Winter is well underway now and that is reflected in the catches and methods required. There is still some interesting fishing to be had if you can use the right methods in the right place at the right time. Take advantage of any brief mild spell of weather and you could still make a big catch. The key message is to feed very little since if you feed too much it can badly affect your chances at the moment. Check with Ronnie in the shop and he will give you all the latest info and advice.

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