GRAEME McKee recorded the first wild brown when the trout fishing season opened on March 15.

Top-lining on Windermere with a new Olive Rapala, he caught a thin cock fish measuring approximately 23 inches with an estimated weight of between 3lb and 3lb 8oz. Two good browns of 3lb and 2lb were caught by other anglers while Windermere Anglers' Kingfisher member, Callum Duggan, aged 11, hooked, fought and landed a 4lb wild brown which took a Rapala.

On Ullswater it was an exciting start to the season for boat users John Hesketh and Bill Todd, who brought 19 browns to the net and on a subsequent visit over 30.

High Newton has produced big hard-fighting rainbows. John Kinnear had a day he will not forget with a superb 12lb specimen and another of 10lb on two consecutive casts. On the same day Alan Plevey landed 10, with one of 10lb 2oz and nine others between 2lb and 6lb. Ian Butterworth was not far behind with nine, the best topping 10lb. Ghyll Head has also produced 10lb rainbows.

With the cold wind blowing down the valley it has been harder at Kentmere, but bank anglers on East Bay Lake have caught browns on deep fished nymphs or buzzers.

On Knottallow it was a quiet start with only one angler out on opening day and landing six.

At Esthwaite good catches from boats were mainly on sinking lines and lures. Jim Miller took 19 rainbows to 4lb plus, Richard Maddox and John Gardner shared 44 to 3lb and John Johnstone, fishing for a week, landed 105 rainbows and browns to 4lb plus.

Chaplows of Kendal held their annual competition with 19 anglers weighing in 62 fish for 141lb 4oz. Terry Chaplow won with four for 10lb 3oz ahead of Stuart Wilson, four for 9lb 14oz. Terry Potter landed the heaviest rainbow at 5lb 4oz.

In the Troutmaster fish-off six competitors weighed in 24 fish totalling 79lb 6oz, including time bonuses. Mike Laycock won with four to 15lb 13oz and will go on to the final at Grafham Water in May. Isaac Miller was second with four to 14lb 2oz.

At Bigland Geoff Powell landed 20 rainbows on Diawl Bachs, Sam Laird 16 and Mike Jefferson 16 to 4lb 8oz.

David Holden took 21 rainbows, including one of 14lb and another of 11lb at Wych Elm while Hugh Whittam landed 17, including one of 8lb 12oz, and Neil McGartland, ten. Wych Elm's Troutmaster fish-off was won by Iain Scott with four totalling 12lb 8oz and he also goes to the final in May. Keith Hindle was second with 7lb.

At Farletonview, Dave Connell had 12 rainbows. Grant Higson landed an 8lb rainbow on a Pink Fritz together with seven others. Jed Hallsworth took seven and Brian Rowbottom caught a 5lb 8oz fish on an Olive Zonker.

g g g g A SUPERB 25lb 8oz pike was landed at Rydal by Lee Ward and pike to mid-doubles have been caught by boat anglers on Grasmere using sea deadbaits.

On Windermere and Coniston small pike have been caught by boat anglers mainly trolling and from the bank. At Loughrigg Tarn small pike to 9lb have been recorded along with bags of quality roach to 1lb Ulverston Canal has produced pike to 8lb along with tench while pike to 5lb have been taken on lures from the Lancaster Canal between Sedgwick and Holme.

At Bigland Dave Miller had three pike to early doubles on deadbaits and Terry Rydle a 13lb 4oz common carp.

Fishing Tewitfield John Beckett recorded a 21lb pike on a mackerel deadbait and on a separate visit one of 13lb 7oz. Others have caught good mixed bags but there is no sign of any tench. Carp have been caught at Ratherheath and at Sandhall Ponds.

g g g g SEA FISHING has improved with good catches of flounders at Greenodd, Priory Point and Kingfisher plus small school bass to 1lb 8oz on Lugworm and crab from the North End of Walney.

g g g g ROD LICENcES for 2007/2008 come into force on Sunday, and anglers must ensure they have their new licence before going out fishing.

g g g g A FLY-FISHING OPEN DAY will be held by Carlsons Fishing Tackle at Farletonview on Sunday April 15 from 9am.

There will be an opportunity to try the latest rods and reels, plus casting and fly-tying demonstrations, a large range of flies, show specials and reduced price fishing. It will also be an opportunity for juniors to find out more about the South Cumbria Kingfishers and their many events for the season.

Buzzer