Evening sessions provide best sport for anglers

THE strong, gusty winds have made life difficult for trout fishermen both on stillwaters and rivers.

Rivers are low and clear at the moment but bailiffs report evening hatches are best and persistence pays off.

The trout are there, tending to shoal and the odd one or two will rise to a fly if carefully presented.

Fortunately there is no problem with weed on any of the recognised waters.

On the stillwaters the problem has been the wind rather than the water and its colour.

Despite the wind some big weights of coarse fish were caught from the lakes at Witherington Farm fishery over the weekend.

The biggest bag was caught by Martin Flack fishing for Whiteparish Raiders in a match on Barnmoor Lake on Sunday. Martin hauled in a bag of 107lb to win the match.

Paul Barnard fishing Snake Lake in the Nigel Turner Series of matches took a winning weight of 81 12oz lb.

It was not only match anglers who found the fish. Pleasure anglers too have enjoyed big bags with Nick Lund fishing Cottage Lake and catching just over 100lb of fish.

All the lakes have been giving good sport with carp ranging in size from 10lb to 20lb.

It is a similar story at Waldens Farm Fishery with carp just into double figures and plenty of tench, particularly from Monks Lake.

Salisbury Angling Club bailiffs are out and about preparing for the start of the coarse season on club lakes from June 1.

Coarse fishing membership is available from the club now with membership forms obtainable from Reid's Tackle and Wilton and John Eadie's in Salisbury.

Membership is £58 for adults with a one-off £15 joining fee with £25 across the board for juniors.