HORSEY Mere re-opened for anglers last Monday in fine form, described by one of the permit controllers Derek Applegate as “a satisfactory day” for the number of pike fishermen on the Mere in bright sunshine, writes Roy Webster.

HORSEY Mere re-opened for anglers last Monday in fine form, described by one of the permit controllers Derek Applegate as “a satisfactory day” for the number of pike fishermen on the Mere in bright sunshine, writes Roy Webster.

The top fish witnessed by the senior warden weighed in at 20lb 6oz caught from the middle dyke area, but he believed there were several others in the high teens, or better, reeled in by other boat anglers who fished until the light faded.

“After Sunday's deluge Monday's sunny weather brought out the anglers, and the high water following spring tides did affect the fishing,” he said.

Elsewhere, in the River Thurne system bream catches to over 30lb were reported from the Martham boatyard stretch with legions of smaller silver fish taken from the dykes and boatyard areas.

The Stalham club reported an excellent day's sport on their club lagoon where Robin Austrin won with the best of the winter mixed catch of 18lb 13oz followed by Bill Plummer 13lb 3oz and Dave Agas 8lb 13oz.

Gorleston Jolly Boys visited Barford, Antony Varley the winner with 17lb 4oz, then Lee Arniold 13lb 8oz and Sid Huggins 12lb.

On the carp waters angling action resumed, especially for Winterton's Brian Thrower who netted three fish over 20lb from Waveny Valley lakes, the heaviest a mirror of 28lb.

Along the beaches small flat fish have been taken in low numbers and it seems a spring run of sizeable codling maybe weeks away.

Even so, there are encouraging signs that decent codling make be plentiful in a couple of years' time for anglers report catching under-sized yearling fish all along the coastline.

Meanwhile, there are but nine days remaining of the present coarse fishing season for rivers and broads before the shutters come down at midnight on March 14.

For pike anglers the Thurne Valley waters, the Trinity Broads and South Walsham broad are recommended and there is always the chance of taking splendid perch from these venues.

For silver fish species, the venues to visit are the River Thurne between Potter Heigham and Martham, the Horsey mill dyke, the River Ant at Ludham Bridge and, depending on the state of the tides, the Yarmouth of the River Yare at Beachamp Arms.