Wingham Fish-In - Bookings are now being taken

[Steve Burke]

I'm now taking bookings for the Wingham Fish-In on Saturday 21st May to Monday 23rd May.

 

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 few years fabulous catches on fish-ins (five 15lb+ bream to 16-06, loads of 8lb+ tench up to 10-04, plus lots of 3lb+ perch to 3-14) I should be booked solid very quickly.

 

As many of you will know there's a chance of breaking the bream record (currently 19-10) at Wingham. We had one of 17-14 in April 2004, and as this fish was only 11 summers old at the oldest it had several years of growth ahead of it! It will now almost certainly be well over 20lbs. In 2006 Wingham threw up an even bigger (different) bream of 18-06, and we had an 18-04 and another 17-14 just last month.

 

Who can come? Anyone who's a Forum member and who’s made at least one post. However, although the venue is 40 acres, places will be limited. Those who missed out last year are guaranteed a place. If necessary priority will then 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're unpaid volunteers and have 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! It’s about 1 hour from the Dartford Crossing on the M25, but detailed directions will be sent to those attending.

 

When is the venue open? It's a 3 day event with the fishery open 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 (just to the left of the main gate) that has a lounge, kitchen, bait room, 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 mega BBQ - with enough even for Budgie! Please do let us know though if you're vegetarian. The cost is £6 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 may allow some of you who are both Forum and Wingham night members to fish for either carp or eels on the 15 acre Carp Lake.

 

What restrictions are there? No keepnets, lead core or similar leaders are permitted, nor are nuts or 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 6lb line and preferably stronger is recommended. Most members use 8lb line, with a lighter hooklength if necessary. Braid is definitely not recommended because of the bars.

 

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 (that's longer than it seems and much longer than carp bobbins). Otherwise you'll probably strike at line bites (that big bream are notorious for) and spook them. That'll then almost certainly have blown your chance of a record bream for the rest of the weekend!

 

If you have a short drop on your bobbins and line is taken off your reel you’ll also be getting up all night long to reset the bobbins every time you get a line bite!

 

You'll therefore need your rods up high, and so long bank sticks or storm poles are needed.

 

I have 5 pairs of long banksticks plus 4 suitable bobbins that can be borrowed. Other Wingham members can also help out, so just ask as we have plenty between us.

 

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. And of course these are excellent baits for tench!

 

After dark eels will probably 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 if given advance notice (9.30 am on the Tuesday before the event at the very latest). The cost is only £7 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 4 anglers on the 40 acres it's busy!

 

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! There shouldn’t be much weed, but Gaffer reckons any weed you do retrieve will crawl back in! So the best advice I can give you is to thoroughly plumb the swim and in the vast majority fish the margins as most of these are on patrol routes. Bear in mind though that most of the swims are deep, typically with 8 to 10 feet at the bottom of the marginal shelf. So if you're float fishing I'd suggest a slider. If you’d like a shallow swim though do please ask.

 

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 many of the bream, have come in the margins.

 

They'll be a series of satellite and 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 will be 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 a previous 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 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 a list of questions to confirm your booking. If you don't receive these within 48 hours please leave a message on this topic, although don’t worry as I may be fishing! However booking a place doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get one as I may be oversubscribed.

 

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 allocate 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.

Edited May 3, 2011 by Steve Burke

[AddictedToScopex]

I am willing to bet your inbox is full already! Just put my name down. Fingers crossed!

[tony tinca]

I am willing to bet your inbox is full already! Just put my name down. Fingers crossed!

same here

Im in spain and just got the chance to have a look at the forum just as steve made his post for the bookings

Maybe a bit of luck there , fingers crossed also

[Anderoo]

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're unpaid volunteers and have 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!

 

Don't forget this, imagine what 3 days at a top specimen water would cost if you had to buy day tickets!

[AddictedToScopex]

same here

Im in spain and just got the chance to have a look at the forum just as steve made his post for the bookings

Maybe a bit of luck there , fingers crossed also

lol I saw the post probably within a couple of seconds of it being up and I have never clicked so furiously to get my email sent

 

It looks a stunning venue and despite being many miles from where I live it seems worth the trip. Just a shame I sold my bivvy and river rods recently to finance a motorcross bike with the intenstion of replacing them before the close season ends. Looks like I will be calling in some favours from friends

Edited May 3, 2011 by AddictedToScopex

[tony tinca]

Don't forget this, imagine what 3 days at a top specimen water would cost if you had to buy day tickets!

 

Yes a few pounds will go into the donation box out of gratitude i think

[Andrew Burgess]

I put me and budgie down but if we don't make it, then I be happy to help anyone out! For the social and tackle wise

Edited May 3, 2011 by Andrew Burgess

[Errrm]

I applied again so fingers cross I get a place again :-). I alwasy end up saying I am interested in Perch and Tench and just get side tracked fishing for Tench so I think I will be more honest this year and just say I am fishing for Tench :-)

[Dales]

I have put my name down, but expect Steve to be swamped so chances are I will not get to fish this year but good luck to all those who go.

[SpecimenSean]

Gutted i cant make it, will put name down next year for sure!