We were sent this picture of Eric Pearson which was taken on his last visit to the Old Lake. We havnen’t been told if the praying paid off or not.

‘Hi its Craig, yesterday I was fishing in number 22 peg in the new lake and I had thrown out small bits of bread to see if the fish were feeding off the surface. Through the day I had about 7 pound common carp and also 4 common. Later on in the day I went back to the same spot with bread and I saw a huge pair of lips come up to the surface and take my bread, I was so worried about the fact I had a small hook (Size 12) on and my float fishing line I had to play it as well as possible so it didn’t come off and when we saw its tail come to the surface we couldn’t believe how big it was and the colours on it, my dad come just in time to see me land the fish and take the pictures for me, we went to the weigh the fish and it seems the new scales we got didn’t work so we had to borrow someone elses, it come up as 14.5 pound

Well done Craig (and your young friend who was helping with the landing net when I was round earlier in the day)

 The catch of the week was Liam and a 23lb Common Carp which he caught using a single maggot on Homersham’s (Old Lake). Photo attached.

We also had a match on Scroggins on Sunday when two anglers tied for first place with exactly the same weights - what are the chances of that?

The Crucians are starting to show on Scroggins and several were caught on Bank Holiday Monday. They were only small but in excellent condition so that bodes well for the future.

Good fishing…………….

Mike

Anyway, now I’ve got your attention, back to the fishing. Fortunes have been mixed over the last few days. The weather has been volatile and at times, dreadful but people still brave it to catch fish.

Phil (as featured in the photo on the back of the 2008 brochure) had an excellent day with a 16, 2 x 14s, a 10 and an 8lb Ghostie. he was very pleased with himself. There have been a couple of 16s out of the old lake as well as a 14lb Grass Carp and an 8lb Barbel. The afore mentioned Wilks caught a monster which he reckons was around the 25lb mark but it slipped the hook as he was landing it - this ‘fishy’ tale was verified by his mate Matt who swears it’s true (?)

Scroggins has produced an abundance of smaller fish but no reports of much over 8lbs in the last few days but they are in there and are waiting for someone with the right skills & luck to catch them.

Good fishing

Mike 

Regular angler Martin had a 16, 12, 10 and an 8 (carp) all within a couple of hours on Homershams last Saturday. Liam had a 16 carp and a 7.5 barbel on Homershams during the week. They were both fishing from peg 5.

Adrian had a 4.24 tench on Scroggins on Wednesday but still not as good as the 6.5 tench caught there two days before. Carp up to 7 are being caught in Scroggins at the moment but the predominant catch is still the smaller silver fish and mainly on maggot. Someone caught 4 good sized perch at peg 42 on Tuesday using maggot. That put a smile on his face!

There’s a double match on Scroggins on this Sunday (13th April) but  you can still fish on Homershams if you wish. If you have any ‘photos of fish you’ve caught at Marshside please email them to me so we can include them on the site. Good fishing……………

Mike

We also had a mention on the Sky TV programme Tight Lines and there is a possibility that they may send a camera crew down in the summer to do some filming for a documentary piece. You never know, you might get yourself on the tele!

Mike

Over the winter, we’ve allowed people to use three rods if they’ve wanted to as it doesn’t pose a problem when there are not too many people around. However, when it got a bit busier at the weekend a couple of guys were using three rods and caused a bit  of irritation to some of the other swims. So, as from now we will be enforcing the two rods only rule. If you want to use three rods the we will charge you for the third one. This will remain in place throught the summer and be reviewed when the winter comes and the lakes become less busy again. I hope this makes sense and will not be abused.

In the meanwhile, enjoy the fishing and the lakes.

Mike 

Deano didn’t manage it this week but he did catch a couple of very good ‘Commons’ - not huge but very nicely formed - a bit like myself! He also had a personal first by landing a 4lb Grass Carp which must be one of the small ones we put in nearly three years ago. The biggest of our grass carp is around the 15lb mark so you’ll know you’ve got a fish if you hook into that one.

The lakes have been battered by the winds over the last two days so there has effectively been no fishing but we don’t seem to have sustained any real damage althought the stables on the way in have been completely destroyed. The girls who own them have just finished putting a new roof on and paiting them all - they are understandably devastated. If you see them on your way in, give them a wave as they attempt to rebuild what’s left.

 Mike