Back comes the Rain, the Wind and the Cold

Anglers needed their Brollies this week to protect them, rare was the moment when the brolly would come down

Words and Pics Dave Moody

I knew I had started back too early.  No sooner do you start thinking about good weather and it changes. However, its not as bad as it was a few weeks ago.  This weekend sees winds from the north and 13 knots on Saturday but just 8- 10 on Sunday; and thankfully not too much rain.

Perhaps I am being a bit of a pessimist.  The weekend match on the snake was fished in bright sunshine after a night frost.  Not the best conditions.  The match was won by Lee Woodhouse with 52 lb, followed in second by Pete Newman with 45lb.  Third was my benefactor Super Ray Kelly with 39lb.

I managed just over 22 lb which was not a bad result on the day. However I was on the next peg to Ray so he gave me a hiding.  On the bright side we share our winnings by going halves, so i went home with £37.50p Thanks Ray!

Barnmoor 20's

This week has seen a few of the larger residents feeding and coming out of the Lake top of the pile has been the big mirror caught by Mic Taplin weighing in at 28 lb 7 oz.  Ian (Brillo) Barlow has had a couple of 20's best being 24lb 4 oz.  It seems the Ladies are waking up.

Mid week Open

This Wednesday sees the next Reids tackle Open.  To be fished on Cottage and Sellwood.  If you are interested in this popular friendly match call me on 01722-711616 or put your name on the list in the shop.

Whats New

The new Sensas Jumbo 3700 + 3300 seat boxes are now in shop.  The boxes give you the same appearance and feel as the Rive box but are much more affordable price. Sorry about the out of focus picture shaky hands when i realised just how good value they are! Come in and see in the flesh has to be seen to be believed

I have also introduced the new Flouro Carbon hook lengths of this  line by Drennan.  Alan Scotthorne is a great fan of this hook length and he as multi world champ knows quality when he sees it.  Quite a few have asked for the hook length.  At present the lowest breaking strain is 2.6 lb to up over 6 lb.

Once we get back to winter we will stock the lower breaking strains.But lets not talk winter yet. Come on Summer.

CC MOORES new Pacific Tuna Boilies, dips and pop ups have already gained a good following.  They are without doubt going to gain even more popularity and account for a whole host of Large fish this coming year.

One of the biggest mysteries to me over the last few years.  Has been the increasing cost of big pit reels.  It seems certain companies can bring out an even more expensive product, that does the same job as last years model but is over £50 dearer!

This year we have found a product that not only does the job but at a reasonable price.

The Fish Zone Big Pit.  Weighs in at a third of the price of some models, and yet a quality reel that does what it says on the tin.

Tight Lines see you soon at Witherington Farm

Its Back the Withy Blog

Words and Pics Dave Moody.

I have been getting some stick lately for not posting anything for a while (since the 25 Nov actually Dave!! - Editor)I have considered writing a blog for weeks but the thought of writing; it was cold  and windy.  Followed by it was wet and windy, and then its been bloody windy was too much.  The winter has not been the wettest but it has been the windiest..  Week after week the weather has destroyed the plans of many anglers.  It is so annoying the thing preventing catching is the weather.

I can't promise the stormy winds are behind us .  Especially when you have to work behind Frank Gumbleton on a Saturday.  However there has been a few days recently when the winds have been light and the sun has come out.  The first evidence that spring has sprung was the sight of frog spawn in my pond at home.

A few days later a sight for sore eyes as not a breath of wind on Barnmoor lake, the sky a bright cloudless blue.  The surface water a glassy smoothness betraying no ripples.

Barnmoor has recently been producing quite a few Carp over the 20 lb weight mark.  The reports are few, as the half a dozen anglers who have been catching have been playing their cards close to their chest.  So I will now be in the dog house for letting the cat out of the bag.  Never mind I am used to the dog house as my wife Christine and I have just celebrated 34 years of marriage so I know my place.

Wednesday saw the first of the Reids Tackle mid week opens fished on Cottage.  There have been a few successful silver only matches (with Johnny Grey dominating with 40 lb + weights) but this one saw the return of Carp included.

This Wednesday saw an all in match.  First 3 overall and 1st and and second in silvers.  Sharing the love in the prizes seems to be popular with the anglers.  The match was held on cottage in great weather.

It was a very close match for the top three anglers, and at the end I was uncertain who had won.  First to put a good weight on the scales was Gary the Fish Etheridge who despite not getting amongst the carp had 16 lb 4oz of skimmers from peg 2.

Jem Turner on peg 7 and Chris Opie on 9 had a head to head battle for a top three place.  Chris started well but Jem came back in the last half of the match.  Jem was first to weigh 43 lb 6 oz.  

The Chris on 9 weighed in just enough to pip him with 44 lb 2 oz.

Next to push for a prize was myself Dave the walking Dead Moody  A bag full of Skimmers and Roach weighing in at 18 lb 2 oz pipping Gary the Fish.

The final angler to push for the prize was Steve Pommie Pomeroy on peg 15 With a mixed bag of Silvers and Carp 41 lb 6 oz for third overall.  I didn't manage to photo his bag of fish but instead got a a handsome pic of the fishing god himself (left in pic below) supported by Barry James who fished the next peg.  Barry is soon to go into hospital for heart surgery and I would like to take this opportunity to wish him well and all the best.  I along with many friends and anglers hope to see him on the bank again soon

So whats new Dave...............

So with the new season, improving spring weather comes the new tackle and bait from companies.  The companies like Dynamite Baits have brought out a mixture of bait and feed for the Carp Angler.  Spod Mix, Carp feed and Zig clouds, along with pre drilled pellet in the source range.

E S P have introduced new tackle items like the Barrell Bobbins and of course the new ESP Reel.  This year will see a lot of new products and a revamp of their famous Carp range.  Just like their parent company Drennan.  They (Drennan) have developed the most popular Acolyte rod and pale range; and the must have Alan Scotthorne float range.  E S P will be the one to watch on the Carp front.

Sonubaits, Ringer and Drennan have all increased and improved their bait range.  Mostly aimed at the Carp Match angler, they will be sure to find their way into every discerning anglers bait bag(s).

Hot of the Press!

Since Thursday there has been 3 Carp over 20 lb reported caught in Barnmoor.  I things are getting better lets just hope those strong winds stay away.

Tight Lines

Terrorist and Cormorants - two of a kind

Words and Pictures Dave Moody

At this time when our thoughts are centred on the relatives of the dead and France as a nation; it is important to remember that we are never safe from the clutches of evil people.  This is not a normal part of my blog but I feel strongly that we should show support in any way we can.  Thank god for our own freedom and our own democratic right to choose our Government.  Not to have any type of control forced upon us.

Black Death from the sky

This now leads to our local terrorist who attacks daily in a bid to destroy our sport as it attacks our fish stocks.  The Cormorant.

Every year the Snake (in particular) is under constant attack from the Black Death.  This year Eastleigh have taken steps which I hope will stop this.  The entire snake has been roped off.  Each angler will have plenty of room to fish in any swim.  The ropes run from one bank to the other in an attempt to stop the low swooping landing of the Cormorant.

Today Thursday 19th November Ray Kelly, Rik Kajko and Clive Egerton (pictured below) came up and practised for the weekend match.  I am pleased to say the ropes gave them no problem.  All three caught Carp, Bream and Roach.

Two weeks ago over 500 lb of Roach was introduced into the Snake in the 3 - 6 oz Range.  It is this species that has suffered the most under the beak of the Cormorant attacks.  This fantastic investment in the future by Eastleigh should address the in balance of silver fish in the Snake.  If you are as old as me you will remember a time when 2 lb Roach were in every lake at Witherington.  Though I cannot promise a return to that level it would be nice to again catch some good size Roach.

Wild and Mild

The weather over the last few weeks, has been rather wild with strong winds and Heavy rain.  This has kept the numbers of anglers down at the fishery.  The temperature however has been on the mild side.  This has meant the fish are in abundance for the hardy sould and rewards are high.  Nigel Tupper has kept up his big fish catches on Barnmoor with another over the 30 lb mark.

Match weights have varied a lot.  Sometimes 40 lb + is a good weight and other times its 70 lb or even over 100 lb .  The last Reids Tackle match fished on Cottage was more towards the norm for this time of the year.  

1. Daryl Mayers 56 lb
2. Chris Opie 44 lb 2 oz
3. Gary Etheridge 44 lb

Silvers Dave Moody 9 lb 4 oz.

This weekend sees the first major drop in temperature complete with night frosts.  This coincides with Eastleighs first winter match on the Snake.  It will interesting to see what affect the weather has on the weights.

I know this Blog is about the Witherington Fishery, however it is also the time when the River fishing comes into its own and becomes very important for the angler.  Over the years there has been a decline in the numbers of anglers that float fish rivers.

This year we wish to address that with a good selection of stick and Avon floats available in the Witherington Farm shop Reids tackle.

Reids Open

Next Open match will be on Wednesday the 25th on Sellwood.  Draw 9 am Fish 10.30 to 3.30 £20 all in.  If your interested ring 01722-711616 (Reids Tackle)

Lakes closed next week

• Wednesday 25th Sellwood
• Saturday 28th Sellwood and Cottage / Barnmoor
• Sunday 29th all of the Snake.

Please , always check the Notice Board at the entrance for Barnmoor which shows all the closures on any given day.

Hands in pockets (Poor Dave H)

Despite the obviously cold weather, where everyone had to have their hands in their pockets, Dave H was getting ready to introduce 800 small Carp into the stock pond.  These fish are smaller than the last three years of introduction and may take up to 2 years before they enter the fishery.  I believe they will be destined for the rings "Topmoor lake" commonly known as the Snake.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Eastleigh A.C. for their brilliant work and stocking program.  They are turning Witherington Farm into a first class venue, the future looks very, very bright.

Tub full of the future

I managed to get a picture of the Carp in Mark Symonds well aerated container. What a great sight.  In two years time they will be putting a bend in our rods and stretching the elastic out of out poles.  Marks fish are without doubt a class above the rest and very pretty fish to boot.

Thanks to Dave Higgins and RATS (Marks Dog) the fish are now introduced into their new home.  Somehow Rats and Dave managed to keep their hands out of their pockets and get the work done.

White is more than alright..............

Barnmoors resident pure white Koi has come out at a new high.  At a couple of ounces just under 19 pound.  Nigel Tupper was again the man to bag this beautiful fish (on Monday) which is seen infrequently and caught even less. Carp of 31 pound and 19 pound respectively were also caught today (Friday).  It is nice to seem them again as the big ladies have been quiet for a while.

Stockies show in Reids Tackle match

Wednesday saw the latest Reids Tackle  mid week open match which was fished on Cottage Lake.  Despite the morning frost, the lake produced some good sport.

This was helped by the appearance of the recently stocked Carp.  Didn't take long for them to settle in.  It resulted in a tight finish.

1st Gary Etheridge 77 lb 14 oz

2nd Daryll Mayers 77 lb 6 oz

3rd Rich Yeo          72 lb 9 oz

Top silver weight went to Dwayne Seed with 10 lb 6 oz of skimmers in his 4th place total 52 lb 12 oz.  He was more pleased with the £1.00 he took of me as he weighed in more than me.  I did however weigh in 51 lb for 5th place.  These kids are happy when they mug us old age pensioners.

Next Weeks Matches and the lakes that are closed

Wednesday 21st Cottage closed

Saturday 24th     Sellwood and Cottage closed

Sunday 25th       Sellwood, Cottage and the inner Snake closed

Words and Pictures Dave Moody

and for the editors Benefit one more close look at that beautiful fish

Its not all about the Carp

In today's modern fishing world one fish dominates.  The Carp.  However, there are many other species that do not seem to capture the thoughts of today's angler.  I think that is a little sad.  To catch a good Roach over 2 lb , once was the main aim of many anglers.Large Chubb, Tench and Mr Stripey were also right up there.  The Poor old Bream even back then was not high on the must catch list of many angler. As for Large Rudd they were not a species you could hope to catch locally (Wiltshire).

Crucian Carp over the 2 lb bracket were and still are possible in this area.  However, I do think sometimes we have gone Carp mad.  Don't get me wrong I enjoy catching Carp but then I enjoy catching all fish.

It struck home to me recently that I have not had the opportunity to get a nice picture of a bag of Silvers from Witherington (should have pictured the Ed's net from his recent win in the Silvers match).  This despite all of Withys lakes holding many different types of fish..  With this in mind I approached the Landlord Club, Eastleigh and Paul Sears for permission to use a keep net out side of normal match conditions.  It was Tuesday this past week that I fished peg 3 on the outer Snake.

Feeding Micro pellet (soaked) and a few 4 mill expanders, with 4 mill expander on the hook, I was soon into a good hand sized skimmer Bream. I let the swim rest and swapped to caster and dropped a lightly shotted 0.2g float on top of  a baited area, with double caster on the hook.

Bites were instant from Perch in the 4 to 6 oz bracket.  After 6 or 7 fish it went quite , so I went back over the expander line.  Loose feeding half a dozen expanders from a toss pot I had 3 to 4 skimmers when it went quite.  So back over the caster line to be rewarded with fish in the 12 oz to 1.5 lb mark.

Over the 2 hours I swapped back and forth between the two lines; to end up with 20 lb + of mixed species a thoroughly enjoyable spell of fishing.  Give it a go there are plenty of fish to be had; and at this time of year when its turning colder a great chance to catch a 2lb plus Perch as they begin to show.

Barnmoor produces 30

Nigel Tapper didn't concern himself with plenty of Bites.  He only needed one to produce the biggest Carp from Withy for some time with a 31 lb Fish.  The big fish scene has been a little quite, but this fish makes up for it.

Eastleigh stocking program enters third year

Wednesday saw the netting of the stock pond; where for over a year; a head of Carp stocked at a pound have been fed and brought on.  Ian (Chalky) White and Dave Higgins were trusted with the job of dragging the net out across the pond.

Then started the back breaking pulling the net in under the supervision and help of Dave Poole (Fishery Manager) for Eastleigh and RATS the dog.

Even Steve Pom and Gary Naylor where there when the wriggling mass of Carp etc were bought to the bank.

The trap closes and the fish are carefully collected for distribution around the lakes at the fishery.

Excitement mounts as the fish are weighed five fish at a time, and its with delight that the team recognize the good good growth with the average 5 fish coming in at 20 lb.

5 fish for over 20 lb four times their stocking weight a job well done.

Tony Beeney and Mick Illes then transferred the fish around the lakes as follows.

As follows:

• 50 Carp weighing 195 lb went into Cottage
• 120 Carp weighing 450 lb went into Sellwood
• 136 Carp weighing 453 lb were introduced to various areas of the Snake lake.

Despite all the efforts there are still Carp in the Stock pond , how they avoided three separate netting's mystifies me.

Matches and Lakes closed.

As we enter a slow down period for matches the pleasure anglers can now fill their boots.  With what looks like a changeable but mild time for the weather there is still stacks of great fishing to be had at Witherington Farm.

Closed on Sunday 11.10.2015 are Sellwood and Cottage.

Words and Pictures Dave Moody

Just for the Ladies

I am pleased to give any of our ladies a treat.  I was lucky to pictures of two of this countries biggest male models.  Pictures of these boys can fetch thousands of pounds; however they agreed to do a personal shoot for 2 pints of maggots and a few pop ups.

Number one Prawn Star Rocky Rupture showing one of the many Carp that he landed that day.

Also with Rocky was another full time male model and escort to many of the famous and beautiful women of the land.  None other than Justin Crev-ass.  I hear squeals of delight and as you can imagine, I had a hard time keeping resident females Rachel and Christine in the shop. Its not often they get a chance to witness such "Earthy" rippling torso's.

Carp News

This week has also been a cracker on Barnmoor Lake for big Carp.  Largest was a 29 lb 6 oz common caught by Steve Smith.  The successful bait being sweetcorn.  The corn was being fished on a waggler rig using 4 lb  line on Peg 4.  Well angled Steve

Nigel Tupper is a regularly in amongst the big fish , so it came as no surprise to me when after only 15 minutes of starting on peg 16 he landed another beautiful Common at 26 lb 12 oz.

However the epic battle of the week took place on peg 5 again on Barnmoor.  When Mark Cannings foul hooked a carp in the tail on the pole.  Using only white hydro elastic through his top three he eventually landed a mirror of 21 lb 3 oz.  I expected him to him still playing it the next morning.  They don't call him the Chinese puzzle for nothing.  He landed it and his mate Ivan weighed it before I cam back - so no picture.

Withy Escapees

I managed to get a few pics during that rare occasion the sun was in the right place, of the Bream that escaped in the floods.  Looking in from peg 9 and 10 on Cottage Bank.  You can see they have grown well.  I can remember seeing them when they were tiny now at nearly 2 lb they are a sight.  Fellow blogger Gary Williams also got a few pics a couple of weeks ago - they can be seen at " A river runs through it" http://midsectionblues.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/a-river-runs-through-it.html

Stocking in October

Next month will see the Carp being netted from the stock pond.  They will I believe mostly going into the snake with a smaller stocking in Sellwood and Cottage.  Dave Higgins has spent time stretching ropes across the lakes to stop the "Black Death Cormorants" getting at them.  They went in at a pound and will be coming out at 3.5 lb and they are beautiful examples of fish.

Pretty Boy still the best

Saturday saw the first round of the teams of 4 Championship fished on Sellwood, Cottage, and the Snake.  It was tight finish with Eastliegh and Reids Tackle tied at the top.  However there was no doubt who was the individual winner .

1st James Knight (on the Snake) 118 lb 4 oz 

2nd Pete Newman again on the Snake with 76 lb 8 oz

From the other lakes came the third place.  Rich Penney 

with 75 lb 3 oz.

Wetter than the fish!!!!

Wednesday saw a Silver fish only match on Barnmoor.  The heavens opened all day with torrential heavy rain.  The expected 30 lb bags went out of the window.  I had so much water in my ground bait bowl there were more Bream in it than in lake in front of me.

1st Place Dave George (Browning) from peg 12 with 18 lb 8 oz 

2nd Place Gary (Big Dog) Williams 17 lb 8 oz from peg 5

3rd James Carty (Thatchers) peg 6 with 14 lb 14 oz.

Full story for this with Pics can be seen at the following link.

http://midsectionblues.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/big-dog-silvers-invitationalfishing.html

See you all next week good fishing

Words and Pictures Dave Moody