just got back from moor monkton pools nr york.fished the front lake peg 59 and finished up with 8 carp and a perch.all the carp fell to waggler fished mussel and the perch to prawn.the biggest fish of the day was around the 6lb mark.didnt realise there was a roving match on and one of the club members plonked himself in peg 58 next to me.beautiful day weather wise but the heat played its part in putting the fish off and didnt get a bite for the last hour or so hence me packing in at 4.00pm.
How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
I drove out to the gravel pit yesterday afternoon. I couldn't get any of the swims I wanted thanks to other anglers, how dare they, overgrown banks and rafts of willow fluff. I tried to make the best of it in a seriously uncomfortable spot down a steep bank where I had to set up in the water/smelly silt. It was such a parrot cage I set up with a 12' rod and a slider to let me get out from under the branches. After all that, I didn't get a bite for three sunless hours, and I can't remember blanking there in May before.
Since I'd hardly used any bait and had nothing else I needed to do, I went back this afternoon. I didn't have many swims to choose from, but at least I wasn't sinking in the mud and I could lift a rod up. Although there was still enough willow fluff around to mean I had to fish the pole.
I was in a shallowish corner of the pit, and it seemed to be a bit of a nursery area, as I didn't catch a fish over 2lb. But a big tree kept the sun off me and yesterday's bait - 4 and 6mm expanders soaked with a dash of Robin Red powder and drinking chocolate - proved irresistible to juvenile tench (they wouldn't touch a red maggot), the float kept going under and I declared at 50.
Since I'd hardly used any bait and had nothing else I needed to do, I went back this afternoon. I didn't have many swims to choose from, but at least I wasn't sinking in the mud and I could lift a rod up. Although there was still enough willow fluff around to mean I had to fish the pole.
I was in a shallowish corner of the pit, and it seemed to be a bit of a nursery area, as I didn't catch a fish over 2lb. But a big tree kept the sun off me and yesterday's bait - 4 and 6mm expanders soaked with a dash of Robin Red powder and drinking chocolate - proved irresistible to juvenile tench (they wouldn't touch a red maggot), the float kept going under and I declared at 50.
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
What makes tench that size refuse red maggot Kev,most odd...
flightliner
Well-known member
Is that the same place we fished the last time we fished there Kev?
Yes, Mick.
I usually go fishing 3 times a week but haven't been since 28th April due to doing loads of blasted decorating, concreting, diy, etc. Anyway it's all done and finished and today I actually went fishing! To be honest I was really too tired to fish properly and was just glad to be there, managed 6 roach and 11 perch - all small but I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I've had enough small tench, and I remembered a place you could catch some decent ones on summer evenings. It looked like this evening would be as fine as they come, so I drove out to a big L-shaped gravel pit in a wlderness beside the A50. I hadn't been there for maybe 6 years.
Only the odd carper on, and the corner swim was empty. A good start
I started fishing just after 5pm. It's 6' deep under the end of that rod, and I fished bits of meat over a mix of hemp and small pellets
The small fish weren't put off by the chunky baits and things went from bad
To worse
Never mind. Give it a couple of hours and the tench will come around the stick-ups. Unfortunately, I didn't get that far. First, a proper fish turned out to be one of the ones I wasn't after
I'd just unhooked that when the bailiff drove up, took my money and told me not to forget to be off by 6.30pm when he locks the gates. What? I reminded him - we recognised each other - that in the past I didn't START fishing until 6.30 at this time of year, and I hadn't been here an hour. It's not me, he explained, new owners. Wtf is day ticket fishing coming to - off the water 3 hours before dusk, and the place in the middle of nowhere with nobody to annoy or disturb. I packed up there and then and crossed another place off the list.
Only the odd carper on, and the corner swim was empty. A good start
I started fishing just after 5pm. It's 6' deep under the end of that rod, and I fished bits of meat over a mix of hemp and small pellets
The small fish weren't put off by the chunky baits and things went from bad
To worse
Never mind. Give it a couple of hours and the tench will come around the stick-ups. Unfortunately, I didn't get that far. First, a proper fish turned out to be one of the ones I wasn't after
I'd just unhooked that when the bailiff drove up, took my money and told me not to forget to be off by 6.30pm when he locks the gates. What? I reminded him - we recognised each other - that in the past I didn't START fishing until 6.30 at this time of year, and I hadn't been here an hour. It's not me, he explained, new owners. Wtf is day ticket fishing coming to - off the water 3 hours before dusk, and the place in the middle of nowhere with nobody to annoy or disturb. I packed up there and then and crossed another place off the list.
S-Kippy
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Early one again for me after a long day at Wisley yesterday. Fortunately the sign on the M25 that said “ A3 South entry closed” was lying and I was on the lake about 5-30. It was freeezing ! Horrible scuddy northerly wind blowing straight down the lake…even worse there was a bivvy ( the horror !) in the swim I’d planned to fish AND my 2nd choice too. Undeterred I set up in between the mushroom forest and had baits in by 06-10. By 06-15 I was back at the car for another fleece and a gilet. It never really warmed up until about 11 am by which time the lake was far too busy for my liking and such action as there had been had petered out.
Between about 7-30 and 10 I had 3 nice tench between 4 and 4-8, a crucian of about a pound and a half and a lovely pigeon chested Rudd of 1-4. I hung on hoping for a mugfish and they duly arrived in the form of another (smaller) tench and a nice crucian an ounce shy of two pound. I then lost another tench in the lilies which seemed a good point to give it best as it was Friday of a BH weekend, my gas bottle had run out which meant NO TEA and I had the monster to negotiate. It took me over 2 hours to get home from Wisley yesterday and about the same today though I was on the road at least 3 hours earlier. The Dept of Transport have clearly updated the Skippy App and dug up the A3/M25 junction just for me. Cheers lads.
In descending order
1.The best tench and a very handsome fish too
2.Ruddy Boy
3. Best crucian…not huge but also handsome and I say again note the orange pectoral
Between about 7-30 and 10 I had 3 nice tench between 4 and 4-8, a crucian of about a pound and a half and a lovely pigeon chested Rudd of 1-4. I hung on hoping for a mugfish and they duly arrived in the form of another (smaller) tench and a nice crucian an ounce shy of two pound. I then lost another tench in the lilies which seemed a good point to give it best as it was Friday of a BH weekend, my gas bottle had run out which meant NO TEA and I had the monster to negotiate. It took me over 2 hours to get home from Wisley yesterday and about the same today though I was on the road at least 3 hours earlier. The Dept of Transport have clearly updated the Skippy App and dug up the A3/M25 junction just for me. Cheers lads.
In descending order
1.The best tench and a very handsome fish too
2.Ruddy Boy
3. Best crucian…not huge but also handsome and I say again note the orange pectoral
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Ray Roberts
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S-Kippy
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They all seem to be in particulaly good nick this year Ray.....or its a younger year class coming through. I'm sure some of the old warriors are no longer with us though I cannot ever recall catching a tatty tench there.
@Clive
Well-known member
Late start today, but a later finish too. On the Charente in Cognac country, a new swim for me. Started trotting sweetcorn sfter bait dropping in a load of mixed grains. Had two roach before I had finished my sandwiches. The swim was a bit tight for repeated casting so I switched to laying on with pigeon pea bait. That got me more roach, all around 6oz. Then I hooked a carp that weng off down river. I had the 70 year old rod as bent as I dared, but line still poured off the spool against finger pressure. Eventually it slowed down and then surfaced about 30 metres downstream. I started to pump it back, but it was having none of it. We were at stalemate for ages. Eventually it did come back begrudgingly and I saw that it wasn't a carp, but a bl**dy bream. It was hooked in the tail hence the unusual fight.
Probably had 8 or 9 roach and the backwards bream. Picked up fish, chips and mushy peas on the way home and had supper on the balcony enjoying the last of the sunshine. It had been 28C this afternoon.
Probably had 8 or 9 roach and the backwards bream. Picked up fish, chips and mushy peas on the way home and had supper on the balcony enjoying the last of the sunshine. It had been 28C this afternoon.
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
Been today,fished the club lake with a good head of crucians,I had 15,biggest being 1lb 15ozs,2lbs and 2lbs 4ozs,had at least 25 skimmers up to possibly 2lbs,several roach /bream hybrids to around 1lb 4ozs and a couple of roach,on return to the car I found it covered in hard pigeon shit,I've been struggling for 2 hours to get the crud off,now I'm totally shot in this heat,grrrrr. Just to add,no photos, I'm afraid,just wanted to put a number on the fish and get them back quickly and as the biggest was a pound below my best I thought touching them as little as possible was the better option....
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Steve Arnold
Well-known member
As an escape from our car woes we went to Cajarc for two nights with the Camper-van. A lovely place to sit and watch the river, occasionally being amused (or annoyed!) by the tourists on the town side of the river.
Of course I fished, then twenty minutes in a tearaway take resulted in a nice barbel. I thought this might be an epic session starting.....
...but that was it! I fished on into the evening after my chilli dinner.....
Sally is a wonderful support to me when all my "energies" are required for the fishing. Sally did the shopping walk, warmed up the dinner, poured the wine and even managed the landing net and trophy photo duties!
I fished until the bats started "twanging" my line, but no more bites the first evening....
I was up at dawn the next day, but no more bites so packed up for lunch in the town.
After lunch the bait was back out and time to relax. The next good bite happened when I was off for a pee! Sally grabbed my (fishing!) rod and had the fish hooked. Then I was back to take over the rod ....... and the hook dropped out!
Anyway, there was another good bite a couple of hours later. A very good fight and this one was in the net.....
I had to play that lovely barbel on a cheap holiday telescopic spinning rod, my good "old-faithful" had broke earlier on the cast. Must be 25 years old that rod, caught so many species (salt and freshwater) and had thousands of casts. It broke a couple of years ago and was repaired, now the break is further up the rod. Have to say "It's done!" completely now.
The river is still very brown, normally extremely clear at this time of year. My friend is upriver about 50k and sent me this photo of the confluence of the Truyer and the Lot.....
Now the penny drops! I remembered seeing a report that a dam above Entragues was to be drained for maintenance, they must have started and this is disturbed silt. The water is half 'n half at the confluence, by the time it reaches my stretch its a well mixed "murky"!
Will this last all summer? I may have to resort to groundbaiting and feeder fishing.
Of course I fished, then twenty minutes in a tearaway take resulted in a nice barbel. I thought this might be an epic session starting.....
...but that was it! I fished on into the evening after my chilli dinner.....
Sally is a wonderful support to me when all my "energies" are required for the fishing. Sally did the shopping walk, warmed up the dinner, poured the wine and even managed the landing net and trophy photo duties!
I fished until the bats started "twanging" my line, but no more bites the first evening....
I was up at dawn the next day, but no more bites so packed up for lunch in the town.
After lunch the bait was back out and time to relax. The next good bite happened when I was off for a pee! Sally grabbed my (fishing!) rod and had the fish hooked. Then I was back to take over the rod ....... and the hook dropped out!
Anyway, there was another good bite a couple of hours later. A very good fight and this one was in the net.....
I had to play that lovely barbel on a cheap holiday telescopic spinning rod, my good "old-faithful" had broke earlier on the cast. Must be 25 years old that rod, caught so many species (salt and freshwater) and had thousands of casts. It broke a couple of years ago and was repaired, now the break is further up the rod. Have to say "It's done!" completely now.
The river is still very brown, normally extremely clear at this time of year. My friend is upriver about 50k and sent me this photo of the confluence of the Truyer and the Lot.....
Now the penny drops! I remembered seeing a report that a dam above Entragues was to be drained for maintenance, they must have started and this is disturbed silt. The water is half 'n half at the confluence, by the time it reaches my stretch its a well mixed "murky"!
Will this last all summer? I may have to resort to groundbaiting and feeder fishing.
mikench
Well-known member
Une ghillie par excellence Steve. 
The Runner
Well-known member
Having been feeling a bit bleurgh with Covid since Friday original plan was if felt a bit better this morning to head up to Kilmaluag for a day on the pollack. Woke up and didn’t really feel up the long walk so thought it would just be another day indoors. But, two hours later, cabin fever was setting in and decided to take the lure rod up to Staffin, shorter and easier walk in.
Not quite as short as expected as did a slight detour with my good deed for the day redirecting an American couple and their young kids who were looking in the wrong area for the dinosaur footprints….
Nearly there, view looking back
Bit of a surprise as was expecting the sea to be pretty flat , but the wind had obviously been onshore for longer than forecast ( it was supposed to have turned round yesterday afternoon) and a quite heavy swell running. Swell here can be very variable, sometimes dangerously so as it’s coming in over very deep water and a rogue one can come out of nowhere and only be spotted at the last minute, so just sat on top of the rocks and watched for twenty minutes. Lots of white and bubbled water from the backwash which the pollack seem to avoid so picked two or three spots that would be dry , safe and had relatively flat water, and set up a heavier lure than usual for the extra distance to get well past the disturbed areas.
Second cast hooked something that felt reasonable, not big, but it managed to do the chub’s trick of transferring the hook to a clump of weed. And it was the biggest fish I hooked all day, had four pollack and three coalfish but all only around this size.
Strange place Staffin, some days all decent fish , some like today all small but never managed to see a pattern as to which is which. Still, good to be out and feel a lot better for the fresh air even if must have got rid of half a pint of runny snot over the day.
Not much wildlife about, small pod of dolphins went past and a few gannets well out but that was about it.
Corran beach overrun with tourists at the end of the walk
Not quite as short as expected as did a slight detour with my good deed for the day redirecting an American couple and their young kids who were looking in the wrong area for the dinosaur footprints….
Nearly there, view looking back
Bit of a surprise as was expecting the sea to be pretty flat , but the wind had obviously been onshore for longer than forecast ( it was supposed to have turned round yesterday afternoon) and a quite heavy swell running. Swell here can be very variable, sometimes dangerously so as it’s coming in over very deep water and a rogue one can come out of nowhere and only be spotted at the last minute, so just sat on top of the rocks and watched for twenty minutes. Lots of white and bubbled water from the backwash which the pollack seem to avoid so picked two or three spots that would be dry , safe and had relatively flat water, and set up a heavier lure than usual for the extra distance to get well past the disturbed areas.
Second cast hooked something that felt reasonable, not big, but it managed to do the chub’s trick of transferring the hook to a clump of weed. And it was the biggest fish I hooked all day, had four pollack and three coalfish but all only around this size.
Strange place Staffin, some days all decent fish , some like today all small but never managed to see a pattern as to which is which. Still, good to be out and feel a lot better for the fresh air even if must have got rid of half a pint of runny snot over the day.
Not much wildlife about, small pod of dolphins went past and a few gannets well out but that was about it.
Corran beach overrun with tourists at the end of the walk
Alan Whitty
Well-known member
The last picture was a piece of heaven...
mikench
Well-known member
It started off well at least for Gordon. The water looked lovely and I was confident of a carp or two . Set up the torrix on a buzzer with micros and pellets.
What could go wrong particularly as Gordon started to catch early on . The flat calm conditions turned very blustery with a cold NE wind which had me donning a hoodie and then an outer layer. I felt really cold all day and couldn’t get a touch on the Torrix. Gordon on the other hand had 4 carp with one just shy of double figures, at least 20 other assorted perch and roach and a skimmer or two. I was staring a blank in the face but took up Gordon’s kind offer of some maggots. 5 perch and a roach hardly impress but they averted a blank. Everyone else struggled and my trigger finger caused me some gip. It felt cold but it was fine and sunny for the most part. Gordon at least left with a big smile on his face.
. Cheers Gordon and here’s to next time.
What could go wrong particularly as Gordon started to catch early on . The flat calm conditions turned very blustery with a cold NE wind which had me donning a hoodie and then an outer layer. I felt really cold all day and couldn’t get a touch on the Torrix. Gordon on the other hand had 4 carp with one just shy of double figures, at least 20 other assorted perch and roach and a skimmer or two. I was staring a blank in the face but took up Gordon’s kind offer of some maggots. 5 perch and a roach hardly impress but they averted a blank. Everyone else struggled and my trigger finger caused me some gip. It felt cold but it was fine and sunny for the most part. Gordon at least left with a big smile on his face.
. Cheers Gordon and here’s to next time.
jon atkinson
Well-known member
A suitably overcast morning for my first foray on the GUC - space in the car down being at a premium with two dogs accompanying us, I just packed the lure rod & associated bits & pieces. First time that I've ever managed a session in all the times that I've headed south to see the F-I-L. I opted for a stretch by the Coy Carp pub at Harefield which is controlled by Blenheim AC, but can be fished on a day ticket which is £5.00 from the helpful chaps at Harefield Tackle.
It is a lovely part of the World and the neither the cut itself, nor the towpath were overly busy. Rather too much weed in the canal (inevitable given the time of year) for a straightforward session, although I did come away with all lures intact. I tried a couple of different cranks, a jointed shad and a Mepps spinner with no sign of life at all. Knowing that I had a lunchtime curfew, it was looking increasingly like a Serge was on the cards. I had been harbouring thoughts of snagging a Zander - improbable for sure, but they are at least present in the GUC - they just don't exist in the North! By this stagehowever, I'd have settled for a 5" Perch. I switched again to a small, soft plastic paddletail which within a couple of minutes had drawn a fierce take from a Jack of about 4lb, so not the Z that I had been 'hoping' for, but at least the blank was averted! Heading back north tomorrow, so it will be back to the regular waggler fishing, but I enjoyed my few hours on the GUC and will hopefully get to come again.
It is a lovely part of the World and the neither the cut itself, nor the towpath were overly busy. Rather too much weed in the canal (inevitable given the time of year) for a straightforward session, although I did come away with all lures intact. I tried a couple of different cranks, a jointed shad and a Mepps spinner with no sign of life at all. Knowing that I had a lunchtime curfew, it was looking increasingly like a Serge was on the cards. I had been harbouring thoughts of snagging a Zander - improbable for sure, but they are at least present in the GUC - they just don't exist in the North! By this stagehowever, I'd have settled for a 5" Perch. I switched again to a small, soft plastic paddletail which within a couple of minutes had drawn a fierce take from a Jack of about 4lb, so not the Z that I had been 'hoping' for, but at least the blank was averted! Heading back north tomorrow, so it will be back to the regular waggler fishing, but I enjoyed my few hours on the GUC and will hopefully get to come again.
The Runner
Well-known member
My old stamping grounds that, Jon. Lived in Harefield for twelve years and then in Uxbridge for nearly 20.
Don’t think there’s any Zander there, or never heard of any anyway, always was a load of perch and some big ones as well.
Lovely bit of canal known locally as the Running Pound. There is, or was, a big bream shoal not that far “upstream “ of the Coy Carp ( was a far better pub when it was called the Fisheries before it got tarted up ) - I won an open match there with 63- 6 of them , only about 14 or 15 fish, which was my highest non commercial match weight in England. Big carp along there too.
And yes, Harefield Tackle is a cracking shop as well.
Don’t think there’s any Zander there, or never heard of any anyway, always was a load of perch and some big ones as well.
Lovely bit of canal known locally as the Running Pound. There is, or was, a big bream shoal not that far “upstream “ of the Coy Carp ( was a far better pub when it was called the Fisheries before it got tarted up ) - I won an open match there with 63- 6 of them , only about 14 or 15 fish, which was my highest non commercial match weight in England. Big carp along there too.
And yes, Harefield Tackle is a cracking shop as well.
I fished a small shallow club lake yesterday for roach. Started at dawn, used just the one rod floatfishing in 3ft of water using flavoured sweetcorn. First fish was a rudd then had several tench and a hybrid. Tried dendra worms but only had 2 tiny perch. Later moved to a more weedy swim and ended up in total with 16 tench (biggest 4lbs 13ozs), 14 rudd, the hybrid and the 2 perch - not a single roach? It was really cold first thing then too hot in the pm.