Barford Lakes News

Day Lake Catch Report 02.09.07

Posted by: Sarah Thomson, 21st September 2007 10:11AM
(Edited by: Sarah Thomson, 2nd October 2007 17:24PM)

HANGOVER FISHING!
Phil Nichols Sept 07

Barford Pleasure Lake - Sunday 2 September 2007

Holly Nichols, Terry MacGregor, Phil Nichols.

Well - it was up at the crack of dawn, walk the dogs,and load the gear into the motor.  Hang on a minute - 2 persons missing! Holly and Terry. They had been to a B-B-Q the night before and stayed over.  They eventually staggered home at 6.45am with about 2 hours sleep each. I don't know if it was a dodgy burger or too much alcohol but they didn't look up for it!

We arrived at Barford only to be greeted by 2 hungover rock chicks with the 12 bar boogie still ringing in their ears from the Status Quo concert the night before - or was it the wine?

A few strong coffees were sunk and it was down to business.
Holly and Terry on Peg 3, and the old geezer on Peg 4.
This was Terry's first fishing trip, so Holly explained a few of the finer points - like the loos are over there, and the paracetamol are in the bag. Only jesting - Holly had not forgotten what the old geezer had taught her.
Within 10 minutes Holly was into a good fish 3 meters out, but unfortunately - ping!


Undeterred Terry had a go, missing a few bites at first, but then hooked into a nice bream - the look of joy - you can't beat it!

Meanwhile the old geezer was plumbing around the shelves on Peg 4 at about 8 metres. It pays to spend 10 minutes plumbing the depth because it does vary quite a bit, left to right. Out went some 8mm pellets, about a handful, and would you Adam and Eve it, the first put in on 6mm banded pellet, the float buried and the fish went off like Lewis Hamilton off the starting grid! A few hectic minutes later and the fish was in the net - a common carp of 14 lb 4 oz, ding dong what a start! Still feeding pellet little and often, I had 6 more carp to 10 lb, 1 tench of 5 lb, bream to 4 lb, chub and quality roach - all before 11.30 am!

Holly and Terry had fish in their swim, but they weren't playing ball, so I said "come and have a go on my peg" - well1 I was nearly killed in the stampede! . Terry was first out, after a little guidance from me on how to hold a pole and lift and drop. He took to it like a duck to Barford pellets, and within 5 minutes there was a nice plump 5 lb mirror in the net. Next up was Holly. and after pinging a couple she landed a nice chub. They took it in turns, and caught bream, chub and carp. Then they went back to Peg 3. They tried a bit further out - 6 metres - then came that inevitable word "DAD". I looked across and Holly's rod was bent double. She had a look of sheer determination - this one wasn't getting away, and sure enough it was soon in the net, weighing in at11lb 8 oz - a dark brown mirror - brilliant.

I was fishing up in the water on Peg 4. I had bream, roach, rudd, 3 more carp and a tench of 6 lb 4 oz in beautiful condition. Time for a tea and fag break.

Holly and Terry swapped to Peg 4. Terry started up in the water, but by 4.30pm it had gone a lot cooler, and the fish had moved, so back down on the deck. Between them they started to empty the lake, with carp to 7 lb. By 6.00pm it was very overcast and a lot cooler. Terry shipped out for 1 more put in. By now he was using the pole like a pro, ignoring the small bites, and only lifting when the float went under. Suddenly the float buried, the pole arced downwards at an alarming rate - the look on his face was a picture! - I didn't know whether to laugh or hand him some toilet paper. The fish went off in all directions, it wouldn't come off the bottom. Terry struggled to keep in touch, but all credit to him he managed to get it up eventually within range of the landing net. His right arm was dead by now, so with a little help from me it was in the net. a lovely ghost carp of about 10 lb 8 0z. What a way to end your first fishing trip. Thank you Holly and Terry for a very enjoyable day. That cured your hangovers!

Best wishes

Phil

Day Ticket Lake Autumn/Winter Opening Times

Posted by: Sarah Thomson, 18th September 2007 12:12PM
(Edited by: Sarah Thomson, 18th September 2007 12:12PM)

I can't believe I am writing this already!  That few nice weeks in April and the couple we had in August appears to have been our summer!!! 

Please note that the last weekend date for day tickets will be on Saturday 29th September (we will not be open for day tickets on Sunday 30th September).

Past this time we will be open for day tickets mid-week only.  Various lakes at Barford will be open (noting we run Silver Fish Matches on Tuesday's on the Pleasure Lake).  We will still be closed on Mondays.

The shop will be open as usual apart from on Sundays we will now only be open from 8am - 10am (unless by special arrangement).

Opening up again for weekend Day Tickets on 1st April.

Many thanks to all the regular Day Ticket anglers who have braved the not so nice weather this season!

Kind regards

Sarah

Day Lake Catch Report 11th & 12th September 2007

Posted by: Sarah Thomson, 18th September 2007 12:00PM

I've had this report sent in from George and Mel Ridely....

My dad and I just spent the last 2 days, tuesday and wednesday on the pleasure lake.


Spent tuesday on pegs 22 and 23, i caught 3 carp biggest 9lb. It was quite a cold day.


Wednesday much warmer and less windy, we fished pegs 8 and 9, dad had 2 carp biggest 10lb and a nice 5lb tench, I had to wait until 6.30pm to catch my first carp on peg 8, but it was our biggest at 10lb 3oz over the 2 days.


We fished next to Ray on peg 7 on wednesday and it was great to see him catch a couple of big carp, under the guidance of John and Paul, two very helpful people.


Both the top lake and the pleasure lake were full up with anglers on the wednesday, just shows how popular Barford Lakes is.

Unfortunatly it was our last trip this year due to work commitments (roll on next year then), Ive worked out my dad and I had fished a total of 9 days at Barford this year (not bad as we live about 100 miles away) and we have to say every single day fished there was fantastic and thoroughly enjoyed by us both, and that is down not only to the excellent fishing at Barford but also the other anglers which result in a relaxed and friendly atmostphere around the lakes.


Last but not least many thanks to yourself and everyone else who work at Barford Lakes for giving my dad and I such a great time during the year.
We are already looking forward to returning next year.
All the best for the rest of 2007.
Thankyou Sarah.
Mel and George Ridley.

 Thanks for your reports Mel - they've been brilliant!  Look forward to seeing you both next year!

Smurfit Kappa Inter Plant Challenge

Posted by: Sarah Thomson, 11th September 2007 13:01PM
(Edited by: Sarah Thomson, 11th September 2007 13:23PM)

An annual event which was this year hosted by our Railway Lake at Thuxton. This inter plant challenge match saw 6 teams with 6 anglers in each competing for the trophey shield, pools money and tackle prizes.  Unfortunately the weights were not as prolific as hoped (it was hard work for most!) and the previous day's practice saw the lake producing the better weights (but I'm told this happens on this particular match anyway!!)

The previous days practice proved fruitful for the winning team Windrush A, which saw them retain their title for a fourth year running!

Generous sponsorship saw anglers take home angling prizes in addition to their pools money. It also saw each angler receive an angling goodie bag!

The kind sponsors of the event were:

Smurfit Kappa Sheetfeeding Paper Uk
Linde Trifik Ltd
M - Real
Korsans
HLC
Pre-Print

There was also a guest's match on Willow Lake and the above sponsorship ensured the top angler and the top two juniors went home with an angling prize too. Winner of the guests match was Debbie Warnes with 13lbs 8 ozs who won a MAP Keepnet Combo & Landing Net. The top junior was her son Josh Warnes who took home a new Leeda XGT Margin Pole and elastics. The 2nd place junior was Aston Martin who received a Browning Stink Bag and Maver Landing net.

The day ended well with a buffet at the local pub where the presetations were made (and a bit of the England Match was watched!)

Individual Result

1      Dick Mussell (Chelmsford)    44 lbs 14 ozs     Peg: 1     
2      D Boweman (Windrush A)   39 lbs 12 ozs     Peg: 47   
3      M Burrows (Windrush A)     37 lbs 6 ozs       Peg: 39     

Team Result

Windrush A 10 points 159lbs 10ozs
Chelmsford 16 points 113lbs 12ozs
Windrush B  20 points 53lbs 9ozs
Weston        21 points 45lbs 6 ozs
Norwich B   29 Points 35lb 3ozs
Norwich A   30 points 42lbs 13ozs

Dick Mussell (Chelmsford) Winner from peg 1 on Railway with 44lb 14ozs  Debbie Warnes Top Angler on the Guests match Josh Warnes with his new margin pole the prize for top Junior on the Guests match The Winning Team - Windrush A 

 

2 Day Autumn Festival Results

Posted by: Sarah Thomson, 11th September 2007 12:46PM

The results for this match can be found in Special events - click here to view.

Cavell/Marsh/Willis Team Challenge

Posted by: Sarah Thomson, 4th September 2007 12:16PM

On Friday 31st August, 24 anglers arrived for the Cavell/Marsh/Willis Team Challenge Angling Match which was held on Barford MAtch Lake.

The top three anglers were as follows:

1 T Webb 71 lbs 4 ozs    
2 Richard Rowell 64 lbs 4 ozs    
3 K Barnett 60 lbs 8 ozs  

The team results was as follows:

1st   Willis    36 points

2nd   Marsh  32 points

3rd   Cavell   16 points