FEBRUARY LAKES REPORT

Hello All,

Winterbourne Zelston.

Unfortunately, the arrival of our weed boat has been beset by a number of setbacks, so we will hopefully do the cut in a few weeks’ time. When I have a firm date, I will of course be in touch and let you all know.

WORK PARTY for March 1st.

Today we held a work party in preparation for the opening day of March 1st. This was organised by Bob Spurgeon, he obviously tuned in to the weather gods because the day turned out fine for once. Unfortunately, we were met with extremely wet conditions underfoot. The first jetty on Chapmans is underwater at the moment and is not safe to be used until the water recedes.

We do of course have plenty of tea breaks where it’s inevitable that fishy stories are shared and of course completely believed!hmmm.

The margins around Chapmans have been strimmed on the western side but not elsewhere because the opposite bank is underwater in several places.

The deluge of water that has descended this month has made conditions in all the Rawlsbury lakes very murky however, this and cold-water temperatures have at least prevented weed growth. I do recommend great care should be taken when the levels are this high.

Chapmans, Cowleaze and Viners are now fully stocked and ready for the start of the season on March 1st. Again, because conditions are so wet we had to carry the fish in large buckets and used Bob’s fish trolley Mk II, to deliver them to different positions on the lakes.

March 8th Rawlsbury

Also please take note that on Saturday the 8th March at Rawlsbury we are hosting an event for the Poole & Wimborne Fly fishing Club. There will be at least 16 fishermen, so the lakes will be very busy and parking difficult

March 11th AGM

On Tuesday the 11th March we will be holding our Annual General meeting for the Trout section where I will revue 2024 and how it has performed in relation to past years. The venue is as normal in the Royal British Legion Hall, 76A Blandford Road BH21 3HQ. Doors will open about 7pm and the meeting will start at 7.30pm. Hope to see you there!

Only a few reports this month as WZ has not been fished much.

• I had a successful morning fishing with 2 no rainbows weighing in 3lb 12oz and 3lb 8oz. Both fish were taken on weighted cat whiskers fished fast approx 2ft below the surface. The weather was a strong and gusty wind from the SW which put small waves on the lake and regular pulses of rain. I started by stalking a pair of cormorants on the cow field platform and, in the end as they were partly shielded by the pair of swans, I had to shoot to scare, but I hope it was close enough to one of them so it will not be back too quickly.

• I started fishing at about 15.35 and I tried out some flies, maximum size 8 hook barbless, looking like fry. Indeed one was very similar to the sand-eel flies we had used last year at Sandbanks, but could also be described as a lure. As a precaution I used a four-inch leader of wire and then 12lb nylon and, due to the bad weather, an 8 weight rod and floating line. Fishing from the south jetty I got a huge bow wave and swirl, but as the weather was so abysmal, I have no positive ID. I changed terminal

tackle and went over to a size 12 flashback hare's ear and casting from the south jetty and aligning my cast to the flu on Ann's house, as a marker, I got a decent take, an excellent fight and a rainbow of exactly 4lbs (kitchen scales a few hours later).

All the best and tight lines!

Paul.