FISHING is entering its annual "sporadic" stage with some species beginning to spawn and showing no interest in baits.

But, as happens most years, it is not the same at every fishery nor in every lake. Some fishery owners report a slowing down of sport as carp and tench start to breed, others say sport continues to be good, it all depends on the weather and the water temperature.

One venue that is still fishing well is Watergate Farm Fishery at Bulford where, while some carp and tench have started to spawn, spending the days thrashing about in the margins, others are happy to feed.

Amesbury angler, Simon Steele, found a large shoal of carp and tench and was able to hold onto them ending his Sunday's outing with over 200lb of fish - carp ranging from 3lb to 11lb and tench up to 3lb.

Other anglers at Watergate also enjoyed good sport over the weekend with bags in excess of 30lb. The fishery's specimen carp lake is fishing well with plenty of carp in the mid-20lb range and several over 30lb.

Witherington Farm Fishery hosted the annual bank holiday three-day festival and results and details in next week's Rod and Line. But, during the festival, one competitor had 220lb of fish from Cottage Lake. Organisers say sport is reasonably good but many of the carp are beginning to spawn and this is affecting weights.

Fishery owners in the Ringwood area likewise report sporadic sport due to spawning but the main news from that area is the banking of an 8lb rainbow trout from Christchurch Angling Club's trout water at Whitesheet Lake, near Ringwood.

Fishing remains good at Waldens Farm Fishery, West Grimstead, and at Dandy's Ford Lane Fishery, near Wellow where some lakes are quieter than others due to spawning but on the whole sport remains steady on most of the lakes.