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