This is Jasons opening weekend report with interesting video.

Hello all, well, what can I say? It's been a chilly one!

I left the fishery on Friday night, all smart and tidy ready for the Saturday opening, it'd been a lovely day on Friday and the water looked in fine form. Temperatures over Friday night into Saturday plummeted to minus 7 degrees and sod's law of course dictates that the first ice of the season and in fact the first ice for some 21 years, arrives on opening day. Around 70% of the reservoir was frozen with 8-10mm thick ice! So I jumped in the wheely boat and managed to smash a large enough area with the oars so that it would launch and allow me enough room to gain a bit of speed and begin ice breaking. Fortunately the sun had risen a little and a light north westerly breeze developed which aided my efforts. Within half an hour the banks were fishable and the trout were biting. The ice cleared completely by late afternoon as the wind increased and this morning, Sunday, there was only a little marginal ice so nothing quite as serious.

I've uploaded a short video of my ice breaking activities at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNC6rFD26o8

and there's also a video on my website of the first fish after the ice breaking took place.

So, to the figures, 46 anglers fished over the weekend catching 277 fish, well rewarded for their efforts in the very cold conditions. Fish have been well spread but the upwind backs have been favoured as they are a degree or so less cold. The west bank around to the north east corner has fished the best with cat's whiskers on intermediate lines the most successful method for most.

There's been several decent fish out to 5Ib 9oz and Lincoln angler Steve Hendry had a nice rainbow of 5Ibs taken on a Dawson's olive. He took 15 fish altogether and said he returned 2 fish slightly bigger than that.

It looks like the cold conditions are set to continue but the trout are willing to play ball if you're willing to brave the elements!

All the best,

Jason
Toft Newton Fishery
Toft Next Newton
Market Rasen
LN8 3NE
www.toftnewton.com
Tel. 01673 878453
07806 400878

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Location - Just outside of Nottingham - Robin Hood country!