DOGGETTS is a hot spot when there is a decent wind blowing and the best bags were landed this week in the crisp easterly breeze.

When the sun is not shining good tench are taken in most parts of the lake (on larger baits) but John Perry found pole tactics and maggot hook baits best this week.

He landed his best ever tench when he netted a superb eight pound specimen from the North bank.

Quite a few anglers are discovering the good perch that lurk in Doggetts. But to find the best fish anglers must fish the margins – and often within a foot of the bank.

The float fishermen are also enjoying plenty of sport at the moment with really good rudd and roach often being snagged.

But, as always, the Doggett’s bream are never too far away.

With the on-going high pressure and easterly winds the western side of the lake has produced most of the carp.

The calmer nights and mornings have seen plenty of fish near the surface.

And the odd carp has been taken on floaters and ziggs.

Lee Bowling fished a night on the South bank recently, landing a 15lb mirror, but was upset to lose a bigger fish which just did not want to be netted.

Another local angler Bill Hierons fished a few hours, battling an an easterly breeze, and brought ashore a 16lb common and a 16lb mirror.

Bill’s brother, John, tried to get in on the action by jumping in the same swim for the night.

But he was not so lucky as the two carp he hooked both got away John Peters landed an 18lb mirror from the south bank while local angler Alan Slade fished his favourite swim in the back pool for a night.

Having no luck in the back pool – and seeing how many fish were showing in the main lake – Alan moved to the ‘long arm’ which turned out to be a good decision as he soon landed a mid-double and a upper-double mirror.

 

Salisbury grabs top spot with late carp lure in first open match of the season

THE first open match of the season has been fished at Rochford reservoir.

The match was a ‘carp-only’ one and all the anglers that took part managed to catch.

The top two had 13 carp each but it was Nash sponsored angling coach Mike Salisbury who came out on top by 12oz.

His total weight was 85lb 10oz with second place going to Sean Thacker on 84lb 14oz.

Salisbury fished the road bank casting out towards the island using a method feeder with fake plastic sweet corn as hook bait.

Salisbury managed to land a 6lb common in the last minute of the match.

And his well timed catch enabled him to take the top spot.

During the week, Steve Holder and Del Outlaw travelled from Orpington to fish the reservoir and had great sport on the pole.

Holder had a cracking day; catching 18 carp to 21lb, tench to 7lb 6oz and bream up to 5lb.

He fished a variety of different baits but found pellet to be the best lure for the fish. For more information on marks hall fisheries call Nick North on 07963112588 or visit www.markshallfisheries.co.uk

 

Southend Pier Open will bring in anglers

THE THORPE Bay Angling Association will stage the Southend Pier Open Competition on Sunday.

Seventy pegs are available in two zones with fishing taking place between 9:30am and 2:30pm.

Pre-payment for entry is available, with a closing date of Thursday September 18. Alternatively any remaining pegs will be available on the day at the pier entrance from 7:30am.

Entry is £10 plus optional pools.

The competition carries a first prize of £500 plus additional cash prizes.

This year’s event has been sponsored by Alan Blunden Insurance Brokers.

For further details contact Doug on 01702 216429.

 

SEA REPORT

by Graham Barrett

Southend Pier: Lee, from Southend Angling Centre, reports mullet, herring, mackerel and whiting being landed from the pier.

Southend beaches: There is the chance of a school bass, pin whiting, flounders and the occasional eel from all the beaches.

Barge Pier: The mullet are still at the Shoebury structure, so keep trying to catch them. One angler did land a couple of them.

East Beach: Mullet are being caught from the Shoebury beach in the stretch from the boom to the Ministry of Defence fence. The best bait is maddies on small hooks.

Thamesmead: Eddie Sharp reports flounders, bass and eels being caught.

Erith: Flounders and eels have been landed at Morrison’s Jetty.

Belvedere: Large eels up to 3.5lb have been tempted by raw prawn bait, and there are lots of flounders too.

Gravesend: Graham, from Dolphin Angling, reports flounders, soles, eels and bass being caught.

Greenthithe: Bass to 3.5lb have been landed, along with flounders and the occasional sole.

River Crouch: The big tides last week saw an improvement in catches, with an increase in the number of eels taken, plus bass and one or two roker.

River Roach: Flounders, eels and the occasional bass on prawn bait have provided sport.

Walton Pier: Richard Holgate says bass and skate have been caught, with codling and whiting when the sea is rougher.

Hipkins Beach: Bass and soles have been making up the catches on the Naze beach.

Walton beach, Frinton town beach and Holland on Sea: There are good bags of roker and codling being caught, with whiting on overcast days and on night tides.

Clacton Pier: Roker and bass are showing.

Felixstowe: There are lots of pin whiting to be had, with some of them sizeable.

Thorpeness: Some big whiting and codling have been reported on night tides.

Aldeburgh: Mostly undersize fish have been caught.

Boats: Anglers aboard the ‘Misty Lady’ (sailing out of Walton) caught bass, thornback rays and smooth hounds.

They have also had tope when the weather has been better and the vessel can go even further out to sea.