Snowstorm surprise

12:33pm Friday 11th April 2008

NEIL Yates, winner of the first round of Windermere Anglers/ Kendal and District Anglers' Summer League, had an almost unbelievable catch when he landed a tench on pole-fished red maggot during a snowstorm.

Atrocious conditions greeted the 11 competitors who met at Whins Pond, Penrith, for the competition, which Yates won with 3lb 11oz of small roach and skimmers and the bonus tench.

Grahame Hall was second with 1lb 3oz and Dave Jackson third with 15oz - both had small roach and skimmers. The next round is at Bigland, on Sunday, May 11.

Rivers BETWEEN March 22 and 24 the level of the River Eden rose, bringing a run of spring salmon.

At Warwick Bridge, on the Yorkshire Fly Fishers beat, Jeff Cowlburn caught a superb specimen estimated at 20lb.

A couple of others were landed downstream at Park Broom, including one by Julian Shaw at 7lb.

In early April the river fell back to one foot and was running clear and cold - perfect conditions - and the recent high tides brought a further run of salmon.

At Holmegate John Hatton landed one of 17lb on a cascade fly and another of 13lb spinning a brown Devon minnow.

At Lazonby Estate the first salmon of the season on this stretch was landed by George Noblett - a beautiful fresh sea-liced fish between 9lb and10lb.

For those seeking brown trout on the Eden, Eamont and Lowther, conditions have been more akin to mid-January and many anglers have yet to wet a line three weeks into the season.

Until the weather warms the best approach is to fish the slower water between three feet and four feet rather than the very deep or very shallow water, with a Greenwell's spider and a black spider on the droppers and a weighted nymph on the point.

With the very cold temperatures Ullswater has been much slower for loch-style fishing for wild brown trout than this time last year, but at Thirlmere Mike Fearon landed six wild browns.

Trout stillwaters THE ever-changing weather has made fishing unpredictable with plenty rising during any warmer spell, but much deeper when bitterly cold.

At Esthwaite success has come to those who changed tactics to suit conditions from sinking lines and lures to floating lines with nymphs and buzzer patterns, an exciting way of enticing trout.

Graeme Bell and his boat partner landed 53 rainbows to 3lb, from the south end of the lake. Richard Maddox landed five, including one of 6lb 3oz and another of 5lb 12oz and Steve Booth took four to 5lb 2oz.

While fishing for pike, before the end of the season on March 31, Chris Harris landed a superb over-wintered rainbow of 10lb 8oz, the heaviest of the season.

At Ghyll Head and High Newton there have been several double-igure catches, with some larger rainbows up to 7lb. At High Newton Trevor Williams landed an over-wintered rainbow of about 12lb, a solid bright silver fish in immaculate condition.

Good brown trout have also been caught, including one of over 4lb by Dave Mayhew.

Now the clocks have gone forward some anglers are venturing out on better evenings and at Ghyll Head Phil Moss reported catching some fine rainbows.

Exposed Knottallow has been disappointing with just a few browns caught, mainly on spider patterns.

At Moss Eccles, another upland tarn, although there are signs of greater activity, fishing for browns will only start to get going when the weather warms.

Bigland has still produced some good catches of rainbows, however, with many in the 5lb to 7lb range falling to a sparsely tied Dawson's olive.

In the Bigland Troutmaster fish-off competitors landed 49 trout. Tom Clayton won with two fish for 9lb 8oz and goes through to the final, at Grafham Water, on May 19. Tom went on to catch a further 18 on a damsel nymph with a yellow tail.

The catch of the week was from Neil Brooks, a superb 12lb rainbow. Mick Webber had 12 and several others had double figure catches to a variety of flies.

Wych Elm's Troutmaster fish-off was won by Ian Caulfield with four rainbows for 11lb 6oz and he goes through to the Grafham final. Roy Hubbard was second with four for 10lb 14oz.

Some of the best recent catches have been on buzzers with Patrick O'Hare taking 17 and 11 respectively on two visits. Craig Earl had 12, Stephen Johnston 11 and there were eight each for Dave Hoggarth and Steve Trouw.

Across at Farletonview rainbow catches have improved with Paul Miller and Neil Scace landing 12 apiece. Bob Beddal was one of many anglers to take seven while George Stanniland and Ray Taylor both returned fish to 6lb.

Coarse waters ESTHWAITE'S pike season ended on March 31 and the Masterline International prize of £200 worth of lures for the heaviest fish went to fishery assistant, Alex Barton, with a superb 31lb 14oz specimen caught in January. Any pike over 30lb from our waters is a great catch. Alex is a dedicated angler and also landed 29 other pike over 20lb during the six month winter season, a remarkable feat.

On Windermere a 26lb pike was reported by a boat user and others to 20lb have fallen to bank anglers.

Coniston's eastern shore has again fished well for pike with the best recent one of 19lb.

At Grasmere there have been pike to mid-doubles.

Geoff Waites landed a 16lb 12oz pike on the Lancaster Canal.

At Tewitfield those prepared to go out irrespective of conditions have regularly caught pike, including a season-best of 26lb 8oz, landed just as the light was fading by a young angler on an overnight ticket.

Venue regular Frank Squirrel was rewarded with two roach both approximately 2lb 8oz on consecutive casts as the fish momentarily came on to the feed.

On Ulverston Canal the best recent pike of 11lb was caught at the bottom end with plenty to 4lb elsewhere.

At Ratherheath, carp to 19lb have been caught while a few tench and bream have started to feature.

On sunny days at Castle Head carp have been visible just below the surface. Peter Clough landed several of about 4lb during a short session, but unfortunately lost a much bigger one.

At Sandhall Ponds there have been occasional carp catches and carp to 8lb at The Villa.

At Borwick carp to 6lb have been caught on warmer days.

Sea fishing THERE has been an improvement with catches of five or six flounders on lugworm at Plumpton, Greenodd, Priory Point and Tridley. Small codling to 2lb have been caught at Walney and Silecroft.

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