Post by Pete Tyjas on May 6, 2009 7:37:10 GMT
South West Lakes Trout Fisheries (April 2009)
General:
Mixed weather throughout the month has meant that the fishing has also been variable, with the occasional warm sunny day bringing fish up to feed on early buzzers, only for them to be sent to deeper waters on colder, windier days, which along with cold nights have kept the water temperatures down. Some lakes have dropped their water levels by about half a metre, as rainfall has been low for the month. The outlook for May will see more fish feeding from the surface to Buzzer emergers, Hawthorns, and Beetles.
Fishing:
Kennick – The fishing at Kennick continued to provide consistent sport throughout April, with a rod average for the month of 2.75. The weather conditions played a vital part in dictating the best tactics – deep sunk Damsel Nymphs proved to be the most effective on colder days (with boats giving the option to fish the deeper water), while brighter, warmer days brought fish up to feed on emerging buzzers. While most fish were still caught at the South end of the lake, fish are now starting to be caught North of the Narrows. Damsel Nymphs and Black Buzzers proved to be the most effective patterns, while Montanas, Diawl Bachs, and Pheasant Tail Nymphs have all caught fish, with the occasional fish coming up to a Sedge pattern. Boobies proved to be successful when the air temperatures dropped.
The best fish of the month was a beautiful 8lb rainbow caught by G.Tucker (from Mary Tavy, near Tavistock), using a Montana Nymph fished from the bank. Lucy Halford (from Hildenborough) caught a 5lb 9oz rainbow using a Cats Whisker while fishing from the bank near the dam.
Some Hawthorns are now in the hedgerows, so May should see some exiting top-of-the-water fishing with Hawthorn patterns followed by beetles.
Siblyback - There have been good buzzer hatches on the warmer days, particularly over The Marshes, where fish have been feeding eagerly from the surface on emergers. Rods averaged 3.9 fish for the month, and most areas of the lake fished well, with the bank anglers catching as many as the boats. There have been large numbers of fry and sticklebacks in the margins, which has meant that a number of lure patterns have caught fish (Viva, Cats Whisker, Fritz patters), and generally darker nymph patterns (Diawl Bach, Pheasant Tail, Montana and Black Buzzers) have proved effective.
The best fish of the month was a 5lb 8oz rainbow caught by Hilary Herring (Thurlstone) while fishing from a boat using a Sooty Olive on 10 April. The fish was a personal best, and the particular fly used had its own history – it had been lost to a Kennick trout which was subsequently caught and fly retrieved a week later by Hilary’s husband Michael in 2008! Dell Mills had an excellent day’s sport on 3 April, catching rainbows of 4lb 12oz, 3lb 8oz, and 3lb while fishing from the bank at Two Meadows.
Wimbleball – the fishing improved dramatically this month, both in terms of number of fish and sizes. The rod average for the month was 4.9 (with a rod average of 6.2 for the second week in April). Good hatches of Black Buzzers meant that there was a lot of surface activity, particularly in early mornings and evenings, with anglers catching fish on Klinkhammers and Bibios. Damsels, Montanas, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, and Hares Ear patterns all proved to be effective nymph imitations, with Cats Whiskers, Tadpoles, Boobies, and Vivas all catching deeper fish. Ruggs Bay, Bessoms, and Sailing Club Bay proved to be the most productive areas (the fish have yet to move up to the Upton Arm, which will probably start as the water temperatures rise in May).
The best fish of the month was a beautiful 5lb 12oz rainbow caught by Mark Jones while fishing from a boat on 12 April - a hot calm day.
Stithians – top-of-the-water sport has now come into its own at Stithians, with plenty of Buzzers and Beetles bringing fish to the surface to feed. Chapel Bay and Pub Bay have both fished well, with the most effective patterns being highly visible patterns, such as Black Hoppers, Deer Hare Sedges, and Black and Peacock Spiders. Dark or black patterns have also proved effective for sub-surface nymphs, while Orange Lures caught the fish from the deeper water by the dam.
The best fish of the month was a 3lb 5oz blue trout caught by Adrian Vincent (aged 13) while using a home-tied Damsel Nymph on 9 April.
Colliford – has continued to fish well, and while most fish caught so far this season have been sub-surface, either on nymphs (mainly Montanas) or small dark lures, they are now starting to look to the surface for food. Small F flies have fished well, taking fish up to 2lb, with several larger fish spotted feeding in the margins.
Wistlandpound has fished well in April, mainly to small lure patterns (such as mini Cats Whisker, Vivas, and White Gold Heads), with the far bay opposite the dam providing the best fishing.
Fernworthy – as always, dark patterns fish the best here, although the cool weather has meant that most of the fish are still feeding sub surface (Montanas and Diawl Bachs catching well). As the weather warms, so surface sport will improve, with Beetles, Black Hoppers, and Bibios all expected to catch well.
Burrator – now operated by the South West Lakes Trust again, has started the season well, with both Rainbows and Browns feeding eagerly, and fish showing on the surface. The best fishing has been at Longstone Point and Bank, with a selection of darker patterns all catching well. Season tickets are available from the South West Lakes Trust, and Day Tickets from the garage at Yelverton.
Chris Hall (May 2009)
General:
Mixed weather throughout the month has meant that the fishing has also been variable, with the occasional warm sunny day bringing fish up to feed on early buzzers, only for them to be sent to deeper waters on colder, windier days, which along with cold nights have kept the water temperatures down. Some lakes have dropped their water levels by about half a metre, as rainfall has been low for the month. The outlook for May will see more fish feeding from the surface to Buzzer emergers, Hawthorns, and Beetles.
Fishing:
Kennick – The fishing at Kennick continued to provide consistent sport throughout April, with a rod average for the month of 2.75. The weather conditions played a vital part in dictating the best tactics – deep sunk Damsel Nymphs proved to be the most effective on colder days (with boats giving the option to fish the deeper water), while brighter, warmer days brought fish up to feed on emerging buzzers. While most fish were still caught at the South end of the lake, fish are now starting to be caught North of the Narrows. Damsel Nymphs and Black Buzzers proved to be the most effective patterns, while Montanas, Diawl Bachs, and Pheasant Tail Nymphs have all caught fish, with the occasional fish coming up to a Sedge pattern. Boobies proved to be successful when the air temperatures dropped.
The best fish of the month was a beautiful 8lb rainbow caught by G.Tucker (from Mary Tavy, near Tavistock), using a Montana Nymph fished from the bank. Lucy Halford (from Hildenborough) caught a 5lb 9oz rainbow using a Cats Whisker while fishing from the bank near the dam.
Some Hawthorns are now in the hedgerows, so May should see some exiting top-of-the-water fishing with Hawthorn patterns followed by beetles.
Siblyback - There have been good buzzer hatches on the warmer days, particularly over The Marshes, where fish have been feeding eagerly from the surface on emergers. Rods averaged 3.9 fish for the month, and most areas of the lake fished well, with the bank anglers catching as many as the boats. There have been large numbers of fry and sticklebacks in the margins, which has meant that a number of lure patterns have caught fish (Viva, Cats Whisker, Fritz patters), and generally darker nymph patterns (Diawl Bach, Pheasant Tail, Montana and Black Buzzers) have proved effective.
The best fish of the month was a 5lb 8oz rainbow caught by Hilary Herring (Thurlstone) while fishing from a boat using a Sooty Olive on 10 April. The fish was a personal best, and the particular fly used had its own history – it had been lost to a Kennick trout which was subsequently caught and fly retrieved a week later by Hilary’s husband Michael in 2008! Dell Mills had an excellent day’s sport on 3 April, catching rainbows of 4lb 12oz, 3lb 8oz, and 3lb while fishing from the bank at Two Meadows.
Wimbleball – the fishing improved dramatically this month, both in terms of number of fish and sizes. The rod average for the month was 4.9 (with a rod average of 6.2 for the second week in April). Good hatches of Black Buzzers meant that there was a lot of surface activity, particularly in early mornings and evenings, with anglers catching fish on Klinkhammers and Bibios. Damsels, Montanas, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, and Hares Ear patterns all proved to be effective nymph imitations, with Cats Whiskers, Tadpoles, Boobies, and Vivas all catching deeper fish. Ruggs Bay, Bessoms, and Sailing Club Bay proved to be the most productive areas (the fish have yet to move up to the Upton Arm, which will probably start as the water temperatures rise in May).
The best fish of the month was a beautiful 5lb 12oz rainbow caught by Mark Jones while fishing from a boat on 12 April - a hot calm day.
Stithians – top-of-the-water sport has now come into its own at Stithians, with plenty of Buzzers and Beetles bringing fish to the surface to feed. Chapel Bay and Pub Bay have both fished well, with the most effective patterns being highly visible patterns, such as Black Hoppers, Deer Hare Sedges, and Black and Peacock Spiders. Dark or black patterns have also proved effective for sub-surface nymphs, while Orange Lures caught the fish from the deeper water by the dam.
The best fish of the month was a 3lb 5oz blue trout caught by Adrian Vincent (aged 13) while using a home-tied Damsel Nymph on 9 April.
Colliford – has continued to fish well, and while most fish caught so far this season have been sub-surface, either on nymphs (mainly Montanas) or small dark lures, they are now starting to look to the surface for food. Small F flies have fished well, taking fish up to 2lb, with several larger fish spotted feeding in the margins.
Wistlandpound has fished well in April, mainly to small lure patterns (such as mini Cats Whisker, Vivas, and White Gold Heads), with the far bay opposite the dam providing the best fishing.
Fernworthy – as always, dark patterns fish the best here, although the cool weather has meant that most of the fish are still feeding sub surface (Montanas and Diawl Bachs catching well). As the weather warms, so surface sport will improve, with Beetles, Black Hoppers, and Bibios all expected to catch well.
Burrator – now operated by the South West Lakes Trust again, has started the season well, with both Rainbows and Browns feeding eagerly, and fish showing on the surface. The best fishing has been at Longstone Point and Bank, with a selection of darker patterns all catching well. Season tickets are available from the South West Lakes Trust, and Day Tickets from the garage at Yelverton.
Chris Hall (May 2009)
