Blog

First fish, make it a 50lb please

Posted: 24th May 2013

At last we have done the first 50lb+ fish of the season, which seems to have taken a few months, but never too late. I deliberately fed them nothing over the winter to make sure all fat reserves were utilised, and the fish were fighting fit which all anglers have commented on, but this held the weights back a tad for the start of this year, which reiterates our Ethos of "Quality over Quantity". I'm sure once the year progresses we will be seeing more fish of this weight once again.

Peg 1 seems to have done the better fish this year and I cannot emphasise enough that you have to play the long game here, as could be seen this week!!!Now dangerous Brian was once again like a cat on a hot tin roof in Peg 3 and I'm sure he would admit, it contributed to his down fall this week. On the contrary Nick sat it out in Peg 1 with steady baiting, little and often, 3 times per day and caught some cracking fish. I did feel for Brian a little because he came withhis brother this time and had arranged for Simon to fish Peg 5, and hopefully catch his first 30lb+. Well that's where the large bulk of the fish had been last week, so catching a 48lb on the first night set the Bar a tad high!!! Same again I'm sure he would admit that angling ability played a role in the number of fish bumped for Simon, dropping at least 12 fish, which is not good enough really. Some of the fish here can be once a year fish, or even every 2 years, so to me every bite counts.

The week ended on 23 fish total with the 50lb 2oz topping the bill to Nick, Simon in Peg 5 had a good 10 fish to 48lb and Nick has just had another of 48lb 14oz from Peg 1 as I type this!!!! Happy Days. Brian had a mid 30lb Grassie in Peg 3, moved to Peg 4 early in the week and then had a day in Peg 5 after "little" brother moved aside, which they had arranged before the trip. Well, 6 fish in the day pleased Brian no end, and taking a Mirror of 43lb he was well pleased.

6 x 40lb+ and 11 x 30lb+ (including 1x 39lb+, 3x 38lb+, 2x37lb+ and 3 over 35lb+) so most of them mid to upper 30lb+ at present. 3 x 20lb+ finished the total (including a 29,28) but the smallest was the fish of the week for me. Only 25lb but a steady 3lb per year grower and it's a true golden coloured Fully Scaled which you can view on Facebook. This fish only graces the bank once a year, but in couple of seasons will be topping the 30lb barrier!!.

The next subject is a rule change coming into force immediately, it's not a major rant but something that needs to be addressed pronto. I have noticed this season at least 3 fish that have either a snapped tail or pectoral fin, this seems to happening when the fish are being lifted out of the water in the landing net or on the bank. I don't want to stand over every angler but we all want to catch clean, beautiful looking fish, so you all play a part in handling them well. I have noticed the fish being put into the cradles with their Pecs bent backwords and with the weight of the fish resting on the Pecs they can snap quite easily without a little care. All fish now will have to be lifted out of the water with the aid of the weigh sling being slid under the landing net.The main line needs to be either cut or unclipped from a "quick clip", landing net folded down and rolled up, check the pecs are flat to the body ,weigh sling, slide under the net and then lifted out. It's a straight forward easy process, and is just as quick, but this is a must now for all fish please, I hope you can appreciate the situation and we can keep these fish looking their best for the future.

The weather is all over the show once again with flood conditions midweek having me opening the sluice gates on the big lake and 70mm of rain in 24 hrs nearly washing the lads away!!! With a mix of sleet today and 5oc this morning the fish don't know what the hell is going on, and spawning no time soon. The backbay work on the 15 acre lake at this moment will not even start, with the bay 3/4 full for the 5th time so far this season.It will take another 3 weeks to drain and we need some good sun before the lake bed even starts to dry out.

On the wildlife front, Red Deer are working the lake quite regular each week and can be seen trotting along the far bank. I saw a Pine Martin early this week flitting through the trees along the lake margin, and a male Henharrier glided over the shower block yesterday while talking to the boys on Peg 1, just magic!!

Back soon with anything else juicy next week.

Over & Out

Team Sanctuary