Angling: Frith and Henshall take top honours in Esthwaite Open Pairs competition (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Angling: Frith and Henshall take top honours in Esthwaite Open Pairs competition

2:23pm Wednesday 16th March 2011 in Sport

As part of the Open Day at Esthwaite Water last Sunday, the first heat of the Open Pairs Competition was fished in dry but cool conditions in a light variable wind.

Seven pairs (14 anglers) took part landing 82 Rainbow Trout for 163lb 11oz, including time bonuses (TB).

The winners were Mike Frith and Mike Henshall with 12 for 27lb 5oz, inc TB, and not far behind in second place were Dave Morris and Alistair Beaumont with 12 for 26lb 3oz, including TB.

Both pairs go through to the grand final in September.

The winning tactics were sinking lines with Black and Green lures and sparsely tied mini Cat’s Whiskers.

Frith landed the heaviest Rainbow of 3lb 3oz.

Other Rainbow Stillwaters At Wych Elm the best recent catches of Rainbows have fallen to Cat’s Whiskers with Norman Bennett, eight, and Bloodworm patterns with Raymond Harwood, seven, and Geoff Waites, six. Anglers at Bigland have also been among the Rainbows despite the often cold wind.

Charlie Parkinson seven and five over two visits on Dawson’s Olive, Steve Johnson five on Black and White mini-lures and L and G Knipe, 11 between them on Bloodworm patterns.

High Newton and Ghyll Head should also start to fish well.

Angling by Buzzer lakedistrictfishing.net TOP TIP Early season tactics for Rainbows are about changing your approach if you are not catching.

Keep on the move as the fish tend to shoal up at this time of year and vary the depths of flies and change retrieves – usually slow in cold conditions.