MAJORS LAKES NEWSLETTER
QUARTER FOUR 2012
(In conjunction with Country Sports)
SORRY BUT NO LICENCE = NO FISHING
IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN
With Christmas almost upon us I would like to welcome you to this, the final newsletter for 2012.
Just where has the year gone, and what has happened?
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We have had some great reports of good fish being caught, with two new lake records reported for
both Crucian Carp and Common Carp.
We have had excellent feedback regarding catches from our sister lake at Wallend Fishery.
Our membership is growing.
We have received some well deserved praise for all of the work our bailiffs do in keeping the lake
looking so nice.
We have increased the amount of pegs that are available to fish around the lake.
We have installed a floating island, for the protection of fish stocks. (See photos)
We have improved several pegs around the lake. ( See photo)
The amount of members now entering our club matches has grown. This has also allowed some
great combined weights to be recorded on the day. As well as having a really good laugh.
Feedback regarding the Country Sports web site has been excellent, with more members adding
their photos.
Our Facebook page has also received some positive feedback with new visitors and photos being
added.
The club has received excellent support from Steve Attwood, the owner of our lake.
I think you will agree that all of the above allows us to say that this has been a very positive year all round
for Country Sports, Majors Lakes and Wallend Fishery.
Now with Christmas almost upon us and the fishing slowing down, it is most likely that for a lot of
members it is that time of the year when we retire back in to our sheds or garages to start cleaning and
sorting our gear for the off in 2013. So when having that sort out why not let me know of any fishing tackle
you would like to dispose of, and I will advertise it for you in one of next year’s newsletters on your behalf.
This newsletter also allows me to personally thank club members Geoff Clarke, John Osmer, Peter Curd
and Andy Collins for their contributions to our newsletter in 2012.
Not forgetting of course Keely at Country Sports, who has the unenviable task of not only proof reading my
newsletters before they go out to you with all of my errors contained within, but also has the responsibility
of updating the web site and generally managing the fishing side of the Country Sports business along with
her office duties connected with the farm.
We would also like to thank members Michael Andrews and Michael Andrews (senior) owners of
Maidstone Signs for providing (and donating) the badly needed lake signage and new peg numbers.
INSTALLATION OF THE FLOATING ISLAND &PEG IMPROVEMENTS
<< Anthony and Michael manoeuvring
the reeds into position for the floating
island.
Bailiffs Steven & Mark adding the
buoyancy supports to complete the
floating island >>
<< Steve Taylor making the much
needed improvements to peg No6
WHO IS KEELY?
Since Keely took over the running of Country Sports from Karen sometime ago, several members have
mentioned that although having the pleasure of speaking to her over the phone or having emailed her, not
many members have actually been lucky enough to meet her face to face.
So being the very helpful person I am, I have managed to obtain a photo from Keely and am pleased to be
able to include it in our newsletter for you.
This will now allow all members to, as they say “put a face to the name”.
Many thanks Keely.
2013 MATCH AND WORK PARTY DATES (DATES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT SHORT NOTICE)
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JUNE
JULY
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
DECEMBER
20th
17th
3rd
17th
14th
12th
9th
23rd
14th
21st
18th
15th
29th
13th
10th
1st
8th
MATCH
MATCH
WORKPARTY
MATCH
MATCH
MATCH
MATCH
WORKPARTY
(Silverfish only match)
(Float rod only match)
FAMILY FUN DAY
MATCH
MATCH
MATCH
WORKPARTY
MATCH
MATCH
WORKPARTY
MATCH
(Held at Wallend Fishery)
(Secret Santa match)
We are pleased to say that more members have joined in the matches, but there is
always room for more. For further information about start and finish times, pool money
etc. Please contact the match organiser Steven Redding on 07966 291779.
TO YOUR BENIFIT
If you attend three of the four planned work parties (dates as above) in 2013. Not only
will it give you the opportunity to meet some of the members, but you will receive a
£10.00 reduction when you renew your membership for the following year. Most work
parties are completed by early afternoon, which still allows you time to fish.
We are continually being told by members that they love the way the lake is kept and just
how idyllic the surroundings are to fish in. If you are enjoying the benefit and those
surroundings, then please lend a hand at one of the work parties. Our bailiffs and the
regular few members that always turn out cannot do everything themselves, they do
need help. At the end of the day, we all part of the same club after all.
2012 FOURTH QUARTER MATCH RESULTS
NO! It really is “Chris Thomas” and not “Matt Lucas” off the telly.
MATCH WINNER FOR OCTOBER 2012
1st PLACE. Chris Thomas
WEIGHT. 8lb 0oz
2nd PLACE. Mike Andrews Jnr WEIGHT. 5lb 4oz
MATCH WINNER FOR NOVEMBER 2012
1st PLACE. Mike Andrews Jnr WEIGHT. 4lb 4oz
2nd PLACE. Ivan Noakes
WEIGHT. 3lb 3oz
MATCH WINNER FOR DECEMBER 2012
1st PLACE. Anthony Ford WEIGHT. 2lb 12oz
2nd PLACE. Ivan Noakes
Nice to see the Christmas winner’s polo shirt fits like a glove Tony.
WEIGHT. 2lb 4oz
2012 FINAL MATCH RESULTS
ANGLERS
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
POINTS
TOTAL
ADJUSTED
NAME,DATE AND
MATCH
7
MATCH
8
MATCH
9
MATCH
10
MATCH
11
MATCH
12
POINTS
POSITIONS
MATCH POINTS
08.07.12
05.08.12
02.09.12
14.10.12
11.11.12
09.12.12
2012
1
MIKE ANDREWS JNR
8
0
11
18
20
15
152
1
2
ALLAN WITHERS
16
18
13
10
12
17
144
2
3
COLIN CHAPMAN
12
13
0
16
14
13
138
3
4
MARK SMITH
17
12
9
17
15
13
138
3
5
IVAN NOAKES
13
10
11
12
18
18
134
4
6
MICKY PETTENGELL
20
8
18
8
16
11
130
5
7
PETER CURD
16
0
20
15
14
11
119
6
8
MIKE ANDREWS SNR
10
16
5
15
0
11
118
7
9
IAN BEDFORD
6
14
12
7
0
16
118
7
10
MARK WHYATT
0
0
4
0
17
11
115
8
11
STEVEN REDDING
0
20
17
0
9
14
105
9
12
ANTHONY FORD
0
15
16
0
10
20
103
10
13
RICHARD JONES
7
9
8
7
10
11
95
11
14
STEVE TAYLOR
18
17
0
13
10
0
85
12
15
DEREK SHIELDS
11
0
15
0
0
0
80
13
16
JOHN OSMER
9
11
8
9
0
11
78
14
17
MARK H
15
0
15
12
0
0
42
15
18
CHRIS THOMAS
0
0
8
20
0
0
28
16
19
ANDY COLLINS
0
8
0
0
0
0
16
17
20
MARTIN RIVE
0
8
0
0
0
0
8
18
21
MITCHELL RIVE
0
8
0
0
0
0
8
18
22
MANDY SALT
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
19
23
TERRY ROBINSON
0
0
0
5
0
0
5
20
24
CHRIS BATTEN
0
0
4
0
0
0
4
21
25
KEVIN SLADDEN
0
0
4
0
0
0
4
21
MICHAEL.S.ANDREWS 2013 OVERALL MATCH WINNER
IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE ( Contribution by Peter Curd)
Tow rope tactics just will not work in cold weather.
Here are a few useful tips I hope will keep you fish coming.
From November until the middle of March, we can expect fish activity to slow down considerably. Fish
become very lethargic with the colder water temperatures and in turn feed less, so there is less need for
you to feed in large quantities.
Couple this with falling leaves, Lilly pads and rushes disappearing, fish become easily spooked. It seems all
against us. But it really isn’t the end of the world, just the end of the summer.
So what exactly can we do to provoke bites?
WAGGLER FISHING.
Set your float as low as you can comfortably see in the water! The more of your float that is under the
water, the less buoyancy there is. Hence the easier it is for a fish to register your bite.
Use less shot down the line, so that your bait sinks slowly. This will give you more options of picking up a
bite at all depths. Remember not all fish will be sitting on the bottom, even in winter.
QUIVER TIPPING/ FEEDER FISHING
Again, use a longer hook length tail than you would normally in order for your bait to drop through slowly.
Once the bait has reached the bottom, give it an occasional twitch, to try and provoke a bite. Finally re cast
more often if no bites are produced.
POLE FISHING
Use a longer line between your pole tip and your float, this will ensure you are not casting an unfamiliar
shadow over the top of your swim, spooking any fish that may be there.
The clearer the water becomes the more important this tactic is.
It is also safe to cut down on your elastic strength, as the fish are a lot less active.
Scale down on all line strengths and hook sizes, for all methods.
Fish for a bite, but don’t be frightened to scale up again if fish start feeding later in the day.
Roach, Chub, Perch and even the humble Gudgeon will all play a part in our winter fishing. Carp and Tench
will be a bonus as opposed to the norm. Don’t let a cold day just become a maggot drowning session. A
couple of extra minutes thinking about your approach, plumbing up accurately will make all of the
difference.
And finally, ease off of the feed until you have fish in front of you. Feed little and often, it can make the
difference between a fish and a blank.
So wrap up warm. Happy Fishing and I hope to see you on the bank
NIGHT FISHING
It is also a well known fact within the club, that there are some good fish to be caught at night and those
members that bivvy out to night fish, can have a great evenings sport to prove it. Below are three photos
of recent catches from earlier in the year.
1<
2>
<3
1. Allan with an early evening Mirror Carp
2. John O with his late evening Mirror Carp
3. Steve with an even better Mirror Carp than
mine (Damn it)
TYING A HAIR RIG
Talking to a newly joined member recently about tying hair rigs I thought it may be another one of those
things that would be good to put in to the newsletter and share with our members to assist those that are
If you have any hints or tips
that you think may be of benefit to our members and are willing to share them.
still not sure how to tie them. I hope the three step plan below helps.
Please email me at: - majorslakes@hotmail.co.uk
STEP 1
Tie a tiny loop in the end of your hook-length line, trim off the tag end and thread the line through the back of your eyed hook.
STEP 2
Pull the hook-length through the eye of the hook until the hair hangs the desired length from the bend of the hook. Now hold the hair securely and begin
whipping the hook length around the hook shank and the hair.
STEP 3
Keep the whipping as tight as possible, continuing whipping down the hook shank until they sit adjacent to the point of the hook. Now make one final whip up
and on top of the previous whippings. Finally thread the end of the hook-length through the back of the hook's eye once more. Pull and tie to your mainline or
rig.
AT LAST SOME PHOTOS FROM WALLEND FISHERY
You will remember that our second newsletter of 2012 had an article about Wallend Fishery our sister lake
at Sheerness, and just how productive it could be?
This fishery has given some excellent sport to those members that have fished it on a regular basis.
However we have never had any photos of catches from Wallend ,until now, thanks to father and son
members Martin and Mitchell Rive.
Martin told us that the fish were taken from their favourite weed bed swim in May and August of this year
using boilies as the hook bait of choice.
EVEN FUNGI CAN LOOK ATTRACTIVE ( Well I thought so)
The photo below is of fungi growing from the tree stump which is adjacent to the lake storage shed. I
apologise if you consider it rather self indulgent, but I personally thought it was worth sharing.
COMMENTS FROM OUR BAILIFFS
MARK :- 07939 573323
STEVEN:- 07966 291779
COLIN (BANK SIDE ONLY)
Following several requests, that would seem to have been ignored in previous newsletters, and other
items that the bailiffs feel need to be brought to the attention of members. Our bailiffs have requested
their own section be added to this newsletter, so that they can reiterate those points again once and for
all.
If there anything you are uncertain about regarding Majors Lakes or its rules, or any comments made by
the bailiffs below, please let them be known by contacting one them on the above numbers. Due to Colin’s
shift work pattern we have withheld his mobile number; however you can talk to him on the bank.
The points that our bailiffs would like highlighted once again, are as follows.
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Members are still breaking branches off of the bank side foliage. Please do not do this. Fish to the
surroundings, do not try and change them.
You may only use “FREE RUNNING RIGS” when bottom fishing (Ledgering). We have added two
images for those that are not aware of what a “FREE RUNNING RIG” actually is. Our bailiffs have
been instructed to check any anglers rig they suspect may not be “FREE RUNNING”
Members are still leaving baited, unattended rods in the water.
FREE RUNNING CAGE FEEDER
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FREE RUNNING BOMB RIG
FREE RUNNING METHOD FEEDER
We have had several complaints about the toilets being left in a very dirty condition after use. They
are there for your benefit. Please respect other members that may wish to use them, by keeping
them clean. If there is any cause for concern regarding the toilet, please call either Steven or Mark
on the above numbers.
The bailiffs have on many occasions found the padlock on the main gate left on the correct code.
When entering or leaving the lake please scramble the code on the main gate padlock so that the
correct code is not visible to non members.
Majors Lakes coarse fish – an occasional series featuring the species
found in the lake (Written by John Osmer).
GUDGEON (Gobio Gobio).
British record: 5 oz
Largest Majors specimen caught to date: Has anyone weighed one?
Gobio Gobio is an appropriate name for this greedy little fish. Even on days where nothing
else is feeding you can usually catch one or two of these little blighters! The gudgeon has a
long body with a dark back and light underside. It looks very much like a small barbel. It can
be distinguished from this by the fact that it has only one pair of barbules, one on either
side of its lower lip. (The barbel has 2). The gudgeon is predominantly a bottom feeder and
uses these barbules as a sensory aid to finding food. It is a shoaling fish and when you catch
one you normally catch more. Most methods will catch provided that the bait is presented
on or just above the bottom. They love maggots and small worms although they can be
caught on almost any smallish bait. Fishing with light float tackle can keep you amused for
hours when nothing else is happening, but don’t expect match winning weights.
Tight lines and don’t blame us if our advice doesn’t work!
GUEST / TRIAL TICKETS
Please note when purchasing a guest/ trial ticket. These tickets are only valid for fishing DAWN to DUSK.
We have had occasions where members and their guests have fished on in excess of this period. This is
strictly not allowed.
It is important to note too that the same rule applies to all “day membership only” members.
FULL NIGHT FISHING
We have been asked to point out that applications to night fish can only be applied for by persons over the
age of 18 years, the only exception to this rule is that anybody under the age of 18 years may night fish
provided they are accompanied by a member over the age of 18 years who is themselves in possession of a
“full” or “night fishing” membership.
BOILIES FOR SALE
Green lipped mussel and liver boilies in sizes 12, 14, 16 and 24mm.
Although there are fewer 12 & 14 mm
These are fresh frozen boilies so need to be used immediately.
Or they can be frozen for use later.
They have been extremely successful at Majors Lakes.
I use them personally, which has resulted in my catching the lake record
Common Carp weighing in at 23lb 8oz.
Prices From as little as £4.00 per kilo.
Please call Jez on 07711 739554
THIS COULD BE YOUR ADVERT
As a member you are entitled to advertise your business in our
newsletter free of charge. Why not contact me at
majorslakes@hotmail.co.uk
And we can see how we can fit your advert in to one of our 2013
newsletters. You never know what benefits you may derive until you try.
WEST MALLING ANGLING
West Malling Angling will offer a discount where possible to all Majors Lakes members on production of your membership card, as a few
of our members have already found out to their benefit.
It is worth mentioning that Jeff, the shop’s owner, will always do his best to obtain to special order, anything that he has
access to but does not have in stock at the time of your visit. A service I think you will agree is very rare in tackle shops today.