New flagship centre gets them hooked
IN A deprived corner of Greater London, a refreshing new example of angling serving young people and the community is fast emerging.
Get Hooked On Fishing officially launches its flagship scheme in Ealing on June 22 and it’s set to be the first social enterprise of its kind with classrooms overlooking its existing day ticket fishery for both teaching and use by the general public. It will be the charity’s fifteenth nationwide project and already it’s making a difference to local life.
“When I came here I’d never seen poverty like it,” said regional organiser James Thornhill. “Some people here can’t even afford £10 for a fishing set and one bloke who comes to the lakes hasn’t changed his clothes for six months.
“Before we took control of the park there were big problems with anti-social behaviour and stories of fish being cut up and barbequed. Now there’s a real sense of community and respect about the site. People look after it, do litter picks and volunteer to coach others,” he said.
The Ealing project is unique because everything about it is sustainable and it operates as a non-profit business. Up until recently the six lakes had existed in a state of neglect but GHOF has replanted them and restocked the waters with small carp and various silverfish. It now operates as a day-ticket lake as well as a platform for coaching. The site is overlooked by two huge mounds, which were made using waste rubble from the old Wembley Stadium and the earth dug from the lakes’ construction. Its main classroom holds regular fishing and nature-based talks for school children, and it is also hired out to other local functions and groups.
Although it opened its doors in September 2012, James told Angling Times that it has already generated several success stories.
“Let me give you an example of what fishing does. One of our regulars is Nathan - a 14-year-old who has been expelled from school and has mixed with the wrong people in the past. But to watch him coach others you’d never guess, and last week he came fourth individually in the London Youth Games match. People like this often make the best role models and he’s a fantastic young man.
“Then there’s Charlie, whose apprenticeship at Sparsholt College is being funded by us. He gets good fisheries management and business experience at Ealing, but it’s not just young people we help. The other day I was asked to reunite a young girl with her parents, after six years apart while she was in care. We sat and fished for the afternoon and it was much less awkward than if the three of them were sat round a table,” he said.
Typically coaching programmes consist of five or six lessons, starting with basic tackle and plumbing up and ending in the individual being able to teach another. Its initial 12 month target of introducing 400 young people to the sport is already close to being surpassed with three months to go. None of it would be possibly, however, without the support of the local Ealing Borough Council, funding from other parties such as the Environment Agency, and important donations from tackle companies.
“My own background is in business and in fishing, so I’m keen to show the youngsters we work with that angling can be your career as well as your hobby. Many people round here don’t have a job, or come from families where nobody has had a job for generations. If we can create jobs or help them get jobs in fishing and fisheries, we can turn out some very well rounded young men and women who add even more to the community,” he said.
There is, however, much more to GHOF than just the new Ealing venture. Chief Executive Sarah Collins hopes that this centre will operate as a hub for the South East, where it currently has a lack of schemes, and is looking to create a network of projects in this popular angling area. In 2012 the charity enjoyed its best year ever in terms of numbers of people introduced to the sport, and it is growing all the time.
“We’ve currently got schemes in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Bristol in the pipeline. My ultimate vision is to have a huge nationwide presence and to get GHOF on every street corner. This is so as many as people as possible can experience the social and community benefits which angling brings,” she concluded.
GET INVOLVED
GHOF is always looking for new volunteers and potential coaches. For more information on your local schemes visit the website www.ghof.org.uk. For enquiries contact Sarah Collins at hello@ghof.org.uk
GHOF in numbers
8,539 The total number of new anglers put through GHOF schemes in 2012
31,137 The total number of hour spent coaching in 2012
2,500 GHOF’s most successful project ( Shropshire) coached this many people in
15 There are 15 projects across the UK , run by 13 designated managers
£5 The mere price of a day ticket at GHOF’s Ealing fishery (£3 for concessions)
Corby's Hidden Gem For Anglers
Corby Boating Lake is often over-looked by many anglers simply because it is a town park lake but those that do venture onto its banks are currently enjoying some cracking sport.
In recent years much has been done to improve the fishing on this lake, including the building of islands and hours of bankside work to make the fishing more comfortable. It is now a worthy venue which is produces all-year-round and it has the knack of attracting a variety of anglers from specimen carpers to matchmen. Double-figure nets of mainly crucians and roach mixed in with the odd bonus carp have been coming out in recent weeks to both pleasure and match anglers. These carp average around 5-6lb but they have been caught at over 20lb so if you target these don’t fish too light for them. The trick for a good mixed net is to fish short at say 5m for the crucians on the pole by loose feeding pellets or maggots and then swapping over to the tip now and again to find a bonus carp on either: the Method, standard feeder or straight lead with a small 8mm pop-up on the hook. With two islands in the lake you can easily fish tight to either of these which tend to hold the carp. For the crucians you can also simply lay down a bed of small 4mm or micro pellets while fishing a bigger 6mm version on the hook. The average depth in here is only around 4ft so light floats are the way to go when using this tactic.
For the bigger carp boilies and particle baits will all work and the bigger fish tend to either stick tight to the island or reside in the shallows in the pegs at the café or at the opposite end depending on the wind direction.
TIP: Take an assortment of different boilies as the carp will sometimes respond to different flavours or types on a particular day, for example a Mainline Cell 10mm pop-up. It may also be worth adding extra flavour to these with some Goo.
Prices: Corby residents are£4.50 or £2.50 concessions, non-residents £8.50 or £4.50 concessions, all on the bank
Contact: 01536 203700 or 07818 444815
Location: Cottingham Road, Corby, Northants, NN17 2UR
Facilities: Café, parking, toilets, tackle shop in town
Rules: No keepnets, no groundbait, no spinners, no floating baits, no tins
Bag-Up at Patrington Haven
Hidden amongst the holidays homes of Patrington Haven Leisure Park in East Yorkshire, lies a gem of a venue which has up until now stayed under the radar of pleasure and match anglers but has started to earn a reputation as a fantastic bagging water.
Patrington Haven Lak
e is absolutely stuffed with carp but it also contains plenty of bream, roach, rudd, perch, tench and chub. Pleasure nets over 400lb are not unheard of on here but at the moment most pleasure nets are averaging around 100lb, made up of carp averaging around 2lbs.
The best way to fish this venue is by using the pole at around 8m. Put a large bed of micro pellets down via a cupping kit and fish meat and corn over the top. If you go pleasure fishing, no keep nets are allowed, so the fish come in really close to the peg. You can catch on a top-2 kit by feeding micros by hand and again fishing with meat or corn over the top or even paste when the weather is warm. You can also catch on the Method feeder or bomb and pellet further out into open water if you wish but the biggest catches are taken on the pole due to a quicker catch rate with the carp being small. The banks are built up with rocks, you can catch by fishing over these but you will need strong line due to the abrasion when you hook a fish.
We recommend at least 0.16 diameter line for fishing down the edge, with around 14-16 elastic. For the open water, a minimum 0.14 diameter line, with a 12 -14 elastic should be enough. The action is often hectic on here so place your equipment to hand and take plenty of bait as well as spare rigs and enjoy an great days fishing.
Prices: £6.50 booked in advance
Contact: 01964 630071, www.patrington-haven.co.uk
Location: Patrington Haven Leisure Park, Patrington, Hull, HU12 0PT
Facilities: Shop, toilets, parking, accommodation
Rules: No keepnets, one rod per angler, barbless only, no floating baits
42lb common for the Urban Myth
TERRY Dempsey has bagged yet another 40 to add to his enviable list.
The once-secretive Essex carper, who has caught some of Britain’s most-wanted fish, has had 14 takes in nine nights at Kent’s Wingham syndicate, landing six 30s and this 42lb 8oz common.
The fish came on the first night of a two-night session at the venue’s smaller Carp Lake.
Terry told Angling Times: “I had a take at 1am and was playing a decent fish for about 30 minutes but I just couldn’t get it over the steep gravel bars, which are covered in onion weed, and I eventually lost it.
“Because I was fishing a small gully at 110 yards I waited until first light to recast so I could get it accurately positioned, and at 6.30am I had another take. Again it was a struggle to get it over the bars, but the rods I’m using really helped.
“I always knew it was a decent fish because they tend to hug the bottom in there, and when I got it in it was an absolute stonker.”
Terry used one of his own Urban Baits’ Nutcracker corkball pop-ups over about 2kg of 22mm freebies. His setup also featured Century FMA rods and 30lb Kryston Jackal hooklinks.
Two bests in one session
ADRIAN Eves’ first session of the year targeting bream and tench turned into a real red letter trip during which he landed double figure examples of both species.
Arriving at a southern stillwater which he has been focusing his attentions on for the past four years, he found the lake much quieter than he’d been expecting and was able to drop in to one of his favourite swims at the shallower end.
“I knew there was a very good transitional area where the soft silt moves on to hard silt or clay and then on to a small gravel strip,” said the Fox and Dynamite Baits consultant.
“With several years’ experience of this extremely difficult water I felt that too much bait would be a mistake, so I just put out a small bed of 6mm betaine pellets mixed with krill groundbait, maggots and sweetcorn.”
With three rods cast over the top he received his first take towards the end of the first night when a 10lb 6oz tench picked up his two pieces of hair-rigged corn mounted on a size 10 Fox Kuro S2 hook and a 5ins Coretex hooklink.
“If I had gone home with just this fish I’d have been delighted. The very next morning, however, I had a much slower take and this time it was a huge male bream of exactly 15lb. It was in prime pre-spawning condition and even put up a fight.”
This time it was a bunch of maggots fished on a size 12 maggot clip and a small mesh PVA bag filled with maggots and a few pellets did the business for Adrian.
“Amazingly, on the third and final morning I had the same tench again! This time I just unhooked it in the margins, before ending the trip with a 22lb common. It could hardly have been a better session and after some of the gruelling visits I’ve had over the last four years it was great to be rewarded with two species at very big weights.”
Big tench galore
THIS 11lb tench was the highlight of a prolific week for the species which saw a string of double figure specimens hit the bank.
Due to the coldest spring for 30-years, tench at stillwaters across the UK have been slow to start their traditional early season feeding patterns, but Norfolk’s Christian Hodgkinson took advantage of a sudden upsurge in sport caused by rising water temperatures.
The landlord of the Fat Cat and Canary public house in Norwich struck gold during a 48 hour session at a local gravel pit after feeding two spots – one at 20 yards and the other at 70 yards – with a generous helping of hemp, maggots and casters.
It was the closer of the two that produced his first of four fish which tipped the scales at 8lb 4oz. His next bite then saw him connect with his second biggest ever tench after it picked up his fake caster hookbait mounted on a size 10 Fox hook and braided hooklink in conjunction with a simple inline lead setup.
“The tench fishing has been very slow to get going so far this year, but this is a really huge fish considering they haven’t really been feeding hard. It could easily be a high twelve later in the season,” Christian told Angling Times.
A bream fishing session threw up a welcome surprise in the shape of a huge 10lb 3oz tench for Darryn Stolworthy.
The Angling Direct-backed rod was also fishing a local Norfolk gravel pit and cast imitation corn hookbaits to a baited area at 100 yards. He also backed his specimen up with a second fish of 9lb 6oz.
He said: “When you’re fishing over big beds of particles with corn you’ve always got the chance of catching both bream and tench, but I didn’t expect to land a tench of this size. It was certainly a welcome surprise as I didn’t land any bream.”
Richworth Linear Fisheries in Oxfordshire is without one of the best day-ticket specimen complexes in the country – a fact further proved by Dai Gribble when he made an impressive six-fish catch topped by a tench of 10lb 1oz.
Targeting Hardwick Lake on the prolific venue, the Staffordshire-based Korum consultant fished just 20 yards from his own bank and also landed a personal best male fish weighing 9lb 2oz and four others to 7lb 1oz.
Popped-up imitation maggots and 12mm Sonu Baits Oozing Tutti Frutti boilies fished alongside inline maggot feeders proved successful for Dai.
“I used a Spomb to introduce a bed of dead maggots and 2mm pellets, but I use around three different varieties which break down at different times which I’m convinced really makes a difference,” he said.
He beat all of his fish with 10lb mainline, size 12 hooks and hooklinks constructed with 8lb line.
Ting Tong joins the fifties club
HIGH profile carp angler Iain ‘Ting Tong’ Macmillan has joined the prestigious fifties club with the capture of this 52lb 6oz mirror from Wellington Country Park in Berkshire.
The impressive specimen known as the Turtle has topped a memorable spring for the Stoke-on-Trent-based ACE, Shimano and Dynamite Baits consultant which has seen him land no less than 17 thirties and four forties from several different venues.
His latest fish came after his third swim change in 72 hours in a bid to keep on top of the carp and after already banking fish of 35lb, 34lb and 24lb.
“I’d seen fish showing fairly close in so I just flicked out single Dynamite Baits Tiger Nut pop-ups to a spot at about 20yds range,” the 42-year-old told Angling Times. “I had a take after just five minutes, and even though I’d seen the Turtle in the area, it’s such a rare visitor to the bank that I never thought that I was attached to it. Once I waded out and netted it, though, I recognised it straight away. I’d like to thank RAF Glenn, Ritchie Rich and George Benos who came straight round to help with the photos.
“The catch was made extra special as it was my final session on the venue – I literally couldn’t have made up a more perfect way to end my time on such a special water.”
Iain offered his hookbaits on rigs tied with size 5 ACE Razor Point Chod hooks and 25lb ACE Riga-Mortis hooklinks.
Help angling by surfing the net
ANGLERS can now help raise money for the sport by simply surfing the internet.
Following an agreement between the Angling Trades Association and media company, Global Search Solutions Ltd, a new internet browser has been designed which can be downloaded for free.
And every time someone uses this new browser it will automatically activate a donation funded by a well-known internet giant.
These donations will be collected in the newly formed Angling Participation Fund and used to support angling projects across the UK which aim to increase the number of people taking part in the sport.
Naidre Werner, Chair of the Angling Trades Association said: “By using this browser page as their default internet home page, anglers will release vital funding every time they ‘click’. The more traffic this page receives and the more people who choose to use it, the greater the accumulated funds.
“All of the money will be devoted to charitable projects which directly benefit the whole of angling as the management of the scheme will be through voluntary effort,” she added.
As funds add up, the association will then be accepting applications for grants for angling projects, especially small, self-help initiatives which increase participation.
Anyone who is interested in taking part can do so by downloading the page by visiting: http://apfsearch.co.uk and then following the simple instructions. Or visit www.anglingtradesassociation.com.
Four sessions and six forties
There can be few anglers who can match Spencer Wright’s last month.
The Isle of Wight rod banked an incredible six British forties in just four overnighters and one day session.
The magnificent May haul included one repeat capture – of a 47lb linear – alongside a 40lb 9oz common, a 41lb 6oz common - which hadn’t been caught since 2009 - and mirrors of 41lb 3oz and 41lb 7oz.
The senior design technician, who juggles his fishing around family life and full-time employment, told Angling Times: “It’s something I still haven’t quite got my head around even now!”
Spencer’s run of form began on May 4, with an overnighter that produced fish of 33lb 7oz, 37lb 9oz, 41lb 3oz and 47lb 11oz in a crazy four-hour morning period.
Four days later, on May 8, another overnighter yielded two 20s and a 40lb 9oz common.
Spencer returned to the island venue on Friday, May 18, and just as he was packing up following a biteless night his clutch began spinning and an epic battle ensued.
He said: “Everything was packed up with just the rods lying on the floor. I quickly shipped the net together before pulling into the angry fish, which breached the water three times in the fight.
“Then after an arm-aching battle, the fish I’d been tracking on and off for four years, the Big Scale Common, which had remained uncaught since 2009, finally slipped into my net.”
On May 25 Spencer banked the big linear again at 47lb 7oz, before taking Clover at 41lb 7oz two days later.
All fish fell to CC Moore XXX and Northern Special boilies presented on reverse combi rigs.
Secret water produces previously uncaught monster common
ASHLEY Irvine lived every carp angler’s dream when he caught a 40lb common on his first session at a secret lake containing uncaught monsters.
The Bedfordshire rod had prebaited a few likely looking spots once a week since the start of spring at the 30-acre water which is believed to hold no more than 20 carp.
He said: “The run started with just two beeps on the alarms, then two more. I picked up the rod expecting it to be a tench but as I started to reel, a huge set of shoulders and a dorsal fin appeared on the surface and my heart sank and my legs turned to jelly!
“It headed straight for the reeds to my left, by which time I was in the water up to my waist, but thankfully I gently teased her through the reeds and slipped the net under her.
“I’d love to say it was an epic battle but I don't think she knew what was going on due to not being caught before.
“I was in complete shock and when the scales finally settled at 41lb 7oz.”
Ashley used Matrix boilies from Premier Baits and tackled up with chod rigs made from Avid and Korda components.
Park lake forty
HIS first night on a Kent park lake produced this stunning 41lb mirror for Wesley Coggeshall.
The Kent-based ventilation engineer spotted a fish showing in the first swim he stood in, so wasted no time getting a rig out to a spot at 100 yards along with one kilo of Sticky Krill boilies.
He said: “At first light that rod burst in to life and after a decent scrap I landed my first fish from the venue at a weight of 41lb – result!”
Wesley offered a Sticky 16mm Pineapple and N’Butyric pop-up on a size 7 G-Force Straight Point hook and a 25lb 7ins G-Force Black Out hooklink.
Kennet & Avon Canal is as popular as ever
With the explosion of commercials in recent years canal fishing has become less popular in many parts of the country but there is one canal in the south which still attracts hundreds of anglers every week, many of whom enjoy a healthy match circuit which the venue boasts.
The Kennet & Avon Canal at Bathampton is both idyllic and excellent for fishing so whether you’re a matchman or a pleasure angler looking for something different than a carp filled pit it can provide a great day out and it won’t cost you the earth.
The canal here is not hard by any means. Double-figure nets are commonplace with a good head of roach to 2lbs, bream to 5lbs, tench to 3lbs and perch to 4lbs as well as chub, carp and gudgeon you never know what will sink your float on any given day. The pegs opposite The George Inn are cracking for those looking for plenty of bites and you will find not only small fish but some of the bigger roach, skimmers and perch by fishing caster tight to the far bank. Look for a couple of feet of water and regularly loose-feed caster with a tosspot or by hand after cupping in a few at the start. Use a light pole rig with strung out shot, starting on a single caster but moving to double if you think there are some big fish around. However, it is probably best to start a session on another line first to let the fish settle and this can be either bread punch, which works well on this stretch, or squatt and pinkie over a little groundbait. In the summer months the canal sees a fair bit of boat traffic so it may be best to fish this line closer in at around 5m in around 5ft of water at the base of the near shelf to escape the disturbance of the passing barges.
Big fish can turn up on any line so it may be worth doubling up your elastic, especially during the warmer months to give yourself a chance at landing that bonus fish. Some anglers also fish a chopped worm line in the deeper part of the canal or across the farside to a feature such as a boat or overhanging tree for the bigger perch and tench which reside in here.
Bathampton Angling Association control 8 miles of the canal from the starting point in Bath right down to the Avoncliffe Aquaduct at Upper Westwood further south.
Prices: £3 a day from local tackle shops, Bathampton AA or £35 a season, £15 concessions
Contact: Bacon’s Tackle 01225 448850 www.bathampton.org
Location: Kennet & Avon Canal, Mill Lane, Bathampton, Bath, Somerset, BA2 6TR
Facilities: Public house
Rules: No bloodworm or joker between 16 June and 30 September, keep 25m from moveable swingbridges, ensure all nets are dry before commencing fishing
Carp on the feed at Kingsland Reservoirs
For those who fancy a spot of carp crunching this weekend, a venue which has come off the radar in recent years but one which still offers a fantastic days sport is Kingsland Reservoir in Cambridgeshire.
There are two carp lakes on the fishery and also a silver fish pool teeming with chub, tench and of course roach. Both carp lakes have a big stock of fish and on most days a double-figure carp could quite possibly pick your bait up so leave your light gear at home if you’re fishing either of these pools.
The trick when setting up is to follow the wind on both the big and small carp lakes fishing where the wind is going or even into your face. Fish corn in the margins or a large banded pellet up in the water for carp to 15lb. The pellet waggler can also score well as at this time of year as not many fish get caught on the bottom so you may find yourself fishing high up in the water for most of the day, particularly when the sun is shining. An elastic like Preston 13 hollow or purple hydro for the margins should suffice for the size of fish in here with 0.16-0.20 diameter lines fished straight-through. Keep the feed going in little and often, giving each line a rest after catching a fish or two.
On the Silverfish Lake the top tactic is to fish pellet or maggot up in the water on either the long pole or waggler for nets to 50lb. Start at half-depth and slowly shallow up throughout the day. Feed regularly to push small fish out of your swim and attract tench and chub to 4lb. Tench do come shallow as well on here and it is worth fishing in the margins for crucians to 2lb.
Prices: £6 a day or £4 for concessions
Contact: 01733 840312
Location: Kingsland Reservoir, March Road, Coates, Whittlesey, Cambs, PE7 2DE
Facilities: Village shops nearby
Rules: Fishery Keepnets only, barbless only, no nuts or boilies, fish over 4lb returned immediately
FREE one day rod licence for June 16th!
Take A Friend Fishing is back and we are giving away FREE one-day rod licences as the perfect gift for Father's Day.
The 2013 river coarse fishing season starts on Father's Day, and Environment Agency annual rod licence holders can take a friend or family member fishing with them for free on June 16 using the rod licence on page 23 of this week's paper.
Geoff Bateman, the EA's head of fisheries and biodiversity, said: "Fishing is a fantastic way to enjoy the open air, our wildlife and our waterways, and it's great to go fishing with the family. It's one of the cheapest and most popular sports out there, and makes a great Father's Day gift."
As with previous TAFF initiatives, all that is needed is to cut out or print the rod licence voucher, fill in the person's details, validate it online at www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk, read the terms and conditions, grab your tackle, bait and voucher then go fishing!
The vouccher can be used on rivers and stream as well as stillwaters.
Wingham produces first fifty
KENT’S Wingham Carp Lake produced its first 50-pounder in the shape of this chunky mirror for Matt Jones.
The lake-record carp, which came out last year at 49lb 12oz, was caught along with a 34lb 8oz common from a sport at 95 yards.
Matt, from Croydon, said: “This fish is almost following me around as this is the fourth time I’ve had it and I’ve only just started my third season here!
“It gave me a terrific scrap, and when I got it into the margins and saw it was the big one I was worried about landing it, especially as it powered off again.
“It would be great to do the 50lb double from Wingham as the Carp Lake also contains a fast-growing common that had already got to 47lb 8oz last year.”
Matt used a Nutcracker boilie from Terry Dempsey’s Urban Baits on a naked chod comprising a size-six hook and 15lb line.
Steve Burke, who created the Wingham complex, said: “I’ve just lost a bet that the Main Lake would do a 50-pounder before the Carp Lake, but I’m happy to have to pay out! This fish was born at Wingham and has put on over 11 lbs in just over three years. Who knows what it’ll weigh in another three?”
Sunday Results - June 11 edition of Angling Times
North
Bannister House Fishery
New Match Canal Lake (35 pegs)
Result: 1 P Bottomley, Coppull Angling, 95-4-0; 2 P Allton, Ted Carter Southport, 82-8-0; 3 G Carter, Ted Carter Preston, 75-12-0; 4 N Charnock, Bannister House, 71-8-0.
Blundell’s Fishery Rover
Pine & Trio Pools (39 pegs)
Result: 1 S Edwards, Rochdale Angling Centre, 91-4-0; 2 L Cooper, Trafford Angling, 79-14-0; 3 G Whalley, Bait-Tech, 71-1-0; 4 T Barlow, Maver NW, 69-1-0; 5 C Mayor, Drennan NW, 66-14-0; 6 P Roys, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 64-3-0.
Bob-Co/Carp Vale Fishery Spring Series (final round)
Cyprio & Match Pools (34 pegs)
Result: 1 S Mazza, Yorkshire Baits, 88-2-0; 2 P Gallagher, The Willows, 82-8-0; 3 D Wright, Leeds, 70-0-0; 4 C Wheatley, Bob-Co, 66-12-0; 5 S Wilson, Carp Vale, 66-8-0; 6 N Rymer, Bob-Co, 54-4-0.
Final league: 1 D Wright, 73pts; 2 M Addinall, 72; 3 A Barker, 69.
Brookside Fisheries
Snake & Meadow Lakes (33 pegs)
Result: 1 C Ruscoe, Rod ‘n Reel, 88-8-0; 2 J Garside, Ringer Baits, 71-4-0; 3 J Jones, Garbolino Elton, 63-14-0; 4 M Smith, Matrix, 62-10-0; 5 A Grimes, Mosella, 50-10-0; 6 D Mulheir, Team Mosella, Garbolino, 50-6-0.
Cudmore Fisheries
Arena & New Pool 1 (54 pegs)
Result: 1 G Kirby, Cudmore Gold, 94-6-0; 2 G Millis, Feltham & Twickenham, 92-2-0; 3 L Thompson, Matrix/Bait-Tech, 87-6-0; 4 A Moors, Maver Pickering’s, 82-4-0; 5 M Kearns, Maver Gold/Bag ‘Em Baits, 74-8-0; 6 D Breakwell, Cudmore, 72-10-0.
Halkon Hunt
Fleets Dam (19 pegs)
Result: 1 G Tissington, Barnsley, 59-3-0; 2 I Thompson, Barnsley, 55-8-0; 3 S Craig, Barnsley, 49-12-0; 4 I Grimshaw, Barnsley, 38-6-0.
Hall Lane Fishery
Bess’s Lake (43 pegs)
Result: 1 M Howarth, Wigan Angling Centre, 60-8-0; 2 F Yardley, Ted Carter Preston, 58-8-0; 3 J Rodgers, Ted Carter Preston, 52-6-0; 4 N Roberts, Alliance & Leicester Liverpool, 51-10-0; 5 M Ellement, Gidlow Angling, 48-8-8.
Meadow View Fisheries
Lark Pool (23 pegs)
Result: 1 B Davies, Deeside Tackle, 55-4-0; 2 G Stokes, Tri-Cast Highfield, 34-8-0; 3 P France, Gilder’s Tackle, 34-8-0; 4 P Barwell, Widnes Angling Centre, 24-0-0.
Mill House Fishery
Mistral Lake (23 pegs)
Result: 1 M Higgins, Maghull, 57-10-0; 2 I Cowie, Kirkby, 51-8-0; 3 S Parry, Ted Carter Southport, 51-0-0; 4 S Gallagher, Ted Carter Southport, 43-2-0.
Oaks Lakes
Ash, Beech & Sycamore Lakes (25 pegs)
Result: 1 D Smith, Matrix/Bait-Tech, 138-8-0; 2 P Sellars, Woodland Tackle, 125-4-0; 3 P Whale, The Oaks, 124-9-0; 4 L Harrison, Maver, 113-13-0.
Partridge Lakes
Covey Canal Lakes (86 pegs)
Result: 1 J Howarth, Maver Midlands, 101-15-0; 2 A Geldart, Garbolino/Dynamite Baits, 98-2-0; 3 K Lavelle, Maver, 79-13-0; 4 S Openshaw, Lingmere Tackle, 77-4-0; 5 S Fleming, Drennan NW, 70-9-0; 6 P Tickle, Leigh Tackle & Bait, 68-8-0.
Paul’s Happy League (round one)
Stainforth & Keadby Canal, Thorne (88 pegs)
Result: 1 P Duffy, Tri-Cast Calder, 5-400; 2 J Wilde, Dunlop Team Worksop, 4-450; 3 T Tarff, Daiwa Dons, 4-350; 4 I Lee, Normanton, 4-150; 5 M Wilson, Sensas North, 3-920.
Rosemary Wood Fishery
Island Pool (31 pegs)
Result: 1 J Hughes, Maver/Bag ‘Em Baits, 92-8-0; 2 J Dewhurst, Rosemary Wood, 90-11-0; 3 A Dewhurst, Fisherman’s Tackle, 86-14-0; 4 T Goddard, Rosemary Wood, 74-4-0; 5 G Baugh, Saints, 62-6-0; 6 A Hartley, Rosemary Wood, 54-1-0.
Woodland Lakes
Partridge, Curlew, Wagtail & Kestrel Lakes (57 pegs)
Result: 1 O Hewitt, Woodland Tackle, 98-0-0; 2 C Pentland, Woodland Tackle, 91-15-0; 3 L Brockbank, Woodland Tackle, 88-13-0; 4 P Newman, Woodland Tackle, 87-1-0.
Midlands
Daiwa Hallcroft Fishery
Moat & Canal Pools (36 pegs)
Result: 1 C Owen, Parkgate Angling, 141-10-0; 2 B Poole, Maver Gold/Bag ‘Em Baits, 122-8-0; 3 A Sellars, Bankside Tackle, 118-13-0; 4 J Masson, Maver/Marukyu, 74-8-0; 5 S Twigg, Hallcroft, 74-0-0; 6 S Spurr, Retford, 72-8-0.
Decoy Lakes
Beastie Lake (25 pegs)
Result: 1 B Mason, Ringer Baits, 216-2-0; 2 S Dow, Decoy, 148-3-0; 3 S Godfrey, Sensas Mark One, 145-10-0; 4 I Chestney, Team Marukyu, 124-1-0.
Froggatt’s Pools
Marlpit & Lodge Pools (26 pegs)
Result: 1 N Colcombe, Hereford, 89-13-0; 2 M Greening, Hereford Academy, 85-13-0; 3 K Butler, Froggatt’s, 65-12-0.
Lakeview Fishery
River, Stream & Lagoon Pools (32 pegs)
Result: 1 A Ogilvie, Maver/Bait-Tech, 94-14-0; 2 S Huggins, Dynamite Baits, 90-12-0; 3 B Orme, Lakeview Select, 80-6-0; 4 S Higginbottom, Maver/Bait-Tech, 78-4-0; 5 S Draper, Lakeview Select, 77-9-0; 6 G Sadler, Dynamite Baits, 63-14-0.
Moorlands Farm
Silver & Meadow Pools (33 pegs)
Result: 1 S Harris, Grant Albutt Angling Supplies, 56-5-0; 2 M Henshall, Foster’s, 53-14-0; 3 C Hill, Mosella, 51-5-0.
Packington Somers
Molands Mere Pool (35 pegs)
Result: 1 I Crossman, Browning Central, 55-4-0; 2 J Newton, Smithy’s Angling, 46-4-0; 3 T Bull, Dynamite Baits, 33-1-0; 4 D Chapman, White Hart Coventry, 32-0-0.
Preston Innovations Boldings Pools
Oak & Sycamore Pools (29 pegs)
Result: 1 D Hailey, Boldings, 155-6-0; 2 S Doodson, Preston Innovations, 75-3-0; 3 P Taylor, Dams & Lock, 69-8-0; 4 M Taylor, Shakespeare, 63-5-0.
Preston Innovations Woodland View
Arles Pool (18 pegs)
Result: 1 C Lee-Hopps, Tipton, 112-6-0; 2 G Lockley, Woodlands, 92-3-0; 3 L Cole, Bilston Angling Centre, 69-2-0; 4 R Brennan, Woodlands, 64-14-0.
Tunnel Barn Farm
New Pool (39 pegs)
Result: 1 S Palser, Middy, 95-15-0; 2 M Eves, Milo Bordon Angling, 78-2-0; 3 A Mansfield, Shakespeare, 68-14-0; 4 B Gibbons, Daiwa Dorking, 62-15-0; 5 P Bick, Shakespeare, 62-4-0; 6 R Grimes, Tunnel Barn Farm, 56-9-0.
Alders Farm
Ash Lake (14 pegs)
Result: 1 T Price, GOT Baits, 362-10-0; 2 D Smith, GOT Baits, 333-15-0; 3 C Lancaster, Alders Farm, 326-5-0; 4 G Thorpe, Chiltern/GOT Baits, 321-14-0; 5 R Brain, GOT Baits, 259-1-0; 6 B Townley, Alders Farm, 230-4-0.
Avon Valley Summer League (round one)
Sonu Baits Passies, Match & Pamela’s Lakes (40 pegs)
Result: 1 I Dixon, Milo Bordon Angling Black, 81-10-0; 2 J Grainger, Preston Innovations Delcac, 80-4-0; 3 S Lee, Team Hansford’s, 72-15-0; 4 D Walker, Team Passies, 56-0-0; 5 S Gardner, Banstead, 53-12-0; 6 B Cooper, Team Hansford’s, 41-12-0.
Teams: 1 Preston Innovations Delcac, 51pts; 2 Milo Bordon Angling Black, 37; 3 Boris’s Mates, 36; jt4 Bordon Angling Shop and Team Hansford’s, both 35; jt6 Team Passies and Tubertini South, both 33.
Back Arun
Carp Lake (14 pegs)
Result: 1 K Parker, MHFF, 54-8-0; 2 M Twine, Back Arun, 50-8-0; 3 B Golding, SAS, 36-0-0; 4 J Money, JSA, 35-4-0.
Dynamite Baits Oakfield Fishery
Red Kite Lake (16 pegs)
Result: 1 D Simmons, 64-8-0; 2 N Bryan, The Bull, 35-3-0; 3 L Tibbetts, Eynsham AC, 33-14-0; 4 R Wall, Dynamite Oakfield, 33-10-0; 5 R Young, Dynamite Oakfield, 32-12-0; 6 M Sawyer, Dynamite Baits, 32-7-0.
Gold Valley Lakes
Gold & Middle Lakes (35 pegs)
Result: 1 S Sanders, Preston Innovations, 135-0-0; 2 J Light, Springlakes, 129-2-0; 3 P Holland, Preston Innovations, 97-4-0; 4 M Bond, Springlakes, 88-4-0; 5 W Raison, Daiwa/Old Ghost, 74-0-0.
Harefield Tackle Spring League (round six)
Farlow’s Lakes, Match Lake (18 pegs)
Result: 1 T West, Garbolino Banstead, 60-2-0; 2 J Ritter, Harefield Tackle, 59-2-0; 3 J Neate, Davies Angling, 56-8-0; 4 C Killick, Harefield Tackle, 36-8-0.
League: 1 J Woodstock, 28pts; 2 B Church, 26; 3 S Todhunter, 24.
Hornchurch League All-Winner’s Final
Coleman’s Cottage Fishery, Wood Lake (27 pegs)
Result: 1 D Grimsey, Maver Image, 185-8-0; 2 J Weeden, Maver Image, 132-0-0; 3 P Steward, Browning Wickford Angling, 125-8-0; 4 A Gregory, Milo Bordon Angling, 123-8-0; 5 N Darke, GOT Baits, 119-8-0; 6 C Vandervleit, Bowler’s/Bait-Tech, 117-8-0.
Mick Craig Memorial
Kennet & Avon Canal, Great Bedwyn (36 pegs)
Result: 1 P Glenfield, Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths, 16-14-0; 2 M Denton, Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths, 13-15-0; 3 G Moss, Reading Angling Centre, 13-6-0; 4 T Hobbs, Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths, 11-7-0; 5 D Varney, Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths, 10-4-0.
Monk Lakes
Lake 3 (20 pegs)
Result: 1 J Bryant, Greenside AS, 188-12-0; 2 D Lock, Preston Innovations Delcac, 142-12-0; 3 N Steel, Blean Angling, 137-8-0; 4 R Williams, Preston Innovations Delcac, 130-12-0; 5 P Joiner, Monk Lakes, 125-4-0; 6 T Jones, Anchor Croydon, 119-8-0.
Ockendon Bait & Tackle
Puddledock Farm, Snake Lake (42 pegs)
Result: 1 L Ripper, GOT Baits, 62-13-0; 2 J Hunt, Brentwood Angling, 60-15-0; 3 J Pehaligan, Oakwood Angling, 56-2-0; 4 D Fresa, Ockendon Bait & Tackle, 54-8-0; 5 M Higginbottom, Ockendon Bait & Tackle, 51-14-0; 6 J Nash, Ockendon Bait & Tackle, 48-8-0.
Rye DAS Club League (round four)
Royal Military Canal, West Hythe (52 pegs)
Result: 1 C Lovell, Hastings Hotrods, 39-7-0; 2 K Dyer, Iden Wood Red, 24-0-0; 3 B Nesbitt, Advanced Pole Repairs, 20-5-0; 4 M Richardson, Sensas South East Gold, 19-4-0; 5 L Webster, Cinque Ports MG, 16-6-0; 6 D Willis, Iden Wood Fishery Red, 15-3-0.
Teams: 1 Hastings Hotrods, 41pts; 2 Iden Wood Fishery Red, 40; 3 Moatrix Invicta, 36; 4 Tenterden Angling, 34; 5 Maver Cardinals Black, 33; jt6 Nick’s Tackle and Advanced Pole Repairs, both 29.
League: 1 Iden Wood Fishery Red, 155.5pts; 2 Hastings Hotrods, 135; 3 Maver Cardinals Black, 131.5; 4 Sensas SE Gold, 129; 5 Cinque Ports MG, 121.5; 6 Maver Cardinals Red, 116.
Southern Canal League (round one)
Grand Union Canal, Stoke House - Sandy Bridge (84 pegs)
Result: 1 R Durrant, Matchpack/Angling Direct, 29-4-0; 2 G Dack, Middy, 27-3-0; 3 T Boyce, Maver Image, 19-15-0; 4 C Fowkes, Browning Northants, 19-9-0; 5 J Jones, Gone Fishing, 15-5-0; 6 K Carter, Matchpack/Angling Direct, 14-11-0.
Teams: 1 Matchpack/Angling Direct, 62pts; 2 Maver Image, 56; 3 Sensas Oakwood Angling N14, 54 (weight); 4 Gone Fishing, 54.
Viaduct Fishery Summer League (round four)
Campbell, Cary & Lodge Lakes (56 pegs)
Result: 1 L Edwards, Preston Innovations, 186-3-0; 2 R Worth, Viaduct, 178-3-0; 3 A Perkins, Viaduct, 151-9-0; 4 M Wynn, Bruton, 144-14-0; 5 C Edmunds, Avon Angling, 141-0-0; 6 D Shipp, Preston innovations, 134-7-0.
Visit Candy Corner For 150lb nets
If you want a confidence boost and to break a ton this weekend then head on down to Candy Corner Fisheries where mixed nets to 150lb have been coming out on the venues AJ lake with alarming regularity.
A well-managed and manicured fishery, Candy Corner is everything you could want from a commercial fishery in that the fishing is excellent and youll be in comfortable surroundings. Its four lakes are extremely well stocked, offering great match fishing and pleasure fishing opportunities for anglers of any ability. AJ’s Lake (45 pegs) is a good all round lake for both match and pleasure anglers with wide areas to throw wagglers and bombs to floating feature islands and good reed beds and bays for pole and margin fishing. It is stocked with a huge variety of species including carp up to 30lb, tench, golden tench, bream, chub, roach, perch, barbel, ide and Koi Carp to provide a bit of colour to your net. When fishing the bomb here meat and pellet is preferred but carp will take most hook baits on the day. On the waggler you should use 8mm banded pellets on a big 6-8g float such as the middy splash ‘em waggler, fishing in a depth anywhere between 18inch and 4ft. Feeding should be done with a couple of 8mm pellets at a time, but don't over feed as over feeding a swim here can spoil it. Alternatively the slow sinking bubble has increased in popularity over the last few years due to the fact fish can be caught at any depth without playing about with setup too much.
When the carp are not up in the water a good method is the bomb or Method with either meat pellet or corn on the hook. Pre-soaked micro feed is used in the method and will attract carp, crucians and bream. Pole fishing can produce a good net of mixed fish and these can be caught in the margins throughout the day. 10m and 13m pole lines also prove to be effective with the best baits being a 4 or 6mm pellet, corn, maggot, meat, chopped worm or caster.
Alternatively there is Hoskers Pool which is a cracking silverfish venue for those who don’t like carp. Here you can catch ide, tench, bream and roach on maggot or small pellets using the pole or waggler.
Prices: £5 a day or £4 concessions
Contact: 01302 775062 www.candycornerfisheries.co.uk
Location: Candy Corner Fisheries, Wroot Road, Finningley, Doncaster, DN9 3DZ
Facilities: Parking, café, toilets
Rules: No bread, boilies, nuts or seeds, nets to be dipped, barbless only, landing nets for all fish, fishery own feed pellets
Countdown is on to new river season
THE countdown to what has become one of the most highly-anticipated new river seasons in recent times is well and truly underway.
Along with the launch of the Angling Trust’s 2013 RiverFest boasting a £10,000 top prize, a host of the UK’s biggest clubs have now announced they will be providing their members with a series of brand new fish-filled stretches.
The Earl of Harrington’s Angling Club have secured some of the best barbel fishing in the region on the Derbyshire Derwent at Darley Abbey, which contains specimens to well over 14lb.
“I can’t remember there being a buzz like this at the start of a season for a long time and our new stretch has really helped build the anticipation and excitement for June 16,” said the club’s chairman Dave Parr.
“There’s no doubt that river fishing is making a resurgence and I know that there are many other clubs that have, and are also looking to, expand their portfolio of river stretches to attract new members,” he added.
Big barbel, along with chub, roach and dace are also set to feature heavily in catches at Hereford and District AA’s new length of the River Wye that runs downstream of the area locally known as the ‘Lugg’s Mouth’ just outside Hereford. “The need for quality river fishing is growing more than people might realise and that’s why there are so many clubs on the lookout for new stretches,” said Chris James, Chairman of Hereford & District Angling Association.
Birmingham Anglers Association, one of the biggest fishing clubs in the UK, have also secured the rights to a popular and prolific mile-long length of the River Severn from Bewdley Rowing club upstream to Trimpley.
An organisation with one of the most diverse and varied collection of river fisheries in the UK is London Anglers Association. And those who like to target deep, slow stretches in search of big shoals of roach and bream will now be able to take advantage of over a mile of some of the best fishing on the River Ouse at Holywell just below St Ives in Cambridgeshire.
**This week’s Angling Times comes with a free 32 page Rivers guide featuring 88 stretches reviewed and rated by some of the UK’s best running water anglers. On sale Tuesday June 11.**
Midnight arrival scores for 44lb 14oz mirror
EMBARKING on a fishing trip at midnight paid dividends for Trev Cooke with the capture of this stunning 44lb 14oz mirror.
The Hampshire rod arrived at CWA Fisheries’ Roach Pit in the dead of night and immediately spotted rolling fish close in.
After finally getting to bed at 3am, the 34-year-old was woken at first light by a screaming run from a 30lb 3oz mirror known as the Chunk.
“I was well pleased with that as it felt like pay back for the extra effort the previous night,” said Trev.
“With all the disturbance of the first fish I scattered 50 or so 14mm CC Moore Odyssey XXX freezer baits into the swim.
“Later that afternoon I was sitting there drinking tea and wondering if all the disturbance had ruined the area when I saw a very big black head appear in the same area as before.
“I over cast the XXX cork ball pop-up on a chod rig and skipped it back across the surface lowering it, quietly within the rings left by the show. Ten minutes later I had a bream-like bite which when I hit it turned into a ferocious 40-yard run. All I could do is hold the rod and hope it stayed on.
“Fortunately, that’s all she had as after that I just wound her in and a huge prehistoric head popped up and Barbs was in the net – a, proper old female weighing 44lb 14oz in tip-top condition.”
35lb birthday linear
THIS beautiful linear was the perfect present for Nick Lee when it arrived on his birthday.
The 35lb 12oz mirror came from Farriers Lake in Gloucestershire on the day the Chipping Norton rod turned 44.
A week later, Lee’s good start to the season continued with a 41lb 4oz common from the same venue.
The property landlord told Angling Times: “I went to a spot where I thought the fish would be, and where I had been pre-baiting, and cast chod rigs over dead weed at about 80yds.
“I had the take just after dark and it put up a pretty good fight, taking me all over the lake. It was a pretty good birthday present!”
Nick added: “I’ve just started using a new bait from Terry Dempsey’s Urban Baits and I had rolled some of his Garlic and Tuna pop-ups on the bank that morning so it was great to get a quick result.
“The fish is known as the Big Linear and I don’t think it’s been out any heavier. It’s not a target fish as such but it’s certainly one I’ve wanted to catch.”
