Taswood lakes, the popular commercial enterprise that has closed down voluntarily from the end of November until mid March allowing both hunter and hunted a welcome break, has reopened its gates to produce fabulous fishing for permit holders.

The seven lake complex run by the Ellis family at Flordon just off the main A140 road at Newton Floatman can boast an impressively long list of specimen fish caught in the past fortnight.

Opening week for members only presented a foretaste of sport to come with more than 20 hefty carp netted, the heaviest a 33lb 4oz mirror for Geoff Greenaway of Hempnall.

The feeding frenzy continued last week when the top two carp were a 32lbs 4oz common for Mark Chapman of Norwich and another of 30lbs 10oz for Danny Thompson of Thorpe.

Specimens in the twenties fell to Kevin Smith of Lingwood, Michael Cann of Catfield, Jimmy Martin of Wymondham and Mark Slater of Norwich.

In addition local pike enthusiast Ross Mendham heaved out a fat female scaling 25lb tempted on a joey mackerel bait.

Fishery boss Richard Ellis said there were a number of twenty pound plus pike as well as every other species an angler could wish for in his fishery and added: 'Quite a number of pike anglers visit us and the big one at the weekend along with a spate of quality carp got us off to a fine start of our new season.' You can attain season permit details on 01508 470919.

At Swangey lakes where the match venue has been restocked with 450 carp, specimens came out in abundance.

Heading the list were a 31lb 4oz mirror fro Tony Chapman, Norwich and a 36lb 6oz for Paul Oxborough of Cawston. Others with fish over twenty pounds were Scott Beales, Mildenhall, Simon King, Lowestoft, and Carl Duston of Attleborough.

Waveney Valley catfish have also begun to feed in rising temperatures with specimens up to 40lb reported by weekend visitors.

Eric Sykes of Yarmouth netted a 29lb 8oz common carp and Stuart Rackham of Halesworth had nine fish to 27lbs.

There is the usual clamour within the sport from those who don't care about the welfare of spawning fish or other water wildlife whose breeding season falls between March and June, to scrap the closed season.

Well, from the Norfolk Broads here's the message. It ain't gonna happen!

Just about every acre of river or Broad in East Norfolk is specified as SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and that suffix together with a number of other conservation titles means the coarse fishing closed season will remain with us.

For anglers who wish to continue fishing non stop they are spoilt for choice for suitable venues.

Meanwhile, activity on the match lakes is steadily becoming frantic fishing rather than reposeful recreation.

Top match bag of the week was 113lb 13oz for Railway Lake Open winner Adam Playford (Angler's Corner) while at club level the best of a splendid weekend was 102lbs 11oz for Oddfellows winner Glen Mason at Colton and Ron Yates headed the Costessy Crown card at Barford with 100lbs 110oz.

The final round of the North Norfolk division qualifier of the National Sea League was a grueller. Top bag was 1lb 5oz of flat fish for Henry Randell (Holt Right Gear) and top team on the day were Avenue Angling with six penalty points bringing their total to 52 points, not enough to catch new champions Right Gear who scored 47 points.

The grand final of the league is scheduled for North Norfolk's Shingle Ridge on December 1 and 2.