South West Lakes Trout Fisheries (September 2012)
General
The unsettled weather that has typified this summer slightly improved in September, with some extended periods of warm dry days, although as the month progressed, fewer and fewer surface feeding fish were evident. Nights are starting to cool, and water temperatures have fallen by a couple of degrees over the month. Water levels are all still at top level. Fishing
Kennick – Weekly rod averages varied between two and three fish per angler for the month. Most of the fish were caught in the Northern end of the water, with boat and bank anglers reporting Clampitts, the Narrows, Laployd and Smithacott as the most productive areas.
With some Daddylonglegs being blown on to the water, Daddies and Hoppers have had some success. Subsurface nymph patterns fished high in the water column have caught the most fish, particularly Damsel Nymphs, Buzzers, Diawl Bachs (green and red variants fished in a team worked well), and Montanas.
A 5lb rainbow was caught by S. Groucher (from Teignmouth), using a Fritz Damsel fished from the bank on 1 September; Barry Ware (from North Tawton) and L.Pabless (from Exmouth) both caught rainbows of 4lb 2oz while fishing from the bank.
Siblyback - the fishing improved as the month progressed, with fish rising well on the warmer, calmer days, when Hoppers, Black Beetles, and dry Sedge patterns caught well. Generally subsurface flies produced the best results, particularly nymph patterns (Damsels, Montanas, Buzzers, Hares Ears, and Corixa patterns all worked well); Black lures and pulled Fritz patterns also caught fish. Bank fishing proved the most successful, with Stocky Bay and The Marshes producing the best results. The best fish of the month was a 3lb 12oz Blue Trout, caught by J. Dolley (from Redruth), fishing a Corixa pattern from the bank. K.Jane (from Callington) caught a bag of twelve fish weighing 12lb 8oz, fishing from the bank.
Wimbleball – the boats met with more success than the bank anglers in September, with the North end of the Lake providing the best sport (Ruggs for bank anglers, and Ruggs, Bessoms, and the Narrows for boat anglers – a long drift from Bessoms to the Pontoons worked particularly well). With some terrestrials being blown onto the water, Hoppers and Black and Peacocks fished in the surface film tempted a few fish (with surface feeding fish evident at Ruggs, The Upton Arm, and by the Dam); however, subsurface nymph patterns (Montanas, Damsels, and Buzzers) caught the most fish. Pulled lures (both dark patterns, such as Vivas, Cormorants, or Black Makutas, or brighter patterns – Pink Blobs and Orange Lures) on a sinking line also caught fish. The best fish of the month was a 4lb 10oz rainbow caught by Maurice Woodward (from Dulverton); Paul Madge (from Cullompton) caught rainbows of 4lb 2oz and 3lb 1oz while fishing from a boat. Peter Hancock (from Exeter) caught two fine brown trout of 2lb 8oz while fishing the Upton Arm – both were stuffed with daphnia.
Burrator - provided some good sport with a number of fish up to 2lb 8oz. With the water level full, the majority of the bank fishing has been from the Longstone Peninsula, with traditional wet flies and nymph patterns proving to be the most effective (Kate McLaren, Damsel Nymphs, and Montana). With terrestrials being blown onto the water, fish have been coming up to Daddies, Hoppers, and Zulus fished in the surface film.
Stithians - In spite of the mixed weather, dry patterns continued to produce the best sport – terrestrials blown on to the water meant that Daddies and Hoppers fished well. Subsurface feeding fish were also caught on imitative nymph patterns (such as Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Hare’s Ears, and March Browns). Most productive areas included Goonlaze Bank, Yellow Wort, Chapel Bay, and by the Dam. End-of-season prospects are good for fry and stickleback in the margins
Colliford – while Colliford did not produce any big brownies in September, there were a number of grown-on fish up to 2lb 4oz caught in the month. A few fish were caught on Daddies and dries, but the majority fell to nymphs - Diawl Bach, Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, and Damsel Nymphs all caught well.
Fernworthy – The unsettled weather toward the end of the month meant that there were not as many insects on the surface, although large dark bushy flies fished in the chop still brought fish up, with Black Gnats working well on the calmer days, and dry sedge patterns doing the same in the evenings. A selection of more traditional nymphs (dark Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, Diawl Bachs), as well as Dunkelds and Black Crunchers, all caught the deeper feeding fish. Invictas fished just under the surface took fish feeding on emerging sedges. Late afternoons continued to fish well, with a number of fish feeding off the bank below the permit hut and near the dam.
The Trust will be extending the fishing season at its rainbow waters until the end of November, with specially priced two-fish tickets available.
Chris Hall (September 2012)
