Aaron Bunning: “Had another great day at Jennets reservoir. I managed to get 5 carp with 3 of them 20’s to 26lb. Nash Bait Scopex Squid wafters over a large bed of freebies once again producing the goods”.
Furzebray Lake Record
New Lake Record!!!!
Anthony Cryer banked the Mighty Blackspot at 48lb from Furzebray this week to smash his personal best and set a new Island lake record!
Melbury Carp catches
Catch report from Tim Thornton:
“Lovely 32 hour session on SW Lakes Melbury reservoir in North Devon.
Arrived at 0400 in the rain. It took some time to get a bite on the end of a south westerly, but the effort of an early start and 1.5 hour drive in darkness through the damp Devon lanes was worth it.
The bites started to come through observation and different tactics using DNA baits 18mm Bug boilies. 12 bites and 11 landed
The carp scaled from 13lb to 24lb 4oz.
The biggest came in darkness on a relatively heavy baited rod left all day and into the night.
Plus just being here is amazing given the views.
Andrew and Jack Willis also fished at Melbury banking ten carp to 27lb8oz.
Superb Autumn Catches at Stafford Moor
Rich Parker and his brother Chaz fished on the spit and Back Island up on lodge lake. Rich smashed his personal best four times with carp up to 31lb all fish were caught on Sticky baits krill boilies.
{Below) Neil Liddicott banked four fish out of Lodge Lake up to 26lb all fish caught on Sticky baits krill boilies.
A happy customer review….from Dave Walsh AKA ‘French Dave’
Morning Jo, here is my short blog…. Back home after yet another great week at Stafford Moor and this time accompanied by my old friend Frank Oakman who I haven’t fished with since 2012 in France and this was Frank’s first trip to Stafford and he is already`planning his next in 2023. A friendly competition between the 2 of us with plenty of banter which I managed to win 21-10, hard week though as 18 of my fish were caught in a 36 hour spell (mid week). A few pictures for you Jo, not sure showing 2 old fa.ts is good publicity for you. Thanks again for the usual hospitality and everything that makes Stafford Moor so special. See you again before the end of the year
Melbury Carp Catch
Catch report at Melbury from Aaron Jones:
“First time back at Melbury this summer and what a fantastic 24 hour session.
The biggest being single scale, a repeat capture and back down to her normal weight of 24.8lb.
Thanks to, DNA Baits bug as usual doing the business and Lee’s leads.”
Autumn Carp on the Fly
Earlier in the Summer I had enjoyed some success with carp on the Fly at the club Lake so before the Autumn set in I was keen to once again try my hand with the fly. A brisk North wind was blowing as I arrived at the Lake with white clouds scurrying across a blue sky. The occasional swallow swooped over the water a sight I savoured knowing that in a few weeks they will swooping over the vast plains of Africa where buffalo, Lions and elephants roam.
I had come armed with a 7/8 weight Fly Rod, a floating line and a 10lb leader. A deerhair Fly tyed to imitate a dog biscuit was tied on. I catapulted a steady stream of Krill floaters on the lake and watched the water carefully. I was concerned that the cool wind would put the fish down but within a minutes a few carp started to slurp down the loose offerings.
Once the carp were feeding confidently I put out the fly and waited in anticipation. I didn’t have too long to weight before carp appeared and sucked in my fly. I strip striked and was thrilled to feel the power as the carp surged away. I kept a tight line putting on as much pressure as I dared allowing the line to cut through the dense weed. After a tussle the a mirror carp of around 13lb was safely in the net its bronze and gold flanks a refection of the coming season.
After landing the carp I had to wait another half an hour before the carp began to feed again. A low double succumbed after missing numerous takes as the carp seemed to have an uncanny knack of ejecting the fly before I could set the hook.
Two more carp and a small tench ( a first on the fly) followed before I ran out of time and headed for home.
Stafford Moor Forty!
A new Lake record carp for lodge lake at Stafford Moor. Steve Tancock caught this 43lb beauty using Mainline cell boilies , there were 4 other witnesses on the lake to verify the weight , Steve popped in the day before and said it was quiet up on the lake then had a few out including a 28lb, 32lb, 35lb then smashed it with this 43lb!
ASHLEY BUNNING – NEW HEAD OF ANGLING AT SOUTH WEST LAKES
Having met Ashley Bunning while he was working at Anglers Paradise I feel sure he will promote angling across SWLT’s waters following on from the excellent work undertaken by Ben Smeeth in recent years.
Meet Ashley, our new Head of Angling
September 2022
Hi all, I’m Ashley Bunning, the new Head of Angling at South West Lakes.
I am a keen angler who has fished the South West Lakes reservoirs all my life. I grew up in Holsworthy and when I finished school I moved away from home and studied Fishery Management and Aquaculture to a Bachelor of Science level at Sparsholt College in Winchester.
After completing my course, I worked at various fisheries around the country, then settled at Anglers Paradise in Devon for the last six years.
Over the years I have volunteered for South West Lakes and when the opportunity came about to have a role here as Head of Angling I jumped at the chance! I look forward to pushing fishing forward and improving the experience for anglers on our waters.
Super Stafford Moor Carp catch
Nathan Jennings enjoyed a session to remember during the Vader Baits Social event. Nathan banked thirteen carp including five twenties and fours thirties the best a mirror carp of 31lb 8oz.
Richard Stone fished on Beatties Lake and banked 11 carp all of which were caught on Mainline cell boilies.
Stafford Moor Carp Catch
Heidi Woods stayed in Stafford Moor’s Cherry Specimen Lodge located on Beatties Lake complete with hot tub! Heidi & Steve banked 20 carp out up to 32lb all fish were caught on Sticky baits Krill boilies and home made boilies.
