Well it had to happen; a long, dry, wind free and generally mild Winter - then just as the Lake is due to reopen for Pike Fishing - WHAM! Gale force winds and driving rain are forecast for the West Country, driving right across Chew Valley Lake and causing the cancellation of the 1st two days of the 2017 Pike Trials on Thursday and Friday!
Don't get me wrong, we desperately need lots of rain to fill both Chew and Blagdon, but why did the winds have to pick up to ruin the start of another Pike Trials Session? Exactly the same happened last year and another Opening Day was lost.
Still, if the forecasters are right, then the worst of it should have passed by Saturday and the boats should be let out to sample the best pike fishing in Europe - if not the World!
I am doing 10 days for Bristol Water as their official Pike Guide and there are still 2 days free in November - simply ring Bristol Water Fisheries at Woodford Lodge, Chew on 01275 332339 to book a day for 1 or 2 rods (the price is the same).
Guided Trout Fishing for 2017
This will be my 23rd year as a Professional Fishing Guide and hopes are high for a great season on the Bristol Waters. Early season until July last year saw both Chew and Blagdon enjoy amazing trout fishing. Huge hatches of buzzer brought fish to the surface as early as Opening Day and nymph fishing became the norm throughout March and April.
Then once the warm weather came, massive hatches of damsel flies drove the trout into a frenzy - particularly on Blagdon. In all my years fishing the Bristol Waters, I have never witnessed the trout feed so voraciously on damsels - and the fishing with washing line tactics or dries - was electric!
This year Chew opens first on 9th March and Blagdon opens a week later on the 16th March. The lakes are currently lower than would be hoped, with Chew at 68% and Blagdon just 56% of capacity. However, this rain will certainly push both lakes up a bit and that will be a good thing.
I can provide the latest Hardy Rods and Reels plus any other tackle if necessary. Comfortable boat seats come as standard in my boat and all you need to bring is a packed lunch and some drinks!
Litton is also a great place for tuition or Corporate Days and where else in the country can you get not 1, but 2 lakes exclusively to yourself?
Guided Pike Fishing
Pike on the fly is a fantastic way to target Chew's mammoth fish and unlike the Pike Trials, where getting a boat is like rocking horse manure, access on the fly is available throughout the season. Also, unlike using treble hooks, a single debarbed pike fly is really unintrusive as regards capture. So there is far less chance of damaging the pike and due to the nature of the weather conditions here in the West Country, the oxygen levels rarely deplete, meaning that the pike are fighting fit throughout the Summer months.
I can supply top of the range Hardy rods and reels plus all terminal tackle, flies, nets and crash mats to target these amazing creatures.
So why not book a day with me in 2017? Simply go to "Contact" and I will be in touch.
