Summer's over - official !  

The first frosts have arrived and this always affects coarse fish at this time of year. However there are still plenty of fish being caught, but you have to be canny about how the weather conditions impact on the fish.  In general the cold start to the day means all the waters (and the fish) can take a while to warm up and afternoon is often the best time.  The wind also has a big effect and can stir the fish into action ... if you fish in the right place at the right time!

Look for spells of settled weather.  Autumn fish know the Winter is coming and when the weather is consistent for a few days they can feed very well leading to big catches.  The best thing to do is take advice from Ronnie at the fishery as to where to go and how to fish.

Top Pond

Has come through a few hard days and still offers lots of bites and plenty of carp with the odd fish over 1lb.  With the colder weather it often pays to cut back on the amount of feed and keep it as accurate as possible, use a pole cup if possible.  Natural baits like worm and maggots are coming into their own, but corn is still effective and pellets too. 

Island Pond

Again recovering after a difficult period and more Carp are showing now for pleasure anglers, the biggest around 4lb.  Successful tactics are pretty much as for the top pond.  More fish being caught in deeper water away from the island.

Main Loch

Winds are now stirring up good colour which has helped sport. Many people are including carp in their catches, the best up to 3lb.  Worm has been a successful bait but be sure to experiment with hookbaits, sometimes maggot is better.  Ide are not coming up as shallow as before so it's important to find the right depth.  Check with Ronnie for the latest tactics.  Bream are heading into deeper water, pole is still good but swimfeeder fished 15-20 yards out is also catching more and more bream.

Previous Reports

29 July 2003