2000 - 2001 Season bailiffs reports on fisheries

Last Updated 4th February 2001
Pictures of Tufnell Mere added 9th February

4th February Report

With the continued wet spell, water levels are still very high on all lakes. With the recent frosts most lakes were frozen again, but the fish are beginning to feed again.

Tufnell Mere very few swims as water level is so high, about 10 feet above normal and continuing to rise as water drains from adjacent fields.
Access very difficult

Blunts Mere Water is now above the bridge and access to island requires wellies.
Wick Mere Still producing all species of fish with the occasional decent pike.
Boreham Mere Main lake recently produced pike of 16lb and 23lb. Back Lake still fishing well for Perch. Carp/Small Pool producing plenty of Rudd.
Braxted No change from last month. Reservoir has plenty of 4-5lb Carp, however 9 anglers fished on 14th January after a heavy frost and could not get a bite.
The Willows Water level still very high and cold. No fish reported.
The Chelmer Still fishing well in the regular holding swims for this time of year. i.e. below locks, in slack water and lock cuts. It is only taking a small amount of rain for the river to rise and become un-fishable in most places.

15th January Report

Water levels are very high on all lakes. Most were frozen over on new years day and the resulting cold water put the fish down for the following week. Tufnell Mere is about 5 feet above normal level and access to far bank involves detours using higher ground. Plenty of anglers but no reports of what has been caught.
Blunts Mere water level is up to the bridge and to get on the island involves wading through 15" of water. A lot of the lower swims around the lake are under water. Very few fish being caught during this cold spell. Even the hoards of Rudd are not taking maggots. Cants Mere is still producing Carp but not in large numbers.
Wick Mere has produced some Carp and Tench during December and some double figure Pike.

Boreham Mere is producing a few Pike from the main lake but Carp are not showing. The Back lake is producing a lot of Perch around the 1-1½lb mark and a few Rudd. Rudd are being caught from the Carp pool.

The Chelmer has been fishing very well in the slack water near the locks. Sandford Lock is still producing plenty of silver fish, Tench, and Pike. An angler claims to have caught a 35lb 2oz in the main river but I am still waiting the photo for confirmation. Prior to the weekend frost Paper Mills had been fishing well when the flow eased off a bit but a 60 peg match yesterday produced 54 dry nets. Below Hoe Mill has been fishing well with some quality Roach, Tench and Bream showing from the slacker water, and Pike in their usual haunts.
The section of canal at Beeleigh Golf Course has been producing some nice Roach and Perch but these recent high flows have sent the damned American Pennywort weed into the canal making fishing difficult in places. It does not bode well for the summer. Heybridge section is fishing well above the Benbridge and behind the factories where the previous open match was won with 29lb of Bream

4th November Report

Ulting Complex

Blunts Mere
Continues to fish well for all species.
Cants Mere
Anglers catching Carp up to 17½lb.
Wick Mere
Fishing well for all species of fish. Lots of Roach for the pleasure angler. Pike beginning to get more active

The Willows

After the recent floods the water is very coloured. Lake has been fishing well with a regular angler recently catching Common Carp of 25½lb,19¼lb,14½lb, Tench of 4lb and 6lb and a Bream of 12½lb in one session.

Braxted Complex

Some anglers are using the wrong entrance to this fishery. Anyone using any other entrance than that shown on the maps will be suspended or expelled, as they could put our lease in jeopardy.

The Reservoir
Mirror Carp of 18¼lb and Commons of 15,17,and 18lb have been recorded lately.
Front Lake
Producing Carp to 20+lb.
Back Lake
Carp of 35+lb(Willie) has been caught again after a long absence. Other fish of 20+lb being caught.
 

Tufnell Mere

Still producing very well. Plenty of fish being caught. Banks are muddy and slippery.
 

Boreham Mere

Main Lake
Carp of 30+lb caught last month. All fish being caught are in prime condition. Good Pike are being caught but trying to catch bait fish is a problem as most Roach being caught are around 10". Roach and Rudd are being caught in good numbers.
Back Lake
Good catches of smaller Commons and nice Crucians, with some bonus Perch.
Small Pool
Weed dying back and fishing well for Rudd, Tench and occasional Carp.
 

River Chelmer

After recent heavy rains the river has been fishing well when the river settles down. This normally takes 3-4 days. After last weeks prolonged wet spell the river is still very high and coloured. Today (4th Nov) the river is still flowing OVER all the lock gates. With more rain forecast the river will probably be unfishable for at least 7-10 days.

7th August Report

Ulting Complex

Blunts Mere
Still fishing very well. Plenty of nice Tench and Carp of 20lb+. Impossible to use small baits without getting a shoal of small Rudd.
Cants Mere
Plenty of fighting Carp to 26lb., some days better than others.
Wick Mere
Fishing well for all species of fish.

The Willows

Water is currently very coloured and has recently a bloom of blue green algae. Weekend anglers finding it hard, but midweek anglers getting a few Tench, Bream and Carp. Portable toilet now on site until December.

Braxted Complex

Some anglers still are using the wrong entrance to this fishery. Anyone using any other entrance than that shown on the maps will be suspended or expelled, as they could put our lease in jeopardy.

The Reservoir
Many Carp being caught, some of reasonable size. Rudd not showing in same quantities as last year. A lot of Carp are being caught with sores on them. This is where they are competing for food and damaging themselves. A parasite, Argulus (a minute crab), is then laying its eggs in the wound. These will clear when temperature drops.
Front Lake
Very pleasurable fishing with good Bream and Carp showing in reasonable numbers.

Back Lake
Good Tench being caught, but no doubles yet. Excellent Carp being caught with recent reports of 35 and 38lb fish.

Tufnell Mere

This venue just gets better and better. Several pleasure anglers getting bags of 200-300lb of fish in a day. Many people reporting 20-30 Carp a day. Tench and Bream also being caught in numbers. Roach to 1½lb and Tench to 10lb recorded
5 hour match on 6th August won with 164½lb, 2nd 88¼lb, 3rd 88lb, 4th 83¼lb, 5th 79½lb.
 

Broads Green

Less hectic than Tufnell, but carp being caught to 26lb. Roach and Rudd also being caught in good numbers.

Boreham Mere

Main Lake
Carp to 36lb, Bream, Tench and also Roach and Rudd showing in good numbers.
Back Lake
Excellent days mixed fishing. Perch, Crucian Carp, Roach all good size fish. 3lb 14oz Perch by Dave Larke.
Small Pool
A bit weedy but fishing well for Rudd, Tench and occasional Carp.
Portable toilet now on site until December
 

17th July Report

Ulting Complex

Blunts Mere
Excellent Tench fishing with plenty of fish to 5lb. Carp to 22½lb. Lots of Rudd making fishing difficult on small or soft baits.
Cants Mere
Plenty of fighting Carp to 18lb.
Wick Mere
Fishing well again this season with good bags of Bream, Tench, Rudd and Carp.

The Willows

Fishing has slowed from beginning of season. Less Carp but more double figure Bream are being caught. Tench to 9lb and Perch over 1lb.

Braxted Complex

The Reservoir
Lots of Carp around 5lb making fishing difficult. Best Carp so far 22½lb. Tench also showing, Rudd not so prolific as previous seasons.
Front Lake
Plenty of good Bream and Carp coming out. Good late afternoon and evening fishery.
Back Lake
Good Tench being caught, but no doubles yet. Excellent Carp to 36lb.

Tufnell Mere

Fishing well again this season. Mixed bags up to 250lb. Carp to 18lb, with 30-40 fish caught a session. Good Tench and Roach also being caught as are small Bream. Club Match (5 hours, single rod) 16th July winning weight 77lb 13oz (Ivan Ringland), 2nd Graham Blake 75lb 15oz, 3rd Dan Christensen 74lb 6oz. Even 10th place weighed in 43lb 13oz.

Broads Green

Good double figure Carp being caught, and pleasurable mixed bags of fish.

Boreham Mere

Main Lake
Carp to 34lb, Bream to 6lb, Tench to 5½lb and Eels being caught.
Back Lake and Small Pool both fishing well for mixed bags of fish.

8th June Report

Ulting Complex

(All 3 lakes opened for fishing on 1st May)
Blunts Mere
Plenty of carp and Tench coming out and 1000's of rudd. Tench to 4½ lb.
Cants Mere
Quite a few doubles coming out, but some days can be a bit quiet.
Wick Mere
Fishing very well for rudd Tench and carp. Also pike of 15 lb caught
 

The Willows

(Opened for fishing on 1st May)
Common Carp of 26½, 27¾ and 28lb 10oz and Mirror of 25lb, plus plenty of others caught.
Tench to 6½lb, Bream to 12½lb, Perch to 1¼lb and Eels to 5lb.
 

All other lakes open on 16th June

9th May Report
Ulting Complex

(All 3 lakes opened for fishing on 1st May)
Blunts Mere
Very busy on both Blunts and Cants on first day. All swims in use. Fishing difficult and slow on first day but picked up during the week with less anglers on the bank.
Carp and Tench showing well. 2 anglers had 19 carp between them. 1 angler had 8 carp and 6 Tench.
Cants Mere
Carp to 15lb+ showing. Better fishing mid-week when it is quieter.
Wick Mere
 

The Willows

(Opened for fishing on 1st May)
Very busy on first day. A few carp, Tench, Bream and Eels showing.
Best fish so far 27¾lb carp to Mick Eckersley on 1st May.

All other lakes open on 16th June 2000.

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