The Society recently stocked Barden Lake with some much needed quality sized Tench.
As our original stock had depleted through age and losing several double figure fish, we were able to source these lovely conditioned fish which weighed between 2lb and 6lb.
This should help secure the quality Tench fishing for a few more years.

Match regular Lee Wakeman enjoyed some great Chub fishing below the CEMEX stretch recently, using legering tactics, Lee had fish to 3lb 14oz.

Young Max Girling Adi enjoyed some great sport on the New Lagoon recently, catching some lovely Winter Tench.

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Up until the recent heavy rainfall and flood conditions, most of our waters were producing some great Pike fishing, including a fantastic brace of river twenties for Neal Rogers. Pete Groombridge,  Andy Bungay and Jason Craven also had noteable catches to report. Pete Groombridge had a five fish haul on Barden Lake which included a mid double. Jason Craven had a lovely looking twenty from the river and Andy Bungay enjoyed some great sport on the Old Ballast Pit with fish to 15lb 8oz.

Neal Rogers with his 20lb 2oz and 23lb 8oz Brace

The new sluice between the Old Ballast Pit and New Lagoon has now been completed and is controlling the level of the New Lagoon nicely. The extra soil at the back of the New Lagoon has also helped keep excess flood water in the field behind. The low level access on the southern side of the Old Ballast Pit has made great progress over the last few months. This work will continue once conditions allow. This side of the lake remains closed for fishing.

Even though the air temperature has dropped and we have had lots of cold rain fill the Lagoon up, the fishing can still be very good if you get your tactics right. Several members have reported good catches of mixed species including Tench to over 6lb, Bream to 9lb, Carp to over 6lb, Perch to over 1lb, Rudd to 12oz and Roach to nearly 2lb. One member recently caught 20 Roach over the magical 1lb barrier. The venue record currently stands at 2lb 12oz and could well be beaten this Winter.

Dave Sadler beat his PB Tench with a fine 7lb 8oz specimen only to return the following week and beat it again with a stunning 8lb sample. Mark Roe had some good sport with Bream to over 3lb and a few Tench to 4lb. Duncan Battell also enjoyed the mixed sport on offer at the New Lagoon with several species including a lovely Common Carp of just over 6lb which was stocked at around 1lb 8oz. Paul Mitchell and his son had a good mixed species day, catching Bream, Tench and other silvers throughout the day.

1st     Pete Groombridge                     27 points
2nd   Mick Smith                                    26
2nd   Martyn Hill                                    26
4th    Larry Howard                              25
5th    Simon Farrer                               22
6th    Steve Parker                                21
7th    Roger Trask                                 17
8th    Ron Groves                                  16
9th    Sean Pope                                   12
10th  Tom Sawyer                               10
10th  Ben Groombridge                    10
10th  Peter Hole                                   10
13th  Bob Doyle                                      9
14th  Austin Battell                               7
14th  Dave Lee                                        7
16th  Derek Butcher                             6

Overcast skies on a warm, still morning greeted the 26 anglers who assembled at the picturesque waters at the lower end of our stretch below East Lock to fish the Chapman Pole Match.

Excitement was high as the socially distant draw took place and the match men proceeded to their pegs for this episode of the all-rounder series.  The Medway still in sluggish mood with clear water and no flow was going to make the competitors work hard for the rewards on offer.

Local lad, Mick Smith, took advantage of his favoured peg to present the scales with 16lb 1ox of sizeable Bream and quality Roach to take max points and top position.  Current Kent Champion and pole ace Stevie Parker found his form to secure second position with 11lb 5oz of quality Roach and mixed silvers followed by accomplished veteran Tony Hyland who took third position with 9lb 8oz of mixed silvers and Bream.  Ed Palmer took “Fish of the Day” honours which was an eel with a fine 1lb 8oz slippery customer and Martyn Hill on the Golden Peg had a cracking start to the match but saw his chance of glory evaporate as his swim failed to live up to expectations.  The majority of the field had something to show by the end of the day on this idyllic section, until torrential rain washed out the last half hour of what was a most enjoyable session.

Mick Smith with his winning bag

A sweltering, bright, hazy morning greeted the 27 anglers who assembled at Hartlake Bridge to fish the river downstream in the second of the all-rounder series. In this match only traditional rod and reel float tactics are allowed and with the river moribund and in desperate need of water and showing no signs or topping fish, this was going to be a real gruella for sure. The socially distant draw for this peg down match was executed and the anglers set off to their pegs with doubtful optimism.

Once a season match dynamo Larry Howard really put the cat amongst the pigeons when he put 33lb 2oz of quality Bream on the scales to convincingly secure top spot. Serial top spot winner Peter Groombridge used all of his expertise and cunning to muster a bag of mixed silvers totalling 7lb to take second place.  Alan Leigh called on his past match exploits and used every tactic in his armoury of experience to put 6lb 5 oz of mixed silvers on the scales to take third position.  His net also included a cracking specimen Roach of 1lb 6oz.  Nominated fish of the day was a Perch and was shared between Ben Groombridge and Ray Berry who each put a 10oz specimen on the scales. All of the other anglers managed to find some sport with the mixed silvers but the heat of the day certainly did not make the going easy.

These latest results see Peter Groombridge still convincingly in the lead of the match championship but losing some ground and the all rounder is now wide open for all contenders to take a commanding position.

Larry Howard with his match winning netfull