BRISTOL Water has reported another week of generally settled, mild weather, often frosty during the nights but soon warming in the daytime sunshine.

BRISTOL Water has reported another week of generally settled, mild weather, often frosty during the nights but soon warming in the daytime sunshine.

Most days have seen fairly light winds mainly from the NW. The surface water temperature remains at about 8�C. Water clarity is excellent on the main lakes but there is still some algae at Litton, although it has not affected the fishing.

The boat fishing has been consistently good at Chew from many areas, especially North Shore and Herons Green, but these are now beginning to get a little harder and anglers have begun to search out other good places.

Moreton Point, Nunnery and Villice have been found to contain plenty of fish as well as the favourite points around the Island.

Bank fishermen have continued to find lots of fish from the North Shore and the dog leg in Herons Green, with Nunnery and Woodford now becoming more popular. Most fish are still falling to nymphs, black buzzers, black and plain Diawl Bach, crunchers and bloodworms.

Sometimes pulling a small, bright mini lure is needed to turn them away from the still prolific buzzers that have been hatching in huge numbers. Few fish are seen moving, but when they are, they can be taken on dries and emergers, mainly red and orange. Best fish of the week was 7.04 from a boat.

Blagdon has been changeable with the weather. In the overcast conditions the fishing has been excellent. On brighter days the fish have moved out into deeper water making bank fishing more difficult. The North Bank has seen most of the best action with limit bags coming from Pegs, Orchard Point, the Seat and the Firs.

Best tactics have been floating lines with Diawl Bachs and buzzers. It is also worth having a go with a slow sinking line and boobies and black and green lures.

The boats have found the fish easier to take in the brighter conditions, mainly by fishing deeper with the same tactics as the bank fishermen but the hot spots have been Green Lawn, Cheddar Water and along the North Shore. Several good fish have been taken this week from Blagdon including a 7.13 and a 7.03, both from a boat and a 7.06 from the bank.

Still fishing well from all the Barrows. The best catches are falling to nymphs and lures fished well down as there are few moving fish around so far. As the days lengthen and the water continues to warm there will be more fly activity, especially during the evenings.

Although there is still a little algae present in both lakes at Litton, the fish have not been affected and are feeding well. Lower Litton appears to be the favourite but few anglers have been visiting the upper lake. There is also more fly hatching on the lower lake and on the calmer and warmer days some surface activity has been noted.

IT was a red letter day for Gary Cross at Cider Farm Lakes in Lympsham as he finally achieved the magical 100lbs mark after 40 years of fishing.

Gary achieved the feat during the Wednesday Open match fished on Dabinett Match Lake.

But he only just made it finishing with 100-02 lbs of carp to five pounds from peg 21 with pellet hookbait poled at 10 metres. But that only gave him third placing, after Craig Tucker weighed in 117-04 lbs from peg 7 mostly caught in open water. At the other end of the lake 17-year-old Lewis Jones managed 110-05 lbs from peg 12 again with pellet but from the shallow island ledge. An excellent match that saw an average catch of 70lbs a man.

There is an open match every Wednesday and Sunday.