At last we have had some warm weather, a good few warm rain showers have kept the rivers in good fettle and Laneshaw reservoir topped up.
United Utilities have pulled a lot of water from Churn Clough, to refill Ogden reservoir which has been drained to carry out repairs. U.U. have assured us they are no longer pulling from Churn, so water levels should recover soon.
Fishing Reports
The Mayfly finally put in an appearance on Broughton Beck, and the river Aire There have been days when the hatches were quite spectacular, and when the relentless east wind abated, some good bags of trout were taken. With a quite remarkable specimen from Broughton Beck, which was in the region of 4 pounds.
Mayfly are also coming off Churn Clough, although not in the numbers we have witnessed in previous years. Even so, fish are being taken at the surface with big bushy dry flies.
Laneshaw Reservoir
128 Anglers have fished Laneshaw in May. Catching a total of 250 Rainbow Trout. Several big Rainbows have again been taken. Also a few wild Brownies have been caught, which were safely returned to the water.
Congratulations are in order to Mr. Victor Lupton. He was the proud captor of one of the large Rainbow Trout, and unlike the majority of our members. Rather than administer the priest, Mr. Lupton graciously returned the fish to the water unharmed, so some other lucky member can experience the thrill of playing a fish of this quality. Well done Vic'.
Churn Clough
May returns for Churn Clough, show that 105 rods caught 249 Rainbows, and 16 Brown Trout, Which were again returned safely. As with Laneshaw, Rainbow Trout up to six pounds in weight are reported on the returns.
Smellows Quarry
Again this venue continues to fish well for the few anglers that use it. Only ten anglers fished Smellows throughout May. They caught a total of 51 Rainbow Trout, with no nil returns. A rod average of 5 fish per rod? This is some going. Let's see if anglers can repeat this throughout June.
C.W.A.C. News, May 2009.
After a very dry April, which left many local Stillwaters looking like mud holes, and Rivers little more than a trickle of water. The heavy rains of early May are more than welcome. The only drawback at the moment is the east wind that has blown at near gale force for the past two weeks. But the Swifts have returned, the swallows have been here for a while, and I even saw a Cuckoo last week. So surely summer must be around the corner somewhere.
We now have two boats at Smellows Quarry. So all members that book on to the water can fish from a boat, if fishing from the bank is proving a little slow.
Fishing Reports.
The Club’s river anglers are back in action after the recent flush of rain, with some very nice fish being returned to the Aire, Broughton Beck and Colne Water.
We have got permission from Broughton Hall Estates to remove some of the branches that overhang parts of the beck, which will make access with the fly, easier for the less capable river anglers amongst us
We will be organising a working party as soon as we can. If you have not visited Broughton Beck yet, it may be the perfect opportunity for you to see the water, note down the likely looking lies, and have a go.
Laneshaw Reservoir
Laneshaw is nearly full again, after the recent storms. Since the last Club Meeting in April, 175 Anglers have caught six Brown Trout, and 346 Rainbows. Which gives an average of just over two fish per rod. Again, fish up to six pounds have been taken.
Churn Clough
114 Anglers caught 22 Brown Trout, and 204 Rainbow Trout.
The Annual May Fly hatch is due to start at Churn Clough. Members will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of these large duns. As the Trout start to take them from the surface, some excellent sport can be had with all manner of large fluffy dry flies.
Smellows Quarry.
20 Rods caught 49 Rainbow Trout over the last month.
We now have two boats at Smellows Quarry. So all members that book on to the water can fish from a boat, if fishing from the bank is proving a little slow.
Several more members have bought Float Tubes, to take advantage of this rather unique method of Fishing at Smellows.
C.W.A.C. News. April 2009.
Fishing Reports
Members have been out in force on all our waters, especially with all this warm sunny weather we are experiencing.
The phone keeps ringing with Anglers enquiring about membership, which is excellent news for the club. It’s amazing how a bit of spring sunshine turns the thoughts to wetting a line. A few lapsed members have rejoined due to the acquisition of the fishing rights at Broughton Hall, along with several new members, who have only just heard of Colne Water Angling Club. It appears that the club Web Log and Web Pages are having an effect.
Laneshaw and Churn Clough
Laneshaw and Churn Clough have both seen plenty of action, Laneshaw having the lions share.
Between the 15th March, and the beginning of April, 70 members have fished Churn Clough, catching 111 Rainbow Trout up to 6 lbs. in weight.
As usual Laneshaw Reservoir fared much better with 80 anglers netting 234 Rainbow Trout and 1 solitary Brownie. One lure angler at Laneshaw killed two exceptional fish in one week. One at 6 lbs, and a second at around 4 lbs.
Now the sun is well and truly shining, insect life is becoming more abundant, and more surface activity will take place.
Smellows
Smellows has not had much pressure as yet. 12 Anglers have reported catching 22 Rainbows, the heaviest at 4 lb, and a lovely full finned over-wintered fish of around
3 lb was also taken. Despite very heavy hatches of Chironimid flies, with shucks at times littering the water surface, anglers at Smellows have reported only a few fish topping, and sub surface flies working best.
A couple of lads on the Committee have managed to secure the donation of another boat. This is a Fibre Glass hulled dinghy, and is requiring a bit of fettling. It is receiving a bit of T.L.C. at the moment, and will be sited at Smellows in the near future.
The Rivers
Colne Water, Broughton Beck and the River Aire are all needing a bit of rain at the moment. But members are making the best of things.
Several natural wild brownies have been caught and returned to Colne Water. The upper reaches have fared better, with fish being found in the faster oxygenated stretches.
Fish up to 2lb have been reported in Broughton Beck, taken on traditional upstream wet flies, and several taken on dry.
The River Aire threw up a bit of a surprise for one member, who hooked into and landed a 3lb Rainbow, and lost another. As our lease requires, this fish was removed from the river.
A few decent Brown Trout have been caught and lost on the Aire, including a fit 2lb plus specimen, which was hooked by a fourteen year old junior member, on a tiny Hares Ear Nymph. He played the fish for a good few seconds before there was a sickening crack as his leader parted. I believe that tears were only just averted. More from his guardian than from the lad himself, I hasten to add.
