Wingham during the winter...

[Steve Burke]

Almost nobody has ever fished the Coarse Lake at Wingham during the winter. So it's a bit of a chicken and egg situation.

 

Peter Rogers and I had a couple of months on there a few winters back after perch. We had up to half a dozen in a session, although usually just one or two, almost all in the afternoon. However we didn't get a single perch under 3lbs! Acting as a carer for Peggy's mother plus renovating the cottage we bought in the summer has curtailed plans in recent years, but one winter I'll definitely have another go for the Wingham perch.

 

I'm shortly going to be allowing winter jig fishing and drop shotting for the perch at Wingham on an experimental basis. All I'm waiting for is to have a chat with Anderoo (I've already spoken to Alex) so I can work out what size lures will be permitted.

 

I keep meaning to have a concerted effort after the monster roach or rudd in winter that many members have seen in summer but never tried for. I suspect that winter may be the best time of year to target them, but only after dark when they're safer from predators, especially cormorants. At least that's what worked on another pit I fished a while back, although the rudd in this case weren't in the same class. I did stay on one evening after perch fishing at Wingham but got nothing. However roach in particular like undertow whilst perch don't, so really the choice of swim was wrong.

 

That reminds me, I've mentioned before that my experience on many different waters shows that carp tend to frequent areas of a lake in winter that have little undertow. Perhaps it's the equivalent on us avoiding a draught. On both lakes at Wingham the favoured areas tend to be sheltered from the wind plus relatively flat-bottomed. I suspect closely spaced bars can funnel the water and create quite a current.

 

On a lot of different waters I've also found carp feeding well off the bottom in winter, but that's another story for another day.

 

Another possibility is bream. Jim Gibbinson found on one of his pits he could consistently catch big bream in winter from one particular swim where they seemed to take residence for the entire winter. In other words the most difficult problem with big bream, location, may have been solved!

 

Now Anderoo did have lots of line bites at Wingham one evening following a winter work party........

 

This may be the last year many existing members have the option to fish the Coarse Lake in winter. This is because, following a rent rise, I've had to increase the subs. However to minimise the impact I've divided the season into 3 periods of 4 months, and many of the members have indicated that they'll fish just 4 or 8 months. Further details are on the web site (link below).

Edited December 27, 2011 by Steve Burke

[Anderoo]

I've been flat out until today, sorry Steve! Most of my jig heads are 5-20g with size 1/0 hooks. Lure sizes from 5-10cm. For dropshotting hooks are size 4 or 2 with lures of 7-10cm.

 

I did have a load of liners that january night. Almost certainly the bream! It was my first (accidental) encounter with them, and it was exciting and frustrating in equal measures! I'm sure they were catchable that night.

[Steve Burke]

I've been flat out until today, sorry Steve! Most of my jig heads are 5-20g with size 1/0 hooks. Lure sizes from 5-10cm. For dropshotting hooks are size 4 or 2 with lures of 7-10cm.

 

I did have a load of liners that january night. Almost certainly the bream! It was my first (accidental) encounter with them, and it was exciting and frustrating in equal measures! I'm sure they were catchable that night.

 

Cheers, Andrew!

 

Peter Rogers and I had a couple of months on there a few winters back after perch. We had up to half a dozen in a session, although usually just one or two, almost all in the afternoon. However we didn't get a single perch under 3lbs! Acting as a carer for Peggy's mother plus renovating the cottage we bought in the summer has curtailed plans in recent years, but one winter I'll definitely have another go for the Wingham perch.

 

I've just had a thought. Those perch catches were a few winters ago and we didn't return as most of the perch we had were 3 to 3 1/2lbs, with the biggest at 3-12. We got some repeat captures so there didn't seem much chance of the 4lber Peter wanted. As a result we haven't had a proper try since.

 

But Dales had a 4lber just after spawning last year, and his other half Paula had a 3-14 at the Fish-In a few weeks later.

 

Sounds as though there could be a good chance of a 4lber this winter. Especially as there shouldn't be any nuisance tench to get in the way then.

[poledark]

Just one question Steve...joining fee £230 ???????????????? your'e having a laff surely?

 

 

Den

[Dave H]

I have always over the years not sure if the travelling is wworth it. It's a very easy route for me but still 120 mile round trip. It's that distance for me that slips on the borderline on how far i would travel. I am retired now but it's swings and roundabouts for me still but the opposite way round. On one hand i have more time but on the other less money for fuel.

 

Sounds a great place though over the years....I dunno but then how long is the waiting list?

[Dales]

Most people who see Wingham soon feel an attachment to the place, it's a very attractive and well run fishery that produces some awesome fish. If you see Steve's post about the AN Fish-In you will get an idea of what sort of stamp of fish swims around the lakes.

 

You can always drop Steve a line to enquire about the waiting lists and put your name forward for the Fish-In when Steve opens for applications for that event.

 

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Wingham...2-t3929285.html

Edited December 28, 2011 by Dales

[Dave H]

Most people who see Wingham soon feel an attachment to the place, it's a very attractive and well run fishery that produces some awesome fish. If you see Steve's post about the AN Fish-In you will get an idea of what sort of stamp of fish swims around the lakes.

 

You can always drop Steve a line to enquire about the waiting lists and put your name forward for the Fish-In when Steve opens for applications for that event.

 

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Wingham...2-t3929285.html

 

Dale. Just looked and it seems a great place. a nice selection of fish.

 

Do you fish for eels?

[Dales]

Do you fish for eels?

 

I started dabbling with eel fishing when I became a member. I had only ever caught a few boot laces before on trips to the broads, so it came as a surprise to me just how well they fight once I caught a few by accident at Wingham. My best Wingham eels (well best eels anywhere) are 4-09 on the Coarse Lake and 4-13 on the Carp Lake. I will be doing a few sessions in the summer on the Coarse Lake as I don't think much eel fishing goes on and there may be a whooper in there somewhere, but I suspect the biggest are in the Carp lake and that seems like a very interesting water for any specialist eel angler.

[Dave H]

It's an interesting subject i find is Eels. Is it pure coincidence they are bigger on the Carp lake or is the amount of bait feeding them up although carp bait is not really Eel bait. i quite like a good size Eel but the Bootlaces are a pain in the butt.

 

One thing too is next year is the Olympics and for two good summer months that M20 will be rammed solid mate.

[Dales]

It's an interesting subject i find is Eels. Is it pure coincidence they are bigger on the Carp lake or is the amount of bait feeding them up although carp bait is not really Eel bait. i quite like a good size Eel but the Bootlaces are a pain in the butt.

 

 

Yes eels are certainly fascinating fish but I confess to not being overly knowledgeable on the subject but have been reading up on them alot overly the last couple of seasons. To be honest I don't know why they appear to have a much larger average size in the Carp lake. The idea of bait from the Carp anglers may well be true. I don't know if any other Wingham members or any one else on AN have thoughts as to why two waters so close to each other would appear to have different stocks. There is a theory that maybe the larger eels have upped and left the coarse lake but with such low fishing pressure in general and so few fishing for eels, (I can only think of one other member who likes eels) it's hard to be sure. It's one of the things I love about Wingham, there is always that uncertainty as to what might be swimming around. the next bite could be from something extra special.

 

One thing too is next year is the Olympics and for two good summer months that M20 will be rammed solid mate.

 

The Olympics is going to be a right pain in the butt, it's on my door stop.