Alders Lake - Thatcham

0930 - 1330

Bright and Breezy. 17ºC

3 Bream - 3lb 4oz & 2 skimmers. 3 perch & 1doz+ rudd.

A short session to check up on the 'progress' of this lake which suffered a total fish kill 6 years ago. And my verdict would be is that it seems to be thriving on neglect!!! Since 2005 it has been re-modelled and stocked as a non-carp venue (though a few snuck in during the floods of 07). Because of this it is much clearer than most other club waters and as a consequence much weedier - this appears to have put a lot of anglers off fishing it - I rarely see another angler here - but in truth all one needs to do is fish to or create a hole in the weed. Whilst crucians and tench were really my target for today I was actually quite pleased to get a snotty and I did see a reasonable sized tench roll. The rudd were insatiable - even on float fished meat but once you got a bait on the bottom they seemed to lose interest! Only other bit of excitement was being briefly connected to a goodish perch which snatched one of the micro-rudd as I brought it in. Definitely a venue I'll be giving more attention next season.

I wouldn't normally take a 3lb bream portrait but as its my biggest fish from the 'new' Alders....