March 2014 fishing report

Now we are into April we can all breathe a sigh of relief! The winter has passed and the daylight hours are gradually increasing once more. The lakes are well stocked and fully recovered from the horrendous conditions chucked at them at the beginning of 2014.

We are busy here again and it is wonderful to see all of our regular anglers (and indeed some new ones) returning to fish once more. The trout have generally been caught down deeper in both Brick and Well lakes just lately. Hot spots have been along the dam and along the left hand bank on Brick Lake with Vivas and Montanas working particularly well. Anglers have fished floating, inters and sinking lines and I’m not sure that any one or the other makes any difference to the catch rates as most of our anglers have caught their full bags this month. There could be an advantage of fishing a sinking line on Well Lake however as it is much deeper than Brick Lake. I have found that a midge tip line is a very good compromise. You still have the advantage of being able to see the floating line in front of you yet the last six feet or so sinks slowly down to take your fly deeper thus “setting” it in a different layer of the water and by varying the retrieve, presenting it in a different way. In the returns book I see all manner of flies this month from Klinkahammers to Daiwl Bachs, Daddy long legs to Zonkers and Blood Worm to Shrimps!

One fly I have had a lot of good fortune just lately has been a Red Dancer (they do come in a variety of colours). This fly has a long red marabou tail and rainbow beads around the eye and they have caught me some lovely fish this month. I have also just purchased some wonderful giant dry flies. They are works of art in themselves and I’m sure they will provide some interesting evenings on Well Lake in the warm months to come. Can’t wait!

On Sunday 2nd March we held our Trout Master Fish off Final. It was reasonable day weather wise and we combined the junior two fish competition with the senior four fish. The winner for the juniors was Sam Tester who caught his two fish weighing in at a respectable 4lb.6oz so very well done to him and a big thank you to Roger Simeons and Emma Jeffrey for taking part as well. The senior competition was won by yours truly!  I had several lucky breaks; two particularly nice size fish (one of which was foul hooked in the tail) in my four fish bag, all caught on my red dancer and I caught quite quickly giving me a valuable 1lb. weight bonus. My bag weighed in at 8lb 14oz., just ahead of Glen Allen with a total weight of 8lb 10.5 oz. and Peter Winder with 8lb 8oz. Peter caught his fish first had the same weight/time bonus of 1lb as me but his fish were just that bit smaller. Glen had the heaviest fish of the day and the heaviest bag but only an 8oz bonus so as I said I was lucky! I now face the rather daunting task of fishing at the National final at Grafham Water later on in the year. HELP!

Sam Tester (aged 14 on right) winner of Junior Troutmasters final

We are pleased to tell you that our track down to the fishery is due to be repaired sometime before Easter. This had become very bad with the winter weather and heavy rainfall. It will soon be good as new.

Our next beginner’s day, held with the EA. will take place on Thursday 17th April. At a cost of £14 for everything, tackle, coaching, hot drink, homemade cake and the first fish caught this is an excellent opportunity to start you off in this truly wonderful sport.

Recent rainbow catches include a 5lb by Terry Taylor from Eastbourne on a Damsel, a 4lb 4oz by Frank James from Worthing, a 3lb 5oz by MR Bristow, a 3lb 10oz brown trout by Tim Reese from Hastings on a Black & Peacock Buzzer, a 3lb 4oz by Fred Wassell from Pevensey Bay on a Montana, a 3lb 4oz by Steve Townsend from Hailsham on a Montana and a 3lb 3oz by Harold Charman from Robertsbridge on a Buzzer.

Frank James from Worthing bagged a beautiful 4lb 4oz rainbow

That’s all folks for another month.  Don’t forget we can cater for groups of anglers for breakfast. Just call Sophie for details. Tight lines for April.