Stoke-On-Trent Angling Society News July 2006

The River Dove has been providing some spectacular catches of big Chub to 5lbs. Jim Beresford had twenty four such fish in a single sitting, though to be fair he reads the river well, especially when the fish are hard to come by. He and Paul Kurdiez have had a number of Barbel to just under 12lb from the same stretches. Grayling to 2lb have also been reported by members and unbelievably, the emergence of chublets at Fauld.

Capesthorne Main Lake has been on fine form recently. Large carp have been falling to many anglers from locations all over the lake with the Garden Pool and Shallows proving equally productive. Matt Gibson caught a new personal best 30lb 8oz Capesthorne mirror, while Steve Stone recently banked the venues stunning ‘Two Tone’ at a weight of 31lb 4oz. The Main Lake has also been providing some excellent Bream catches, and a few anglers have caught specimen Tench. The Society received a nice report from Gerry Brookes, a match angler, who enjoyed some quality Roach fishing.

The Top pool went quite for a while with the weed now coming through with a vengeance. Some of the regulars are planning an assault on this to improve access to some swims. Phil Wain and Damian Martin have added to their early season tallies (see news) with a few decent fish. Some of the larger specimens still remain elusive, though can often be seen basking in the heat of the mid day sun.

Steve Stone with the magnificent ‘Two Tone’ at 31lb 4oz

Redesmere remains consistent with some of the thirties having been out at least twice since the start of the season. Single Scale has made one appearance to Andy Freeman at 34lb plus, with plenty of the Fanshawe stockies now well into their twenties. Redesmere Tench made an appearance with Gerry Bradley reporting a brace of upper 7's, young fish by all accounts. The Bream go from strength to strength with a few more fish to 14lb reported by Carp anglers. One of the bailiffs, Glyn, had a 13lb specimen and his partner a 12lb 10oz cracker.

Mick Hann reported quality Bream and Roach showing in numbers at Stanley Pool, and one long standing member reported witnessing a 27lb Pike at the back end of last season, as well as catching a 22lb fish himself. This is indeed good news.

Bolesworth remains consistent as ever across the species range, and Chris Hampson reported a 22lb 5oz mirror from Bolesworth using 10mm halibut pellets in a PVA bag fished close in to the margin. A number of members have experienced problems with the cattle in the field, which have been conveyed to the owner. In the meantime members are asked to be tolerant of the situation.

Geoff Hayes reports that more quality tench have been stocked into Astbury and several Bream from 3 - 5lb, and in the hot weather Geoff was able to count around sixty plus Carp in the margins on a walk around the Lake, with the ratio of Commons to Mirrors in the order of 5 to 1. Some of the fish were viewed at close quarters and Geoff estimated some to be well into the twenties.

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Stoke-On-Trent Angling Society News July 2006

Chris Knapper