Langport & District Angling Association


May 2012 News

Saturday 12th May

COMBE LAKE IS RE-OPENING ON SUNDAY 13th MAY 2012

As many of many of you who fish Combe lake will be aware, we stocked skimmer bream (among other species) at the beginning of March. A larger than expected proportion of these skimmers have died and we have been catching a lot of skimmers with red streaks under the skin, close to the tail and fins.

We sought professional advice and the view was that the fish were showing signs of stress. This was thought to be due to the abnormally warm weather, earlier this spring, when they were stocked, and the subsequent cooler weather, which was affecting their immune systems. As the water temperature gradually increased, we expected the fish to settle down and return to a healthy state.

A few committee members fished Combe lake on Friday afternoon and, at the end of the session, the fish were checked. Apart from the odd skimmer bream with evidence of fin rot on one fin, all the skimmers appeared to be in good condition again. The new tench and crucian carp caught were also found to be in good condition. The water temperature was measured and found to be 16.5°C which was 4.5°C higher than a couple of weeks ago. This has probably helped their immune systems to fight the infections and help them to return to normal health.

As a result, it was decided that Combe Lake will re-open on Sunday 13th May 2012.

The larger bream caught on Friday were covered in tubercles (those small white nodules seen all over the head and flanks of the fish) showing they are currently in spawning mode.
If you catch a larger bream, please release it carefully after unhooking; don't put it in the keepnet.