June/July Catch Reports
Posted: 16th Jul 2012
It's time to bring the catch reports up to date, and the next two weeks were the low of the year. It was all a bit baffling at first because I thought the second spawning was the last, but it all came apparent on the 12th week of the season.
The 11th week was a real head scratcher, and I did feel for the lads who have fished the lake two years on the trot at the backend of April, so they have always had some of the best fishing of their life. This week had them doubting any fish resided in the lake, and it was deathly quiet all week apart from the same scenario of lumps crashing out through the dark hours. The lads put 3 fish on the bank with a stunning long male of 43lb being the best of the week, followed by a 35lb & a low 20.
The 12th Week arrived and another group who had been before, and it seemed that things might improve with two fish of 35lb on the bank by tuesday, but then out of the blue the whole lake erupted with a mass spawning on the Wednesday that lasted for 24hrs on the full length of the far bank. I then realised that the week before low point was the "ready and waiting", and when conditions were right it was the catalyst for the spawn up!!!! The big girls got their final chance to dump the spawn and it was great to see this epic show, and only now are the fish ready to get feeding hard once again!! The lads ended on 3 fish again, but the answer to the fish not feeding was obvious.
Week 13, things started to change and another two of our regulars had arrived at just the right time after the "spawn up", and the fish had moved out into the middle of the lake for the first time in months. The lads started to bait quite heavy with pellet and odd xxx to hopefully get the fish on the bait. And at last the "Grave digger" showed up but "by god" she was flat as a pankcake, dropping 10lb in spawn!! and weighing only 49lb 12oz which was a shame, but good news for the back end of the season. They landed 2 fish over 40lb and 7 over 30lb+ (2x35lb) 5x20lb+ ending the week on 14.
Week 14 arrived and a new group of three, and first time here I think they did make a few mistakes early in the week. The lads opted for pegs 1,2 & 3, which gave the fish half the lake to feed on naturals, and when the spod rod came out I think the fish went down to pegs 4 & 5 for some rest. Spodding has never been a successful method here, so be warned if it's your first time. The lads did fish well and sat watching the water all week so fair play, it was a strange one, because the lake did produce half a dozen little carp this week, which I must have missed on the drain down, and whether it was to do with bait, spodding or post spawning I dont know, but either way the whole lake was starting to wake up slowly and it was another week of 14 fish on the bank. A fair few fish lost this week due to hook pulls did reduce the total a little. All the best fish came at the backend of the week and tipping bottom baits with bloodworm pop-ups produced both 40s to 44lb 12oz. 4x 30lb+ fish and 8x20lb fish made the catch up. The fish really were well spawned out and at the lowest weights I have seen.
Week 15 was the change we had been waiting for and it was the first big feed up after the spawning. Another regular group made up of father and son along with a good friend had some cracking fishing this week and the fish started feeding hard and looking for bait mostly out in the central area of pegs 3 & 4. Dan the hero in peg 3 got things moving and by Sunday had 8 fish in the net, it was looking good. And it continued!!, fish after fish but far too many hook pulls with 20 fish lost and some real heavy lumps just hugging bottom really could have made it the hit of the year. I think rigs played a part and hook patterns with most lost on the korda curved shanks and size 8 hooks being inadequate for the job!!! The week ended on 43 fish with 4 over 40lb+ (including 45lb2oz,45lb) with these fish being 50lb+ early in the year. 16 fish over 30lb+ ( 7x 35lb icluding 2x39lb+ 1x 38lb) 12 grassies all 20lb+ best going 30lb 2oz all coming to the Cell again and Rosehip. Lots of The Sanctuary pellet used this week which I do think had made a difference. 11x20lb+ (including 9 over 27lb, 3x 29lb+) Quality week, great company and once again John in peg 2 was in his Son's slipstream all week!!
That brings us bang up to date and this week looks like the fish want more food again. Feed Meeeeee!!!
Over & Out
Team Sanctuary