Carp anglers struggled at Rochford's Doggetts lake this week, with the only fish being landed from fairly tight swims near the reed beds.

Chris Lyndsay, of Westcliff, and Adam Lynaham found copious amounts of tench and bream at the long arm, but both thought the carp were going to elude them.

Having fished for a couple of days, Chris' efforts were finally rewarded with two superb mirrors, one of 23.6lb, the other making the scales groan at 25.8lb.

Fishing his first long session this year, another Westcliff angler, Danny Ryan, certainly raised the level of the lake due to the amount of trout pellets used as loose feed.

He netted six mirror carp, weighing between 14.9lb and 22.6lb, one common carp of 14.8lb, plus four tench to 6.4lb.

The general fishing fluctuated with the weather, but most anglers who managed early morning sessions found the tench and bream very responsive to corn and pellets. Groundbait was essential to hold their interest.

Published Thursday, May 1, 2003

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