Tight lines everyone. Feb and now comming into March so far has been fishing well, although it’s been very cold for the beginning of 2010; some record fish have been caught in Feb that weighed between 9lb and 16.5lb. Water has been cool and clear, and there is plenty, and it’s now starting to get mild and over cast, certainly some better conditions for trout fishing. The lake has produced some excellent trout, and as I mentioned last month, despite good stocking, it’s all down to water quality and fly hatches, which can be variable at any time of the year these days, as we are in the cooler season. It’s not a bad time of the year now to fish, now the evenings are drawing out, and water temp is around 7 degrees.
Here’s a few of the good bags for Jan and Feb 2010.
Justin Read,Gloucestershire 6 for 28.8lb best 14.7lb.
P.Nichol, Bideford 5 for 17lb best 6lb.
M.Reed,Barnstaple 4 for 17.4lb best 9.1lb.
R.Collins,Barnstaple 4 for 16.5lb best 7.2lb.
D.Ives,Braunton 4 for 19lb best 9.8lb.
A.Walder,Barnstaple 5 for 17.6lb best 8.8lb.
N.Treble,Barnstaple4 for 14.9lb best 6.2lb.
Jan and Feb 2010 whoppers caught.
Steve Taberner,St Helens 14lb 8oz.
Chris Anstis, Bude 13lb & 12lb 4oz.
Chris Hold, Barnstaple 14lb 8oz.
T.Porter, Bideford 11lb 8oz.
Mr Maeer, Seaton 13lb 8oz.
The lake is starting to wake after the cold winter, and winter fishing for rainbows can be perfect, as Rainbows are preferably a cold water fish. The temperature has hung round 7 degrees average now, and as we are in March, it should increase probably another 2 degrees, again weather dependant. The water has yealded some big fish as usual, but good bags of middle weight trout ie 4 – 6lb’ers are being landed. Hatches of buzzers if the sun shines, and some damsels are being taken off the top, and the usual cat’s, daddies, rubber legs etc.. fished just under the surface are doing very well. The classic excellerated retrieve works very well on the lake and is a reliable method to catch fat trout here all year. I will be stocking brown trout from March 2010, I have 4000 averaging 1.2lb just now and they will be a good 2lb by March, so look out for them.
BLAKEWELL EVENTS CALENDAR 2010
Spring dry fly comp + bbq. Dates for all events to follow shortly.
The Summer extravaganza open + bbq, try before you buy new fly fishing gear event.
The Autum Tag Sunday + bbq; fish tagged with cash prizes.
Christmas Competition + Lunch 5th Dec 9am – 4pm 6 Fish ticket £30 Prizes given at 4pm.
Depost £10 to secure you’re place to be paid to Veronica or Janie.
Only 26 places available.
Please make a note of these dates and let us know if you are interested in competing.