2004 Season bailiffs and members reports on fisheries

January

Boreham Mere Main Mere the odd Carp to 26lb's, small Pike and Jacks, Bream to 8lb and some silver fish, generally very quiet on this complex. The Willows water level was particularly high due to blocked out flow pipes, Bream and the odd Carp being the main species caught  during January. Tufnell Mere's water level fluctuating, making access around the foot paths very hazardous, reports of the odd Carp being caught.
A match which was moved from the Willow Plantation stretch of the River Chelmer was fished at Broads Green, although plenty of Carp in the low doubles were caught, not one silver fish was seen. Little Braxted complex very quiet the odd angler on Back Lake and Reservoir.   Cants and Blunts Mere at Ulting OK for Carp in the low doubles, with some monster Perch from Blunts Mere (See Photo Gallery). New club member Les Clear fished Boreham Mere Back Lake for the first time, and although the first couple of hours did not produce a single fish, Les persevered and eventually  a 6lb Carp picked up his two single red Maggots and Les was off the mark, to be followed shortly afterwards by two more Carp to around 4lbs. Les then had to wait approximately 2½ hours for his next bite, this time he landed a Carp to around 5lbs. Eventually Les's 3lb main line and 2lb bottom float tackle and size 18 hook could take no more, and he was smashed up. All in all Les said he had a very memorable and enjoyable first outing to this water. Club member G Huggins netted three Carp to 21½lb, A Hallett caught  two Common Carp to 14lb, also a 26lb Leather Carp during January from the Main Mere.

February

Recently joined member Les Clear fished Boreham Main Mere for the first time and enjoyed a good mixed bag of Roach, Skimmers and Perch, but to top it all Les also landed a 21½lb beautifully conditioned Common Carp on his ledger set up beating his previous personal best by 4½lb (17lb) (Photo to follow). Also from the Main Mere A Derby netted 50lb+ of Bream and one 5lb Tench in one session, and returned a week later to net a further 25lb of Bream and a Tench to 3lb. Reports of plenty of Pike including one fish at 23lb for club member Alf Denham. Plenty of silver fish showing . Small Lake (Renee's) small Carp, Perch to 2lb, and plenty of silver fish.
September last year it was reported that the Back Lake at Braxted had 15 specimen Carp to over 30lb's, it has been confirmed by Fisheries management that one of the Carp now tops 41lb. Blunts Mere fished well for Tench to 4lb. Cants Mere produced 30 Carp during a night session for one angler, who then continued catching during the day. Finally reports of a Brown Trout being caught in the weir pool at The Willows, and also a 3½oz (8") Gudgeon form the by - pass stream.

March

Fisheries Management reported that the Back Lake at Braxted has thirteen Carp of 30lb+, and two at 40lb+.

April

No Reports. Although a big thank you to everyone who participated on the work parties at each venue, in particular at Boreham Mere where members and bailiffs resurfaced the car park area.

May

Member Jon Deeney emailed the club web site to report  his catch of 15 Common Carp up to 14½lb plus 4 other doubles in one session at Blunts Mere, Jon used standard Carp techniques and Whiskey flavoured boilies. Catch report received from member Geoff Dartnall told us how his first visit to Blunts Mere produced seven Crucian Carp total weight of 14lb 3oz with a personal best of 3lb 8oz, (see photo gallery) also Geoff netted two Common Carp of 9lb & 12lb, and several Tench to 3lb. A 4 hour session on Cants Mere saw club member Stephen Kent land six Carp, two at 14½lb one 12½lb and three fish at 9lbs all on running ledger and pellet bait. Braxted Back Lake produced five 30lb+ Carp during the early part of May, and some nice Tench, sadly though one of the reported 40lb+ Carp was found dead in the margins at this venue. The Reservoir produced a 30lb Carp also in the early part of May. Boreham Main Mere has produced Pike of 24lb and 27lb, one angler was reported to have landed 20 Pike in one session all over 15lb using whole Mackerel dead baits. Member Spencer Chunn landed a 23lb fully scaled Mirror Carp from Boreham Main Mere on the 8th May. Good bags of Bream to 7lb have also been reported from the Main Mere. Small Lake (Renee's) has produced small Tench to 1½lb. New club members Dave Witteridge and Pete Lentz had an enjoyable and eventful visit to Wick Mere when between them they netted Bream to 7lb 4oz on Halibut pellets, Pete included 3 Carp in his catch to 11lb 9oz all on Tutti Fruitti boilies, and Dave had one Tench 5lb 8oz on Halibut pellets and a Pike 14lb 6oz on a Pineapple pop - up, plus plenty of other runs. A late afternoon trip to Broads Green for member Karl Greenaway produced a 17lb 4oz Common Carp, whilst son Nathan caught a personal best 10lb 8oz Common. (see photo gallery).

June

All waters reported to be fishing very well, Boreham Main Mere was still producing good bags of Bream to 5lb, and the Back Lake for Crucian Carp and plenty of silver fish. Braxted Hall lakes including the Reservoir are reported to be fishing well for large Carp.

July

Club member Liam Woolley had a busy 5 hour session when he netted 11 Carp to 7½lb from Tufnell Mere using Halibut pellet bait.

August

Day ticket visitor to Tufnell Mere Trevor Wilson emailed the club to report on a great days fishing he had, catching several Carp and achieving a personal best of 16lb 9oz. (See Photo Gallery) A match held at Tufnell Mere was won by Dave Hales with 154lbs 11oz, the total weight for the top six match man was almost 490lbs. (see Match reports). All the lakes have been fishing well, 3 plastic maggots done the trick for one club member on the Willows at Braxted and produced a stunning 29lb Carp. Boreham complex still an all round safe bet for producing good bags of fish with plenty of Bream and silver fish from the main mere and several sizeable Pike. The back lake has seen anglers catching Crucian Carp in abundance and plenty of good commons. Cants and Blunts Mere has been extremely busy and fishing very well. Wick Mere still fishes well for the Bream plus reports of an angler netting an Eel weighing in at 6lbs.

September

Club members Jon Deeney and Dick Whittaker both achieved personal bests on a recent visit to Blunts Mere, Jon bagged 10 Common Carp to 21lb, and Dick managed Five Common to 20lb all on boilies. Also at Blunts Mere member M Pink - Gyett netted a stunning 36lb Mirror Carp whilst ledgering Luncheon Meat (See photo gallery 2) and has also reported Common Carp at 23lb and 28lb using the same method. Blunts Mere has been producing good Crucian Carp to 3½lb and plenty of Roach and Rudd. Pleased as punch club specimen angler Steve Forsyth netted Henry the legendary Mirror Carp at a weight of 35lb 4oz from Braxted Reservoir on an undisclosed boilie bait, this is an all round personal best for Steve. (Photo to follow) Generally the Braxted complex has been fishing well. Bream and Carp still showing at the Willows plus the river Blackwater which runs along side this fishery has been producing Chub, Perch, and Trout, particularly in the weir pool. Boreham Main Mere carry's on producing plenty of Silver fish sport, plus double figure Bream and reports of Tench to 10lbs, the Pike are also very prominent with reports of fish to 29lb 10oz. A 6lb Eel was reported caught on the Boreham Back lake. Tufnell Mere catch reports include Common Carp to 21lb and Bream to 5lb on Sweetcorn. Broads Green Common Carp to 24lb.

October

The front lake at Braxted saw club member Andy Thomas land a Common Carp weighing in at 30lb 5oz (See photo gallery 2). The Back Lake kept one angler busy when he landed 9 fish in a 4 day session, seven Carp  weighed in at 30lb plus, and the two other fish tipped the scales in the mid twenties.
Club member Paul Beckwith could not believe his luck to find Carp still taking surface baits in early October at Cants Mere, using imitation Dog biscuit he managed to land six fish, also Paul was kept busy with his method feeder rod to take another 10 fish on Boilies. The sixteen fish weighed between 6lb and 16lb 2oz and were all caught on a five hour visit. Reports of Carp to 15lb also being taken by other anglers on floating crust.
Day ticket regular Trevor Wilson (not our club Secretary) emailed the club to report another successful days fishing on Chelmsford Angling Association waters with club member Dave Springett on Cants Mere. Though this particular visit started with the first Autumn frost, to there surprise the bites kept coming all day, with Trevor netting countless Carp to approx 2lb on Bread flake. A change of bait to Lobworm  produced two larger Common Carp 9lb and 13lb 8oz (See Photo Gallery 2) and an even bigger fish was lost at the net, Trevor who has been a member of another local club for over 25 years has been won over by the quality of the CAA's fisheries and fish and will be joining as a member next season. Bailiffs reports inform the web site that generally Cants Mere is still a safe bet for Carp up to 17lb and plenty 1lb - 2lb.
Blunts Mere produced two sizable Common Carp 11lb and 17lb for club member Liam Woolley who was using Method tactics. Blunts Mere is reported to be producing plenty of Perch on Pole tactics between 1lb and 1¼lb on red maggot.
'Chuffed to bits' member Henry Bond emailed the club to report 2 consecutive visits to Tufnell Mere in October, using only one rod Henry caught Nine Carp between 2lb and 10lb plus three Bream to 3lb on the Saturday, returning on the Sunday hoping for similar results. Not to be disappointed Henry managed five Carp between 2lb and 13lb which would have been a personal best by 1lb. Perseverance of sitting through the pouring rain paid off when after a five minute battle resulted in a stunning 20lb 7oz Common Carp. (See photo gallery 2) well done!
Regular Pike angler Nathan Bridges landed a cracking 23lb fish from Boreham Main Mere, the lake has been reported to be fishing well for Silver fish plus large Perch.

November

November started well for member Calum Carter and two of his friends who fished Blunts Mere, the chums had not expected to do well as the lake was busy and few anglers where catching. Soon after casting his rod Calum was into his first of 11 fish, a cracking 14lb 9oz Carp, although he did managed to top that with a 15lb 10oz fish later on. Not to be out done his friend Sam landed the best fish of the day, a 16lb Mirror Carp and two 11lb fish. The other part of this trio Bradley also managed two Carp to 11lb and a third at 15lb 9oz. By all accounts the rest of the anglers on the lake had struggled with reports of only small Carp being caught on this particular day, well done lads!
Bailiff reports for Boreham Main Mere Bream to 6lb, Tench to 5lb and plenty of Silver fish, also unconfirmed reports of a Carp to 33lb, also a 33lb Pike. Back Lake small Carp, plenty of Roach & Rudd sport. Small Lake (Renee's) Perch to 12ozs and some small Tench.

December

Generally fishing very patchy although Boreham Main Mere produced a 23lb 12 oz Leather Carp for C Fletcher and club bailiff Ken Gough achieved a personal best 23lb Pike, reports of small bags of Silver fish and the odd Carp to 14lb also reported from the Main Mere. Blunts Mere large Perch are showing, member Mel Regan netted two fish at 2lb 2oz, and 1lb 14oz. One of the fish was caught on Maggot and the other on a small Perch bait. Some Carp are showing, reports of weights up to 12lb.
 

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