Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 05/04/2025

NO Rod To Top Rod

Much better week this week with a total of 30 fish landed, the corners of the lake are definitely coming into their own now and with the much warmer weather, the zig is the main capture of fish. Hot clear sunny days all week and a bright moon at night helped the zigs work wonders! The open water swims really struggled catching anything on the bottom, the fish spent all of their time in the upper layers. If your coming in the next month or so, make sure that zig tackle is packed. 

First off we have Potsey, Potsey was in Stock Pond and struggled most of the week, this is due to the majority of the fish being at the far end of the pond, but they turned up in numbers with two days to go. Potsey started off fishing at the 26 wrap spot over the bar to the far corner but after feeling he should of had a couple of fish he brought it back to 25 wraps, this would put him onto of the bar and this is where he caught his fish from. Only two fish for his time but he did manage the biggest of the week, a lovely 45lb common which he is yet to name as this was the first time it has been caught since being stocked in 2019, and he managed to catch it on the final morning, as they say it never over until the fat lady sings. Feeding wise, he wasn’t putting in to much bait, just enough to get a bite, Pellet, corn and some crushed boilie with a spinner over the top.

Chubb in Big Girls managed to go from no rod to top rod in less than 48 hours, the fish were in Big Girls all week but very tricky to catch, but once they finally decided to get their heads down Chubb made the most off it, 7 fish in the last two nights gave Chubbs the top rod badge. The biggest of his 7 fish was a fish known as “Bucko” at 38lb but he also managed two other 30’s, one being “Stitch” at 31lb 12oz and the other being “The Artisan” at 32lb 4oz. Chubbs was fishing 3 different spots along the margin, 9 wraps hard left into the corner, 21 wraps to the outlet pipe and 26 wraps to the spit. All rods produced fish this week so it goes to show their starting to get in there in numbers. Feeding very little also, just enough to get a bite, Pellet, corn and boiilie. Solid bags and combos both worked for Chubbs with little yellow hook baits. 

Joe Sanders fished very well in Treeline, its been a tricky swim as of late and Joe managed a total of 6 fish, steady catching, most nights I would get a message with one in the sling. Five fish came from the margin with one fish coming from a 18ft zig out long (not clipped up). 21 wraps to the going spot by the life ring and one hard left to the top of the shelf at 10 wraps, both spots produced fish. Joe had fish showing further up the treeline but made the dessicion not to fish for them, this is a great tactic when fishing this swim as you could end up chasing them out of the swim, with Joe letting the fish come to him this definitely helped him catch more fish.  The biggest for Joe was a fish he got to name himself, “Presley” at 32lb 4oz. Again feeding wise the same as the rest, little bit off feed for a bite. 

Dale Luther kicked started the week on the first day in Stink, landing a total of four carp, fishing a zig all around the swim, in short out long and changing depths. All his fish came to 18ft with a black and brown foam. Stink can be one of the better swims for the zig especially when the wind is blowing easterly, this come off the back of stink and casting the zig at the wind line is perfect. The biggest for Dale was a fish called “Baby Orange Spot” at 27lb 4oz. 

Dingle in Pole Position also managed two on the zig, started of very slow, but once the fish turned up he managed a couple, biggest being a 35lb common. Dingle was casting his zig around the swim at 20ft, and managed both out long around 30 wraps, again not clipping up, just stopping the lead before it hits the water. 

Regular Chris Clarke was back and this time he parked himself in Alamo, Chris managed 3 for the week, and he was the only open water swim angler to catch on the bottom. He actually managed two on the bottom and one on a 18ft zig. 33 wraps towards the dome tree between Baxters and Bob’s Beach, he Started off feeding Partical with boilie and pellet, he then decided to take the Partical out of the mix and thats when he managed the two off the deck. Chris was fishing his go to solid bags over the top with little pink dumbbell wafters. 36lb 4oz was the biggest for Chris, a fish known as “Kenny’s”.

Myself, for the first time in almost 3 years of working here i managed to get into Co’s Point, to be honest I wasn’t mega keen to get in Co’s, it hasn’t done a fish for three weeks prior and its never the best spring swim, the fish much prefer to venture into the corners. But none the less I gave it a go and at least it was a good view for the evenings. I decided to put all my efforts into the one zig and leave the other two short with bags over hemp, well them two rods I might swell folded up and put back in the bag, I just knew they wasn’t going to produce. But I did manage 4 fish upto 38lb on the zig, black on black or black tipped with a bit of red, cast around the swim from 15 wraps all the way up to the tyres. I had two of my fish just before dark, one at midnight and one at five in the morning.

Thats all for this week guys, its picking up, 30 fish is a good amount for this time of year, and its only going to get better. Even now, as im typing this (Sunday) the lads on this week have already had 4 fish out, but that for Gino’s report next week. 

Until next time

Tight lines 

Ben