September Newsletter
Hello fellow game fishers,
Well at last we have had some rain and the autumn equinox is upon us. Lower temperatures certainly make you feel like going out for a brisk walk and even raising a rod and line.
Unfortunately, Winterbourne Zelston remains at its lowest level in years and is not fishable. The good news is that Rawlsbury is looking in fine condition, in particular Chapmans lake is back to its best following the dredging work this summer. Indeed, as a result of this loss in fishing days the club has asked for an extension of the season to Mid- December and this has been agreed by the landowner.
Your reports this month are as follows:-
I had another brilliant afternoon trout fishing at Rawsbury yesterday. My catch return is as follows; Started fishing at approximately 15:00pm on Chapmans Lake, concentrating on the shallower areas of the lake. The wind was approximately SW at 15mph which presented the opportunity to swing some buzzers into the southern bank. This proved really effective catching both of my fish within the hour. Fish no. 1 was caught on a green and black buzzer with fish no. 2 caught on a red bloodworm imitation. Both fish were around 3lb with myself admittedly losing a bigger fish and having bruised knuckles from my fly reel in the process. After a brief rain break, I made my way up to Viners for some catch and release fishing. Still no browns for the next couple of hours for me on this lake. They seem to be alluding to me! However, I did have another rainbow caught on a viva nymph fished slow and close to the weed level. Another great afternoon. Please accept my thanks to yourself and the hardworking volunteers which enable such an enjoyable fishing time!
I’ve just had a fantastic afternoon at Rawlsbury , such a beautiful place!
I caught 2 rainbows the 1st was 1lb14oz which was taken from chapmans and the 2nd was 4lb8oz which was taken from Cowleaze. I hope this is what is needed a catch report.
Rawlsbury, Fished there this morning, fish showing all over, took my brace on a small booby fished close to the bottom, Happy Days!
I fished Chapmans this afternoon and was pleased to see how full it has become. I guess one more foot or so to go.? The fish seemed to be mainly by the trees on the top half between the hut and the monk. I got my three at 4, 3 and 2 1/2 pounds on a Viva Apache. Usual hard fighters. I also saw a pair of Grey Wagtails, a family of Dabchicks as well as a dozen Canadas and two swans. Also, a Painted Lady butterfly.
I had two from Chapmans around 4 to 5lbs. Lake is certainly improved after having silt trap re-instated and Chapmans dredged. Water surprisingly clear considering the recent rain which suggest effectiveness of work. Great to be able to catch fish near the hut under the trees again, sight fishing in clear water!! Steve caught two from Cowleaze on his second time fly fishing. Only downside were the swans on Chapmans, absolute menace, making it difficult to fish at times. Not seen that before. Planning to get a few more visits in with guests before end of season. I didn't try Viners, see we have some work to do there.
got 2 under the big oaks. (Nice and shady) Fish contained small black beetles coming off the oaks.
It was a beautiful early autumn day and when I first arrived there were only a few other anglers. I stood on the first platform at Chapmans and noted the water is almost right up to monk level, and is still clear. I cast a dry daddy towards the monk and immediately missed a savage take! A short while later I cast towards the oaks on the far bank and then noticed something to my left, low down, and a very young grass snake swam out from under the jetty and when it came to my floating line it swam close to it until it got to my tippet and then swam off towards the woodland. I waited half-expecting a trout to eat it, but although it became difficult to see, I believe it got there safely. I then went for a slow walk around the lake and noted significant numbers of common darter dragonflies with the males' red bodies showing up well. I also was surprised at the weed growth made in the last two weeks too! The water was beautifully clear and from the dam side it was relatively easy spotting fish as there was little wind. I stalked and caught a fish. It was long, quite lean and with some pink skin irritation and weighed out at 4lbs 2oz. Grandson Jack caught a fish of 4lbs 13 oz (on a dry daddy) and when I got them home I was struck by the fact that their length was the same, but his was fatter than mine and more silver in general colouration. Both fish had fought hard, but I concluded mine was a survivor of the dredging and so was stocked in the spring. I am attaching a photo of the two fish (Jack's is below mine). The flesh of the lighter fish had colour but was not as deep pink/orange as the heavier one.
As more people arrived, I went up to Cowleaze and cast from the left side (as one looks up the water from the dam) to the shadow cast by the tree on the far bank on the edge of the Canadian pondweed (that we did not remove in the top third of the lake on that side at the last working party). I caught my second fish quite readily and fought it out in the middle of the lake to avoid the weed before bringing it in over the top of the weed to the net. It weighed 2lbs 7oz.Both fish were taken on a size 14 olive nymph. I did not fish the catch and release lakes.
By normal standards Chapmans was quite crowded by around lunch time and the wind had got up too. In part because aquatic life is less in a freshly flooded lake, a dry daddy or similar is an obvious option to use. Indeed, I would have stuck with a dry but for the need to drop a small nymph in front of the first fish and then the need to keep my casting accurate at distance at Cowleaze because of where the fish were holding.
It was good to see Chapmans full again, and with more fishable water. I started fishing with a Humungous lure off the second pontoon and had a fish on the third cast. Switching to a small lead head buzzer fished deep I caught my second fish in about half an hour. Following that I thought I would fish the newly available water off the first pontoon. I continued with the buzzer and took my third fish. The next take was something solid which stayed deep and, unfortunately, I didn't see it before it came off.
Switching to a damsel nymph I took my fourth fish at about 11am. After chatting with Chris and having lunch I fished Viners and caught and released two hard fighting fish of 3-4lb. The second fish fought very hard jumping twice. The fish taken weighed 2-8, 2-13, 2-14 and 3-1.
WORK PARTY - RAWLSBURY
There will be a work party on Thursday this week to mow and strim the margins and remove reed mace from Viners. If you are interested in attending then let me know and I will pass on your details to Bob Spurgeon who is organising the day. If you can make it, I look forward to seeing you there!
Finally, if you are making the trip to Rawlsbury don’t forget the catch and release lake at Viners. I hope you have a great time and please describe in as much detail as possible your experiences, it is always a pleasure to hear your stories.
Best wishes,
Paul.