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A warm welcome to the WDAC Game section. The Club has two beautiful dedicated trout venues, three lakes in total at Winterborne Zelston and Rawlsbury.

 

See below for details on how to buy your game tickets and for up-to-date game-related news.

MARCH LAKES REPORT

Hello fellow Game Fishers,

 

This month is on track to be one of the wettest on record yet I am pleased to report that many of you have been out enjoying your fishing whatever the conditions.

 

The Annual Meeting of the game section took place on the 14th of this month and was well attended by 22 members. I reported on our financial situation which remains healthy and explained the reasons behind having to put up fish prices which will commence on 1st April. (Please see attached Addendum). I also briefly reported on some of your fishing experiences during the year with a summary of fish caught.

 

Mike provided a detailed description of events leading to the construction of the gabion wall and expressed his thanks to all those who participated.

 

Colin then talked about the science behind testing water quality and explained to us very clearly how the long hot summer last year affected fishing. Oxygen levels were in fact so low that he was surprised that we didn’t have high fish mortality.

Mike explained that Signal crayfish are in Chapmans Lake and to this end we have been granted a licence by the EA to trap them. Quite a tasty result!

 

Lastly, the question of Catch and Release was discussed as an option on all our lakes. After a thorough review it was decided unanimously to reject this idea.

The meeting ended with Gareth Evans giving us a fly-tying demonstration. All found this very useful as the variant of the Montana pattern he tied looked far more effective than the original.

Rawlsbury

 

Last Friday 24th we held a very well attended work party at Rawlsbury. Much of the work concentrated on extracting the reed mace from Sandys lake to create swims so that fish caught could be released safely. We have also installed some very smart new signs by these lakes.

Your catch reports are as follows:-

 

• Great couple of hours at WZ. Action was spectacular. Myself and guest had great sport and landed 4 fighting rainbows.1x5lbs2,1x3lbs4,1x2lbs 9,Ix2lbs6

My fish red fell for hothead buzzers. Guests went for yellow dancers.

 

• I am pleased to let you know that Jack and I had an excellent day at Rawlsbury on Saturday 4th March. Bit chilly still but with a light wind and fairly overcast made for good conditions.

All the lakes were  looking excellent and very fishable. Jack and I moved around the whole of Chapmans with ease from the platforms to the far bank and found good spots to cast all the way round which made for great variety. We also found that the fish were quite readily taking very simple gold headed buzzers and we quickly caught. To a man every fish fought extremely hard and never seemed to give up or tire. Most stayed deep but a few leapt and a good number managed to spit the fly. Thankfully we didn't lose anything significant. At the end of the day we took home a 5lb, a 4lbs 4 and 1lbs 14 from Chapmans and a 3lbs, all rainbows, from Cowleaze. Jacks 4lbser coming from a delicate cast from under the big oak.

 

We spent a little time on Viners with no luck and a bit more time on Sandy where I caught a lovely brown and a nice rainbow. Both to the simple gold head yellow buzzer, this time with a much slower retrieve.

 

• It was mostly a question of discovering where the fish were at Chapmans and they seemed to be lying in the middle a long cast out from the first platform in line with the left of the two large oaks. I got two Rainbows and lost three on a black Apache as you suggested: 4.12 and 3.8pounds. The larger fish is in the picture and fought like a sea trout. I forgot to mention how impressed I am with your fish.

 

• What a contrast weatherwise to yesterday when it was almost balmy!

Last Tuesday was far from clement in the sleet and wind but the the fish appeared to enjoy it, cavorting with complete disdain for the mad bugger holding the other end of the line. Managed a couple of 3 to 4 lb’ers.

 

• My son and I had a lovely and enjoyable afternoon at Rawlsbury.

We both caught a brace each of rainbows ( 2lb to 3lb) on black nymphs from Chapmans and the fish were fin perfect and fought well.

 

• Hi Paul! another day at the office (WZ) Two fish, not huge about a kilo a piece on a small black/green booby. Freezing cold! Roll on Spring ! Jim.

 

• Started on the windward field bank side with a booby. Got a few taps so thought I was on the right track. No luck so moved to the other side opposite the top jetty. First cast got one. Confirmed I was on the right track, so stayed on the booby Cat. Well actually I wasn’t and that was just a stroke of luck. After a bit a fish rose over on the field bank opposite me. Moved back, and saw few tiny buzzers. Changed lines to a floater, and a buzzer. First cast got the second. Spooned it out – buzzers.

 

• Enjoyable couple of hours stress relief at Rawlesbury this morning. Bagged two fairly quickly from Chapmans both around 4lbs. Slow retrieve near bottom using couple of orange/black beaded nymphs tied

 

Spent rest of time at Viners. Used same fly to catch a couple of rainbows. Then changed to a black hawthorn as seen a couple of rises under the trees. Resulted in taking two lovely Brownies from the surface, very satisfying.

 

• I found myself with a few spare hours yesterday and despite the strong wind I decided to have a look at Zelston. Wind coming from the west allowed casting from the south platform towards the bridge where we know many have been shoaling. Wasn't long before I caught but I broke off. Tried the west platform and after an hour or so I caught and landed a beautiful 2lb 12 rainbow. Then after a few tangles and a few lost flies I caught a 3lb 13 from the same west platform. Both fish fought very well once again and did not give up easily.

 

• I broke my duck at WZ today. For my 2 two fish tickets, I took 4 beautiful Rainbows with a combined weight of 16lbs. All on a very small nymph. Absolutely stunning day.

 

• A good day at Rawlsbury today!

2 Fish = 4-0 (Chapmans) & 4-4 (Cowleaze), but the highlight of the day was a Brownie of 2-12 from Chapmans (Ret).

 

But after returning this fish I moved to fish from under the trees & hooked another Brownie,bigger this time & more like 4-0, but it got off at the last moment! I thought we didn’t stock Brownies in to Chapmans?

 

Wimborne and District Angling Club Game Fishing Open day Saturday 13th May 2023.

 

This is an opportunity for all those interested to find out more about game fishing. Principally for newcomers and beginners they will be given instruction on how to: -

 

• cast a fly safely,

• understand the basic skills required to fly fish,

• appreciate the lake and river life upon which trout feed and their place in the natural environment.

• catch a trout. (Any further trout caught will cost £10.00)

 

There will be three sessions in the day, 09.30 (6 people), 11.45 (6 people), and 14.30 (8 people). Mike Bilson will head up the group and will give instruction for about an hour after which all individuals will be given one to one guidance in casting on the lake and also the chance to catch one of our fighting rainbows.

If you would like to help teach our beginners how to fly fish that would be fantastic, so please email me to confirm.

 

Also, if you have anyone you know particularly of younger age who would like to attend, please let me know details. I will then include their names on the course, as selection will be on a first come first served basis.

 

CATCH RETURNS

 

Lastly, I would be very grateful if you could send me your catch returns with as much detail as possible and as soon as possible after your days fishing.  Most of you do and it is brilliant when I can post your reports in the newsletter. It really is a good way of informing us about the techniques and flies used for catching on our lakes.

 

That’s all folks!

 

Tight Lines.

 

Paul

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