Latest Report!

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 17/12/11

TROUT FISHING

         Despite the cooler weather kicking in the trout fishing is still very good, for the time of year. Boat anglers are reporting good numbers of  fish, however the bank anglers are really producing some good bags also. The ticket office frontage is the hotspot at present and the fish are still in the shallow water hunting the fry and anywhere there is structure or decaying weed will be a good spot to try as the fry are shoaling tightly with  the onset of winter and are seeking the sanctuary of these areas. Swimming pool, Weather bay, Strickland bay , the ticket office frontage and Stockie bay have all been producing fish or showing signs of fish activity.

         One angler who took advantage of the fry feeding was Peter Scott from Edinburgh, who fished the swimming pool from the boats and took 5 nice rainbows to 4lb+ on sinking line and floating fry imitations.

John Prescott (not the famous left jab Prescott), from Wigan fished zonkers and boobies, again on sinking line tactics in Stockie bay and landed 3 rainbows to 3lb+.

Bank anglers fishing worm outside the ticket office have been doing best of all. Season ticket angler and venue regular Richard Maddox has landed 7 trout in 2 visits. 4 rainbows and 3 browns to 3lb+. Meanwhile Hawkshead Angling Club members Ed Edmundson and Tony Hudson from nearby Kendal landed 1 brownie and 2 rainbows, again on legered worm. The duo also missed countless other bites.

Once again Dave Bell, another HAC member has been getting in on the action taking 2 rainbows and another cracking grown on Brown Trout, which was released over 4lb ( see attached photo ).

Prospects are looking good for the festive period, with plenty of fish still showing and no sign of a freeze up. Please contact the ticket office for all the latest news and advice!

PIKE FISHING

Once again there has been some nice pike reported over the last couple of weeks. HAC member Tim Carswell from Cockermouth legered deadbaits and took a nice brace of toothy critters of 18lb 6oz and 20lb 14oz respectively. Meanwhile Jason Jones from Cleveleys  reported a 22 pounder and 2 back up doubles again to  static deadbaits from the boats. Also fishing deadbait John Hicks from Grange took a 14 pounder from the car park banking.

Fishing lures from the boats Chris Harris, a Big S club member from Lancashire has reported several doubles to 18lb+ and a fine 20lb 8oz specimen.

However the best recent pike was taken, again by a Big S club member John Ashurst who took an impressive 27lb 14oz specimen on a lure fished from the boats ( see attached photo).

The fishery will be open throughout the festive period and for all those customers that can’t make it until the new year we would like to wish you a Happy Christmas and a fantastic rod bending new year, all the best !

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

Latest Report!

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 1/12/11

TROUT FISHING

The trout fishing is excellent at present and with this mild spell of weather set to continue, prospects for the forthcoming weeks looks fantastic, with good numbers of trout still showing in the lake! The fish are definitely on the fry, big time. Best areas include the ticket office frontage, strikland bay, weather bay and the swimming pool area of the lake. Find the decaying weed or structure and you have pretty much found the fry that the trout are searching for!

Esthwaite Peregrine and England international squad members Alistair Beaumont and Dave Morris fished boobies and blobs and took 7 rainbows to 5lb+ from the boats.

Paul Gratton from Blackpool fished the swimming pool from the boats and landed 4 rainbows to 2lb+ on sinking line and cats whisker’s.

Meanwhile employing spinning tactics Andy Murray from Lancashire took 3 trout to 3lb and a 6lb pike!

As well as the boats, the ticket office frontage from the banking is producing big style. Hawkshead Angling Club member James Timmins took a cracking rainbow of 5lb 8oz on worm.

From the same swim, Anthony James and Chris Lawler, from the Manchester area, fished worm again and landed 6 rainbows to 5lb (see attached picture).

Season ticket holders Richard Maddox and John Gardner have also taken a good few fish from the same area using legered worm. A mixture of browns and rainbows to about the 3lb mark.

However the in form angler at present on the trout front is Hawkshead Angling Club member Dave Bell from nearby Windermere. Over 4 visits, Dave has taken 14 trout. A mixture of both rainbows and browns. Again using a combination of legered and float fished worm, he has taken rainbows to 5lb and browns to a similar weight. Yesterday he produced the goods again. Catching and safely releasing 4 trout. All of which were Brown Trout (see attached picture of the best one- 5lb).

PIKE FISHING

The predator fishing is also good at present with a number of fish being reported from both boat and bank.

Hawkshead Angling Club member Alan Dixon from Ulverston fished the car park banking with deadbaits and landed 3 pike to 16lb.

Meanwhile Big S club members Steve Hincks and Darren Lord from Blackpool have been boat fishing the lake and have reported plenty of doubles taken on a variety of methods, including fly, lures and deadbaits.

Ian Sorvel from Widnes landed a 2olb pike on lamprey section from the boats.

Nathan and Brent Dransfield from Leeds also fished lures from the boats. Using big pike spoons the father and son duo took pike to 10lb+ and 2 trout of 5 and 8lb respectively!

Best reported pike was taken as part of a 3 fish haul by Ian Johnson from Crewe. Ian fished from the boats and landed 2 on float legered static deadbait. However his best fish a 24lb 2oz specimen was taken on a lure!

Anyone wishing to join Hawkshead Angling Club for the 2012 season should contact the secretary Dave Armstrong , by telephoning 01946 691889 or email mrdarmstrong@sky.com. The annual fee is £135 for adults and £31 for juniors and entitles you to 12 months unlimited fishing on beautiful Esthwaite Water. Remember it doesn’t matter where you live as there is now NO eligibility boundaries!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

Latest Report!

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 17/11/11

TROUT FISHING

The water clarity is now better than it has been since May and fish are feeding well, despite the falling temperatures. Hatches of small buzzer are evident and fish are feeding on the surface, albeit delicately. The fry have been the trout’s main target as they shoal tightly ready for the onset of winter and the best tactics have been the sinking line and fry pattern approach!

One such angler to employ these successful back end tactics is season ticket holder Jim Miller who used a Di-3 line in conjunction with cats whiskers from the boats to take 4 rainbows to 3lb+. Also Tom Nelson from Consett took a nice 4lb rainbow on similar tactics from the boats, plus 4 other back up fish. (see attached picture).

Worm and spin anglers have been doing consistently well also. Andrew Coates, who usually is a seasoned competition fly angler fished from the bank off the boathouse stretch with son Zac and took 3 rainbows to 3lb on worm.

Another bank angler Dave Bell a Hawkshead Angling Club member fished just outside the ticket office and caught 4 nice rainbows on legered worm.

Meanwhile season ticket rod John Gardner also fished worm, but this time from a boat and recorded 2 rainbows and 1 cracking over wintered brownie of 3lb+.

Richard Maddox from Barrow in Furness fished spinner from the boats to record 5 rainbows to 4lb 5oz ( see attached picture)

PIKE AND COARSE FISHING

The pike fishing continues to be good with many reports of double figure fish falling to deadbaits and lures. The fish are still mainly getting reported from the shallower spots on the lake, however this should change with the onset of winter as fish seek out the deeper stretches and follow the bait fish.

Grant Pearce from Darlington had a session to remember taking 3 double figure pike to 22lb on lures and static deadbaits from the boats.

Also Peter Johnson from Hexham took a 21lb snapper and 2 jacks on static deadbaits from the banking off the car park.

Prospects for the pike fishing over the forthcoming weeks looks promising as the biggest fish always show themselves between December and March!

Also on good form at present is the coarse fishing. Shaun Barrett and John Pearson from Leigh in Lancashire caught 30lb+ of Roach and Perch, some of which were over the 2lb mark on swim feeder and maggot from the popular and productive boathouse banking. Remember the coarse fishing permits to fish for the Roach and Perch are only £10 per day, however this price is not applicable to the Pike fishing.

For up to the minute information telephone 015394 36541 or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For all other information log onto www.hawksheadtrout.com.

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

Latest Report!

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY – REPORT 25/10/11

TROUT FISHING

Although the weather has been generally mild over the last few weeks, the fishing has been a bit tricky at times. Surface activity has been minimal, despite sporadic hatches of small buzzers and sedges. Best results have been encountered employing sinking lines and fry patterns such as cats whiskers, zonkers, minkies and floating fry. The fish have been close to the surface and worm fished 8 feet deep has also been producing the goods as well as spinners. Boat fishing has once again been the best approach, however the banking opposite the ticket office and the boathouse stretch on the Eastern bank have been throwing up a few fish also. Recent catch returns have included some very nice fish caught indeed!

Season ticket holder Jim Miller from Keswick has taken 5 trout on his last two visits. Fishing worm and fly (booby fished on an intermediate line ) from the boats, Jim has taken 4 rainbows to 4lb+ and a corker of a Brown Trout at approximately 5lb, which was returned to the water safely, ( see attached picture ).

Bob Bradley from Grange Over Sands had a day to remember taking a beautiful grown on Brown Trout of 5lb 12oz, plus 5 rainbows to float fished worm, from the boats. ( see attached picture ).

Another season rod that has been getting in on the action is Bill Shortall from Southport who took a nice brace of fish on worm from the boats. Bills best fish was a fine 4lb+ rainbow. ( see attached picture ).

Venue regular Richard Maddox, from Barrow in Furness had a belting rainbow on worm from the boats. Richard landed and weighed the fish at 7lb 3oz. He then put it back into the water to wash it and it shot off before he could get a good grip of it. Richard has now put a bigger priest on his Christmas list. Haha, nevermind Richard these things happen and you still came in to tell me with a smile on your face!

Providing the mild weather continues, prospects are looking good for the forthcoming weeks!

PIKE FISHING

The pike fishing season has started well, despite the mini heat wave experienced at the beginning of the month. With water temperatures quite high for the time of year the pike were in an obliging and aggressive mood, hitting and following lures as opposed to readily picking up static baits. This trend has continued throughout the month with some nice pike reported!

First up, Carl Berry from Blackpool took to the boats and nailed two double figure pike on lures from the boats. Carls fish weighed 14lb and 18lb respectively.

Also Jason Lunn, a big s club member from Morecambe took an 18lb snapper from the boats. This time to static smelt. Jason also had a good first day on the lake recently, sharing 4 pike to 15lb on lures with in house guide Dave Coleman.

Neil Titley from Essex also fished with Alex, our other in house guide and landed 5 pike to 18lb, again from the boats and again the bulk of the fish fell to lures!

For up the minute information log onto facebook or telephone us on 015394 36541.

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

Latest Report!

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 28/9/11

With autumn fast approaching, the lake continues to fish extremely well. The fish are now officially back near the surface, however there are still a few fish getting caught as deep as 15 feet. Mornings and evenings still seem to be the best times for surface feeding with good hatches of buzzers and sedges provoking a lot of activity. When conditions are right, its well worth presenting daddies and hoppers too! The bulk of the fish though are being taken on the intermediate and sinking lines, in conjunction with fry patterns and damsel nymphs. Best areas from the boats include the weather buoys and boathouse stretch on the eastern bank in the North basin and the cages and ticket office frontage in the South basin. Best bank fishing is still the boathouse banking on the eastern shore and the point opposite the ticket office.

Season ticket holder John Johnstone from Surrey caught 5 rainbows from the boats in front of the ticket office. John employed sinking line and zonkers to take some beautifully conditioned fish to 4lb 1oz [ see attached picture ].

Another season rod who is finding the fish is John Gardner. He caught 16 rainbows over 5 visits from the boats on a combination of fly and worm, with his best fish tipping the scales at 2lb 8oz! Meanwhile Jim Miller has taken 18 rainbows and browns to 3lb+, over 4 visits! Richard Maddox has landed 8 in two visits, again to a combination of fly and worm. Also Tony Topup took 1 brownie and 4 rainbows on worm and fly!

Jim Ratallic from Leicester fished a floating line and damsels from the boats to record 8 rainbows to 2lb+.

Worm and spin anglers have really been getting stuck into some great action of late too. Mark Blaylock from Carlisle fished from the boats and took 4 fish on mepps spinner, with his best fish a stunning looking blue trout of 3lb 12oz.

Jamie Hilton from Leigh took 3 rainbows on spinner to 4lb from the boats [ see attached picture ].

Meanwhile Reg Bright from Dumfries took 4 rainbows to 4lb 8oz on spinner from the boats [ see attached picture ].

Volodymyr Chystakov from London experienced a bank session to remember and took 6 rainbows from the ticket office banking on spinner to 2lb+.

The final of the 2011 Esthwaite Water Open Pairs competition was contested at the weekend with 24 anglers weighing in 65 trout for a total weight of 109lb 4oz. In third place Adam Larbalestier and Ben Bayliss weighed in 8 fish for 12lb 15oz. In second place John Henshall and Mike Laycock weighed in 8 fish for 14lb 1oz and in first  place Tom Nelson and Jon Henderson stormed the field of opposition and weighed in 9 fish for 14lb 13oz. Well done to those boys and a full report will follow soon!

For up to the minute information telephone the fishery on 015394 36541 or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

Latest Report!

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 1/9/11

During the latter part of August, Esthwaite fished extremely well again. What used to be considered as the ‘Dog Days’ of summer has been proved over the last few years to be a  thing of the past, with better fishing experienced during July and August, than say June. With are first wave of warm weather coming as early as April this year and the lake stratifying much earlier than usual, it has been a peculiar year to say the least!

Anyway back to the fishing and as I write this report cooler weather has been dominant over the last couple of weeks and with longer colder nights, the water is cooling slowly and encouraging the fish closer to the surface for longer periods during the day and fly fisherman are starting to reap the rewards of this with some cracking sport reported. There are still huge hatches of olive and fawn buzzers, along with sedges and damsels and when the fish are up on the top, daddies and hoppers are also worth a try. When the fish are not free rising try fry patterns on a sinking line for best results!

Season ticket angler Bill Hethrington from Barrow took 5 rainbows to 3lb+ on sinking line and lures from the boats.  Another season ticket angler who has done well on fly is good ol’ Jim Miller from Keswick, he also took 5 rainbows to 5lb 8oz. Jim’s fish were all taken on cats whisker and blob combo’s. Richard Maddox continues his good run with 22 rainbows and browns over 3 visits . His best fish was a rainbow of 5lb 8oz and all ‘Dickies’ fish came from the boats, on a combination of tactics, including fly and worm!

Hawkshead Angling Club members Geoff Gregory and Jamie Timmins also took to the boats for an afternoon and evening session and landed 21 rainbows and browns to 3lb 8oz. All Geoff’s and Jamies fish were taken on worm and spinner!

Season rod John Gardner has also been consistent, recording 17 rainbows and browns over 3 visits to 4lb 8oz. Again John’s fish were taken on a combination of fly and worm fished from the boats [ see attached photo ].

Grant Hart from Darlington also had a superb 4lb 2oz rainbow on a spinner fished from the boats [ see attached photo ].

Best areas on the lake continue to be the weather buoys in the North basin and the cages area in the South basin. Best bank fishing is still from the point opposite the ticket office and the boathouse stretch on the Eastern bank!

For up to the minute information please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For all other information log onto www.hawksheadtrout.com.

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER