Friday 11th April

Fishery all stocked (again!) and ready to go.
Prospects looking good for the weekend, decent weather and warmer water plus lots of fish equals very good sport!
Curley's has probably got a higher stocking level for this time of year than any other year in its history! What are you waiting for?

Black buzzers

Black buzzers are still doing the business here at Curley's but you need to have the right pattern.
There are loads of different buzzer patterns, skinny, epoxy, shipmans, shuttlecock, daiwl bachs, magic, etc etc but the one that is working the best is the epoxy buzzer with white breathers. This white feather replicates the external "lungs" of the insect.
In our fly selection we have our breathers tied extra long so that you can cut them down to what you want or more importantly what the fish are taking. Other insect patterns are also working but mainly in size 14's small nymphs and wets.

Thurs 3rd April

Buzzers galore

As I posted yesterday one of the reasons why Curley's is such a good buzzer water is the fact that there is a good layer of silt on the bottom of the lake which provides a good "nest" site for these little chironomids

 In the photo above you can clearly see this layer of silt, the bank closest, is where the soil from the little coarse lake was dumped and the silt here is at least 12ft deep! Also you can see on the top left of the photo, a drop off. This is covered by the top 3 pontoons and about 20ft from the end of the pontoons, an interesting feature when you are using a sinking line!!!

In this photo you can clearly see the now "famous" boat, a 17ft canal cruiser. When the lake was drained this appeared and as it was so badly worn out it could not be moved as it would just crumble under the weight. It is still there now about 30 ft from the end of the boat pontoon. You can also see how steep the bank is at that end. Again look at the silt in the basin of the lake.

Buzzers, daiwl bachs and an assortment of wets are catching fish all over the lake. The current winds are keeping the fish from rising freely but they are only just under the surface.

Nearly Spring?

Some great days fishing recently, especially Tuesday. One of those days when everybody on the water caught fish and lots of them, the rod average being just over 5 fish per rod per session. What made it even better was that quite a lot of them were on dries. There were some huge buzzers hatching all over the lake and the fish were making the most of it.
When conditions are right the buzzer fishing can be quite amazing. One of the main reasons is the amount of silt on the bottom of the lake especially at the cafe end.
Tomorrow I'll post some photos of the bottom of the lake from when it was drained in 2005 and you will be able to see the amount of silt dumped into the lake from when the small existing coarse lake was dug out. Also you will so the famous 'boat' that is submerged near the boat pontoon. So more tomorrow.......

W/E 29th March

Bit of a mixed week due to the weather. Most days delivered fish to most rods top rods managing 5 and 6 fish. However hard work when the cold wind was blowing.
Most significant change this week is that the fish are taking small naturals like buzzers, daiwl backs, wets etc. lures not really doing the business! All we need now is for the warmer temps to continue and bring on the surface feeding!

Sat 15th March

Bit of a topsy turvey week for fishing. Last weekend fish were caught for fun all over the lake. Returns varied from 2 or 3 fish to 16's and 17's.
Since then it has been a bit tougher as the weather deteriorated back to winter and the fish are more inactive and far deeper.
It can only get better ............

Today is the start of the brown trout season and very soon you will all have to renew your E.A. licences, if you have not already done so. Don't get caught out, it can be a big fine!!!

I can do this for you online at Curley's if you have a debit or credit card or form any main Post Office.

Spring is in the air!

Look at this email from Gary Tonge

Hello Mike,
Just wanted to drop you a mail re today session.

I started fishing around 9am, using a intermediate line, cats whisker.

I changed to numerous flies without success and switched to a floater same results.

I asked the guy who caught 16 the other day and he kindly gave me a small egg fly, again no success .

I paid Mrs Roden my fee and bought a number of different coloured egg flies from the shop and as going to give it another hour.

Then the fun started on the peg furthest to the right, they went mad for these white egg flies, only around 5 ft from the bank, I ended up with a tally of seven, my best day ever fly fishing full stop.



Well done Gary glad you enjoyed yourself......... and also glad the Missus is taking some money while I am away doing demonstrations with Sport Fish in Reading!

6th March

Sent by email

Ken Sexton 5 March 19:29 Unbelievable afternoon 16 fish in 4 1/2 hours. Thanks mike just the tonic I needed. Ken came fishing for some much needed R&R but ended up having a good "workout"

5th March

All the fish are now wide awake!!
The last stocking has had the right effect in revitalising the hundreds of over wintered fish and the water is fishing really well with catches of over 15 fish per session being returned.
All floating line stuff with a variety of flies from wets and nymphs to lures.

As the new fish get accustomed to their new home they are most than willing to come up to the surface and take midge, so if the mild spell continues might be time to break out all those dries!!!

Sunday 2nd March

Lots of people catching, mostly on floating lines and white coloured lures. Inevitably the "Cats" are doing well. Some of the newly stocked fish are still shoaled up in little pods so the chances are if you catch one you catch plenty! Top rods last couple of days,  Jim McGinley yesterday with 7, Ian Harwood on Friday with 6.

Annual memberships are available for Curley's fishery. We have kept the price to the same £300 it's been for the last 3 years. The membership year starts on 1st April but if any new person wants to join immediately then they can for only £325.

Member benefits included:
1/ fish whenever you like for as long as you like, 7 days per week.
2/ take up to 5 fish per week but no more than 2 in any one session.
3/ members can pike, coarse or fly fish.
4/ exclusive discounts in the tackle shop from time to time.
5/ secure car parking
6/ full facilities in the dining rooms
7/ toilets available, the toilet on the front patio now available outside of cafe or tackle shop hours.
8/ fishery open normally 8am till 8pm 7 days per week

Gift vouchers available if you want to make membership a present!

Phone mike on 07786 682272 or email mike@curleysfishery.co.uk