Happy New Year to everyone I hope you all enjoyed the festive break. With terrible weather in recent weeks very few managed to get out fishing and those that did it seems caught little as a combination of ice and snow melt made conditions almost impossible.
On 3rd January, with most of the Grand Union Canal still frozen, solid Mark Ridgeway found a clear area and caught 5 carp to low doubles fishing tight to some far bank snags. Elsewhere on the canal day ticket anglers found the area immediately below the Three Locks ice free and with no boat traffic to contend with were seen catching good numbers of perch and roach.
Most of Beckerings Reservoir had thawed by 8th January and Brett Herdman managed a 15lb mirror and an unseasonal 5.5lb tench with James Muncaster also having a double figure carp. Scott Larman had the largest fish reported this week in the shape of a 17lb mirror caught at 5.30am in sub zero temperatures.
January’s competition winner will have the choice of 10kg of the new Starmer Baits Coconut Fish boilies or nearly £100 worth of Nash IC-1 and Nash Terminal Tackle. It is open to anyone (members and non members) submitting a digital photo taken on any Luton AC controlled water and it can be of absolutely anything eg a sunset on the canal, a nice fish, wildlife etc. The photos submitted cannot be over a month old, the judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the result. So get snapping and forward your pictures to our usual email address catchreports@lutonac.org or send from your mobile to 07704462635.
This month I have two spools of Nash Missing Link Weed Braid in 15lb and 35lb bs to give away worth almost £28 to the person who can guess how many Nashbaits are in the jar (no trick question, they are all Nash!). Entry is open to anyone (members and non members) via email only to carpreport@talktalk.net. Include your guess and your name and full address. Only one guess per person will be allowed, multiple entries will be disqualified. In the event of a tie the first correct/closest entry received wins, closing date for entries is 30th January 2011 at midday. If you want to see a large picture of the glass then go to my Facebook page at the same email address.December Photo Competition Winner
December’s winning photo was Tom Mitchelson (for the second month running!) with his winter scene from the Ouse at Wyboston. Congratulations.
December Nash Missing Link Gravel Braid Competition Winner
There were 163 baits in the glass and Ian Dilley from Luton (for the second time!) was the closest winning the two spools of Nash Missing Link Silt Braid worth almost £28. Congratulations.
Andy Murphy has sent me a couple of winter scenes from the Wyboston Complex taken over the Christmas period.
Anglers should note that ULTRArace is back on the canal towpath for a second year over the weekend of 22nd & 23rd January 2011. The route is from Northampton to Tring and back again. Anglers would be wise to avoid the canal on those dates, for further information visit the UltraRace web site www.ultrarace.co.uk
Luton AC winter memberships are available now and allow you to fish through until 31st May 2011. Prices are Adult £35, Husband and Wife £55, Disabled/OAP £17.50 and Junior £10. These prices are fully inclusive of the joining fee so there is nothing further to pay. By joining now you will not have to pay the joining fee next season so saving £20 making the winter membership incredible value.
The Luton AC Board have voted to allow keepnets to be used again on the canal during the months of April and May which is great news for the local match scene as well as pleasure anglers.
With immediate effect Luton AC members can no longer fish the River Great Ouse at Haversham as the land has been sold.
Please phone/text your catch reports from Luton AC waters to 07704462635 or email catchreports@lutonac.org and if you have pictures taken on your phone send picture messages to 07704462635. Remember to always use an unhooking mat when targetting specimen fish, keeping the fish as low to the ground as possible when taking photos.
Check out the Luton AC website at www.lutonac.org for all the latest catch reports, news, pictures and membership details.
