DESPITE the cold nights, lake fishing is picking up across the region with heavyweight carp, quality bream and tench, plus some lovely roach, coming to anglers’ nets.

Barnmoor Lake at Witherington Farm Fishery, which a fortnight ago produced a new fishery carp record with a 33lb 12oz common, gave up another big common this week, only a pound or so lighter at 29lb as well as a big mirror weighing 29lb.

Anglers are also enjoying improving sport with bags of bream and silver fish from Cottage and Sellwood lakes.

A mid-week open match on Cottage saw the honours again going to Johnny Gray with 81lb 8oz and runner-up spot to Dave George with 51lb 8oz. Third place went to Rich Yeo weighing-in 51lb 6oz.

Top weight for silver fish went to tackle boss Dave Moody, with 14lb 12oz.

Bream to 4lb and mirror, ghost and common carp, are among the catches from Bishops and Abbots Lakes at Waldens Farm Fishery, West Grimstead. The heaviest carp caught during the week were around the 15lb to 16lb mark.

Monks Lake is producing quality roach to corn and small pellet whilst the Match Lake is fishing well for smaller carp and tench.

Hucklesbrook Lake, between Ringwood and Fordingbridge, continues to fish well for carp and tench, with the week’s best carp, a common of 30lb and the heaviest tench to a few ounces under 8lb.

Anglers have been catching lovely perch up to 3lb from the top lake at Wedgehill Fishery, Verwood. Holtwood Lake is producing good mixed bags of fish and reports from Dandy’s Ford Lane Fishery, Wellow and Watergate Farm Fishery, Bulford, all indicate improving sport with tench, bream, carp and roach among the bags.

nSalisbury Angling Club keep their Nightingale Lake open all year at Wellow, and members have been enjoying sport with bags of tench up to a dozen a sitting between half-a-pound and 2lb plus carp just into double figures.