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

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 23/4 13

Warmer weather is with us now and what a difference it has made to the fishing. Over the last couple of weeks any number of over wintered specimens have been reported on a variety of methods. Buzzers are now coming off the water in good number, however with the water temperatures still a bit low, surface sport is yet to get going, however I am sure this will change soon. Those that have been fishing sub surface, with fry patterns have reported the best results.

Kayak angler Andrew Hoyle from Manchester fished a mepps spinner to take a nice brace of brownies to 5lb 9oz. Meanwhile Hawkshead Angling Club member Bill Blakeney from Bootle also employed spinner from the boats to take a fine conditioned 6lb brownie. Also using spinning tactics Christian Marsden from Halifax landed a superb over wintered specimen of 7lb 2oz. Paul Bird from York also took a 2lb 8oz brownie, plus a few back up smaller fish also on spinner.

Fly anglers that have been employing early season tactics of sunken lines and fry patterns have been recording some good catches also. Indeed 12 year old James Dixon from Buckinghamshire took a fine over wintered rainbow of 9lb 12oz from the boats on a cats whisker. Hawkshead Angling Club member Wayne Joyce from nearby Kendal had a 20 minute battle royal on his hands to land a fantastic 10lb 4oz Brown Trout also taken on sinking line and cats whisker combo’, from the boats in the North basin.(see attached photo)

The pick of the catch returns though goes to season ticket angler and venue regular John Johnstone from Surrey. John fished 6 days in a row and took 6 Pike into double figures. 12 smaller fish and over wintered Brown Trout of 6lb 4oz, 8lb 4oz and a new fishery record brownie of 12lb 8oz. All fish were taken on a mixture of gold head damsels, zonkers and cats whiskers. What a week he had! (see attached photo)

22 anglers fished the Chaplow’s cup last weekend. In third place Sam Tattershall weighed in 1 fish for 1lb 13oz. In second place Terry Potter weighed in 3 fish for 5lb 5oz and the winner Phil Hawkins weighed in 2 fish for 8lb. Once again this any method competition was well attended and a good time was had by all. The winner of the competition Phil Hawkins weighed in another over wintered specimen of 6lb 4oz, taken on spinning tactics.

Meanwhile 7 pairs fished heat 2 of the Esthwaite Open Pairs competition on Saturday. In second place Ernie Craster and Peter Crowe weighed in 2 fish for 2lb 5oz. In first place the England Youth squad members John Macintosh and James Atkinson weighed in 3 fish for 4lb 1oz. Both pairs now qualify for the grand final in September. Well done to both pairs they had to work hard on the day during testing conditions. The next heat of the competition will take place on Saturday 11^th May, please contact the fishery if you would like to enter the heat – 015394 36541.

Also for all you competition anglers out there the Esthwaite 2013 Individuals competition will take place on Sunday 19^th May. Again this is an event not to be missed, please contact the fishery for more details, there are some fantastic prizes up for grabs!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 10/4/13

Its hard to imagine that we are into the second week of April, with no buds on the trees, a water temperature of 3 degrees Celsius, fish down in the water and a minimal amount of fly life coming off the lake and a biting Easterly wind that seems to of gone on for weeks. Well if forecasts are to be believed then we should have an improvement in conditions come the weekend. Despite the poor start, weather wise to the season, there has been good sport encountered with fish getting caught on all methods and from both boat and bank anglers alike.

Peter Johnson from Glasgow fished spinner from the banking opposite the ticket office and landed 4 browns to 1lb 8oz. Meanwhile Jonathon Mitchell from Manchester also fared well with the spinner, landing 3 fish from the boat jetty!

Fly fisherman have been getting a few fish on buzzers and nymphs from the boats, however the sinking line approach with fry patterns and lures have been accounting for the best bags. Indeed Charlie Prichard from Carlisle managed half a dozen fish on black cats whiskers on a Di-3 line fishing around the weather buoys and David Sharpe from Preston also hit his limit bag on similar tactics.

There have also been some nice sized fish reported. Geoff Bourne from Stoke took a nice brace of fish from the boats, the best tipping the scales at 6lb+. Geoff fished a sink tip line and Diawl Bach combo’ at the car park end of the lake and the larger of the two fish were released to fight another day!

Stewart Fitzgerald from Wingrove in Buckinghamshire legered worm from the boathouse banking and took a fine conditioned over wintered Brown Trout of 6lb 8oz (see attached picture).

Meanwhile 10 year old Finnian Macmurray from Darlington landed a nice 5lb 2oz specimen from the boats on spinner (see attached picture).

There are a few buzzers coming off the lake despite the cold weather experienced of late, however expect hatches to improve as the weather warms. Surface feeding will then be stimulated and location of the fish will drastically improve. For daily updates please find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

There was a last minute capture to end our Pike season. Jane Shirley from Herts’ took a nice conditioned 17 pounder on a lucky strike lizard spoon from the car park area on a boat. Don’t forget our Pike season is now closed until the 1^st October.

For all you competition anglers out there heat 2 of the Esthwaite Pairs competition will take place on Saturday 20^th April. There are prizes for every contestant and heat winners and a chance to mix it with the big guns in the final, to be held on September 29^th, where there will be over £3000 worth of prizes up for grabs.

Also don’t forget our individual fly fishing competiton will be held on Sunday 19^th May. Again there will be some fabulous prizes up for grabs and a chance to be crowned Esthwaite Individual champion 2013. Please contact the fishery for more details.

Our next discounted tuition day will be held on Sunday 21^st April. This 4 hour session will start at 10am and last until 2pm. The cost is £10 per person and a fantastic way of having a taster session to learn the art of flyfishing. Please book your place in advance!

Best Regards

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

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 26/3/13

Its hard to believe its nearly April , with the cold easterly winds and the significant snow fall we have had recently. However despite the artic like conditions and the freezing water temperatures the fishing has been superb. All methods have been producing and anglers have been experiencing equal levels of sport from both boat and bank.

Venue regulars and Hawkshead Angling Club members Bob Swann and Colin O’brien experienced hectic sport as they practiced for heat 1 of the Esthwaite Pairs match. The deadly duo landed 10 fish between them on intermediates and dabbler combo’s. The pair boat fished and found the fish in a taking mood at the car park end of the lake.

Meanwhile Matt Pollard from Bury also fly fished from the boats and took a giant Brown Trout of 9lb 6oz right in front of the ticket office on a Di-3 line and black cats whisker combo’ (see attached photo)

Kayaking legend Andrew Hoyle fished from his contraption with float fished worm and landed a fine conditioned brownie of 5lb 4oz, again the ticket office frontage produced the goods for this Manchester based angler. (see attached photo).

 Our open day on Sunday March 17^th was a huge success. The first heat of the Esthwaite 2013 pairs match was won by Competition regulars Tom Nelson and Jon Henderson  who weighed their 12 fish in with time to spare, with a total of 13lb 5oz. In second place Esthwaite Peregrine members Ali Beaumont and Dave Morris weighed in their 12 fish and also gained a time bonus with 12lb 1oz. Both pairs now qualify for the final in September. The next heat will take place on Saturday 20^th April. Also on open day we had a fantastic Fly tying demonstration from James Atkinson and Jon Mackintosh, members of the England Youth squad who kept everybody entertained in the tackle shop. Meanwhile Ian Jones one of our resident instructors gave a first class fly casting lesson on the far bank.

Don’t forget this week is the last chance to catch a Pike of a lifetime as our season for the Pike fishing ends on 31^st March. There have been one or two fish out. Indeed John Bullock from the midlands hired one of the Esthwaite guides and took a fine 25lb 2oz specimen on a lure at the car park area of the lake. Meanwhile John Ashurst and Stuart Fazackerley from Wigan managed 2 jacks and 2 low doubles to 14lb on a combination of lures and deadbaits. Terry Brown also managed a 14lb 5oz Pike on a lure from the boats.

Our next discounted tuition day will be on Sunday 21^st April. These sessions are not to be missed if you want to take up flyfishing. They are 4 hours in duration and they only cost £10. The sessions start at 10am and run until 2pm. All participants need to do is book in at the ticket office and turn up with a brimmed hat and a pair of sunglasses for protection. Those that don’t have an EA licence can purchase one for the day for £3.75. Just ask a member of staff on arrival.

For the most up to date information please telephone the ticket office on 015394 36541 or find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 9^TH March

Trout fishing

The trout fishing season has got off to a flyer, with all methods producing well. The freshly stocked fish have been slow to disperse, because of low water temperatures and so the ticket office frontage has been the hot spot to head for. However good numbers of fish are also being caught down at the car park area of the lake and also along the reed bed and into Strickland Bay.  Both boat and bank anglers have been experiencing good sport and reports of double figure bags have been common place.

Fly anglers employing early season tactics of black and green lures on sinking lines have been highly successful. Indeed venue regulars  Bob Swann and Jon Henderson fished from the boats last week and got stuck into plenty of fish outside the ticket office. Between them they landed 24 fish.

Paul Alexander and Al Pross from York, both new to fly fishing took 6 brownies between them, again just outside the ticket office. Black and green cats whiskers on slow sink lines from the boats was the winning tactics for these boys.

Paul Cooper from Preston had a session to remember landing 23 browns and rainbows to 3lb+ from Strickland Bay. Again early season tactics of sinking lines and lures was the successful method for Paul.

Bank anglers fishing outside the ticket office have been busy, indeed Hawkshead Angling Club members Jamie Timmins and Shaun Hunter from Barrow landed 12 browns between them on spinner and float fished worm tactics. Another H.A.C member Dave Bell also landed a brace of brownies to float fished worm. Also fishing from the bank John Dawson from Wigan took a 9lb 8oz rainbow from the boathouse banking on worm and sweetcorn cocktail.

Our open day is Sunday 17^th March. The day will include heat 1 of the Esthwaite Pairs competition, discounted flyfishing tuition and general camaraderie. There will be a fly tying demonstration offering practical tips and you can learn how to tie from members of the England Youth squad. Also special offers on fishing tackle will be available on the day, so anglers can ‘try before they buy’. There will also be complimentary food and drink. Feel free to come and chat to our friendly staff, everyone is welcome. Please contact the fishery for further details.

Also don’t forget Hawkshead Angling Club are now recruiting for the 2013 season. The cost is £135 for adults and £31 for juniors and there is NO eligibility boundary. Also members benefit from a 50% discount on boat hire. For more details please contact club Secretary Dave Armstrong on 01946 691889 or email mrdarmstrong@sky.com.

Pike fishing

Its been quiet this week on the Pike fishing front, however Stuart Fazackerley and John Ashurst from Wigan have been doing very well will a succession of jacks and doubles to 20lb 8oz. All taken from the boats on deadbaits and lures. Don’t forget our Pike season finishes at the end of March, so its last chance to bag a fish of a lifetime as the Pike will be at their heaviest weights. Also find attached a picture of John Ardens 20 pounder from the car park swim . He got a mention in our last report!

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER

ESTHWAITE WATER TROUT FISHERY REPORT – 21/2/13

The lake has been partially covered with ice for the last few days, however with the stiff breeze we have out there today, it shouldn’t be too long before before its clear. However with more cold nights forecast it is wise to telephone and check conditions before making your journey. Right then, what about the fishing. Well the water temperatures at its lowest right now, so the fishes metabolism is at its lowest right now. Despite this fact there have been some very notable captures to report.

Phillip Brown from Harrogate fished the car park swim for Pike and in doing so took a fabulous double figure brownie on yes you guessed it a static deadbait again. The fish was not weighed as it had to be returned in good order. But hey, who needs to put a weight on a fish like this. What a superb specimen! ( see attached picture )

Hawkshead Angling Club member John Ardon from nearby Langdale also fished the car park swim from the bank and took a nice 20lb 3oz Pike , again on static deadbait.

Also from the productive car park swim Emil Fraczek from Grasmere took a lunker of a Pike at 29lb 12oz, on static headless Mackerel. The fish was fat as a barrel as the Pike will begin to spawn over the forthcoming weeks as the water temperatures steadily rises. (see attached photo)

Also getting in on the action from the bank was Steve Hill. He landed 4 double figure fish to 18lb. Meanwhile regular Big s club member Ian Spence boat fished the venue and landed a 21lb 4oz predator and indeed a personal best. Geoff Evans from Teeside also got in on the action with another lunker at 25lb 4oz while fishing from the boats, close to the ticket office, this time on static sardine!

For all you Trout anglers out there, the lake will receive its first stocking of the year on March 1^st, however who needs to wait until then. Over wintered fish well into double figures have been caught recently  on all methods!

Also don’t forget Hawkshead Angling Club are now recruiting for the 2013 season. The cost is £135 for adults and £31 for juniors and there is NO eligibility boundary. Also members benefit from a 50% discount on boat hire. For more details please contact club Secretary Dave Armstrong on 01946 691889 or email mrdarmstrong@sky.com.

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

Best Regards

David Coleman M.I.F.M

FISHERY MANAGER