Devon & Cornwall
Thought that this might be of interest to those of you visiting the Southwest
South West Lakes Fishery reports for April 2007
General:
Generally conditions on all the fisheries have been early this year, with April proving to be the warmest and driest on record. A cool North East wind and bright sunny days have meant that the fishing proved challenging for some anglers, although those willing to search for the fish and experiment with methods have been rewarded.
Kennick – has continued to fish well throughout the month (with a rod average of just under 3 fish), with a number of quality fish over 5lb being caught, including a rainbow of 7lb. Black Buzzers have been hatching throughout the month, providing the staple diet, together with a selection of sedges and some olives. While some fish have been feeding at or near the surface, with Black Buzzers, Damsel Nymphs, Montanas, Diawl Bachs, and Hare’s Ears all taking fish just below, and Sedge Patterns and Hoppers taking fish on the surface, many fish have stayed deep,
Prospects for next month look good, with Hawthorns (which started to appear at the end of April) providing quality sport.
Siblyback - generally fished better from the boats than the bank with the fish staying in the deeper water, and boat anglers usually bagging up. With swarms of buzzers in the air, particularly on warmer days, buzzer patterns and emergers proved to be effective patterns, although fish could be brought to the surface with larger dry patterns such as Hoppers and Soldier Palmers. Orange Lures and Cat’s Whiskers proved to be effective, along with various booby patterns, in the deeper water. Generally fish were located at the south end of the fishery (such as Stocky Bay and Crylla Bay), as well as over the Marshes, where a slow drift in a boat proved to be effective. The best fish of the month was a 5lb 10oz rainbow.
Wimbleball – Unusually for Wimbleball, the best fishing to be had in April was all at the Dam end of the Lake, which has meant that bank anglers fishing from the usually productive Bessoms Bridge and Ruggs have struggled, whereas boat anglers at the Dam end and the Uptom Arm have inevitably bagged up. The best times have been mornings and late afternoons, with bank anglers enjoying good sprot at Arthurs Bay and Valentines. Fish have been feeding on buzzers, and successful imitations have included Black Buzzers (swung around on a floating line), Diawl Bachs, Hares Ear and Damsel Nymphs, with deeper fish taking tadpoles, boobies, and fritz patterns. A few hawthorns have started to appear, with a good outlook for ‘top-of-the-water’ sport in May.
Roadford’s brownies have started to feed eagerly, with many fish tight into the banks cruising the freshly flooded margins, and some starting to look to the surface for food (Black Hoppers, Sedges, and Bibios have been taking fish). However the majority of fish have been taken subsurface on Black Buzzers, Damsel Nymphs, and Diawl Bachs (often fished New Zealand Style under a bushy dry pattern), or Black Tadpoles, Leaches, and Cats Whiskers fished in deeper water. Shop Inlet, Wortha, and Davies Bank have all proved to be productive locations.
Stithians – this fishery’s exposed location means that the prevailing wind can make the fishing challenging in the early part of the season – anglers have often needed to fish the bank by the dam in order to reach the fish. Dry flies have proved successful, with the willows providing a good source of Hawthorns blown onto the water (Black Hoppers, Hawthorns, Black and Peacock Spiders, and Beetles have all been taking good bags. Successful sub-surface patterns have included Montanas, Black Lures and Tadpoles, and Orange Lures The best fish of the season is a 5lb4oz Rainbow caught by Richard Buckingham (from Helston) using a Black Fritz fished from the bank.
Wistlandpound – with Buzzers and the odd Hawthorn on the water, the most successful flies proved to be Black Buzzers, Damsels, and small spider patterns fished with a slow ‘figure of eight’ retrieve, with fish also taking surface patterns, particularly sedges and small upwing patterns.
Colliford continued to fish well, with the brownies eagerly taking a selection of Dark dry patterns as well as traditional nymphs (such as Hares Ears and Pheasant Tails). Try fishing a combination New Zealand style, and roam the banks fishing the margins, but taking care not to spook the inshore brownies. Day tickets this season are available from the Jamaica Inn, off the A30 at Bolventor.
Fernworthy started the season well, with the fish feeding eagerly, and while the exact pattern was not too important, generally dark flies worked the best, either on or beneath the surface. Successful surface flies included Black Gnats, Bibios, Black and Peacock Spiders, and Black Beetles, while subsurface patterns included Montana Nymphs and Pheasant Tail Nymphs.
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