Roy Webster on AnglingKEEN carp anglers are getting set for a bumper bank holiday break on local lakes.With water temperatures rising, warming the flanks of the great specimens, quality catches have been coming in and more of the same may be expected over the May Day holiday period.

Roy Webster on Angling

KEEN carp anglers are getting set for a bumper bank holiday break on local lakes.

With water temperatures rising, warming the flanks of the great specimens, quality catches have been coming in and more of the same may be expected over the May Day holiday period.

Steve Bruce of Belton reeled in a magnificent ghost carp scaling 31lb 2oz from the Taswood fishery at Flordon, while at the Kingfisher Club lake at Lyng, Chris Birdman of Caister and Stewart Leisi of Acle netted mirror carp between 25lb and 28lb.

Catfish, regarded as unlawful aliens on many still waters, made headlines at Waveney Valley Lakes were Gorleston's Mr R Otter winched out a beauty of 34lb 4oz, the best of seven doubles caught during his hectic session on the Norfolk and Suffolk border venue.

However, this weekend could develop into a period of plenty for tench anglers seeking their traditional May Day quarry.

Local venues containing shoals of these pink eyed battlers are the Martham Pits which are fishing superbly for all species, Hall Farm, Burgh Castle and the Burgh Castle Fishery that used to be known as Greens Pits, now expanded and developed since then by the expertise of Darren Squires.

North Norfolk tench waters worth a visit are Cobbleacre at Hevingham, Chapel Road Lake at Roughton, Gimingham Lakes near Mundesley and the St Georges fishery at East Ruston, near Stalham. Each of these venues contain sizable tench, splendid carp and other coarse fish species.

Along the beaches there has been little change from last week's review, and it now seems unlikely that anglers will benefit from a spring codling run for there may not be many within the 2-4lb range along the local coastline.

The more mature of these round fish from 5lb to double figures almost always remain beyond shore casting range, leaving those on board sea-worthy boats to reap the rewards some two miles out.

The expected bass boom has not materialised either, beach anglers laying the blame on commercial gill netters taking every bass they catch over the statutory 36cm.

There are fair numbers of school bass and small codling below the size limits, and under fishery laws these have to be put back.

Marsh Trail Lakes Two Day Open Festival: Saturday and Sunday, fishing lakes A and C over two days based on a points scoring system, �40 per head all in fee, 70 percent payout! Top four place prize money plus daily sections. For booking/details contact John on 07796 697873, Richard on 07796 437381 or David on 07913 115610.