flightliner
Well-known member
The sausages look nice but the symetry is so, so not you !.
How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
The alarm seemed to go off about five minutes after the Fury fight finished but, for once, I didn't care about that. I'd been waiting for this day for a stack of time and was really, really looking forward to the chance to say hello to some people who've really started to feel like friends.
The day got off to a great start. Navigation and I are not the happiest of bedfellows but, having stopped to check my directions, found I was virtually on top of the fishery, a quick left turn and there it was, "This Is Anfield" like, the sign welcomed me to the Lower Itchen Fishery and I pulled in and parked in to find a healthy number of Forum Finkers already there.
After a few minutes, I was saying hello and shaking hands with some really terrific people, Jerry, S-Kip, Ian and Greenie to name just a few.
Travelling light as always (truth be told, I just can't be bothered lugging two tons of anything around any more), I opted for a Grays 1lb tc Specimen rod, a Preston PXR 4000 reel with 5lb main. Along with pretty much everyone else I came across, I'd also opted for a Middy Barbel Trotter float, 5BB, to a Drennan wide gape 16 to 3lb length.
After a shortish walk, I found a nice straight glide that looked interesting so, fishing two red maggots, after a couple of runs through to check the depth, I found grayling pretty much straight away, and racked up 17 of them up in the first 45 minutes, a couple were pups but the rest were all 12oz ish fish, nice weight builders. After that time, they backed off or were bullied off as a brown trout around the pound mark steamed in.
No matter what I fed, it felt like they'd gone, time I was too. I moved to a straight coming off a bend. It screamed fish to me but they weren't there in any numbers. I stayed maybe an hour for four grayling, all the average size around 12 oz.
Time for another walk and stopping to see how other guys were doing. Same story with each stop, the wind was a hurdle but just glad to be here.
After a longer walk this time, I dropped into the start of a longish tree lined straight that looked inviting and, most importantly, gave a little protection from the wind.
I started catching from the off, same as before but with a slight twist. The grayling with the odd midge were again averaging 12oz but I was starting to pick up a few around the pound mark and then the twist - salmon parr, as in millions of them. Like supersized, steroid soaked minnows they came in their dozens, but small enough to need probably a dozen for a tin of John West.
In amongst this fish driven melee, there were times when the grayling got to the bait first and I had three decent samples, two around 1lb 12oz and a third a shade bigger, knocking on 2lbs and definitely a new best for me.
After about three and a half hours, I'd had 71 grayling, 6 brownies and I didn't even try and count the parr.
A slow mooch back to the car, broken up by stopping and chatting to S-Kip. His swim had been disrupted, nay wrecked, by a charging, hooked salmon. Tried to claim it was my Jonah like status but he was having none of it and put me in my place by telling me he'd stopped a rampaging Ray Roberts from catching anything more the previous year. So that me told then, I'm an apprentice, nothing more.
Getting back to the car, I was told Graham and a friend had had a chub of 6lb 4oz and a roach of 1lb 12oz. Great fish, big up to them.
I tackled down and said my Goodbyes to some of the lads who had far longer journeys than me ahead of them. I'd had a thoroughly enjoyable day, met some wonderful people and decided on a Chinese takeaway to round this wonderful day off.
For those who couldn't go today, I heartily recommend both the venue and the event. Can't wait for the next fish-in. Roll on.
A huge thanks to everyone who made it a great day. Really very much appreciated.
The day got off to a great start. Navigation and I are not the happiest of bedfellows but, having stopped to check my directions, found I was virtually on top of the fishery, a quick left turn and there it was, "This Is Anfield" like, the sign welcomed me to the Lower Itchen Fishery and I pulled in and parked in to find a healthy number of Forum Finkers already there.
After a few minutes, I was saying hello and shaking hands with some really terrific people, Jerry, S-Kip, Ian and Greenie to name just a few.
Travelling light as always (truth be told, I just can't be bothered lugging two tons of anything around any more), I opted for a Grays 1lb tc Specimen rod, a Preston PXR 4000 reel with 5lb main. Along with pretty much everyone else I came across, I'd also opted for a Middy Barbel Trotter float, 5BB, to a Drennan wide gape 16 to 3lb length.
After a shortish walk, I found a nice straight glide that looked interesting so, fishing two red maggots, after a couple of runs through to check the depth, I found grayling pretty much straight away, and racked up 17 of them up in the first 45 minutes, a couple were pups but the rest were all 12oz ish fish, nice weight builders. After that time, they backed off or were bullied off as a brown trout around the pound mark steamed in.
No matter what I fed, it felt like they'd gone, time I was too. I moved to a straight coming off a bend. It screamed fish to me but they weren't there in any numbers. I stayed maybe an hour for four grayling, all the average size around 12 oz.
Time for another walk and stopping to see how other guys were doing. Same story with each stop, the wind was a hurdle but just glad to be here.
After a longer walk this time, I dropped into the start of a longish tree lined straight that looked inviting and, most importantly, gave a little protection from the wind.
I started catching from the off, same as before but with a slight twist. The grayling with the odd midge were again averaging 12oz but I was starting to pick up a few around the pound mark and then the twist - salmon parr, as in millions of them. Like supersized, steroid soaked minnows they came in their dozens, but small enough to need probably a dozen for a tin of John West.
In amongst this fish driven melee, there were times when the grayling got to the bait first and I had three decent samples, two around 1lb 12oz and a third a shade bigger, knocking on 2lbs and definitely a new best for me.
After about three and a half hours, I'd had 71 grayling, 6 brownies and I didn't even try and count the parr.
A slow mooch back to the car, broken up by stopping and chatting to S-Kip. His swim had been disrupted, nay wrecked, by a charging, hooked salmon. Tried to claim it was my Jonah like status but he was having none of it and put me in my place by telling me he'd stopped a rampaging Ray Roberts from catching anything more the previous year. So that me told then, I'm an apprentice, nothing more.
Getting back to the car, I was told Graham and a friend had had a chub of 6lb 4oz and a roach of 1lb 12oz. Great fish, big up to them.
I tackled down and said my Goodbyes to some of the lads who had far longer journeys than me ahead of them. I'd had a thoroughly enjoyable day, met some wonderful people and decided on a Chinese takeaway to round this wonderful day off.
For those who couldn't go today, I heartily recommend both the venue and the event. Can't wait for the next fish-in. Roll on.
A huge thanks to everyone who made it a great day. Really very much appreciated.
neil1970
Well-known member
Great day and good to see people I met last time and new faces too.
Greenie deserves a special mention for making the effort from Wigan -nice to meet you. Also thank you to Simon for the lift mate.
My grand total for the day was 2 Minnows, 2 parr, 4 Trout, 10 Grayling a 1lb+ Roach and a 3lbish Chub.
Excellent place to fish!
http:
//i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/neilsutherland70
/2015-11-29%2013.17.49_zpsir6osh2o.jpg
Greenie deserves a special mention for making the effort from Wigan
-nice to meet you. Also thank you to Simon for the lift mate.My grand total for the day was 2 Minnows, 2 parr, 4 Trout, 10 Grayling a 1lb+ Roach and a 3lbish Chub.
Excellent place to fish!
http:
//i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b626/neilsutherland70
/2015-11-29%2013.17.49_zpsir6osh2o.jpg
stu_the_blank
Well-known member
Our Autumn work party got me down at the lake for the first time in quite few weeks. The old itch needed scratching so a short deadbaiting session followed. Really enjoyed the half day blank!
Must find some time for another soon.
Stu
Must find some time for another soon.
Stu
flightliner
Well-known member
With the rivers a little out of sorts I had a few hours out with the lure rod this afternoon.
I started off at the bottom end of the water and had a savage take on the second cast using a simple silver mepps but no real contact was made.
An hour later I decided to drive to the top end of the reservoir and fish close to the car park in narrow bay that I know holds silverfish in the colder months. Ten minutes after starting I made contact with a fish that turned out to be a jack of some four or five lbs, not the perch I was hoping for.
After returning the fish I soldiered on but even at last knockings there was no more action so as it was nearly dark I packed away and made my way back to the car park where there were three or four cars with all the owners testing their side lights, Why not do it before they leave home .??
I started off at the bottom end of the water and had a savage take on the second cast using a simple silver mepps but no real contact was made.
An hour later I decided to drive to the top end of the reservoir and fish close to the car park in narrow bay that I know holds silverfish in the colder months. Ten minutes after starting I made contact with a fish that turned out to be a jack of some four or five lbs, not the perch I was hoping for.
After returning the fish I soldiered on but even at last knockings there was no more action so as it was nearly dark I packed away and made my way back to the car park where there were three or four cars with all the owners testing their side lights, Why not do it before they leave home .??
barbelboi
Well-known member
Can't be all bad Mick - no sn... (no I can't bring myself to say it as we're approaching the season of goodwill).................
Ray Daywalker Clarke
Well-known member
Can't be all bad Mick - no sn... (no I can't bring myself to say it as we're approaching the season of goodwill).................
ok i will say it
SNOW
flightliner
Well-known member
Jerry, I always take comfort in the fact that I may be the only angler in the uk who once squeezed a like out of you for a catch of Bream.Can't be all bad Mick - no sn... (no I can't bring myself to say it as we're approaching the season of goodwill).................
Monday..the weatherman said rain and wind all day. He was unusually right.
I hunkered down behind a high bank under my brolly and chucked out a couple of deadbaits.
I had no intention of roving around in the deluge.
I had 3 runs in quick succession which quite frankly had me scratching my head.
First strike into thin air and no bait left.
Second and third, similar but the bait came back completely and utterly unmarked.
Eels?? despite the month? Perch? (there are no zander in here)
Fourth time lucky in the same position a nice condition pike just shy of 20 with the hooks falling out in the net!!
I hope they are not getting as tricky as the carp!!!
Oh yes and the sudden wind change upon packing up has seen me looking for a new brollymg:
I hunkered down behind a high bank under my brolly and chucked out a couple of deadbaits.
I had no intention of roving around in the deluge.
I had 3 runs in quick succession which quite frankly had me scratching my head.
First strike into thin air and no bait left.
Second and third, similar but the bait came back completely and utterly unmarked.
Eels?? despite the month? Perch? (there are no zander in here)
Fourth time lucky in the same position a nice condition pike just shy of 20 with the hooks falling out in the net!!
I hope they are not getting as tricky as the carp!!!
Oh yes and the sudden wind change upon packing up has seen me looking for a new brolly
mg:
Last edited:
B
binka
Guest
I've just home returned from a rather good perching session on the ultra-light tip set up and worm which bagged some nice fish to around 8lb...
But no perch!
Nice to see the isotope pulling round steadily.
I'm really enjoying these evening sessions for a few hours after dark, it certainly shortens these long winter nights when you've had a good one and you're still glad to get home :w
But no perch!
Nice to see the isotope pulling round steadily.
I'm really enjoying these evening sessions for a few hours after dark, it certainly shortens these long winter nights when you've had a good one and you're still glad to get home :w
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
Met up with Pete for a short grayling session on the Frome at Wool this morning. Conditions were not great, the wind was strong and its direction made running a float through quite difficult.
Like last Sunday, I packed my 11ft 1lb tc Greys Specimen and tooled it with the same PXR 4000 and 5lb line. I started off with a Drennan Avon, 6BB, to a wide gape 14 to 3lb strain.
Ever had one of those days when you feel like the world's against you? I wasn't happy with the float then after a good half hour with only two 2oz grayling to my name for reasons completely unknown to me it sank like a stone and I simply could not get it to float properly. I also knew the rod choice was a mistake and I needed at least two, probably three, feet extra and the stronger spine of the Greys was not needed. A match rod would have sufficed. I should add that, to add to my malaise, Pete was hammering them out twenty yards away and a great many of them netters.
I then changed out for a 7 no. 4 Woody's wire stemmed stick which instantly felt much better.
I then a had a run of tiny grayling and a couple of even tinier salmon parr but, being honest, my heart wasn't in it, I knew I'd screwed up, all my fault. Quite out of the blue, I then had my only decent fish of the day, a distinctly average 12oz grayling.
I made my apologies to Pete and began to pack up. It was only after this that things got any better. Getting back to the car, I found Neil Maidment parked up behind me having just finished setting up his rod and getting ready to walk down to the river. We had a nice, sociable ten minute chat and I pointed him in Pete's direction, explaining the FM connection.
I got in the car, felt warmer and regarding Neil and Pete hoped that another friendship might be born.
I'm still waiting for the emails off both. After you left, we both had 3lb grayling......it's been that kind of day, friends.
Until the next time......
Like last Sunday, I packed my 11ft 1lb tc Greys Specimen and tooled it with the same PXR 4000 and 5lb line. I started off with a Drennan Avon, 6BB, to a wide gape 14 to 3lb strain.
Ever had one of those days when you feel like the world's against you? I wasn't happy with the float then after a good half hour with only two 2oz grayling to my name for reasons completely unknown to me it sank like a stone and I simply could not get it to float properly. I also knew the rod choice was a mistake and I needed at least two, probably three, feet extra and the stronger spine of the Greys was not needed. A match rod would have sufficed. I should add that, to add to my malaise, Pete was hammering them out twenty yards away and a great many of them netters.
I then changed out for a 7 no. 4 Woody's wire stemmed stick which instantly felt much better.
I then a had a run of tiny grayling and a couple of even tinier salmon parr but, being honest, my heart wasn't in it, I knew I'd screwed up, all my fault. Quite out of the blue, I then had my only decent fish of the day, a distinctly average 12oz grayling.
I made my apologies to Pete and began to pack up. It was only after this that things got any better. Getting back to the car, I found Neil Maidment parked up behind me having just finished setting up his rod and getting ready to walk down to the river. We had a nice, sociable ten minute chat and I pointed him in Pete's direction, explaining the FM connection.
I got in the car, felt warmer and regarding Neil and Pete hoped that another friendship might be born.
I'm still waiting for the emails off both. After you left, we both had 3lb grayling......it's been that kind of day, friends.
Until the next time......
...Until the next time......
Cheer up Phil,
It can only get better!
Tight Lines :thumbs:
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
I'm fine, thanks Mike. A healthy dose of cynicism gets me through life. It's like body armour for those of us who weren't born with fur coats.....
More annoyed with myself to be honest, sloppy error this morning, should have packed a longer rod as well but didn't. Oh well, live and learn, eh??
More annoyed with myself to be honest, sloppy error this morning, should have packed a longer rod as well but didn't. Oh well, live and learn, eh??
sam vimes
Well-known member
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
Might not be your choice but after bumping a load of grayling the week before I thought it might work and last Sunday I lost a lot less.
My third trip after grayling so still looking around for a rod I feel comfortable with. Next trip will be the Acolyte or the Matchpro to test them out.
My third trip after grayling so still looking around for a rod I feel comfortable with. Next trip will be the Acolyte or the Matchpro to test them out.
Neil Maidment
Moderator
Small world, well at least Dorset is! Good to meet and chat but having got down to the river, had three trots and decided to tackle up again Off came the 7.4g Drake balsa (6g olivette + sundry other bits), on went the 9.5g Drake balsa (8g olivette+). That was much better :wh
Had a good chat with Pete, recognise him now! Wind was gaining strength, howling down and in and Pete had had enough. Although I don't know how many "just one more last trots" he had before departing.
Hooked a decent grayling shortly after the re-rig but promptly lost it. Afraid I can't report any 3 pounders but in about three hours I had 5 good net grayling which I reckon were 2lb and a bit. Didn't weigh any of them but I'm confident they were all between 2:00 and 2:08, definitely bigger than anything I had on the Itchen and those were fine fish. Had a few small ones as well and a couple of browns. A single sea trout had me fooled again as I worked it upstream from the very end of the trot. It didn't reveal it's true identity until under the rod tip :wh
I'm now using a 13ft Korum Medium Float. It's got quite a soft tip action (in comparison with my other rods) but I was lazy earlier in the month using my Greys Power Float or Youngs Specimen. Both great for the Stour and Avon and the big chub but too much for the Frome grayling. I bounced or lost far too many. Since swapping for the last several trips, and changing to wide gape hooks, I've improved the ratio of grayling reaching the landing net considerably.
Off came the 7.4g Drake balsa (6g olivette + sundry other bits), on went the 9.5g Drake balsa (8g olivette+). That was much better :whHad a good chat with Pete, recognise him now! Wind was gaining strength, howling down and in and Pete had had enough. Although I don't know how many "just one more last trots" he had before departing.
Hooked a decent grayling shortly after the re-rig but promptly lost it. Afraid I can't report any 3 pounders but in about three hours I had 5 good net grayling which I reckon were 2lb and a bit. Didn't weigh any of them but I'm confident they were all between 2:00 and 2:08, definitely bigger than anything I had on the Itchen and those were fine fish. Had a few small ones as well and a couple of browns. A single sea trout had me fooled again as I worked it upstream from the very end of the trot. It didn't reveal it's true identity until under the rod tip :wh
I'm now using a 13ft Korum Medium Float. It's got quite a soft tip action (in comparison with my other rods) but I was lazy earlier in the month using my Greys Power Float or Youngs Specimen. Both great for the Stour and Avon and the big chub but too much for the Frome grayling. I bounced or lost far too many. Since swapping for the last several trips, and changing to wide gape hooks, I've improved the ratio of grayling reaching the landing net considerably.
S-Kippy
Well-known member
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Might not be your choice but after bumping a load of grayling the week before I thought it might work and last Sunday I lost a lot less.
My third trip after grayling so still looking around for a rod I feel comfortable with. Next trip will be the Acolyte or the Matchpro to test them out.
Bumping grayling ? Uncle Skippy did tell you how to deal with that. It's not infallible but it does make a difference......as does a wide gape hook.
Well! to endorse both Phil and Neil comments on the Frome today, one evil wind, downgate and at you. Hard work trying to put a stickfloat through right. Most of the time it went through like a plank of wood. I had a float on carrying 16 No 6s and 2 No 8 below with 2 No 8s backshotted and thought that was over egging it. When Neil turned up and started talking about 9.5grammes, I was astonished. My concept of floating turned on it's head. But his results are the proof. So looking forward to meeting up again with Neil and having my education broadened. The "one more cast" comment turned out to be one more hour, because with river fishing, you just never know do you. I finished up with 40 grayling to 1lb 7oze, although the majority were hand sized and three trout, biggest 2lb 2oz. Also a bad back, aching legs, a sore shoulder and cramp in my fingers. So all in all a pretty satisfactory session, ready for the next one. Pete.
dorsetandchub
Well-known member
The bumping session occurred last week before we caught up, I took your advice on board and I think I mentioned I was using wide gape hooks.
Your tactics have been both duly noted and shamelessly stolen. Well, what do you expect from a Scouser??