THE fishing continues to be fairly hard at Rochford’s Doggetts lake but fish are definitely showing signs of recovering after spawning.

The float fishermen are not getting their normal share of tench but anglers that fish the tip with boilies and luncheon meat seem to be finding good size tench on the gravel beds.

The carp anglers are also finding sport on the up with big fish showing on most parts of the lake.

Stuart Moore found the tench liked his boilies on the south bank as did a 16lb common.

Local angler and matchman John Hanks also found the south bank fished well for him on his first night with his whip producing excellent roach plus a good number of skimmers and some nice size perch.

His two carp rods produced numerous tench and two upper double figured mirrors.

The second night saw conditions change with the wind dropping and Hanks getting a good nights sleep and very few fish.

Toby Costigan from Wakering fished a night on the short arm which produced nothing until dawn when he promptly land a 19lb common plus mirrors of 23 and 16lbs.

Costigan’s final bag would have been much heavier had the large mirror he hooked near the island not shed the hook after a long battle.

The weekend saw Danny Rhead from Hadleigh on the long arm where he landed a common of 16lbs plus mirrors of 22 and 12lbs.

Just to tease anglers, the carp have been showing well on the north bank all week, but have proved difficult to catch.

Graham Hatts banked a mid double on floating crust but Anthony Gull, known as ‘the stalker’, thrived on the challenge.

As always Gull fished the corners and deep holes that others tend to ignore with their natural baits.

Equipped with a hand built three section Harrison stalking rod plus a antique youngs centre pin reel, Gull landed mirrors of 27 and 16lbs Any angler who has attempted to fish with a centre pin will know this is no mean achievement, so Gull has every right to claim a new Doggetts 'pin ' record with his mirror of 27lbs.