Hardy souls make light of conditions

Angling

With less than a month of the coarse fishing season left, there have been several notable catches despite the dire weather and tricky conditions.

At Fordwich Lake Ray Long caught a fantastic 31lb 8oz common carp and during the same period Colin Hurst hooked a 30lb common and an 18lb mirror carp.

Two more ‘twenties’ have been seen on the bank with Andy Collins recording a good scrap with a 20lb mirror and equally welcome was a 20lb common carp taken by John Collins. CDAA junior member Henry Weir continued his successful season with three pike to 8lb 8oz, a brace of eels to 2lb and five bream to 7lb in a busy half-term session at Fordwich Lake.

The River Stour has been very high and extremely coloured throughout the recent Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis and subsequent unsettled weather, with few fish being landed from the usual venues.

Very few anglers have been at Stonar Lake but a few brave souls have connected with fish. Dean Pryor caught 11 bream to 5lb and three good carp culminating ina mirror of 17lb. A few small bream and two small carp fell to Joe Goodall, while Mike Chandler banked a small common carp and bream to 4lb.

A mixed bag of bream to 3lb, a 12lb 12oz mirror carp and three common carp to 16lb 8oz were taken by Stonarregular Steve Harris. Single common carp of 14lb and 14lb 8oz were reported by Travis Squire and Darren Place, with four more commons to 10lb coaxed by Carl White.

As well as four small carp, James Norris went on to catch a 16lb common carp and most notably one of the best carp of recent weeks from Stonar, a 20lb mirror. Although the Saunders Cup has been unavoidably cancelled for this year, the last competition of the season for the Bateman Cup will be fished on Sunday March 8 at Trenley Lake and the south bank of Stour Lake. The draw will take place at 8am at Trenley Lake with fishing from 9am to 3.30pm. As well as existing member renewals, the Canterbury and District Angling Association is open to new members of all ages and experience. Details can be obtained by telephoning 01227 710830 during office hours.