No.1 Wed 7th June

quite the same level of sport we had experienced in the Haven House charity match the Saturday before. Although there weren’t the same numbers of fish showing, Tony Fox was still able to catch five from No4 on a single Cul, keeping one, even though these were mostly small fish. On No5 the usually productive swims along the West bank were slow, encouraging us to explore the South West corner and the Houses Bank. After a brief look on the Causeway of No4, though, Dave Garry went back to the North West corner of No5, to be rewarded with a nice 3-8-0 fish on floating line and buzzer. Fish were seen moving in the crosswind along the Houses Bank later, but none of the rest of us managed to land anything. We hope this was just a blip in the weather and that, when conditions settle, we’ll be back to the great sport and over-wintered fish that we saw in the Haven House. 

No.2 Wed 14th June

fish were moving well in No4 along the Causeway, while No5 was relatively quiet. Jim, Billy and Andrew were soon catching on the floater here, with dries, nymphs, Blobs and small Boobies all catching, and the washing-line a popular set-up. Fish were apparently feeding on small midge, but there is also plenty of daphnia for them to go at, as well as this year’s pin-fry sheltering in the marginal weed. Jim kept a couple of the better fish, which he tempted on a Blob-Hare’s Ear combination, while Andrew, fishing two small Diawl Bachs with a Widget on the point, had a couple that were just slightly bigger than Tony’s which came to dries. Tony though had the good fortune to catch one of Walthamstow’s rare brown trout, now scarce since the last brown trout stocking here was a good many years ago. Billy caught well, but came unstuck waiting for a better fish, only for takes to slow up later in the evening. After last week it was nice to catch the reservoirs at their best, even if the fish were frustrating at times, with refusals and abortive follows the pattern for most of the evening.

No.3 Wed 21st June

Tony Fox reported temperatures of 35 degrees C when he arrived at the car park, with the concrete banking round the reservoirs too warm to sit on. Although this hot spell actually broke the next day, this was too late for our evening participants, who all slaved away heroically for very little reward, as the fish appeared to have turned off completely. Tony did say he had one take on a Minky on No4, and a few fish were seen moving in No5, but at distance. Rather than head-and tailing, these were seen splashing or chasing something, but this was all far beyond casting range. What we really need is a good dose of wind and rain to cool everything down. Once that happens, fish can really start moving on top. One Wednesday you’re having to go deep for them with DI7 and Boobies, the next, you’re covering moving fish with fry patterns just one or two feet down.  

No.4 Wed 28th June

exactly what we got, with heavy overcast conditions and a Fresh Northerly. As often happens during or after a hot spell, we found the most fish moving at the top of the wind, so the Railway Bank and North East Corner of No4 saw plenty of fish showing, with No5 being relatively quiet, although Tony did get one on dries from the Causeway. Jim did well next to the culvert, now featuring its new fish-stopping grille, even though he reported losing a few on his Charley Farley. Frank had a few along the Railway Bank, while Andrew returned one he took on the washing-line, then had a run of dropped fish in the North East Corner. After adopting a mobile approach, Tony also settled on the East bank of No4 where he took a succession of fish on his single Cul. We were pleased to see that only do we still have the excellent clarity, but that even the smaller fish are fighting well, with some larger specimens seen moving, whether it’s chasing the numerous shoals of pin-fry evident in the margins, or the larger fry from last year. Daphnia is probably also on the menu, and bird activity late in the evening also showed that a buzzer hatch was probably taking place as well. In short, it’s all looking pretty good and as long as conditions stay the way they are, we should be in for some more good sport.

No.5 Wed 5th July

there are still big fish in the reservoirs and, as long as you’re lucky with the weather, they can be caught. On this Wednesday, though, the chips were against us, and everyone struggled. More credit to Frank Daley, then, who not only had to cope with a recent foot injury, but landed the only fish of the evening, a nice three pound fish. The other five contestants were not so fortunate, getting just three takes between them, and all returning a blank. With three evenings still to go, Tony has an 8-point lead, ahead of Jim and Frank, but the Overall Series Winner competition is still wide open, with everything to play for, especially if we get some more of the good fishing we’ve already enjoyed.

No.6 Wed 12th July

and for once nearly everyone had fish to weigh in. During the evening the field was split 50:50, with Tony, John and Dave seeing what No5 could produce, while Frank, Jim and Pat chose to explore the banks of No4. With fish high in the water, dries and nymphs were both successful methods, as the reservoirs returned to the type of fishing we like. Tony’s brace was a good half pound ahead of John’s fish, with Frank and Dave just half an ounce apart in 3rd and 4th. With 37 points, Tony has a clear overall lead over Frank and Jim, on 26 and 25 points respectively, but with two matches still to go, they both have a chance to do some catching up. 

No.7 Wed 19th July

which saw plenty of fish moving in the South West Bay of No.5. Regular Wednesday Evening participants will know that this can be a prime location for fish activity, even during the height of summer. It’s probably something to do with more colder water collecting here in a SW wind, as well as the culverts, but often this can seem like the only place where fish are moving. Nymphs and dries were again the successful methods, with Tony, John and Frank all heading for No5, while the others looked at No4, which was apparently not so productive. Another win for Tony Fox has now given him an unassailable lead in the overall series, but there’s still all to play for among the other podium places.    

No.8 Wed 26th July

moving in bursts of activity, not only in the South West Bay of No5, but also along the Causeway. As Tony had already bagged the Ken Gunn shield for the overall series, most of us decided to return any fish we took, so the scorecard doesn’t really represent the evening’s fishing. Billy landed an early fish on an Orange Cul from the South West Bay, while next him Andrew lost a couple on the washing-line, the first on a Hare’s Ear Widget, the second on a small Diawl Bach, and continued to get abortive takes here for the rest of the evening. But it was Frank who was the most successful of us, with four fish put back, including one that looked a good four pounds. Although fish were playing hard to get, we saw enough decent ones moving to think that prospects for the rest of the season look very encouraging, and we were also told that another stocking would be going in this week. Don’t forget that the gates now close at 9.00pm, but that still gives you time for an after-work session. With three 1st places, a 2nd and a 3rd, Tony deservedly took the Ken Gunn Shield for the Overall Series, due reward for persevering with his dry fly, single Cul, approach, which often has the knack of selecting the better fish. Thanks for everyone for supporting this year’s event, and we look forward to the Autumn Series which, from the number of fish already seen moving, should be a cracker.     

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