ANGLING: A BOAT available for use by disabled anglers has been launched at Bristol Water's trout fishery at Chew Valley Lake.

Chew is the first water to have the new Mk3 version of the Wheeley boat, a boat designed to allow fishermen in wheelchairs access to boat fishing on the lake.

Alan Parsons, managing director of Bristol Water, launched the boat which was purchased by Bristol Water. Blagdon has long had a similar Wheeley boat which sees plenty of use throughout the fishing season. Anglers can book by phoning Woodford Lodge.

There was mixed sport last week on the Bristol Water trout fisheries, with fish hard to tempt at Chew but improving at Blagdon.

With most bank areas now fishable anglers have found fish all round the lake at Blagdon, but especially at Rugmoor, Pegs, Ash Trees, Wood Bay, Rainbow and Green Lawn. Depending on wind direction and strength all produced good bags of trout, but lots of very small pike which can be a nuisance.

Nymphs and buzzers fished on floating lines has been the favourite method though larger sparklers and flashy lures have also produced fish. Many of the fish taken have been feeding heavily on corixa, with a few fry feeders appearing in some deeper places. Both the Barrows have fished well. Not too many moving fish have been seen but smaller patterns fished up in the water seem to be doing best.

Chew produced a total catch of 161 fish, averaging 2lb 5oz and topped by a brown of 4lb and rainbow of 6lb, with 15 limit bags.

At Blagdon 463 fish averaging 1lb 15oz were taken, topped by a brown of 3lb 9oz and rainbow of 4lb 8oz. The Barrows yielded 131 fish averaging 1lb 9oz, topped by a brown of 3lb and rainbow of 3lb.

There was also mixed sport on the Wessex Water trout fisheries.

At Clatworthy 223 fish were taken with fish being caught mainly on traditional wet flies such as Mallard and Claret, Invicta and Black Pennel.

Brown trout have been coming in close after small fish.

At Hawkridge 146 fish were taken with a rod average of 2.4. Alan Gill took a nice rainbow weighing 4lb 14oz and Martin Hughes took a five fish limit for 13lb 12oz.

Fish are being caught on Gold Head Daddies, Montana and Black Mini Lures.

The far end of the reservoir is producing the best fishing.

  • More angling news in Friday's Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News