( Abramis brama )
British Record ... 18lb 8oz - K Walker
 The bream may not be the hardest-fighting fish in freshwater, but with its gleaming bronze flanks and humped back, a specimen bream certainly creates an impressive sight.
Small bream or ‘skimmers’ are silver in colour but can still be easily distinguished from other silver fish, such as roach, by their slimy sides and down turned mouths. Once they reach about 1lb (0.45kg), bream tend to take on a darker appearance and as they grow older, the humped back becomes ever more prominent. The great thing about the species as far as the angler is concerned is that the bream is a shoal fish, so if you catch one, there are almost always more in the vicinity.
include Bread, maggot, sweetcorn, luncheon meat and worms. Groundbait, mixed white and brown bread.
are present in Lakes 2, 3 , 4, 5 and 6. Large numbers of fish were stocked up to the 2lb mark - they are already growing rapidly and already packing on the weight.
( Rutilus Rutilus )
 British Record ... 4lb 3oz
The roach is one of the most popular fish among anglers partly because it is widespread and plentiful, will take a wide range of baits. It will tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions and is therefore widely distributed in Britain. They are most abundant in slow-flowing or still waters where they usually occur in shoals close to areas of vegetation.
Although young roach are slim, adult fish are relatively deep-bodied, especially in waters where feeding conditions are favourable. The body is flattened, with a small head and a small, slightly oblique, terminal mouth. A single row of throat teeth helps to distinguish it from some close relatives, which have two rows.
The body colour is variable but is usually dark on the back shading to a white underbelly. The dorsal and caudal fins are usually dark brown but the colour of the pelvic and anal fins may range from orange to red.
The roach is similar to related species, such as bream, chub, rudd and bleak which often makes identification difficult at times especially as it breeds readily with other species to produce hybrids.
The roach is a shoaling species that is active throughout the year, even in the coldest weather. It will feed throughout the day, although like many other species, it is more active at dusk and dawn. Many anglers love roach, because good catches of roach can be made most of the time.
are maggot, castors, small red worms and bread (punch, flake or paste), hempseed, tares, stewed wheat, sweetcorn, bloodworm, pellets and mini-boilies
are present in Lakes 3, 4, 5 and 6. Large numbers of fish were stocked up to the 1lb mark - they are already growing rapidly and already packing on weight.
 British Record ... 4lb 10oz - S Parry
Small rudd tend to be quite silvery in appearance with greeny/blue backs and can be difficult to distinguish from roach, but as they mature their flanks take on a bronze/golden colour and their fins turn a bright scarlet red.
The mouth is distinctive with a steeply angled protruding lower lip (as apposed to the upturned lip of the Rudd) and
yellowish eyes (unlike the red eyes of Roach).
Another identifying feature in the rudd is that the beginning of its dorsal fin is set well behind the front of the pelvis fins ( directly above the base of the pelvic fins in Roach).
A two pound rudd is considered a specimen and is generally as large as the fish will grow, although they will often reach three pounds in the right environment.
Essentially the Rudd is a shy feeder, therefore tackle should be kept light and every effort must be made not to spook the shoal once one has been caught. A hooked fish needs to be guided away from the shoal quickly.
include bread, maggots, casters, hemp, sweetcorn and small red worms
are present in Lakes 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Large numbers of fish were stocked up to the 1lb mark which are already providing some great sport for the general coarse angler.
 British Record ... 5lbs 15oz - Les Brown
The Perch can be found in most waters throughout the UK. A ferocious predator, the Perch hunts in packs often chasing small fish in the shallows, herding them towards other Perch until finally their prey are surrounded. The Perch with it's colours and markings easily camouflages itself into it's surroundings, weed beds, sunken branches and tree roots. These colours and markings are less distinguishable in older specimens who tend to favour deep water and solitude, their colouring being darker and the markings indistinct. The Perch has two dorsal fins, the first dorsal fin being spined and having a conspicuous black spot to the rear.
There are various ways of catching Perch. Float fished or legered worm or maggot will always tempt the fish especially if close to an obstacle or an overhanging tree . Spinning in shallow water or close to moored boats can equally tempt the Perch. The larger specimens are harder to find because of their solitary existence. A well place legered minnow or large worm can often tempt the older Perch. Look out for likely fish holding areas such as sunken tree stumps and obstacles.
worms, maggots, live baits, dead baits, lures and spinners
are present in Lakes 2, 5 and 6. Large numbers of fish were stocked up to the 1lb mark which are already providing some great sport for the general coarse angler.
British Record ... 15lb 3oz - D Ward
 The Tench can be found in most still waters, canals and even rivers and can manage to survive in poorly oxygenated conditions where other fish would not. It is a bottom dwelling fish feeding on crustaceans, larvae and bloodworms and is generally found in small shoals. A feeding fish often releases a stream of tiny bubbles that can be seen on the surface. The Tench is a sturdily built fish with small scales embedded in it's olive green body. It's eyes are small and it has two barbules, one either side of it's mouth. The female of the species has larger ventral fins to that of the male. Colour variations of the Tench can often be found in ponds, usually gold in colour and with a variety of markings, where they have been stocked for ornamental purposes.
The Tench is primarily a summer fish and best targeted at dawn or dusk. Tench signal their presence by grubbing around in the silt on the bottom and sending up streams of small bubbles. Fish over depth with a waggler or pole approach and wait for the float to go completely under before striking firmly. In larger of deeper water, a groundbait feeder for Tench can de deadly. Tench are hard fighters and will make for any weed or cover as soon as hooked so make sure you tackle is up to the job !!
red worms, lob worms, pellets, boilies, prawns luncheon meat, maggots, bread, sweetcorn.
are present in Lakes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Large numbers of fish were stocked up to the 2lb mark and these hard fighting Tincas are already providing some great sport.
British Record ...
 'Koi' meaning 'colour' in Japanese, is where the fish derives its name. Koi were originally bred in the Orient around the Dark Ages and by the Middle Ages these fish became very popular spreading throughout Japan. Around that time, Europe (especially Portugal) held very close ties with Japan holding key ports for trade making it only a matter of time before the fish came onto the European continent. The fish have a variety of metallic colours such as silver and gold and often tend to be much more wary of coming to the surface to feed because of the camouflage difficulties.
Tactics for Koi Carp are generally similar to those for common and mirror carp although surface fishing is not so successful.
boilies, pellets, luncheon meat, sweetcorn, bread
are present in Lakes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Large numbers of fish were stocked around the 8oz mark.
British Record ... 46lb 13oz - Roy Lewis
 'Streamlined, powerful but graceful, the pike is the supreme predator in our waters because of the enormous size it can grow to. It leads a solitary life, lying in ambush to dart out and feed on smaller shoal fish-species such as roach, rudd and bream. The pike is built for speed, but only over short distances. It prefers to wait until an unwary fish comes within striking distance, then, in a burst of energy launches its body forward to grasp its prey.
Effective methods for catching this hard fighting fish include dead baits, lure fishing, and jerk baiting. They are prized as game fish for their determined fighting and have been food fish since ancient times. They can easily be damaged when handled. Since they have very sharp teeth and the teeth are numerous, it is wise to take extreme care when unhooking the pike. The angler also needs to take great care when unhooking a caught pike, as to not harm the gills. It is recommended that barbless trebles are used when angling for this species as it vastly simplifies unhooking. Unhooking should be accomplished using long forceps—30 cm artery clamps are ideal. The pike should be kept out of the water for the minimum amount of time possible, and should be given some time to recover before being weighed and photographed.
live baits, dead baits (sea and freshwater baits), lures, spinners and plugs
are present in Lake 6 up to 15lb.
|
