Happy New Year!

A very happy (belated) new year to all our customers and friends!

Despite the quiet time of year we've had guests with us over the holiday period. Dave and Fran stayed with us for Christmas, and enjoyed some much milder weather than this time last year (which saw temperatures drop to -22 degrees C). Good catches of Roach (as always) and especially Tench were taken by both.

With the weather so mild I'm often seeing chub rising and splashing on the top of the Willows, so I expect a few good chub are also only a cast away!

No doubt the birds are appreciative of the milder weather too, and I did hear Dave got some cracking photo's.

Personally I've been enjoying keeping an eye on one of our Coal tit's who has taken up residence down the barrel of my dad's french sea cannon that sits outside our window - the cannon took a 3 inch ball - apparently just right for this little character who retires to bed at about 4 o'clock each day. Although with the days creeping ever longer he is becoming a little bit later as the week goes by. Before we know it we'll back in the long golden days of summer watching the carp cruising across the top!

Some of you may have noticed we've updated our prices list page for 2012, and unlike the weather I hope you're pleased to find the prices are frozen!

I haven't quite managed to get the online booking system into the new year quite yet - please bear with me.

Best fishes for 2012, from Emma and all the family.

www.lonsdalepark.co.uk

Merry Christmas!

Dear all,

I hope this time of year finds you well equipped with gloves and a woolly jumper in pursuit of mythical predators, or perhaps you'd prefer to be a home with a glass of sherry and a mince pie...

Regardless I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from our family to yours.

Love,

Emma, Paul, Val, and Amy

PS: Unfortunately Mum has been somewhat under the weather with pneumonia over the last few weeks so we got quite behind with cards, you have my sincere apologies if we missed you!

The end of an era.

Dear all,

It is with great sadness that I share our recent news.

On Friday our treasured old dog Mansell died, aged 19.

To call him a dog hardly does him justice, to those who knew him he was at first a young rogue, and later an old gentleman.

Many of you graciously (and occasionally unwitting or unwillingly) shared your luncheon meat, or lunch with him.

He had a long life full of adventures, and was much loved by all.

We will miss him.

Visit from fishing legend Ray Kemp - The Colonel

Yesterday we had the pleasure yet again of having Ray Kemp AKA The Colonel (made famous alongside Chris Yates) fishing here at Lonsdale. Here Ray has kindly given us an account of his day fishing.

Hello Paul

My night was filled with dreams of jagging roach, creaking cane and mugs of piping hot coffee, delivered to the swim by my trusty butler. With that in mind, I must thank you heartily for allowing me to christen the recently renovated James Aspindale 'Suredale' on your lovely Willows pool at Lonsdale. I had a joyful day. It literally was a bite a cast, resulting in a catch of pristine Rutilus gracing my net, the best being five at 3/4lb, one at 1lb exactly, one at 1lb 9oz and one at 1lb 10oz. All fell to breadflake on a size 12 barbless long shank hook, fished close to the bottom beneath a quill float and between one and two rod lengths out. Light feeding with mashed bread, of course, traditional angling at it's finest.

It took me a while to work out these fish needed to 'run' with the bait before striking. No finicky fiddling and barely detectable movements of the float here; more hard charging takes that resulted in misses if struck too soon. Putting the rod in the rest and folding my arms was the answer!!!! Another abiding memory of the day will be 'the Jaws moment', when, barely a rod length out, one of your mirror carp 'head & shouldered' unannounced, causing me to nearly choke on my coffee. I imagine it was either tearing into the shoal of fry near the surface or scoffing on the odd bits of floating bread mash; or, maybe, just saying 'hello' to the old Colonel, ' catch me if you dare'. Another day, dear boy, another day.

In all, a very fine day. So fine, in fact, I forgot how cold I was, making the regular mugs of steaming coffee you kindly supplied a real godsend. Thank you, my friend. Here's to the next time.

Best regards

Ray

Thanks Ray, looking forwards to seeing you again soon! Dad says you could give Chris a run for his money as this would be a good start to 'The Colonel's Fishing Diaries'.

Paterson's Pike

Out yesterday a belting 28lb 4oz pike!

Landed by Mr. Paterson on his first visit to Lonsdale - photos to follow

Richard Reels in - is it winter?????????

Well last week saw this lovely 20lb 7oz carp landed & this week a 8lb Tench. With the next couple of weeks predicted to be decent weather lets see what happens. Like us the fish don't seem to know what season it is.

Thanks for the photo Richard.