May 2002

Cumberland News Weekending 31.05.02 

Last Friday Thursby carp specialist Jim Porter won the Carlisle and District Coarse Angling Club Crofton lake evening match with two common carp for 17 pounds 8 ounces. The larger fish at just under 10 pounds accepted that much-neglected bait, a slug. Whilst the smaller fish accepted a pellet bait.

On Sunday the first CADCAC Summer league match of the season took place at Whins Pond, Penrith and 18 anglers took part. It was Carlisle angler Peter Armstrong fishing waggler tactics close to a weed bed who won the match with 5 tench for 15 pounds 9 ounces. In second place was Carlisle’s Phil Harrison landing two tench for 5 pounds 8 ounces. Taking third place spot was Houghton angler Chris Scott who struggled for some time to get a big eel to part company with the bottom of the lake but finally succeeded to weigh it in at 2 pounds 13 ounces.

CADCAC Chairman and former Cumberland News Angling columnist Dave Gillies continued to sort out sizable carp on pole tactics at the clubs Crofton Lake this week landing a 10 pounds 3 ounce mirror carp at the venue. 

In recent weeks when the weather has been suitable, boat anglers off the Cumbrian coastline have reported catching cod to 11pounds several good pollack in the 7 to 9 pounds range have also been reported falling to large Hokkai’s. West Cumbrian shore anglers have reported cod up to 3 pounds in weight along with the occasional bass. Indeed in the latest Tarnside Sea Angling Club match last weekend it was husband and wife team Alan and Heather Rimmer who took the top two places with a bass each. Heather edging husband Alan in to second place with her 3 pound 8 ounce bass. Alan’s was a pound lighter and both fish accepted crab baits. Alan is also organiser of the Tarnside Annual Open Sea Competition and he tells me that the date for this years competition is Saturday 26th October 2002, fishing from 12:30pm to 4:30 p.m. This will be the tenth year the charity event has been staged and it just seems to get bigger and bigger each year. Last year 230 anglers fished the event raising more than £1000 for Egremont’s West Croft Surgery. This year all monies raised will be going to Cystic Fibrosis in Cumbrian children. There will £1000+ prize money up for grabs on a winner takes all basis with two major cash prizes for the heaviest bag and the heaviest fish. The entry fee is £5 with pools of £2 heaviest fish and £2 heaviest bag. Last years winners G. Stevens (heaviest bag) and G. Clifford (heaviest fish) both went home £936 the richer with prize and pools money combined. The venue stretches from Nethertown Concrete to Sellafield Pipe. For further details contact Alan or Heather on 07909852043. 

For youngsters who would like to learn more about fly fishing during the half term holidays there is an excellent opportunity to learn about the sport at the Salmon and Trout Association Junior Days at New Mills Trout Farm on Wednesday 5 June and Friday 7 June. The days run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offer superb value for money at only £10 per person. Those taking part will learn about the life cycle of the trout as well as other aspects of freshwater life, dipping for and identifying invertebrates that form part of the trout’s diet. They will also be shown how to tie flies and have the opportunity to try fly tying for themselves. They will learn how to approach the water, tackle up and recieve casting tuition under the supervision of Game Angling Instructors’ Association members Glyn Freeman and Clive Mitchelhill, as well as learning how to catch and handle fish. All tackle, flies etc. are supplied on the day. For further details and to book your place phone Clive on 01228 548222 or Glyn on 016973 51752. 

On Friday 12th July the Carlisle Angling Association will be holding a junior anglers evening in the Sands Centre Carlisle. Running from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. the evening is free of charge and will offer tips, advice, displays and much, much more about all aspects of the sport. I will give you more details in the coming weeks. In connection with the evening Joe Mcnabb Chairman of the CAA Junior Anglers Sub-Committee would like to ask local anglers if they would be willing to donate any fishing tackle that they no longer use as a prize for youngsters on the evening. So do you have an old rod, a reel, or other items of tackle that you no longer use, but is in good condition and would be ideal for a youngster to start his or her fishing career with? If the answer is yes give Joe Mcnabb a ring on 01228 536408 or Paul Ghorst on 07900130263 and help a junior angler get started in a sport that will give them a lifetime of pleasure. 

Cumberland News Weekending 24.05.02 

Eight Eden salmon have been caught and tagged during the last week. Environment Agency North Cumbria Fisheries Team Leader Keith Kendall landed a 7pounder on the during an early morning session last Wednesday. Yorkshire Fly Fishers Mike Grimes was also in action on Wednesday with a 10 pounder on the fly at Isle Foot. On Thursday Graham Rushforth fishing at Wallace Field, Armathwaite landed an 11 pounder on the fly. Last Friday Jim Clarke landed his third Eden salmon this month, taking a 12 pound 8 ounce fish on the ‘Scottish Flea’ at Yorkshire Fly Fishers Quarry Corner. Also on Friday Richard Henry Davidson from Kirkby Stephen took his second salmon of the season with a fly caught 12 pounder at Low House. Another angler taking his second fish of the season on Friday again at Low House on the fly was Armathwaite angler Mike Knoble who landed a 12 pounder. On Sunday it was the turn of Low House gamekeeper Philip Taylor who land an 8 pounder from the Low House water on the fly. On Monday Keith Kendall was back in action at Warwick Hall, his 11 pound fly caught fish taking the number of salmon tagged and returned so far this season to 45. 

Thursby’s Clive Porter won last Friday’s Carlisle and District Coarse Angling Club Crofton evening match with a 10 pound 6 ounce common carp caught using a swimfeeder and maggots in second place was Dan Blair landing two tench for 2 pounds 12 ounces. Club Chairman Dave Gillies recently landed the heaviest carp to be taken so far this season from Crofton lake during an early morning session pole fishing session before work. Fishing tight up against the lilies on peg 43 Dave had only taken one eel when he had decided he would fish until 6.45 a.m. before heading off to work. Just as he was going to pack up, the big carp took his double maggot and it was another 15 minutes before Dave could slip the net under a beautifully conditioned 12 pounds 11 ounce common. The following day fishing the water for the first time in two years Peter Thompson landed 6 carp between 7 and 9 pounds in weight from peg 20. Peter took his carp, all commons on close range maggot and waggler tactics. This Sunday sees the CADCAC’s first Summer League match of the season take place at Penrith’s Whins Pond. Members are reminded that this years subscriptions should be paid in full prior to the match. They should also note that the League match proposed for Talkin Tarn on 16th June has now been changed to Crofton Lake on 9th June.  

The first of the new Cumbrian League matches took place on Whins Pond on Sunday; the 16 anglers who fished had traveled from Lancaster, Barrow, Windermere, Whitehaven and Carlisle. They found the going tough and after the first half hour most anglers were targeting the bigger fish and although there were reports of several big carp lost, weights were down a little on recent matches at the Penrith venue. It was North Cumbrian angler D. Mather who took first place landing one tench and around 2 pounds of very small roach for 5 pounds 10 ounces. In second place was Barrow’s S. Graine who landed two tench and some small roach for 5 pounds 8 and a half ounces but he was probably kicking himself about the sizable tench which he lost and which cost him the match. Following his recent win in the previous Tuesday’s king of Whins League Penrith’s Steve Cooper finished in third place landing a tench and a small roach for 3 pounds 1 ounce. The Cumbrian League runs until November and is judged on the angler’s best 6 out of 7 matches although anglers can also enter the matches on a one off basis, entering just a single event. Contact Derek Kelly on 01228 540137 or Colin Griffin on 01228 546017
for further details. 

A date for the diary is the 22nd June. After watching England win their way through to the semi-finals of the world cup why not travel out to Warwick Bridge and celebrate in style at the Salmon and Trout Association and Eden Rivers Trust “Eden in June” event. Held at Warwick Bridge in the field opposite Warwick Hall the day gets underway at 12:30 and runs until the evening. Admission is £2 for adults and £1 for children, parking is free. With casting clinics, demonstrations and competitions, old tackle stall, fly tying, river dipping in the river Eden, wellie throwing, tombola, bouncy castle, barbecue, licensed bar and much more. What better way to spend the day, bring the family every one is welcome.

Cumberland News Weekending 17.05.02 

Carlisle and District Coarse Angling Club’s Crofton Lake fishery continues to produce quality fish on Tuesday night it was the turn of brothers Mathew and Daniel Blair of Crofton to sample it’s delights. Mathew had enrolled on a 2-hour coarse fishing taster session and Daniel on a carp fishing taster session both run by Professional Anglers Association Coach Chris Bowman. Mathew aged 11 wanted to improve his general coarse fishing skills and was targeting smaller species. When fishing maggots on a size 18 hook under a waggler float a sizable carp grabbed his bait and signaled the start of an epic struggle. The carp tore through an overhanging bush and at one stage was splashing about on the opposite side of the bush to where Mathew was fishing. Fortunately the carp swam back through the bush into open water via its original route and Mathew was able to gain line and resume the battle. But the fun was far from over and testing Mathew’s 3 pound hook link to the limit the common charged headlong into some bankside lilies before it could be safely netted. The male common carp tipped the scales at 7 pounds, Matthew’s biggest fish to date. Later that evening it was brother Daniel’s turn to get amongst the Crofton carp this time with more appropriate tackle, fishing hair rigged sweetcorn on a size 8 hook and a running lead rig. Dan aged 15 was soon hooked a carp, which unfortunately slipped the hook. Half an hour later Dan struck a fast take and following a short but plucky scrap the net was slipped under a new personal best 8-pound common carp. 

The last week has seen 7 salmon caught and tagged on the river Eden and Yorkshire Fly Fishers Mike Grimes got his season off to a flying start by landing 3 of those fish. Last Tuesday in his first 10 minutes of fishing this year Mike landed 2 salmon on the fly in quick succession from the otter stone. Both sea liced cock fish, the first weighing 10 pounds the second 14 pounds. Mikes killing fly was a size 10 ‘Scottish Flea’. Back in action the next day Mike landed a 10 pound 8 ounce sea liced hen fish, a size 10 ‘Scottish Flea’ again the winning method. Last Friday Environment Agency Bailiff Barry Parker landed a 12-pound hen fish at Warwick Bridge on a Flying Condom. Also on Friday Eden Rivers Trust Trustee Nick Mariner landed a 7-pound hen fish on a size 8 fly at Warwick Hall. On Saturday Mr. S.F.Nashat from Shropshire landed a 14-pound cock fish on a size 8 Ally’s Shrimp fly at Warwick Hall. On Monday Armathwaite angler Mike Knoble landed a 15-pound hen fish from the Low House stretch of the river at Armathaite on the fly. 

CADCAC match fishing calendar gets under way with the popular Friday evening match series starting tonight with a 6 p.m. draw at Crofton Lake and the first Summer League match of the season at Whins Pond on Sunday 26th May. 

Forthcoming Junior events to make a note of, are the Salmon and Trout Association junior days at New Mills Trout Farm, Brampton on 5th, 6th and 7th June for youngsters aged 10 to16 interested in taking up flyfishing. Running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are 10 places available each day and during the day participants will learn about entomology, fly casting, fish care and the environment. Because only a limited number of places are available contact Glyn Freeman on 016973 51752 or Clive Mitchelhill on 01228 548222 as soon as possible to book your places. PAA Coach Chris Bowman runs introduction to coarse angling and short taster sessions on a variety of local venues throughout the year, phone 01228 674519 for details. On Friday 12th July the Carlisle Angling Association will be holding a junior anglers evening in the Sands Centre Carlisle. Running from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. it will offer tips, advice, displays and much more about all aspects of the sport. I will give you more details in the coming weeks. In connection with the evening Joe Mcnabb Chairman of the CAA Junior Anglers Sub-Committee would like to ask local anglers if they would be willing to donate any fishing tackle that they no longer use as a prize for the evening. So do you have an old rod or reel that you no longer use, but is in good condition and would be ideal for a youngster to start his or her fishing career with? If the answer is yes give Joe a ring on 01228 536408 and help a junior angler get started in a sport that will give them a lifetime of pleasure. 

Cumberland News Weekending 10.05.02 

Opening week of the new season on the Carlisle and District Coarse Angling Club’s fishery Crofton Lake has certainly been productive in terms of quality fish. Last Thursday CADCAC Chairman and former Cumberland News Angling columnist Dave Gillies landed a bag of 8 quality bream between 5 pounds 2 ounces and 7 pounds 1 ounce in weight. He then topped it off with a 9 pounds 4 ounces common carp for a total weight of 55 pounds 10 ounces. Dave was fishing near the Gerry Clarke Memorial seat and fished a waggler float set up just over the other side of the deeper water loose feeding maggots with maggot on the hook and took the fish between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. The following day fishing in the same area with similar tactics Carlisle angler Stewart Edgar landed a12 pound 4 ounces mirror carp along with three bream in 5 to 6 pound bracket. The lake has also produced tench to 4pounds 8 ounces and other carp in the 7 to 9 pound range. Stocks at Crofton received a further boost at the weekend with two separate stockings of 400 carp up to 8 ounces in weight and later around 2500 roach that were netted from a Borders trout fishery. CADCAC Chairman Dave Gillies said that he would like to thank the Carlisle Angling Association for their kind donation towards the stocking, which was very much appreciated by the members. He also thanked the members who assisted with a particularly difficult netting operation and the Environment Agency for their generous assistance. Following the stocking of the carp CADCAC members were reminded that carp of any size should not be retained in keepnets at Crofton. 

On Tuesday night Mick Phillips of Eamont Bridge increased his lead to 23 points ahead of his nearest rival in the King of Whins League. In the latest match at the Penrith venue Mick took first place with 14 pounds 6 ounces which including a  mirror carp of 10 pounds 12 ounces and a tench both taken on paste. In second place was Colin Baldham from Lowther with 11 pounds 8 ounces which included a common carp of 8 pounds 8 ounces along with a tench and roach caught on maggot. Carlisle Tackle Dealer Eifion Harris with three tench for 8 pounds 5 ounces. In fourth place was Penrith’s Tony Whear with 6 pounds 6 ounces consisting of a bream and a tench. Clive Mason finished fifth with a 4 pounds 6 ounce tench and Carlisle’s Warren Richardson was sixth with 4 pounds 3 ounces of roach. 

Five more Eden salmon have been radio tagged during the last week. Last Wednesday fishing the Rushes at Warwick Hall David Cragghine landed a 10 pound hen fish on a 2 inch green and yellow Devon minnow. On Tuesday morning fishing the fly on the Yorkshire Fly Fishers water at Spoutbeck Jim Clarke landed the first repeat capture of the season. Jim’s fish weighing around 12 pounds and in excellent condition had previously been caught by Jack Houghton on a Devon minnow, tagged and released further downstream at the Garden Wall at Warwick Hall in March. After releasing the fish once more Jim went on to land a 10-pound cock fish also on the fly at Island Foot in the evening. Also on Tuesday evening Eden Rivers Trust Trustee Victor Gubbins fishing the fly at Eden Lacy landed an 11-pound salmon on a Munroe  Killer. On Saturday Anthony Partington fishing Howards Hole at Warwick Hall landed a 12-pound cock fish on a floating Devon minnow. Also on Saturday fishing with a gold Toby Joe Beal landed an 8-pound cock fish from Crosby Pool on the Moorhouse Estate water. On Tuesday the Eden Spring Salmon Competition April draw took place in Geoff Wilson Practical Gunsmith and Fishing Tackle, Portland Place, Carlisle. Brian Holland from Ipswich won a 4-inch drag Jubilee Salmon Fly Reel donated by J.W. Young & Sons. Nick Marriner of Warwick Hall won a Salmon Fishing Bag donated by Geoff Wilson Practical Gunsmith and Fishing Tackle. Ivor Jones of Carlisle won an ABU Elite Spinning Rod donated by Pure Fishing UK. Up for grabs in the May draw are A pair of neoprene waders by John Norris, Victoria Road, Penrith. A fly box by Glasgow Angling Centre complete with a of 22 selection salmon flies expertly tied by Keith Hargraves, British Custom Tied Salmon and Seatrout Flies, 215 Greystone Road, Carlisle. A Year's Subscription to Fly-Fishing and Fly-Tying Magazine by Rolling River Publications Ltd., Aberfeldy Road, Kenmore, Perthshire. All you have to do to enter the draw is catch a salmon from the river Eden place it in a keepnet and call the Environment Agency on 0800 807060.

Cumberland News Weekending 03.04.02 

On Saturday morning Gary Dowsett of Great Broughton near Cockermouth landed the biggest wild carp to be caught from Brayton Pond for two years. Gary was fishing a method feeder with hair rigged sweetcorn on the hook when the superb wildie weighing 18 pounds picked up his bait and put up quite a struggle before it could be safely netted. Not one to rest on his laurels Gary also added another wildie of 12 pounds 10 ounces this one accepting a boilie. 

On Sunday Daryl Carswell aged 17 from Carlisle landed a 10 pound leather carp whilst fishing at Elerbeck fishery near Brigham. Daryl lost another good fish earlier in the day and endured heavy showers; hailstones and high winds before landing the new personal best on his hair rigged sweetcorn. 

Brian Holland from Ipswich brought his tally of river Eden salmon to four this season when he landed a splendid 15 pounder at Warwick Hall last Wednesday. Brian whose previous three Eden salmon fell to the fly used a black and gold flying condom to tempt his latest fish. Also getting amongst the salmon last Wednesday was Brough, Kirkby Stephen angler Richard Henry Davidson. Richard was fishing a silver Stoat fly on the Low House water at Armathwaite when he hooked the nine and a half-pound hen fish. Ivor Jones of Carlisle left it late to secure his entry into the Eden Spring Salmon Competition April draw. Ivor fishing the Moorhouse Estate water at Holmegate landed a nine and a half-pound cock fish on a flying condom at 5 p.m. on Tuesday 30th April. It is Ivor’s second Eden salmon of the season and along with Brian and Richard’s fish it brings the total number of salmon to be tagged and released so far this season as part of the River Eden Spring Salmon Radio Tracking Project to 25. 

Match weights at Carleton Hill Fishery have shown an increase since the recent stocking of 1600 8-10" carp into the Trees pond The first match was won by 16 year old David Purdham of Low Hesket with 13lb 15oz of carp and skimmers. The popular Carleton Hill Thursday Night Summer League is under way again and there will be a total of 20 Thursday evening matches this summer. Carlisle’s Phil Harrison won last Thursday’s 2-hour evening match with 15 pounds 4 ounces of carp, tench and roach. Second was Houghton’s Chris Scott with 13 pounds 5 ounces, which included a 6-pound bream and a 4-pound tench. Carlisle’s John Brooks was third with 9 pounds. Day tickets at Carleton Hill are now only available on the Trees pond at £5 each, with a maximum of 7 issued per day, prior booking (especially at weekends) is recommended telephone 01228 560793 or 07713 499296 for availability. Fishing on the other three ponds is now restricted to members only. 300 carp have also been stocked into the Chub pond; the ponds have also produced tench to 6 pounds and carp to 12 pounds recently.

Last Tuesday I had a phone call from my friend Steve Palmer. Steve it seems had been out for a stroll along the river Eden with his son and discovered something that he thought I might be interested in taking a look at. It transpired that Steve had discovered a dead sea lamprey and he thought an otter might have caused the lamprey’s demise. Knowing my interest in otters and all things fishy Steve phoned me to see if I might like to take a closer look. It certainly was a fine specimen, a female heavy with spawn with a marbled brown back, she weighed exactly 3 pounds on the scales and measured 26 and a half inches from nose to stump. She very possibly could have measured another inch or two longer in her prime had the tip of her tail not finished up as an otter snack. She had also sustained some damage to her snout. 

 This is not the first time I have encountered evidence of otters eating sea lampreys, whilst making an analysis of otter diet at Longtown Ponds, I found in May 1997 a quantity of lamprey teeth in spraints found there. Although I have to confess that at that time I did not realise what they were and the teeth, which resemble the thorns of briars in shape, were filed under unidentifiable remains. It was not until after the project had been completed that the penny dropped and I reliased they were lamprey teeth. The sea lamprey is the largest and possesses the most impressive set of dentistry of our three species of lamprey. Whilst the smaller brook lamprey spends all its life in fresh water. Both the sea and the river lamprey after spending up to four years as a filter feeding ammocete larvae undergo metamorphosis, develop teeth and migrate to sea spending up to two years feeding upon fish, before returning to spawn. Which is exactly what Steve’s lamprey had returned to do when it met it’s untimely end. The Lamprey is a protected species so it seems ironic that this one should have met its end at the ‘hands’ of another of the Eden’s protected species, the otter.  

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