Hornsea Mere

[Splitcaner]

Has anyone fished Hornsea Mere and if so what fish are available please, cant seem to find much info, one post says there are only pike and eels. Went there last summer but not to fish asked around but nobody seemes to know what was in there. It does look pretty decent there could be some big bream and tench, its the largest lake in Yorkshire over 450 acres. On the web page it advertises big carp perch and tench and some roach. Wonder what tactics and bait work best, hope someone can help many thanks John.

[Banksy]

Hornsea Mere is what I would consider to be one of my local waters.
I had some good fishing in the early 70's, usually on a boat catching perch on a little Mepps spinner, but there were also hard days.
I last fished it in 1976, when I blanked.

There used to be some superb roach in there. One of 3lb 10oz was caught by a chap called Wilf Cutting, but that was in 1917!
In the 1960's I remember being thrilled to see a double page article in the Angling Times, featuring huge nets of quality roach, caught by drifting across the lake in rowing boats and fishing a large lobworm under a perch bob.
I know of quite a few East Yorkshire waters which were stocked with roach taken from Hornsea Mere because of the quality of the fish.
Sadly, no more.
Access for fishing from the banks is very restricted. I believe it's only permitted on the promontory near the cafe / boathouse - shown green on the map. It can be very exposed fishing on the point, with waves breaking over your feet if there's a westerly wind. Rowing boats can be hired here, which of course can make it a busy area in summer. Day tickets used to be available at the boathouse.
Last time I was down there, parking was still free, but rowing boat hire was expensive enough to deter me from taking one out for a full day, like we used to do.

A good part of the mere used to be a wildlife reserve, with no access. I'm sure it still will be restricted.
The water is generally shallow and clear, attracting cormorants and other predators. Taking a rowing boat out near the islands, I have had problems scraping the bottom of the lake with the oars, and getting weeded up.

So it's not going to be a hugely productive water by comparison with today's commercial fisheries, but perhaps that's preferable?
Do try it it, and if you have a tremendous session with some huge roach and tench, don't tell anyone. Apart from me, obviously!

[Phil Arnott]

I had many happy days fishing with my cousin in the Mere in the late sixties and like Banksy we spun from a boat. We caught small pike and perch. Unlike most of the waters I fished the perch preferred a silver lure rather than the classic Ondex. I used a 7grm ABU Tylo until I lost it. I'm sure it's still somewhere on the bottom of the Mere. The pike definitely had a liking for a yellow plug. I've no idea how well it fishes these days. It is still fished for pike and there are some carp but I don't know the state of the stocks of perch and roach.

An early picture looking over the Mere. I have a lot of old pictures of the Mere



Wilf Cutting - the one time holder of the roach record fishing the Mere for Pike.

[Ian.R.McDonald]

Hornsea has a history of dinghy racing- including the Osprey that I sail.
Rescue boats were rowed to fit in with the wildlife reserve and fishing
Considering an Osprey can do 15 kts- the arms of the rescue must have been sore

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[Phil Arnott]

You've stirred a memory! When we fished the Mere and the wind was in the right direction we used to put a brolly up and steer with an oar over the back much to the amusement of the lads in their sailing dinghies.

[Splitcaner]

Many thanks for the replies I think I will give it a miss. It just looked so inviting, casting out with a nice worm bait and catching a decent roach tench or bream. John. See you at the angling fair soon, I will be attending but not selling, to much of a rush we are away next day, off to Filey.