Author: leconfieldflyfishingclub

The long spell of very hot weather ended and heavy rain reduced the temperature of the water in the lakes. This morning the water temperature at Little Bognor was 16 degrees and fish were rising to midges. The fish were also moving at Great Springs and now that the water temperature there is considerably lower, it is a good time to resume fishing. The wind and rain kept members away from the lakes at the weekend. During the week members visited the lakes on 18 occasions and caught 2 fish, both from the top lake at Little Bognor.

The heavy rain during the latter part of the week caused the river level to rise dramatically. The river level is now dropping and the water is clearing. During the week members visited the river on 21 occasions and caught 24 fish including 3 wild trout and a sea trout of 4lb 8ozs, photo above. Members reported losing quite a few sea trout. If you are fishing for sea trout, please ensure that you have the appropriate Environment Agency rod licence.

Orvis will be at Great Springs on Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm with a selection of rods, reels and lines for you to try out. Guests and members of the public are welcome to attend. If you are not a club member, please contact Mark Allen at the Estate Office on 01798 342502 for directions.

Orvis will be holding a demonstration day at Great Springs on Friday 28 July. The event will run from 10.00am until 3.00pm and offers the opportunity to come and try out some of the kit that Orvis has to offer.

If you are free, please call in to have a look and try out some of the rods, reels and lines. Brian Smart will be on hand to offer any guidance and Hamish Hiddleston from Orvis will be available to answer any questions that you may have about the Orvis products. If you have a guest that you think will be interested in the demonstration or the fishing club, then please bring them along. Tea and coffee will be provided.

If you are not a member of the club and wish to come along, please contact Mark Allen at the Estate Office on 01798 342502 or email lfc@leconfield.net for directions.

The weather was cooler last week and consequently the temperature of the water in the lakes dropped. The wind and rain lowered the water temperature at Little Bognor to 19 Degrees and at Great Springs it was 22 degrees. The forecast cooler weather and rain should further reduce the water temperature. Members visited the lakes on 21 occasions and caught 8 trout, most of them from Little Bognor. Yesterday trout were rising on the top lake at Little Bognor and taking midges.

Members visited the river on 19 occasions and caught 9 trout including 3 wild fish. No sea trout were caught although members have reported seeing a lot. The rain early in the week raised the river level and coloured the water. Now that the level has returned to normal the river should be more productive, particularly late in the evening.

The hot weather continued and made the fishing very difficult. Members visited the lakes on 21 occasions and caught 9 fish. The water temperature at Little Bognor was lower than the other lakes, kept low by the shade from the trees and the fresh spring water. The temperature of the spring feeding the top lake at Little Bognor was 16 degrees. All 9 fish were caught from that lake. The weather has broken and the forecast rain should lower the water temperature in all the lakes which will improve the fishing.

Members visited the river on 17 occasions and caught 16 fish including 1 wild trout and a sea trout of 4lb 8ozs. The sea trout was carefully returned, which the club encourages, to continue upstream, spawn and improve the ecology of the river.

The run of bigger sea trout has started and these fish, mainly females, should be handled carefully and returned to the river as quickly as possible. Most of the trout were caught late in the evening from Beats C and D, Keeper’s Bridge and Rotherbridge.

The Environment Agency have finished cutting down the trees around the fish pass.

Last week the weather was cooler and the temperature of the water in the lakes dropped a few degrees. However, it was a difficult week. Members visited the lakes on 26 occasions and caught 5 fish. The water temperature at Little Bognor is several degrees lower than the other lakes. This is because the lakes are sheltered by the trees and don’t get as much sunlight. Members visiting Little Bognor might have more success than at the other lakes.

The temperature of the river water is lower and more stable than the lakes. Members visited the river on 20 occasions and caught 25 fish including 1 wild fish and 2 sea trout. Only 2 fish were kept. A chub of 5lb 8ozs was also caught. Most visits to the river were in the evening. The Environment Agency are continuing to work on the trees around the fish ladder.

Little Owl chicks near Rotherbridge photographed by Andrew Thompson.

The weather changed last Thursday but the heat wave had discouraged members from fishing the lakes. Members visited the lakes on 19 occasions and caught 3 fish. The cooler weather and westerly winds should improve the fishing on the lakes this week.

Andrew Thompson took members on a guided tour of the river on Sunday ending at Ladymead with nibbles and drinks. Last week members visited the river on 23 occasions and caught 19 fish including a wild fish of 3/4lb and a 3lb stock fish.

The Environment Agency cleared some of the trees from around the fish pass to avoid damage to the structure.

During the week the weather was very hot, over 30 degrees. The bright sun and heat raised the water temperature at Great Springs to 24 degrees and the trout became lethargic and only inclined to rise in the early morning and late evening. Members visited the lakes on 24 occasions and caught 10 fish.

During the day the constant bright sunshine made the trout in the river hide under the streamer weed and amongst the tree roots. Late in the evening there were fish rising on every beat and members had a successful week. Members visited the river on 23 occasions and caught 22 fish. Wild fish made up half the total catch, no sea trout were caught. One member had 5 wild fish during a short evening visit.

The Committee met at Great Springs on 19 June. Andrew Thompson is taking members on a conducted tour of the river on Sunday 25 June at 2:00pm. The tour starts at Andrew’s house on Rotherbridge Lane, please contact Mark Allen at the Estate Office for directions.

The rain and high winds meant that it was a quiet week on the club waters.

The heavy rain in the early part of the week caused the river level to rise and coloured the water. Members visited the river on 7 occasions in the latter part of the week and caught 4 stock fish from beat D, Rotherbridge . A chub of 6lb+ was also caught. The river is returning to the normal summer level and sport should improve, particularly in the late evening.

Members visited the lakes on 42 occasions and caught a total of 27 fish including a blue trout of 3lb from Great Springs. The high winds throughout the week, sometimes gusting to 50pmh, made casting difficult and covered the lakes with debris from the trees. The wind and rain reduced the water temperature and there were fewer distressed fish. The two very large blue trout in Great Springs were often seen feeding confidently.

Last week was difficult, the hot sunny weather had increased the water temperature at most of the lakes to 21 degrees and the fish were lethargic. Members visited the lakes on 34 occasions and caught 23 trout. Three wild trout were caught at Little Bognor and returned to the lake.

The river had returned to a normal summer level and was only slightly coloured. Members visited the river on 22 occasions and caught 16 fish. All of the fish were returned. The total included 2 sea trout smolts and 4 wild fish. In addition to the trout 2 good chub were caught from beat D, the best weighing 4lb.

The weather during last week had been extreme. The hottest day of the year so far followed by nearly an inch of rain. The water temperature at Great Springs had risen and the fish were difficult. The Mayfly hatch had almost finished.

Members visited the lakes on 39 occasions and 40 fish were caught. Lower Springs produced almost half the total. None of the remaining blue trout had been caught although one of the larger fish had been hooked and lost.

The fishing on the river had been exceptional. Members visited all of the beats and caught 25 fish including 2 sea trout and 2 wild fish. Twenty of the fish were returned. The best fish of the week was a 3lb 8oz sea trout from Rotherbridge.