Old Lake Latest Catches week ending 4/2/18

Headlines:

Bream, carp and zander being caught
43 lb wins latest midweeker
7 lb zander and 7 lb pike on float fished roach baits
Bonds anglers enjoying multiple carp catches, despite the low temperatures

THIS WEEK’S FISHING! (In brief)

Bream, carp and zander have all been feeding, despite the low temperatures, providing anglers who have ventured out with some warming action.
The Steve Gardener midweek match was won with 43 lb of bream, and predator anglers found zander and pike willing to pick up baits.
Richard Barber did well on float fished small roach, the more sensitive bite indication making it easier to hit bites, his catch including zeds to 7 lb.
And anglers on Bonds have reported good action, one person reporting five carp in a morning at the weekend, with more expected in the afternoon when the sun had warmed the water.
The weather looks likely to feel a bit more wintry this week, with the high pressure bought in by last week’s Full Moon, giving an average daytime high of 4 degrees C compared to the 7 of last week, and some frosty nights in prospect. But it is looking like a largely dry and sunny week with no more than moderate strength winds, albeit with some easterly in them on Monday, when the temperature high may be 4 degrees by day and then minus 1 overnight into Tuesday. Tuesday’s high is likely to be 3, with minus 2 overnight, then 3 on Wednesday, which should be the sunniest day, and minus 3 overnight, the coldest night, before 6 on Thursday and 2 overnight into Friday, making Thursday night probably the mildest, due to some cloud bringing the chance of a shower on Thursday evening. Friday is likely to be 5 at its warmest by day and minus 1 overnight, with the chance of a brief shower in the afternoon, and a sunny Saturday of 6, with 1 degree overnight into a similar Sunday and Monday. Winds look likely to start as moderate north-easterlies on Monday, becoming lighter northerlies on Tuesday and similar north-westerlies on Wednesday, then becoming south-westerlies on Thursday and into Friday, with more westerly for Saturday, before falling light for Sunday and Monday.

• 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

One of the attractions of Bury Hill is the fact that the bream are willing to feed in cool temperatures, often giving reasonable weights when the Old Lake is partially frozen.
This week’s Steve Gardener midweek match again produced a sizeable catch, winner John Swan landing 43 lb of bream from peg 37 on Method feeder and pellets, following on from last week’s 61 lb matchwinning weight.
Tony Morris was second with 28 lb from peg 16 on Method feeder and 8 mm boilies, ahead of Steve Gardener on 24 lb from peg 33 on Method and boilies.
Zander anglers have been enjoying action, too, Richard Barber, from Watford, landing two from peg 24 on the Front Bank, the biggest 7 lb.
Richard decided to fish a small waggler three rod lengths out, for better presentation of the small, whole roach baits, and for better bite indication, also landing a 7 lb pike.

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.

Anglers are reporting multiple catches of carp, despite the cool conditions, one young angler having had five carp when he called in at the tackle shop at lunchtime, with more expected in the afternoon, helped by the mixture of warm sunshine and cloud cover.

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.