Did you superglue that grayling to the net..........?
Of course not. I just gave it that "Northen Look" and told it to "Keep Bloody Still". Works every time. Pete.
How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
Of course not. I just gave it that "Northen Look" and told it to "Keep Bloody Still". Works every time. Pete.
tom_moran
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I managed a couple of hours yesterday evening on the canal, the frozen canal! Fished by a bridge where it wasn't frozen. Two hours two small roach. Using maggots on a float. Was very peaceful and I could see a lot of small fish in the water with my head torch so next year's stock/perch food is doing OK! Had to call it quits at two hours due to ice cubes toes but was nice to get out. Roll on spring!
B
binka
Guest
Considering it’s late January it’s been a lovely day for getting out although the chill wind throughout the afternoon was a reminder of just how early in the year we are.
It was a bit of a case of what a difference a week makes when I first clapped eyes on the river this morning, it was within 15” of its normal level for the first time in weeks and was looking about as perfect as it could all things considered.
Being anxious to christen the ‘pin after last weeks failed attempt I set about running through an 8 x no.4 stick three or four feet off the rod tip in around eight feet of water with double red maggot on a size 18 to a 2.6 bottom and 4.4 main and it was slipping through a treat.
A pinch of reds each run through and after half an hour or so I was surprised I’d not had a bite but the float eventually blipped a couple of times before burying out of sight towards the end of a good length trot and I was into my first fish of the day.
I think the phrase is something along the lines of small but beautifully formed…
Consider it christened, lovely!
The big mystery of the day was where the silvers where shoaled up as there was no sign of the roach, dace, perch and gudgeon which I would normally expect but I was pleased with the days tally of eleven chub which, give or take a couple of ounces, were all of a similar size.
Even milder tomorrow, I’m glad I’m back out again to see if I can sniff out a barbel or two :w
It was a bit of a case of what a difference a week makes when I first clapped eyes on the river this morning, it was within 15” of its normal level for the first time in weeks and was looking about as perfect as it could all things considered.
Being anxious to christen the ‘pin after last weeks failed attempt I set about running through an 8 x no.4 stick three or four feet off the rod tip in around eight feet of water with double red maggot on a size 18 to a 2.6 bottom and 4.4 main and it was slipping through a treat.
A pinch of reds each run through and after half an hour or so I was surprised I’d not had a bite but the float eventually blipped a couple of times before burying out of sight towards the end of a good length trot and I was into my first fish of the day.
I think the phrase is something along the lines of small but beautifully formed…
Consider it christened, lovely!
The big mystery of the day was where the silvers where shoaled up as there was no sign of the roach, dace, perch and gudgeon which I would normally expect but I was pleased with the days tally of eleven chub which, give or take a couple of ounces, were all of a similar size.
Even milder tomorrow, I’m glad I’m back out again to see if I can sniff out a barbel or two :w
Chefster
Well-known member
A brilliant day,by anyones standards Steve,you really are a true all-rounder mateConsidering it’s late January it’s been a lovely day for getting out although the chill wind throughout the afternoon was a reminder of just how early in the year we are.
It was a bit of a case of what a difference a week makes when I first clapped eyes on the river this morning, it was within 15” of its normal level for the first time in weeks and was looking about as perfect as it could all things considered.
Being anxious to christen the ‘pin after last weeks failed attempt I set about running through an 8 x no.4 stick three or four feet off the rod tip in around eight feet of water with double red maggot on a size 18 to a 2.6 bottom and 4.4 main and it was slipping through a treat.
A pinch of reds each run through and after half an hour or so I was surprised I’d not had a bite but the float eventually blipped a couple of times before burying out of sight towards the end of a good length trot and I was into my first fish of the day.
I think the phrase is something along the lines of small but beautifully formed…
Consider it christened, lovely!
The big mystery of the day was where the silvers where shoaled up as there was no sign of the roach, dace, perch and gudgeon which I would normally expect but I was pleased with the days tally of eleven chub which, give or take a couple of ounces, were all of a similar size.
Even milder tomorrow, I’m glad I’m back out again to see if I can sniff out a barbel or two :w
B
binka
Guest
you really are a true all-rounder mate
Getting rounder by the day mate, rounder by the day... Cheers Gaz
Tee-Cee
Senior Member
' Fortune favours the bold ' ( or ' the brave ' if that's what takes your fancy ) but it didn't do me much good this morning......
I had the thought in the back of my mind, as I readied myself for the days fishing, that yesterdays rain would have an effect on it's outcome, but the decision had been made so off I went into the mild morning air at 06.45. As it turned out the air was distinctly chilly which added to the dank mist held the temperature at a steady 1 degree and quite uncomfortable. The lake didn't look great but having found a nice sheltered swim I settled into a few hours of roach fishing with ' Fortune favours the brave ' running through my mind.
Over the next four hours I tried everything I knew to winkle out a fish. All the usual ' banker ' baits were tried and passed over. Every depth from a foot down to overdepth plus was given due consideration. A size 16 hook was tossed to one side in favour of an 18 and this in it's turn by a 20, all to no avail. I even moved to a ' dead cert ' swim...........
By noon the tea was finished and so was I. Perhaps the mixture of low temperatures over the last couple of weeks mixed with yesterdays rain did for me today but I rarely blank on this water so it's food for thought these coming bays and before I return next week......
I drove home somewhat confused........but it'll pass !!
ps Very nice fishing Binka........................Grrrrrr !!
I had the thought in the back of my mind, as I readied myself for the days fishing, that yesterdays rain would have an effect on it's outcome, but the decision had been made so off I went into the mild morning air at 06.45. As it turned out the air was distinctly chilly which added to the dank mist held the temperature at a steady 1 degree and quite uncomfortable. The lake didn't look great but having found a nice sheltered swim I settled into a few hours of roach fishing with ' Fortune favours the brave ' running through my mind.
Over the next four hours I tried everything I knew to winkle out a fish. All the usual ' banker ' baits were tried and passed over. Every depth from a foot down to overdepth plus was given due consideration. A size 16 hook was tossed to one side in favour of an 18 and this in it's turn by a 20, all to no avail. I even moved to a ' dead cert ' swim...........
By noon the tea was finished and so was I. Perhaps the mixture of low temperatures over the last couple of weeks mixed with yesterdays rain did for me today but I rarely blank on this water so it's food for thought these coming bays and before I return next week......
I drove home somewhat confused........but it'll pass !!
ps Very nice fishing Binka........................Grrrrrr !!
dann
Well-known member
I had a few hours on the canal with my eldest son today and found the same with the silvers. There is one spot in particular that is a banker for roach, never not caught there and we didn't even get a bite. I put it down to the cold snap we had earlier in the week but who knows?
We moved around a fair bit and got a few roach and dace and then this little beauty. We netted it just as 4 paddlers went past and they gave us a round of applause, said they'd never seen anybody catch anything in the canal before.
We moved around a fair bit and got a few roach and dace and then this little beauty. We netted it just as 4 paddlers went past and they gave us a round of applause, said they'd never seen anybody catch anything in the canal before.
I had to fish a Saturday as circumstances have stopped me getting out all week.
I thought I was onto a hiding today like Tee Cee as I couldn't buy a bite from my easy banker lake where I go for that " I just want to see the rod bend sort of day".
I moved swims at 1pm and set up my old Shakey Wand (35 years old at least) with a bomb.
Then from 1pm until 4pm I had one carp, one chub , and four goodly roach to 1lb all on red worm from my wormery.
Just goes to show what a move and some free bait can do.
---------- Post added at 23:20 ---------- Previous post was at 23:11 ----------
[QUOTE=dann; We netted it just as 4 paddlers went past and they gave us a round of applause, said they'd never seen anybody catch anything in the canal before.
Could be down to the paddling?
I thought I was onto a hiding today like Tee Cee as I couldn't buy a bite from my easy banker lake where I go for that " I just want to see the rod bend sort of day".
I moved swims at 1pm and set up my old Shakey Wand (35 years old at least) with a bomb.
Then from 1pm until 4pm I had one carp, one chub , and four goodly roach to 1lb all on red worm from my wormery.
Just goes to show what a move and some free bait can do.
---------- Post added at 23:20 ---------- Previous post was at 23:11 ----------
[QUOTE=dann; We netted it just as 4 paddlers went past and they gave us a round of applause, said they'd never seen anybody catch anything in the canal before.
Could be down to the paddling?
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Getting rounder by the day mate, rounder by the day... Cheers Gaz
Not good if you slip on the bank....you might roll in the river, or even worse, onto your rods
mg:
no-one in particular
Well-known member
Last edited:
As it seemed some warmer weather was on the cards, I headed down into Kent where my mum and dad live to have a go on the Medway with my old man.
So much for warmer weather! When we arrived the ground was still frozen
and mist hung over the river making feel even colder
It's a lovely spot, but heavy rain the night before meant the river was really pushing through and coloured
We tried pretty much every method and bait. I had one small dace on red maggot and my pa blanked!
The best part of the whole trip was the sausage casserole with dumplings my mum had made for us when we got back
So much for warmer weather! When we arrived the ground was still frozen
and mist hung over the river making feel even colder
It's a lovely spot, but heavy rain the night before meant the river was really pushing through and coloured
We tried pretty much every method and bait. I had one small dace on red maggot and my pa blanked!
The best part of the whole trip was the sausage casserole with dumplings my mum had made for us when we got back
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
Didn't fancy my club match on the river Thame today so I stayed home till I got bored around 2:30pm. Grabbed a float rod and some bits and drove down the town to give the River Chess a try.
Trotting single bronze maggot just out beyond the reeds I connected with 4 bites but only landed 2.
Soon after that a pike swirled and splashed in front of me and it went dead.
Moved upstream a bit for one more tiny roach before it got too dark to see my float....
Glad I got out though...
Hoping to get out again tomorrow with a mate before the weather turns ugly again....
Trotting single bronze maggot just out beyond the reeds I connected with 4 bites but only landed 2.
Soon after that a pike swirled and splashed in front of me and it went dead.
Moved upstream a bit for one more tiny roach before it got too dark to see my float....
Glad I got out though...
Hoping to get out again tomorrow with a mate before the weather turns ugly again....
Tee-Cee
Senior Member
Looking at the forecast for south Bucks it seems it may well stay mild through this week although a little wet.... Similar for next week - IF you care to believe the forecast !!
Anyway, could be worse....it could be snowing !
At least the sunrise / sunset figures are going in the right direction...................
Anyway, could be worse....it could be snowing !
At least the sunrise / sunset figures are going in the right direction...................
The Runner
Well-known member
More or less the opposite of Peter C above...
Didn't really fancy club match on the Colne at Uxbridge Moor, went anyway, got bored and came home at 1 30...
Very odd, in well over 30 years of matchfishing that's only the second time I can remember that have packed in before the end. Drew an average swim with some form for the odd chub but for some reason just couldn't get interested. Dropped a dace second run through from my only bite.
At least I got some exercise- my lift had drawn the far end of the venue so rather than walk down and wait for the finish I decided to walk the mile and a half home with full kit.
One barbel for 6-1 won it then 4-10, 3-15 and 2-3
Didn't really fancy club match on the Colne at Uxbridge Moor, went anyway, got bored and came home at 1 30...
Very odd, in well over 30 years of matchfishing that's only the second time I can remember that have packed in before the end. Drew an average swim with some form for the odd chub but for some reason just couldn't get interested. Dropped a dace second run through from my only bite.
At least I got some exercise- my lift had drawn the far end of the venue so rather than walk down and wait for the finish I decided to walk the mile and a half home with full kit.
One barbel for 6-1 won it then 4-10, 3-15 and 2-3
chub_on_the_block
Well-known member
.. mist hung over the river making feel even colder
Fantastic photo - reminds me of umpteen spots on the Thames with some far bank cover to chuck a feeder to. Fishing in the mist is the best time in my opinion.
Saturday saw me joining in with the lads on a local Pike Match - no livies, lures or spinning allowed - deadbaits only. The day looked good - as we arrived there was that 'smoke on the water' effect as the overnight frost lifted - winds southerly 4-6mph ensured a dead calm on the lodge.
Hopes were high as 3 lads caught jacks in the first 10-20minutes - upto 4.5 lb. Great we thought - it gonna be a bonanza day! -mg: How wrong we were!
Not a bite all day! - for me and nearly everyone else! One lad raised the bar early on with a 4lb12oz pike - but that was it until just before the 'all-out' when one greedy b*gger caught a 2nd baby pike to finish with 2 pike for 8lb!
Everybody had a good day with the craic and enjoyed the unseasonably mild weather - and ruminated on the fact that there were more pike caught on the last 'silvers' match there than on this pike match!mg:
I had been getting little 'nibbles' on the float fished sardine all day - little pulls / dips / rises - like crucian bites! After examination of the bait - we decided it was due to the belly splitting open and perch fry nibbling at the innards - mysteriously failing to foul-hook themselves on the 2/0 Circle hook! - I wonder why!?
Tight Lines to all:thumbs:
Hopes were high as 3 lads caught jacks in the first 10-20minutes - upto 4.5 lb. Great we thought - it gonna be a bonanza day! -
mg: How wrong we were!Not a bite all day! - for me and nearly everyone else! One lad raised the bar early on with a 4lb12oz pike - but that was it until just before the 'all-out' when one greedy b*gger caught a 2nd baby pike to finish with 2 pike for 8lb!
Everybody had a good day with the craic and enjoyed the unseasonably mild weather - and ruminated on the fact that there were more pike caught on the last 'silvers' match there than on this pike match!
mg:I had been getting little 'nibbles' on the float fished sardine all day - little pulls / dips / rises - like crucian bites!
After examination of the bait - we decided it was due to the belly splitting open and perch fry nibbling at the innards - mysteriously failing to foul-hook themselves on the 2/0 Circle hook! - I wonder why!? Tight Lines to all:thumbs:
Broke thro the 1cm thick ice on main club lake sat arvo to get at a few roach on punch and maggot. A few 4-6 ozs fish, quickly then they just got smaller until a burst of tiny perch, then nothing.
Enough to keep me going but gotta get out again this week somehow. Might be time for a chub.
Enough to keep me going but gotta get out again this week somehow. Might be time for a chub.
dann
Well-known member
Some plans fell through today so with nothing to do, I grabbed the other half of the maggots from yesterday and went back to the canal in search of the missing roach.
We found them, along with a few perch and dace. Nice way to not waste maggots and enjoy a mild afternoon watching the world go by.
We found them, along with a few perch and dace. Nice way to not waste maggots and enjoy a mild afternoon watching the world go by.
Pete Shears
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Saturday saw a trip to the reservoir for pike - only one @ 11lb 5oz but according to a dog walker it had been frozen for 2-3 days earlier in the week so I was happy with not getting another blank - 2 goosanders & 2 crows chasing a sparrowhawk provided the entertainment while 50+ grey lags & 30+ Canadas the sound track.
Another trip to the Wreake this morning resulted in four chub between 2lb 6oz & 4lb 3oz - all on bread,watching a kingfisher zooming up & down the river caused 2 missed bites and watching a kestrel trying to locate some breakfast whilst a very noisy green woodpecker calling regularly nearly drowned out the main road traffic hum.
Another trip to the Wreake this morning resulted in four chub between 2lb 6oz & 4lb 3oz - all on bread,watching a kingfisher zooming up & down the river caused 2 missed bites and watching a kestrel trying to locate some breakfast whilst a very noisy green woodpecker calling regularly nearly drowned out the main road traffic hum.
maggot_dangler
Well-known member
Well .
First trip of the new year to my normal little pool just took the 8.2 meter pole and a few bits (a flask of hot water for my QT one of the top items ) , Any how it ende up almost a fish a chuck about 20 nice perch to about 8 or 9 ounces each (only fishing light 2 lb main 1.2lb hook to a 20 ) then bang away goes the elastic from the pole like a ferret down a rabbit hole the result a nice Bream of close on 2 lb reload and bang away it goes again to another nice bream followed by a bunch of small roach.
So all in all not a bad days fishing ..
PG ...
First trip of the new year to my normal little pool just took the 8.2 meter pole and a few bits (a flask of hot water for my QT one of the top items ) , Any how it ende up almost a fish a chuck about 20 nice perch to about 8 or 9 ounces each (only fishing light 2 lb main 1.2lb hook to a 20 ) then bang away goes the elastic from the pole like a ferret down a rabbit hole the result a nice Bream of close on 2 lb reload and bang away it goes again to another nice bream followed by a bunch of small roach.
So all in all not a bad days fishing ..
PG ...