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Post by samvimes on Mar 21, 2018 14:48:08 GMT
It's getting on for thirty years since I last fished at Halnaby. It wasn't even a twinkle in Yarm's eye back then, and there was no sign of otters, or need for fences. I gather it's a quite different fishery these days, but can anyone fill me in on what the stock and fishing is really like these days? I've looked at the Yarm website, but it doesn't tell you a great deal. The match results from the venue seem to be junior only and, with no offence intended to the participants, don't look particularly inspiring. Way back when, it was stuffed with carp, that rarely got into double figures. There were a smattering of half decent tench and bream (up to 3-4lb). The rest of the stock seemed to consist largely of roach, rudd and skimmers that rarely exceeded 4oz.
The match results might suggest that everything bar the carp is quite similar, but 5-10lb bags might appear to be reasonably good going. Does it produce better bags that consist of something more than a few bits with the odd rogue tench/bream/carp to pad things out? If I actually join Yarm, it will be almost entirely for a nostalgia trip at Halnaby. Having previously joined DBT for similarly nostalgia driven access to Willowgarth (a water I'd bike to just to watch people catch crucians and tench, despite never being able to get a DBT ticket myself. I was a kid that didn't know anyone to vouch for me), and being desperately disappointed, I'm loathe to jump in with both feet again. What's the consensus, leave great memories well alone, or give it a go?
Please, don't anyone think this is in any way intended as criticism of Yarm, it's membership or Halnaby itself.
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Post by BriC on Mar 21, 2018 18:45:33 GMT
The only match's held on Hanlaby Sam are the junior match's and I think 1 OAP match, all the usual matchs are either on the Tees or at Woodlands for a couple of the Winter League matchs
Theres a full otter fence round the venue now and better parking so its a much better venue to fish than it used to be, theres been quite a restocking programme over the last five years or so with the emphasis on bream going in, all of a decent size and spawners in the first year of introduction so they've managed to spawn every year and theres now a very decent head of small skimmers in there as well as a lot of decent bream
The tench have been topped up a few times and again as theyre a slow to grow to spawning size, we're just starting to see the benefits of the extra top ups, some very good tench still come out probably topping out at about 6/7lb which isnt a bad size for a club water
The carp have grown on, well those originals that survived have done well and fish in the 18/20lb range are in there now, the carp too have had regular toppings up with a range of different year sized fish and they turn up all over the lake, water levels probably a bit down from what you remember as theres been some work done to the dam wall with an outlet in there now feeding the beck so that maintains the water levels during times of major downpours and rainy periods
The silver fishing is good with some cracking roach to be had coming out to either float or feeder depending what method you like
Word is the last two or three seasons have fished as well as its ever done if not better, decent bags of fish can be had but like a lot of places it can be affected by the weather, I'm hoping to be on there soon myself as works gone a bit quiet and I've got time to be able to give it a go
Is it worth the subs alone to fish hanlaby, not sure on that one as I'm a river angler at heart and spend nearly all my time on moving water rather than still but plenty of members fish it all year round and no where else and they certainly get more than their money's worth out of it
Obviously I'm in Yarm and for me its a club that offers me and my style of fishing real value for money
Don't forget that membership of Yarm also gives you Turlwick as well and if you like tench fishing over other forms of fishing then thats the venue to be on, lots of tench over 7lb and a few that are rumoured to be over 8lb and most folk drive past it and still dont know where it is and cant see it, its a nice private fishery that has fished real well last year after a few improvements and the diversion and repair of a farm soil pipe
Should have mentioned that if youre a big carp man then two rods set up for carp fishing at Hanlaby will ctch you a lot of carp and tench, those two species still inhabit the same parts of the lake that they always did, they just love the lilies
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Post by Marc on Mar 21, 2018 18:58:56 GMT
It's a nice place to fish and doesn't get hammered either. the carp fishing is brilliant on there i use river type methods and hit and hold great fun with a soft avon rod. I'm hopeing to try for the tench this year. it's not as deep as it looks as bri as said not sure about the middle section but top end is probably only 5 to 6ft deep at best. I wouldn't fish light if it's carp your after they know we're to head and shallow water aids them
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Post by samvimes on Mar 24, 2018 14:54:42 GMT
Thanks, something to ponder.
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Post by samvimes on Jan 9, 2019 22:18:12 GMT
I'd forgotten I'd asked this just last year. Back to giving Yarm, and especially Halnaby a good coat of thinking about. There's a couple of things about Halnaby and Yarm rules. What's the story with regards to a closed season on Halnaby, is it open all year round? Is there a barbless only rule in place?
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Post by jimmy on Jan 10, 2019 8:01:20 GMT
Halnaby is open all year round, as is turlwick. As for turlwick, I’d be cautious on the tench fishing; there are one or two special fish in there, but rarely caught.
The carp on the other hand are showing excellent growth for such a small place. They were stocked at a few pounds not many years ago, and the father in law bagged one at around 17lb last year on the float. It used to be a clear venue, with lots of life on the deck, but when I visited in summer it’s now coloured so don’t know what’s happened there.
Rules wise, one rod only, no night fishing, no bite alarms etc, very much venues for the traditional fisherman.
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Post by samvimes on Jan 10, 2019 12:56:57 GMT
Halnaby is open all year round, as is turlwick. As for turlwick, I’d be cautious on the tench fishing; there are one or two special fish in there, but rarely caught. The carp on the other hand are showing excellent growth for such a small place. They were stocked at a few pounds not many years ago, and the father in law bagged one at around 17lb last year on the float. It used to be a clear venue, with lots of life on the deck, but when I visited in summer it’s now coloured so don’t know what’s happened there. Rules wise, one rod only, no night fishing, no bite alarms etc, very much venues for the traditional fisherman. Cheers Jim, I doubt I'll ever go to Turlwick, I get nosebleeds travelling much more than ten miles.  The reality is that I'd be joining for a decent mixed stillwater fishery, that's not a million miles away from home and remains open in the closed season. Halnaby has always fitted the bill, but I'm wary of it turning into nothing more than a disappointing nostalgia trip.
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Post by jimmy on Jan 10, 2019 13:01:01 GMT
Halnaby is open all year round, as is turlwick. As for turlwick, I’d be cautious on the tench fishing; there are one or two special fish in there, but rarely caught. The carp on the other hand are showing excellent growth for such a small place. They were stocked at a few pounds not many years ago, and the father in law bagged one at around 17lb last year on the float. It used to be a clear venue, with lots of life on the deck, but when I visited in summer it’s now coloured so don’t know what’s happened there. Rules wise, one rod only, no night fishing, no bite alarms etc, very much venues for the traditional fisherman. Cheers Jim, I doubt I'll ever go to Turlwick, I get nosebleeds travelling much more than ten miles. The reality is that I'd be joining for a decent mixed stillwater fishery, that's not a million miles away from home and remains open in the closed season. Halnaby has always fitted the bill, but I'm wary of it turning into nothing more than a disappointing nostalgia trip.
I could always get you a guest ticket if you want to try before you buy? Organise a trip out.... |
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Post by samvimes on Jan 10, 2019 14:30:33 GMT
Cheers Jim, I doubt I'll ever go to Turlwick, I get nosebleeds travelling much more than ten miles. The reality is that I'd be joining for a decent mixed stillwater fishery, that's not a million miles away from home and remains open in the closed season. Halnaby has always fitted the bill, but I'm wary of it turning into nothing more than a disappointing nostalgia trip.
I could always get you a guest ticket if you want to try before you buy? Organise a trip out.... Cheers Jim, I could have sworn I read something about no guest tickets on Halnaby, but I'll be damned if I can find it. The biggest snag with your offer is your propensity for going fishing at times of day I refuse to believe exist!  I'd not be averse to a meet up, even if I've already got a ticket. I was trying to remember the last time I fished Halnaby. I reckon it will be 1990, at the very latest, because I joined up in early 1991.
As long as it's still good for a few bites, even in the depths of winter, but especially when the rivers are shut, then it'll be fine. I'd not be joining for anything other than a place to float fish, for anything that comes along, without having to wait too long for a bite. Essentially, it'll be occasional respite from banging my head off the brick wall that we both frequent. Just got to get my backside into gear and get some passport photos.
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Post by Marc on Jan 10, 2019 15:36:10 GMT
plenty of roach in there nothing massive though. suppose to be plenty of other fish aswell but I'll believe it when I see it some decent size bream and carp though. we went early spring and it was still cold two blokes were catching roach most of the day we both blanked. 2 rods aloud on that lake apart from top end.
don't forget yarm have a joining fee to join them including the subs. go on their website and get the number.
we enjoy going once or twice a year for tackle the carp in there but there's probably more productive places to fish on a day ticket if that's all your joining for? we join for the river with added bonus of the lake
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Post by samvimes on Jan 10, 2019 16:45:11 GMT
don't forget yarm have a joining fee to join them including the subs. go on their website and get the number. we enjoy going once or twice a year for tackle the carp in there but there's probably more productive places to fish on a day ticket if that's all your joining for? we join for the river with added bonus of the lake Cheers Marc, I'm aware of the joining fee.
I know that there are more productive day ticket waters in the area, but I'm not a fan of many of them. I prefer more mature, natural (as far as a dammed stream can be natural) waters. I'm also happier on waters that aren't rammed full of anglers. Naturally, having fished Halnaby a awful lot in my youth, before it was even a twinkle in Yarm's eye, there's a dollop of nostalgia involved too.
As the Tees is not my "home" river, I'd be primarily joining Yarm for Halnaby. Any river access will be the bonus. However, as the majority of it is further away than the Swale, the reality is that I'll probably barely bother with it.
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Post by jacques on Feb 13, 2019 20:08:45 GMT
. Halnaby is a good venue easy access and well kept tidy fishery.
Lots of decent sized hard fighting carp. All I will say is its shallow. Get the feeling you could walk all the way across in a pair of chest waders. Slightly deeper far end near a concrete dam. Good pole venue with lots of silvers to keep you entertained. When I hit carp on light elastic and hook lengths have landed 50% but lost others that weeded me. Fishing heavier elastics/hook lengths I have landed all I have hooked up to 14lb.
Well worth the entry fee. Its always been quiet when I have been mid week.
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I'd not be averse to a meet up, even if I've already got a ticket. I was trying to remember the last time I fished Halnaby. I reckon it will be 1990, at the very latest, because I joined up in early 1991.