PB PIKE NO NIKON!!!

Paul and Jackie are staying with us over the Christmas period, and just couldn't wait to start a bit of pike fishing. after a short scout around Paul decided to fish near one of the aerator on our main lake Lonsdale. The aerators are run on thermostats and keep a large portion of the lake ice free but also with the added bonus of encouraging the fish to feed in the moving water. After choosing his swim he flicked out a dead bait and after couple of minutes the float went under and Paul struck and was met by the solid resistance of a good fish. After 10 minutes Paul banked a beautiful 18lbs Pike, what a pity he didn't have his Christmas present with him. (Paul has cameras that David Bailey would be proud of) With three days of the holiday still to go Paul is hoping to break the 20lbs barrier.

We will keep you posted

Jamie

Happy Holidays

Well I hope you all woke up and found you'd been on the nice list!

We certainly had a lovely Christmas! We ambled downstairs and got a cup of tea and then got to watch a stoat playing in the snow right next to our living room windows! Later in the day Dad and I were talking in my room and a buzzard skimmed our roof flying dead at 12 o'clock over my window! You forget how big those birds are (though in Australia I did see an eagle with a 2m wingspan eating a kangaroo, and our buzzards top out at about 0.5m)

Just before lunch, like a magician Dad produced one last present. It seems Dad had a word with Santa who had a word with Wally. So now I have the most beautiful 11ft Mordex Ideal split cane avon rod! Wally has restored it like only a craftsman can and I spent alot of Christmas Day sitting admiring the emerald green whippings and watching how the light caught the colours of the cane. I thought lying the rod ontop of it's deep purple rod bag to compliment the whippings was particularly pleasing.

Sitting admiring it watching a Passion for Angling with Dad was almost as good as fishing but I can't wait for more of a thaw to get out and start catching some monster roach with it! (Also should probably finish my dissertation first but it's fish related so it would almost be research!)

I'll post some more photo's soon - but for now -

Merry Xmas and a Prosperous New Year from all at Lonsdale!

A Christmas message, but first an Ice Breaker!

Well it's Christmas Eve so Dad will get to enjoy his annual 24hrs off starting tonight (weather permitting we have guests on boxing day)

As you can see from the photo's above our thermostatically controlled aerator's have beaten even the worst of the festive weather to leave sections of Lonsdale very fishable!

I myself haven't been out yet - the plan is to get spinning before I go back to Uni.

The snow has made a difference to some of our permanent residents - the Kingfisher's have gone into hiding but there are a few Robins who more closely resemble cricket balls at this point! Dad found time to create a little roof for our bird table from some of the original Lonsdale Brick and Tile works roof tiles - we were worried that a buzzard and kestrel had been eyeing up our little song birds!

Edmund and Mabel are glad that I didn't shear them too closely and that they have a nice warm shed to bed down in - Mabel seems to be much better at snow adaption than Edmund who complains about it to me whenever I go over for a chat. (Yes he does talk back).

Autum Pike

This week has seen a visit from the lovely mr Silkie and his wife he had a very good few days catching his new pb below is the letter he sent us.

Hi
just a line to say we had a great time at Lonsdale Park, the accommodation was great! the fishing was even better had 3 pike in two days the biggest (& my new PB) 25lb.5oz then a 18lb.11oz and a third about 10lb.
the young lad Jamie was very pleasant and helpful.
will book for new year soon.


Si Thee &thanks again

Silkie

Beautiful Day!

Just had lunch and thought I'd show you all this:

Well if a picture can speak a thousand words I think this one says 'I told you so'.

Beautiful Roach over a pound.

I'm trying to catch babies for my survey but I keep doing battle with these bigger chaps - 5 already so far this morning!

Lonsdale High and Dry

image from the complete tangler

Hello All!

I'm home again fishing for my project and I thought I'd better let you know that all is fine here!
The water's up but we're not flooded.
Our thought' s and sympathy go out to everyone effected, especially those from Mum's hometown Cockermouth where main street is under 7ft of water and a bridge has collapsed. My Grandma still lives there - but up atop a ruddy great hill so she's ok.

Thanks to everyone who's enquired how we are - everything is fine.

Right it's getting late and there's a cracking roach out there just waiting to meet me, not to mention the kingfisher, and my robins waiting for their breakfast of maggots!
(Last weekend I caught 12 roach and 3 chub in one day - 2 of the chub were absoloute belters over 2 1/2 lbs!)

Em

Pike down under

Last week seen us have a visit from Mr and Mrs Fife they had come to Lonsdale park with there two grandsons Mr fife wanted to show the boys how to catch pike and catch pike they did the boys had a great weeks fishing and managed to bank a impressive 17 fish they are already planning there returt trip in the summer to sample some of Lonsdale parks superb carp fishing

Hi everyone just recived Mel and Frans pictures from there october trip. Here is a select few pics as there was to many to list lots of beautiful fish. a great result
the rest are on the website

PIKE UPDATE !!!!!!

Hi just a quick update on the pike front a monster catch of 22lbs caught on a lure by mr Moran

and here we have a beautiful specimen taken on reed lake by mr Walker this was his fourth pike witin 40mins taken on dead bait

Jammy Jamie

Jamie strikes again

this Sunday saw Jamie sitting in the rain on the side of the arches on a horrible blustery day.

Well this is how he chooses to spend his day off.

Jamie's perseverance paid off just before dark with Jamie landing this beautiful Simmons carp at 16lbs 8oz but as he got it in the net he was met with the sound of his other buzzer which left Emma in charge(girlfriend) after a dogged fight Jamie could tell he was into a good fish the fish lay in front of the swim ready to be netted but of course the net was already taken so Jamie decided to give it a bit of slack line and let it slip the hook what a pity as after Jamie calmed down he estimated that it was well above 20lbs which would of been his Pb. this has just made Jamie more determined and he Will be spending more of his days off trying to settle the score.

dad says jamie now has "a passion for angling"

ps Ryan. jamie said he can smell that 5 pounds

Leviathon Esox Lucious

We all know its getting to the time of year now that pike fishing springs to mind but here at lonsdale park we carnt help but be pike crazy as over the past few weeks the pike have been on a feeding frenzy with some of our larger residence come to greet us on the bank



pics from left to right: scot taylor 20lbs 4oz, ryan as a boy,mrs moran 20lbs 4oz

hot off the press

Why not try our lonsdale winter warmer

NOW AVAILABLE: luxury hot tubs in the 3 bedroom lodge,2 bedroom lodge and the secret cottage


After a hard days fishing why not unwind beneath the stars in our new hot tubs and let the bubbles soothe away those aches and pains in your own private tub right next to your lodge there is no extra charge for this as this is just one of many great deals from lonsdale park

BOOK NOW!!!!

please call before booking so we can make sure every thing is up to tempreture

jake's achey brakey arms !!!

Update on Jake's amazing Autumn session

As you can see from the latest three photos Jake is emptying the lake of some of its larger residents

these catches include: 31lbs common who put up a dogged fight and was very reluctant to be on the bank, a beautiful 19lbs common and he even wanted to share his glory with his dad who had a lovely mirror at 25lbs

the big common came as a excellent surprise tearing off at 00:10 as he was celebrating his 14th birthday. what a fantastic birthday present. Jake has now informed us he is ready to tackle our biggest resident of reed mere,after many sightings of our Leviathan feline

but he has not finished yet. he is already planning his third visit with his whole family

Jake's had plenty of Carp & no complaints!!

Young Jake is on his second visit to Lonsdale within a couple of months. He visited us earlier with regulars John & Diane, this time returning with his Dad. His first night fishing Jake landed a 27lb 4oz carp, followed this on his 3rd night with a 25lb 8oz specimen and this morning there he his again with a superb 30lb specimen. He's only half way through his visit so there may be more.

Mel & Fran will also be sending photos of their catches later.

Jamie's Fish!!!!!!!!!

Hi,

many of you will now have met Jamie. As you can see over the past couple of month's his fish catches have increased in size! Above are photos of Jamie's first Roach (by the way that is his girlfriend holding it not Jamie!) and then on the 2nd October he landed this lovely 17 1/2lb carp whilst fishing on Reed. He was however so pleased with this he didn't ring us so we could take his photo with his catch!

Fell Walks and Canoeing

Below: my photo of beautiful buttermere!
Hello all,
Well Jamie returned and so I got the weekend off!
It was Tom's 21st on Saturday, and the weather was beautiful so we were tempted into walking up Haystacks which was Alfred Wainwright's favourite mountain, and where his ashes were scattered. We carried on to another hill called Fleetwith Pike which looked right down Buttermere with some amazing views!
We ended up walking in thye glorious sunshine for about 4 and half hours - and with the drive less than hour it was a lovely way to spend the day!
We also went up a little hill called Mellbreak the other week, which is a nice fell - where we didn't see another human being at all!

If you're interested in my walks I've added a folder called Fell Walks to the Photo Gallery and in there are a few pictures. Tom's also put a few up in a folder called The Lake District.

On Sunday the weather held, and Tom, a couple of friends and I went canoeing on Derwent Water.

Our friends 'Gulston' and Stuart came out with us - and were very amusing to watch. I can't talk because my steering skills are limited, but watching the two of them zigxag around and then land the canoe at the marina was quite funny! I've put a photo up of the two of them in the red canoe, dodging away from the other boats moored up.

Don't worry I tried to stick to the front of the boat so that the other lake users were spared my slightly dodgy steering!
It was really fun to get back on the water - though I did relearn a little lesson.
A motor boat passed in front of us and as I saw the wash I thought it would be fun to pick up a bit of speed and 'jump' the wave! Only we landed in between the next wave which came over and into my lap!! Oh well when you go out on the water, you can only get wet as far as your skin!

I'm hoping to get to the Honister Mine Via Ferrata route depending on when I go back to Uni too. In case you didn't know Via Ferrata is a sort of extreme mountain walking / rock climbing, but you're harnessed to a wire cable all the way along the route. (The same as climbing Harbour Bridge which I did in Sydney) It's only £20 and it's so close to us it has to be done! If you're interested search for 'Honister slate mine via ferrata' on Youtube to watch a video about it.

It's a shame that more people don't realise what a bounty Cumbria has to offer when they come to stay with us! The site is perfect for anglers but if your other half isn't so keen there's plenty to do and see around us!!

If you'd like to go back to the Lonsdale website please click here: http://www.lonsdalepark.co.uk/

New and ever more interesting ways of falling into a lake.

Yesterday Dad and I set to work on building a new jetty for the lake at home. To allow us to suspend our baby carp rearing nets in the perfect depth of water you understand, nothing to do with creating a fishing platform in front of the new house!

So with Dad's friends Ray out to help us we pile drove two old railway sleepers upright into the lake for our posts. It was a hairy manoeuvre and at one point Ray was yanked quite aggressively by the digger bucket - I thought he was going in! But he recovered it nicely.

Dad had me jumping from the bank into the out-stretched digger bucket and back to cut ropes from the sleepers - as you do you know. Slippery clay bank to wet water filled digger bucket? Of course!
As Ray said, when he woke up he thought, wallet, keys, watch. But not really hmmm lets build a jetty!

Anyway we got the cross member sleeper over and I was stood atop it to direct Dad as he used the digger to square it up on the top.
'It's a bit high at that end Dad!'
'Right you stay at that end....'
CRASH the digger bucket landed on the far end of my sleeper and my end rose up. A slight impression of a a windmill and some canny footwork kept me dry.
'Flippin' heck Dad, I'm not sure I'll survive another of those!' I shouted.
But Dad had lifted the bucket even higher and dropped it even faster....
CRASH
My end jumped up into the air and I found myself thrown backwards, head first into the lake.
The very cold lake, the colder that I would have anticipated, very cold lake I told Dad. I believe most of the anglers on Lonsdale heard my colourful descriptions of the temperature of the water, as well as Dad laughing.
Worse still I'd lost my hat as I was flung in! I could see it where Dad pointed. Drifting away the Kangaroo leather (I'd bought it, worn it and cherished it all around Australia) taking on water at an alarming rate just a couple of inches visible above the surface.
Luckily my dodgy front crawl had me on the scene in time to rescue my beloved hat! The only damage was a slight bend to the feather in the band.
No harm done!

I climbed out onto the sodden and soggy bank, looking very much like a monster from the deep as Dad stopped laughing to tell me how funny I'd looked.
Apparently my legs and feet had attempted to recover my torso and remained on the sleeper for a slit second longer than expected, then suddenly they followed me in, almost like they belonged to someone else. This description obviously set Dad chuckling again.

I think when Dad and I get working together we really should set up a video camera on the job just in case. That's twice in four days we could have earned £250 on you've been framed now!

So we've added another dive possibility to my repertoire of interesting, accidental but always stylish methods of falling into lakes!

Ghosts, Aerials, Babies (Walter Jnr), and little blue birds, but not necessarily in that order!

Good morning!

I'm sitting in the cafe writing the diary up this morning as we have a fault on our telephone line at home - so unfortunately there might be a delay until the next day before we can reply to emails - depending on when they come in - we will get back to you ASAP though!

So for those of you interested in the fishing first:
Last night Phil (who many of you will know as a regular leader in our matches) managed to land a 21lb mirror carp on his float tackle, on a single grain of sweetcorn! This is a great example of why all anglers should carry a landing mat - not just on our site but everywhere - it's good practice and looking after the fish which is the main thing! Well done Phil!
This last week there's been a selection of other big fish out including a 25lb common, a 17 1/2 grassie and the usual host under and around the 15lb mark.
Unfortunately I've haven't managed to find the time to get out fishing yet - here's hoping that when Dad's new lad Jamie returns from Eygpt I'll get chance!

So now for a few of my little stories!

Vera who's stays with Phil has been telling me some of the craic this week. Apparently one of our guests found themselves alone on the bank in the dark at about 10pm. We've had the odd lightening storm - but on this particular evening the sights had nothing to do with lightening! Our guest is absoloutely convinced that the ghost of a lady riding a horse came across Lonsdale (from the point) towards her!
This isn't the first slightly odd report we've had - but I've never heard a story of a lady to do with Lonsdale - I'll try and do some research and let you know if I find anything!

Thursday night found me fighting with a freeview box. Cumbria has been the first area which was subjected to freeview and the digital switch over. As part of the change over we have to keep retuning our boxes (which when you have 18 of the things is slightly more of a challenge)
However this one was quite the problem! After an hour of swapping boxes, cables, retuning, moving aerials, getting up onto the roof, I was getting nowhere. So I did what all strong independent kids do. I rang my Dad!
So out comes Dad, and of course together we came up with a plan. A Drinkall plan. Now at University I'm well known for the 'Drinkall plan'. Unfortunately every once while a plan gets away from you.
Dad decided that it was definately the tree behind the caravan causing the problem all of a sudden. (No I'm not sure why but I went with it) So I clambered up the branch hanging ominously over the Caravan and aerial and attached a strap. And we began to saw.
And saw.
As the branch cracked I was hanging off the strap to try and pull it out away. But I'm only a little Drinkall! Dad dived round to grab the strap, and together we were heaving away. Really jumping and yanking on it. The branch was cracking ominously.
And on our biggest heave......... nothing!!
The branch was cut through and we'd heaved, what was going on? - the branches were clear! Dad turned round to look at me.... And watched the horror leap up my face as completely unaided the branch crashed down onto the aerial!
Oh dear! (Bugger! we said)
Luckily we lifted it off and there was only a few bent vanes.
Inside the van there was still no picture! Damn! 3 hours after starting and still no picture!
In the end I came up with a plan of my own. A plan so cunning Baldrick, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel! I hooked up the aerial from the nearest caravan to the problem Telly. Every aerial lead we possessed was taped up and strung tenously through the grass and trees.
Bingo! Perfect picture!
Don't worry I've found the fault and we've fixed the problem permanently now, with a lovely picture.

Now the really exciting news is our baby fish! Dad and I have been collecting some of the baby carp from the lake at home. So we have our very own baby Mark Simmons pure breds!
They're very cute! And we're looking after them to make sure in 5 years time they'll be real monsters!
I took a photo of one last night to show you, we've got both mirror babies and common babies.
So Dad and I went out to check them when we finished about 7 o'clock and we were just moving the babies over when a flash of bright blue and emerald green, a Kingfisher swooped Dad's head!
He must have been upset that we were moving in on his territory!
This is our second pair, one pair live around Reed Lake, and this little fellow lives down at home.
I settled down onto the bank to watch him fly round and hunt.
It's not a bad life is it!
This is Walter Junior!
(In case you don't remember Walter is the huge monster carp that Dad is hunting after - and he's named for a fish from a film called 'On Golden Pond' - A great film that I think most of you would love!)

The Osprey

Collin has sent some pictures for us of the Osprey this year - Have a look at that!

I'll get them up on the pictures section as soon as I can!

Email from James

Here's an email we recieved last night:

"Hi Paul

Just to let you know I had a great holiday down at Lonsdale with my mum,step dad,brother,auntie and uncle. We all caught ALOT of fish from Roach to Tench to Carp to Rudd to Ghosties and even one or two Chub. I personaly fished the residents match and won with 31lb 8oz of pure roach which I was pleased with as Jamie said it was the best pure Roach bag he had seen in the past 10 week of which he had been there. Along with the great match result for me I had a personal best carp of 14lb 12oz Ghost Carp.My little brother also had a fabulous time with many smaller carp averaging the 2-4lb mark. Here is a picture of my Ghost Carp and my little brothers Carp.

Thanks again for a great holiday.

James & Family"

Thanks for the email guys!

Back from Oz, and a new website!

Well I got back from Australia last week, and I had an awesome time - I even ended up fishing a couple of times! But if you want to know more about my travels, you'll have to make me a brew one evening and ask me about it when you're next here.

The much more exciting news for most of you (which you will have already hopefully noticed) is that we have a brand new shiny website to look at!
My boyfriend Tom is a bit of a computer whizz kid, and he's been working with my Dad while I've been away on our new look.
You've probably already noticed the new Bargain boxes on the left hand side of the homepage - Mum and Dad can edit these whenever they need to - so as it says if you want to 'net' yourself a 'reel' deal that's the first place to check.

Also as part of our web renovations we've got an even better page for all our photo's. Now I'm currently whittling away trying to get as many as I can up, and I must say it's much easier that it used to be.
So if you want to see your photo's up on our site (and show off to your mates) email them to me at lonspark@aol.com or even stick them on a CD and post them to us!
I promise I'll get as many as possible onto the site!

If there's anything you spot on the website that you think needs an amendment - or anything you think we've missed off please send us an email or give us a call!

Keep hitting your 'refresh' button to see all the changes we're making!


So back to park life (that was a famous song once, wasn't it?) Anyway I've been hard at work on the park as Dad's apprentice Jamie is enjoying a holiday in Eygpt.
This week I'm working on the website and on renovating the road down to and through the park. Yes it is hard work if you were wondering. I'm also going to have a 'gardening' day - though yesterday evening it took me 2 hours just to get the grass at home cut, never mind the park!
The weather's been sort of undecided this week, one day we had half the month's due rainfall, the next it was a lovely summer's day, so who know's when I'll get the rest of the grass done!

Write again soon,

Em

Jamie's catches this week

5th sept looks good im just waiting to hear back from a friend on monday if he can get that date from work on holiday.account of what we caught total 3 days was total 190 lbs of carp and tench of which 6 were doubles biggest 22lb which lyndsay has deleted the photo off aaaaaaaaahhhhhh. but i have attached the 18lb common pic,,all caught on single 14mm boilie,,without doubt the best fishing i have everexperienced in my 17 years as an angler

Super Roach

Hi Paul Attached two pictures of the 3 and half pound Roach caught at 6.15 this morning. The Roach was caught using a 5mm spicy shrimp and prawn boily on a hair rig with size 8 hook.It was weighed using Ruben Heaton scales calibrated with the weigh sling wet. I will email the pics of the 3 lb Roach along with total weights and numbers caught on the trip as soon as possible. We have had a fantastic time and will be returning soon. Regards Daren Perryman

Hi Paul Attached is an alternative picture for the 3 half lb Roach. In total i caught 144lb of fish and dad caught 59 lb. I have attached other pics of the catch also. We had a fantastic time and look forward to coming again and again. Let me know if you need or want any further details Reagrds Daren and Jimmy Perryman

Autumn / Winter Breaks

As well as the fishing, why not enjoy an Autumn or Winter break enjoying the North Lakes and Scottish Borders whilst staying in our excellent Lakeside accommodation.

Christmas & New Year bookings now being taken.

Hot Tubs - coming soon

If you are interested in enjoying one of our lodges with Hot Tub please ring for details.

207.5lb in only 4 hours!!!

Todays match was fished by only 8 angler's, however the avereage weight was 26lb.

Peter was the winner with 51lb - well done.

Eddie Gould 2nd place with 38.5lbs

Stewart 3rd with 33.2lbs.

The lowest weight was 11lbs & the match enjoyed by all.

Weights were made up of mainly Carp & Roach just think what you could do in a full day!

Ken's Catch

Ken Thwaites is certainly enjoying his second stay of the year with us. Having only arrived on Saturday he has already had 3 PB's - Carp ranging 17lb - 22lb & two superb Tench over 8lbs!!

& it's only Monday - watch this space!

TOP SECRET !!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEW for 2009/2010

THE SECRET COTTAGE & POOL

this unique cottage offers not only superb accommodation with private leisure suite containing hot tub & spa but also your own PRIVATE CARP LAKE.

Sleeping 4+ this cottage is ideal for couples or families.

Well WELS what a CATch

Carl & Jill Wadsworth along with friend Steve certainly enjoyed their week at Lonsdale. -

Thanks for the photos Carl!

Carl & Steve had an excellent week with Carp of varying weights including 26lb & 2 at the 30lb mark! They were about to book for the T.T Races but instead decided to return to Lonsdale & continue their own personal competition!!

Not to be out done by the boys Jill went on to catch some lovely Tench.

Last cast Friday tea time and that was it - Carl was still there an hour later!!

The scales bottomed out at 55lb with assistants having to support the head & tail of this superb specimen catfish with a conservative estimate of 57lb it cannot be far from th U.K record!!

New Lonsdale Regulars

Hi,

Jason, Charlotte, Carl, Nicole & Liam
Thank-you for the photos.

We are really pleased that you enjoyed your stay at Lonsdale, extending your original week to 2 weeks.

It was a pleasure to have you as guests, see you again!

See You Again Soon

thankyou for a lovely relaxing break we really enjoyed our 2 week stay and could of stayed in a caravan there for the rest of our lives such a lovely place with great fishing in lovely surroundings hope to be back in the summer take care all love jason, charlotte ,carl,nicole and liam x x

A 1000lbs of NEW ARRIVALS

Well here we have a couple of shots of some of our new babies!! These little chaps are sure to cause a stir among some of our older heavy weights!!

Linda & Andy Broadbent have just enjoyed a week with us. Linda as just sent us an email saying :-

"still REELING from our week at Lonsdale"

Andy had a good 16-5lb Carp on Scopex boily & Linda a 14-5lb carp on maggott - on a 10' match rod, 4lb line & 14 hook. Along with some very nice roach.


See you both later in the year.

Hi,
well Mum got it wrong!! There was one final match held on 1st march which was enjoyed by 15 anglers. Atotal of 256lbs was caught averaging out at 17lbs per angler.

The winning weight was 26-13 and meant first place went to Chris Scott EVEN THOUGH HE WENT OFF TO A CHRISTENING MID WAY!!!!
a close 2nd was 26-10 and 3rd 22-10.

We are now open to residents only.
For details of spring breaks call now.

30lb+

Another good weight won the match this week-end.

winning weight 32lb 3oz

2nd place 22lb 12oz

3rd place 21lb 8oz

No more local matches so why not come along and enjoy the fishing exclusive for residents only :)

More Winter Weights

During the Winter we allow the local Coarse Anglers to hold some of their matches at Lonsdale. This week the winning weight was 46lb 05ozs, consisting mainly of big Roach - some over 2lb and a 3lb Tench.

Why not enjoy some of this winter sporrt?