Easter Sunday

Slightly colder day than yesterday, the wind has picked up a little. This doesn't effect the fishing at all still good for casting but it just makes it a little colder on the hands and face.
Still a few fish moving around but the majority are in the deep.
Not much ice around this morning so things are improving on that front at least. Little lake still frozen solid.

Easter Saturday

Very pleasant day today the wind has died down making it warmer in the sunshine. Rise unexpectedly rising today, obviously the recently stocked fish on the hunt for trout pellets. Most of the pontoons and all of the embankment free of ice. Water still cold!!!

The cold continues.....

In spite of stocking yesterday, conditions are still making things difficult. At least half the lake was frozen this morning at 8.00am but steady sunshine and the wind action has got rid of a lot of it, just the very top corner still with bits of ice around. Extremely cold wind but actually quite nice when its stops blowing.
The newly stocked fish has not had any real effect up to now but may still do over the next few days if this sun continues to shine and the temperatures rise.

Fish Stocked

Some stunning fish stocked today, hopefully they will stir up the "resident" population.

The lake was partially iced over this morning but still lots of places to fish from, 6 of the 7 pontoons are clear. Bit more sunny weather forecast over the Easter holidays with plus temperatures. It will STILL be sinking lines for the foreseeable future as it will take a while for the water to reach a pleasant temp for the fish to move and feed freely.

Fish stocking

Winter or no Winter life goes on.
It's been difficult conditions for fishing now for a couple of weeks - prolonged period of very cold water making the fish inactive and very deep.  So we are going to stir things up a little by stocking more fish.  Hopefully this will have the effect of "waking up" the resident fish with the extra competition for food but they will still be deep.
So a few hundred fish are on order to be delivered in 2 batches one this week and one after Easter.

So the fishery has done it's bit all you have to do is come along and catch them....!!

Monday 25th March 2013

We are unfortunately still in the grips of winter as is everyone else. There has been a little bit of a thaw but if the forecasters are correct it may take a couple of days to be totally free of the snow and ice.

Sunday 24th March 2013

Good Morning from a very bleak fishery. There has been significant snowfall here as with the rest of the country. The approach roads are clear from the Horwich direction and there is access to and from the car park. The coarse lake is however frozen but the main lake remains ice free.  It is however very snowy and icy around the lake and in parts treacherous.
Looking forward to the spring/summer thaw if we actually do get one this year. 

Morning All, my first attempt at an entry on the blog.
Lovely sunny morning at present a;though there is a cold wind from the East. Thin layer of ice on the coarse pond when I arrived so it has again been cold overnight. Snow forecast for tomorrow fingers crossed the weather forecasters are wrong again !

Tuesday 19th March

Weather a little more pleasant as we have not seen any of the forecasted snow etc ---- up to now!!
The water temps is still very very low. There was some ice on the lake this morning and temperature readings are +3C on the bottom and 0C at the surface.
The fish are still very static almost in hibernation and although the fishery does not need stocking for numbers of fish, I have ordered some more to be delivered.
When you introduce new fish it can liven up the residents into feeding more but ultimately, we need warmer water!

I will be doing a Tenkara presentation and discussion at the Bolton Fly Tyers meeting at the Beehive Hotel, Chorley New Road, Horwich this evening at 7.30pm all are welcome.
It is a good opportunity to find out more about the exciting method or river fishing.

St Patrick's Day

On a day when you want it to be bright and green we get wet and white!!
Quite a layer of snow here first thing - most of it has melted now fortunately but a bit of a surprise earlier.
As it warms up a little (proportionately!) some fish are moving around a bit at the surface but in effect nothing has changed in terms of the required tactics.
Had a double handed lesson this morning and we managed to get a few follows to the yellow wool being used - but as soon as you put a hook on.....?

Forecast is for warmer but wetter next week we'll see...!

Thurs 14th March

In spite of the forecast its actually one of the better days of recent. Little wind which means that it at least feels warmer, bit if sunshine. lets see how it pans out a little later in the day.

The water temps is obviously very low with just little bits of ice forming in the corners of the lake but nothing that hinders fishing at all.

The fish are getting as fed up of these conditions as we are, little or no movement, little or no feeding activity, just sitting right on the bottom, sulking. Takes if they come are very tentative and slow and can be easily missed. Because of the need to be as deep as possible a sinking line literally on the bottom using boobies is a great choice. The boobies avoid you getting snagged all the time. A normal figure of eight retrieve is far too fast, it needs to be painfully slow!

13th March

The Ides of March have not really made that much difference to the fishing conditions. The water temp is still only just above freezing, although the air temp has risen to a balmy 3 degrees!
Still sinking lines extremely slow retrieves are the order of the day.

Monday's update

Well in spite of all the doom and gloom about snow, frost and cold, we have a respectable day. Sunny and fairly calm but it is cold!
Be prepared the fish WILL be on the bottom and inactive, you will need to adopt the relevant tactics to overcome these conditions.

We cetainly have the flies you may need with the new patterns freshly arrived from our supplier, boobies, eggs, blobs and general lures a plenty!!!

Sunday 10th March

We are well and truly still in the grips of Winter - is there no end to it?? Very very cold wind today but as everyone is busy looking after their or some else's Mother it all ok!

Prospects for the week? who knows? more snow, getting colder or are we finally going to get some signs of Spring. You just wouldn't know that the Brown Trout season is due to start on Friday???

Friday 8th March

Overcast day today with some showers expected - although that was the forecast for yesterday as well and they never materialised really!
A few fish rising with a very limited buzzer hatch yesterday but generally still low in the water.

All the new flies have now arrived from our suppliers in Kenya - great new patterns and really good quality hooks and tying. More importantly I am keeping the price the same so still only 75p per fly or 10 flies for £6.50 very very good value!!!

Update Thurs 7th

Apologies for missing a few days posts - the man flu eventually got the better of me!

Showers today but quite warm - should have the nett effect of warming up the water a little making its steady progress to hopefully double figures!!
Outside chance of a buzzer hatch today? you never know!

update later....

Monday 4th March

Update
Plenty being caught today but still very deep - top rod up to now is John Burrows who finished his session on 7 fish all to a sinking line and a black/olive booby.
Tomorrow is forecasted to be a good day, warmer and some sunshine, then rain is due on Wednesday.

Sunday update

The cats whisker is dead -- long live anything with black in it!!! Black and olive or black and orange have been doing the damage today. Still deep and a very slow retrieve required - slow figure of eight at the fastest!

A former maggot drowner has had two fish, his very first on the fly - another back from the dark side!!

Sunday 3rd March

Fantastic day today , possibly the best of the year so far. Light breeze, fairly mild with a water temps of 3 degrees. So plenty to go to reach the optimum water temps of around 12 to 14 degrees but maybe on it's way at last.
Will up date with catches later on during the day....

Sat 2nd March

The sun is shining but was very cold again last night so the fish are still currently down deep but the sun might bring them up a bit during the day.

Still not stopped people catching including Ian Pendelbury, who had a fly fishing lesson with me recently and is trying his hand for the very first time. His efforts have been rewarded with a fish, smallish but perfectly formed, his first ever!! Well done Ian!

1st mar update

Been a difficult day for fishing, the change in weather making the fish very lethargic and uninterested, but persistence did pay off for those with patience.
The pic above shows Steve Moffat with one of his tally - floating line and an indicator.
The forecast is set like today for the next week, so things will get better as the fish get used to these conditions - so should be good for the weekend.

Had 4 of the Wigan Warriors Team here today - All good lads who enjoyed spending time fishing on the day off. Good luck to them on Sunday against Castleford.

1st March

TIme rolls on but in this case it can only be good news - lets hope that March brings in the first signs of Spring!
Certainly today is not a bad start - no frost last night, 7 to 8 degrees today and light winds - could be good!

I'll take a water temp reading later on and update with catches ... tune back later.