Firstly, we would like to announce the winner of October’s fish of the month competition. Congratulations to OLLIE CLARIDGE who won 24hrs free fishing and because it was the last competition of the year, we also threw in a free big breakfast! Ollie nailed a 12hr session on Specimen Lake catching the winning fish, a 34lb 8oz Common – a deserving winner, not due to the size, but because it was an absolutely stunning fish! Ollie also netted a 31lb 2oz Mirror! Nice one Ollie!
We have once again reached that bleak time of year where the lakes are no longer surrounded by eager anglers, thriving in anticipation to ‘hopefully’ net a new PB, but instead are coated by the usual foliage that surrounds our lakes, which has now begun to die back. Due to the need of maintenance Main Lake and Dove Lake are now closed until the more delightful season that is spring approaches us. Maintenance will include works on the road, car park and pathways, also tree surgery. There will be no drain-down this year as there has not been a problem with small fish.
The official opening dates are as follows:
Main Lake and Dove Lake – Open from 1st February 2014
Match Lake – Remains open for matches booked only.
Specimen Lake – Open to members only
Main Lake – The end of October was a very wet and windy month at Hawkhurst Fish Farm and November remained much the same. However, despite the torrential rain and ferocious winds the lake was still fished by the hard core anglers, most of who went away pleased if slightly soggy to say the least! Steve Blackmore fished swim 4 and had a 35lb 10oz Catfish. Martin Williams from Gravesend had a 26lb 8oz Common on cell which proves to work well on the Main Lake. Darren Hunter fished the lake for the first time and went away chuffed after netting 8 fish from 10 takes; 2 singles, 12lb, 13lb, 2 x 18lbers, a 21lb and 24lb Common. Nick Bridgewater travelled down from Essex – also another first timer. He went away pleased after fishing 24hrs and catching a 20lb Common, 22lb Mirror and 26lb 6oz Common! Marc Rustage had a nice 35lb Common on single hook bait of Essential IB.
Dove Lake – Known as a little challenging, however it always seems to produce steadily throughout the year. James Day thoroughly enjoyed his session after netting a stunning 17lb Common on banofee pop-up. Malcolm Batchelor caught a pristine, scale perfect 22lb Common on white pop up bait in the margins. Patrick Thompson caught a 25lb 8oz Mirror on krill boilie. Jay Smith fished 36hrs and had a 28lb Common and 24lb 6oz Mirror on maggot.
Specimen Lake – This is the time of year when some of the biggest fish in a lake can be most vulnerable to capture; so winter carp fishing is not as mad as it might first appear! Specimen Lake has been known to remain steady throughout the year despite weather conditions that have resembled those in the Arctic! Do not forget this lake remains open all year round so why not brave the British weather that we are all use to and squeeze in a few more sessions before the end of the year. Kevin Eighteen didn’t let the horrific conditions deter him fishing a 36hr session and netting a 23lb Common and 3 Mirrors of 20lb, 26lb and 28lb using tipped off bottom baits. He then returned the following week and netted a 26lb Mirror. Patrick Thompson caught a 27lb 6oz Mirror on washed out CC live system boilie. Chris Dakin had a 29lb 8oz Mirror. Simon Evans fished a 12hr session and had a 26lb 7oz Mirror on cell over pellet.
Junior Lakes – Are now closed until the February half term in 2014.
And last but not least, we would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you all again in the new year! Thank you once again for your support of the fish farm and watch this space for more catch reports in 2014!