Mike Rees and I had our usual end of season bash at Rowley, what an awful day, cold wind and heavy rain most of the day. The elements did not put the fish off though with plenty of action from the Bream to keep the spirits up, best fish 5-2, well worth a visit.
Vince Another great day with a Great Pike of Pike of 27-14
Vince, Great day down No2 topped by this great Pike of 18lb.
Vince, 16lb 04oz caught on 27th December 02 from pit1 cheers, Nick
Had a great day with a 3-0 Perch, along with a 1-8 perch, a 10oz perch, and 4 pike to 12lb - All on rubber jigs.
Vince, I caught a 15lb Common carp from Rowley or it could be the smaller ghost carp, but I won't be really sure until in get the pictures back.
Vince, My mate Gary Saddington caught this 20lb Ghost carp from Rowley about a week ago.(it went exactly 20lb) witnessed by myself. What an absolute cracking fish. This ghostie was in excellent condition , and looking at his mouth , doesn’t seem to get caught much. Talking to various HAS members we see at Rowley, no-one seems to think that the biggest resident in Rowley (26lb to around 28lb) has been out this season. Do you have any info on this fish? The 24lb 04oz mirror Gary had out earlier this season seems to be the biggest fish on the Rowley pages (Ray Gough is seen with the same fish but 2oz heavier in 2000 , and its on the 2001 page as well with Dave Cargill) you can tell because of the “webbed” pelvic fins. The record for Rowley is 26lb, any pics of this fish? Any info would be greatly appreciated , Cheers, Nick.
Hi Vince, Another photo for the website. This is Gary Saddington with a 24lb 4oz Mirror caught from Rowley recently. Along with a 19lb 8oz common caught by me from Rowley recently. I am also am waiting for some more photos to be developed, I caught a 21lb 12oz Common from Rowley at the weekend. Will forward the pics onto you when I receive them. Cheers mate, Nick.
Dear Vince, Cracked it at last ! Apologies for the long report but I went home the next night and typed it up while it was all fresh in my head!
"I awoke to a series of urgent bleeps on the Optonic then all I could hear was the baitrunner grinding. All I could think, as I was hurling myself out of the bag, was that the rod had been pulled from the alarm head by the force of the take. With the rod half on the bank I grabbed it quickly and with a quick flick shut down the baitrunner. At first I felt a slight grating sensation, possibly the line on the pads. I started to put on the pressure and the rod went into a carp-like bend. Excellent! I had to keep the rod low to keep the line from the overhanging branches. A good solid fish this one. I now realized that this was a possible contender for my first twenty. Gradually it came back to me and I got it back under the tip where it plodded around for a couple of minutes or so. Everything was under control but I could not get the carp near enough to land it. Eventually I bagged it after a few premature attempts at netting and screamed out with elation!.and a tired arm! I put the rod down and grabbed the net to see the fish. As I peered into the landing net all I could see was a long, sleek looking mirror, and I could tell this was easily my first 20lber. I was delighted, absolutely buzzing! My girlfriend Jenny did the 'David Bailey'. The fish weighed in at 23lb 12oz. It looked fantastic, a chunky sparsely scaled mirror its summer colours fading to autumn shades. It really was in mint condition the scales resembling slices of apple and the orange colours running deeper to its tailfin. I was ecstatic to have caught a twenty, especially happy, as it was perfect and probably not caught for some time from the lake. I was buzzing around high on adrenalin when suddenly I heard an urgent triple bleep from the Delkim. Instantly I started to rush down the bank to where the rod was placed, fully convinced another take was materializing. I was only a few paces from the rod, when the reel started screaming. I quickly picked up the rod and was into the fish - I couldn't believe what was happening, I had another Carp on. With the fish now fully beaten I managed to slip the landing net under him, letting out a whoop of joy. Not only had I bagged my first twenty, which I had been looking for all season, I now had a brace of Carp safely netted. On further inspection of the landing net, I realized I had landed the lakes only leather carp, which had been caught earlier in the season at over 21lbs. I screamed to Jenny down the bank 'it's the leather.it's the leather!!' By now I really did not know what to do with myself...CLOUD NINE !! So here I was most of the season hoping to catch a twenty and I had two, straight after each other. A personal best mirror of 23lb 12oz and a personal best leather of 22lb from my favorite lake. I was still pumped up from adrenalin past midnight! I was happy that Jenny and Steve were there. I got to share the excitement with them, in what was definitely my finest moment to date." Quite unbelievable!! First set of pictures came out good just hope the brace shots and the leather look good too ! I will send you the photos. Take care John
Dear Vince, Just a short fish report for my visit to Rowley on 4th October. My cousin and I fished for a few hours the other evening at Rowley, I caught 1 bream 5lb and my cousin caught a 7lb Tench. I am going to get the photos developed soon to see if it the same fish that I caught earlier in the season at 7lb 4oz !? That could be 2 different Tench over 7lb!
Dear Vince, A late water report I thought I wwould send over. The lake as usual was looking great, the pads are growing back well. I fished with Richard Matthew on 28/29/30th August. I have submitted the reports for the fish caught. He caught 12 fish on his first visit to the water over 2 days and 1 night. 11 bream and 1 tench, most of the fish were 4-5lb with the Tench 5lb 4oz and 2 Bream at 5lb 4oz. A Carp each was lost over the 2 days.
Hi Vince, At Last I've done it, a Carp out of Rowley. It was bloody cold last night, by time I had a reason to come out there was frozen dew everywhere, I was woken by a few liners last night last one about 02:00. And then at 06:15 ( I was going home at 07:00) my lefthand rod screamed off, considering how cold it was she had a lot of energy taking 10 minutes to net, by this time I had forgotten how cold it was (hence no woolly hat) what with all the excitement I had not noticed I was being watched, when I turned round I had company, ah ha witnesses (I'm glad they were there cos I thought the pot noodles were winning, pheeeweee) (piccy). Anyway she was in good condition and full of fight, when I put her back she took of gracefully, I was a little late in leaving but it was worth it. All the best till next time, Regards, Gary.
Vince, Here’s another picture of a mirror caught from pit1 last week. This is my 12th Carp from Pit1 this season, what a result to land a twenty. This one weighed in at 20lb 04oz (witnessed by G.Saddington) I believe it to be one of the “original” fish still in the lake. The carp is in excellent condition with no mouth damage etc. (it hasn’t seen the bank for a while I can tell you) Most of the fish I have been catching are around the 13lb mark, I have seen bigger ones in the lake, and this latest capture proves there are a few twenties lurking about. Is this the new pit1 record? (since the re-stocking that is) Am fishing Rowley on Sunday night, so hopefully more pics to follow !!! Cheers Vince, Nick Harrison.
Hi Vince, no carp out of Rowley yet, just 5 more bream as usual I take a piccy of everything I catch and now and then I'll send one in, and here it is a Bream at 5lb 12oz, the funny thing about this one is it was covered in spawning spots? (unfortunately I was cold and covered in slime and didn't take a close up, anyway is this usual? Regards, Gary.
Vince, After not catching a Carp on H.A.S waters before (I can catch them everywhere else) and losing a couple of big fish at the bank over the last 2 sessions it was beginning to get personal. I thought I was only destined for Tench and Bream (not that I am complaining) but at 04:35 this morning I was rudely awoken by the sound of my sounder box and the glare of a blue light and another sound I had almost forgotten, the sound of a screaming reel. As I struck, with hesitation cos as I said I expected to blank the rod stayed bent and that was it I thought I've snagged, all of a sudden the bend in my rod went (fishing rod) so I started to retrieve, as I did the rod bent again, oh what next I wondered another snag, but this time the snag started to take line? OOH could this be it was I actually going to catch a H.A.S carp? Tune in next week to...Naa only joking, it was pitch black last night and all I could do is play the direction of the line in my head torch, a few moments later and there she was in the margin I just managed to reach the landing net past the reeds as I did this she gave in gracefully and glided into the net, oh yes! or so I thought which quickly turned into Oh S*** there was no one to take my picture, so I weighed her in at 19lb10oz and deducted 2lb for a wetnet then I poured some water over her and started to try and set up my camera on the tackle box, I took 6 piccies before I managed to get the right pose (pictire attached) I wanted to take more but time wasn't on my side I had to put her back as I lowered her back she layed there trying to catch her breath (all that was missing was a fag in her mouth (it was good for me), with a flick of her tail she was gone (typical), and 30 minutes later so wasI`. Till the next time, Regards. Gary.
Hello Vince, This is the 17lb mirror I caught at Rowley on 13 September. I wondered if you wanted it for your picture boards. Dave Cargill
Dave and I spent a night at Rowley and one at No2. This Tench was from Rowley and we blanked at No2. Dave had a 17lb Mirror, a Tench and topped it of with a Bream. Regards, Gary.
Vince, A Personal best Bream of 10-8! only 20 mins after I had just beaten my PB with the 9 pounder ...only 2 fish in 2 days though.
Hi Vince, I've just sent in 4 fish reports for Rowley. We had an excellent day yesterday - I caught 3 good Bream and a good Tench. Dad unfortunately had less luck with only a couple of smalls caught on maggot. We were fishing on the left bank (as you walk from the car park) opposite the small island. On the far side of the lake we saw 2 kingfishers dipping for fry and on our side we saw a snake swimming through the water. I've never seen this before and I can't be certain what species it was. It looked like a good and natural swimmer, it was dark with zig-zag patterns on it's back and it was about 400mm long. I think it could have been an Adder but I'm really not sure. The lake, as always, looked terrific.
My first trip down to Pit 2 didn't end in a blank but with a 4lb 8oz Male Tench at 5.30am. 15 minutes after this shot was taken it was light! Not a real monster but a lovely fish all the same. (See the photo on the pictureboard). Dave Cargill
Vince, Caught this fish from Rowley, it weighed in at 21lb 08oz. This fish see’s the bank every year, its pictured on your 2000 & 2001 Rowley picture board. The fish looked in good health and put up a spirited fight. Would be pleased if you could add it to the 2002 picture board. Cheers mate.
Vince, not much to right about spent another night at No1, had a couple of runs but nothing on the bank except 1 nice Bream of 8lb 4oz, my personal best, I've still yet to bank a carp from the club waters but time will tell, anyway I'm paying for my trouble last night all those mozzys got a big piece of me . Anyway till the next time.
Only one Bream today, fish still spawning in the lake.
Mike Rees and myself enjoyed a fabulous trip to No1, the weather was great, the lake was in supurb condition and the company was good. It was great to see a lot of faces some fishing some not but all agreed on one thing, No1 is in great shape, well done Larry! The fishing was slow, which was down to the sunny conditions but who cares when you can relax in the sun in such wonderful surroundings. Between us we managed two Tench on the float to 4-12, and three Bream to 7-4.
Vince, Fished Rowley with my cousin he was there from the 6/07/02. Many Tench feeding ...unlike Rowley not much bream action. Got my first Carp out of there on the Friday oddly enough from the middle of the lake !! Some of the Carp were showing in the corner of the lake as you look out to the car park bank from the island but they did not seem interested in feeding. I have put in the reports to the website my cousin was there half the time I was but seemed to bang out a fair few fish.The Tench are feeding ever so well and during the day although the best times seemed to be the first couple of hours of light and the last few and into the evening.The 7lb 4oz came at 2.40am ran off like a Carp !! We were using boilies and they seemed to take to them readily. The lake is looking great at the moment but was expecting to see a bit more of those pads growing back. Not much else to say except we were kept busy for most of the time. I'm not sure I got all the reports correct I will check them against the web as I may have left a few out. Hope your well.
Vince, I fished from 6am till 11am, I had 3 Bream. (41b 2oz. 41b 6oz. 31b 12oz.) and 1 Tench (41b 7oz.) Caught on floatfished caster. Carp (211b 4oz.) Taken on boilie. No witnesses as I was the only person on the water.
Vince, I had 6 Tench and 1 Bream today all weighing approx 4 pound in 4 hours on the pole.
Vince, Today I had 3 tench and 8 bream all weghing approx 4 pounds in 4 hours using a pole.
Vince, Me and the boy ventured out last night and as is with everyone I think at the moment no carp, but we did come out with a couple of nice snotties. James (age 8) my son caught his biggest bream yet at 6lb12oz (picture on the website) and later when it was dark I saw my float lift straight out of the water and tried to go south, not this time (as did some earlier) I landed a nice 7lb12oz bream (picture on the website).
The lake has already produced two Carp of 19-0, and a fish of 18-1 to John Westley. Several people have lost fish, including the fishery manger Larry (1) and ex No2 fishery manager Steve Jenner (2). John Westley and his mate Stephen Richardson had eight Bream to 8-8, Mike Rees had three to 7lb 10oz, Joe a good Bream of 8lb 8oz, and I manager a couple to 6lb 5oz. Micky Grice had a small Tench on the float. There were others that caught but I have no further details. The fishing was generally slow, and it looked like the fish were in the process or getting ready for spawning, one of the Bream was certainly showing the signs, and the Carp were crashing about in the weed.
The usual suspects were fishing the opening weeks fishing and seven Carp to 23-8 have been registered, along with Pike to 15lb and lots of double figured Bream to 11-8, with the average being double figures.
Vince, The season is well under way. I spent the first 2 nights at Rowley. The carp were a bit elusive but the Tench provided me with great sport. With fish ranging from 4lb 4oz to 6lb, I was more than happy. I also had a couple of Bream around 3-4lb. The carp started to move about a bit on Monday when the sun showed itself for a gloriously hot day. I tried to get them with floaters, they showed an interest but not enough to get hooked. I'll probably give Harefield One a try this year and maybe Harefield Two if I'm feeling lucky. I was chatting to Graham Blinco and he said he'd had a 17lb'er and the Leather Carp at 19lb 6oz. This got me thinking that it may have been the same fish that I had in February at the same weight. I told him to check the picture board to compare, as my fish had a couple of scales around the dorsal and was almost leather. Hope you have a good season.
P.S. I'm afraid there is no 'natty' headgear in this photo, but give me time......
Vince, Just a note to let you know how my start to the season was, erm a bit slippery as it goes cos seven Bream, not that I'm disappointed but I have never yet caught a carp out of Rowely, everything else but. Hopefully in the future, but with a bit of luck you will see that I will be targeting H1 with my son who has waited patiently for me to enjoy a season at Rowley. Anyway as you might have noticed on the e-report when I got a little bored of the liners and missed runs I put out a float with the old faithful trout pellets and pulled in seven bream of which I have send 1 piccy for the site.