Most featured fisheries are now open but by the middle of March all fisheries will be open and for me personally this is when I still class the start of the season proper and start to fish again.

With most places in the area frozen right through January and well into February I dont think I have missed much anyway.

I now have sink tip lines back in stock and I swear by these for bank fishing in March and the start of April. I have said for many years now that they have increased my catch rates at this time of year and although I only usually use them a lot early and late in the season I have never been without one for nearly 30 years.

Flies I have done well with in previous years in March have been Flexi Floss Bloodworms and it has been the Red Goldbead ones that I have found best in March.

New flies to NJAF which I expect to do really well in March are Cut Throat Cats Whiskers and Crystal Cats Whiskers. The Cut Throats have been doing really well each month since I added them late last year and the Crystal Cats are newly tied for 2010 and have instantly caught well in February.

Please read on for fishery Tips & Tactics:-

Recommended Patterns - Damsel Nymph & Black Buzzer.

Although Knitsley has been open for fishing through the winter, its area was probably hit worst of the lot by both the snow and ice with few fishable days available so March this year will almost be like opening month.

Bloodworms always account for a lot of fish here in March along with either Black or Olive Buzzers.

Best lures are Fritz patterns and cats Whiskers.
NJAF recommended flies are Red and Pink Flexi-Floss Gold Bead Bloodworms.

Recommended Pattern - Black Buzzer.

Anglers wanting to try the more imitave method will often do well here now with Gold Bead Nymphs like a Hares Ear fished slowly and well down on a floating line.

Fritz lures and Zonkers are the lures which will catch well.

NJAF recommended flies for Moffat in March Hares Ear Gold Bead.

Recommended Patterns - Flexi-floss Bloodworm Pink & Damsel Flashbacks.


Re opened for 2010 season in the last weekend of February with a big stocking of fish going in just before then. With a lot of stock fish about these usually go for an Orange Fritz Blob here pulled on an intermediate or sinking line. In fact last year I had some feedback from a customer who never failed here with my Orange Blob in the first half of the year. 2 tone black and green Blob is the other one which can be good in March.

Minkies or dark Zonkers will also take a lot of fish now as over wintered fish will have been feeding on the lakes Sticklebacks through the winter months.

For me the top area now is the middle of the lake with the hot spot often just in front of the 2 stones where it shelves off and with the weed having died down this is a great time to fish this fairly shallow spot.

NJAF recommended flies for March at Caistron Fritz Blob Orange, 2 tone Blob Black-Green and Mini Minky and Minky Special Black and Green.

Recommended Pattern :- Yellow Dancer & Damsel Flashbacks.


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