How did you get on?

[tommos16]

Been a long time since I posted here, six months in Africa and then a baby coming along has pretty much put paid to my fishing. But I managed to get out on a local low and slow river this afternoon, because the little fella was behaving sufficiently for me to be allowed out.

3 Perch over a 1lb (including a new PB of 1lb 14oz, just shy of the magic 2 but no complaints) in 5 minutes, Followed by a quiet hour, followed by a very unexpected Pike. Stayed low and dug in a lot, had me thinking it was a small Barbel just for a minute instead of a Bionic Jack.

All taken from a slack on worms under a Chubber float, 7lb bottom to a size 14. Miracle the Pike didn’t bite me off!

The cherry on the icing on the cake was this was my first time fishing my new (old of course) Drennan Super Tench Float rod

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[John Aston]

A few hours on what the barbel anglers term 'Mother Ouse' . The Yorkshire Ouse (for it is she) is a powerful , wide , and deep river which makes dropshotting challenging, or in plain English, effing tricky . But what a perfect February day - almost still, mild , and with 10/10 thin cloud . The river was only an inch or so above normal level , but the piles of woody debris high on the flood bank told their own story. Amazingly, nobody was fishing my bank , and there was only one set of footprints in the mud and sand below the flood line .

I fished lobworm, very slowly, on a 1/0 , using a 12 g lead . Perch were the target but I only had one, my first fish and a scrapping 1-8 ish . But damned if I could find any more over the 3/4 mile I fished . Instead I had two very fat chub , biggest about two pounds or so and three pike to about 6lbs . A few missed takes , a couple of fish lost (one a right lump - damn !) and an entertaining enough day, at what can be one of my favourite times of the fishing year. Cue a return of screaming NE winds, and sub zero temperatures to the end of the season.....

 

[wetthrough]

Got out yesterday after a rather long break due to the weather and me being a wimp. On the bank of a club water by around 8am. A bit of drizzle on arrival but it didn't last long. Wasn't expecting much. It's a water you can quite easily blank on in ideal conditions. A fairly large deepish water, to about 10ft it was unlikely to have warmed up much. Forecast wind was for around 10mph with gusts of up to 23 as I remember, temp high of around 10C. Turns out there was very little wind at all and what there was was coming at my back so very comfortable fishing. I'd got my hand warmers with me but didn't need them. Not even a nibble til around 12:30 then three small Perch in the next hour going to maggot on a 16s. Tried every other bait except pellet and had nothing at all til around 3:40 when a Roach of around three and a half to four oz took pity on me. Packed up around 4pm when it just started drizzling again. Great to be back on the bank again despite the lack lustre result.

 

[Steve Arnold]

A couple of days ago I stopped off at the river whilst driving into Cajarc with my wife. The river was looking very good, clear but a good height and flow. Sally came down the river bank for a look and I warned not to approach the gentle sloping bank as there was a layer of silt over the grass.

Next thing I know she takes two steps forward whilst saying "what's that moving at the rivers edge?" - and then she is skating in slow time down the bank! Fortunately she stays stood up (well balanced lady!) and comes to a halt before the river.

"Don't move!" orders I. Me being male (and her my wife!) that was ignored and she tries to turn and step back. A little slide but stops again!
This time she stays still and I manage to step forward and dig my shoe edge in. I reach out and holding her hand she digs her heels in and together we make it back onto dry grass.

This is the same spot I slipped whilst landing a fish about a week earlier - treacherous piece of bank, but looks quite innocent. I watch the UK news and there is a woman gone missing whilst walking her dog at the river there, I wonder if something similar happened to her? Poor woman!

Anyway - the fishing! Yesterday I went back to that stretch of river but it was now very low and clear. I picked a swim where I could sit in the full winter sun for my warmth and comfort. Catching a fish came second to enjoying being out of the house on a bright winters day!

It took long casts to just under the trees along the far bank to get just one barbel and miss a cracking second bite. The rest of the stretch was dead - and looked it! There is a barrage and hydro-electric plant just a few miles upstream, the river level can vary a couple of metres some days. There was no appreciable flow during my few hours there and it looked like the tide had gone out!

The 4lb barbel I caught had to navigate the shallows to get home.....

This is a tough piece of the river to fish, but there are monsters here. There is about a 10 mile stretch between the next weir and the upstream barrage, much of the bank is impossible to approach due to cliffs, trees and bad tracks. The carp, silure and barbel roam this stretch and the angler just has to hope a few turn up. When they do though, they are magnificent!......

Spring is coming, I was visited by a butterfly and a bee whilst sitting in the sun

 

[@Clive]

Steve, have a look online for detachable snow chains that fit over boots. I have a pair on my wading boots. They are only around €20 a pair. If you are quick you could get Sally a set for Valentines Day.

 

[Ray Roberts]

Steve, have a look online for detachable snow chains that fit over boots. I have a pair on my wading boots. They are only around €20 a pair. If you are quick you could get Sally a set for Valentines Day.

Just what you need if you take a dip. Should you get her a set for Valentine’s don’t forget to up the life insurance, yours.


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[@Clive]

Just what you need if you take a dip. Should you get her a set for Valentine’s don’t forget to up the life insurance, yours.


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It will show that he cares.

They have saved me from filling my waders a few times.

 

[mikench]

Try your local Decathlon Steve.

Snow Shoes for Men & Women - Shoe Ice Grips | Decathlon

When the winter weather hits, prevent slipping with Decathlon's range of snowshoes and ice grips. Available online & in-store. Shop now to enjoy free, next day click & collect and 365 days return.

www.decathlon.co.uk

stick with flowers and dinner for Valentines though.

 

[Steve Arnold]

Sally mentioned these grips to me when we got home, already on my shopping list!

I had some similar for the low tide weedy rock marks along the Scottish coast. They must have been left behind when our car, trailer and roofbox were maxed-out for the move to France.

Most of the time here in France the bankside is bone dry. But I have done more fishing this winter, often in frosts or after floods, and should have bought some new grips

Hopefully Sally will recognise when I offer her good advice in future. Being ex-RN I tend to "bark orders" in dodgy situations, I know now that does not work well with civilians (or wives!)

As for life insurance? No chance with our ages and health records!

 

[Ray Roberts]

It will show that he cares.

They have saved me from filling my waders a few times.

If you wrap chains around your feet and fall in, it won’t be water that fills your waders!

I had a very close shave a few years ago on the Seven. It was only the dog spike and rope that saved my bacon. I went from top to bottom in a flash.


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[@Clive]

If you wrap chains around your feet and fall in, it won’t be water that fills your waders!

I had a very close shave a few years ago on the Seven. It was only the dog spike and rope that saved my bacon. I went from top to bottom in a flash.


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Ray,
They are made from neoprene and have very light chains, wire springs or cleats on the bottom dependent on the type. The pair that I have pair weighs less than 250g. I've used them for years when wading and fishing slippery places.

 

[Pete Shears]

Managed four pike yesterday at the local canal feeder reservoir,the first on lamprey at 5lb 9 followed by two more on a silver toby of similar size.
The last around 8lb on the toby. Lots of birds on the water,four too many cormorants,two pairs of goosander as well as grey lags,canadas which never shut up,grebes and ducks - mallard,teal and tufties.

 

[terry m]

This winter has provided me with the best ever river piking. Today saw the Avon squeezing back into its banks and affording access to one or two areas that have been impossible for weeks. A turbo smelt, fished under a deadbait pencil in a promising slack sailed away after an hour or so. Result was yet another high 20 and in fact another PB at 28lb 13oz. A small part of me was disappointed that it fell short of the magical 30, but then again if it had gone over 30, I would have nothing lady to shoot for.
Over the moon.

 

[Alan Whitty]

Well done Terry,I've seen fish that size on the H.Avon,though I don't pike fish myself as such,I put two guys onto one many years ago,things of true beauty...

 

[Philip]

River monster ! Well done that man. Isnt that 3 or 4 now over 25 you have had in the past year ? A 30 must be coming not that it really matters they are all special fish.

 

[Alan Whitty]

Terry would know more than I,but a thirty is a big ask on the Avon,especially these days,fish like his are close to the top limit,but I suppose it only needs her to be digesting a 2lb chub or roach...

 

[flightliner]

A big well done Terry, super pike!

 

[terry m]

A 30lb Avon pike is possible, but definitely not easy. I have been trying for decades!

Creeping closer……….

 

[John Aston]

An intriguing day, and a tale of two rivers. The first river is always slow but hope sprang eternal for 2 and a half hours ,then went AWOL . It was very bright and all I had was a little pike of about 1-8 which I landed just in time to stop his big sister from eating him. She was a low double who skulked off in disgust . Venue two was a spot nobody fishes much , because everyone says it's rubbish , which suits me just fine . The key advantage is that it has mature trees on the high west bank , meaning I could fish in the shade . A roving approach with dropshot can often locate neglected hotspots and it did this afternoon , with 17 perch , nearly all between a pound and a pound and half, with one of about 12 oz and bigger fish of 2-0 and 2- 01 . Lobs until I ran out, then a pink paddle-tail. In BB's immortal words 'Rare sport, this '

 

[Alan Whitty]

An intriguing day, and a tale of two rivers. The first river is always slow but hope sprang eternal for 2 and a half hours ,then went AWOL . It was very bright and all I had was a little pike of about 1-8 which I landed just in time to stop his big sister from eating him. She was a low double who skulked off in disgust . Venue two was a spot nobody fishes much , because everyone says it's rubbish , which suits me just fine . The key advantage is that it has mature trees on the high west bank , meaning I could fish in the shade . A roving approach with dropshot can often locate neglected hotspots and it did this afternoon , with 17 perch , nearly all between a pound and a pound and half, with one of about 12 oz and bigger fish of 2-0 and 2- 01 . Lobs until I ran out, then a pink paddle-tail. In BB's immortal words 'Rare sport, this '

The latter part of your day sounds brilliant,nice stripies are such lovely fish to catch,especially in numbers...