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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.

The club’s 37th Annual General Meeting was held at Great Springs on Sunday morning followed by a barbecue and fishing. Chairman Charles Stancomb stepped back from his role and Poppet Hosp was elected by the members to continue Charles’ excellent work. The weather was kind and the lakes looked in splendid condition.

Last week members visited the lakes on 48 occasions and caught 60 fish. Mayfly continued to hatch in large numbers. Two blue trout were caught, the biggest was 4lb.

Fishing on the river was hampered by heavy rain which bought the level up two feet and coloured the water. By Saturday the level had dropped and the fish were taking dry flies. Most of the colour had gone by Sunday. Members visited the river on 18 occasions and caught 21 fish all of which were released. The catch included 4 wild fish, 2 sea trout and 2 over wintered fish both of which were 3lb+.

Last week 80 fish were caught from the lakes including a 4lb blue trout from Upper Figgs. Members visited the lakes on 40 occasions. Little Springs was again the most productive lake accounting for half the total catch.

The grass has been cut, the lakes have been stocked with a few bigger trout and there have been big hatches of Mayfly. Today there were large clouds of male Mayfly spinners at Great Springs and under the trees at Little Springs. It is a great time to visit the lakes with fish up to 9lb and the trout rising freely.

Mayfly are hatching in good numbers along the river. Alder and midges are also hatching. Last week there were 28 visits to the river, mainly to the lower beats. A total of 28 fish were caught including 11 sea trout and 6 wild fish. A sea trout of 2lb was caught at Rotherbridge. The river has been stocked and should be very productive during the evening rise.

The AGM is on Sunday at Great Springs commencing at 11:00am followed by the spring barbeque.

The lakes fished well during the last week. The weather was cold with strong winds from the north east but the trout were rising to mayfly. Members visited the lakes on 24 occasions and caught 41 fish the biggest of which was 3lb 12oz from Great Springs. Lower Springs produced over half the trout.

The fishing on the river has been exceptionally good. Members visited the river on 13 occasions and caught 15 fish. Eight of the fish were wild. Two of the overwintered wintered fish weighed more than 3lbs. There are lots of sea trout smolts in the lower beats, please handle these fish with care and return them all to the river as quickly as possible. They will provide sport in years to come. The mayfly are hatching in good numbers, particularly in the evening or when the wind drops.

The AGM and Spring Barbeque will be held on Sunday 21 May at Great Springs from 11:00am onwards.

During the week members visited the lakes on 36 occasions and caught 47 trout on a variety of flies, mainly from Little Springs. A lady member caught the first fish of the season on a Mayfly from Little Springs. At the end of the holiday weekend Mayfly were hatching all over the shallows. Many thanks to Brian Smart who found a beautiful specimen for this weeks photograph.

Members visited the river on 18 occasions and caught 19 fish. Of the 19 fish that were caught, 10 were wild fish including 3 sea trout. The majority of fish were taken from beats D and E. Hawthorn flies are being blown into the water and the trout are beginning to take dry flies.