Fishing Returns
10th November to 1st December 2008
Visits Catch & Release Fish Taken
Wolvey 49 139 20
Copston 44 75 22
Rod Average 2.75
(Y.T.D) 1st March to 1st December 2008
Visits Catch & Release Fish Taken
Wolvey 614 1012 192
Copston 571 1174 211
Rod Average 2.03
River Swift Returns
March 15th to October 9th
Visits Browns caught and released Coarse fish
117 35 116
Largest fish (River) 6Ibs caught by Lee Signey
Winter 2008/9
Following the introduction of some specimen fish into double figures, fishing at both locations has been excellent this winter, I caught a superb 'bow around the eight pound mark in Eider during November on a small hares ear on a floating line, some members do use sinking lines but I must be lazy and I enjoy letting the fly drop slowly which often is sufficient to induce the "take". Surprisingly dry fly is also still effective and I took four fish in less than an hour at Wolvey shortly before christmas on a "skinny daddy" cast into a shoal visible just below the surface, a helpful breeze animated the fly such that it floated across the shoal and bang!
My most recent visits to Copston have also been rewarded with excellent sport with the big fish clearly feeding hard on fry, the best fun was with a pin- fry so chewed that the teal feather and false hackle no longer existed and my size 12 hook had only a few bits of orange hackle as a tail and a pearl/hologram wound body, no bead on the head, I like it to "hang" just sub-surface when I fish the margins. Totally frozen rod rings and line forced a close to my last visit to Copston with fishing buddy Richard Stokes on new years eve but not before we had coaxed several fish (one at six pounds) out of Mallard. I hasten to add that most members return the big fish and I too like to know just what is in the lakes for another day! Mark Smith Copston Bailiff 3/01/09
August 2008
As expected the summer months have given more fantastic fishing particularly with the dry fly. The catch returns below are testament to the year round sport enjoyed and I consider the rod return to be especially good as a large number of our members fish for only an hour or so at a time unlike the full or half days spent on the water with day ticket clubs. "Hot" patterns have been imitations of the male (blue) damsel, daddies, sedges and buzzers and less weed growth than previous years has also enabled members to explore deeper water with nymphs and lures. The cold/wet summer may be bad for the beach but so far the fish are benefiting from the high water levels and abundant insect numbers.
June 2008The final stocking of the spring/summer took place late May with approximately half a tonne of Rainbow trout averaging the 1kg size with some over 2kg. The catch and release approach is really taking on with very few fish being killed and indications are that the winter supplimentary feeding with the abundant natual food is allowing some trout to "grow-on" as 2kg plus fish seem quite common on the return sheets. I personally took four fish on a dry female damsel copy which totalled close to twenty pounds, sport I would have been more than happy with should I have been fishing a premium day ticket water. New weed control measures appear to be working well and Copston in particular looks fantastic with huge black "slicks" of tadpoles along the banks. The damsels are now becoming more apparent and I'm sure good sport will be had on both the dry and nymph imitations.
March 2008
All the lakes have now been re-stocked with cracking 'bows from 1-2kg, fishing through the winter has been fantastic with catch returns in excess of 2 fish per visit with several members finding 5 or more fish in a couple of hours. Most fish caught were returned hence the stocking density is now very good indeed. In addition to the usual fly patterns the fish responded very well to anything orange, either on the surface or deeper in the water. I tried a gold head orange "blob" my daughter bought me years ago and I had never used before and had trout making bow waves at it before it could sink! Not long now until the Hawthorn Fly hatch, can't wait!
Winter fishing 07/08
The pools were re-stocked in November 07 with excellent rainbow trout of 1kg or over. One fish of five pounds has already been caught and returned and these new fish are considered the hardest fighting that we have had. Sinking lines and lures will catch fish but usually the fish are to be found in the top two feet of the water and are best targeted with floating lines and longish leaders (due to the clarity of the waters.)
Sparsely dressed patterns tend to be the trick and traditional nymphs with or without gold heads are my personal favourites, using the beads for weight when needed. Try hares-ear with mother of pearl inplace of wire, also diawl-bach, p.t.n. etc. When the fish get "picky" try smaller versions i.e.# 16/18, resist moving to large "blousey" dressings.
Bright sunny mornings following a frosty start can trigger excellent hatches of midges so why not treat yourself to an hour or two over Christmas and try some small dry flies such as black knat or my favorite a well hackled grizzle on peacock herl body #16/18.? On still days with no ripple on the water a buzzer will probably work better with the last foot or so of the leader de-greased so the fly just sits below te surface.
Tight -lines and don't forget the thermos!