The First Week of the new season….

It is nice to have our first week under our belt and also to see some nice fish banked on both lakes.

The weather was unseasonably warm with temperatures up to 20c or so accompanied by very high air pressure all week. Not the best of conditions for our first week of the season but despite this the lads generally did well. On the main lake we have five regulars with the 3 Leicester lads of John, Lee and Tom on the Home bank and Geordies, Jaimie and Ollie on the Chateau bank. The total bag for the week was 21 carp with the bulk of the catch coming to the Home Bank lads, more that later…

Tom fished Middle Ground and had 6 fish – 51lb 8oz, 52lb, 41lb, 34lb and a brace of doubles.

John fished Gingers and had 7 carp – 67lb, 47lb 8oz, 45lb, 40lb, 35lb, 35lb and 30lb.

Lee fished Zippies and had 5 fish – 72lb, 48lb 8oz, 49lb 8oz, 45lb and 34lb.

Ollie fished Island swim and had 3 fish – 57lb, 38lb and 35lb.

Jaimie fished Deliverance and unfortunately blanked.

Total catch for the week was 21 carp as follows –

72lb

67lb

57lb, 52lb, 51lb 8oz.

49lb 8oz, 49lb 8oz, 47lb 8oz, 45lb, 45lb, 41lb, 40lb.

38lb, 35lb, 35lb, 35lb, 34lb, 34lb, 30lb.

2 x Doubles.

All in all a satisfying first week that saw all the carp caught in superb condition and coming out of winter at pretty impressive weights considering the stress they had to contend with with the December netting. The general consensus was that the catch should have been rather better however the two lads on the Chateau bank, decent anglers both, somewhat handicapped themselves by spooling up with Fluro orange line. This line may be ok if fished with a long mono leader but certainly did the lads no favours at all with our line shy fish. It is a shame but lesson learnt and I have no doubt that it will be back to good old mono for next year.

On the nature front it has been a strange spring with the absence of herons and egrets on the lakes being a real mystery. The kingfishers are still around in good numbers and I have no doubt they are already busily feeding their first broods at this time and we also have a solitary egret on the main lake so hopefully another will join it soon. One special event yesterday was the arrival of our first swallows of the year. They could be seen swooping over the main lake and feeding avidly on the hatching fly life. I feel that these are swallows that are passing through on there way further north and I fully expect to see our very own swallows pretty soon. We have several family’s of swallows that nest in our old millroom each year, returning as family groups and taking up residence with us for the summer. Once they arrive we will soon after be hearing our first cuckoo of the new season as well and if mother nature favours us we could well have our osprey fishing with us next month. So muck to look forward to..

This morning dawned clear and cold with temperatures down to 3c and although the sun was with us all day the very cold wind from the West certainly chilled things off. Air pressure is due to drop significantly in the next 24 hours so we are hoping that this change will kick start the carp to some serious feeding. Fingers crossed.

Pictures have been posted on my Facebook page if you would like to view them..

Poppy’s lake has had a belting start to the new season and obviously has benefitted from the removal of a good many smaller fish during the netting. Average weights are rapidly climbing and all the carp remain in great condition and will be packing on the weight this season.

I will post below Jimmy’s report which tells the story very well…

Poppy’s Week 1

The guys turned up to great conditions for Poppy’s and took full advantage, enjoying a very very busy week indeed. Although it was fantastic fishing for the three anglers, the fish were looking healthy but all looked like they’re going to pack on a lot of weight quickly now we’ve got the biomass well under control after a successful netting so I’m expecting big gains as the spring progresses… As it is, the numbers of 30lb+ and 40lb+ has pleased me greatly an…