How did you get on?

[Steve Arnold]

I spotted the Entragues HE plant had virtually shut off its flow last night. This morning I checked my RiverApp and it looked like there would be a vastly reduced flow for a few hours this afternoon, with the huge amount of water in the system this winter this opportunity had to be grabbed.

Of course I phoned Alistair and yes he would like to fish as well. This time he was even later than usual and we did not reach the river until after 2 pm!

I was particularly impatient as I wanted to try my new recipe for a bait "Gloop". Dips and pastes are standard for me to use now, but I wanted something in between, so this Gloop was born......

......and it worked......

To help retain it near the bait a little longer I added a chenille ball between the hook and boilie, I think this little chub was more interested in sucking that than eating the boilie! ......

So not a bad start to 2024, good size barbel and chub and my new Gloop an instant success. Pity we only had 3 hours fishing, I think I could have got that swim going today with an earlier start.

No luck for Alistair, I will chase him to have an earlier start next time!

 

[peterjg]

Started on the Basingstoke Canal. No bites at all so after a couple of hours I moved to a club lake. Quiver tipped with both rods and straight away caught a small roach, a small common carp, a F1, a tench, 3 crucians and several small snotties and hybrids. A couple of fish were caught on bread but what they really wanted was the dead maggots. It made a nice change to catch some fish, I have been really struggling of late. The water temperature was 46F.

 

[@Clive]

I spotted the Entragues HE plant had virtually shut off its flow last night. This morning I checked my RiverApp and it looked like there would be a vastly reduced flow for a few hours this afternoon, with the huge amount of water in the system this winter this opportunity had to be grabbed.

Of course I phoned Alistair and yes he would like to fish as well. This time he was even later than usual and we did not reach the river until after 2 pm!

I was particularly impatient as I wanted to try my new recipe for a bait "Gloop". Dips and pastes are standard for me to use now, but I wanted something in between, so this Gloop was born......

View attachment 28934

......and it worked......

View attachment 28935View attachment 28936

To help retain it near the bait a little longer I added a chenille ball between the hook and boilie, I think this little chub was more interested in sucking that than eating the boilie! ......

View attachment 28937

So not a bad start to 2024, good size barbel and chub and my new Gloop an instant success. Pity we only had 3 hours fishing, I think I could have got that swim going today with an earlier start.

No luck for Alistair, I will chase him to have an earlier start next time!

Looks like that new recipe is mustad Steve.

 

[Steve Arnold]

Yes Clive, well spotted. Better not mix it up with the wholegrain mustard!

Shhhhh...! just for you Clive, my "secret" recipe includes water, xanthan gum powder, garlic granules, fishmeal based method mix and my blend of dried bread and nacho Dorito powder.

Basically add enough xanthan gum to the water/garlic until it thickens. Then add some method mix and complete with the bread/Dorito powder until it's the consistency that you want.

It sticks well enough that enough stays attached on a moderate cast. I tested it in a pint glass of water and it takes 1/2 hour plus to completely fall off and does stay on the bottom.

You can never be sure if these things really do attract, but this mix certainly does not put the fish off!

Lots of foody scents and tiny bits gradually being released. I think it's my best recipe yet.....time and fish will tell!

 

[nottskev]

I hadn't been out since the 8th December (Christmas, lethargy, horrible weather, old age, decrepitude, floods) but I felt like giving it a go. With 2m + on the river, I thought I'd have a couple of hours on a little local brook. I'd yet to use a little 7' rod I made up for this kind of place, and I had a big tub of worms I'd been feeding tea-leaves and apple peel for a month and more (I can throw a couple of pints of maggots out without thinking, but I feel responsible for keeping worms alive, for some reason) so I took both down to the brook. Most of it, unsurprisingly, was racing through and unlikely to hold any fish, but I'd found one short stretch that was deep and steady. It was a bit of a mud bath and the water had been over the bank, but with two cute swims next to each other, I thought this will do fine.

Given my bait options (worms) I decided to fish a thimble-size home-made feeder with chopped worm and worm on the hook. There are some perch in the brook, and I thought they'd be the best target. It's all very Crabtree, fishing a little stream in a wood, but it does mean the bottom is mainly tree branches, and after the first cast my little feeder was never seen again. I swapped to the smallest Drennan Loafer - the little clear plastic things - at 2AA, and tried to keep out of the snags. With branches overhead, branches in the water and brambles and briars all over the place, I tied a few hooks on and swore a bit, but at least I didn't blank and three bites turned up two roach - I'd never seen a roach in here before - and a chub

 

[wetthrough]

Day out at a local club water yesterday. Arrived quite late on account of my alarm clock battery going south. You'd think after waking up a third time and it's still 1.20am the penny would have dropped but no, not until I woke up to see daylight filtering round the curtains did I realise something was amiss. Arrived around 10.30, the place deserted which isn't usually a good sign.

It's a water that suffers badly in summer when the water table is low but it plumbed up at 55" at around 10M. A little deeper further out. Fishing at dead depth 3.3lb to 16s I'd had three small Roach by 11:10. OK, so we're in tiddler territory, to be expected with the temperature around 7 degrees. Might as well scale down - 2lb to 18s light wire hook. If something bigger comes along I'll just have to hope for the best. Catching steadily through the day just loose feeding 3 o 4 maggots frequently. I had ground bait but decided to try without as I'm not wholly convinced of the efficacy of GB anyway. Ended up with 31 on the clicker mostly 2:3 oz just a couple that might have scraped in at 4oz. Nothing bigger around afaics. A very pleasant day although my hands were getting a bit cold later on.

 

[flightliner]

River Trent on its tidal reaches yesterday afternoon looking towards the lincoln bank on the last few frames!

 

[chevin4]

Since many of my favourite waters are flooded at the moment I wasn't exactly spoiled for choice on Thursday. I elected to fish my local stream although I guessed it would be pushing through I knew it would be fishable. I decided to set my stall out for roach starting off fishing my converted fly rod and small running feeder. I bait dropped a few maggots and hemp periodically being mindful of not over feeding as this would run the risk of bringing to many barbel into
the swim. I caught some nice roach up to 1lb 1oz several chublets gudgeon and a dace of around 8oz. I did catch a barbel of about 4lb (good fun on light gear) and a couple of around 8oz which is good to see that the fish are spawning. Later during the session I tried trotting further down the swim but didn't get a bite so gave laying on a go but this is a method I need to perfect having but fished this style for many years. All in all it was an enjoyable session and i managed to pack up before the rain arrived at 4pm Allways a Bonus !!

 

[flightliner]

By chance I crossed over the river Don late in the afternoon yesterday near Sprotboro/Doncaster.
I was surprised as it seemed possible to fish as it was within its banks so I decided to fish it further upstream somewhere in Sheffield.
It was conveniant as my wife, daughter, and grandchildren had arranged to meet a friend, for lunch and a shop in the city centre, so, after dropping all four off in the centre of town it took me all of 15 minutes to get to my choosen swim,another 10 and I was ready to go.
It soon became apparent that things wern't going to be easy as my first swim was easy for bites in normal conditions but unlike last time when there was an extra foot of water on, today there was 18" and much colder.
I persavered with my plan however after moving to another area that looked likely to produce a few bites and it wasn't long before my float sank out of sight and my strike produced a nice 6" greyling in the turbulant water.
Another some ten minutes later some one inch shorter than the first, than a short lull before striking at a bite but only to lose a greyling as it surfaced closer towards me.
That was it!
Another hour of trying to tease another fish from one more swim prooved fruitless but it was nice to be out after again after three plus weeks of frustration!

 

[@Clive]

I went to a stretch of the Vienne that I hadn't fished for about four years. I had to look back in my notes to confirm what baits I had caught on. Meat and pellets was the answer. Just as I left the village I spotted a boar cantering across a field. A few hundred yards further on the chasse hunters were lining the road ready for a hunt. The boar had scarpered before they got set up. Just before I got to the village where I was going to fish I passed another line of shooters assembling. A few hundred yards further on an adult roe deer crossed the road heading for safety.

I started out with a 2lb tc feeder rod and one of the big ugly feeders I had made. They weigh between 4oz and 5.5oz empty. Went through the baits, meat, pellets, worms, sweetcorn without a bite. The swim is on the outside of a long 'U' bend and the deeper water is only a few rod lengths out. Strangely I have only ever caught barbel here. No bream, carp or chub. The locals fish for predators and have no interest in bait fishing. Today no one was out. Probably all out shooting.

I put the bigger 2.25lb tc rod up and used the biggest feeder loaded with pellets between two wads of groundbait. The rod was only just up to the job. A male hen harrier showed over the river as it turned to fly back over the meadows. A grey wagtail kept me company while hawking the few flies that were hatching. Nothing took the double soft pellet bait or the meat on the other rod. At least it wasn't too cold. I had brought lots of warm clothes that weren't required.

I gave it four hours and retired with a blank.

 

[Steve Arnold]

I went to a stretch of the Vienne that I hadn't fished for about four years. I had to look back in my notes to confirm what baits I had caught on. Meat and pellets was the answer. Just as I left the village I spotted a boar cantering across a field. A few hundred yards further on the chasse hunters were lining the road ready for a hunt. The boar had scarpered before they got set up. Just before I got to the village where I was going to fish I passed another line of shooters assembling. A few hundred yards further on an adult roe deer crossed the road heading for safety.

I started out with a 2lb tc feeder rod and one of the big ugly feeders I had made. They weigh between 4oz and 5.5oz empty. Went through the baits, meat, pellets, worms, sweetcorn without a bite. The swim is on the outside of a long 'U' bend and the deeper water is only a few rod lengths out. Strangely I have only ever caught barbel here. No bream, carp or chub. The locals fish for predators and have no interest in bait fishing. Today no one was out. Probably all out shooting.

I put the bigger 2.25lb tc rod up and used the biggest feeder loaded with pellets between two wads of groundbait. The rod was only just up to the job. A male hen harrier showed over the river as it turned to fly back over the meadows. A grey wagtail kept me company while hawking the few flies that were hatching. Nothing took the double soft pellet bait or the meat on the other rod. At least it wasn't too cold. I had brought lots of warm clothes that weren't required.

View attachment 28956

I gave it four hours and retired with a blank.

Some days the fish just do not feed! I have found that since moving to my river Lot area, when one species is off the feed it often means nothing is feeding. Certainly changes in water temperatures can do that but rapid changes in water height must do the same.

I know you will understand all of that Clive, but it's been a steep learning curve for me this last six years.

Your comment about the boar reminded me, that last afternoons fishing I had was preceded by a boar event. I had intended to drive down to the river in the morning to check conditions and put some baits in likely places. The chasse had blocked the road and were beating the verges so I came home. As I walked through my garden gate two young wild boar came charging through my garden. One cleared the fence into my neighbours garden, but the other had several attempts before clearing that fence. They disappeared in the direction of the village centre, the chasse did not follow!

I am not a fan of the Chasse these days, never liked their method of hunting. But I think they are "trigger-happy", which resulted in the young relative of our friends being shot dead in his own garden. Not such an uncommon event in France and worries me when I am fishing at times!

 

[@Clive]

Yes, you are right Steve and anyone who comes to France to fish needs to be aware of the dangers. As you say; the number of people injured or killed by members of the Chasse is not inconsiderable.

The thing about those two sightings was that they were probably older, wiser individuals who had worked out how to skirt the line of guns while they were still getting ready. It happened on pheasant shoots. As soon as the first vehicles arrived in the woods some birds scarpered. And it will also happen in angling.

 

[Alan Whitty]

Excuse my ignorance but the Chasse are (without venturing into Google)?

 

[Steve Arnold]

Excuse my ignorance but the Chasse are (without venturing into Google)?

Organised hunts for deer and wild boar. It's a big thing in France and they often use well over-powered rifles. Drink is known to be consumed by some at the start of these hunts despite obvious rules to "ensure" safety.

When some unfortunate walker/cyclist/ homeowner etc is killed the law is applied but sentences invariably appear very light.

Obviously many ordinary residents here are not happy about the Chasse, but the shooting lot have great political clout. Bit like the USA!

 

[Alan Whitty]

Sounds pretty frightening, especially as anyone going for a walk/fishing etc could find themselves amidst such an 'event', blimey....

 

[Alan Whitty]

What I mean is if you are sitting tucked away out of sight fishing, some drunken moron can let a shot off and take you out, if there are a group of morons goading each other on even worse, I've been peppered by shot from pheasant shoots, it's a little different firing bullets...

 

[Steve Arnold]

What I mean is if you are sitting tucked away out of sight fishing, some drunken moron can let a shot off and take you out, if there are a group of morons goading each other on even worse, I've been peppered by shot from pheasant shoots, it's a little different firing bullets...

I think I should get a "Hunter Orange" cap or coat. But in the USA they still get shot, orange makes you a nice bright target!

Every week the press in France will have reports of people shot by the Chasse. I think hunting in a "club" leads to that competitive atmosphere where men are tempted to take the shot whatever. Great kudos to the hunter who bags a big sanglier!

Most of the injuries involve members of the hunt, but these rifles with their heavy bullets have a range of miles. Who can tell where stray bullets will end up!

It seems a new app for our phones may be available soon indicating where the Chasse is operating. That has happened after that young man was killed in his garden and there were demonstrations by locals in Cajarc and Cahors. But the App would not have helped him unless he hid in the cellar, and such an app puts the onus on the public to stay away. Quite the wrong approach to my mind.....when these heavy bullets can fly miles just how much land should you avoid when the chasse can cover many kilometres during its day hunting?

 

[xenon]

seems like its much the same as it was twenty years ago.my uncle moved there to the middle of nowhere and every year a bunch of pissed up blokes with high powered rifles would wander about banging away at anything that moved-some of these were actual people.

 

[nottskev]

Still a bit nippy out there, but armed with a heated gilet under a down jacket I headed off to the nearest little river - one always struggling to recover from centuries of abuse. Plenty of water in the fields, and the long grass flattened by flood waters made it a laborious half mile walk along the shallow, featureless straights to the nearest bends and trees where you might catch a chub.

I had a few slices of bread and a tub of lobworms (25 for £5 from the local worm farm). A 2 swan link leger cast to the front of the raft will bounce under, and may or not snag some immovable object, according to your luck. It's a game of fine margins, as the football commentators say, and one bite is the difference between a good day and a bad day. This is not a prolific water, to say the least, but it's that time of year when one decent fish will do.

 

[nottskev]

A bit cold again, but dry and windless and the heated waistcoat (when I remember it) is a game-changer, so I headed off into Derbyshire to the prettiest river I know. The coarse fish stocks seemed to collapse around the turn of the century, a real pity but I don't at all mind going for game fish. The river's back in its banks, but pushing through hard and very cold, so I left the float rod in the bag and set up with a little maggot feeder. After all the floods and the frosts, I was surprised to find the minnows were still all over the maggots, so I swapped to worm and chopped worm in the feeder

That deterred the minnows and got me bites from a few grayling of this stamp

And a few trout, of which these two were the pick

I only fished from 10 til 2, but it was lovely to catch such fit fish from a pacey river on the gear you'd use for roach and skimmers - a 90's Daiwa rod designed by that game fishing expert Tommy Pickering, 4lb line on the reel and a 14 hook on a .12 bottom. I don't recall seeing a bird, aside from crows passing over, on the little river in the suburbs yesterday; today, with a field behind and a densely wooded hillside opposite, there were countless long-tailed tits in the trees opposite, several robins lining up for bits of bait, redwings and fieldfares in the field behind me, and the tiny birds flitting around which I assumed were wrens were, when I stopped to look, goldcrests.