MANY stillwaters and lakes re-open for trout fishing on March 15.

Both Ghyll Head and High Newton should fish well for rainbows. If it is mild it is well worth prospecting the sheltered areas with a floating line, long leader and a team of nymphs or buzzers Kentmere, now managed by Windermere, Ambleside and District Angling Association, also re-opens, having been closed for a year for essential main- tenance.

It will be a brown trout water only, as Windermere Anglers support the Environment Agency national trout and Grayling strategy to protect wild fish, in this case by avoiding the risk of rainbows escaping into the River Kent.

East Bay lake will be stocked with browns with a small number also stocked into the main lake to augment the existing wild browns. Day permits are available from Plantation Bridge Garage and Ings Garage for bank fishing on both lakes for visitors, but the boats on the main lake are for members only.

Both Knottallow and Moss Eccles also open for browns, but Moss Eccles only starts to fish well from early April when the weather warms.

Some regulars will also seek brown trout in the lakes from March 15, with loch-style fishing on Ullswater but top- lining on Windermere. Fishing for charr with lures from a moving boat is the only permitted method on Windermere from March 15 to April 30.

Esthwaite should now start to fish well as the first major stocking of the season took place on Thursday with weekly trickle stockings planned throughout the season.

This year's Open Day is on Sunday, March 11 and for competition anglers will include the first heat of the Shakespeare Open Pairs, which is always popular with contestants from all over the North of England. For beginners there is free tuition from 9.30am to 1.30pm.

Renowned fly tyer Dave Burke will give a demonstration and offer practical tips and there will also will be fly-casting competitions and special offers on a wide range of fishing tackle.

Fishery staff will give advice about fishing on Esthwaite during the year and the Catch Your Own Pool' will allow children to experience their first catch. For further information contact David Coleman on 015394 36541.

g g g g THERE have been a number of lifts of up to two feet on the River Eden, but the level quickly fell back again to give some good conditions, although just one 10lb spring salmon was caught on fly by Tony Bell, at Armathwaite. Provided water conditions stay as they are it should be a reasonable start to brown trout fishing on March 15 on the Eden, Eamont and Lowther.

In sheltered areas there may be sparse hatches of large dark olives tempting sporadic rises of trout. Best tactics are likely to be small traditional wet flies or nymphs fished across and down or upstream nymphing.

The grayling season ends at midnight on March 14 and prospects are currently good for the last days of the season.

At Lazonby Estate a number of grayling have been caught on nymphs including an exceptional one of nearly 3lb.

g g g g WINTER rainbow trout waters have continued to fish well.

At Bigland Walter Fritters landed seven to 5lb; John Grey five to 4lb 8oz; Peter Corkhill five to 3lb 8oz and Mike Fearon consistently took five or six on his last few visits. On many days there have been short brief hatches of buzzers with trout feeding hard. Expect more of this as fly life increases over the weeks ahead.

Wych Elm has fished particularly well. Dave Hoggath recorded 38 and 15 rainbows on two visits; Geoff Waites landed 12. Alan Hawkins and Hugh Whittam both caught 10. Robin Dack had the best recent specimen of 12lb 13oz using a gold head hare's ear.

Across at Farletonview Grant Higson had 12 rainbows, including one of 8lb 8oz. Steve Lavenson took 11 and William Woodburn landed the first double of the year at 10lb 1oz. John Morris and Dave Rump both returned a rainbow between 7lb and 8lb.

At Conder Valley the best catches of rainbows to 3lb have fallen to lures, pheasant tail nymphs; black buzzers and bloodworm patterns.

g g g g THE close season for coarse fish begins on rivers on March 15. All those fishing lakes during the close period which is up to and including June 15, must ensure they comply with the current by-laws for permitted baits - for details see website www.lakedistrictfishing.net At Killington concessionary winter coarse fishing day tickets come to an end on March 14.

After that date the use of maggots as bait is forbidden until next winter.

g g g g PIKE fish has been good on many waters. Bank anglers on Windermere have recorded specimen to 14lb and on Coniston to 16lb. Boat users at Grasmere have caught pike to mid-doubles and from the bank to 8lb, while at Rydal Water pike to 10lb have been recorded.

Fishing Blelham Tarn Chris Berton landed a superb 24-pounder together with a jack.

At Esthwaite exceptional pike have been recorded by boat users.

Joe O'Rourke landed one of 27lb 2oz and another of 21lb 4oz, both on static sardine. Alex Barton took one of 25lb 2oz on a static half mackerel and another of 23lb 3oz on a trolled herring. James Goodall had three to 21lb 10oz and Dave Coleman took one of 21lb 1oz and another of 20lb 14oz.

Pike fishing ends on Esthwaite on March 31.

Bigland has produced a number of pike to 9lb plus catches of roach to float-fished maggot.

At Loughrigg Tarn small pike to 6lb have been caught on mackerel tails as well as good bags of roach to 1lb plus on small swim feeder with red maggots as hook bait.

Small pike to 4lb have been taken from Ulverston Canal with the occasional carp to 8lb from Sandhall Ponds.

Mild weather has kept water temperatures considerably higher than normal for this time of the year with some species starting to feed six weeks early.

Bream to 6lb have been caught at Ratherheath, while on the canal at Sedgwick a 9lb grass carp and a tench of nearly 4lb have been landed.

At Holme and Burton-in-Kendal, pike to 9lb have been caught on smelt and sprat deadbaits. At Tewitfield, Frank Squirrel has caught quality roach to 2lb 3oz and as soon as water temperatures rise another couple of degrees carp should start moving.

g g g g SEA fishing has been slow with Arnside still the best venue for flounders with just the occasional catch at Priory Point and Kingfisher.

Buzzer