Silver joy 32lb roach net leads the way
Winter weather hits UK but... fish still on the feed
MATCH anglers have had just about everything thrown at them in recent weeks, with frosts, ice, bitter winds and even snow to contend with.
That’s led to wildly contrasting results, everything from big winning weights of commercial carp with little else to back them up, through to solid small-fish nets on natural waters.
Find the carp balled up on a lake and you’ll catch enough to keep the cold at bay, but fail to draw on them and it’ll be a double flask job. On canals and rivers, though, where the fish congregate in numbers, sport has been impressive.
This was the case in the latest round of the HAJAC Winter League on the 20ft Drain and Old River Nene in East Anglia.
Sensas Mark One man Ray Malle enjoyed a real red-letter day to win as he crashed out 32-3-0 of roach on pole and maggot from the 20ft, followed by Alex Bates with 25-1-0, in a frame that saw 15lb fail to get in the top six.
Sport was equally consistent on the Stainforth & Keadby Canal at Thorne, where Frankie Gianoncelli led the way with 9-14-0 of roach on bloodworm. Weights aren’t as big here but the number of fish present means bites are guaranteed, regardless of the weather.
On the carp lakes, Somerset’s Bait-Tech Viaduct produced a summer-like 176-4-0 winner for Paul Elmes in the latest round of its Winter League. He fished waggler and meat from Campbell Lake, Andy Power following in second with 141-9-0 – and, again, 60lb failed to make the top six. Newly-stocked fish can make a big difference to the fishing and nowhere is that more true than at Garbolino Lindholme Lakes, where the chub that have gone in over the past few weeks saw former Fish O’ champ Andy Geldart win the latest round of the Natural Baits League with a fine 49-10-0 of them on maggots off Laurels Lake.
Down at Gold Valley Lakes, the rarely-used Bat Lake has had a stocking of F1s, and Paul Garrett
netted plenty of them on maggot at 6m to weigh in 96-4-0 and top the Rushmoor League round.
However, it hasn’t all been good news. Spare a thought for the anglers turning out at Ferry Meadows Lakes for the Colmic Golden Rod Qualifier.
Only three fish were caught, meaning that 47 blanks and one section – plus a place in the final – had to be drawn for.