Woodford Winter League Round 4

Darren · Woodford Winter League Round 4

Woodford Winter League in association with Greys
Round 4, 27th January 2008

Woodford Fly Fishery, Carrickfergus held the 4th round their winter league on Sunday 27th January. Conditions for the competition were the best so far with the temperature into double figures, over cast sky and a light southwesterly breeze, all the makings for a good days fishing.
At 10am the whistle blew to start the round and within minutes the first fish was being played, falling to local angler Chris Spence, caught on floating line and nymphs fished under the indicator. Irish Ladies International Captain Julie Gerry took a very quick lead catching four fish within the first 25 minutes, all caught on a black and green lure fished on an intermediate line. Julie then went on to catch her fifth fish, which completed her bag limit within 55th minutes.
The second hour fished just as well as the first hour with fish being landed all around the lake on a variety of lures and nymphs. Local angler Harry Moffett hooked into what he described as the biggest fish he had ever seen, only for the fish to break him a couple of minutes into the fight.
Shortly into the third hour more anglers were recording their bags of 5 fish, Ladies International Sue Brown, Woodford regulars Campbell Baird (previous 2 times Champion) and Geordie Hall, all using intermediate lines with either blobs or black and green lures. Campbell went on to catch and release a further 18 fish, 23 in total for the day, 14 of which he caught from one peg, a catch rate that I don’t think has ever been seen in any of the competitions at Woodford.
As the hour progressed three other anglers also recorded their 1st five fish bags for this years winter league, Lisburn angler Lenny Magee, local angler Harry Moffett and Newtownabbey angler Michael Maher, who caught his 1st ever competition bag up.
With a steady flow of fish being caught minutes before the one o’clock lunch a lot of the anglers did not want to stop for the half hour break, but in they came to receive their lunch of home made soup and fresh sandwiches. The talk at lunchtime was all about how well the lake was fishing in the spring like conditions, even saying that the fish could be caught on dry flies!
Not long after lunch local angler Tony Denyer caught his fifth fish, his second bag up in a row, using orange blobs fished on an intermediate line. Next to bag up and fishing the peg next to Tony was local angler Ian McCandless, using lures fished on a floating line. This was Ian’s 1st ever competition bag up at Woodford.
The lake was still fishing steadily into the last hour, which gave those anglers chasing their last fish or two the will to fish right up to the final whistle. Lisburn angler Derek McConville was next to bag up, using nymphs fished on a sink-tip fly line. With only 5 minutes to go local angler Andrew Braden caught his fifth fish on a blob fished on a floating line. Both these competitors needed to bag up to keep them in touch with top spot.
Local angler Jim Fleming had 3 fish with 3 minutes to go, he caught his forth and then hooked and got broke in what would have been his fifth with only seconds left on the clock.
At the final whistle there was 11 bags of five fish the most for this years winter league. Top spot went to Sue Brown for the second round in a row making it a hat-trick of wins for the ladies, Sue’s fish weighed in at 5.03kg(11Lb), 2nd place went to Andrew Braden with 5 fish for 4.94kg and for the first time ever there was a tie for 3rd place between Julie Gerry and Tony Denyer, both weighing in at 4.83kg.

League Table Top after 4 rounds
1st Campbell Baird, 20 fish weighing 19.11kg
2nd George Hall, 18 fish weighing 15.80kg
3rd Derek McConville, 18 fish weighing 15.42kg
4th Julie Gerry, 17 fish weighing 19.24kg
5th Andrew Braden, 17 fish weighing 14.82kg
6th Tony Denyer, 17 fish weighing 13.94kg
7th Kenny Ferguson, 14 fish weighing 11.10kg
8th Chris Spence, 14 fish weighing 11.09kg
9th Jim Fleming, 14 fish weighing 10.88kg
10th Sue Brown, 13 fish weighing 14.08kg

FIREY BROWN · Woodford winter league

Darren

again another excellent report mate,,seems a great day was had by all the anglers involved and the ladies appear to be hot on the toes of the men with some cracking bag limits not least Julie bagging up in only 55 minutes,,that must be some sort of record its self..is that the fastest ever bag limit ?

well done to all who entered and as you said Sunday was a good day weather wise,,it doesn`t look so good for this weekend apparently we`re in for a nasty one............

Regards
FIREY BROWN

Darren

FB,

The record for a bag up is 15 minutes, 5 fish in 4 casts including 2 double hook-ups, this was done in Round 1 by 18 year old Darren Haggan Shocked

I think there has been atleast 6 1st hour bag ups during this years Winter League.

Very Happy

Watty's Rock

Great report, looks like Woodford is fishing it's socks off. Smile

FIREY BROWN

Woodford Winter League Round 4

Woodford winter league