Latest Update – 21st May 2008
Following the dreadfully cold and windy April, May is now offering us some ideal fishing weather. The pre-Season flood that I have reported on is still affecting us adversely. To have a flood two weeks before the start of the Season is unprecedented in 25 years, and is appallingly bad luck. As I predicted, the pulse of Nutrient that came with it has taken its toll on the lake conditions. The flood was not a big one, and so we suffered the increased Nutrient without the benefit of a prolonged increase in ground-water which would have flushed the lakes with clean water.
The worst is over; the filamentous algae is dying back, and the bloom is just starting to drop out. There is a daphnia bloom, but this too appears to have peaked. The Top Lake is clearer than the Bottom Lake, which is a really good sign of future improvements. As always, so much will depend upon the rainfall - we really need the lakes flushed with clean water. If we had not had that flood, I am confident that (in the absence of cattle) both lakes would have enjoyed the best conditions that we have seen for years; we are of course into the second year without neighbouring cattle, but we need some good luck with the weather to go with it. The Top Lake may well become crystal clear during the Summer, though I doubt we will see the same in the Bottom Lake before the end of August, but who knows – a good flush of clean water would make a lot of difference.
While water clarity is not great, you can still target Trout through about 3 feet of water, and we have certainly had some really good days. Most of the surface sport has been to Midge Flies, with the Klinkhammer doing well and, subsurface, small Pheasant Tails and Buzzers have been successful. The Alder Flies appeared late and there have been no Hawthorn Flies at all; I have no idea why - they just have not appeared at all, let alone in the usual clouds. The Mayfly, however, appeared on time in the first week of May. The hatching pattern so far is the same as last year, with small numbers hatching every day, rather than building up to a peak. I suspect they will go on like this well into the Summer, as they did last year. On the windy days, the Dry Sedge has been really successful, with some Members fishing nothing else for the day. This has nothing to do with the Sedge Flies; it is too early for them yet. I guess this is just the opportunistic nature of the Trout – a big tasty morsel blown across the surface is just too much to resist !
Talking of Sedge Flies – take a look around the edges of the Top Lake, and you will see thousands of Caddis moving around. Just a couple of years ago, at the height of the pollution problems, there was no life in the Top Lake at all, and now it is full of Caddis. Nature’s power to recover never ceases to amaze, and we should be in for some great sport later in the year when these Caddis take off. If any Members are interested in the Science behind the recovery of the lakes, there is now a comprehensive description on our web site. Go to www.brookfarm-fishery.co.uk and click on Lake Recovery Time.
We have had East or South-East winds now for a couple of weeks, which initially puts things down, but we are presently enjoying some good days. The 15th of May was the best day of the Season so far – conditions were perfect after a long cold windy period. Maurice Hawker caught four Rainbows up to 18 lbs on a Nymph.
Week 5:- Bill Dungavel had a cracking day – he ended up with five fish up to 10 lb. 4 oz., with others of 9½ , 5 1/4 , 6½, and 3½. Three were taken on Hare’s Ear, Buzzer and two on the Dry Sedge. Fishing on the same day, Rob Stevens had a similarly good day – apart from the fact that he broke his landing net on a 12-pounder! Rob had five fish including the 12-pounder, with the rest averaging a couple of pounds; the Sedge and Damsel accounted for most of these. Rob and his son fished again on the 3rd and had another really good day with Trout up to 10 lbs, including others of 6 lbs and 7 lbs. These were taken on a range of flies, including Sedge, Klinkhammer and CDC. Michael Jones also fished on the 3rd; though he only caught one, it was 13½ lbs on a Damsel.
The Highlights of Week 6 were Colin and John Pickles. Colin had his usual brace of Brownies, plus six Rainbows up to 13 lbs, all on a tiny P/T Nymph. Son John was nothing if not consistent in taking five two-pounders on Sedge and Buzzer. Pelham Aldrich-Blake and Janey Lyons fished on the 5th and had fish up to 10 lbs, on Klinkhammer and Olive Buzzer. Pelham just got the better of Janey on this particular occasion. George Proverbs’ party had a good evening on the 9th; they all had a brace except Colin, on a range of flies including Daddy and Buzzers, and John Proverbs had a very nice 11½ pounder on a Daddy. Mervyn Chappell fished on the 5th of the month, and blanked. This is worthy of a mention, because a blank for Merv is like an honest smile from Gordon Brown !
Week 7 was a quiet week despite conditions looking quite good. James Marshall’s Group Day had only a Trout apiece for his team which was disappointing, and Geo Stanton had only the one fish as well, on the 12th. The in-form fisher was once again Rob, who also had five fish up to 12 lbs on the 16th. These were all caught on what was described as a Black Dry Fly – obviously a Rob-secret-weapon !
As I write halfway through Week 8, we are enjoying some lovely weather except for the unfavourable wind direction, but the fishing is good. John Part – recently back from New Zealand – has had what is probably one of the best days of the Season so far. John has caught ten Trout, all on Damsels, Bloodworms and Buzzers, including two fish of 12 lbs, and one of 16 lbs - not a bad day ! Geo Stanton had four on the 19th, all on different Dry Flies. Lee Bales brought a Guest on the 19th to fish for the evening, and Lee had five Rainbows, all about 2 lbs on Daddies, Sedges and Damsel. Best of all, his Guest, James Smith, caught three, including a 16-pounder, and decided to join us as a Member on the spot – way to go, James !
The interesting pattern to the fishing so far this Season is that some Members have had great days, while some have blanked or had perhaps one; there seems to be no consistency, which perhaps reflects the lack of consistency in both the weather and the water condition. I would usually say the middle of May is the cream of the fishing, but I strongly suspect that, for this Season, the best is yet to come.
Tight lines ! Peter