Steve Burke

Good luck from Peggy and me too

I'm amazed myself, but carp are getting bigger all the time. What sets Wingham apart is the sheer numbers of big carp at such a young age. As I explained in the recent book "Carp County", this is down to the lack of fishing pressure that was a novel idea when I started. Of course you've got to get the other factors right - the pick of the crop of pedigree carp, plus low stock density in a rich lake so that there's masses of natural food. Quite a number of waters have got all that, but almost none has the low fishing pressure that Wingham has. Many of us believe that the even lower fishing pressure on the Main Lake (that was started later) will mean that it'll surpass even the Carp Lake in years to come.

Typical isn't it? One member has already had 13 tench so far this weekend, another 11. Additionally the first carp of the year came this morning from the Main Lake, a mirror of 42lbs. I also gather that another member had 3 carp in quick succession up to 44lbs from the Carp Lake this morning.

Many thanks, Elton!

Here, as far as I know, are the final scores. Cliff 63 - male tench of about 3lbs Rusty - 3-00 perch Steve Walker - tench of 6-06 & 6-00, perch of 2lbs, pike about 5lbs, PB eel of 3-00 Dales - 1-02 eel, a jack Worzel - 2 to 2 1/2 lb eel Sharkbyte - 4 eels of 2 to 2 1/2lbs Russ - 4 eels from 2lbs to just over 3lbs, 3-03 and 3-00 tench River Rover - 1-14 perch, eel of about 2lbs Dave Benbow - tench of 5-08, eel of about 2 1/2 to 3lbs Glyn - tench of 7-01 Vagabond - 2 small eels Christain T - 3-05 PB eel + a jack Ant63 - 6 tench, females of 7-04, 6-04 and 4-03, males of 6-07, 4-07 and 3-00 Dick Dastardly - 5 eels from 3-04 to 4-04 (from the Carp Lake) It's a shame that Dan Taylor's 60-08 mirror from the Carp Lake was caught less than 2 hours before the Fish-In started! The higher average size of eels from the Main Lake is very interesting this year. It's also strange that, despite the cold weather, the perch spawned a few days before the Fish-In. It's disappointing that the bitterly cold weather wrecked what was otherwise a great event. After being spoilt for so many years we had a run of poor weather in late May. Guests then cast envious eyes on the big bags of tench coming out in April. We therefore brought the Fish-In forward to late April for the last 2 years and the bad weather followed us! A further reason for bringing it forward was so that we didn't lose a weekend once the weed got up. Normally weed removal starts mid-May but this year there was barely a strand! In previous years when we were able to use chemicals we'd have to start early March or even late Feb! Next year we'll almost certainly have the Fish-In on May 6th/7th/8th.

Here are the prices realised at today's auction: Steve Burke Lot 1 Rucksack (8-12) - Bought By Christian T for £5 Lot 2 Terminal tackle (15-20) - Bought by Dales for £20 Lot 3 Pike floats etc (10-15) - Bought by Steve Walker for £6 Lot 4 Pike unhooking tools (15-20) - Bought by Kappa for £20 Lot 5 Net mesh (2-5) - Bought by Dick Dastardly for £2 Lot 6 Unhooking mat/carryall (20-25) - Bought by Glyn for £20 Lot 7 Walker, Bampton fly rod (50-80) - Bought by Steve Walker for £40 Thanks to all who donated. Thanks also to all who bid, whether they won or not. Lot 8 4x flasks, push button tops (5-10) - Bought by Dick Dastardly for £2.50 Lot 9 4x flasks, screw tops (5-10) - Bought by Dave Benbow for £2.50 Lot 10 3x GFS bite alarms + sounder box (20-30) - Unsold Wyeknot & Ant78 Lot 11 4x GFS bite alarms + Fox sounder box (30-40) - Bought by Steve Walker for £20 Wyeknot Lot 12 2x Fox FS7000 reels (30-50) - Bought by Christian T for £30 Lot 13 2x Fox FS7000 reels (30-50) - Bought by Cliff63 for £30 Lot 14 Inflatable unhooking mat (10-15) - Bought by Kappa for £5 Ant78 Lot 15 3x gas cartridges (6-9) - Bought by Cliff63 for £11 Tincatinca Lot 16 JRC box bag (20-30) - Bought by Dick Dastardly for £22 Lot 17 Rover bag (8-12) - Bought by Dales for £14 Lot 18 Wychwood boat bag (20-30) - Bought by Dick Dastardly for £12 Vagabond Lot 19 Creel magazines (50-80, 40 reserve) - Bought by Wyeknot for £75 Dales Lot 20 My Red letter Days by Matt Hayes (10-15) - Bought by Steve Burke for £10 Anderoo Lot 21 How to Fish by Chris Yates (2-3) - Bought by Andrew Burgess for £5 Lot 22 Secret Carp by Chris Yates (3-5) - Bought by Andrew Burgess for £11 Lot 23 Falling in Again by Chris Yates (7-10) - Bought by Anthony78 for £8 Lot 24 Confessions of a Carp Angler by BB (7-10) - Bought by Billy Taylor for £12 Lot 25 Roach, the Gentle Giants by John Bailey (7-10) - Bought by Steve Walker for £10 Lot 26 Fenland Zander by Steve Younger (15-20) - Bought by Dick Dastardly for £20 Kappa Lot 27 Various soft plastics and jig heads with 2 boxes (20-30) - Bought by Dales for £42 Lot 28 Various soft plastics for zander (10-15) - Bought by Dales who kindly jumped the bidding to £20 Late entry from Anthony63 Lot 29 set of small tackle boxes (3-5) - Bought by Dales for £5 Late entries from Dick Dastardly Lot 30 A day's powered boat hire with all equipment and livebaits on the Norfolk Broads (40-60) - Bought by Certhia for £70 Lot 31 As lot 30 (40-60) - Bought by Russ and Sharkbyte for £70

This is the coldest weather we've ever had for an AN Wingham Fish-In. At 2pm it was only 5C(41F)! What's more there's been a stiff northerly blowing, making it feel even colder! We avoided a frost last night only because it rained. Not surprisingly little has been caught. Here's the scoresheet as of the lunchtime BBQ: Cliff 63 - 3lb male tench Rusty - 3-00 perch Worzel - 2 to 2 1/2lb eel Sharkbyte - 4 eels 2 to 2 1/2lbs Russ - eel to just over 3lbs River Rover - 1-14 perch Dave Benbow - 2 1/2 to 3lb eel, 5-08 tench Glyn - 7-01 tench Vagabond - small eel Christian T. - a jack pike + a PB eel of 3lbs+ (sorry, Christian, can't read my writing! Please confirm) Anthony63 - 4-03 tench, 6-07 male tench

Will do, Den.

I've come home early today. The Fish-In has got off to its usual slow start as the fish aren't used to the disturbance. The sharp drop in temperature certainly hasn't helped either. Here are the fish I know of so far: Christain T. a jack Rusty 3-00 perch River Rover 1-14 perch Unfortunately the perch have spawned in the last few days so there's likely to be less caught. They hadn't spawned last weekend but on Thursday evening I dragged out some branches covered in perch spawn. So a few days ago these perch would have weighed a lot more. Turning to the Carp Lake, bailiff Dan Taylor caught Wingham's first 60, a mirror of 60-08, this morning. It was caught at about 5.45, so just too early to qualify as a fish-in catch.

Wingham Carp Lake has produced its first 60, a mirror of 60-08. Once again it was that genius of a young carp angler, Dan Taylor, who caught it. In less than a year Dan has had 3 different 50s from Wingham, including a lake record common of 59-08, and now a lake record mirror of 60-08. Further details and picture to follow.

Wingham Carp Lake has produced its first 60, a mirror of 60-08. Once again it was that genius of a young carp angler, Dan Taylor, who caught it. In less than a year Dan has had 4 50s from Wingham, including a lake record common of 59-08, and now a lake record mirror of 60-08. Further details and picture to follow.

Christian, I'm lending you some other gear anyway and I always carry lots of items round for Fish-Ins. So probably easier for everything to come from me.

Oh no, not another one! Just been watching him on country music TV this morning! Yes, I know he's not strictly country but I like his music as do many country fans. For country fans there's a new Sky channel called Keep It Country - channel 389.

First cuckoos yesterday, but only the odd willow has any leaves and the blackthorn are still in flower. The elders were in leaf in January - and then winter arrived!

Thanks, Paul and Chris.

Cheers, Dave. Reserve adjusted. For those who aren't aware Creel was a brilliant magazine and probably the first high quality production. The early issues are increasingly hard to find.

No Elton I'm afraid, but Budgie and Andrew will be there.

To keep it all together here's a list of everything that's kindly been donated so far. You can find more about the items in earlier posts. The figures in brackets are my (rough) estimates. Please let me know about any omissions or mistakes. The auction will take place after the BBQ on Sunday, so about 2.30. If you're not coming and want to make an absentee bid please e-mail me via the Wingham Fisheries website no later than 9pm Saturday. To give you a fair chance I'll start the bidding at or below the lower of the estimate figures. I'll post the winning amounts and the winner's name (please say if you want to remain anonymous) after the event. Steve Burke Lot 1 Rucksack(8-12) Lot 2 Terminal tackle (15-20) Lot 3 Pike floats etc (10-15) Lot 4 Pike unhooking tools (15-20) Lot 5 Net mesh (2-5) Lot 6 Unhooking mat/carryall (20-25) Lot 7 Walker, Bampton fly rod (50-80) Lot 8 4x flasks, push button tops (5-10) Lot 9 4x flasks, screw tops (5-10) Lot 10 3x GFS bite alarms + sounder box (20-30) Wyeknot & Ant78 Lot 11 4x GFS bite alarms + Fox sounder box (30-40) Wyeknot Lot 12 2x Fox FS7000 reels (30-50) Lot 13 2x Fox FS7000 reels (30-50) Lot 14 Inflatable unhooking mat (10-15) Ant78 Lot 15 3x gas cartridges (6-9) Tincatinca Lot 16 JRC box bag (20-30) Lot 17 Rover bag (8-12) Lot 18 Wychwood boat bag (20-30) Vagabond Lot 19 Creel magazines (50-80, 40 reserve) Dales Lot 20 My Red letter Days by Matt Hayes (10-15) Anderoo Lot 21 How to Fish by Chris Yates (2-3) Lot 22 Secret Carp by Chris Yates (3-5) Lot 23 Falling in Again by Chris Yates (7-10) Lot 24 Confessions of a Carp Angler by BB (7-10) Lot 25 Roach, the Gentle Giants by John Bailey (7-10) Lot 26 Fenland Zander by Steve Younger (15-20) Kappa Lot 27 Various soft plastics and jig heads with 2 boxes (20-30) Lot 28 Various soft plastics for zander (10-15) Late entry from Anthony63 Lot 29 set of small tackle boxes (3-5) Late entries from Dick Dastardly Lot 30 A day's powered boat hire with all equipment and livebaits on the Norfolk Broads (40-60) Lot 31 As lot 30 (40-60)

Christian, you're in a swim called Brambles, one of the best eel swims on the lake as a scent trail carries a long way from there. In fact eels have been a darn nuisance for me in Brambles when after bream. Oh, and I've had a few slabs from there at night as well!

Please use this topic only for catch reports and thanks. This will keep everything together.

Sorry, Dave, only just sorted the final swim allocations as we had a late booking plus 1 cancellation. As requested you're on the far side in Glyn and Kim's, a non-platform swim. It's especially noted for tench, but Glyn can tell you a lot more than me.

Here are the estimates for Anderoo's books. Bear in mind if you bought them online you'd be paying postage. I'm putting them up as separate lots as many of you will have some of the titles already. How to Fish by Chris Yates (despite the title not an instructional book!) £2 to £3. Secret Carp by Chris Yates £3 to £5 Falling in Again by Chris Yates £7 to £10 Confessions of a Carp Angler by BB £7 to £10 Roach, the Gentle Giants by John Bailey £7 to £10 Fenland Zander by Steve Younger £15 to £20 Thanks, Andrew!

No problem Andrew, I always get a couple of spares.

I fish 8lb line. Hook lengths may be the same, they may be lighter. As Anderoo says the fish aren't pressured. I'd keep your 10lb line on but bring a selection of lighter hook lengths. The regulars will also confirm the Wingham fish fight above their weight!

Thanks, Andrew. Please could you let me know what editions they are and whether they're hardback or softback. Thanks.