Local Fishing

By Bryan Culley

The fishing on the River Soar in the village is controlled by Quorn Angling Society on the Quorn Bank, and Proctors Pleasure Park on the Barrow-on-Soar bank. The fishing at present is better than it has been over the last decade. The main fish species include roach, chub, bream, gudgeon and the two main predatory species being perch and pike. There is also a fair head of carp which grow to about 201bs, although the norm is 6-1 21bs. To catch these hard fighting fish. line of at least 81bs and rods I 1/21bs test curve are needed. The Soar carp's favourite bait is sweetcorn and luncheon meat, fished close to the marginal lily pads out of the main river flow. Other species which are occasionally caught are dale. bleak, eels, barbel and tench, but at the moment there are not enough of these species in the river to fish for, but, if there is no pollution, the future fishing on the river has never looked better.

The only stillwater in the village is the sand-pit at the northern end of the village, in the middle of the Farley Way Estate. I have spent marry a happy hour on this small lake before the builders moved in, and caught tench over 51bs, perch over 21bs, and one of the elusive carp, which at the time (619180) was the best and biggest fish I had ever caught. I first prebaited the whole lake with boiled maple peas, then over a period of two weeks prebaited one area, this being the point on the northern side. I then put no bait in for two days, and arrived at the lake on a cold Friday evening. After baiting two rods with three maple peas on each size 2 hook attached to lOlb breaking strain line, and 21b test curve rods, I catapulted three pouchfuls of maples to each baited area. After an uneventful night only catching two tench of around 31bs each, I was thinking about packing up when at 8.30am, the indicator rose of the right hand rod. The resulting strike met solid resistance, and, after what seemed forever, with me gaining line and the fish taking line, I finally netted what fumed out to be the biggest fish in the water, a magnificent carp weighing 26lbs 2oz. After photographing, the fish was returned, none the worse for its experience, and still swims in the lake today.

What a shame some sort of fishing couldn't be allowed there for locals and their children. Obviously, the residents would have to come first, and there would need to be strict rules to keep everyone happy. If there is the slightest possibility some restricted fishing would be allowed, I would gladly help all 1 could, and if I can be of any help with local fishing, come and see me at the Fish and Chip shop in Station Road.