Barford Lakes News

The catch report below was sent in by Chris Booth (Holton, Nr Halesworth), along with the photo of this fantastic Ghost Carp from our Pleasure Lake.

"This was my first trip to Barford and was eagerly anticipated. I arrived at 7.35 and, after having spoken to one of your friendly regulars, decided on peg 7 (apparently John's peg!).

I started fishing on the bottom with a waggler float with 5lb line with double sweetcorn (feeding 6mm pellets and sweetcorn) and promptly hooked and then lost what I think was a decent tench, I then struggled till 3pm with only 3 roach to show for my efforts.

After a few words of advice and encouragement from John I started to feed a bit heavier with a mixture of 4 and 6mm pellets with sweetcorn and with a kernal of corn and a chunk of "Felix" catfood on a size 10. At approx 3.30 pm (not long after Johns words of wisdom)  I was into my first carp, a 10lb mirror, by 5pm I had landed another 2 mirrors (10 and 12lb respectively) using the same tactics. I was a happy chap and things got even better when at 6.25 I hooked into another carp and after a 15 min battle finally landed it, as I weighed it John came over to take a photo for me and said that it was a Ghost carp, it weighed just over 15lbs, a super end to a fantastic days fishing.

I would like to thank John for his advice and encouragement. Thanks again, I will be back!"

The competitive spirit was alive and well on Thurs  pm 16/08/2007, when Phil Nichols and his wife, Deb, locked horns over pegs 7 & 8. For some reason Deb was given peg 8. She assumed that peg 7 was the better peg and so decided to try to kick Phil's butt. Battle commenced.

As usual Deb was first in the water -"have you got this?, have you got that?, have you got the other?" - being the reason Phil said he started a good 1/2 hour behind - she reminded him he had a fag break, tea break and a yarn to Daniel, while she infact just got on with the fishing!

When he got back Deb was into a big fish, but after a long struggle - OH DEAR! - PING! This scene was repeated 3 more times.  She was fishing on the shelf with 8mm banded pellet, feeding with 4mm.

Then in a very loud voice, so everyone on the lakes heard, she announced that the hook Phil had specially selected for her WAS BLUNT!

Phil knew she was rattled as he landed fish after fish, when she sneaked out the luncheon meat. She had no bites, so it was back to banded pellet, feeding pellet and luncheon meat in big spalshes. She was rewarded with a 9lb 8oz mirror, then again at 5.45pm with a 12lb 6oz common BEAUTY. Fishermen from the match lake congratulated her on her personal best. She was shaking with the emotion of the moment - at last - she had a bigger fish than him!

Secretly she thought she had won the day, packed her gear away, (silly girl), and sat watching as he tried desperately time after time with the clock ticking. Then at 6.30 Phil (motto - never give up) began a struggle with a "big one",  weighing in at 13lb 8oz. He was rewarded by Deb, not with congratulations, but a volley of abuse and the threat of a early bath in the lake. Kevin had to intervene, along with some extra ribbing for Phil. To be continued....

There are still a few spaces left for this year's festival which is on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September 2007 and will be fished on Barford Match Lake and Colton Lake.  Entry is £50 with an optional Pit Pool of £5 each day. 

Payouts are based on 40 anglers and will be altered accordingly if less or more fish. 

Overall Payouts = 1st £500,  2nd £300,  3rd £160,  4th £100 and 5th £80.

There will be 8 sections of 10 (£40) paid by default (2 sections each lake / 2days).  Overall winners can collect pit pool but do not collect section payouts.

Draw at Barford on Saturday 1st Sept at 9.30am fishing 11am - 4pm.  The draw on Sunday 2nd Sept is at venue (Barford or Colton) at 9.30am, fishing 11am - 4pm.

To book in please contact Sarah on 01603 759624.

Below is a fishing report from the Pleasure Lake last Thursday 9th August 2007.

Liam Jacobs (12 years old) embarked on his first ever fresh water fishing trip with Phil Nichols. They decided on peg 31, and after some tuition from Phil and words of wisdom from John the Bailiff, the bait was in the water.

Liam started using the short pole at 6 mtrs on the deck, with 8 mm banded pellet and feeding regularly with 4 mm pellet.  Within 20 mins Liam had landed an 11lb 9oz common. His next was a 12lb 4oz common.  He finished the morning session with a 10lb 6oz common. 

After lunch Liam fished up in the water at 8 mtrs, using 4mm banded pellet and spud, resulting in another 4 carp to 10lb each. By this time Liam's right arm had gone to sleep, so it was time for Phil to take a turn. He used the pellet waggler, up in the water at distance, and landed 4 carp to 11lbs plus a plump 13lb 5oz mirror.

Phil congratulated Liam for his enthusiasm and attention to detail.  Phil said "It was one of the most enjoyable days fishing I have had", and apparently Liam said that it was his "best day ever"!  Thanks Barford for a brilliant day.

There are some photos below and a couple of the shots made the Day Ticket Gallery pages (click here to see). 

Rhys Smith (12 yrs old) was fishing today with his Grandad, Bob Ramsbottom.  They fished peg 6 on the Pleasure Lake and were pole fishing just off the bush to the right.

Rhys caught this fantastic Mirror carp which was 16lb 6ozs.  This is his personal best carp and the picture has made the Day Ticket Catches Gallery and also the Specimen Gallery (click on either words to view a bigger picture).

Rhys caught 17 fish in total and had Roach, Rudd, Tench and Carp.  As mentioned he fished just off the bush and had just fed a pot of pellets, sweetcorn and catmeat.  They were alternating between catmeat and corn hook baits presented on a size 12 hook. 

Well done Rhys and although you said that your carp was bigger than Grandad's (which is always the way!!) - knowing your Grandad Bob, I am sure he enjoyed you catching that carp as much as you did! 

Our bank steward John Lake caught this 18lb carp from peg 5 on the Pleasure Lake.  He fished a paste hook bait (made from soaked 6mm Barford pellet - fill a bait tub with pellets then cover them with water and drain off the eccess and in half an hour you should be able to knead it into a paste).  John was fishing a rod length out and fed a good handfull of 6mm pellet every put in.

There will be Wednesday open matches every fortnight on Colton Lake.  

Tickets are £15 plus an optional £5 super pool.

Anyone interested in fishing must please book in first with either the office on 01603 759624 or Alan Hilton on 07769 654292.

The dates are on the Events Calender and are listed below. 

Wednesday 5th September
Wednesday 19th September
Wednesday 3rd October
Wednesday 17th October

The draw is at the venue at 10am with fishing from 11am - 4pm

Mark Shubrook fished the Pleasure Lake on Sunday and among other fish caught this lovely Tench.  he was fishing peg 6 at about 5 meters out, using corn hookbait with a squirt of scopex.  Mark fished on the bottom, feeding a mixed pot of Barford 6 mm pellets and sweetcorn. It beats his previous best of a 5lb tench caught on the top lake last September.