Reputation precedes Lodge Farm fishery
At only
three-years-old, Lodge Farm Fishery near Bawtry is gaining quite a reputation.
So I decided to pay a visit, with my old angling buddy Dave Allison, despite
his back injury.
Lodge Farm is a three-lake complex, one of which is natural called Top
Pond with the other two, Lily Lake and Long Island excavated close by.
Top Pond holds 46 pegs and has lots of features with differing depths
from 5ft to 16ft, with gullies, narrows, and the odd island and houses
big bream, tench, roach and the odd bonus carp.
The next one you come to is Lily Lake, a 31 pegger, of rectangular shape
and a submerged plateau which runs directly down the middle containing
lily pads - hence the name.
This holds very large numbers of F1 Hybrid Carp an unusual cross between
a Crucian and a Mirror with sizes up to 4lbs.
The third and final lake is appropriately called Long Island with depths
to 8.5ft housing 28 match pegs. This has a raised plateau/island, which
again runs the entire length down the middle.
The formidable F1s are abundant here and a sprinkling of elastic stretching
Mirror Carp to 10lb.
The fishery is a mecca for the pole angler and I duly set mine up as the
first plan of attack as Dave chose the waggler rod.
There seems to be a preference of either fishing at distance on these
lakes or close in at around four sections and I opted for the latter.
Armed with special pellets delivered to me by angling chum Mick Simpson,
and a loose feed of sinking pellets at £2 a bag from the fishery,
I plumbed and set the rig at 4ft where it drops off slightly.
Within minutes I was doing battle with an F1 of around 3lb then Dave quickly
followed suit.
A chap at a peg close by had been doing well on Netto Bread and exclaimed:
“It has to be Netto or it won’t work.”
I wasn’t so sure so he came over and gave me some to try including
a tub of sweetcorn (both Dave and I were armed only with pellet) and sure
enough I was quickly into a fish.
I put sweetcorn on, and yes, I was into another! We had obviously got
there on the right day, catching well over 30 fish each at the end of
our short session.
“Catches like that are quite common,” said fishery owner Bill
Aukland. “It’s a matter of keeping the bait going in little
and often and putting a little work in, that’s all”.
This is a fantastic place to bring a novice at £4 a day ticket from
7am to 9pm. Don’t get me wrong, it can be difficult sometimes like
any fishery, but that is quite rare.
I spoke to anglers who regularly travelled from Barnsley because of the
great sport and they love the place.
A mouth waterer for the future is that Bill has another two lakes being
developed which will house roughly 80 pegs.
These will be ready early next year. For more information telephone 07815
030694.
Race Night
Two winners out of
four isn’t bad considering I hadn’t a clue what I was backing
at the race night held last Friday at the Innings.
The evening was a fun-packed fund raiser for the benefit of the WDAA junior
anglers and, although numbers were slightly down on last year’s event,
everyone enjoyed a great evening cheering on their respective nags in
aid of the youngsters.
WDAA would like to thank all the race sponsors. including those who bought
horses and/or donated to the raffle, and in particular the people who
attended on the night.
Round-Up
Woodhouse Inn-s first
match of the season was held on the High School section of the Chesterfield
Canal, Retford last Saturday.
First with 9lb 10oz was Pete Prendergast with an all-chub catch to 1lb
8oz using red maggot and pole.
Second was Roy May with 6lb 4oz, third Pete Rousell 5lb 6oz, fourth Les
Coe 5lb. Chub, tench and skimmers were caught using maggot, pole and waggler.
The Go-Baits Open
saw Bream feed in numbers, providing cracking sport in Sunday’s open
where an eight-peg section weighed a combined 201lbs of fish.
First place went to Mark Turner with 13 bream, three skimmers and a tench
for 50lb 9oz using groundbait feeder and red maggot from peg 19.
Second was Dave Cooke with 36lb 7oz consisting of nine Bream from peg
21, Dean Harris was third with 32lb 12oz (peg 13), and Rob Middleton finished
fourth with 24lb 1oz (peg 17).
Notice Board
Go Baits Open matches
continue at Langold Lake every Sunday. Entry fee is £15 all-in with
the draw at 9am and fishing from 10am to 4pm. Telephone 01909 540105.
Worksop United AC are holding their first match this Sunday on their Bracebridge
section. Permit holders’ matches also start at Bracebridge on Wednesday
19th May. The draw is at 5pm and fishing from 6pm to 9pm, £5 all-in.
To enter call Malc on 01909 484649.
Woodhouse Inn’s second match is a return to the High School section
of the Chesterfield Canal at Retford on Saturday 22nd May. Meet on Retford
Road at 7.30am. Contact Les on 01909 482225.
If you want to get in contact with Martin to give him any results, stories or information, you can e-mail him at Mgintrona@aol.com