February 2012
The weather has been cold for the past week and most of the lakes and canal have been freezing over. The forecast for the week seems to be unsettled starting off with a bit of snow but hopefully getting milder so the stillwaters shouldn't be frozen over. You still need to scale down your lines and hook size, and feed less. Punch-crumb and bread punch for roach on most waters work. For the bigger chub on the tone, rove with open end/cage feeder using liquidised bread and flake, lobs or maybe meat if coloured. Chopped worm on the still waters is a good alternative. Fish are still there to be caught but they are slowing down more than normal. The carp are staying low and not topping out at Wych or the still waters, so surface baits and floated strawberries are unlikely to catch you carp. The Pike fishing with deadbeats should be good with this cold weather , but please mind your rods as they may still gobble that bait down.
Below we have a bit more specific detail on our waters.
Thurlbear
Thurlbear is slowing down at the moment as are all the water. Still a showing of silvers on the wag and mag. There has been carp caught on the mag and wag too, but they're really starting to slow down now in this cold weather. Good baits to take with you at the moment, maggot, casters, worm, hemp, bread, sweetcorn and worms.
Wych Lodge
Wych lodge is still fishing very well at the moment. On the opposite side of the car park is where the anglers are still heading to at the moment. Good size skimmers are being caught on maggots and worms. Roach are not showing as much tho, and the carp are still not being caught in the numbers expected in summer months. However a 15lb 6oz carp was caught on double red maggot near the dam in the last week. Baits working well at the moment seems to be the more natural baits like maggot, worms and caster rather than the manufactured baits like boillies and pellets.
River Tone
(4lb chub caught on the tone at knapp)
The River Tone's level has been quite constant over the last few weeks. The fast stretch has been fished extremely well with over 90kg caught between the 19 anglers. Good chub have also been caught further down out towards knapp. Further down The Tone it is still quite high with the excess water but dropping. The best tactics on the tone are trotted bread/maggots and sometimes even a bit of ledgered bread is working. Out on the levels through knapp and newbridge would be your best bet for pike on dead baits as the drain and canal are starting to freeze over in the morning.
Taunton and Bridgwater Canal
Reports of Roach and perch and Pike along the Creech section in the recent match there. Lure fishing doesn't appear to be working now the colder weather has hit us. Dead baiting for the pike is the best way to go.
Maunsel Ponds
Maunsel Ponds has really started to slow down with the winter but there are still fish in there to be caught. Once the weather warms up and the lake is free from ice red Maggots or worm are still best for Perch. Bollies are the preferred bait for the carp. The Carp aren't feeding as much this time of year so bait placing a high attractant hook bait in the right place is key rather than buckets of bait to attract them into the swim.
Stathe
The drain has frozen over the last few day with the cold weather. Lots of pike fishing taking place there with the preferred method of deadbaiting. Most of the deadbaiting is taking place at the pumping station of the drain. There have also been reports of bream showing up at the pumping station end, but hardly any carp are showing at the moment.
Walton
Walton Ponds is still fishing well for the carp, but again similar rules for the still waters in that you need to be in the right place with your bait to catch the carp. Silvers have also put in a good show with worm and casters working well on the pole. Normal winters rules of less is more with high volumes of feed tending to make the fish back off!
Again that's all for this month folks. Don't forget to let us know how you got on and to add your pictures of fish you have caught.
Tight Lines! And good luck.
