BEACH fishing in Nambia last month Vera Carson, of Kendal, landed an outstanding bronze whaler shark weighing 352 lb (99lb better than her best last year).
Darkness had fallen during her 90-minute battle with this record-breaking catch.
This was the largest bronze whaler ever caught by a lady angler from the beach in Namibia and is also a shore-caught 50lb line class record (for either male or female anglers) for the Sport Fishing Club of the British Isles. What a fantastic achievement by our local angler.
Her husband Bob's best bronze whaler was 286lb (also 99 lbs. better than his best last year).
On two days they had 300lb plus bronze whalers following the scent of their baits within five feet of the beach!
g g g ANDREW Dixon, of Penrith, and Mike Tinnion, Keswick, have been selected for England's team to contest the European Fly Fishing Championship, in Sweden, in June. A marvellous achievement for these world-class anglers and thoroughly deserved for their continuing hard work in promoting the highest ideals of fly fishing, both at home and abroad.
g g g TROUT fishing has been much better with the more settled and warmer weather. A few anglers have again been out on Watendlath with catches of rainbow trout to nymphs and mini-lures.
Although the flood water has subsided at East Bay Lake, Kentmere, rainbows are still deep, but on warmer days they should move up nearer to the surface to feed on small buzzers.
At Esthwaite Water Richard Maddox and Keith Clark landed six well-conditioned rainbows to 3lbs using floating lines and small black dries. Prospects are excellent, as the lake will be stocked on March 1.
Anglers at Bigland have been catching on nymphs and mini-lures, with green the favourite colour.
At Wych Elm Darren Sefton landed a superb 16lb rainbow on a buzzer. Chris Edgar took 15 on buzzers and a cat's whisker and Hugh Whittam nine to 10lb on buzzer pupa and Shipman's buzzer.
There have been good hatches of buzzers at Farletonview with Bill Bradshaw landing 11 rainbows on buzzer patterns and Roy Carruthers 11 on bloodworm patterns. Alan Plevey landed the heaviest rainbow of 12lb on a black lure and Granville Jolly one of 9lb 8oz on a small beetle pattern.
Tewitfield continues to fish well to floating line tactics with Colin Parkin recording 21 rainbows to 8lb on buzzers and nymphs. John Mahon landed 19 on small black spiders also snipe and purple and Chris Studdard 15 on small black spider patterns.
g g g COARSE fishing has also improved and at Killington roach are now more active.
Peter Wilson won the 10th round of the Winter Individual League, with 5lb 3ozs. Second was Phil Murphy, 4lb 14oz, and third Graeme Dawes, 4lbs 1oz.
The final two rounds will be very competitive as there is little between the leaders. Graeme Dawes has 134 points with Phil Murphy and Peter Wilson on 128 and Dave Kenyon 123.
In the fifth round of Windermere, Kendal and District Anglers' Winter League 14 anglers enjoyed brilliant winter fishing on the main lake at Lonsdale Park, Carlisle, landing over 130lb between them.
Grahame Hall won with a 24lb 7oz bag containing roach and one tench. Del Francis achieved his third second place in a row with a 17lb 10oz bag of pristine roach and third was Mike Harrison with a 12lb 4oz bag of roach.
This is another competition with an exciting final round to come. Although the Kendal & District positions after five rounds are: Del Francis 109 points; Grahame Hall, 88; and Mike Harrison, 78, at the end of the series an adjustment is made by taking off the angler's worst result.
On Loughrigg Tarn anglers have been catching pike to 12lb on pop-up deadbaits and roach on legered red maggots.
At Esthwaite Water, regular Alex Barton landed 26lb and 12lb pike on trolled sea deadbaits. Trevor Swindell took one of 18lb 4ozs on a static deadbait and John McGeachie one 12lb also on a static deadbait.
Ulverston Canal continues to produce small pike on deadbaits also small roach to pole tactics with maggots from the deeper water at the lock gates.
The coarse lake at Tewitfield is fishing well with Steve Rawstron landing four perch to 1lb 12oz.
Alan Mason landed an 18lb common carp together with a good bag of roach and rudd.
Coniston and Grasmere have produced pike to 15lb on deadbaits.
Prospects are good for roach on the deep-water areas of Windermere, Grasmere, and Rydal using feeder tactics.
There should be some superb fishing on Banks Pond as the existing stock has been augmented with additional carp to 10lb. For Membership of Kendal and District Angling Club or Day Ticket information contact Martin Smyth, 015394 42051.
g g g SEA angling is slowly improving with flounders being caught at Priory Point and Canal Foot on ragworm or lugworm.
There is an Open Sea Fishing Competition at Middle Lane, Priory Point, this Sunday. Check in at Kingfisher from 9.45am to 10.45am with fishing from 11.15am to 2.15pm. The cost is £10 per competitor with prizes for the three heaviest bags. Further information from Billy Barker, 01229 474313.
Buzzer
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