ANGLING By Chris Bowman

Last updated 09:47, Friday, 15 February 2008

CARLISLE and District Coarse Angling Club member Dave Gillies landed his biggest common carp from Crofton Lake – a cracking 12lb 10oz fish.

He also caught the most carp he has ever landed in one day at the club fishery near Thursby and set a new personal best heaviest bag for the Lake at 90lb beating his previous best which was a 70lb bag of bream and carp.

Dave had set out with the intention of doing a spot of waggler fishing at Crofton, but he also decided to set up a carp rod and cast a 13mm spicy shrimp and prawn boilie towards the island on a 1½ oz bolt rig thinking he might be in with a chance of a carp whilst he fished the waggler for bream and roach.

He then started to tackle up his waggler rod but was interrupted by a 9lb carp screaming off with his bait after just 5 minutes. After landing and returning the carp, rebaiting and recasting the carp rod Dave once again began setting up his float rod only to be interrupted by another carp.

After five carp in the first 1½ hours Dave abandoned all thoughts of setting the waggler rod up and instead concentrated on the carp fishing.

In total he had 14 casts with the carp rod, had 12 runs and landed 10 carp, all bar one of which were commons. He kept the fish feeding by introducing a dozen boilies after landing each carp.

The smallest weighed in at 4lb, the next smallest was Dave's only mirror carp of the day at 6lb and he had a further 7 carp between 8 ½ lb and 11lb as well as the biggest at 12lb 10oz. Dave said that upon arrival the water was coloured with fish feeding and stirring up the bottom but at that stage he wasn't sure if they were bream or carp. CADCAC members should note that the club are holding a work party at Crofton Lake on Sunday and with no matches on the calendar committee members are expecting a good turn out.

Three more spring salmon have been reported from the river Eden this week, the first was captured by Warwick Hall regular John Hindle who landed a spirited and fresh run 10½ pounder in the Battery on Friday after playing it for 15 minutes. Also fishing the Battery at Warwick Hall on Saturday Chris Trinnock landed 12lb fish both fish were taken on Flying C's. Further upstream at Spout Beck Hugh Anderson landed the first Yorkshire Fly Fishers Eden salmon of the season a brand new 10 pounder caught on the fly.

Braystone's Heather Rimmer won Tarnside Sea Angling Club's latest match fished from the piers at Whitehaven last Saturday. Heather landed a nice cod weighing 5lb and added seven dabs and a rockling for a total weight of 6lb 12oz.

In second place was Heather's husband Alan who landed 7 dabs for 2lb 10oz. Calder Bridge angler Alan Rigg was third with 6 Dabs for 2lb 6oz and Aka Rowlinson finished fourth landing 4 dabs for 1lb 12oz.

All fly fisherman and amateur entomologists will be interested in a presentation by Professor Steve Ormerod from Cardiff University on the pressures on precious upland river flies on Thursday February 28 at 19.15 (doors open 18.50) at The Hired Lad Restaurant, Penrith Auction Mart (off Junction 40 roundabout)

Please contact Lizzie on lizzie@edenriverstrust.org.uk or 07711794105 if you require more information.