| March 2002 Looking back at February the main memory, which sticks in my mind, is rain, rain, rain……! However, there’s still been a few fish caught around the Midlands on the ‘open all year’ waters and the odd reservoirs which have already opened their doors to the early season anglers. I have enjoyed a few nice days spent chasing big rainbows. My first trip was to Loynton Hall Trout Fishery near Stafford and I was lucky to catch half a dozen lovely rainbows to just under 5lbs (3 taken and 2 returned). All the fish were taken on an intermediate line and home tied cats whisker fritz’s – great fun.
This however wasn’t the highlight of my trip – whilst stalking I spotted a truly massive rainbow which I estimated at well over 20lbs. I tried to carefully catapult cast my olive bug into its path but dropped slightly short. However the big fish saw the slight disturbance my fly had made and turned towards it, opened its big white mouth and what did I do – I bloody struck the fly right out of its mouth – unbelievable and unforgivable – maybe next time eh! The Trout News – Thornton Reservoir, Leics- 01530 230807 – Thornton opened its gates on 1st February to torrential rain and gale-force winds. The winds were that strong the boats remained at their mooring for the first four days of the season until weather conditions improved sufficiently for anglers to venture out. When weather conditions allowed, some excellent sport was enjoyed by anglers fishing along the shallows of the Thornton Arm and Wood Bank with intermediate and floating lines with orange blobs, nomad, cats whisker and tadpoles producing best. However some bank anglers found a floating line and a team of buzzers doing well especially along the shelter of the wood. To date 287 rods have caught 685 trout of which 160 were returned. Notable fish for the month :- 7lb 8oz rainbow, Mrs Sinden of Nottingham, Paddy Fitch, 6lb 4oz, 6lb 1oz, Peter Royle, 6lb 6oz, 5lb, Terry Miles, 6lb and Norman Williams, 6lb. Loynton Hall, Staffs – 01785 284261 – Firstly, I have just heard that Loynton’s Steve Masters sadly died last month at just 32 years old. Steve was a super guy who certainly helped me put a few extra fish on the bank and he will be sadly missed.
March will bring warmer weather and it will be time to get your buzzers out. Loynton fish can be very obliging to a floating line and either black or green buzzers account for lots of fish. However don’t discount Loynton Guineas and lures such as Cats Whiskers will still take their fair share of the bigger fish. Masterline Lechlade, Gloucs. – 01367 253266 – Lechlade fished extremely well again during February with a variety of methods scoring well. Most people enjoyed taking their limit bags and approx half the fish taken were doubles. Best fish of the month was a 20lb 9oz fish which was closely followed by lots of 15lb and 16lb fish. Best patterns were lures especially Cats Whiskers & Black & orange lures. I did well on a home tied Green Fritz with a white marabou tail on a size 8 hook. March brings the first signs of fly life and the fishery staff expect buzzers and damsels to start taking lots of quality fish when fished on a floating line and long leader. Lechlade is also one of the best stalking waters in the area as the water is so clear making the big fish so visible. I spent a breathtaking few hours creeping around the lake looking for fish; it was so exciting after stripping lures all winter. It also enables you to target some of the bigger specimens with weighted patterns such as goldheads or stalking bugs. Remember to phone to check availability as Lechlade is always in demand with anglers travelling long distances to try for those big rainbows! Bushyleaze Fishery, Lechlade, Glous – 01367 253 266 (Approx 1 mile away from Masterline Lechlade) – Bushleaze is a larger water than Masterline Lechlade at 24 acres. It is a lovely water if you enjoy targeting the trout on natural patterns and is one of the best buzzer waters in the Midlands. It fished well during February however it is now that the water becomes alive, as the fish will be eager to take the hatching buzzers. There were lots of fish taken with an average size between 3 – 6lbs in weight. The best fish of the month was just over 10lbs so you always have a chance of a bigger specimen. Milestone Fisheries, Gloucs – 01285 713908 – Just up the road at Milestone you have the 3 trout lakes on offer plus various coarse fishing lakes in the same complex of gravel pits. February proved a good month at Milestone and despite the bad weather many anglers braved the conditions and were rewarded with some good fishing. Island Pool – This smaller pool is ideal for beginners and younger anglers as it is well stocked with hard-fighting trout. This fished well during last month and the most productive patterns were Fritz damsels and Cats Whiskers. However over the last week buzzers have started to show and it will be worth fishing a team of buzzers on a floating line during March. Main Lake – This lake offers some great sport to both bank and boat anglers. It fished well all over in February with most anglers catching their limits or enjoying the available catch and release option. This lake has a good stock of double figure trout and February produced a number of these fish to a variety of methods. Popular flies last month included Gold Nugget Nomads, Fritz Damsels, Hot Tails, Cats Whisker and Damsels. Expect the same patterns to score well during March but with the addition of buzzers in all colours. My favourite approach on this water is to fish a floating line, a long fluorocarbon leader with a size 12 black buzzer on the dropper and a size 10 olive goldhead on the point. Doubles Lake – Milestone offers a small doubles only pool, which is situated at the top end of the main lake. This pool is stocked with mainly 13-15lbs fish and offers you the opportunity to enjoy a free ticket if you blank on this pool – a guaranteed double water! February sport was good with lots of fish to 19lbs and a high average of just over 15lbs. Best patterns included Hot Tails and Cats Whiskers. As with the other lakes expect buzzers to take their fair share of fish during March and don’t forget to stock up on stalking bugs, as you will be able to see the fish cruising around the water. Don’t forget to ring the fishery office to check availability as Milestone only allows small numbers on the doubles pool. Milestone also offers some great course fishing if you are an all-rounder like myself. During February the Carp Lake produced fish in excess of 20lbs and the Pike Lake fished very well with one angler taking 13 pike to 19lbs 14oz in one-day session. This pool also allows fly-fishing for pike but closes on 1st April. Press Manor, Derbys – 07976 306073 (www.pressmanorfishery.inuk.com) Press opens for 7 days fishing starting March 9th – more details next month. Give owner Bernie a call for more information or check out his website. Packington Fishery, Warks – 01676 522754 (www.packingtonestates.net) John at Packington informed me that they enjoyed a good month on the Cocks Close lake with figures of 674 fish from 262 returns – an average of 2.4. The best fish was a cracking 13lbs 10oz fish and the most successful patterns were Cats Whiskers and Damsels. Best areas were both ends of the High Bank. The outlook for March is good and John expects the buzzer fishing to be very productive. He is also introducing some big fish with lots in the 7 – 15lbs range expected. Fisherwick Lakes, Staffs – 01543 433606 – Although the banks at Fisherwick have been relatively quiet those who ventured out in the wet weather enjoyed some good sport. The resident brown trout seem to have woken up before the rainbows and some lovely fish to 6lbs were taken – fin perfect fish. March brings some good sport to both lures and buzzers all around the lake and they expect the rainbow sport to be lively. March also means that many of the reservoirs open their doors – here are a few dates for your diaries – 1) March 1st – Ravensthorpe, Northants (01604 770875). That’s it for this month. Next month I hope to bring you my first Fishery Review on one the Midlands waters – don’t miss it. If you have anything you would like to add to my monthly column please contact me at paul@fishinfletch.com. I’d be very happy to hear from you. Good luck for the new trout season. Fletch Paul Fletcher is editor of AnglingLines Ltd – The Largest Used Tackle Site on the Net! |
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