STORIES of a big carp cruising around Cottage Lake at Witherington Farm Fishery have been proved to be true.

Carp angler Nigel Tupper fished the lake at the weekend and landed a mirror carp which was photographed and weighed in front of witnesses at 20lb 10oz.

Dave Moody, boss of Reid's Tackle, based at the fishery, said anglers had reported catching a big carp from Cottage Lake on several occasions, but there was never any proof as there had never been witnesses or a photograph.

“It is the same with Sellwood Lake but, as yet, any big carp in that lake has not been verified,” said Moody.

No such problem with the fishery's recognised carp water, Barnmoor Lake, which continues to produce big carp with a 22lb mirror being banked on Sunday. Other than the two big carp, sport has slowed a little, with match weights on Sellwood, the Snake and Cottage, around the 50lb mark. Pleasure anglers have also found fish tricky to find and catch.

Water bailiff Stuart Wilson, at London AA's stretch of the Avon at Britford, paints a similar picture. “It’s hard going at the moment. The main river is producing a few chub and the odd roach, with the best at 1lb 11oz, but the carrier has not fished at all well. The water is quite coloured.

Salisbury Angling Club's match anglers had their annual visit to one of the club's prime trout stretches on Sunday. They fished the Countess Fishery at Amesbury and matchwinner Malc Pepperill landed two specimen grayling in his winning bag of 11lb 15oz. Both grayling tipped the scales at 1lb 14oz. Cliff Carbus was runner-up with 8lb 12oz and Stan Palmer was third just four ounces behind him.

The Ringwood area stretches at Winkton are fishing quite well for roach, with bags of around 20lb a time, while Manor Farm has produced chub to 7lb 11oz and barbel to 13lb 12oz. Andy Brown, in charge at Avon Angling Centre in Ringwood, said the Avon had risen slightly following several days of rain.

He said: “The colour needs to fine down and then sport should improve.”