Blog

Last week’s unsettled weather kept members away from the lakes. The number of visits and consequently the number of fish caught, were well down on the opening week. Sporadic hatches of midges bought the fish to the surface, particularly in the evening when the wind dropped.

The river is slightly above it’s normal spring level but it is not too coloured. Trout were rising today below Keeper’s Bridge and in the new riffle. If the level continues to drop, the opening week on the river will be productive.

The season started with some glorious spring weather. The February rain filled the lakes and they are all brimming over. Andrew’s hard work with the Estate Maintenance team has much reduced the weed in Great Springs and Lower Figgs. Weed clearance will continue on a weekly basis throughout the season.

There were over fifty members’ visits to the lakes during the first ten days and some good fish were caught. The best fish so far is a 4lb 8oz brown trout from the top lake at Little Bognor. It was an over-wintered fish.

The springs around the lakes have been cleared of debris and the sluices have been repaired. The spring entering the top lake at Little Bognor is flowing well. This will provide a spawning bed for the wild trout and keep the lake oxygenated.

It was good to see new members visiting the lakes and catching trout. The fish were rising well in all of the lakes, they were mainly feeding on midges.

Please email photographs for the club website and Facebook page to nrainton@gmail.com.

Your current fishing licence expires on 31 March 2017. You can buy a new fishing licence from the Environment Agency that is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

You can buy a 12 month licence for trout and coarse fishing with two rods (£30) or for three rods (£45). A 12 month licence for salmon and sea trout is £82.

You can buy a licence online, by telephone or at a Post Office. Be careful when buying a licence online as there are fake websites that charge large ‘handling fees’ to pass your application to the EA. You can use this link to the EA website.

https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/buy-a-fishing-licence

Brian Smart is available at Great Springs every Tuesday during the season. Brian is a qualified coach and is there to offer informal advice and guidance to members. If you want a more structured lesson Brian can arrange personal attention if you book an appointment.

On Tuesdays Brian’s services are free to members.

Brian can give you tips to improve your casting, fly selection, knots and other minor tactics. He is easily recognized by his white baseball cap, don’t be embarrassed about asking for advice. Jerome, a new member fresh to fly fishing, sought Brian’s assistance and ended the day with a trout on a Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear nymph.

You can contact Brian on 07709 824745 or at smartangler@hotmail.com.

The opening day at the lakes finally arrived. The weather was perfect, a gentle southerly breeze and hazy sunshine. The water temperature was 12 degrees and Great Springs had returned to its normal level. The weed had been reduced thanks to Andrew and the Estate Maintenance team who worked hard to get the lakes into good condition for the start of the season.

Rods bent around the lakes at regular intervals. The weather improved during the afternoon, it was too hot for a jacket. It was a beautiful spring day.

It was good to see three new members enjoying themselves. Midges were hatching and there were a lot of fish rising on Little Springs.

The club house looked immaculate thanks to Poppet Hosp and Mel Keen.

Membership renewal letters have been posted and members should receive them before the end of the week. A membership card, car sticker and 2016 Newsletter are enclosed. If you would like copies of the Newsletter or the club’s leaflets, please contact the Estate Office.

The fishing season on the lakes starts on Saturday 11 March. If you have any news or photographs that you would like to share on the club website, particularly from opening day, please email nrainton@gmail.com.

Yesterday’s visit to the lakes was to see the improvements that are in hand for the start of the season.

At Great Springs the Estate team and students from the agricultural college, were hard at work netting coarse fish and cutting the weed. The over-wintered trout that were caught in the nets were returned to the lake. A big trout was seen swirling on the surface at Little Springs.

Another Estate team were at Little Bognor repairing the ravages of winter. The Estates Maintenance department are carrying out a schedule of work which will continue through the season and into next winter.

Membership renewal letters will be posted this week.

The new club website has been published. Club members will receive the news in their membership renewal letter or in the next club Newsletter. The website will be updated with news of club events. It contains membership details, contact telephone numbers and a link showing the height of the River Rother. The new website can be accessed on a mobile phone, tablet or personal computer.

The club Facebook page will be regularly updated. Each week during the season it will give news from the lakes and river about catch numbers, notable fish and fly hatches. This should keep members better informed. If you have news or photographs that you would like to share, please email nrainton@gmail.com.

Prospective members are very welcome to spend a day on the lakes or the river as a guest, accompanied by another member. Alternatively a visit to the club’s lakes and the river can be arranged by contacting the Estate Office or the Keeper. Naturally, you are welcome to bring a rod with you.

Membership can be arranged during the season, please contact the Estate Office for details of the membership fees that apply after the season has started.

On the lakes the fishing starts on Saturday 11th March.

On the River Rother the fishing starts on Tuesday 4th April.

On the river the season ends on 31 October. On the lakes the season might be extended until the end of November if the weather permits.