Week by Week reports

A strong Westerly wind saw competitors looking for sheltered water, with Jim and Barry setting up on the West bank of No5, while Frank chose to start on No4. As often happens, sport was brisk during the morning and early afternoon, thanks to a recent stocking, so the trick was to return anything too small, in the hope of a better fish later on. As Frank found, though, takes started to slow up around 2.30-3.00pm, although he was able to weigh in a good three pound fish, taken on the floater with Diawl Bachs and Buzzers. Over on No5, Boobies, Snakes and Tadpoles were working for Jim, who found a couple of nice fish, and Barry, whose nice brace got him second place. After a good start to the series, we are hopeful of more great sport, as the fish continue to pack on weight. Not everyone could make this opening match, but we know that the Series will more hotly contested as it gets under way. Don’t leave it to the Fur & Feather to find out what you’ve been missing! 

Ideal conditions with a 8-10mph SW wind, plus gin-clear water, welcomed those competing in our second match. It appeared that fish were well on the feed, with Barry and Frank off to a good start on the Causeway, catching right from the off. Jim, who had begun on the 3rd platform down the West bank of No5, also found prolific sport. John, who had set up on the top end of No4, later moved to the Houses bank of No5, where he found sport much better. Frank and Barry joined Jim on No5 later in the morning, with all of them doing well, and catching on all kinds of methods. The general view is that the fishery is ‘on fire’ with Jim getting over 40, Barry over 20, and Frank ‘losing count’ after 5. The best fish was a 3-14-0 to Frank, which was found to be full of bloodworms and snails, just the sort of grub they need to overwinter well. We were hoping that sport would take off, and that’s what happened. As we said, don’t leave until the Fur & Feather, get down there now! Even better, we now have a new temporary car parking area, left of the main gate, where the railway workmen were operating, which should make life a little easier.

We were lucky enough to get a repeat of the last match’s ideal conditions, with a light-moderate Westerly, and sunny or hazy sky. Add the excellent water clarity, along with a couple of well-stocked reservoirs, and sport was prolific for most of the day. Jim went in one of early platforms down the West bank of No5 and was soon into fish on DI7 and Boobies, getting several double-headers, while Tony Fox was getting response on the Cul washing line and buzzers on No4. Tony later moved to No5 on the Causeway, where John had also settled, finding the Intermediate working well here, and in the SE Bay. Further down the West bank of No5, Andrew found fish high in the water on the Booby, so changed to the Fast Intermediate, getting into a string of fish on a Black Snake, before changing to floater and washing-line. Best fish was around 4lbs to Andrew, with plenty of 3lb+ fish being caught, on a variety of methods. The recent publicity surrounding the opening of Walthamstow Wetlands has attracted many more visitors, but the new ‘Beware of Back-casting’ signs, as well as a good look behind you before you start casting, should avoid incidents. With the hectic sport, many of these visitors were excited to see us landing fish, and genuinely interested in what we doing, so let’s all try to be on our best behaviour.

With an additional stocking about ten days previously, plus the same excellent water clarity, prospects looked very good, even if a cold Northerly, with some light drizzle, possibly slowed up action in the morning. Sport was steady from No5 off the Causeway, mostly to Boobies on the DI8 and DI7, even if the fish were not hard on the bottom, and came up during the day as often happens, with the DI3 and Fast Intermediate producing later on. It was not all Boobies and Snakes, though, with John and Frank catching on floater and buzzers from the SE Bay. John in particular managed to get two great 3lbs+ fish, while John O’Regan (not in the competition) also had a good sized fish off the East end of the Causeway. Visitor numbers were well down on two weeks ago, probably in view of the weather, although the West bank got slightly more busy in the afternoon, with passers-by often stopping to watch us battling silver trout in the clear water conditions. Fingers crossed, this sport should continue well up to the Fur & Feather and beyond.

A chilly start, along with persistent drizzle, which set in early and continued for most of the day, might have seen reduced numbers of casual visitors, but didn’t affect the fishing. The popular West bank of No5 was busy, with Jim Dillon soon building up a good score here. In the South West Bay, though, Andrew found it slow going on Boobies and Snakes, until he moved to the Houses Bay where he found a better stamp of fish on the DI3. Frank was getting fish most places he tried but sportingly was putting everything back, as he didn’t think he had a chance of the overall title. John went for a mobile approach, looking for the better fish, which he managed from the South East Bay of No5 later on, while Andrew also found a few from the West bank of No4 on a Fry Booby. As well as buzzers and bloodworm, some of these fish have pin-fry inside them, as well as the bigger two inch fry, so should certainly be packing on weight. With just one match to go, it’s still very close for the overall winner, with just one point between Jim and John.

A frosty start, plus a cold Westerly wind, appeared to have driven the fish deeper, which meant that some of us persisted with the DI7 or DI8 for longer than previously. John and Andrew started on No4, with John finding sport off the Railway Bank, while Andrew had a couple on fry patterns off the West bank. Jim had started on No5, fishing on the West end of the Causeway, but later moved to his favourite third platform down on the West bank. Andrew and John also moved to the Houses Bank on No5 later. Finding sport slow here, John soon moved off to try elsewhere, but Andrew stuck it out, finally getting takes on a Booby, short leader and DI8. He kept a 2-13-0 rainbow in the afternoon, adding a 3-5-0 fish he took in the last ten minutes. With neither Frank nor John keeping any fish, despite returning several, and Jim not weighing in, Andrew’s 10 points put him level with Jim on 37 points overall. In this position it’s the total weight of the four best performances that count. Jim’s total went 24-6-8, but Andrew’s went one ounce heavier at 24-7-8, so he took the series by the narrowest of margins. In a very close series, John Ferguson was third, just one point behind on 36 points. Fish are feeding well on bloodworm and pinfry and so, with the excellent water clarity, prospects look great for an all-action Fur & Feather.

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Final Positions