News and Fishery reports 6th December 2004

Rutland Water Highlight of the week was Rutland Water's Fur and Feather. 80 plus anglers fished this popular event. Top rod was Pete Andrews from Oasby near Grantham. Pete fished Whitwell Creek, taking a six fish limit, weighing 15lb 1oz. Pete's victory ended Mark Haycock's winning run (Mark had won Anglian Water's Fur and Feather events at Ravensthorpe, Grafham and Pitsford). Second place went to Mick Loy from Dogsthorpe, Peterborough. Mick's six fish weighed 14lb 10oz. Anglers come from afar to fish Rutland – with Scotland's Lindsey Barrie fishing the harbour wall to take third place with five rainbows for 13lb. Fourth spot went to Market Deeping's Steve Crowson. Steve fished the Willow Bay area and took the best fish of the match – a superb rainbow of 4lb 8oz.
Top junior angler was Empingham's Richard Cooper who managed two fish weighing 5lb. Tilton's Ben Farnsworth came second with one fish weighing 1lb 11oz.After the match the competitors enjoyed Christmas dinner at the Waters Edge Restaurant. The presentation of prizes followed with Christmas hampers for the leading anglers, and according to tradition everybody went home with a festive prize.During the week Leicester's Rob Keeber managed an excellent bag of rainbows, the best fish went 4lb 10oz with his six weighing over 20lb. Rob used floating line and a weighted minkie fishing the lodge harbour last Wednesday. Rutland is producing some excellent rainbow fishing at the moment with fish emerging at 2˝lb with good numbers up to 4lb. The best fish recorded last week fell to Paul Wills from Sleaford, Lincs at 7lb 14_˝oz. It was Paul's personal best fish and he was delighted with his efforts.
Season ticket holders Ken Merridan (Uppingham) and Roger McCarthy (Melton) decided to have a day combining fishing and golf. The pair fished Rutland first, catching ten fish between them with Ken taking the best fish – a 4lb 8oz rainbow. Ken also came out top in the golf as well! Fish are still feeding on fry, although there have been one or two hatches of black buzzer late evening and early morning. Best rainbow 7lb 14˝oz taken by Paul Wills of Sleaford Best bank areas Whitwell Creek, fishing lodge harbour, Sykes Lane, Stockie Bay, Armley Wood, the Finches, Normanton Church Bay, Normanton, Old disabled bay Bank fishing at Ravensthorpe, Pitsford, Grafham and Rutland continues until 31 December. Tickets can be purchased from vendor huts when the lodges are closed.
River Ribble low and gin clear, water temperature 45 degrees F at Sawley where some nice grayling have been caught on weighted nymphs. Ribchester, Balderstone and Osbaldeston all worth a visit for chub, some nice dace being caught at Ribchester just upstream of the Roman Museum. Manchester angler Brian Watts float fishing with sweet corn on a size 12 hook to 3lb line had a good catch of chub the best at 5-2-0. Could this old bait be making a comeback? Barbel to 8lbs have been taken on halibut pellets from upstream of the M6 Motorway Bridge. Long Preston good for grayling bait and fly fishing. No day tickets, its all club controlled. In the Anglers Mail Nick Rolfe is pictured with a 12lb 3oz barbel from the River Ribble on his first ever trip.
River Calder Low flow and water level, but anglers fishing with float tackle and caster are catching some nice roach, in the area of the road bridge near Phillips factory at Simonstone. Fishing controlled by Hyndburn & Blackburn AA. Whalley Abbey length worth a visit for chub meat bread or cheese paste should work. We need a lot of rain, in fact weeks rain would be good for both the Calder and Ribble. Prince Albert AS water above Whalley weir is worth fishing chub and roach. If you catch any small barbel please do NOT put them in a keepnet.
River Aire Its tough going, river very low and clear. A few good chub being caught in the deep water up and downstream of the golf course. Marsden Star AS, Bradford NO1 AA and Keighley AC waters in this area are worth a visit. 3 double figure pike caught best at 14lbs on a float fished sardine bait. The river needs rain
River Douglas Low and clear some nice chub to 3lbs being caught Standish angler Mick Holgate fishing on Saturday afternoon had some nice chub on legered bread Leave the small baits at home, fish crust meat or cheese on a size 6 hook. You should get your string pulled. But be quiet, chub are easily spooked.

Pendle View Main Lake.
A 42lb common carp has been caught at 2-30 am on Sunday morning by Chris Boyle. The Westhoughton angler caught the fish from pegs 71/72 on a single pineapple boillie with 5 free boilies in a pva bag. Chris caught the fish on his son Darren's rod. Chris's previous personal best was an 18lb common carp. Anthony Farrow on peg 71/72 just before Chris also had a good session on Friday, catching a 26lb 6oz mirror and a 15lb common. A 35lb cat fish was also caught this week, and the EA have been notified so that the fish can be taken away.

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Tewitfield near Carnforth Some good catches of coarse fish, one angler had a 34 lb catch. On the same day Jack Modley from Bolton le Sands age 12 caught a pike of 18 lb 8oz. Norman Rigby 84 years of age had a common carp from the large lake 8 lb 10 oz on worm. Norman also caught 11 trout, over 50 roach and rudd to 1 lb 8 oz all on maggot. John Beckett had approximately 80 roach, perch and rudd. up to 12 oz, 4 trout, and three pike of approximately 9lb, 6lb, and a small jack of 4 lb. A couple of days later John was back with a spinning outfit, catching caught 2 pike of 15 lb, & 16 lb. The big surprise this week is the huge pike of 30 lb 8 ounces caught by Chorley angler Barry Ellison

In this weeks Anglers Mail
In this weeks Anglers Mail you can see pictures of 16lb 10oz River Loddon barbel, 7lb 7oz chub, perch 4lb 1 oz 38lb 8oz pike and much more. Andy Little is featured on the tidal River Trent. The Anglers Mail is the only weekly angling magazine with coastal reports. I find these news reports very helpful. This week Mike Thrussell is writing about bass fishing.