ANGLERS continue to enjoy decent spring fishing despite the cold nights and cool day-time winds.

The region’s lakes are producing bags of tench, carp, roach and bream with some quality fish among the catches. At Witherington Farm Fishery, a 27lb common carp was banked at the end of last week from Barnmoor Lake and reports indicate that smaller carp are now beginning to show in the Snake Lake.

The venue’s other lakes are fishing well for skimmers, silver fish and there are signs that smaller carp, around the 2lb to 5lb mark are starting to feed more keenly.

Hucklesbrook Lake, near Fordingbridge, is producing tench to just under 8lb and anglers have been catching quite a few around the 5lb to 6lb mark as well. Quality roach to over 1lb are being caught, while carp anglers have been banking commons and mirrors into the mid-20s with the best at 28lb. Holtwood Lake is still giving anglers good mixed bags of tench and carp.

Bream, roach and three members of the carp family - ghost, common and mirror - are being landed by visitors to Waldens Farm Fishery with all five lakes producing reasonable bags of fish. Bishops Lake has bream up to 6lb or so and several around the 4lb mark have been banked in the last week or so. Carp into double figures are being caught from Abbots Lake while Monks Lake is fishing well for skimmers, tench and roach. Corn or small pellet appears to be the best bait for roach and tench. The Match Lake is a good bet for smaller carp and quality roach and rudd.

Anglers visiting Watergate Farm Fishery at Bulford and Dandy’s Ford Lane Fishery at Wellow, say fishing at both venues is good while Salisbury Angling Club members visiting Nightingale Lake at Wellow - the only club lake to remain open all year - are enjoying sport with tench and plenty of carp between 2lb and 9lb.

The cold nights are slowing sport down early morning but as the day warms up, things improve and a couple of days of rain last week, freshened up the water at most fisheries.