Taunton AA water reports
January 2012
We've been lucky with the mild weather so far this winter, but it appears we are going into a cold spell at the moment. A nice high pressure has parked itself over the UK so this colder but sunnier weather should continue for a the next week. The higher more constant pressure should help with the fish feeding, but they won't be feeding on the quantities they do in the summer. You 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...and works on the canal too. The Pike fishing with deadbeats should also be good with these frosts, 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 fishing well at the moment. Plenty of silvers showing on the wag and mag. Carp have also been caught round the back of the island and along the hedge to left of the pond from the car park. Worm and caster cocktail also working for the skimmers and perch on the far side round just before the island. Good baits to take with you at the moment, maggot, casters, worm, hemp, bread, sweetcorn and worms. Luncheon meat can work on the warmer days too.
Wych Lodge
Wych lodge is fishing very well at the moment. On the opposite side of the car park is where the anglers are heading to at the moment. Good size skimmers can be caught in the centre of the lake on the method feeder with 8mm pellets as hook bait. Roach are showing up on maggots//hemp/sweetcorn right round the pond. Although the far side is better for the carp still.
River Tone
The River Tone is again dropping from the recent floods and this should improve the fishing as they'll need to replace that energy they have lost. Before the flooding chub, dace, roach, grayling and the odd salmon were being on trotted bread and maggots down the fast stretch. Further down The Tone it is still quite high with the excess water. Smelly baits like cheese paste and worm on tip should also catch you a few fish.
Taunton and Bridgwater Canal
This has been quite cloudy since the heavy rain. Reports of Roach and perch and Pike along the Creech in the recent match there. Also further towards maunsel at Charlton reports of pike being caught there on the lure.
Maunsel Ponds
Maunsel Ponds is being dominated by the carp lately. Although things have slowed down with the winter. The Perch haven't shown as much as before but they are in there to be caught. Red Maggots or worm are 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
We have a lack of reports on Stathe at the moment, but after the heavy rain and pumping now stopped fishing should be good. Lots of pike fishing taking place there with the preferred method of deadbaiting. The farm track end at pincombe bridge is the usual place to head this time a year, but with the lack of reports at the moment its a bit of gamble on what's happening.
Walton
Walton Ponds is fishing well for the carp, but again similar rules to maunsel in that you need to be in the right place with your bait to catch them 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!
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.