LOCAL anglers will hope for some rain this week after a hot and bright spell saw the fishing gradually begin to die as last week progressed.
The fishing was still good enough to keep most anglers happy but there can be little doubt that rain is need, both on rivers and our still waters.
At the ROBIN WOOD FISHERY, John Adams maintained his excellent season so far with a win in the Rolleston Angling Club’s latest match.
He netted 38lbs of carp all caught on the paste late on in the match.
Barry Bampstead was his nearest challenger with 31lbs 5ozs, a mixed net of fish all caught on worms, exactly the same as Kev Moseley who weighed in 27lbs 3ozs for third place.
The latest match at STOPPOS had a runaway winner in Chris Fletcher with 35lbs 2ozs, a net of carp of up to 6lbs apiece, all caught on the method feeder and sweet corn fished close in to the margins.
After his weight it got a bit tight, so much so that just one of the many lost fish could have made a big difference to the final result.
As it was, Graham Booth fished exactly the same method as the winner but did not have the same quality of fish as his final weight was 19lbs 8ozs.
One of the highlights of the match was the fact that Tony Scott was third overall with a mixed net of fish, perch and carp and a single roach that weighed 1lb 12ozs.
That is a cracking fish by any standard and just shows that it is not only the carp that are growing big at this fishery. His net weighed exactly 19lbs.
Fourth place went to local angler Pete Johnson with a net of carp that included samples of up to 5lbs. He caught 16lbs 8ozs in all, all taken on an open ended feeder fished just over the margin.
Dave Baker won the latest Mount Pleasant Angling Club’s match at SHORTHEATH with 42lbs and Matt Walker won the silver fish match at PAGEY’S POOL with 12lbs 1oz.
Prospects for this weekend look mixed as some weather reports give the possibility of the season’s first frosts, but others do not.
If it does get colder, expect the sport to suddenly lift as the fish suddenly realise that winter is on it’s way.
THE Burton Game Fishing and Fly Tying Festival takes place at the Burton Town Hall this Sunday, and promises to be quite a day.
Trade stands will be carrying everything that a fly fisherman would require, books, fly tying demonstrations — topped off by plenty of good food and beer.
The stands — ranging from our own local retailers, Mullarkey's Direct Ltd, along with people like Carrillon, Partridge and Flash Attack Flies to name but a few — will have some cracking bargains during the day.
Three halls in the Town Hall have been booked, two of which will be used by traders, the other hall will feature professional fly tiers from all over the country.
Included will be Charles Jardine, Malcolm Greenhalgh, Karl Humphries and local talent will be represented by Don Staziker.
Local fisheries and national angling bodies will also be represented.
National talent will also be represented by a film superstar, Gismo — who is he? Be at the show to find out! The doors will be opened at 10am and will close at 5pm. The price of entry is just £2.50 or £2 for concessions. Children under 16 will be allowed in free.
The car parking is free, the Town Hall car park is available and if that is full there is plenty of on-street parking available.
Two charities will be beneficiaries of the day; Casting for Recovery, a charity that looks after ladies who have had breast cancer surgery — as fly casting is reckoned to be the best way of achieving full recovery. The other is Fishing for Heroes where members of the armed services who have been injured are taught to fish as an aid to recovery.
This promises to be a day when there will be plenty of bargains to be had, and if you want a real bargain, you can purchase a tombola ticket for £1 at the Foremark Fly Fisher's stand, where there are more than 100 prizes that are worth anything up to £200.
The event is sponsored by Flies by Wendy and supported by Foremark Fly Fisher's Association.
