Part two of duo’s Lodge Farm guide

But first a thank you for the positive feedback we have received and to answer a couple of questions.

Firstly we have not included the various fisheries’ rules, bait bans etc because space in the column is at a premium and all fisheries tend to display them prominently.

Secondly we have not focused on the match aspects of the venues simply because we consider ourselves to be average anglers and in no way expert enough to start offering match tips.

The next lakes we will look at are the lily and long island, both of which run parralel to the main East Coast Line, so if you are fishing the far banks get used to the inter city 125s thundering past every few minute.

Strangely enough the disruption does not interfere with the sport.

The names of the lakes are pretty well descriptive with the long lsland having – you guessed it – a long island running almost the entire length of the pond offering a great feature to cast to with either the feeder/bomb or pellet waggler.

As with any lake, end pegs do seem to offer a slight advantage but in our experience wind direction will effect the sport far more than any fish holding features, so on the day try to choose the pegs to the furthest down wind end of the lake.

During the summer months fishing shallow is often the favoured method but as on all of these lakes floating baits are banned so just fish shallow.

Be warned, as you can see from last week’s photo this pond holds some seriously big specimens so gear up accordingly.

There is also some good sport to be had with the other species and in particular in our experience some excellent quality skimmers.

The lily pond has lilies growing down the centre of the lake, more prominently in the summer.

While these are excellent fish holding features they also offer a hooked fish the opportunity of a bolt hole so it is important to steer any of the larger specimens clear in those vital first few seconds after the strike.

On both of these lakes there is easy access to the large comfy pegs with the added benefit of being able to park your car right behind you on the majority of pegs, making it a perfect venue for those who like us do not enjoy the prospect of a long walk when loaded down with gear.

The field and signal ponds run side by side at the southern end of the complex, with the signal again running alongside the railway lines.

These two ponds are almost identical in appearance with a central island seperating them.

You will on occasion be fishing back-to-back so it is important to respect your counterpart behind you.

These lakes are a favourite of matchmen due to the large stock of F1s and F2s carp, quality ide, the odd larger lump as well as skimmers.

However they also offer excellent sport to the pleasure angler particalalrly in the summer months when arriving just after a match has finished so that all pegs have had plenty of feed.

If you watch the weigh in you can also get a fair idea of where the fish are holding.

All methods work well on these ponds and the outer pegs also offer easy access with a flat bank behind all pegs.

The variety of species and large stocks make it the perfect venue for junior or novice anglers to learn or improve their techniques.

On the coastal front Stanley Street stalwarts Jack Wilson and Brian Fox made a midweek trip to fish Spurn Warren.

Graham Cashmore and John Nicholson tackled Hornsea north beach on the same tides, and both pairs caught quality whiting and dabs but unfortunately no cod.

Sport would definitely benefit from a good north easterly to stir things up a bit, so keep your eyes on the forecast.

COMMERCIAL ROUND-UP

STARTING at Lodge Farm fishery, Tuesday’s open was competed on the lily and long island ponds where John Moore led the way on peg 101 pole fishing pellet for 54lb 5oz.

Gary Bingham took second place with a net of 53lb 3oz taken on the method feeder off peg 78 and Steve Bingham was third, also fishing the method and weighing 47lb 9oz on peg 51.

Wednesday saw the over 50s place thier seat boxes on the field pond with Len Squires taking the honours employing the method feeder on peg 16 for a bag of 49lb 8oz, just clear of Andy Hill who used the same tactic as the winner to weigh 47lb 3oz from peg 18 and Sid Whitehouse who claimed third off peg 14 with 43lb 9oz off peg 14 using the pellet feeder.

Thursday’s match moved to the lily and long island where Dave Evans put a winning net together waggler fishing meat on peg 78 for 41lb 4oz.

Dave Fantom was runner-up weighing 39lb 1oz on peg 52 on pole and pellet and our old friend Keith Walters had third place on peg 53 with a net of 29lb 4oz.

Saturday’s competition was fished on the field pond with the in-form Dave Evans waggler fishing meat or corn on peg 11 to put a winning weight together of 19lb 6oz ahead of John Gunn who pole fished maggot and caster for a net of silver fish weighing 14lb 5oz in second.

Saturdays open will be competed on the signal pond with a 9am draw at the on-site cafe.

At Lakeside Wednesday’s open was won by Mal Edgecombe who pole fished pellet to put a skimmer net together of 47lb 13oz from peg 28.

Saturday saw the fourth round of the venue’s winter league take place with Steve Foster claiming victory bomb fishing bread for eight carp weighing 79lb 10oz on peg 4.

He was well clear of Gary Brookes in second who netted 25lb 11oz to nail down second and Ian Symmonds in third spot who landed 21lb 14oz from peg 13.

Regular visitors DJ Angling held a knock-up on the second strip pond with Dave Laing winning on peg 3 with a net of ide and skimmers weighing 46lb 14oz taken on pole and pellet.

On the trout lake Pete Wright landed 14 fish to 5lb on his damzels cast on a floating line with Worksop rod Ian Wilkinson banking 18 fish to 8lb on his various damzels presented on a floating line.

Over at Riverside fishery at Hawksnest near Bawtry our friends John Bleakley and Terry Pixley inform us that the venue is up and running again with open matches taking place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.