2003 Season bailiffs and members reports on fisheries

January

Most waters fishing well, especially Willows prior to the recent flooding. Boreham producing Carp to 24lb, plenty of silver fish and Pike to 16lb many 7 - 8lbs.
Has any one lost a Carp sack? one was hooked at Boreham Mere containing a large decomposed Carp, all anglers are advised to take more care, this should not happen.
Resident Carp Henrietta has been caught at Braxted Reservoir at 34lbs.

February

No reports were received this month although plenty of Pike anglers had been seen on our waters. Water levels are becoming increasingly worrying at Tufnell Mere with newly created paths now underwater again reducing the amount of fishable swims.

March

Boreham Mere The water levels at the Boreham complex have been reduced to allow work to be carried out during the coming close season, in particular the removal of lily's in the main Mere.
A 29lb 12oz Pike had been recorded caught prior to the end of the season, many Carp had also been caught, and plenty of silver fish and Bream to 8lb.
Braxted's Back lake had attracted many anglers towards the end of the season, probably due to the mild weather, also Cants and Blunts Mere had been practically busy.
Willows had been reported as fishing very well.

Please remember, although it is the close season there is much work to be done on all of our waters, we have a team of dedicated bailiffs who give up much of their own time to ensure that the lakes and rivers are maintained and that swims and footpaths are kept tidy and free of snags.
We would welcome any members who wish to come along to one of our working parties, it can sometimes be very hard work, but the results are very rewarding, and your time will be very much appreciated.

April

No catch reports due to close season.  Unfortunately  work parties have been poorly attended!

May

Willows, Cants, Blunts, and Wick Mere opened on 1st May.  All waters have been very busy, in particular  Willows where plenty of fish have been caught including Carp to 29lb 11oz and also a  7lb 5oz Chub.
Boreham Mere Main Mere is fishing particularly well for Bream and Tench, plenty around the 5lb weights.

June

Boreham Mere Main Mere producing plenty of Bream to 5lb including reported several fish in the low doubles. Tench to 6lb and plenty of silver fish. Carp in the 20lb+ weights where reported caught, largest being 29lb+.
Back Lake Plenty of small Carp up to 8lb, and the odd Crucian, Good bags of silver fish.
Small Lake (Renee's) Two Carp in the low doubles have been reported caught and subsequently moved to the main mere, again plenty of silver fish being caught on this lake.
Braxted complex has been very busy, with plenty of Carp being caught on all lakes, Reservoir producing fish in the low 20's, Front lake mid 20's and the Back lake low 30's. The Tench are not showing as yet.
The Willows is beginning to fish well as the season moves on with good bags of Bream and several Carp being caught.
Cants Mere is a bit slow with most anglers choosing to fish Blunts Mere which has been fishing extremely well with plenty of Tench being caught and some excellent Carp sport with fish up to 18lb.
Wick Mere has produced many Carp to 20lb, also the Tench are packing on the weight, Roach fishing has been reported to be a bit slow.

July

All lakes have been reported to be fishing reasonably well with plenty of anglers on all of the waters. Boreham Main Mere is still producing plenty of sizeable Bream, Small Lake (Renee's) fishing well for Tench and silver fish.
Braxted Back lake produced a 34lb Carp, also plenty of Tench and silver fish were caught, the Front lake slowed down this month and did not fish well.
Blunts Mere fished extremely well for most species, were as Cants Mere slowed down and did not fish quite so well.
Reports from Tufnell Mere and Broads Green had said that the fishing had been patchy.

August

Club member Chris Riley had a great days float fishing and straight running ledgering at Blunts mere. Fishing with sweetcorn produced 7 Crucian Carp to 1lb 9oz, 8 Tench to just short of 3lb, plus 3 or 4 small Carp, and a few Rudd.
Proving that simple tactics work club member Terry Myall also fished Blunts Mere in August using meat bait, size 8 hook tied to 8lb line produced a 16lb 11oz Common Carp.  Angler Kern Gunning managed a personal best 25lb Mirror Carp at Blunts Mere. (see photo gallery)
In general Blunts Mere is fishing very well with other reports of a 27lb Common Carp being caught, and plenty of low doubles, Tench to 5lb, Crucian Carp and Rudd.
Cants Mere produced Carp to 17lb for angler Adam Lagden. (see photo gallery).
Gary Hood float fished bread flake at Tufnell Mere which produced a 23lb Common Carp, a 17¼lb Mirror Carp, and Tench to 5½lb. Broads Green as with Tufnell Mere
fishing reasonably well for most species, Carp, Tench, Bream, and silver fish.
Boreham Mere Main Mere. Plenty of Bream still being caught up to 8lb, one angler was reported to have landed 32 Bream in one day. A few Carp to the mid 20's had been caught during August, also plenty of silver fish showing. Eels to 7½lb and the odd Pike to 15lb. Back lake fishing well for Carp up to 10lb and the odd Crucian Carp being caught. Small Lake (Renee's) fishing well for Tench, Crucian Carp, and silver fish.
Wick Mere fishing well for silver fish including Roach to ¾lb and 20lb bags of Roach reported . Small Carp, Bream, and the odd Pike including one fish weighed in at 19lb 10oz which gave club secretary Trevor Wilson a 25 minute fight after the fish took a Roach on light tackle, including a 1.8lb bottom hook length. (Photo to follow)
The Willows Fishing well for Tench to 8lb, silver fish and Bream. The occasional double figure Carp to 20lb.
Braxted Reservoir producing Carp to 20lb. A recent 24 hour Carp match was won with 102lb of Carp by club member Dave Taylor, not to be outdone junior member Billy Wright  caught our resident Carp 'Henrietta' at 31½lb (see photo gallery). Braxted Back lake fishing well for Tench, club member Zenon Bojko caught 25+ fish in one session weighing between 7lb - 9½lb+, also the odd Carp was being caught by anglers during August. Front Lake producing Carp between 10lb and 28½lb, also Bream to 6lb and lots of silver fish.

September
 

On only his second visit to Blunts Mere club member Liam Woolley bagged five superb Carp weighing between 9lb and 20lb. Liam used Pepperami as bait on a size 6 hook and a Nash run rig. Large bags of Tench reported up to 68lb which included 1 Tench at 4lb, and 9 over 3lb. Plenty of Crucian Carp also showing.
Wick Mere Lower double figure Pike being caught.
Club member Adam Lagden's first trip to The Front lake at Little Braxted produced Adams personal best, a cracking 21lb 4oz Common Carp (see photo gallery). The Front Lake was  reported to have produced a 30lb specimen and The Reservoir a 32½lb Carp. The Back Lake saw Carp to 34½lb and six other Carp in the 30's, it is thought that the Back Lake holds at least 15 specimen Carp in the 30lb+ range. In general Braxted complex fishing very well.
The Willows Plenty of Carp being reported, fish to 27lb and 28lb.
Nick Evans caught a stonking 2lb 2oz Perch from the River Chelmer at Ulting Church on 5lb line, size 4 barbless hook, and a Gudgeon bait (see photo gallery). Perch to 3lb at Ulting Church Meadows have also been reported and Tench to 6lb.
Boreham Mere Main Mere has produced plenty of Carp to 21lb, also Pike to 20lb with several low doubles showing.
Back Lake and Small Lake (Renee's Pool) reports of large Eels being caught between 5lb - 6lb, also some good Roach to 1½lb reported in the Small Lake.
Tufnell Mere and Broads Green no reports.

October

Very few anglers have been seen during October although most water have been fishing reasonably well.
Boreham Mere Main lake still producing Bream and Carp.

November

Generally most waters fished OK during November.
Pike showing at Boreham and Wick Mere.
Blunts Mere producing Carp and Tench.

December

Fisheries have been reasonably quiet, but those members that are fishing have been catching.

Boreham Mere Main Mere froze over for one night during the Christmas holiday. Carp are still showing including reports of 4 - 5 fish around the 22lb mark. Bream also being caught between 4 - 8lb. Largest Pike reported 16lb and lots of Jacks. Plenty of silver fish also showing. The Back lake was reported to have produced a Perch which weighed just under 5lbs, Carp also showing to 9lb. Small Lake (Renee's Pool) fished reasonably well for silver fish.
Cants and Blunts odd Carp and Tench showing, plenty of Perch.
Wick Mere producing Pike to the mid doubles, also a lot of Jacks being caught, the odd Carp and Bream showing.
Tufnell Mere and Broads Green very few anglers, although reports of members catching the odd Carp to 9lb on Broads.
Braxted Hall Estate very few anglers fishing, a few Carp had been reported caught on the Front Lake and The Reservoir.
The Willows was still producing Bream during December, including some in double figures. The occasional Carp and some silver fish also being caught.

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