TROUT FISHING 2004 SEASON
This year saw a staggered start for the Bristol Water Lakes with Chew and Barrows opening a week earlier than Blagdon. This proved very successful in the way of attendances but was slightly spoiled by severe weather for days 2,3 & 4. When Blagdon opened the following week things had settled and excellent sport was enjoyed at all the venues.

The mild winter meant warm water temperatures and good fly hatches for March and April and there were more over wintered fish captured than in recent years. This is probably down to more triploid rainbows being stocked in the 2003 season.

2004 goes on record as being one of the dullest and wettest summers, but also being very warm. The water levels remained high at most of the Lakes for much of the year, only falling to normal summer levels at Blagdon in the Autumn. These conditions encouraged good fishing throughout the season especially for the bank anglers at Chew Valley where masses of corixa, snails and buzzers fill the margins and weedbeds. Boat fishing was consistent at both Chew and Blagdon much of the time but very stormy weather resulted in many cancelled boats at Chew Valley.

The modern trend for pulling brightly coloured lures at a rate of knots has produced results at the main Lakes much to many anglers’ dismay, but it was encouraging toward the end of the summer to see a return of traditional fishing as enjoyed by many older anglers. Grenadiers, Soldier Palmers, Bibio, Mallard & Claret and Mini Muddlers all made a favourable comeback for the boat fishers. Is this going to be another change in the cycle of trout feeding habits?

At Barrow engineering work restricted the fishing space available. Tank 1 was completely drained and extra fish were stocked into the remaining waters. Fishing there was often difficult but, as always, there were excellent evening rises much of the time, and the anglers who were prepared to rise early or fish ‘til last knockings were rewarded with very enjoyable sport.

At Litton a new fishing Lodge was built during the winter giving anglers there a place to rest and have lunch as well as leave their belongings safe and sound. This year there was no disruption of fishing and sport was consistently good throughout the season. Most anglers love the seclusion and tranquillity found at Litton where the two Lakes are yours for the day, and you are able to fish sedately with no worries of other fishermen spoiling your water or drift.

PIKE FISHING
The Autumn pike trials of 2003 were another great success with 8 fish of thirty pounds or more coming to the scales. As in previous years the boat anglers have enjoyed the best fishing but one fish of 29lb 8oz was captured from Woodford Bank. It now seems that small mackerel and smelt dead-baits fished static or moved slowly is the best way to take Chew Valleys pike. Lures and spinners do account for smaller fish and jack pike but are not favoured as much as in the past. Bookings for 2004 boat fishing have been very good with most being reserved in January! There were fewer pike taken during the trout fishing season this year although trying to catch them by fly is still very popular.

SAILING
Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club had a very successful year both on and off the water, although the weather at times was not the most favourable for sailing. Membership at 550 remained full with a short waiting list building up as the year progressed. Most of those did however squeeze in at renewal date and the juniors/youth are always accommodated reasonably quickly.

Sailing days are Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday and during the summer period there is a very strong contingency of sailors on the water on Wednesday evenings. All aspects of sailing in small craft are covered from the competitive racers to the cruising fraternity who just enjoy pottering in their boats. Great emphasis is placed on junior and youth opportunity to help encourage them whilst they are young so that hopefully they will enjoy a lifetime in a most enjoyable sport.

With the fine facilities and ambience of the lake social activities are on the increase. Further details can be found at: www.chewvalleysailing.org.uk Training weeks for juniors and National Universities competition held over three days at CVLSC.

It was also a successful year at the Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club (BCYC)
which sails on Cheddar Reservoir. For more details go to: www.bcyc.org.uk

LEASED FISHERIES
Cheddar Angling Club continues to lease the Clay Pits from Bristol Water as well as controlling the fishing on Cheddar Reservoir. The Clay Pits are open to members only and they enjoy two beautifully maintained lakes. The match lake, which is occasionally used for competitions, is mainly used by pleasure fishermen who can catch anything from small roach & rudd to very large carp. The specimen lake holds mainly carp and tench and fish have been caught weighing well over twenty pounds. There are a few small silver fish and some large trout have been introduced to eat these nuisance fish. These also offer a surprise catch to the dedicated specimen hunters. The season at the Pits has been extended to run from 1st May to March 14th.

The Reservoir is fished as a day ticket water and is famous for its huge tench and very large pike. Tench of under three pounds are seldom caught and double figure bags of fish weighing up to nine pounds are common. In the winter the attention is on the large predators and spinning and dead baiting is the main method.

Knowle Anglers lease Chew Magna, a small reservoir, and a stretch of the Upper River Chew. These are trout only waters, fly fishing only. The reservoir is stocked regularly with rainbows. The river has brown and rainbow trout. It is stocked but a large proportion of the fish caught are ‘escapees’ from Chew Valley Lake. These can often be fish of six pounds or more and can be challenging on very light tackle in the confined spaces of the tiny river.