Main Loch
The deeper water has helped to keep the bites coming when it is
cold and feeder and slider tactics are the best now. A lot depends on
the weather of course but especially the water colour. Some rain and
wind in the last few days has coloured things up and encouraged the
skimmer bream to feed - most anglers have been getting at least a
dozen in a session recently. The small carp are still the most
consistent fish though, especially when the water is clear.
Bryan Hewitt had around 50 small carp with 15 to 20 skimmers
yesterday on the slider. He noticed that the fish were not hard on the
bottom and took most about 2ft off. The odd big fish occasionally adds
to the excitement and Peter O'Neill had a 4 ½ lb Tench on Sunday on
the same peg (3) that Karl Altdorfer had a 3lb Tench last week. Some
bigger Carp to 3lb appear at times too.
Swimfeeder tactics are most popular and successful at the moment. A
small groundbait or maggot feeder with a 3ft long tail cast towards
the middle will reach the deep water. Maggot bait is catching all
species just now. Pole fishing is usually hard but sometimes it can
work well later in the day.
Top Pond
There are lots of bites for everybody, but in the colder weather
hitting them can be more tricky! The key is not feeding too much which
puts the Carp off. Pole is most effective because you can use a small
pole cup to drip in small amounts of micro pellet and maggots very
accurately. That has been working well for Bobby Stephenson who has
been taking the best catches in recent days often over 50 fish, mainly
F1 Carp.
Maggot often scores best early in the day with pellet getting more
effective later on. You can also catch plenty of Blue Orfe by
catapulting Maggots or Pinkies. Near the island is usually most
productive but when it is quiet or overcast you can catch close in
too.
Island Pond
Carp are naturally feeding less vigorously in the cold water
conditions and this means that Ide, Orfe, Roach and Gudgeon are making
up most of the catches at the moment. Gary McKay has been taking some
impressive catches of big Ide to 1lb 4oz and he has found that the key
is to feed very little using a small pole cup, search around a few
areas and to stay patient until the fish start feeding.
Maggot, Pinkie and Caster are best baits, with micro pellet too as
feed. Pellet hookbait is working mainly later in the day and is taking
a few carp as the water warms and light fades. Worm is not so
effective now so be careful how much chopped worm you use, though it
can work well as a change bait. Bigger Carp and Tench up to 5lb are
being caught but only occasionally.
Previous Reports
25 October 2004
27 August 2004
26 June 2004
25 May 2004
27 April 2004
21 April 2004
12 April 2004
3 April 2004
18 March 2004
18 January 2004
26 December 2003
17 November 2003
27 October 2003
7 October 2003
29 July 2003
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