Ive just had a really pleasant evening with a very very old friend of mine and as usual we got on to the subject of ressie trout fishing. (que the groans the missus).

He told me... (for a while now)... Hanningfield has been turned into an any method trout fishery? Anglers spinning for trout etc etc.

Although I disagreed with him... he claims this is a ruse by the water company to bring in more cash?

Anyone care to comment.....?

It's True.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Yep its true

Many a weekend you can see our eastern european friends doing their weekly shop with Mr Mepps.

The're pretty good at it too..........

Incidentally its fishing well at the mo, 4.25 per rod last week.

Looking at going this weekend.

Fazzer

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If you're too busy to fish then you're too busy.

True but who cares ? Fished its nuts off on flies all season

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Thats what I said... I knew a while back Hanningfield were supposedly struggling for regulars but it honestly shocked me (not in a bad way). Each to there own I suppose. I wonder if others will follow? I bet there are some huge coarse fish in trout ressies all over the country just waiting to be bagged.

I think the any method approach is aimed at trout and not any other species.

I heard that there used to be a good population of roach in there but the trout soon put paid to that...... The carp boys bang on about monsters lurking in the deep but I've never heard of anyone catching a carp from there. The odd pike comes out to a fly or spinner.

Charlie

You fished there this season?

Its been really hit and miss for me this year.

Fazzer

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If you're too busy to fish then you're too busy.

Yes, I am a member of Hanningfield Fly Fishers so I am on all the matches there. Only been there once and not had a limit this year.....................

20 ft leader, tequila blob on the dropper and booby on the point on a fast glass, last time I was there, but it was a couple of months ago.

I am told it is fishing very well right now. Will be there on the John Collins Memorial on the 19th.

The spinners and bait anglers are only after trout, from what I have seen.

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

I was there about 4 weeks ago and upon telling the ranger of the 18 inch perch that I caught on the fly, he casually told me a 25lb carp had been caught that day and he said there are bigger carp in there, not stocked fish, they have just been there forever..........I'm wondering if there is also some big Pike in there too???.........regarding spinning, yeah loads of europeans are doing it, I guess from Hanningfields perspective they are a business and we are in a recession, so they need to keep themselves busy for obvious reasons.........personally I think its interesting to see what other species will eventually come out.

Fazzer - I would be interested in sharing a boat if your ever about at Hanningfield, as my dad is not keen on rocking about all day, let me know, from 4 visits to hanningfield I have only caught 3 fish (1 a big perch!) so looks liek we both have something to learn!!! ;-).......failing that we could meet up at Essex fly fishers club if you join!

Knighty and Fazzer - what you should do is join Hanningfield Fly Fishers or go to one of the coaching session the reservoir runs.

Alternatively there is an event on September 19th , which is a friendly competition for charity (I think the entry is £25 including fishing) where you would get drawn out and paired with an experienced boat angler and compete as a team against the others on total bag weight - I suspect you would learn more in that day than you will in ten visits on your own.

PM me if you want details,

Charlie

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates

Thanks for the advice - I already had my first lessons at Hanningfield during september last year, I was paired with a local, as were the other 10 or so newbies, only 1 fish was caught between 10 boats!!!.......I think I have learnt more about reservoir fly fishing from all the fly fishing programs on discovery shed .....but I may give the competition a go, certainly a worthy charity.

I had a look through the hanningfield fly fishers association web site - does it cost anything to join/register or am I assuming its just a source of information & news etc????