I'm now taking bookings for the Wingham Fish-In.

Wingham is a syndicate water that, apart from the annual AN Fish-In, is open to members only.

However, please note that the only way to book a place is to e-mail me VIA THE WINGHAM WEB SITE at http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/fisheries/wingham.htm, and NOT by leaving a message here or via PM. Please also leave your Forum name if you use an alias.

After the last two year's fabulous catches (four 15lb+ bream to 16-06, loads of 8lb+ tench up to 9-14, plus lots of 3lb+ perch) I expect to be booked solid very quickly.

You can read about last year's results at http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Wingham...ort-t75031.html and the year before's at http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Wingham...wingham+fish-in

As many of you will know there's a chance of breaking the bream record at Wingham. We had one of 17-14 in April 2004, and as this fish was less than 12 years old it had several years of growth ahead of it! It will now almost certainly be well over the record. In 2006 Wingham threw up an even bigger (different) bream of 18-06.

Who can come? Anyone who's a Forum member. However, although the venue is 40 acres, places will be limited. If necessary priority will be given to those who haven't been before. Non-fishing guests are welcome, but please don't wear bright clothing!

What's the cost to fish? Nothing! It's a thank you to Elton for hosting the Wingham web site,plus a chance to meet Forum members.

However please do put something in the bailiff's box in the clubhouse. They've worked their socks off getting everything ready, and will be working again all through the weekend - including running a taxi service at their own expense to take you and your gear to/from your swim. Without them the Fish-In simply wouldn't be taking place and you wouldn't be reading this!

Where is Wingham? On a nature reserve in the middle of nowhere near Canterbury, Kent. The loudest noise is normally birdsong! Detailed directions will be sent to those attending.

When is the venue open? It's a 3 day event with the fishery open this year from 7am Saturday to 7pm Monday. However, please don't arrive after 9pm.

Can I bivvy up and fish overnight? Yes. If you don't have a bivvy and bedchair etc we can almost certainly arrange the loan of these items. You can also sleep in the clubhouse that has a lounge, kitchen, baitroom, shower room and toilets. Alternatively you can kip in the car park. Accommodation can also be booked nearby.

Lunchtime BBQs Every lunchtime there'll be a BBQ, bigger and with even more choice than last year. Please do let us know though if you're vegetarian. The cost is £4 which must be booked and paid for in advance.

Which lake can I fish? Normally the Fish-In is on the Coarse Lake only, which is 40 acres and contains most species. However this year if we're full up I just may allow those of you who are both Forum and Wingham night members to fish the 15 acre Carp Lake.

What restrictions are there? No keepnets or nuts are permitted, neither are fishbaits. Also no barbless hooks above size 10 are allowed on the Coarse Lake. In these larger sizes please use barbed, preferably micro-barbed hooks. 3 rods are permitted. Full rules will be sent nearer the time.

What about lure fishing? My syndicate members aren't allowed to lure fish and so I'm afraid it wouldn't be fair to allow lures on the Fish-In.

What tackle should I bring? The venue is very little fished and therefore the fish aren't tackle shy. With the very high average weights and sharp gravel bars a minimum of 5lb line and preferably stronger is recommended. Most members use 8lb, with a lighter hooklength if necessary. If fishing boilies you must use line with a minimum diameter of .34mm (12 to 15lb depending on the make/type) as you may hook one of the few big carp.

I CAN'T STRESS HIGHLY ENOUGH THAT IF YOU'RE FISHING AFTER DARK YOU SHOULD HAVE HEAVY BOBBINS ON AT LEAST A 24 INCH DROP AND PREFERABLY A 30 INCH ONE (THAT'S LONGER THAN IT SEEMS). OTHERWISE YOU'LL PROBABLY STRIKE AT LINE BITES AND SPOOK ANY BREAM. THAT'LL THEN ALMOST CERTAINLY MEAN NO BREAM FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND!

YOU'LL THEREFORE NEED YOUR RODS UP HIGH, AND SO LONG BANK STICKS OR STORM POLES ARE NEEDED.

YOU'LL ALSO NEED LONGER BOBBINS THAN THOSE COMMONLY USED FOR CARP.

I HAVE 5 PAIRS OF LONG BANKSTICKS PLUS 4 SUITABLE BOBBINS THAT CAN BE BORROWED – 1ST COME/1ST SERVED!

I'M ALSO ARRANGING THAT THE OWNER OF A LOCAL SHOP, WHO'S ALSO A WINGHAM MEMBER, BRINGS SUITABLE BANKSTICKS & BOBBINS FOR GUESTS TO BUY.

What baits would you recommend? All common baits catch such as worm, maggots and corn, but remember the lake is very little fished and so unusual baits aren't likely to work so well as you can't pre-bait. Above all, do make sure you have worms, preferably lobs.

During the day I'd recommend that you fish worm, maggot or caster, perhaps in conjunction with corn, on all your rods as otherwise you could miss out on a 3lb+ perch. These are present in nearly every swim. After dark, eels may make the use of animal baits a problem, unless of course you like eels. The vast majority are between 1½ and 4lbs.

I can order lobs or dendras for you from the local shop if given advance notice (9.30 am on the Monday before the event at the very latest). The cost is only £6 per large tub (approx quarter kilo.) but must be paid for in advance.

What are the best tactics? The most important requirement is to keep quiet and still (no bright clothing!) as although the fish aren't tackle or bait shy they're very easily spooked due to the lack of fishing pressure. Normally if there's more than 2 anglers on the 40 acres it's crowded!

The fish have definite patrol routes and they aren't likely to move off these routes. This is because of the huge amount of natural food. Wingham's the only water I know where your feeders come back covered not only with snails but snail's eggs, whilst Gaffer reckons any weed you retrieve crawls back in! So the best advice I can give you is to thoroughly plumb the swim and fish the margins as most of these are on patrol routes. Bear in mind though that most of the swims are deep, typically with 10 feet at the bottom of the marginal shelf. So if you're float fishing I'd suggest a slider.

Another reason for fishing at close range is that Wingham is a mass of bars, humps, plateaux etc., and so casting and feeding accurately is a must. If you're just a couple of yards astray you could be fishing in 12 inches of water instead of 12 feet!

In fact, nearly all the fish from the Coarse Lake, including bream, have come in the margins.

They'll be a series of aerial photos on view in the clubhouse, and I'll also point out hotspots in each known swim for those who'd like this info. However, some of the swims have little form as they've been fished on only a handful of occasions!

Bear in mind that the bream are almost entirely nocturnal. The perch feed best in low light, especially from just before dawn (sunrise is at approx 5am), whilst the tench can come at any time, but particularly in the mornings.

Any heavy baiting up is thus best done late afternoon/early evening to allow the swim to settle. This is especially so if you're spodding bait out. Not only might this spook your own fish, but your neighbours' also.

You'll also find more questions and answers from last year at http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Tips-Wi...ish-in+bookings

What can I expect to catch? Wingham is very unlike the artificially overstocked waters that many of you are used to. It's very much a big fish water, so although you're not likely to catch lots of fish (and may well blank) you've every chance of specimens, especially tench and perch, not to mention record bream! There are more details on the Wingham web site.

How do I book? By e-mailing me VIA THE WINGHAM WEB SITE at http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/fisheries/wingham.htm, and NOT by leaving a message here or via PM. Please also leave your Forum name if you use an alias.

Confirmation of booking You'll get the list of questions to confirm your booking. If you don't receive these within 24 hours please leave a message on this topic.

Swim allocation These questions will ask about your preferences, including the species you're after, any special requirements, and ask about BBQ and bait orders. Please do answer these questions in full as they'll also help me give each of you the kind of swim you'd like. Of course I can't guarantee every guest will get everything they want, but I normally get very close!

Talking of questions, you're welcome to ask them here as others may find the answers helpful.

This post has been edited by Newt: May 7 2008, 08:20 PM

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Hi Steve,

Do you know how much the long banksticks will be?

Rich

I didn't know what to do with myself when I saw this topic header..

I'll know tomorrow. They'll be a choice of cheap ones from Korum, plus the King's Angling ones I use and reckon are the best on the market for gravel pits. I'll do a link to my review tomorrow as well.

In response to those who've asked, the Coarse Lake has yet to really warm up although as Anderoo has already reported he had a good haul of tench. Bailliffs Glyn and Kim have just come back and they had 6 tench each. The average weight of the females was 7-03. No bream yet this season.

Turning to the Carp Lake, our third different 40lber (the heavilly-plated mirror on the web site) came out this morning at 40-04. Once again, it came to a new member on his first trip! The numbers of carp are down slightly on last year, but well over half are 30+, with quite a few 35+.

I'll be updating the web site shortly and will continue to do so as the news comes in.

I did !!!

Hi steve please can you add my name to the list to fish saturday through to monday. Booked the holiday in rediness lol.


Terry


Oooops in eagerness i didnt read the whole thing i'll email you .


This post has been edited by terry t shirt: Apr 30 2008, 07:42 PM

Hi Steve, Can you please add my name to the list to fish from sat pm to monday, ( hopefully 1st overnighter since being a teenager! )
thanks Kevin Whoops !! just read the post E- Mail sent .

This post has been edited by KAYC: Apr 30 2008, 08:32 PM

As per my first post there are quite a few changes from last year. In particular:

"However, please note that the only way to book a place is to e-mail me VIA THE WINGHAM WEB SITE at http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/fisheries/wingham.htm, and NOT by leaving a message here or via PM. Please also leave your Forum name if you use an alias."

Several of you have asked if you can brings friends to fish. The answer is yes, but to be fair if I'm full up I'm afraid non-Forum members won't get a place.

Non-fishing guests are of course most welcome, and can also book BBQs.