Robert Haddad a memorable end to his visit, and the signs that the lake’s pike are making more of a showing this season continued, Sid Bell landing a 7 lb 14 oz fish.
There’s a slightly cooler but drier week in prospect, with a bit more sunshine, though with some cooler nights. Monday looks like being the mildest day, at 11 degrees C, and cloudy with the chance of a shower. Then temperatures look likely to fall away to zero by dawn on Tuesday, which is likely to be 7 degrees at best, but dry and cloudy, with 5 overnight, followed by similar on Wednesday but then sliding to just 2 degrees overnight after the Blue Moon (the second Full Moon in January, which is a Super Blue Blood Moon, being the first time that a super moon has coincided with a blue moon and a lunar eclipse for over 150 years). On Thursday as skies clear, it should be a sunnier day and 7 degrees. Friday looks like starting with another frost and 7 degrees again at best, before 3 overnight into Saturday and 8 for Saturday, back to 3 overnight into Sunday, which looks similar again as the pattern of frosts and no more than 7 degrees by day continues. Winds look likely to be westerlies for most of the week, starting moderate to strong and south-westerly on Monday but falling light on Tuesday, before strengthening again for Wednesday and Thursday, with a bit more northerly in them from Thursday night, back to westerlies on Friday and south-westerlies on Saturday and Sunday. So some favourable daytime conditions, especially on Monday, but some chilly nights after Wednesday’s moon, which are likely to make the warmest part of the day the most productive.
• 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
Strong south-westerlies are an important feeding trigger in winter for many species, as was proven this week in the latest round of the Steve Gardener series.
Competitors had to deal with 50mph winds and rain, but the fish were in the mood to feed, and there were plenty of good winter weights.
Brian Nesbitt won from peg 36, on the Long Bank, landing 61 lb 12 oz of bream on Method feeder and maggots cast to the island
Geoff Vallence was second from peg 33 with 43 lb, ahead of Don Garnish with 38 lb 4 oz from peg 38 on cage feeder and maggots in open water.
Mark Hathway was fourth with 37 lb, also from the Long Bank, while best weight from the Front Bank was Will Raison with 30 lb.
Also getting among the bream was Ray Parker, from Guildford, on a pleasure session, landing four to 4 lb from peg 32 before midday, all on cage feeder using 6 mm or 8 mm soft pellets on the hook.
Best zander reported was an 8 lb 8 oz fish for Robert Haddad (see photo), who was just about to pack up when the fish picked up his sprat bait.
Adrian Wegrzynowski, from Reading, landed four zeds – an 8 lb, a 6 lb and two 3 lb fish – all on small roach tails float fished on the bottom in open water from peg 42.
On one day there were reports of at least 20 zander being caught, the best individual tally being eight.
And Sid Bell had a nice pike of 7 lb 14 oz on a legered roach deadbait (see photo).
TEMPLE LAKE – CARP
A slower week for reported catches on Temple, but anglers are still fishing, in the hope of being on the bank when conditions trigger a feeding spell. In particular bright pop-ups with a high leakage rate or bottom baits tipped with buoyant yellow or pink artificial corn are good winter offerings.
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.
