Latest news
This page will be regularly updated with latest news from the fishery and our consultancy work, whether it's catches, wildlife sightings, a new project or anything else of interest.
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Brian Skoyles review
Added at 20:05 on Thursday 06th October 2016
For anyone interested, Brian Skoyles has written a lovely review of his recent Ashmead session on the Daiwa website (www.daiwasports.co.uk). Take a look at the "News" section, where you will find his piece "Wild carp fishing in the wetlands". Thanks for the kind words Bri, we look forward to seeing you again next year.
Mists and mellow fruitfulness...
Added at 14:42 on Sunday 02nd October 2016
Autumn has arrived and it has brought some seasonal class to Ashmead.
Angling's "Crown Jewels", in the form of Dick Walkers own rod and Bernard Venables Allcock's Aerial (both brought to the bank by Chris Yates).
A Migrant Hawker dragonfly, enjoying the warming effect of the early morning sunlight on this year's blackberries.
The Mavericks
Added at 20:34 on Thursday 29th September 2016
A couple of sussy characters were spotted at Ashmead this week... Chris got to meet Maverick the Lanner Falcon (who is cared for by a friend of mine Martin Cox) as a small compensation for losing to Alistair in the perch match!
Family entertainment...
Added at 08:51 on Thursday 22nd September 2016
Lovely to see Brian and Martyn Skoyles back on the banks of Ashmead last week. Great company, keen on their cake and both very good, thoughtful anglers, it is a visit guaranteed to bring fun, food and fish! The photographs show the best three carp they landed in a beautiful, autumnal week, when the carp were playing hard to get.
Brian Skoyles sent us a few words about his stay...
"There is only one reason I don’t fish Ashmead more often and that is that it is in completely the wrong part of the country. M this, M that and M some more, six hours on one motorway after another with plenty of traffic and road works to add to the fun meant I was somewhat tired as I slowly made my way down the track to Ashmead but getting out of the car and looking out over the lake quickly swept away any fatigue, Ashmead looked fabulous."
"A walk around with Mark and pegs sorted it was time to get the rods out. I had five days, Martyn three, we’d both said if we could get a decent fish each we would be more than happy. As I watched the sun set it didn’t really get dark as we were treated to a clear night sky and a simply awesome full moon. I sat watching the silver ripples shimmering on the surface of the water. It is hard to imagine anywhere more atmospheric, a fish crashed in the distance, there was no point getting in the sleeping bag just yet I wasn’t in the mood for sleep."
"Eventually tiredness took over and I retired to the bivvy. Early morning and as I sat with the first tea of the day Martyn sent a text, he’s had a small mirror, soon after I was texting him, I’d had a mid-twenty common."
"It was a brilliant start to our session and that’s how it stayed. Fabulous food, thanks Shona, fabulous company, thanks to Dave Preston, Craig Lyons, Mike Starkey and of course Mark and Shona, and fabulous fish topped by Martyn’s 31lb plus mirror and my 34lb plus common on the last morning."
"Ashmead is a very special fishery, just a shame it’s not 'North of Sheffield'â€.
Single!
Added at 11:08 on Monday 05th September 2016
Not much to be said really! Good friend and long time Ashmead angler James Wenglorz with Single Scale at 53b 12oz yesterday... Great guy, great carp.
The Angel's share
Added at 17:14 on Friday 02nd September 2016
Rob Angel with Moonscale at 47lb. Rob also had several other good fish including the fattest 32b common I've seen in years. Moonscale was a new personal best for Rob and well deserved after several blank nights last year.
South West reflections...
Added at 13:54 on Sunday 28th August 2016
Some lovely shots from Phil Thorpe (thanks Phil) from a recent Ashmead session he shared with a group of South West carp anglers. I've added some short video's shot by Phil to the website as well.
Maverick has landed...
Added at 19:26 on Friday 19th August 2016
Martin Cox brought his fabulous Lanner Falcon called Maverick up to the wetland last week. A first for Ashmead. Maverick even got to see one of Ashmead's commons landed by Jack Holt, which generated what is probably the most original capture shot of a carp ever taken!
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