STILLWATER TROUT anglers have been enjoying the exceptional spring weather.

A new fishery record was set at Watendlath by boat angler, Tony Harrop, with a 19lb rainbow trout. He also landed 18 rainbows and a brown all on black cat's whiskers.

Other anglers have landed double figure bags on floating lines with black buzzers.

East bay lake at Kentmere is producing good catches to intermediate lines with mini-lures and floating lines with black buzzers.

Esthwaite Water continues to fish well from both boat and bank. The winner of the Troutmasters Fish-off 2002 was Steve Bland with six rainbows weighing 17lb 10oz including time bonus and he goes through to the national final at Grafham Water in May.

In the second heat of the Shakespeare open pairs competition 10 anglers weighed in 54 rainbows for 125lb 8oz, including time bonuses. Winners were Ernie Craster and Peter Crowe with 12 for a record weight of 31lbs 15oz in the open pairs. Second were Caven Grear and Garry Edward, with 12 for 29lb 4oz. All weights included time bonuses. Both pairs qualify for the final in September.

The Tackle Shop Invitation Trophy was won by Ray Hadwin and Neil Birkinshaw from The Fishing Hut, Grange, for the second consecutive year, when they weighed in a beautiful brace of rainbows weighing 6lb 12oz.

Many excellent bags have been recorded to sinking lines and mini-lures also floating lines with black buzzers and olive buzzers.

Dubbs has been difficult with anglers catching rainbows on floating lines with small dark wet flies or intermediate lines and mini-lures. At Ghyll Head and Bigland the best approach has been a floating line with black buzzers or small black dries, likewise at High Newton or alternatively sinking lines with mini-lures.

At Knottallow there have been some good hatches of small black buzzers with brown trout caught on floating lines and small imitative patterns.

At Wych Elm the imitative approach is also proving successful with the best recent catch of 20 rainbows taken by Hugh Whittam on black buzzers and spiders.

At Farletonview Peter Welsh recorded the best recent catch of 16 rainbows on small olive buzzers and black buzzers.

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IN THE FINAL round of the Windermere Anglers and Kendal and District Anglers Winter League, held on the Rufford Canal, Mike Harrison confirmed his place at the top of the League by weighing in an impressive 5lbs 9oz of roach and skimmers to win the Match.

In second place was David Bailey with a similar catch for 3lb 15oz and third Graeme Dawes with 2lb 11oz.

This win in the final round placed Harrison way ahead to win the Windermere Anglers Winter League with 240 points. Second was John Walling with 196 points. Three anglers tied for third with 184 points, but the place was awarded to Neil Yates following a weight count-back.

Harison also won the Kendal and District Anglers Winter League with 118 points with Grahame Hall second with 100 and Pete Burgess third with 95.

Junior winner was Oliver Clarkson.

The first round of the Windermere Anglers and Kendal and District Anglers Coarse Fishing Summer League was held at Ratherheath in bright breezy conditions, which kept the tench off the feed with bream making up the bulk of the winning weights.

Winner was Ian Campbell with seven bream weighing 32lb 1oz caught on sweetcorn using groundbait feeder. Second was Martin Bailey with six bream weighing 25lb 9oz taken on pole-fished chopped worm, third Neil Yates with a 12lb 3oz bag of tench, caught from under the overhanging tree on peg one. Leading junior was Oliver Clarkson.

Anglers on Windermere are catching pike up to 25lb on sea deadbaits.

First light is the best time on Holehird for tench using pole or waggler with maggots or luncheon meat.

Cleveley Bridge is producing excellent catches ofroach to pole tactics with loose feed maggots, it is essential to throw in five or six every 20 seconds.

Redwell is fishing well for skimmers and roach to pole with chopped worm, casters, sweetcorn or luncheon meat.

Anglers on Ulverston Canal are catching tench up to 5lb on boilies and small roach on pole with maggots.

A few carp are being caught on boilies at Sandhall and Mill Beck.

It is almost impossible to fish the Lancaster Canal between The Bridges due to a surface algal bloom and weed. At the moment the Westbury Basin is clear but this could change.

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SEA ANGLERS are catching flounders at Canal Foot, Priory Point and Kingfisher on black lug and bass to 3 lb on lugworm from the north end of Walney and at Silecroft.

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ANGLERS HAVE been invited to the Enivornment Agency's annual seminar at Newton Rigg College, Penrith, on Saturday May 10. The theme this year is Improving Habitats for Fish'.

There will be presentations from staff on the Angling Participation Project, the River Leven Project, the Lakes Partnership and the River Habitat Survey, together with presentations from members of the Eden Rivers Trust and the Newly-formed Kent Rivers Improvement Group.

Displays will cover related conservation issues such as otter and water vole distribution and an update on the Agency's Fisheries work in the area.

Free tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis, and must be obtained in advance from Gill Watson or Nicola Baglee at the Environment Agency, Penrith, 01768 866666. Refreshments and lunch are included. Facilities at Newton Rigg College include wheelchair access and ample parking.

April 17, 2003 16:00