Coarse angling

The unseasonably mild weather has led to improved catches and a few more anglers venturing out to the Canterbury and District Angling Association’s waters across East Kent. At Fordwich Lake Reece Payne landed a 23lb common carp and Dave Lock three more carp including a fine common of 34lb. Sam Murphy went even bigger with a brace of carp to 36lb. Pike anglers have fared reasonably well with a number of small jack pike being hooked from the usual locations around the Fordwich complex of lakes. Junior CDAA member Henry Weir has continued his good season with another pike, this time Henry’s lively fish tipped the scales to 8lb. Next to Fordwich Lake the River Stour has continued to fish well with the local ‘old boys match’ returning some good weights through A. Smith 12lb 8oz, K. Cunningham 10lb 1oz and A. Caine 8lb. At Birch Lake, Littlebourne, Steve Matthews showed his experience with an incredible 17 carp in two nights. Although Stonar Lake has been sparsely attended a few good fish have been reported. Lee Cull targeted bream and took seven fish to 3lb. Phil Combes’ common carp of 17lb 9oz was one of the best Stonar fish of late but a number of smaller fish such as the 9lb 12oz common carp caught by Joshua Marsh has been typical. Four fish to 12lb were caught by Jason Hughes and three more to 10lb were banked by Darren Flakley. The last competition of the season for the Bateman Cup will be fished on Sunday at Trenley Lake. The draw will take place at 8am at Trenley Lake and fishing will be from 9.30am to 3.30pm.