Mixed bags keep anglers happy

QUALITY roach, a big crucian carp and double figure barbel have been caught from rivers and lakes in the region over the last week.

Roach to 2lb 6oz have been taken from Somerley Lakes at Ringwood and from the Avon at Fordingbridge Park several roach topping 2lb have been caught.

Further downstream at Ellingham and Ashley Bends barbel to 12lb have been taken along with bags of chub.

A 4lb crucian carp has been caught from Meadow Lake at Ringwood, which is the biggest crucian reported for many years.

Salisbury Angling Club held its first inter club contest at the weekend against Test Valley at their King and Willow lakes.

Andy Mitchell was second on the big lake with 62lb 3oz and Tom Baker was first on the small lake with 28lb 1oz.

One club member fishing the lakes at Wellow used pole tactics to take more than 100lb of carp which included three doubles, the biggest at 11lb 15oz.

An open match at Witherington Farm Fishery saw the top three places go to local anglers - Brian Shutler in first place with 78lb 8oz, Paul Barnard was second with 58lb 3oz and James Knight in third place with 53lb 4oz.

At Waldens Farm Fishery the highlight of the week was a common carp of 22lb 1oz caught by James Smith, who using his favoured method of hair-rigged meat over pellet, repeated his success of a fortnight ago when he caught a pair of ghost carp of 20lb each.

Bream to 5lb have been caught from Bishops Lake while Abbots Lake has been fishing well for carp with Luke Greer taking an 11lb 8oz ghost on the pole with double maggot. Roach to 1lb from the boat pool end.

Both Monks and Popes Lakes are giving good bags of mixed fish with individual anglers catching up to 65lb.

Similar bags from Deacons Lake with floating crust or chum mixer the deadly bait particularly during the evenings.

The Environment Agency is joining the National Federation of Anglers and Whinwhistle Lakes at Wellow for a Learn to Fish day on Saturday.

Coaching is free and bait and tackle will be supplied free if needed. The aim is to encourage those who have never tried freshwater fishing to give it a go and rod licences will be provided free for the day.

It will be on a first come first served basis so early arrival for the start time of 10am.

The importance of getting a rod licence was proved to some anglers over the last few days following an Agency blitz on 150 lakes, rivers and ponds in the region.

A total of 825 anglers were checked and 56 were found to be fishing illegally. They risk a fine of up to £2,500 each.