SPRING - March, April, May

MARCH The Spring started with "happy days" for Simon Plant with his first UK 40 pounder, a stunning common of 45lb 8oz from Kingfisher. Another "made up" member, Dave Foster landed a "beautiful  31lb golden/red common", a new pb on his first visit to Wintons, hopefully many more to come for you Dave? Wood Carving made an early appearance for Dan Hallett at 47lb 8oz. Darren Rogers was "so happy to be back", when he landed his first cats of 2009 at 38lb 6oz and 33lb 4oz. APRIL Although it may not be the biggest cat, for Luke McGeary it was "living the dream" when he landed his first ever cat of 19lb. Cats of 53lb, 35lb and a common of 22lb 8oz was a great start to the season for Guy St. John. A week on Mallard for Martin Lock hand him smash his cat pb three times, with catches of 26lb, 32lb 12oz and 50lb 14oz. Baitcraft Super K worked wonders for Gary Furminger in the gate swim on Kingfisher with a 47lb 14oz mirror. A week in Mallard's peg 2 gave Neil Mills 11 cats from 14lb to 51lb 2oz and a couple of carp, the best being a 27lb common.  According to Neil "Wintons is the place of pb breakers". Bill Brown got off to a good start with five days on Mallard with 15 cats to 57lb, two commons of 19lb and 21lb, mirror of 18lb and koi of 15lb. Bob Wilkinsons's partner Tash outdid him on her first visit to the Fishery with seven commons, best bring 22lb 14lb.  Whereas Bob's only landed three commons and one mirror.  Better luck next time Bob! A trio of newcomers had a good three day session on Mallards peg 16. Hollie Warner had cats of 20lb and 50lb! Stuart Lovegrove had a pb common of 18lb and was very happy with that! Brian Lovegrove had three cats of 13lb, 20lb and 38lb Think we will see them again?! Rich Donnely had his first cat session late in April and was rewarded with three fish, best being 50lb 8oz. Patience paid off for Gary Furminger as he at last landed Woody (common) at 45lb, he had obviously been on his case for a while! Peg 31 on Kingfisher gave Len Anscombe at 43lb common and 25lb koi. Mallard's peg 15 gave Philip Etherton "fantastic three days of fishing - best yet", with six cats to 38lb two commons to 32lb and a leather of 20lb. MAY Karl Francis did his first 2009 session of Mallard at the beginning of May and landed three kois, best being 16lb 8oz. Heron's peg 37 was the spot Simon Platts chose for his 48 hour session, he was "over the moon" with three commons to 25lb 8oz, a mirror of 22lb 8oz and and couple of kittens.  Simon then decided to move to Mallard and had five further cats, best being a 46lb fish just as he was packing his gear away!  Alex Platt did the same session on peg 3 and recorded eight cats to 28lb 10oz and four commons to 28lb 10oz. Check out Dave Crunden's 42lb 8oz common from Kingfisher. Lee Mitchell's 72 hour session started slow, but finished with a bang, when landed his pb cat of 51lb, together with four other cats to 30lb and a couple of commons. After moving from peg 1 on Mallard to peg 3 after the first night, Ian Keeler walloped his pb cat with a 57lb 8oz fish, his previous pb was only 36lb! After a two year quest Mick Turquand finally had some success and landed a cat..  He was "made up" with his first cat of 22lb, but then "estatic" with a later pb of 57lb 14oz. A "dream session" is what Mark Wilson had on Kingfisher's peg 23, he took Wood Carving at 44lb 12oz, Up Front at 45lb 8oz and Red Card at 26lb 5oz, some session! Great session and three pbs for Simon Plant - three cats of 46lb, 51lb and 51lb 6oz! Another set of three pbs for Gareth Rose this time - a mirror of 27lb 7oz and two cats of 34lb 7oz and 48lb 7oz. Julian Chidgey had a productive session on Kingfisher - 14 tench best being 11lb 7oz, two commons, best being 45lb. Two lovely commons made Gary Furminger "over the moon", the Up Front common at 45lb 7oz and and an un-named scale perfect common of 43lb 5oz. Brian Clark was in for a session on Mallard during May, he found it hard work but was rewarded with five fish, best being at 59lb 12oz cat. Ian Darke's trek from Bath was worth it for a week on Mallard, he recorded 28 fish, lost six for a total weight of just over 600lb and we have no doubt he went home knackered!!!!! Dave Cromwell's first visit this year produced three cats of 23lb 6oz, 30lb 12oz and 51lb 4oz. Herons's peg 50 gave Ben Watson a good session with seven cats to 39lb and a couple of commons. Some of you may have heard that we experienced a slight oxygen in-balance in Kingfisher towards the end of May.  With the co-operation of the Environment Agency we were able to get pumps installed and had some water tests done.  All results were negative and despite loosing some tench, roach and bream, conditions improved with about 72 hours. However, during the following week, very sadly with days of each other we lost both Red Card and the Wood Carving.  It is hard to say how or why they died, but with the information available to us we suspect, as they had been caught recently and returned to water with an oxygen issue the stress was just too much for them.  Sad days!