Week by Week reports

This year’s Autumn Series got off to a good start with overcast conditions seeing a lot of fish moving in the South East bay of No5, possibly because of the Easterly wind pushing out of here. Jim, Charlie, Kevin and Frank all started getting takes here, keeping a few fish to weigh in later. John, however, put his back, only to find that sport slowed dramatically around mid-day. Latecomers did get a few takes along the Houses bank, and there were also fish to be had along the Causeway and the South East corner of No4, where the whole of the East bank was out of bound due to the current works. Although the fishery has benefited from the recent stocking, it was good to see some grown-on fish showing, including fish to 4lbs+. We know there are better fish to be had, to judge from the specimens we’ve seen moving, and as soon as the temperatures drop these should really start to feed. Although fish were moving, it appears they are only on the daphnia, but as long as the water remains clear, we should see buzzers and bloodworm producing, as well as Minkies and Boobies. Remember, the Autumn Series carries on the way up to the Fur & Feather, and you don’t have to fish every one for your points score to count, so there’s plenty of opportunity to join us on the bank as the fishing improves.

Overcast, mild conditions found fish moving in the top two or three feet. Ray Taylor (not in the competition) was doing well on Diawl Bachs in the SW corner of No4, and fish also came along the Causeway here, with Tony Fox returning three hooked surprisingly close in on a cul washing-line and buzzers. The Houses Bank and the SE bay of No5 had also been busy, with Kevin getting one early here on the Booby, following this with a second from halfway down the West bank of No5. Some people had moved away from the Houses Bank when it got quiet, but John and Charlie both got fish here in the afternoon which were absolutely stuffed with olive green daphnia, so obviously some fish are feeding hard. The odd fish continued to be caught in the SW Bay of No4, while for others it was a case of knocks and missed takes. Kevin, Charlie and Frank have been scoring consistently, but with four matches to go it’s still very much early days. We have seen some great fish showing so, despite the work on the banks and the lowered levels, we’re hoping for great things in the run-up to the Fur & Feather.

The fishery had been stocked the previous Thursday, with 1200 put into No5 and 800 into No4. With a SSE wind the top bay of No5 was still holding good numbers of fish from the stocking, and was pretty well packed out. Kevin and Dave both managed to get among the crowds here, and were quickly rewarded with fish. Kevin managed to get a dozen, keeping the best brace, on an Orange Booby fished on a floating line. Dave fished a team of Diawl Bachs on the floater and was also catching and releasing fish throughout the day. In an effort to target the resident fish, Frank and John went onto the Houses Bank, but to no avail, and both moved off here and onto the Causeway fishing into No4. This was where Pat was set up, and while seeing a lot of fish moving, he also had one on a Diawl Bach. The fishing is still pretty tricky, but we should have some cracking sport when the Series resumes in a few weeks time.

After our three week break we were welcomed  by levels back to normal, light winds and clear water. A succession of chilly nights was no doubt the reason why Boobies on the DI7 were the most successful opening gambit, producing fish off the West Bank of No5, as well as from the Causeway. Around lunchtime, though, we were starting to see more fish showing and before long takes on the Booby started to dry up. Both Pat and John hooked fish on the floater, John managing to land three of them. Kevin and Andrew kept the better fish they hooked on the Booby, with Dave swopping to the DI3 to ensure he kept on getting takes. With bank work not planned to start again until after the Fur & Feather, and talk of another stocking going in, the prospects for a crackerjack Christmas match are looking very good indeed, but why wait ‘till then? The place is fishing its socks off right now.

With another stocking just four days before the  weekend, prospects certainly looked good. Despite a cold North wind, fish were soon being caught, both on nymphs and buzzers on the floater, as well as on the DI7 and Boobies, with Railway Bank of No.4 being just as productive as the Causeway and West bank of No.5. Frank and John steadily picked up fish on the floater, while Andrew found fish were keen on the Coral Booby. Pat picked up a couple of nice fish on the West Bank, while Charlie was catching in the North West corner. Once again, around 1.00pm to 2.00pm takes dried up with the fish apparently coming up in the water. Switching to Zonkers or Tadpoles found them about three or four feet down. The average was about 2-0-0 to 2-8-0 but there are grown-on fish of over 3lbs in great conditions, and much larger fish have been seeing moving. With just one match to go, it looks as though Kevin has an unassailable lead, thanks to his consistency in the early part of the series, but the runners-up places could be anyone’s.

Work had restarted on the East bank of No4, but  this didn’t spoil the action. Early on, we were lined up along the West bank of No.5, with a couple of us on the Causeway, but some of us, like Frank, moved around a lot, eventually ending on No.4. The first fish were taken on the DI7 and Boobies, but very soon we were starting to take them in mid-water, including some good ones. When takes dried up with about three hours to go, some of switched over to the Intermediate and started getting takes again. A lot of fish were put back. John, not being in a position to overhaul Kevin’s lead, returned around ten, Frank a similar number, while Kevin released over a dozen. Andrew’s brace, including a near-four pounder, were both taken in mid-water, while both Charlie and Pat weighed in three pound fish. But the day belonged to Kevin, whose consistent performance over the series finally got his name on a trophy. Well done, and thanks for everyone for supporting the event this year. Now for the Fur & Feather!

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Final Results