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Salmon numbers dip
9:29am Friday 1st February 2008
ON CONISTON Water the Environment Agency is overseeing the clean-up of about 1,000 litres of red diesel fuel.
It is unclear how much seeped into the lake and whether fish stocks have been damaged.
The priority is to ensure that the clean-up is effective so the agency is working with a specialist contractor to prevent any further contamin-ation.
At this stage it appears that the lake's aquatic life has not been seriously effected.
Rivers fell back from recent high waters toward the end of last week. On the Eden there are reports of two very fresh spring salmon being caught at Warwick Hall and Carlisle.
The fish counter at Corby has recorded an upstream count of 10,412 salmonids, influenced by a high proportion of sea lampreys. The count is a good one, but still some way short of the 12,230 recorded in 2004.
The new salmon season officially begins today (Friday) but in recent times spring salmon is a rare catch.
The fish counter at Basinghyll recorded 2304 salmon, 2106 sea trout and 935 herling. The decline in sea trout does not appear to have continued, but salmon numbers are 15 percent lower than recent years. The data shows that anglers need to put conservation of fish stocks to the fore.
f f f f f f f f f BIGLAND has fished well with rainbow trout up to 5lb. Neil Brookshaw took five to 3lb 8 oz on buzzers, Chris Robinson five on bloodworm patterns and Dave Hill and Mike Fearon took four each on Gold Head Damsel nymphs.
On High Newton, buzzers have been working well. Michael James caught 12 up to 3lb.
At Ghyll Head the top end has proved best fishing. Catches have been to intermediate lines with lures fished slowly.
For boat anglers at Esthwaite Water, the best area is in front of the ticket office. John Henderson landed one of 4lb on a fast sinker with fry pattern.
The water level at Wych Elm has been the highest ever but is starting to recede. Best catches include eight for Raymond Harwood on olive lures and red buzzers.
At Farletonview, John Morris got six on bloodworm patterns with other anglers catching off lures.
Coarse waters have been high and badly affected by flushes of cold water.
f f f f f f f f f PIKE have been caught at Esthwaite Water by boat. Fishery manager, David Coleman, landed one of 27 lb 8 oz trailing sardine deadbaits in 15-20 feet of water.
Windermere has been slow, but one angler managed three pike at 24 lb on deadbaits.
At Grasmere and Rydal Water there have been pike to early doubles and to 4lb on Ulverston Canal.
Pine Lake produced a pike of 20lb off mackerel deadbait. Roach fishing is now a prospect on the deeper waters of the lake.
Despite high water levels there have been 9lb carp caught on Sandhall Ponds with boillies.
Ratherheath opens tomorrow (Saturday) and should also be fishable with boillies.
Gatebeck Tarn Coarse Fishery will operate differently from April 1. The car park will have 15 spaces, there will be 33 pegs plus two for the disabled.
Annual membership permits and day tickets are available. The latter from Carlsons tackle shop, Gatebeck caravan park and Endmoor village shop. For further info contact Fiona Briggs on 01539 725019 or briggsfiona@yahoo.co.uk f f f f f f f f f SEA fishing has been patchy, with the occasional flounders caught at Plumpton, Greenodd, Canal Foot and Priory Point on lugworm or lugworm tipped with Bluey.
Also a few codling have been caught from the Channel and south end of Walney, Silecroft, Drigg and Braystone on lugworm and crab.
Buzzer...
www.lakedistrictfishing.net
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Prehistoric walk
The interesting brochure you can obtain from the car park at Foulshaw Moss says that more than several thousand years ago the Witherslack Mosses were part of an extensive wetland in what is now the Lyth Valley and on the flat ground west of the Kent Estuary. The Mosses - Meathop, Foulshaw and Nicols - are raised peat bogs brought about by sphagnum moss that draws up, acidifies, and holds water like a giant sponge, creating waterlogged conditions as it grows. Sphagnum grows from the tip, leaving the lower part to die. Waterlogging halts decay of these dead bits that build up and up over thousands of years, to form deep domed mounds of peat that are raised many feet above the surrounding ground. The Witherslack Mosses have dried out partly as a result of forestry and the invasion of scrub. Over time, drainage and peat cutting led to the loss of more wetland and now only significant fragments remain. Specialised peatbog flora and fauna have been unable to thrive because of the area being too shaded and too dry. Recently conifers have been removed and also masses of rhododendrons have been cleared. Hundreds of peat and plastic dams have been installed to bring about the ‘sponge’ effect of the peat. At Foulshaw, the remains of a 15ft to 16ft wide prehistoric trackway has been uncovered. This is believed to have been constructed in the mid-Bronze Age to allow people to cross the once huge wetland. Trunks of ash and birch were laid side by side and supported on logs. Foulshaw Moss is open to the public. Nichols Moss, a really squelchy one, is only suitable for a hundred yards or so before you encounter pathless very wet moss. It is a delight to stand and look ahead but as there is no walkway do not continue. Pause just on its edge from where you might spot red deer. Meathop is a lovely walk but only for those with a permit from Cumbria Wildlife Trust or if you are a member. The parking is difficult. After the first short grassy track, follow a wider track, left, that winds round right by a pasture and into fine conifer woodland. Beyond this a wide walkway takes you out some distance into the moss, from where you will spot all sorts of interesting lowly plants. To visit Foulshaw Moss, on the A590, it is best to approach the entrance from the direction of Kendal. If coming from the opposite direction continue on past the entrance and make use of the Levens underpass to make a U-turn and approach from the north. This avoids trying to make a right turn across a narrow section of the busy A-road. The entrance is not signposted until you have turned off the road. The entrance turn, a cart track, lies just before a large layby on a narrow section of the A-road. Just beyond the turn, stands a huge sign saying ‘Dual carriageway a mile ahead’. To approach the entrance, drive the dual carriageway at Levens until it ends. Continue a short distance along the two-way road and begin to signal your left turn. Watch out for the large sign ahead. If you reach the layby you have gone too far.
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