Angling round-up: Record brown at Chew

This week Craig Barr caught an incredible fish which has dwarfed even that specimen.

Craig, the England Team Manager, was fishing in the official’s match of the Home International Fly Fishing Championships when he hooked and landed the 15 lb 12 oz fish of a lifetime.

It was caught from a boat from just off Woodford Bank and fell to an orange blob.

Craig thought he had hooked a pike as the fish stayed deep and fought doggedly. When he saw the huge brownie he realised he had hooked a very special fish.

The fish was brought ashore and witnessed and weighed at Woodford Lodge. Craig has decided to have the fish set up.

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After a good week-end the fishing at Chew Valley became more difficult last week mainly due to the changeable and cold weather.

1200 fish were stocked at the beginning of the week. They were well spread around the lake with the hope that they would stir up the more resident fish in areas which had been a little quiet.

To some extent this worked as on occasions there have been plenty of fish seen in many parts of the lake.

But with fewer buzzers hatching and a huge increase in the daphnia blooms less fish are inclined to feed on the top unless conditions are near perfect.

Most of the boats have been staying around the Island and off North Shore where pulled flies on sinking lines have worked especially well.

Al Munday took a fine 7 lb 4 oz brownie fishing from a boat.

At Blagdon anglers are still seeing lots of fish in many areas but the fish are hard to tempt. Cheddar Water, The Lodge and the Top End have all been good places for both boat and bank but you have to persevere as they can be frustrating.

Smaller flies seem to be the best patterns fished near to the surface.

It was a much better week at the Barrows on all the tanks.

Still disappointing rises in the cold winds but the fish are gradually coming up in the water.

Try a floating line withy very small buzzers or lightly dressed HEN and PTN.

Chew produced a total catch last week of 846 fish averaging 2 lb 2 oz topped by a brown of 7 lb 4 oz and rainbow 4 lb 4 oz with 49 limit bags.

At Blagdon 557 fish averaging 2 lb 5 oz were taken topped by a brown of 5 lb 0 oz and rainbow 4 lb 4 oz with 19 limit bags.

The barrows yielded 421 fish averaging 1 lb 8 oz topped by a brown of 3 lb 4 oz and rainbow 2 lb 0 oz.

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The third match in the evening boat league was fished at Chew when 18 anglers took part in very mixed conditions.

Wind, hail, rain, sunshine and flat calms were all experienced in the five hours of fishing. But it was the cold windy conditions which dominated and made fishing very unpleasant.

Even so there anglers managed to tempt their six fish limit and 42 fish were taken.

Mark Weaver topped the list with 6 fish weighing 15 lb 12 oz.

Brin Winsford was runner up with 6 fish for 13 lb 8 oz with Dave Drake third with 6 for 11 lb 14 oz.

Overall Mark Withyman stays top of the league with John Bowen second and Ben Keedwell in third.

On Sunday last Chew Valley saw the Southern Region qualifier for the England National Side when 24 anglers went afloat fishing for a place in the England Final which will take place in September.

The weather was again far from ideal with bright sunshine for most of the day. The North Shore had been the favourite area during practice sessions on the previous days and most of the boats headed that way.

They found the fish fairly close to the surface and small lures and nymphs took fish for all but two of the competitors.

Seven managed to catch their limit bags of 8 fish and 117 fish were taken altogether giving a rod average of 4.9 fish per person.

At least seven go through to the next round where they will fish again for a place for the England international teams for 2010.

Martin Burgess topped the list with 8 fish for 21 lb 1 oz followed by Nikki Long with 8 for 19 lb 5 oz and Andy Cottam third with 8 for 18 lb 12 oz.

Other qualifiers were Mark Withyman 8 for 18 lb 10 oz; Andrew Hedger 8 for 17 lb 14 oz; Mark Beal 8 for 17 lb 1 oz and David Morton 7 for 14 lb 6 oz.

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The Wessex Water trout fisheries all fished well last week. At Clatworthy 326 fish were taken with a rod average of 2.6.

Bank fishing was good from the South end of the lake with floating lines and small black flies.

Dudderidge Bay was also fishing well about halfway along with Montana and Hare’s Ear patterns.

Andy Lovelock took the best fish of the week with a fine 5 lb 12 oz brownie taken from a boat at Rowes End.

Martin Christopher took a nice 5 lb 8 oz rainbow from the bank. At Hawkridge 201 fish were taken last week.

John Bird took s 3 lb 8 oz rainbow and Mike McColl took s five fish limit for 13 lb 13 oz. It was another good week at Dutton Bingham considering the strong cold winds.

464 fish were taken here at a rod average of 2.5. Most fish were taken lower in the water but there are still fish moving near the surface taking small nymphs.

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The Monday Open match at Landsend Fishery again produced some good catches. Top honours went to John Pelmes of Bristol PSV with a carp catch weighing 116 lb 5 oz taken on pole fished pellets for a comfortable win.

Runner up spot went to Andy Clark of Bristol Flooring with a carp catch weighing 77 lb 1 oz also taken on pole fished pellets.

He was closely followed by Anton Page of GOT Baits with a carp catch weighing 75 lb 2 oz.

The silver fish prize went to Alan Oram of Dynamite baits with a mainly skimmer catch weighing 39 lb 14 oz taken on long pole fished casters.

Other placings: 4. Tony Rixon Mosella 64 lb 12 oz; 5. Martin Artus Mosella 61 lb 8 oz; 6. Alan Oram Dynamite Baits 53 lb 10 oz.

Viaduct Fishery was in good shape for the Monday open match.

Top honours on the day went to Fred Roberts of Maver Veals with a carp catch weighing 120 lb 15 oz taken on pole fished pellets along the margins.

Ron Hayward of Frome took runner up prize with a carp and silvers catch weighing 112 lb 11 oz also taken on pole fished pellets.

He was followed closely by Clive Davies of Frampton RBL with a carp catch weighing 112 lb 6 oz taken on pole fished pellets. The silver fish prize went to Ron Hayward with a weight of 21 lb 10 oz.

Other placings: 4. Terry Leney Team Sillybait 97 lb 11 oz; 5. Nigel White Viaduct 97 lb 6 oz; 6. Mark Preston Viaduct 97 lb 1 oz.

Over 100lb was needed to get into the top six in the Wednesday Open match at Viaduct Fishery. Fishery joint owner Ian Parsons carried off top prize with a carp catch weighing 147 lb 1 oz taken alternating with legered and waggler fished pellets to collect not only the polls money but the silver peg prize of £100.

Paul Shergold of Wiltshire Angling took second prize with a carp catch weighing 124 lb 9 oz taken on pole fished pellets. He was followed by Ron Hayward from Frome with a carp catch weighing 119 lb 2 oz taken on pole fished pellets.

The silver fish prize went to John Bradford of Avon Angling with a fine weight of 60 lb 12 oz of tench and perch taken on pole fished casters.

Other placings: 4. Neil Jones Stafford Moor 118 lb 11 oz; 5. Keith Shears Riverton 114 lb 6 oz; 6. Gary Etheridge Devizes 107 lb 2 oz.

Weights were fairly even in the midweek Open match at Landsend Fishery.

Top honours on the day went to Jamie Dyte of Landsend with an all carp catch weighing 113 lb 6 oz taken on pole fished paste for an easy win.

Rod Wooten of Dynamite Baits again made the frame in second spot with a carp catch weighing 82 lb 4 oz taken on pole fished hard pellets. He was followed by Nick Green of Landsend with a carp catch weighing 80 lb 9 oz.

The silver fish prize went to Martin West of Landsend with a mainly skimmer catch weighing 32 lb 5 oz.

Other placings: 4. Dave Westcott Landsend 69 lb 0 oz; 5. Anton Page GOT Baits 56 lb 12 oz; 6. Mark Leader Sensas 56 lb 3 oz.

Weights were poor in the Dynamite Baits match fished at Plantation Lakes.

Pete Sivell of Dynamite Baits clinched top prize with a catch of small carp and fantails weighing 19 lb 12 oz taken alternating with pole fished pellets and paste.

John Macey of Dynamite Baits took runner up spot with a similar mix taken on pole fished pellets for a weight of 18 lb 12 oz.

He was followed by Paul Ratcliffe of Dynamite Frys MG with another mixed catch weighing 17 lb 2 oz.

The silver fish prize went to Paul Ratcliffe with a weight of 10 lb 4 oz. Other placings: 4. Dave Coles Daiwa BAC 16 lb 56 oz; 5. Neil Ratcliffe Dynamite Frys MG 16 lb 0 oz; 6. Dave Hodgson Dynamite Frys MG 14 lb 12 oz.

Weights were fairly even in the Wilts Angling Evening match fished at Rood Ashton on Thursday. Steve Martin from Frome carried off top prize with a carp catch weighing 55 lb 4 oz taken on pole fished paste.

Gary Etheridge from Devizes took second prize with another carp catch weighing 49 lb 2 oz taken on pole fished pellets.

He was followed by Mick Withy from Westbury with a carp catch weighing 47 lb 0 oz taken on pole fished catmeat.

Other placings: 4. Pete Neate Holt 44 lb 0 oz; 5. Sean Rhodes Trowbridge 35 lb 5 oz; 6. Ian Willetts Bradford 30 lb 6 oz.

The Kennet & Avon Canal at Tithe Barn hosted the Airsprung evening match on Friday where competitors enjoyed good sport.

Top honours went to John Atkins of Trowbridge with an all skimmer catch weighing 13 lb 0 oz taken on pole fished red maggots.

Mark Green of Trowbridge took runner up prize with a mixed catch of skimmers and roach weighing 7 lb 0 oz also taken on pole fished red maggots.

Richard Whitmarsh from Frome used identical tactics to clinch third prize with another skimmer and roach catch weighing 5 lb 0 oz.

Other placings: 4. Bill Turner Trowbridge 4 lb 0 oz; 5. Dean Adams Bradford 3 lb 4 oz; 6. Roger Green Trowbridge 1 lb 12 oz.

Competitors enjoyed excellent sport in the Todber Manor Open match fished on Saturday.

Chris Higgins from Bristol took top honours with a carp catch weighing 146 lb 0 oz taken on pole fished catmeat.

Jamie Lowe of Preston Innovation Thatchers took second prize with a carp catch weighing 119 lb 4 oz taken on pole fished luncheon meat.

In form Pete Neate from Holt again framed in third spot with a carp catch weighing 105 lb 0 oz taken on pole fished paste.

Other placings: 4. Jason Mills Gillingham 100 lb 6 oz; 5. Steve Tucker Preston Innovation Thatchers 96 lb 0 oz; 6. Mark Blenning Preston Innovation Thatchers 94 lb 0 oz.

The Lefarge match at Blue Circle Lake on Sunday was fished in atrocious weather conditions and catches were very poor.

Ian Willetts from Bradford took top prize with a carp catch weighing 24 lb 12 oz taken on pole fished pellets.

Terry Gatty from Melksham took second prize with a mixed catch of carp and skimmers weighing 16 lb 4 oz taken alternating with pole fished sweetcorn and pellets.

Martin Wright from Westbury took third prize with a carp and skimmer catch weighing 12 lb 10 oz with Paul Barnfield from Bath in fourth spot with a carp catch weighing 10 lb 4 oz.

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Future events:

Friday May 22: Airsprung match K & A Canal Moulton Drive

Sunday My 24: Frys match at Stoneyard Fishery Frome Victorians match on Taunton Canal Airsprung match K & A Canal Beehive Avon Open match K & A Canal Semington

Friday May 29 Airsprung match Rood Ashton