July - September 2026

Early July – Summer Success

7/6/20265 min read

News from the Banks – A Week of Summer Success

There are some weeks when the fish cooperate, the weather behaves itself and the surroundings provide memories that stay with you long after the rods have been packed away. This has certainly been one of those weeks, with several members sharing their catches and photographs from around the waters.

Leading the way this week is Mick Baldwin, who enjoyed several productive sessions at Willington. Across the week Mick landed a mixture of tench, bream and carp, including tench to 5lb 12oz, bream to 7lb 1oz and a carp weighing 11lb 2oz. By the end of the week, his combined catch weight topped 78lb, making for a very successful run of fishing.

One of the real highlights from Mick's week wasn't a fish at all, but a stunning early morning scene across the lake, with a hot-air balloon drifting overhead and perfectly reflected in the calm water below. It is photographs like these that remind us that time on the bank is about far more than just what ends up in the landing net.

Alongside Mick's successes, other members have been enjoying good sport around the complex.

On 13 July, Stuart Bragg shared a photograph of a lovely common carp caught during an evening session on Broom. Stuart commented that he wondered whether the fish might be one of the newer stock fish introduced this year. Although the fish wasn't weighed, it was certainly a cracking capture and another encouraging sign of the quality fishing available across our waters.

On 9 July, Brian Pettit introduced himself to the group and marked the occasion in style with a superb mirror carp from Airman, weighing an impressive 25lb. Fish of that calibre are always welcome additions to the week's catch reports, and we're sure many members will be hoping to cross paths with that mirror in the future.

It's great to see members regularly sharing their catches, photographs and experiences. Whether it's a personal best, a surprise capture, a memorable sunrise, or simply an enjoyable few hours by the water, every report helps bring our fishing community together.

Many thanks to Mick Baldwin, Stuart Bragg and Brian Pettit for their contributions this week. We look forward to hearing how everyone's next sessions unfold.

Tight lines to all our members, and don't forget to send in your photographs and catch reports for the next edition of News from the Banks.

Early July has brought a real mix of conditions across our waters. Warm nights, low water levels, and increasing weed growth are all starting to shape how the fishing is behaving—and, as ever, it’s those willing to adapt who are getting the rewards.

This week’s reports from Broom and Willington tell a very familiar story for this time of year: the fish are there, but they’re not always going to make it easy.

Making the Most of the Night at Broom

Michael Huntley headed down to Broom on the evening of Friday 3rd July for an overnight session, arriving at around 6:45pm to a relatively quiet lake, with just a couple of other anglers already set up.

Choosing to fish Peg 19—a swim he’d put time into before without much success—this trip proved a turning point.

Conditions were far from perfect. It was a warm, still night, and the mozzies were out in force. But despite the challenges, patience paid off in the early hours:

At 1:15am, the first run resulted in a 7lb 8oz Common Carp, a hard-fighting fish that more than made up for previous blank sessions on that peg
Then, as the light began to change, the swim came alive again
A 5lb Bream followed at 4:30am, before another slightly larger fish of around 5lb 8oz at 8:15am

After that early burst of activity, things quietened down, with no further bites before packing up at 3pm.

It’s a great example of how, even when daytime sport slows, those overnight and early morning windows can really make a session.

News from the Banks: Early July – Adapting to the Conditions

Adapting Tactics at Willington Pays Off

Over at Willington, Mick Baldwin has been putting in consistent effort across multiple sessions—and it’s paid dividends.

Fishing both Monday and Friday, Mick built an impressive combined weight of 70lb, made up of:

Monday: 5 Bream for 29lb 13oz
Friday: 3 Carp and 1 Bream for 42lb 3oz

But the headline isn’t just the weight—it’s how those fish were caught.

Like many waters at the moment, Willington is fishing a bit patchy. Water levels remain low, and there’s still a lot of weed to contend with. On top of that, bite windows are proving short and easy to miss.

Recognising this, Mick made a key change:

Switching to red maggots
Fishing them in a heavy black cap feeder

The result? All of the fish were caught by 7:30am, with barely a sign of activity for the rest of the day.

It’s a clear reminder that at this time of year, timing and tactics matter just as much as location.

What We’re Seeing on the Banks

There’s a clear pattern emerging across the reports:

Early mornings are proving crucial, with most action happening before breakfast
Overnight sessions are starting to produce, especially in the warmer conditions
Low water and weed growth are making things more challenging
Small tactical changes—bait, feed, or presentation—are making a big difference

In short, it’s not easy fishing at the moment—but it is rewarding fishing if you’re willing to stay flexible.

Final Thoughts

This is the time of year where patience and adaptability really come into their own. The fish haven’t disappeared—they’re just feeding on their terms.

Those anglers who are watching the water, adjusting their approach, and making the most of those short feeding windows are the ones coming out on top.

And judging by this week’s reports, there are plenty of good fish still being caught across our waters.

Keep the reports coming in—every session helps build the bigger picture and keeps everyone learning from what’s working right now. Tight lines!

SDAA Ltd

Shefford and District Angling Association Ltd, Registered in England and Wales No. 05430106

Registered Office: 2 Manor Farm Court, Old Wolverton Road, Old Wolverton, Milton Keynes MK12 5NN