ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 16/5/13

Spring is finally in the air and would you believe it we are only a few weeks away from the longest day of the year. However this spring like weather has certainly got the fish up and moving. Fly hatches are abundant now with buzzer, olives, alders and damsels coming off the water in numbers.

All this activity and warming temperatures has seen some great catches over the last week or so.

Simon Rogers from Anglesey took 3 browns to 2lb+ on a Di-3 and sparkler combo’ fished from the boats. Jon Turner caught and released a fabulous Brown Trout on fly from Stockie Bay.It was estimated to weigh in the region of 12lb+.

Hawkshead Angling Club member Dave Telford from Bootle has been getting stuck in amongst the big ones with a 9lb 14oz and a 12lb 4oz brownie, both caught on spinner from the bank, next to the boathouse. This fish falls just a few ounces short of the fishery record. Two very nice fish and well done to Dave , he has been putting the time in off the ticket office banking lately. (see attached picture of the 12lb 4oz fish)

Also venue regular and H.A.C member Bob Swann from the North East fished a cats whisker on a Di-3 line from the boats to take a superb 6lb 8oz brownie. That’s a personal best for Bob, well done that man. Meanwhile David Broome from Herts fished from the boats and took a fine double figure specimen of 10lb 2oz, caught on a minkie and intermediate line.

With fish starting to move a lot more in the surface layers the over wintered fish are on the move and a few nice rainbows have been showing. Shaun Whitaker had a clonker weighing  11lb 4oz fishing from a boat around the weather buoys in the North basin, on a wooly bugger and sinking line combo’. (see attached photo)

Last weekend heat 3 of the Esthwaite Open Pairs 2013 took place. In second place John Parker and Clive Parry weighed in 2 fish for 2lb 9oz and in first place Esthwaite Peregrines Brian Shields and Jon Turner weighed in 3 fish for 13lb 7oz. Both pairs now qualify for the final in September. Heat 4 of this popular competition will take place on Saturday 8^th June, please contact Dave or Alex on 015394 36541 to book your boat for the heat.

There are still places left for the discounted tuition day on Saturday 30^th June and Saturday 13^th July. Please contact the fishery to book your place. This 4 hour fly fishing tutorial costs just £10 and is a fantastic taster session for anyone who wishes to take up fly fishing. All the tackle is provided on the day. It starts at 10am and finishes at 2pm. Participants need to bring with them a current EA licence and a hat and a pair of sunglasses for protection.

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 3/5/13

Another fantastic weeks fishing here at Esthwaite with good sport from both boat and bank. Warmer weather has seen good hatches of buzzer’s coming off the water and fish have been up in the surface layers taking advantage of the feast on offer now the weather has finally warmed up. Evenings have fished the best, especially for those anglers wishing to fish naturals, however for those fishing any method and lures or fry imitations timing has been a little less crucial.

Unusually bank anglers have reported the bulk of the sport this week with Craig Bowles reporting the biggest fish and what a fish this was. Craig from St Helens latched into another one of Esthwaite’s double figure specimens while fishing worm from the car park swims and at 12lb 6oz it is certainly a fish of a lifetime and certainly a personal best brownie for Craig. The fish is also only 2 oz short of the fishery record.

Gordon Finnie from nearby Coniston also took a fine brownie of 6lb 2oz plus 7 other back up fish while fishing spinner from the boat jetty! Meanwhile Hawkshead Angling Club member Dave Bell took 4 brown’s on spinning tactics also from the boat jetty. Also fishing similar tactics local rod Jack Jameson from Windermere took 3 browns.

Boat anglers are doing well, indeed Craig Robinson from Carlisle took a nice over wintered specimen brownie of 4lb+, again on spinning tactics. Season ticket angler Joe Reynolds from Barrow took to the boats and landed 4 browns to 1lb 8oz. Also from Barrow Ryan Westwood landed a fabulous 5lb 9oz specimen on spinner from the boats.

However the biggest spinner caught fish of the week was taken by H.A.C member Vic Logan also from Barrow. He got the shock of his life when he latched into a true specimen Brown Trout of 10lb 4oz, taken next to the ticket office frontage. Well done Vic you deserved that for all the hours you put in this year!

The Esthwaite Water Tackle Shop challenge was won last week by Ray Hadwin and Neil Birkinshaw from The Fishing Hut in Grange Over Sands. They weighed in a cracking 6lb 9oz buzzer caught fish to win the competition out right!

The next discounted fly fishing day will take place on Saturday 11^th May. This 4 hour tuition session costs only £10 and is open to anyone who wishes to learn to fly fish. All participants need to do is telephone the fishery on 015394 36541 or email trout@hawkshead.demon.co.uk to book their place. Please ensure you bring with you a hat and a pair of sunglasses. Daily rod licences can be obtained at the fishery on arrival for £3.75.

The next heat of the Esthwaite Pairs 2013 fly fishing competition will also take place on Saturday 11^th May. Again contact the fishery to book your place and receive any details and entry forms you may need.

Also for all you competition anglers out there the Esthwaite Individual competition will take place on Sunday 19^th May. This boat competition is open to all fly anglers and the entry fee is £32.50 and will run from 10am until 5pm and fished to Esthwaite fishery rules. Boat partners will be allocated on the day. Come and fish this friendly event, there are some fantastic prizes up for grabs and a chance to be crowned Esthwaite Individual champion 2013. Details are available by contacting the fishery and will be sent out with entry forms!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M – FISHERY MANAGER