Difficult conditions at the lakes

Windy conditions making fishing difficult at the Bristol Water lakes.

STRONG west winds and cooler temperatures made fishing difficult except in the most sheltered of areas and boats were cancelled at Chew Valley on two days.

Despite the continuing windy conditions, Chew is still fishing well. Woodford Bank has seen plenty of activity for the bank men with limits coming most days.

The Oak Trees is also worth a try as are Wick Green and North Shore if the winds allow. Boat fishermen have found plenty of fish from the same places although it can be difficult fishing on exposed shores in the gusty, strong winds.

Boat fishermen have also found fishing a sinking line with blobs and boobies worthwhile when the wind is strong. Best fish of the week was a 5.11lb brown taken from the bank by Clive Easton.

The westerly winds have made more areas of Blagdon Lake fishable and Cheddar Water, The Lodge, Home Bay, Green Lawn and Rainbow, along with Butcombe have all seen decent catches especially from the boats.

The fish remain offshore and difficult to reach except early morning and late evening. Few fish showing so stick with nymphs fished sub-surface or on slow intermediates.

It was another good week from Barrow tanks with plenty of larger fish coming to the net. Best was a brown of 6.03lb and there was another brown of 5.06lb, whilst Tim Kamei took a 4.04 rainbow from No 2.

Although there has been some surface activity at times, most fish seem to be falling to floating lines with nymphs or washing line tactics with sinkers. As always the mouse has taken its share of the weekly catch.

The lower lake at Litton is very coloured at present making fishing a little harder despite another stocking this week. However, the top lake is good and one pair of anglers boated more than 20 fish there in one day this week. Nymphs and small lures have been the best ‘fish catchers’ this week.