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.
If a news item includes a thumbnail image, click on it to open a larger version.
Relax
Added at 11:31 on Sunday 22nd August 2021
It has been lovely to see anglers back at Ashmead, just relaxing after the challenges of the past year. Somehow, catching carp seems even less important to our guests just now; of course everyone wants to catch one of Ashmead's lovely carp but just being here with the freedom to enjoy the outdoors seems to be so much more important to our guests at this time.
The new season begins
Added at 13:46 on Sunday 27th June 2021
Reopening after spawning is always exciting and some superb carp have been landed, despite the fishing being as variable as the weather (it's more like March here than late June today). The Ashmead carp are definitely sun worshipers at this time of year...
What spring?
Added at 14:38 on Thursday 20th May 2021
After the lockdown, we had hoped for a beautiful spring to welcome our guests back to the banks of the Ashmead wetland but instead we've had late frosts, cold nights and torrential rain! It hasn't dampened the spirits of the anglers though and I think, for many, it has just been a complete release to get back onto the bank and back out into Nature...
There have been some wonderful fish caught but apart from Moonscale and The Long Common, the larger Ashmead residents have been elusive. I quite like it when the fish win!
Ashmead Winter Syndicate 2020
Added at 10:05 on Tuesday 17th November 2020
It’s great to see the winter syndicate get off to a flying start. It may be autumn still but we’ve had a couple of frosts and it’s good to see the fish responding well to the current mild spell.
Ashmead in winter has an austere beauty; it’s a time of low, golden light on the withered sedge and ruby sunsets. A time for teal and widgeon and the peregrine, and a time for deeply coloured carp in the peak of condition.
And mud. Lots of mud!
Autumn harvest
Added at 13:18 on Monday 12th October 2020
Remember when there see you be a traditional feeding spell in the Autumn, as the carp prepared for winter? It’s not something you hear discussed much these days and whether that’s down to a chance in climate or some aspect of the way we fish I’m not sure.
A traditional autumnal feed up has definitely been going on at Ashmead this year though, with plenty of fish caught, including some remarkable multiple captures.
Martyn Skoyles landed the two biggest mirrors within an hour of each other and then followed these up with commons of 36+ and 32+. Martin Noble landed five carp up.to 36+, in a session that included three thirties and last week the Long Common was caught along with two other thirty plus commons.
A superb autumn harvest .
Summer lovin'
Added at 14:39 on Wednesday 23rd September 2020
I haven't been keeping the news page up to date, partly because the summer has been so busy but ,mainly because life sometimes gets in the way! After the tranquility of lockdown, we have enjoyed a wonderful summer of sunshine, fish and wildlife. It has been such a pleasure to share Ashmead with our regular guests once more and to meet one or two new faces on the banks of the wetland.
The fishing has been steady rather than spectacular and each carp landed has been a carp well earned, through thoughtful angling; the Ashmead carp never give themselves up easily!
This is the equinox and autumn has arrived. The leaves are turning and falling and there was a distinct chill in the air and a morning dew today... Probably my favourite time of year (although I love the vibrancy of spring and the arrival of the summer migrants). This is the time I fish Ashmead myself for five days and I am really looking forward to spending five days on the wetland from this Friday, absorbed by nature and with the pressures of the world left to wait outside the Ashmead gate for my return to reality on Wednesday...
Ashmead unlocked.
Added at 20:51 on Tuesday 07th July 2020
Lovely as the spring has been on Ashmead, without anyone disturbing the fish and the wildlife, it has been great to open the gates to anglers again, now that the Covid restrictions allow. "Ashmead time" means a great deal to our regular guests and it feels right to have anglers back on the banks for the wetland, pursuing a brief encounter with an ashmead carp.
The carp spawned hard and well during lockdown and they have been feeding hard as a result.... We lost one of the large, older, commons called Rags though spawning stress but it is the nature of Ashmead that, with strong, natural recruitment, another fish or two will grow to take her place.
We would like to thank our loyal angling friends for their continued support throughout the Covid lockdown and we look forward to seeing you all on the wetland again, now that the fishery is open.
Bill Phillips landed the big common called JC this afternoon and I had the pleasure of helping him net her. His smile captures the mood of the wetland just now and the joy of angling here... After the troubles of the recent lockdown, that is what it's all about!
The best day of the year!
Added at 20:59 on Saturday 04th July 2020
We’re open again and anglers are back in the wetland, which is great! I’ll pop up a post about the fishing later.
Right now, the thing that is making me smile is thinking back to Thursday and what is, for me, the highlight of the Ashmead year.
We were closed to anglers (as we are every week) and the oldest kids from the local primary school came down to enjoy some time pond dipping and learning about the freshwater environment.
I love this event but this year, after lockdown, it was especially good.... Just seeing the kids running around with their friends, laughing and getting wet and muddy was brilliant.
Most of them were fascinated by the wildlife we found and saw; everything from toads and newts to fish, warblers and dragonflies! They were a credit to the school and spending time with them was fantastic.
Our two youngest children went to the same village school and Alistair helped me show them the Ashmead wildlife.... Hopefully one or two of them will also become interested in nature conservation and perhaps this day in the wetland will light that spark!
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