Early March catches eclipse efforts made in February

Despite the changeable weather angling has generally improved with just less than a week of the traditional coarse fishing season left.

Anglers on the river and at local lakes have shared in the spoils with more fish caught in the first week of March than in all of February.

The River Stour at Fordwich produced a fine 3lb 8oz chub for Bob Milkins, while pike anglers fared better at stretches of the river at Grove Ferry.

Dave Lowerey celebrated the catch of his 100th pike of the sea-

Pson with a three fish catch from Grove Ferry. Dave’s latest fish included a small jack pike and two heavier fish of 18lb and 15lb.

At Fordwich Lake carp have been more readily caught. Brian Gaymer banked a 35lb common, while Dan Boden hooked and landed a new personal best common carp of 29lb 4oz. Dan Craddock was also in on the action and his 22lb mirror carp was a welcome addition to his season’s tally.

Stonar Lake has continued to improve with the weather and conditions and lots of fish have been reported. Junior angler George Dodds hooked bream to 2lb and a good brace of common carp weighing 10lb and 9lb 4oz.

Bream to 4lb and 5lb have been caught in numbers at Stonar and Derek Travis, Victor Edginton and Jock white have all had their fair shares.

Sam Weale went a little better with 12 more ‘slabs’ to 6lb and lots of small roach.

Tremendous catches of roach and rudd have been taken. Ernie Millard bagged 16 roach to 1lb 4oz as well as several big bream, Chris Harnett 43 roach to 1lb 14oz, rudd to 2lb and yet more big bream.

Graham Marshall hooked 20 bream to 5lb as well as 10 roach to 1lb and small carp, while John Sturge had 42 roach to 1lb 9oz as well as rudd, bream and carp. Mick Moyes arguably had the best of the carp catches with four fish, his best 15lb 2oz.

The last competition of the season, for the Bateman Cup, will be fished on Sunday at Trenley Lake and at Stour Lake’s south bank.

The draw will take place at 8am at Trenley Lake and fishing will be from 9am to 3.30pm.