Tee-Cee
Senior Member
It's been a mixed bag as far as catches are concerned over the last four outings, which have been spread over five days. Yes, a lot of fishing but I decide I couldn't waste all this lovely settled mild weather, which according to every book I've ever read spells bags of fish.......The same books also tell me if you cannot catch roach in the ' so - called ' perfect conditions then you may as well sell the gear !
Thursday last saw me sitting in a swim with a light breeze blowing toward me and with small fish topping I thought I was going to clean up. Wrong !
In fact, the breeze got stronger and if the swim contained a shoal of roach they soon departed although not before I'd bagged 7 of reasonable size. Opposite me another angler sat fishless for a few hours before departing a swim which, after a quick recce seemed to be just the job being out of the wind for the following day. My best roach feel to double caster, the remainder to giant hemp..
Next morning found me sitting in the swim waiting for daylight just to tackle up ( it was a very dark, low cloud morning ) and this some 15 mins later than the previous day ! I chose a very small float carrying minimal shot and a 20 hook and fished just off bottom in 6' of water.
What happen next is something I'm still coming to terms with four days later.....
First cast and before the float had settled properly, the top 1/2" just dipped half that distance and didn't move. I struck and a nice fish of 9" came to the net. This was followed by another, and yet another until I lost count after 12 but I think 14/15 fish in successive casts before they slowed to a halt. Every bite the same dip, and never one taking the float beneath the surface - just amazing !
After this start fish came at intervals with countless numbers missed or lost and at one time with a pal looking on I caught 7 in seven casts finishing the session at 1pm with something close to 40 roach ( poss: 37 or 43 ) None were large fish with the biggest just shy of a lb, but great fishing and one of my best sessions for a long time.
Before I packed up I checked the set - up ( even the depth was carefully marked against the rod ) as I'd already decided I would return the next morning ! Oh, I forgot to mention every fish fell to hemp with most to vailla flavoured giant hemp as sold by Titmuss Ltd.
So, next morning, after a fretful night sleep ( I still get over excited ! ) I reached the swim in good time ( still dark ) and t with an identical arrangement apart from a new hook I made my first cast...........
At least 30mins later I was till waiting for my first fish of the day.............and yes, you've already guessed, I ended up with a paltry 7 roach of medium size or less in 5 hours hard fishing and in conditions that were almost identical to the previous day !
How does that work............................
Moving on to today ; It's just a repeat of Saturday.....Some better quality fish up to a lb but nothing like the numbers although conditions had changed to cold, squally wind that blew from every direction and did nothing to help my 7" porcupine quill float fished top and bottom which I was trying in the hope of converting fast bites into fish from under the rod top - a sort of more ' direct contact ' with the fish.......Worked okay with no line on the water but the increasing wind followed by some light, but horizontal rain helped me decide to head off home....
No doubt I loved the big catch of fish, but I cannot help wonder what happened on the other two days....................so much so that I may just have a Christmas bonfire and rid myself of all books that mention the words ( mild settled ' ideal conditions ' )
Of f again on Wednesday and Thursday if the wife says okay...well, it is Christmas !!
Thursday last saw me sitting in a swim with a light breeze blowing toward me and with small fish topping I thought I was going to clean up. Wrong !
In fact, the breeze got stronger and if the swim contained a shoal of roach they soon departed although not before I'd bagged 7 of reasonable size. Opposite me another angler sat fishless for a few hours before departing a swim which, after a quick recce seemed to be just the job being out of the wind for the following day. My best roach feel to double caster, the remainder to giant hemp..
Next morning found me sitting in the swim waiting for daylight just to tackle up ( it was a very dark, low cloud morning ) and this some 15 mins later than the previous day ! I chose a very small float carrying minimal shot and a 20 hook and fished just off bottom in 6' of water.
What happen next is something I'm still coming to terms with four days later.....
First cast and before the float had settled properly, the top 1/2" just dipped half that distance and didn't move. I struck and a nice fish of 9" came to the net. This was followed by another, and yet another until I lost count after 12 but I think 14/15 fish in successive casts before they slowed to a halt. Every bite the same dip, and never one taking the float beneath the surface - just amazing !
After this start fish came at intervals with countless numbers missed or lost and at one time with a pal looking on I caught 7 in seven casts finishing the session at 1pm with something close to 40 roach ( poss: 37 or 43 ) None were large fish with the biggest just shy of a lb, but great fishing and one of my best sessions for a long time.
Before I packed up I checked the set - up ( even the depth was carefully marked against the rod ) as I'd already decided I would return the next morning ! Oh, I forgot to mention every fish fell to hemp with most to vailla flavoured giant hemp as sold by Titmuss Ltd.
So, next morning, after a fretful night sleep ( I still get over excited ! ) I reached the swim in good time ( still dark ) and t with an identical arrangement apart from a new hook I made my first cast...........
At least 30mins later I was till waiting for my first fish of the day.............and yes, you've already guessed, I ended up with a paltry 7 roach of medium size or less in 5 hours hard fishing and in conditions that were almost identical to the previous day !
How does that work............................
Moving on to today ; It's just a repeat of Saturday.....Some better quality fish up to a lb but nothing like the numbers although conditions had changed to cold, squally wind that blew from every direction and did nothing to help my 7" porcupine quill float fished top and bottom which I was trying in the hope of converting fast bites into fish from under the rod top - a sort of more ' direct contact ' with the fish.......Worked okay with no line on the water but the increasing wind followed by some light, but horizontal rain helped me decide to head off home....
No doubt I loved the big catch of fish, but I cannot help wonder what happened on the other two days....................so much so that I may just have a Christmas bonfire and rid myself of all books that mention the words ( mild settled ' ideal conditions ' )
Of f again on Wednesday and Thursday if the wife says okay...well, it is Christmas !!
Last edited:
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