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With the diverse range of waters the club offers, new and prospective members ask where the best venues are for certain species, and their main question is, how big do they get?
Well, I have listed below the main species in alphabetical order with some notes. However I hope that with help from you the members we can expand upon the list and make it more accurate. I understand that there are those who do not wish to have their catches disclosed, that is their choice, however as a club we also have a duty to point our members in the right direction so that they can at least have a chance of that personal best. With your help I would like to compile a best fish list for each venue, this will be intended as a rough guide, if you have caught a specimen or had a big catch or landed something rare such as a crucian carp or a grayling etc. from any of our waters then let us know, and please not too much exaggerating!
Barbel: Not a fish that you would readily associate with the area, indiginous to the faster flowing rivers such as the Thames, Severn, Yorkshire Ouse the Swale etc. However, barbel were introduced into the upper reaches of the Great Ouse during the 1970’s and have thrived. Our two stretches of the Great Ouse near Harrold hold big barbel, these are difficult fish to catch and best times are when the river is up and coloured and in hours of darkness. I have heard of fish to 16lb, but have seen no pictures. The Nene also had a stocking of barbel during the 1980’s at various locations between Northampton and Thrapston. These have not fared so well, maybe because of the nature of the river, however I have had recent reports (December 2010) of fish to 9lb from Barnwell back brook, and not just the odd fish but several around the 5-6 lb bracket. We don’t get many reports from Barnwell back brook as access is not great, however if there are big barbel to be had then a few more of you might give it a try! Finally Mill Cotton has had several stockings of small barbel over the years, they come out occassionally and some are currently up to 3lb.
Bream: To be found in all of the clubs water with the excepton of Grendon Carp Ponds. River bream occassionally caught in great numbers almost anywhere between the Embankment and Ditchford. Also in the slower stretch of river adjacent to Brightwell’s. I had a report from the summer of several bream to 7lb from the main river at Hardwater between Great Doddington and Wollaston.The biggest fish are in the stillwaters of Barker’s, Brightwell’s and Duchess Lakes they all hold plenty of fish in the 7-10 lb range with the odd specimen even heavier. Try also the canal and Swanspool Lake in Wellingborough plenty of skimmers and some bigger ones to be had at both venues.
Carp: Probably the most sought after species of all, now a very common type but once a rarity in this neck of the woods. If you just want to catch a carp then go to Mill Cotton, well stocked with fish to double figures, not too difficult to catch (particularly in the warmer months) bread, meat, paste, pellets, maggot and worm all work. For the more serious specimen hunter Barker’s and Brightwell’s both hold fish to 40lb (no kidding), not that easy to catch, I would say that buying the night permit is a must if you want to catch a big ‘un. Also try the river, the pool by the footbridge at the back of Chester House has always had a head of genuine Nene strain carp. Grendon Carp ponds has a few, the clue there is in the name! and Spinney lakes also has a few (see picture of 32 pounder taken in the summer of 2010). Finally the canal near Theddingworth is sometimes targeted by the carp boys, if you walk along the towpath on a hot sunny day you can often see them basking under the bushes on the far bank.
Perch: Plenty of stripey’s throughout the main river Nene and its backwaters, not particularly noted for big perch a fish of say one and a half pounds would be very good, however there are some seriously big perch in the Great Ouse in our Harrold stretches, also try the canal where fish in the 2-3lb region are not rare. Mill Cotton has a lot of tiny perch, however club member Steve Bettis landed one of over 3lb from Mill Cotton on a club match last winter. Perch can be found in all our other waters apart from Grendon.
Pike: I will leave this to you the members as my knowledge of pike fishing is severely limited. There are plenty of pike in the river and Barker’s lake.
Roach: Probably the most prolific of all species, found in all our waters except at Grendon. A fish of over one and a half pounds would be considered quite large by local standards. The canal often produces a ‘biggie’.
Rudd: The canal is a good bet for a decent sized rudd, also try Spinney Lakes.
Tench: Recently voted Britain’s most popular fish. Tench can be found almost anywhere in both our Nene and Ouse stretches of the river, but the bigger ones are in Barkers where fish of 7-8lb are not uncommon, with the occasional 10 pounder putting in an appearance. These can be found in most of our waters, Barker's and Brightwell's the best bet for a near double, but both the Nene and the Ouse can produce the odd fish as well as Swanspool Lake Wellingborough and Spinney lakes.
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