The new fish stocking (see here for more details) has certainly helped to compensate for the normal downturn in sport for coarse fishing at this time of year. The small common carp are showing well on the Main Loch but especially in the Top Pond where there have been some great catches.

The fish at magiscroft are 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

F1 carp are making more impact on catches when the weather is at it's coldest.  Barry Morgan broke the ice today and caught well over 20 F1s quickly with a number of fish to around 1lb on pellet.

The water is well coloured and in reasonable weather conditions people are catching over 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

Feeder tactics producing consistently well now.  The pegs in front of the cafe down to the tree are most popular but pleasure anglers are taking good catches all over.  More carp in the deepest water, more silver fish in other areas. 

Double Maggot is the most successful bait for the carp and they are being caught on slider and feeder.  Roach are also showing well at the moment and often can be caught on a swimfeeder 15-20 yards out on maggot.  

Island Pond

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

26 December 2003

17 November 2003

27 October 2003

7 October 2003

29 July 2003