Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 13/07/2013

Water Temperature - 23 degrees

Blistering Sunshine

Wind - calm north easterly 

Pressure - 1010

Clarity - 15ft

Mozis - relentless especially in the evenings 

The week started slow with no fish being produced the first 2 nights. Although there was plenty of movement in the upper layers with fish breaching they was just not getting their heads down and feeding. The weather and time of year suggests spawning may be taking place, but after a thorough look round in the margins, no evidence of this could be found.

Slowly the fish started to end up on the mat with Ian Graham banking a 26lb mirror in Monday mornings first light. The homemade bottom bait was cast 70 yards into open water from the stock pond to showing fish, which rattled off immediately after.

Jordan Leigh was next in on the action after we heard a one toner from a few swims down late Tuesday night, so thought we would investigate. We found Jordan locked into a strong fish that was desperately trying to escape into the snags to the right of his Co’s point swim. After an uncertain few moments of non-movement he managed to turn it back into open water, which soon ended up in the net. The scales whipped round to 31lb 12oz of pure muscle. A single Banoffee wafter fished to a tightly baited spot at 115 yards was this fishes downfall.

Our very own Michael Mack (Macky) followed suit early the next morning in the stink. An absolute screamer of a run was a very welcome wake up call just before work. Again a single Banoffee wafter mounted on an IQ D-rig produced the 30lb 2oz common. The spot at around 40 yards was baited with a kilo of the awesome hybrid.

Big fish Thursday turned out to be lost fish Thursday with 4 runs from around the lake, none of which were banked. Macky lost a fish in the right hand snags of the stink while Dan Guirey down in big girls actually managed some runs due to his rigs being submerged rather than hanging from trees, I suppose it helps. But unfortunately lost 2 in dense weed beds and 1 because of a, shall we say, well below average knot.

Come Friday night Dan finally got on the board with a 20lb common which was well earned after the previous nights antics. IQ D-rig again producing the goods, fished towards the reed bed at 110 yards.

Conditions continued to look good for a few more bites going into Saturday morning. With a slight drop in temperature and cool northeasterly blowing, we wasn’t wrong as 4 fish were landed in a mad 4 hour period. Craig Moore, who had persevered in the tree line all week with no luck, must of thought a blank was on the cards, but at last innings redeemed himself with a brace of mirrors weighing in at 25lb and 21lb 2oz respectably.

Back in the stink for the night, Macky continued his strong run of form, landing a 31lb 8oz at 5:30am from the same baited area, which produced his common earlier on in the week. Understandably, he stuck with the Banoffee wafter combined with the mighty IQ D-rig as he was so confident of its presentation.

The fishing also proved to be tough for Geoff and partner Fiona, but none the less, spirits were high after a lovely week away in the sun. It looked like he would have to end the week with no fish, but the lake had other plans for old Geoff before he reeled in for the last time. His rod screamed off and finally had the take he had been grafting so very hard for. With the pressure still on to land the fish, everyone decided to make an appearance in Alcatraz to see him eventually lift the net under a cracking 30lb 6oz mirror. The atmosphere was electric as this fish resulted in a clean sweep with all anglers catching, so it was going to be a great drive home all round. An Indian spiced pop up fished at 21 rod lengths towards the right of the big southerly tricked this scaly stunner at last doors.

Not the best week for the big girls but everyone went home smiling which what its all about in our books.

What a great first week for me personally, thoroughly enjoyable so thanks guys and girls and all the best for the future.

Be lucky

Rhys & Mike