Western Reservoir Newsletter 2015 I ve written this Newsletter to bring everyone up to date about the Western Reservoir Syndicate, and how it has progressed during its third year of operation as a carp fishery. Since starting the Syndicate in 2012 I ve recorded details of Members catches and have reported them regularly in the Catch Report section of our website, which I hope provides a useful and ongoing insight into the progress the carp and the venue are making. I ve collated information from Catch Reports Members have sent to me, and have included a brief review of 2014 to provide some background about the Syndicate which I hope will be of interest to you. Wherever you wet a line in 2015 have a good year and enjoy your fishing. Best regards, Steve Jackson
2014 Catch Reports 348 carp were reported in total, 340 of which were weighed, the table below shows the fish that were weighed. 2014 Captures Smallest Largest Average Doubles average % < 5lb 8oz % > 5lb 8oz < 9lb 15oz % > 10lb No. of Doubles January 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 February 6 3lb 10oz 14lb 2oz 9lb 6oz 12lb 1oz 16.67 16.67 66.66 4 March 9 4lb 2oz 14lb 5oz 9lb 1oz 13lb 6.5oz 11.11 66.67 22.22 2 April 18 4lb 2oz 15lb 10oz 9lb 10oz 11lb 15oz 11.11 38.89 50 9 May 64 4lb 10oz 19lb 14oz 11lb 6oz 13lb 14oz 3.51 35.09 61.4 35 June 75 5lb 19lb 12oz 10lb 3oz 12lb 10oz 5.4 45.95 48.65 36 July 56 4lb 5oz 18lb 7lb 13lb 2oz 16.07 44.64 39.29 22 August 42 4lb 24lb 2oz 11lb 9oz 14lb 9oz 7.14 35.72 57.14 24 September 51 3lb 4oz 21lb 2oz 11lb 9oz 14lb 5oz 7.84 29.41 62.75 32 October 17 5lb 10oz 24lb 2oz 11lb 3oz 15lb 3oz 0 52.94 47.06 8 November 10 8lb 6oz 20lb 4oz 14lb 11oz 15lb 6oz 0 10 90 9 December 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 348 181 Twelve Month Average 10lb 9oz 13lb 9.5oz 7.88 36.6 55.52 The statistics show the carp are continuing to make good weight gains across all year classes, the percentage of captures reported below 5lb 8oz fell to 7.88% while the number of captures in the 5lb 8oz 9lb 15oz and 10lb+ brackets increased to 36.60% and 55.52% respectively. The combined average weight of the fish caught during 2014 is 10lb 9oz (9lb 4.5oz in 2013), and the average weight of the doubles caught is 13lb 9.5oz (11lb 12oz in 2013). In 2013 488 carp were captured and weighed, 193 or 39.55% of which were double figure fish. In 2014 340 carp were captured and weighed, 181 or 53.24% of which were double figure fish. Using the same percentage measure as in 2013 if 39.55% of captures in 2014 were doubles this would equate to 134 double figure carp having been caught, 181 doubles were banked, a pro rata increase of 34.61% in the number of double figure fish captured indicating that the overall number of doubles is continuing to increase. In 2014 one in three of the doubles captured were in the 15 19lb+ size bracket (average 17lb 4oz) compared to one in four captured in 2013, and one in five in captured in 2012, which is further evidence of the good growth rates and weight gains the carp have been achieving since the venue opened in 2012.
Catch Report data received from Members in 2012 established a base line to measure, record and monitor the growth rates and weight gains of the fish against e.g.: Table showing captures of doubles in 2012 vs 2014 Size 2012 Doubles Caught vs 2014 Doubles Caught % Increase 10-13lb 77 77 0 13-15lb 22 50 227.27 15-19lb+ 24 54 225.00 Total 123 181 47.15 The number of doubles in the 13-15lb and 15-19lb+ bracket increased as the low and mid doubles became mid doubles and upper doubles respectively. The number of doubles in the 10 13lb bracket appears to have remained static, but it is clearly evident from photos supplied by Members, and by monitoring individual fish s growth rates that the carp are all progressing in an upwards direction with increasing numbers of fish making double figures for the first time. E.g.: In 2013 only two double figure common carp were caught, the largest reported was banked in October at 11lb 7oz. In 2014 twelve double figure common carp were caught, the largest reported was banked in November at 14lb 10oz, incidentally a different fish to the two commons reported in 2013. A Kingfisher Lakes Special boilie (KFL s) was fed regularly into the Western during the year as part of a feeding programme to encourage continued good growth from the stock. The carp have certainly been making good weight gains consuming them as part of their diet, and I intend to continue feeding with the KFL s during 2015. Since being stocked the majority of carp have shown an average yearly growth rate in excess of 3lb per year, given the fact that they are young growing fish, I think it s reasonable to forecast that they will continue to make similar progress to that which they have already achieved over the last two years during the coming months. It s fair to state with numbers of upper doubles and a few twenties coming through the ranks the Western is establishing it s self as a good doubles water where multiple catches are not unusual.
2014 Review It was a quieter year fishing wise on the Western with less Members getting bank side and fewer carp being caught than the previous year. This was in part due to the fact that some Members didn t renew their Tickets, and partially because renewing Members simply weren t able to visit as often as they had previously managed, which I can sympathise with! My own fishing at the Western consisted of one 6 hour and two 3 hour short sessions in late September and early October. I successfully managed to avoid the attentions of the carp on my three trips, confirming to myself that I still had the knack of setting up on showing fish that were on the move The winter of 2013/14 was the wettest winter in over 100 years it was also one of the mildest. Once the somewhat variable spring weather conditions had settled down and the May frosts were out the way summer arrived and decided to stay. Who could have forecast that the summer of 2014 would become one of the longest and consistently warm summers since records began in 1910? The majority of the carp in the reservoir spawned heavily during June, the hot spell of weather that enticed the fish to commence spawning remained throughout July when a second attempt at spawning was made before cooler conditions returned in August. It is always a relief to see the carp emerge from their spawning rituals sooner rather than later as they can then channel their energies into repairing any knocks and bumps and resume real term growth.
The prolonged summer combined with the supplementary feeding programme certainly benefited the carp, it has helped the fish attain some very impressive growth rates and weight gains for a venue situated this far north. A few examples of carp that are making good progress in the Western: 10lb 4oz July 2013 13lb 4oz November 2014 10lb 14oz June 2013 15lb 14oz July 2014 11lb 3oz May 2013 15lb 14oz August 2014
12lb 2oz October 2013 15lb 2oz August 2014 13lb 9oz September 2013 16lb 8oz November 2014 13lb 13oz August 2013 17lb 10oz September 2014
14lb September 2013 18lb 5oz September 2014 14lb 8oz August 2013 17lb 12oz September 2014 14lb 10oz July 2013 19lb 2oz November 2014
16lb 6oz October 2013 20lb 2oz September 2014 Although still relatively early days in fishery management and development terms I m delighted with the progress the carp have made in the Western during 2014. Obviously one of the highlights of the year was seeing the venue produce its first twenty pound carp in August, Bertha @ 24lb 2oz, she was stocked in April 2012 at 14lb 8oz and is testimony to the good growth rates and weight gains the fish are achieving. During the autumn two other carp pushed through the twenty pound barrier for the first time and numbers of upper doubles to 19lb+ were also captured which is very pleasing news and further confirmation that the Lake and its inhabitants are heading in the right direction. It seems that the Western is starting to feature on the carp angling radar; the levels of enquiries I receive about the Syndicate have certainly increased anyway. Given the increasing level of interest in the Syndicate and the fact that I want Members to continue to enjoy their fishing in 2015, I ve decided to reduce the amount of Full Membership places available from sixty to forty five which will protect the interests of the existing Members and ensure that the venue doesn t become too busy. Membership places in 2015 will be limited to 45 Full paying Members along with a limited number of Associate Tickets, there are potentially only 10 Memberships available for the season commencing 1st May 2015. A Waiting List is now in operation. If you are interested in joining the Syndicate and would like to be considered for Membership please complete the Application Form in the Western Reservoir Welcome Pack and email it to me @ kingfisherlakes@hotmail.co.uk Best fishes, Steve