Wintons Fishery, Burgess Hill, West Sussex
Spring is certainly upon us, the weather has been very mild and consequently the Fishery is bursting into life with the weeping willows leading the way. The month of May is often the start for many of us to dust down their tackle and to get back out on the bank and to enjoy the tranquillity of the outdoors. The nights are getting shorter and the song bird’s chorus is beautiful to wake up to whilst waiting for your alarms to scream into action signifying a take on your rods. Wintons has always been a haven for wildlife and with this comes the nesting of birds and the hatching of their young. However, whilst this is wonderful to watch and witness, we must always tidy up behind us and take away any discarded line and any other items brought to the complex that could cause harm to the wildlife. Stuart has done a fantastic job over the Winter months preparing the lakes for the Spring/Summer and the results of his hard work can now be seen, we have always been proud to have such a litter free Fishery and would like to remind our Members to tidy up their swims on packing up for the next Member who will be setting up after you. The Wendy House is now finished and the transformation from a derelict old hut to a warm, clean and pleasant environment is complete – well done to Paula, it looks amazing for us all to enjoy. Likewise, as mentioned last month, the toilets have also undertaken modernisation and I am pleased to report that it’s finished and a lot more lady friendly as well! We have had the first of the competitions take place namely the Spring Carp Challenge on Mallard Lake. Nick Hannington was the winner with 38lb 12oz, 2nd place was taken by David Cheal (Crafty Fish Baits) and 3rd place was won by Harry Saunders. With the wind blowing a north westerly it was somewhat chilly but I am informed all enjoyed the 48 hours on the bank. These events are open to all Members and details of future events can be obtained by calling the office, these competitions are very social and allow members to meet each other and in some instances great friendships have be made.
MALLARD LAKE:
Dave Berry Jnr. fished peg 1 on Mallard Lake and took three fish again on hybrid boilies, Dave had Cats weighing 31lb and 28lb 8oz plus a lovely Mirror of 24lb 8oz. Mark Watson fished peg 7 on Mallard Lake for seven days and was rewarded with seven Catfish weighing 53lb, 79lb, 52lb, 41lb, 55lb, 67lb and 67lb, all of Marks fish fell to squid. Simon Andrews fishing alongside Mark in peg 8 also got in amongst the action with four Catfish weighing 67lb, 25lb, 38lb and 38lb plus a small Jack Pike of 3lb. Leigh Booth from peg 50 on Heron Lake had two Catfish weighing 18lb 8oz and 27lb 8oz whilst using Royaly boilies. Steve Jenkins from peg 3 on Mallard Lake dropped in for 12 hours and had Catfish weighing 60lb and 35lb, his angling buddy James fishing in peg 2 did slightly better with Catfish weighing 24lb, 29lb, 35lb, 39lb and 60lb and quoted “amazing 12 hour session”. Ron Slender fishing peg 13 on Mallard Lake took a magnificent scale perfect Common Carp weighing 28lb whilst using Mainline Cell boilies and quoted “Please include me in FWI” – it is a pleasure Ron! Todd Slaughter fishing in the gate post peg 31 on Kingfisher caught an immaculate Common weighing 28lb 9oz on Dave Cheals crafty baits. Harry Saunders fishing peg 2 and 16 on Mallard caught two Cats weighing 22lb and 15lb and can’t wait to get back on the bank again. Andy Lennon, one of our more experienced members, set up in the fat finger on Kingfisher Lake and caught a lovely Koi weighing 30lb 2oz plus two Commons weighing 15lb and 27lb 4oz, all of Andy’s fish fell to Mainline cell boilies. Finally I must comment on Ted Kettle’s Catfish caught from Heron Lake on a beautiful sunny day. Ted, one of my late father’s best friends – they had known each other since being class room buddies at school caught a huge Catfish weighing 53lb and quoted “at 13.00 and in blazing sunshine the left hand rod slowly sprang into action with a steady ploddin’ run. I lifted into the run and BOOM ….. All hell let loose ….. and 15 minutes later there it was, a short but very chunky catfish weighing 53lb – I am delighted!”.
KINGFISHER LAKE:
Craig Wallis fishing from the fat finger caught a lovely Common weighing 17lb on hybrid. Mick Candler followed onto the fat finger and caught an impressive Koi of 28lb 8oz on a pineapple/cell pop up. Tom Goodey fished the Jacuzzi swim and caught a brace of Commons weighing 28lb and the Upfront Common at 44lb 8oz. His mate Nick Bennett took a
lovely Common from peg 29 weighing 38lb 2oz on Nash baits. Rob Young fishing the gate post
peg 31 caught a Common weighing 31lb 9oz on krill boilies. Although the fishing was slow it was lovely to see the Upfront Common being caught again – well done to Tom Goodey.
HERON LAKE:
Simon Court braved the elements and fished the far corner of Heron Lake and caught a Cat weighing 31lb 15oz plus two Commons of 25lb and 16lb 3oz whilst using FX boilies. Tim Quinnell found the Catfish in front of peg 15 and took four fish weighing 40lb, 27lb, 61lb and 25lb 8oz all were taken on mainline boilies. Steve Ward made the long trip from the Isle of Man and was rewarded with two new PB’s in the shape of a monster Cat weighing 75lb plus a Mirror Carp weighing 22lb. Steve also caught Cats of 58lb and 38lb. Steve’s fish were taken from peg 17 on Mallard and all caught on Mainline hybrid shop bought boilies.
Spring is certainly upon us, the weather has been very mild and consequently the Fishery is bursting into life with the weeping willows leading the way. The month of May is often the start for many of us to dust down their tackle and to get back out on the bank and to enjoy the tranquillity of the outdoors. The nights are getting shorter and the song bird’s chorus is beautiful to wake up to whilst waiting for your alarms to scream into action signifying a take on your rods. Wintons has always been a haven for wildlife and with this comes the nesting of birds and the hatching of their young. However, whilst this is wonderful to watch and witness, we must always tidy up behind us and take away any discarded line and any other items brought to the complex that could cause harm to the wildlife. Stuart has done a fantastic job over the Winter months preparing the lakes for the Spring/Summer and the results of his hard work can now be seen, we have always been proud to have such a litter free Fishery and would like to remind our Members to tidy up their swims on packing up for the next Member who will be setting up after you. The Wendy House is now finished and the transformation from a derelict old hut to a warm, clean and pleasant environment is complete – well done to Paula, it looks amazing for us all to enjoy. Likewise, as mentioned last month, the toilets have also undertaken modernisation and I am pleased to report that it’s finished and a lot more lady friendly as well! We have had the first of the competitions take place namely the Spring Carp Challenge on Mallard Lake. Nick Hannington was the winner with 38lb 12oz, 2nd place was taken by David Cheal (Crafty Fish Baits) and 3rd place was won by Harry Saunders. With the wind blowing a north westerly it was somewhat chilly but I am informed all enjoyed the 48 hours on the bank. These events are open to all Members and details of future events can be obtained by calling the office, these competitions are very social and allow members to meet each other and in some instances great friendships have be made.
MALLARD LAKE:
Dave Berry Jnr. fished peg 1 on Mallard Lake and took three fish again on hybrid boilies, Dave had Cats weighing 31lb and 28lb 8oz plus a lovely Mirror of 24lb 8oz. Mark Watson fished peg 7 on Mallard Lake for seven days and was rewarded with seven Catfish weighing 53lb, 79lb, 52lb, 41lb, 55lb, 67lb and 67lb, all of Marks fish fell to squid. Simon Andrews fishing alongside Mark in peg 8 also got in amongst the action with four Catfish weighing 67lb, 25lb, 38lb and 38lb plus a small Jack Pike of 3lb. Leigh Booth from peg 50 on Heron Lake had two Catfish weighing 18lb 8oz and 27lb 8oz whilst using Royaly boilies. Steve Jenkins from peg 3 on Mallard Lake dropped in for 12 hours and had Catfish weighing 60lb and 35lb, his angling buddy James fishing in peg 2 did slightly better with Catfish weighing 24lb, 29lb, 35lb, 39lb and 60lb and quoted “amazing 12 hour session”. Ron Slender fishing peg 13 on Mallard Lake took a magnificent scale perfect Common Carp weighing 28lb whilst using Mainline Cell boilies and quoted “Please include me in FWI” – it is a pleasure Ron! Todd Slaughter fishing in the gate post peg 31 on Kingfisher caught an immaculate Common weighing 28lb 9oz on Dave Cheals crafty baits. Harry Saunders fishing peg 2 and 16 on Mallard caught two Cats weighing 22lb and 15lb and can’t wait to get back on the bank again. Andy Lennon, one of our more experienced members, set up in the fat finger on Kingfisher Lake and caught a lovely Koi weighing 30lb 2oz plus two Commons weighing 15lb and 27lb 4oz, all of Andy’s fish fell to Mainline cell boilies. Finally I must comment on Ted Kettle’s Catfish caught from Heron Lake on a beautiful sunny day. Ted, one of my late father’s best friends – they had known each other since being class room buddies at school caught a huge Catfish weighing 53lb and quoted “at 13.00 and in blazing sunshine the left hand rod slowly sprang into action with a steady ploddin’ run. I lifted into the run and BOOM ….. All hell let loose ….. and 15 minutes later there it was, a short but very chunky catfish weighing 53lb – I am delighted!”.
KINGFISHER LAKE:
Craig Wallis fishing from the fat finger caught a lovely Common weighing 17lb on hybrid. Mick Candler followed onto the fat finger and caught an impressive Koi of 28lb 8oz on a pineapple/cell pop up. Tom Goodey fished the Jacuzzi swim and caught a brace of Commons weighing 28lb and the Upfront Common at 44lb 8oz. His mate Nick Bennett took a
lovely Common from peg 29 weighing 38lb 2oz on Nash baits. Rob Young fishing the gate post
peg 31 caught a Common weighing 31lb 9oz on krill boilies. Although the fishing was slow it was lovely to see the Upfront Common being caught again – well done to Tom Goodey.
HERON LAKE:
Simon Court braved the elements and fished the far corner of Heron Lake and caught a Cat weighing 31lb 15oz plus two Commons of 25lb and 16lb 3oz whilst using FX boilies. Tim Quinnell found the Catfish in front of peg 15 and took four fish weighing 40lb, 27lb, 61lb and 25lb 8oz all were taken on mainline boilies. Steve Ward made the long trip from the Isle of Man and was rewarded with two new PB’s in the shape of a monster Cat weighing 75lb plus a Mirror Carp weighing 22lb. Steve also caught Cats of 58lb and 38lb. Steve’s fish were taken from peg 17 on Mallard and all caught on Mainline hybrid shop bought boilies.