Bailiff Comments

Week Commencing: Sat 07/03/2026

Lake Escapes Social

So this week we return with a group social from Lake Escapes with 8 first timers looking to get amongst them. 

First up we start over in Turtles Corner with George Dengate. George started the week fishing 23 wraps tight up the tree line, with the hot weather we had and bright sunshine the fish were definitely up the shelf. Going in with a mix of Bug, SLK and house particle, George put three spinners over the top using yellow pineapple and isotonic hook baits. Kicking off the trip on the first night, George had two in the slings a 36lb 8oz common and a 24lb common now known as ‘Foghorn’. The bites then slowed up for 24 hours then come Tuesday morning he had another 2 in the slings, including ‘Le Défi’ at 33lb and one of our fresh stockies from December at 9lb. Tuesday came around and something special picked him up at breakfast time, I was in Tea Party 1 when we saw him land it. ‘Ron’s’ at 63lb 12oz and a new PB for George! Everyone got together to help with the pictures and all enjoyed a beer. George went on to land 13 fish including ‘Goose’ at 45lb 12oz on the friday and ended the week strong with 3 more on the last morning including ‘FHM’ at 33lb.

Over to Tea Party 2 where we had Tom Harding after pulling the magic ball number 1. Tom took advice and after what happened in there the week prior, went straight in at 26 wraps towards the fork tree, putting a good hit of bait out via the margin on the opposite bank to get him started. Tom used Creamino boilie in crumb, whole and chops all mixed in with house mixed particle and flaked maize. Rig wise Tom went in with 3 spinners on a helicopter setup with double slow sinking maize and yellow Hawaii five-o’s. Tom kicked off the week with an old original scaley known as ‘Chloe’ at 23lb along with ‘Kaena’ at 31lb 10oz and topped it off later on the Sunday with ‘Castro’ at 47lb. On Monday Tom had 3 more in the early hours with ‘Little Rich’ at 13lb another recent stocking, ‘The Duke’ at 31lb 8oz and ‘Errol’ at 54lb and a new PB for Tom! Tuesday came round and throughout the night it had kicked off big time in the Tea Parties the boys had filled every sling and net they could get their hands on and needed more, and by the time I got back they were filled too! Tom had landed 5 himself including an unnamed 24lb 8oz mirror ‘Lellow’ at 47lb and the old character, ‘Neenie’ at 26lb 4oz everyones favourite of the week. With a quick bite straight after dinner it was the same again for Tom another 6 fish on wednesday morning with ‘The Millennial’ at 38lb 4oz, another scaley ‘Oakley’ at 26lb 8oz and the biggest of the bunch ‘Ringo’ at 48lb 8oz. With the colder weather now coming in Tom found the bites had slowed down on the shelf and was starting to pick them up further off the margin but didn’t stop catching them going on to have ‘Scorchio’ at 51lb 10oz and ‘Leah’s’ at 43lb, ending the week on 28 fish. What a session!

Next door we had the birthday boy himself, Mike Hare. Mike got ball 2 and put himself in Tea Party 1. Mike started off fishing 21 wraps towards Turtles and also kept trickling bait in on the 16 wraps spot towards the church. Started off a bit slower for Mike this week with his first fish not coming until Monday, but after watching what was going on around him and seeing fish up in the water, Mike got his adjustable zig kit out and got to finding what depth they were at. Working out what depths the guys were catching at along the margin Mike started to pick them up around 12-14 off the bottom. Mike was then off the mark landing ‘Half Moon’ at 16lb and carried on catching them through the night landing ‘AJ’s’ at 47lb ‘Raspberry’ at 49lb even having a take while we were doing the photos with an unnamed mirror at 22lb now getting them off the deck and on his zig. Wednesday came around and so did a fish from next door, we had ‘Castro’ pay us another visit this time coming out at 48lb 8oz, obviously just got straight back on the feed. That afternoon also produced a few bites where Mike had ‘Mohawk Malia’ at 33lb 8oz and ‘Flexing’ at 25lb 8oz topped off with ‘Twinny’ at 41lb with the action not stopping there Mike had a special one that night and also a second new 50 for the lake this week the incredible ‘Darky’ at 50lb and new PB for Mike, well done mate! Mike ended the week on 21 fish and certainly worked for them.

Just up the bank in The Birches we had Will Landsmith. Will was fishing 22 wraps towards Billy’s with two rods, and one shorter at 14 towards the corner. Going in with a Creamino and mixed house particle mix fishing double slow sinking maize and yellow topped snowmen on spinners. Things started off great for Will after a slow first night had a flyer on the Sunday night managing to land a 50lber off both of his long rods having ‘Maggie’ at 53lb 4oz and ‘Naied’ at 56lb both new PB’s, well done mate! Things then shutdown for Will until he had his last bite on Thursday night, a new stocky introduced in December at 17lb 8oz, yet to be named. That was all for Will but you can’t groan at two fifties in a week, especially PB’s.

Down the opposite end in Bacheliers, we had Jack Thomas Lee. Jack started the week well getting off the mark on the first night were he had ‘Holepunch’ at 39lb. Jack was fishing towards the marker poles and one tighter up the margin on his left at 25 wraps. Going in with a boilie and house particle mix, Jack was fishing multi combi rigs with double slow sinking maize on a lead clip system. Jack was away again the Monday morning landing a 30lb common and had a smaller one at 16lb later in the week. The fish just didn’t seem to get right down to him in numbers this week but we hope to see you again Jack. 

Back down to Decoy now where we had Nathan. Nathan was fishing the open water this week going 20 wraps out towards the reeds along the far margin, whilst baiting up the bund area and waiting to hear them before putting a rod down there. Unfortunately it was a very quiet week down there this week, but after losing a couple on the Wednesday, Nathan went on to catch his only fish of the week being a common which now goes by the name of ‘Winnie’ at 29lb. A tough week indeed as the fish just didn’t seem to get right down this end but I think we will see Nathan again. 

Last up this week is Jack Phillips, who was also another one who had a tough week over in The Shingles. Jack fished towards the dot island, tried one down his left margin and out towards the right of Tea Party 1, but it was a 12 foot zig that got him off the mark this week landing a 22lb original which was very welcome after Jack also losing two fish prior to this and he got to name it, going with ‘FAM’. Unfortunately that was all for Jack this week but we hope to see you again. 

Another great week on the Road Lake this week, with 75 fish being landed and what a great bunch of lads too! Working as a team and not a green eye in sight made it a pleasure to host you all this week with plenty of laughs and 4 new PBs, I hope to welcome you all again. 

Tight Lines,

Greg.

Team Gigantica.