The new fish stocking (see here for more details) will certainly help compensate for the normal downturn in sport for coarse fishing at this time of year. The fish at magiscroft are starting to get used to the colder weather now but temperature ups and downs always affects coarse fish. You still 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 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. The fish know it's Winter now 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

The injection of 2000 new small common carp has boosted the sport at a critical time. The colour is back in the water and in reasonable weather conditions people are catching up to 50 small carp in a session with the odd fish over 1lb. Bites can be finicky and hard to hit - 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. Best time is still afternoon and early evening. Natural baits like pinkies & maggots aare coming into their own though pellets are still very successful.

Main Loch

Newly stocked carp are feeding well but are tightly shoaled, and hopefully will spread out soon. Roach are showing more than anything else at the moment and often can be caught on a swimfeeder 15-20 yards out on maggot. Worm has been a successful bait but be sure to experiment with hookbaits, often 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 and slider are becoming more prominent.

Island Pond

Has also benefited from extra fish including carp, ide, chub, tench and barbel. More Carp are showing now for pleasure anglers, the biggest around 4lb. Check with Ronnie as to where the best pegs have been since the carp do move into certain areas depending on the weather. Successful tactics are pretty much as for the top pond. More fish being caught in deeper water away from the island.

Previous Reports

27 October 2003

7 October 2003

29 July 2003