I’m not claiming to be an expert just a beginner who can get you started.
The two rivers I fished were the Windrush and Evenlode both west of oxford. I had decided to fish these rivers with a mobile approach, so my tackle and tactics had to be simple and light.
So I had all the tackle and bait I needed for a day’s
roaming. I don’t use a rod rest and the pole is for my camera.
My rod is a Greys Prodigy with a 2oz quiver tip with an Okuma Epix Pro with 6lb Daiwa Sensor line which had a link swivel at the end. I used 4lb Drennan hook link to a size 14 hook and 2 or 3 AA shots attached to a running bead. Casters were my chosen bait.
The Korum Method Mix Bag My rig is a simple running rig, the boom helps to
stop the rig tangling and also great to change rigs
I was using the Korum Method Mix bag to carry my tackle and bait, which just so happen to be perfect for the job. It has three sections though I only used two, the top section for my hook links, swivels and other rig bits in their Rig Manager and the bottom for bait, scales and sling, shots, towel and other odd and sods I needed.
The flow is from right to left
Armed with the korum Power Stick and landing net, to keep my rod and landing pole together during transit I used their rod bands to keep my rod and landing pole together and with the Prologic unhooking mat, I was ready to go. To help with spotting the fish I was wearing ESP polarised glasses.
I know I’m having a bad hair day that is what hats are for
The Windrush
After two failed attempts to find some fish on different stretches of the Windrush, I decided to move on to the Newlands Hayfield lakes which had the river running behind it after missing out on a few chub a bit further upstream and a little walk down stream, I then found five chub in this swim.
The flow here is from left to right At least my hair got better!
After I got settled I fed a few casters to see if the fish were feeding. Then I cast in, hooked one after a few attempts, and after a quick fight I landed my first chub from the Windrush at 2lb and my first fish of the river season.
The Evenlode
After that I moved on to the Evenlode near Cassington on the Abingdon and Oxford club book. I fished a few swims to no joy then on my way back to my car I found this one full of chub.
After 10 minutes of watching chub swimming around and disappearing and with the flow being quicker I added an extra shot to get my bait down faster. I then fed a few casters to my right and had a missed bite, so I re-cast to the same spot, fed a few more casters, then got a big take which ended up being this 2lb 2oz chub.
Can you spot the chub in these pictures?
I learned from both rivers
1. Walk around see if you can spot any fish, if not try looking for swims with vegetation (weeds, reeds and cabbages) overhanging trees, undercut banks and bends.
2. Don’t waste your time in one spot, if they aren’t there after a few minutes move on as you’re only wasting your time and bait.
3. Take your time, there is no need to rush.
4. Throw in some bait first, that will tell you if they are feeding.
5. Don’t strike too early, wait till the fish is on the hook, the first chub I watched take the bait and struck after five seconds, the second chub I waited till the tip wrapped around.
6. Once you have caught move on as the fight will have scared any other fish away.
7. Tackle-wise never take what you don’t need (something I’m still learning) for this style of fishing all you will need are split shot, hooks, line, disgorgers and a few odds and ends.
8. Your tackle bag needs to be small enough to travel but big enough to hold all your kit.
9. Do not take a chair as it will only slow you down – you want to cover as much ground as possible.
10. Both my catches came from shallow and fast flowing waters, try them first as you don’t need long to spot them.
11. Take a good pair of polarised glasses as you won’t see many fish without them.
12. Be quiet as you don’t want to scare the fish away.
13. Bait-wise, unless you know they will take pellets or boilies, go for the more natural option such as casters, maggots or worms, as the fish will take these more freely than man-made baits.
14. Set up at the car not at the bank. Not only does it save time but cuts down on noise and more gives you more chance to catch.
15. In tight swims take only your rod, landing net and bait, leaving all the rest outside until needed.
This was fun and not a bad start to the opening day of the season. I’m looking forward to doing it again but more thoroughly as I have yet to scratch the surface on both rivers and I have a lot of water to fish. I hope this will encourage you to have a go at this method.
A Kylie Minnow I made sure my hair looked OK this time round
My Secret Stretch
On Saturday morning I decided to go to a stretch where I saw a load of chub sitting there from the 16th and to my surprise the chub were still there.
Can you spot the chub in this photograph?
Having got set up and settled I started to flick some casters in to get the chub feeding and having got them to feed I flicked out my caster and after a few minutes I caught the little Kylie Minnow.
I was hoping that the fish didn’t kill the swim. I got the chub back on the feed after watching the a few chub around my bait I had a good take and landed this chub weighing 2lb 12 oz.
This fish killed the swim
Hoping that this chub didn’t kill the swim dead I let it settle I switched my rig over to a longer one to try and tempt one out from under the tree. Once I flicked out my bait and chucked out some casters few came swimming over then this one decided he wanted a photo taken weighing in at 2lb 2oz.
This one did kill the swim so I decided to move on. But I did enjoy it. Now I’m after the barbel that I have seen in the swim. Till next time……….
I hope you have enjoyed reading and this has inspired you to try this style of fishing. Like I said I’m no expert at roaming or stalking but by reading magazines and other articles and watching fishing programmes will give you the basics. It can be both exciting and frustrating.
Tight Lines
Speci
