OCTOBER LAKES REPORT

Dear Game fishers,

As I am away towards the end of the month I am sending you your newsletter early. It is only too obvious to us all that the rainfall this month has been exceptional, in many areas exceeding 100mm. So, its not surprising that we have had a few days off.

On the 10th our Taster day at Winterbourne Zelston went very well. We hosted a group of 10 ex-marines and gave them instruction in fly casting and what flies can be used in certain conditions. Even a fish tank full of invertebrates from WZ was prepared so that they could see what type of insects our trout like to munch! Also, I want to thank those of our members who helped provide instruction on a one to one basis on the lake. Most of the group were able to catch fish, a first for many.

We held a committee match at WZ on the 19th where Mike H came first. I came in a close second but my fish were better looking! All enjoyed the day and even some of the committee members borrowed some fly rods to practise their casting – There’s hope for them yet!

Rule Change. I am considering formalising a rule change to barbless hooks. Barbless hooks facilitate quicker and safer releases, they are safer for you and the fish. Importantly, it will allow me to stock our lakes with both Rainbows and Brown trout. The Browns can then be returned safely on a catch and release basis. Your thoughts are welcome on this but I believe in the long run good standards of practice for fish welfare and conservation are essential and demonstrates the club’s commitment to ethical Angling.

Winterbourne Zelston. I don’t always broadcast it but today I have stocked WZ. The lake really is in immaculate condition so clear and ideal for sight fishing. Definitely worth a session if you can find a weather window!

Some of your reports for the month are as follows.

• I had a very delightful couple of hours fishing today. I arrived at about 10:30 and there was a work party preparing for a veterans’ event tomorrow. It was a lovely sunny morning and the fish were rising (there has been a recent stocking). The work party had already been around the lake and had seen black buzzers so this was what I put on. I cast to a rising fish which I couldn’t quite see but the line twitched, I lifted my rod and I was into a very, very large brown trout… exceptional because browns were last stocked 7 years ago. For a while I managed to keep the fish quite close but then it took off across the lake. I recovered some line but it took off again taking the full line and a lot of backing to the other side of the lake, whereupon it broke me… all this in front of an enthusiastic audience of work party and a couple of other fishermen. From then on, with the exceptional water clarity and the fish rising I was able to target specific fish. The next fish was pointed out to me by Paul. I overestimated my cast but the water was so clear that the fish spotted the fly from a long way off and I could watch as it swam towards and took the fly.

In the end I caught 4 fish, 5.9lbs, 5lbs and 2x3lbs. There is a very large double figure rainbow trout that I saw near the far corner of the bank where the hut is.

• A very mild and sometimes sunny afternoon at WZ. The lake was like a mirror. The occasional fish breaking the water’s surface. After 2 hours I was into my first and only fish from the platform next to the hut. The take was like a shotgun. It took about 10 minutes to get the fish to the net… and what a fish! A fin perfect rainbow tipping the scales at 3 lbs 10 ozs. Taken on a (last resort) cats whisker! Great Fun!

Rawlsbury – November 30th – 2 fish unlimited ticket!

The works to the silt trap have delayed us for about 3 weeks and as a result we have negotiated a further extension of one month meaning that our season will end on 30th November at Rawlsbury.

I am not going to restock during this time so if you want to fish on a two fish ticket you can fish as many times as you like until you catch your two fish. In other words, if you blank first time you can visit as many times as you want in order to reach your two fish limit.

Please remember to sign in at the fishing hut!

WORK PARTY 11th November.

We will be holding a work party on the 11th November at WZ mainly to clear marginal weed and to keep the banks tidy. All are welcome.

If you do not wish to receive these newsletters for whatever reason please let me know and I will delete you from the contact list. I do try to reach all members past and present in the hope that some will return.

Tight Lines – especially if you use barbless hooks!

Paul.