Record rainbow caught at Chew Valley

12:39pm Monday 21st April 2008

THE biggest rainbow trout ever caught at Chew Valley lake has been taken by Ernie Dix, of Peasedown St John.

As Bristol Water hasn't stocked fish of this size for several seasons the beautiful 14lb 2oz fish must have been in the lake for more than two years before it grabbed Ernie's orange buzzer as he fished from Woodford Bank.

Other good fish taken last week included a fine 7lb rainbow, taken by Nick Hart from a boat, and a 6lb 8oz brown, taken by Bob Jones fishing from the bank.

Best bank areas are still Wick Green, North Shore, Woodford and Walley Banks and the Oak Tree end of Nunnery. Best boat areas are more or less the same, between North Shore and The Island, Villice Bay, off Woodford Bank, Heron's Green to Moreton and Wick Green to Spring Bay.

The BRFFA competition at Chew, sponsored by Snowbee on Saturday, produced some excellent catches from boat and bank with over 200 trout taken, including one bank and nine boat limits.

Top bank rod was Malcolm Fisher, who caught a limit by lunchtime, and the best boat catch was taken by Tony Baldwin.

At Blagdon good catches were again taken from North Shore and Butcombe when the wind favoured these banks, and when the wind has been the other way Cheddar Water and green lawns have been the best banks.

The boats caught well off the same areas and are also taking good bags up at the top end at last.

Methods have been much the same as at Chew with static nymphs - diawl bachs and buzzers probably the favourites.

Mr Trinder took a fine 7lb 2oz rainbow fishing from the bank.

At the Barrows all three tanks continue to produce good bags of fish to the usual methods - mini lures, static buzzers and the mouse.

Chew produced a total catch last week of 1,271 fish averaging 2lb 5oz, topped by a brown of 6lb 8oz and rainbow 14lb 2oz, with 109 limit bags.

Blagdon produced 866 fish averaging 2lb 2oz, topped by a brown of 5lb 15oz and rainbow 7lb 2oz, with 50 limit bags.

The Barrows yielded 186 fish averaging 1lb 8oz topped by a brown of 4lb 2oz and rainbow 3lb 8oz.

Although weather conditions were not ideal last week anglers still enjoyed reasonable sport on the Wessex Water trout fisheries.

Clatworthy produced a total catch of 306 fish, with fish caught mainly on sinking lines and pulling lures on or near the bottom. Orange is still the best colour.

Frank Yeandle and Phil Giles won the pairs match with a combined weight of 24lb.

At Hawkridge 209 fish were taken. Terry Gregory took the best fish of the week - a 4lb 4oz rainbow and Mike McColl had a five fish limit for 12lb 13oz.

Sutton Bingham is still fishing well with 525 fish taken last week mainly on floating lines, with gold heads and black and green proving the best colours.

The banks are fishing well but the boats are finding it a struggle.

HAVE you got an angling story for the Wiltshire Times or Chippenham News?

• Had a good day on the river, lake or at sea and taken a specimen fish or a match-winning catch. Send the details, with your name, address and telephone number - and a picture if you have one - to mbristow@newswilts.co.uk