***Attention all anglers***
The BOGOF – buy one night and get the second free, fishing offer, will end 18.01.24 so the last check in date for this is 16.01.24 and with these mild conditions, set for the next couple of weeks, why not get out and give it a go?
Latest Catch report since we reopened on 22/01/24 after being frozen for a week.
Well, the past week has seen us endure two named storms, ISHA, and Jocelyn both within a couple of days of each other. We experienced high winds, with gusts in excess of 60 mph. predominantly from the southwest, plus a bucket load of rain. The atmospheric pressure was low, hovering around the 990mbo mark. These wild conditions certainly got the fish on the feed with over 30 carp being landed and a shedload of pike up to 17lbs.
First up is S2, Bradly Lodge had an insane session in peg one, fishing into the teeth of the wind and was rewarded with 13 bites, resulting in 11 fish being landed, including 7 fish over 20lb and he managed to beat is PB common three times over; with first with a 24lber then a 25lber topped by a 26lber. Bradly fished pink pop ups in one of the areas, where we have been introducing maize, after a quiet period of no action, he put in around 6kg of bait, which consisted of boilies, crushed, halved and whole covered in liquids, and this resulted in instant action, with 2 bites within 30 minutes of the bait hitting the deck and with more bites to follow.
It just goes to show, that with the right bait and approach, even in the winter, it can produce mega sessions. Next up Ryan Monk Landed a lovely mid-double mirror from peg 13 and Adam landed 2 fish up to 16lb from peg 9. Next, Joseph Grey landed 2 fish from peg 4 up to 19lb. both fish falling to fruit pink pop-ups, over a bed of maggot and fruity boilies. Lastly, Alex Shorrock braved a quick overnighter in the brunt of the storm and was reward with 2 fish up to 22lb from peg 12. PB wafters tipped with maggots on Ronnie rigs over a winter mixture of 8mm, 12mm and crumbed Bug Boilies, Maggots, corn, and hemp was the winning way.
Now we hop over the bund to S1, Marc Gallagher had a great result, managing to tempt 7 bites and resulting in 5 fish being landed, with the biggest going 25lbs. After doing a couple laps of the lake Marc hadn't seen anything so decided to go into peg 4, giving him good view of the main body of water. Later on in the evening he saw a couple of subtle shows so cast to the general area with a zig, resulting in a take, in the early hours of Saturday morning, but sadly losing it to a hook-pull. Later on, that morning (5.30am) he decided to move again, around peg 7 to get a better angle on where the fish had previously shown. He decided not to lead around, with a marker, to find the depth but opted to have a quick check of the contour map, to get a rough idea of the depths where he wanted to fish without making any disturbance. He wasted no time, deployed 3 zigs in the zone, and around an hour later was rewarded with the first bite and then it was steady, away throughout the day, up until around teatime when it went quiet. All fish were caught on zigs. Darren Brown landed 2 fish up to 22lb from the roadside, both caught on solid bags.
Now we run up the hill to Foxes, Keiron Thompson had a fantastic session in peg 6, resulting in 5 fish, up to 19lb. All fish came to solid bags, positioned at the bottom of the marginal shelf, on the right-hand side. Next up, Paul Gore landed a 19lb mirror from peg 7 and lastly Billy Yates landed a 22lb common and a 20lb mirror from peg 5, caught on solid bags and fished at 12 wraps.
Now to the members waters, Neil Golightly landed a 29lb mirror caught from Banton’s on an orange ultra pop-up fish over 12mm jungle mix boilies and corn and our very own “Poster-boy Pete” managed to tempt 2 bites from “the Mighty”, resulting in a lovely mid twenty-pound mirror.
Now to the pike fishing, and where do I start? In the last 10 days there has been, over 40 jacks landed, plus twenty 10lb plus fish up to 18lbs. Dead baits seem to be the wining tactic at the moment, fish on the bottom or on the float mid-water. Most bait are scoring well however, roach, mackerel and herring seem to be the best. David Gray did his first session on S2 and in his own words, this is how his session went. “I started off ledgering 2 rods on roach, dead baits. After an hour I changed over to, both rods on the float and changed one to a mackerel tail, bringing both rods in to the margin. As the light was fading the mackerel tail dipped under and then away, Unfortunately, the fish dropped the bait, however I saw where the fish had dropped it and quickly placed another bait in the zone. Within a couple of minutes, it was away this time, with a nice low double. At First light both rods went out on mackerel tail. Literally, as soon as the right-hand rod was placed it was away. I could feel this was a better fish and could see it in the clear water of the margin. Once netted, I unhooked it, and it weighed in at just under 17lb”. Callum McCabe and his father carrier on the good run of form on the roadside of S1 they managed to land 6 fish including 2 x 15lbers a 12lber and a 10ber, all caught off the bottom and all bites came from a different bait.
Bailiff’s tips, for this time of year - the banks can be considerably quieter so use this to your advantage, spend extra time ensuring you set up on the fish and if you get it wrong and the fish move, be ready to move with them. Also, to find the fish you may have to look a little harder, as they don’t crash clean out of the water as often, at this time of year. You can often be looking for patches of fixing or a change in water colour. My go-to, at this time of year is normally solid bags or high attract pop-ups soaked in a pungent liquid such as goo or halos. The use of naturals such as maggots can be a real game changer. Zigs can give a real edge, as the fish are often off the bottom, seeking the warmest water column and one last tip, ask the bailiffs they are here every day and are happy to help you with spots and up to date information.
Please remember to send in you pictures and reports.
*Please REMEMBER if you land a fish over 30lb from any of the waters for assistance please ring a bailiff, so that they can come and help with the photos, fish safety, and verifying the weight.
For your convenience we have a shop on site holding a wide range of terminal tackle and bait from, Korda, Fox, ESP, Tackle Guru, Mainline, Bait Guru, Sticky Baits, Pike Pro, Bait box and dynamite we also stock a range of drinks, toiletries, confectionery and much more.
Peace out, The Viking.
ACCUMULATIVE CATCH REPORTS STARTING FROM MAY 2024 TO APRIL 30th 2025.
YEARLY ACCUMULATIVE - 2023.
Weights |
40+/35+ |
30+ |
25+ |
20+ |
19 |
18 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
Total Fish |
Total Weight |
Fish AVG |
|
Wyre |
3 |
18 | 27 | 42 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 133 |
3020 |
23.2 | |
Bantons |
5 | 18 | 34 | 55 | 9 |
4 |
10 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 145 | 3470 | 24.4 | |
Foxs |
0 |
6 | 21 | 42 | 5 | 17 |
11 |
8 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 142 | 2794 | 20.2 | |
Sunny 1 |
0 |
4 | 8 | 32 | 19 | 13 | 21 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 24 | 157 | 2783 | 18.2 | |
Sunny 2 |
0 | 7 | 9 | 38 | 18 | 30 | 31 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 185 | 3590 | 20.0 | |
|
|
MONTHLY ACCUMULATIVE
APRIL 2024.
Weights |
40+/35+ |
30+ |
25+ |
20+ |
19 |
18 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
Total Fish |
Total Weight |
Fish AVG |
|
Wyre |
0 |
14 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 1094 | 26.6 | ||
Bantons |
0 | 12 | 15 | 8 | 1 |
3 |
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 1127 |
26.2 |
|
Foxs |
0 |
0 | 3 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 755 | 20.0 | |
Sunny 1 |
0 |
0 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
4 |
0 | 4 | 6 | 37 | 690 | 23.6 | |
Sunny 2 |
0 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 101 | 1856 | 19.0 |
Pike totals Over 4 Lakes |
20 |
19 |
18 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
11/ 10 |
jack pike |
Total Fish |
Total Weight |
Ave. |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
2 | 1 | 10 | 81 | 101 | 250 |
2.6 |