itsfishingnotcatching
Well-known member
The lack of forceps gives the game away every time
How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
The lack of forceps gives the game away every time
sam vimes
Well-known member
Spent the afternoon helping to test a mate's long range free running pike rig. It was around four before I hit the river. Slow going with a pain (surely that's the collective noun) of minnows. Managed a couple of grayling, a couple of trout and a dace before I disappeared to look for my real target for the day.
B
binka
Guest
I managed to sneak a cheeky session in this afternoon, since early in the week I’ve been trying to squeeze in a perch session on the river but a last minute work commitment saw me suited, booted and heading off down the M1 in a real pea souper just before six o’clock this morning.
Initially I was a bit miffed that something had come up so late and I was working in bandit territory otherwise I would have planned to take the gear and head off afterwards but I really didn’t fancy leaving gear on show in the car and then I remembered I had a six piece Greys Prodigy TX Rova float rod which has been gathering dust on top of a cupboard and so I decided to show it the light of day once more as it meant I could stash everything I needed for the afternoon in the boot of the car and out of sight.
Two pints of reds from a tackle shop on the way out of the area I was working in and I was back up the M1 in good time and changing into fishing clothes on the riverbank by late morning.
The silvers which I had gone for were proving rather difficult though and a couple of hours in and I had barely taken a dozen chublets and roach along with a smattering of netter perch to around 12oz, hooklink should be fine in the clear water at 2lb 10oz and a light 4 x no.4 Dave Harrell stick dotted right down offered little resistance.
It was a case of whipping it to a foam until around mid-afternoon when the first untargeted barbel showed up and after a good old tussle on the light gear she was safely in the net and around 5lb, glistening nicely in the warm afternoon sunlight…
I thought that was a bit of a result not only for the light hooklink with a single maggot on a size 18 barbless spade end but also for the fact it was on the six piece travel float rod, I’ve always held this rod in high regard after taking some nice fish on it in the distant past before laying it fallow for a few years but today it really showed what a competent rod it really is…
It didn’t end there though, I took a total of eight barbel with the biggest two or three being upper singles and some nice chunky fish…
Cracking afternoon! :w
Initially I was a bit miffed that something had come up so late and I was working in bandit territory otherwise I would have planned to take the gear and head off afterwards but I really didn’t fancy leaving gear on show in the car and then I remembered I had a six piece Greys Prodigy TX Rova float rod which has been gathering dust on top of a cupboard and so I decided to show it the light of day once more as it meant I could stash everything I needed for the afternoon in the boot of the car and out of sight.
Two pints of reds from a tackle shop on the way out of the area I was working in and I was back up the M1 in good time and changing into fishing clothes on the riverbank by late morning.
The silvers which I had gone for were proving rather difficult though and a couple of hours in and I had barely taken a dozen chublets and roach along with a smattering of netter perch to around 12oz, hooklink should be fine in the clear water at 2lb 10oz and a light 4 x no.4 Dave Harrell stick dotted right down offered little resistance.
It was a case of whipping it to a foam until around mid-afternoon when the first untargeted barbel showed up and after a good old tussle on the light gear she was safely in the net and around 5lb, glistening nicely in the warm afternoon sunlight…
I thought that was a bit of a result not only for the light hooklink with a single maggot on a size 18 barbless spade end but also for the fact it was on the six piece travel float rod, I’ve always held this rod in high regard after taking some nice fish on it in the distant past before laying it fallow for a few years but today it really showed what a competent rod it really is…
It didn’t end there though, I took a total of eight barbel with the biggest two or three being upper singles and some nice chunky fish…
Cracking afternoon! :w
Last edited:
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
I have found it hard over a couple of sessions this week, still managed a few fish though
Top snaps Neil, especially the bottom one. Sums up Autumn perfectly with the light and vivid defiance of the perch....
flightliner
Well-known member
I had a short late afternoon early evening session today on a water close to home, I was after a perch with a light fox microlight lure rod coupled up with an old trusty mitchell 301 lhw, the lure was a tiny Heddon tiny tad, one I like in yellow and red with a very enticing side to side action which can replicate a small fish darting forward in short bursts to a tee.
The sun was out and I didnt really fancy my chances but of I went changing swims every fifteen minutes or so with no takes .
I had a break for a bikky and a drink and I saw a few small perch at the waters 3dge, maybe three or four.
It was my banker swim having had one or two from it in the past so after my break I commenced my repeated casting in the traditional round the clock pattern.
The sun went down below the tree line and it was then that the small perch at my feet were joined by a complete small shoal that for no reason began to chase my lure in packs, nipping it but not being hooked. It was interesting how just before the sun went down there were non other than the few uninterested four but in a flash were dozens in a chase everything mood.
Some half hour later my lure came to a halt and I was connected to a small jack but fortunately the hook came adrift just before I could net it --- a welcome really as Small pike can be develish little net twisters.
A slight shift in angle in the same swim and I was in, second cast a lovely 1-2 stripey followed by a 2-6 short fat specimen that ended my mini session on a high.
Back asap!
The sun was out and I didnt really fancy my chances but of I went changing swims every fifteen minutes or so with no takes .
I had a break for a bikky and a drink and I saw a few small perch at the waters 3dge, maybe three or four.
It was my banker swim having had one or two from it in the past so after my break I commenced my repeated casting in the traditional round the clock pattern.
The sun went down below the tree line and it was then that the small perch at my feet were joined by a complete small shoal that for no reason began to chase my lure in packs, nipping it but not being hooked. It was interesting how just before the sun went down there were non other than the few uninterested four but in a flash were dozens in a chase everything mood.
Some half hour later my lure came to a halt and I was connected to a small jack but fortunately the hook came adrift just before I could net it --- a welcome really as Small pike can be develish little net twisters.
A slight shift in angle in the same swim and I was in, second cast a lovely 1-2 stripey followed by a 2-6 short fat specimen that ended my mini session on a high.
Back asap!
Last edited:
neil1970
Well-known member
I went out for a couple of hours this afternoon, hoping to capture a Chub, Barbel or Carp in that order.
I decided to swap the quivertip section of my rod for the Avon section.
Usually I let the fish hook themselves, but today made myself strike at
any indication.
Four swims were fished for half an hour each - ten minutes with crust or flake, followed by ten minutes of cheesepaste, then finishing with garlic spam.
The first two swims produced nothing and it wasn't until swim number three when I struck into some trembles that looked more like a crayfish bite than anything else.
Twenty five seconds of fight later and a 7.5lb Bream came to the net (picture below for the slime lovers).
The final swim saw a trout.
I really enjoyed this slight change of tactic - it made the whole ledgering experience more exciting.
Both fish fell to cheesepaste.
I decided to swap the quivertip section of my rod for the Avon section.
Usually I let the fish hook themselves, but today made myself strike at
any indication.
Four swims were fished for half an hour each - ten minutes with crust or flake, followed by ten minutes of cheesepaste, then finishing with garlic spam.
The first two swims produced nothing and it wasn't until swim number three when I struck into some trembles that looked more like a crayfish bite than anything else.
Twenty five seconds of fight later and a 7.5lb Bream came to the net (picture below for the slime lovers).
The final swim saw a trout.
I really enjoyed this slight change of tactic - it made the whole ledgering experience more exciting.
Both fish fell to cheesepaste.
Last edited:
maggot_dangler
Well-known member
well had a day out wednesday at the normal pool . few perch and roach on maggots then thought it was time to try my version of Halibut Paste and well it seems to work well the bream seem to like it as do the carp but not the crucians so going to play more with it see if i can get it even better as simple as it is ..
PG ..
PG ..
S-Kippy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 15,268
- Reaction score
- 7,766
Pickled onions ?Spent the afternoon helping to test a mate's long range free running pike rig. It was around four before I hit the river. Slow going with a pain (surely that's the collective noun) of minnows. Managed a couple of grayling, a couple of trout and a dace before I disappeared to look for my real target for the day.
sam vimes
Well-known member
Pickled onions ?
Bloody townies!
They're hazelnuts (or cobnuts, if you are a farmer in Kent and wish to charge people twice the price!).
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
I thought I'd better make an effort before going back to work though, if I'm truly honest, I didn't really feel like going. That said, the weather's due to break after the weekend and this time next week, I'll be cursing when the river's carrying dead cows and a semi sunken Audi.
A quick drive to the tackle shop to top up my hemp saw me met with an interesting offer. How would I like four pints of maggots for a quid? Well, you can (and did!) take the boy out of the North.....but, well, the Shylock in me bit like a pike.
The last few remnants were rotten, I mean minging, like someone pardoned everybody on death row in maggot prison. However, a bargain's a bargain so ho hum!!
Got to the Longham stretch (of the Dorset Stour for anybody new) to find two other lads double Drennaned for barbel but nothing doing.
My by-now usual island swim was free so I stationed myself on it, sat on an extra large unhooking mat. I set up a Daiwa Infinity barbel 1.75lb, Preston PXR 5000 with 10lb main, ounce and a half Kamasan black cap feeder to a Maver Match This carp size 12 to 8lb link.
I had some sizeable Spam cubes ready and impaled one. I scooped the WMD (wrecked maggot detritus) into the feeder and swung it out to the island, to a musical accompaniment of The Levellers and, later, some Two Tone and Ska I'd downloaded.
I'd like to say it went ballistic but it was like a Scouse plumber, it didn't do a tap. The first hour went with several refills (might be where I went wrong) of manky maggots, casters and hemp.
The next half hour went the same way with the minor difference of the slightest tap dink but no more. I did see a Reed Warbler so I was quite happy.
Then, just as I wasn't expecting anything, the tip banged and hooped over leading to good, solid resistance. The fish plodded then seemed to wake up, run and fight like a Dervish. In short, I had no idea what it was - or even, might be.
After a pitched, five minute battle I slipped the net under a nice chub that looked like it could handle itself. A nice prize. I estimated it to be circa 4lbs. A nice start (or reward, after a wait). Held in the current, it kicked away strongly with the speed of a Porsche.
Refilled and back out. Spam again. And another half hour of birdwatching, loud music and it got so bad, I even logged into FM via my smartphone.
Then, hammer time. It really went off on one, the tip. Mahoosive resistance again. Again, I began to think this could be something crazy like a carp but, slowly, I began to regain line and eventually saw a chub which looked bigger than the first, largely because, after netting, it was - about 4lb 6oz, at an estimate with scars and an attitude to match. A proper, bare knuckle tattoo sporting pikey this one (as Mr Ritchie would call it), a real fighter.
It had my greatest respect, it had obviously had to contend with a whole host of challenges, enemies and the like to get as far as my net. But, back it went, with what looked like a four letter mouth gulp and a big swish of those powerful fins, it slowly cruised probably deliberately choosing not to run away.
Same as before, rebaited, back out and a trick which never fails, opening a tinny of Dr Pepper but today......nothing, no bite, nada.
Rebaiting and recasting several times for the next hour. A possible drop back but the strike met fresh air, that was it.
Whilst thinking about and hoping for barbel, the tip spanked around and, again, hit it to find decent opposition. This one might, I felt, have been a tad lighter which, in a few minutes, turned into a lot lighter as another chub around a pound and a half slipped into the net.
The usual million things to do kicked in and I tackled down. A really nice session.
I got home to find a Cotton Traders catalogue and was drawn to a charcoal coloured sweater. I bought it over the phone and immediately felt late middle aged. Is this what life has come down to? Woe is me. I definitely need to get out (and fish!) more.
Bestest.
A quick drive to the tackle shop to top up my hemp saw me met with an interesting offer. How would I like four pints of maggots for a quid? Well, you can (and did!) take the boy out of the North.....but, well, the Shylock in me bit like a pike.
The last few remnants were rotten, I mean minging, like someone pardoned everybody on death row in maggot prison. However, a bargain's a bargain so ho hum!!
Got to the Longham stretch (of the Dorset Stour for anybody new) to find two other lads double Drennaned for barbel but nothing doing.
My by-now usual island swim was free so I stationed myself on it, sat on an extra large unhooking mat. I set up a Daiwa Infinity barbel 1.75lb, Preston PXR 5000 with 10lb main, ounce and a half Kamasan black cap feeder to a Maver Match This carp size 12 to 8lb link.
I had some sizeable Spam cubes ready and impaled one. I scooped the WMD (wrecked maggot detritus) into the feeder and swung it out to the island, to a musical accompaniment of The Levellers and, later, some Two Tone and Ska I'd downloaded.
I'd like to say it went ballistic but it was like a Scouse plumber, it didn't do a tap. The first hour went with several refills (might be where I went wrong) of manky maggots, casters and hemp.
The next half hour went the same way with the minor difference of the slightest tap dink but no more. I did see a Reed Warbler so I was quite happy.
Then, just as I wasn't expecting anything, the tip banged and hooped over leading to good, solid resistance. The fish plodded then seemed to wake up, run and fight like a Dervish. In short, I had no idea what it was - or even, might be.
After a pitched, five minute battle I slipped the net under a nice chub that looked like it could handle itself. A nice prize. I estimated it to be circa 4lbs. A nice start (or reward, after a wait). Held in the current, it kicked away strongly with the speed of a Porsche.
Refilled and back out. Spam again. And another half hour of birdwatching, loud music and it got so bad, I even logged into FM via my smartphone.
Then, hammer time. It really went off on one, the tip. Mahoosive resistance again. Again, I began to think this could be something crazy like a carp but, slowly, I began to regain line and eventually saw a chub which looked bigger than the first, largely because, after netting, it was - about 4lb 6oz, at an estimate with scars and an attitude to match. A proper, bare knuckle tattoo sporting pikey this one (as Mr Ritchie would call it), a real fighter.
It had my greatest respect, it had obviously had to contend with a whole host of challenges, enemies and the like to get as far as my net. But, back it went, with what looked like a four letter mouth gulp and a big swish of those powerful fins, it slowly cruised probably deliberately choosing not to run away.
Same as before, rebaited, back out and a trick which never fails, opening a tinny of Dr Pepper but today......nothing, no bite, nada.
Rebaiting and recasting several times for the next hour. A possible drop back but the strike met fresh air, that was it.
Whilst thinking about and hoping for barbel, the tip spanked around and, again, hit it to find decent opposition. This one might, I felt, have been a tad lighter which, in a few minutes, turned into a lot lighter as another chub around a pound and a half slipped into the net.
The usual million things to do kicked in and I tackled down. A really nice session.
I got home to find a Cotton Traders catalogue and was drawn to a charcoal coloured sweater. I bought it over the phone and immediately felt late middle aged. Is this what life has come down to? Woe is me. I definitely need to get out (and fish!) more.
Bestest.
Last edited:
S-Kippy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 15,268
- Reaction score
- 7,766
Oi ! Less of the townie please. This is Buckinghamshire I'll have you know. We have cows and squirrels and stuff that grows on trees too !Bloody townies!
neil1970
Well-known member
Brilliant write up dorsetandchub
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
Thank you, kind Sir. Very glad you enjoyed it.
---------- Post added at 22:52 ---------- Previous post was at 22:44 ----------
The cows are concrete.....the Milton Keynes ones, anyway
---------- Post added at 22:55 ---------- Previous post was at 22:52 ----------
In his case, it's Hardy as in Laurel and......
---------- Post added at 22:52 ---------- Previous post was at 22:44 ----------
Oi ! Less of the townie please. This is Buckinghamshire I'll have you know. We have cows and squirrels and stuff that grows on trees too !
The cows are concrete.....the Milton Keynes ones, anyway
---------- Post added at 22:55 ---------- Previous post was at 22:52 ----------
In his case, it's Hardy as in Laurel and......
maggot_dangler
Well-known member
Spent the afternoon helping to test a mate's long range free running pike rig. It was around four before I hit the river. Slow going with a pain (surely that's the collective noun) of minnows. Managed a couple of grayling, a couple of trout and a dace before I disappeared to look for my real target for the day.
Now that is what i call a target nice cant get any round here the freakin grey squirrels bite a hole in the side and dump them on the floor before they ripen enought
i need a grey squirrel remover ..:wh:wh 14 gauge shot gun anyone .... :wh :wh
PG ...
The Sogster
Well-known member
Today I returned to a favoured club stretch of the Don.
Didn't have any particular species in mind but fancied a day on the float. Decided to take maggot, bread and pellet as baits. This decision was made when I realised I had left my hemp at home
This was the second disaster of the day after finding the sandwich shop shut.
Arrived at the river to find it very low so settled in a deeper peg on the outside beginning of a bend. The inside line look very inviting under some overhanging trees and bushes.
Set up a 14' rod and aventa pro with a 8no4 stick float on 2.6lb mainline with 2lb hook length to a size 16 for the 7 to 8 foot depth in front of me.
Conditions were great, unfortunately despite trying various shotting patterns, depths and baits I had only managed two glorious gudgeon after a couple of hours.
Had a cuppa and decided to change reel and put a waggler on as I could see fish activity about two thirds of the way across. Rummaging in my bag I realised I had left my waggler float tube at home with the bloody hemp. Grrrrr.
Set up the feeder rod instead, a little heavier 4lb mainline and 3lb hook length. Started with a tail from the feeder of around 18", I soon started getting small rattly plucks but couldn't hit them although I could see the end of the maggot had been nipped. To try and convert them to bites I started lengthening the tail until it was around 30". This did the trick and I was over the moon to get three bream in the next four casts, the smallest around 3lb and the largest nudging 4lb.
The sun then came out and the swim died for the next couple of hours. Both on float and feeder.
A little cloud and back on the feeder I had a proper pull round and lifted into what seemed a very heavy fish. I played it with soft hands as firm as I dared for about 2 minutes before it came to the surface and I saw what for me was my first eel from this stretch of river. In fact it was the biggest eel I have probably seen and definitely over 2 feet in length.
Despite my misgivings about having to unhook the blighter I really wanted to land it but as I was reaching for the net the hook length gave just above the hook. Bitten off.
Curses and a cuppa.
Back out on the feeder hoping for more bream but only a couple of skimmers around a pound each before the swim died.
Went back on the float for the last hour managing two gudgeon, a beautiful billy perch of around 10oz all flared gills, spiky fins and attitude.
And on the final cast of the day one tiny tiny roach, absolutely gorgeous the colours so fresh like it had just been minted.
Overall a fantastic autumn day with some spectacular fish and a small disappointment with the eel. At least I saw it and now know they are there.
Didn't have any particular species in mind but fancied a day on the float. Decided to take maggot, bread and pellet as baits. This decision was made when I realised I had left my hemp at home
This was the second disaster of the day after finding the sandwich shop shut.
Arrived at the river to find it very low so settled in a deeper peg on the outside beginning of a bend. The inside line look very inviting under some overhanging trees and bushes.
Set up a 14' rod and aventa pro with a 8no4 stick float on 2.6lb mainline with 2lb hook length to a size 16 for the 7 to 8 foot depth in front of me.
Conditions were great, unfortunately despite trying various shotting patterns, depths and baits I had only managed two glorious gudgeon after a couple of hours.
Had a cuppa and decided to change reel and put a waggler on as I could see fish activity about two thirds of the way across. Rummaging in my bag I realised I had left my waggler float tube at home with the bloody hemp. Grrrrr.
Set up the feeder rod instead, a little heavier 4lb mainline and 3lb hook length. Started with a tail from the feeder of around 18", I soon started getting small rattly plucks but couldn't hit them although I could see the end of the maggot had been nipped. To try and convert them to bites I started lengthening the tail until it was around 30". This did the trick and I was over the moon to get three bream in the next four casts, the smallest around 3lb and the largest nudging 4lb.
The sun then came out and the swim died for the next couple of hours. Both on float and feeder.
A little cloud and back on the feeder I had a proper pull round and lifted into what seemed a very heavy fish. I played it with soft hands as firm as I dared for about 2 minutes before it came to the surface and I saw what for me was my first eel from this stretch of river. In fact it was the biggest eel I have probably seen and definitely over 2 feet in length.
Despite my misgivings about having to unhook the blighter I really wanted to land it but as I was reaching for the net the hook length gave just above the hook. Bitten off.
Curses and a cuppa.
Back out on the feeder hoping for more bream but only a couple of skimmers around a pound each before the swim died.
Went back on the float for the last hour managing two gudgeon, a beautiful billy perch of around 10oz all flared gills, spiky fins and attitude.
And on the final cast of the day one tiny tiny roach, absolutely gorgeous the colours so fresh like it had just been minted.
Overall a fantastic autumn day with some spectacular fish and a small disappointment with the eel. At least I saw it and now know they are there.
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2009
- Messages
- 9,335
- Reaction score
- 1,696
I spent a few hours on the river today watching the float sail away . The fog barely cleared at all and the air temp's where quite low, I could see my breath all day. I went out thinking chub and I did catch a few, none of them massive but all between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2, had some nice trout also with several of coloured up ready for sexy times.
Recently I had a barbel with no pelvic's and today I had a chub with no dorsal ! I had another chub with only a sliver of a dorsal of which i've had a few like that over the last couple of months....
. The fog barely cleared at all and the air temp's where quite low, I could see my breath all day. I went out thinking chub and I did catch a few, none of them massive but all between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2, had some nice trout also with several of coloured up ready for sexy times.Recently I had a barbel with no pelvic's and today I had a chub with no dorsal ! I had another chub with only a sliver of a dorsal of which i've had a few like that over the last couple of months....
B
binka
Guest
I'm beginning to think you're harvesting body parts to build your own ultimate river fish!
When you say you've bagged a grayling with no head the game will finally be up...
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2009
- Messages
- 9,335
- Reaction score
- 1,696
I'm beginning to think you're harvesting body parts to build your own ultimate river fish!
When you say you've bagged a grayling with no head the game will finally be up...
Good idea....I like the sound of that..."the ultimate river fish"
.itsfishingnotcatching
Well-known member
stu_the_blank
Well-known member
Well, back!
I’ve done more fishing in the last week than I have in the last 6 months!
A lake in the Cher region, we booked the entire lake and as two had dropped out, three of us had 6 acres to ourselves for the week.
The fishing was hard as an Easterly blew all week. The fish had largely switched off but we kept at it, while remembering that we were on holiday. We either went out for an extended lunch (found a very pleasant Tabac in a local village with a very pleasant ‘Madame’, who bore more than a passing resemblance to Juliette Binoche! Bliss, and that accent!) or pulled in the rods and cooked by the lake. Having a break keeps you sane.
Anyway, we kept at it and managed eight between us in the end, incuding a 52, a 49, four further 40’s (including my first) and a 37 and 29lb Common.
A bit gruelling but enjoyed every second of it.
Got to the Tunnel yesterday evening without any knowledge of the problems, not to bad in the end, only 30 mins late. Got home in time to watch England get knocked out of the RWC (with my Welsh Son in Law, who couldn't help himself gloating) Back to reality.
Stu