What is the best time of year to visit Gillhams Fishing Resorts?

Question:

What is the best time of year to visit Gillhams Fishing Resorts?

From David from a cold and wet Manchester.

Stuart's answer:

 

As for the best time of year, as with all fishing, the lake switches off and on, so we have good days and even bad days, then we get a red letter day. It’s really up to you if you are a sunshine lover or prefer cooler, overcast weather. In my opinion June through to October is best when the temperatures are down. The arapaima, red tail catfish and spotted sorubim love the rain and feed better in lower temperatures, but they still have mad spells in hot periods especially early evening when the sun drops, and mornings up to 10.30am. The Mekong catfish, Julian’s golden prize carp and stingrays do not like rain, but as with all fish they have to eat, so you get short feeding periods. The Siamese carp are just eating machines, and in sun, rain, bright or overcast, they eat! All our other fish do not seem to have a pattern, so I would say you have a chance anytime for these other species. We are here 24-7, and we always advise our clients when the feeding spells are, and if they occur outside of our fishing times we will adjust the times to suit.

This is how our season works:

June and July is the rainy season. It rains for long periods some days, but other days there are just short storms, but there still is plenty of sunshine, and we get some weeks with no rain. The fish love it because the lake receives plenty of new water, plus the temperatures suit them with average daily temperatures of 65 to 70.

In August the rains stop for a month; the average temperature is 80 to 85 but the water stays cool so the same species still feed well. In September and October the winds change and the rain returns, but not for such long periods, and mainly in the evening. The average daily temperature is 70 to 75.

November sees the start of our dry season; the rains die out, and the average daily temp is 75 to 80.

In December and January, the average daily temp is 80 to 85, and fishing is still good for all species with the higher temperature fish coming on the feed as well. Mind you, this January has been the hottest on record with temperatures above 100. The fishing slowed down, but there were still some spectacular catches of big carp, including two over 100lb, plus the Mekong catfish have been on the feed with fish to 180lb.

In February and March, the average daily temp is 90 to 95 and the fishing is good as the fish go on a feed up before the higher temperatures in April/May when the average daily temp is above 100.

April and May... Last year the lake fished its socks off in first two weeks of April. The good thing about this period is when we get a rain storm, which is on average every fourth day, the fishing switches back on. To be honest with you this is the first full year the lake has been open. If May is as unpredictable next year we will close during May as we only want our customers to catch fish.

To sum up your question: the lake fishes well from the beginning of June to the end of April; it's just down to what sort of weather you prefer. In my honest opinion the most consistent fishing period would have to be June through to November. But don't misunderstand me; the lake and fish are moody and they switch off and on. We have great days, good days and poor days at any time, but over an average of five days everyone gets at least one great day.

If you check out the newsletters section of our website you will see how many fish have been caught of each species and up to what size, and I think you will see the fishing is consistent all year. This last month has been the hottest on record, but the lake still fished well, as it did last September when it was the wettest on record. We live in a constantly changing world and the fish adapt to it, and as they say, it's called 'fishing', not 'catching', and some days are good, some poor, and then along comes the day of your dreams.

I hope that has answered your question honestly, and if you have any further questions please feel free to ask.

Best regards,

Stuart.