Big Fish Column: Edwards nets 22 rainbow trout as weather conditions improve for anglers

My prediction that a little more consistency in the weather last week would stimulate an improvement in local fishing prospects was, for once, correct. At least to a point!

Coarse anglers saw the fishing pick up a fraction, there were more carp showing in what were, at times, almost spring-like temperatures and even the rivers, although still well below par, provided a few good results. It was, however, the trout anglers who really enjoyed a boost to their sport.

Amazing trout

As far as catches are concerned the result of the week fell to Paul Edwards who spent a day bank fishing on Haywards Farm Lake at the Sportfish Game Fishing Centre. On one of the site’s catch and release tickets Paul fished static black buzzers to net 24 trout comprising 22 rainbows to 4lb, a brown of 3lb and a golden trout of 5lb. Now that is a special day’s fishing by any standards!

Other anglers on the lake, although not matching Paul’s amazing result, did score well with snakes, blobs and buzzers all picking up fish with the biggest of the week a 7lb 7oz rainbow and a rod average of 3.0. Head honcho Chris Hayward told me: “The fishing has been superb all year so far and last week’s rain was greatly welcomed as it has given the lakes a good top up of water. I expect the returns next week will be just as good, if not better.”

Big carp

Carp catches have been conspicuous by their absence from reports during the past couple of months but a return to milder daytime temperatures has brought a few fish on the feed. The best local fish of the year so far was a common of 21lb 12oz that fell to the popped-up bunch of red maggots fished last week by Sonning Common angler Toby Hart.

Toby spend a dawn to dark session on the Island Lake at Theale and presented his maggot set up on a size 10 hook to a 15lb braided hook length in conjunction with 12lb main line and a PVA bag of maggots with a 3oz semi-fixed lead.

Although we are still very much in winter as far as the fishing is concerned the rapidly increasing day length will soon have increasing numbers of carp feeding. Indeed, many carp anglers rate February as the month that the big fish really start to wake up.

Casters required

Finally for this week, I have been contacted by Marlow’s Steve Blair who is the Thames Valley Caster Coordinator for the MTSFC - The Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Charity.

The charity works with schools throughout the area who have children with special needs and provides the youngsters with fully-paid days out fishing. The children, and their carers, are fed and watered, and have DBS certified adults with them for a full day’s fishing. 

The entire charity is run by volunteers, from volunteers’ contributions, and is currently in need of more adults, between 21-70 who have a clear driving licence. Approximately ten new coarse fishing casters are required in the area, and five fly casters.

It’s simple to become involved, Steve told me: “Casters just have to fill in a simple DBS clearance form and they all get free fishing and food at the events as a thank you for making a child’s life just that bit better.”

To find more about the group, and to contact them if you are a local angler interested in helping, visit the MTSFC website at: www.mtsfc.org.uk

Any anglers wishing to report catches may contact me at ian@bigfishtrail.com