How did you get on?

[binka]

Finally…


At the third attempt in as many days I’ve managed to get a session in that I can actually say I enjoyed, I went back to basics to do it though.


Local day ticket lake set in some nice surroundings, the kilo of worm which I had waiting and a light waggler set up did the trick with plenty of silvers albeit very shy biters at that.


I hate to say it but I think it did me good just to get off the river for a day…





Nothing out of the ordinary on the fish side of things but a nice stamp of roach…





And a surprise chub…





Perch and skimmers made up the remainder of the catch.


Without a doubt this was the catch of the day though, I’ve never seen one so big…
































Now that is a Bakewell tart and landed at 50p apiece on the way to the lake as the sell by date was up, I almost felt guilty taking all three left on the shelf.


Luvly jubbly!


The only slight mark on the day was hearing a crunch as I had packed up and was gathering the gear off the ground, it sounded a fairly expensive crunch and it was my Preston polaroids which I had ironically left out of their hard case to clean ready for the next session mg:


Could’ve been worse I guess, I was on the Optilabs website a couple of weeks ago and almost talked myself into a pair, that was the best hundred and fifty quid I never spent


School day tomorrow but might bunk off early if it’s nice as I’m missing the river… :w

 

[dorsetandchub]

When Tim and I used to fish at our, then, local commercial I would often split my sides laughing at his nearly always unsuccessful attempts to avoid the hordes of carp that inhabit every lake on site.

A few months back, I ended up chatting to a chap on the main match lake who swore he was on a swim which maximised the chances.

In order to keep my fishing interesting and challenging, I thought, today, I'd take up the gauntlet and see how much silver I could amass before the carp turned up.

I tackled up a 14ft Drennan Ultralight Matchpro with a Browning 810 Match reel, 3lb Maxima to a 4 no. 4 stillwater blue, ending in a 20 to 1.5lb trace and a single red maggot. In all honesty, if the carp did move in I had stronger stuff ready but my hope was to keep it light - and fun.

I didn't chance the loose hemp but small pinches of loose maggot every now and again would be the plan. The swim itself had the left hand side of an island at 15m or so, I cast past that and reeled the float back and slightly away from the island ending maybe 18 inches off it - feeling any closer might tempt the carp.

Getting off to a good start, I had six tiny roach and ta da! A tench of maybe two ounces, a beautiful tiny bar of soap, two more tiny roach and a skimmer around 4oz, a positive giant so far.

It didn't last long. Double figures and I just knew Tim would be laughing. It wasn't a giant of its species but on the light bottom it had to be afforded respect and was, eventually netted at around 2lbs.

Back out and it seemed the previous tenant was actually onto something as I tried a little further out from the island, about 3ft out and stumbled into a mix of small roach and even a few gudgeon. I'm not sure if anybody else actually attempts to evade particular species (other than the long battle between brim and El Skipperino) but I was really, seriously beginning to enjoy this.

I tried but, in the end, it probably was an experiment doomed to failure as something (almost certainly a carp) did smash the hooklength to beggary in a very few seconds.

Another common around a pound and a half was soon netted and the roach soon came back along with something of a complete oddity, a chub around the half pound mark. I've had chub out of this lake before but not many and always bigger than this little fella. Must've accidentally slipped in with a stocking of roach or something, I figured.

Between two more smashings up and a tiny common of 4oz, I also managed a small rudd around the same.

More roach, a couple of gudgeon, another few skimmers, one around 8oz, perfect weight building territory.

With many other things to do, this shortened session was halted after much enjoyment. The mission had not, in its entirety, been a roaring success but, in all honesty, I never believed it would - it was merely an exercise in how long the carp could be avoided and darn, it was so much fun trying.

Three hours flew but not without a big smile and huge enjoyment. Until the next time, adieu

 

[robtherake]

Back from a sixteen day sojourn in the magic bus, taking in four different campsite venues.

First up was Naburn Lock on the Yorkshire Ouse, which was a bit of a disaster in some ways, if I'm honest.

Derek gave me some useful hints, but the best vantage point for flinging lures for the weirpool pike was on the other bank, and in any case, the whole of the weirpool and its surrounds is now in the hands of York Amalgamation, so the best of the fishing was off limits, patrolled by an over-enthusiastic bailiff who wanted to see my licence even though I was just walking the bank . To be fair, he was a decent enough chap and was free enough with advice on how to fish the area below the lock gates.

I came back armed with a couple of lure rods - a light six footer for the perch and a stronger nine foot rod for ol' Esox. Half a dozen casts later and I got a tweak. Flicked it back out...er hang on...something ain't right here. The third section of the six-piece Shakespeare travel rod had exploded mid-cast chucking a 30g lure. It must be a fault, coz the cast wasn't much more than a flick. Ho hum.

I chatted with a fella fishing the feeder from a bit of beach below the lock mouth, but he lost three feeders to snags in the short time I was there, so that option bit the dust, too.

Time for a riverside amble, to flick a size 2 Ondex lure about in the hope of finding a perch or two. A hundred yards later, with a proper bout of sciatica making itself felt, I followed a short path to the river, where I could sit on a small promontory and make a few desultory casts, thoroughly disenchanted.

As the pain ebbed, it seemed prudent to pack up while it was still possible to hobble the half mile or so back to the van. One last look at the river and then came that unmistakeable whirring and flash of iridescent blue as a kingfisher blurred past and perched not more than twelve feet downstream on a branch at eye level and in full view. For maybe five minutes I stood stock still and was treated to a magnificent view of that outrageous plumage, first back, then front, while all the time it made queer little bobbing motions which were almost comical. Finally, it held stock still, head cocked and...disappeared, then reappeared - plus tiddler - apparently without any intervening time having passed. Gobsmacking!

The next couple of days were passed in high dudgeon reading my holiday novels while the sciatica abated, but pass it did and so we were away to the next port of call...

 

[binka]

Back from a sixteen day sojourn in the magic bus, taking in four different campsite venues.

First up was Naburn Lock on the Yorkshire Ouse, which was a bit of a disaster in some ways, if I'm honest.

Derek gave me some useful hints, but the best vantage point for flinging lures for the weirpool pike was on the other bank, and in any case, the whole of the weirpool and its surrounds is now in the hands of York Amalgamation, so the best of the fishing was off limits, patrolled by an over-enthusiastic bailiff who wanted to see my licence even though I was just walking the bank . To be fair, he was a decent enough chap and was free enough with advice on how to fish the area below the lock gates.

I came back armed with a couple of lure rods - a light six footer for the perch and a stronger nine foot rod for ol' Esox. Half a dozen casts later and I got a tweak. Flicked it back out...er hang on...something ain't right here. The third section of the six-piece Shakespeare travel rod had exploded mid-cast chucking a 30g lure. It must be a fault, coz the cast wasn't much more than a flick. Ho hum.

I chatted with a fella fishing the feeder from a bit of beach below the lock mouth, but he lost three feeders to snags in the short time I was there, so that option bit the dust, too.

Time for a riverside amble, to flick a size 2 Ondex lure about in the hope of finding a perch or two. A hundred yards later, with a proper bout of sciatica making itself felt, I followed a short path to the river, where I could sit on a small promontory and make a few desultory casts, thoroughly disenchanted.

As the pain ebbed, it seemed prudent to pack up while it was still possible to hobble the half mile or so back to the van. One last look at the river and that unmistakeable whirring and flash of iridescent blue as a kingfisher blurred past and perched not more than twelve feet downstream on a branch at eye level and in full view. For maybe five minutes I stood stock still and was treated to a magnificent view of that outrageous plumage, first back, then front, while all the time it made queer little bobbing motions which were almost comical. Finally, it held stock still, head cocked and...disappeared, then reappeared - plus tiddler - apparently without any intervening time having happened. Gobsmacking!

The next couple of days were passed in high dudgeon reading my holiday novels while the sciatica abated, but pass it did and so we were away to the next port of call...

Good to see you're back Rob

I was going to post to see if anyone had heard from you and then vaguely remembered something about you going on your jollies, sorry to read of that sciatica though

I tend to get lower back spasms after standing a few hours trotting and blame it on the uneven, rocky river bed and you have my full sympathy with the full blown version.

 

[tigger]

Same a Steve said....good to see you back Rob . Your back will be ok when the pain has gone LOL. I can laugh at you because I have the same shyte goin' on!

 

[robtherake]

...which was Westerly lake, just 15 minutes or so down the road from Naburn. It's a picture-book water, with all sorts of interesting nooks and crannies, island swims and overhanging willows. Only an acre or so in size, but a lovely place to fish. The website showed some serious perch, so I did the maggot and prawn routine on the first couple of evenings, but couldn't get past the carp, so I geared up for them in the end.

Four out of every six hook-ups resulted in hook pulls, a legacy of the appalling mouth damage evident on every fish caught. There was literally nowhere for the hook to catch hold, barring upper and lower lips. Some fish had lost so much flesh at the sides of their mouths that their jaw was kyped in the manner of a cock salmon. Even with a soft barbel rod and lightened clutch setting the ratio of hooked to landed was no better than 50:50. The commons were a beautiful reddish bronze colour, with a streamlined "wildie" shape, but it was terrible to witness what poor fishing technique has wrought. Again, I broke out the holiday books and sat out the last day, disgusted.

I did take the one pic - to show the lovely colour of the fish - but made sure its head was covered up.

 

[tigger]

Rob, just out of curiosity was it a barbless hook only water?

 

[robtherake]

Well, things just had to get better, with our 3rd venue being Skegness Water Leisure Park, where I'd had fun with the carp just a few short weeks ago.

A full week this time, with days spent touring the area and evenings given to ambushing kerb-crawling bait hoovers. It's a big site, but with just one small pub and no entertainment complex it's also surprisingly peaceful.



The view shows the northerly end of the 5 acre lake. The right-hand rod on the bare bank outfished the left-hand rod by 5:1. I tried leapfrogging with the other rod, but there was something about that one little spot that really floated the carps' boat.

We arrived quite late, so I set the van up in record time and, with rods ready in sleeves, was fishing inside of 20 minutes. Ten minutes later and I was in - an 18 pounder taking the truly gigantic spicy sausage bait in fine style, with line melting off the Solace reel. Last time we were here, the bigger fish put up a poor show, but a few weeks of fine weather has filled them full of beans and they all fought like fury. This fish, at 19.10, had me whooping with delight at its muscular power. By the time dusk fell I'd bagged a half-dozen and was well pleased.



Day two, and another few hours in the evening. I'd had a couple of mid-doubles when I hit into something that took off like a scalded cat. No sooner had I regained some line than it was off again, and again, and again. Ten minutes later, with the fish almost in netting range, and I called over a little lad who was walking past with his ma and pa. "Wanna see a big fish, son?" says I. Another five minutes later, with the fish having taken off yet again, and doggedly hugging the bottom, still making determined little runs, the youngster was less impressed and by now had his arms folded and was spinning on one leg. "Are you sure you haven't hooked the bottom, mister?" says he. Then it rolled just a few yards out and smacked its tail on the surface - his face was a picture: his mouth fell open so far that his gobstopper dribbled out, forgotten! When I finally netted the fish and got it on the mat, it wasn't obvious who was most impressed, me or the kid. A very light-coloured common with a lovely shape and a whopping great big paddle lay on the mat. On the scales it went 21.12 and is my very first twenty pound common carp. Sorted!



It was two days later when the next twenty tripped-up. Another incredible fight that saw me shaking too much to get an accurate reading on the scales, which were bouncing madly between 23.8 and 24, so I settled for 23.12. The picture taking went worse than the weighing and this is the least-blurred shot. Shame it's such a poor pic, because it was really quite a pretty fish.



Here are a few more of the week's fish, all high doubles, which were so lively that it was difficult to keep them on the mat. Fortunately, the soft and well-watered grass was an acceptable substitute. See if you can spot the "Billy the Bass" impersonator.







I caught this next fellow twice during the week, at opposite ends of the lake.



...and my first grassie - snapped by a passing angler - which went ballistic in the net and damaged itself during unhooking by battering itself with the lead. It went back fine, however, and was seen a couple of days later, no worse for its encounter.



...and finally, the last fish of the week, which, by mad coincidence, is the same last fish as on our previous visit, although it fought much better this time around.



The day after I caught the biggest common, I saw three of the venue residents chewing the fat on a bench. "Wotcha had, Rob?" says Jim. "A decent common, Jim: 21.12," says I. "Let's 'ave a gander, then." he says. I showed him the pic..."Hey, I've had that one!" says he.."So have I," says his mate.."..and me!" said the third guy. "Flip me," says I, "Thought I done well, then I find it's called Elvis and everyone shakes fins with the bleeder!"

Talk about bursting your bubble...

 

[tigger]

Nice one Rob, great post bud !

 

[robtherake]

Rob, just out of curiosity was it a barbless hook only water?

Yes, mate. Most of the anglers were fishing the pole and pulled out of fish after fish. My personal view is that most of the damage is caused by smaller, relatively fine-wired hooks on the end of powerful poles and elastics. The owner blamed carpers with 3.5lb TC rods and big pit reels, but I'm not so sure they're alone in that. The old duffers with red Hydrolastic were appalling anglers. Hook size is limited to size 10, which can't be helping matters.

 

[Chefster]

Open today at Tunnel Barn Farm on House and Extension pools,good turnout of 35...I drew right where i didnt want to be!!!!!!!..Extension 38
After potting in 50 micros on the top kit line,and 45 mins later,with 2 skimmers and a swim fizzing like a jaccuzzi,i was wishing i hadnt
I made a decision that the only way i was going to catch was going to be shallow,with banded maggot,and the jigga rig
I had to chase the fish about a bit from 6m to 11m and back again,ending up with 98-7-0,which was good enough for 2nd,Steve (Maggot) Johnson taking the honours from ext 7 with 110-0-0,and Phil Sutor 3rd with 94lb....I had a few quiet spells during the match,and the slow start ,which really cost me the win,never mind,must try harder..tight lines,Gazza

 

[robtherake]

It's a long drive back from Skegness in our old and slow camper, so we decided to drop in on another Yorkshire site for a few days on the way home. This place shall remain nameless, for it is absolutely idyllic, but it's full of fish of many species, including chub and barbel.

On the first evening - in a prolific corner swim - I bagged ten carp up to six pounds, a wiry-but-skinny barbel of a couple of pounds and a few chub around the same size, all on the float. Like a lot of these venues, the waters are mostly empty after 6pm when the day anglers go back for a bevvy. Suits me, having the water all to meself.

The following evening went quite differently. A solitary perch of 1lb 6oz took a liking to a sliver of meat and the first drops of rain (didn't bother looking at the forecast) began to fall. Rather than go back, I decided to sit it out. After all, it'd stop eventually, wouldn't it? Three hours of solid rain later, with just a briefly foul-hooked carp to show for my efforts and I admitted defeat and packed up in the wet - not a good option when there's little chance to dry the gear off.



The following day was brighter, but with a freshening wind the fish decided to take their ball home and few were caught. Quite late in the evening a chap stopped for a chat, which was all the excuse needed for a fish to pull my Middy rod and Exage reel right off the rests and into the drink, where it was dragged off, submerging like a crash-diving U-boat and reappearing tip-first in front of an island, just like a carbon Excalibur. Peals of laughter echoed from the other side, where a "panel" of anglers discussed the artistic merits of the rod's disappearance.

I needn't have worried. To the hummed strains of a familiar TV show theme, a splendid fellow rounded the island in a little boat in short order, shouting, "Did you just call the A-Team?!!" I really should have got some pics, but was too weak with laughter to think about it. Despite the disturbance, the fish got their heads down and I finished the evening with a few more, including this pretty little ghostie. A nice way to round off the trip and a session that will live in the memory for a long time for all the right reasons.

 

[Pete Shears]

Back at the reservoir this morning ,mist slowly rising from the surface & it must have been atmospherics or something but everything seemed loud - distant traffic sounded nearer,geese seemed much louder - the only thing which wasn't very loud or consistent were my bite alarms.
Managed two hand sized roach & one skimmer - no real bream or tench - off to Devon on Friday to have a go for carp (commons,mirrors & wildies) on a very secluded lake and to meet up with friends in the local pub.

 

[maggot_dangler]

Finally…




Without a doubt this was the catch of the day though, I’ve never seen one so big…
































Now that is a Bakewell tart and landed at 50p apiece on the way to the lake as the sell by date was up, I almost felt guilty taking all three left on the shelf.


Luvly jubbly!





School day tomorrow but might bunk off early if it’s nice as I’m missing the river… :w

I got one thing to say Gannet :wh tut tut tut i might just about be able to polish one off but 3 nuff said .

PG ...

 

[flightliner]

A long made plan to visit the tidal Trent for a simple old style day of running a stick float downriver was interupted for an hour this morning as I was passi g a well known greasy spoon cafe famous for a full house english breakfast and a mug of tea. Great stuff, not something that I do more than once a year but the big bonus is not needing to pack up sandwhiches except a few bikkies and a banana.
Store fed I was at the riverside bang on my estimated time that the river had peaked and was about to run off back to sea.
A five number four John Dean shirtbutton shotted with tens, eights and sixes for a sweet running ten foot deep swim was soon runni ng down it following regular helping of hemp n tares.
Two roach in the first hour was all I had.

---------- Post added at 22:44 ---------- Previous post was at 22:33 ----------

Cont--- not good but the water was gin clear and a tricky downstream wind tho not impossibel to master wasnt helping.
I had another rod set up with a shouldered middy taking seven number four shot that was bulked up with two number eight droppers that was all controlled with my old stannton centrepin.
Run down right off the rod tip and held back just so the float shoulder was held up in t he water with double maggot was as if a light had been turned on.
Some lovely stamp roach, perch, Dace and an odd Bleak came constantly for the next five hours.
The fish wanted the bait held back just a little slower than the currant but even the odd bit of time trying the tare it prooved unwelcome, double bronze was what they wanted.
All in all a good day but the sun was a little unwelcome, it was hard on the drive back home .
Still, September will definately be better, especially iff I can nail a big nine metre tide down at Hulls Albert dock, bbring it on!.

 

[S-Kippy]

With a well earned holiday in the sun looming I had neither the time nor inclination to hack my way round the 25 to fish the increasingly daunting and comatose Wey. After my recent run of blanks I desperately needed to catch something so settled for an afternoon on the local noddy pond where the Big Feller has been catching a few carp as part of his rehabilitation. Nothing too complicated......waggler in the margins and a big banded pellet to deter the brim.

I should have known better !

Not fished this place for years and it's changed beyond all recognition. The trees and reeds have matured and it's really quite picturesque now......if you ignore the dodgy looking types in the yard next door and accept that you will encounter a few oddballs bankside at a place like this. It was fairly busy but I found a half decent looking spot and had an early fish ( about 8lb) which was nice and then it died on me. Big Phil turned up to watch and turfed me out of where I was to the other end of the lake where I was ordered to fish close in by a tree. Couldn't buy a hittable bite. Eventually I did and a nice common of about 7lb graced the net. Lost a couple before Phil left about 4-30. Kept plugging away but though the fish were there the bites I was getting were harder to hit than Bury Hill crucians and my nice relaxing afternoon was turning into a really hard session.

About 5-30 ( I told Mrs S I'd fish til 6-30) I had another...then another....then another. Then I lost one...then i had the best fish of the day....a beautiful fully scaled common just shy of 12lb . Then it was time to go as I lost me lot in the reeds to my left. I'd have taken half a dozen before I left and that's what I had....smallest around 6 lb and the rest between 7 and 8 topped by that lovely common. Should have done better but it beats blanking I suppose even if they are only carp.

Best of all no M25... NO BRIM and within 12 minutes of leaving I was back home and the kettle was on..

The smallest of my fish had 3 other hooks in its gob apart from mine ( all of which I removed) including one that would not have looked out of place at Dungeness which was attached to about 4 inches of braid and had a barb on it like a whalers harpoon. Needless to say both barbed hooks and braid are banned. Idiot doesn't really do whoever's that was justice.

 

[sam vimes]

A fair trek out today for a spell on a very foreign river and a dollop of free education. In some respects, the river concerned is similar to one of my locals that I haven't fished a huge amount. Lessons learned today may just stand me in good stead there. Despite my host's best efforts, I didn't get spectacular results. A few bits and bats, minnows, dace and a roach with a couple of release at range trout. I eventually had to resort to poaching my host's swim (with permission). Even that was a little heavy going, but it did result in a couple of decent dace, a salmon parr and this.......

That was fun, and a very good test of a rod that's relatively new to me. It was also the first decent fish on a new pin. However, the highlight of the day was being shown how to Wallis cast. Being shown in person is worth far more than all the YouTube videos going. Just being merely competent is going to take a fair bit of practice, but at least I now know how to go on.

Thanks very much, it was a cracking day. You know who you are.

Now for bed, I'm chinstrapped.

 

[Tee-Cee]

A local still water yesterday after roach but more to see if I could catch them on elderberry in this particular water. I chose a swim in deepest shade and with an overhanging tree to my left I chose the 14' Ultralight to enable me to ( sort of ) lower the bait next to it rather than cast, and end up in it !
I started off with giant hemp and the standard stuff as feed to induce them to feed in the first place before I tried the berry and got carried away as eight smallish fish were swung in. Changing over to the berry I had a response almost immediately as a fish took on the drop. A nice, clean 10" roach...
Over the next few hours I took fish of sizes various with the best getting on for a pound which felt a lot, lot bigger so I was thinking disappointment when it struck me that many would be very happy to catch roach of this size, so I took photograph in honour of the scrap !

Eventually, I had to stop for a break from the quite intensive and constant ' cast and feed ' tactics so swung around to another part of the swim that had been treated to liquised bread for an hour, stuck a curried chickpea on the hook and dropped it in under the rod top, over depth.
The fresh tea tastes like nectar and two cup went without breath, but still with a beady eye to the float. Once or twice it dithered and dipped but failed to go under so I waited, and waited. Then, from zero action the float, and I've had this before, just seemed to ' sink ' but only till the tip reached the surface, and never quite under, Anyway, I struck into something solid which put a decent bend in the rod and moving pretty quickly toward the tree so I thought small carp, which in a way was true as eventually a nice bright crucian glided to the surface. Well pleased..

I then changed to flake and dropped it in again hoping roach might've moved in, but no, as minutes later the float went away ( an entirely different type of bite ) and another 11/2lb crucian came to the net. I'm onto a shoal though I, as I hurriedly cast again but as is always the way I never had another touch before giving up and heading home an hour later..................

A lovely mornings fishing in total peace and quiet and in windless conditions typical of this time of year. One of those days when the hours pass gently and without thought of anything else other than what bait to try next. A good, good day...

Out again Friday and maybe Saturday - the latter in rain, if I'm lucky !



ps I ended up with 25/30 roach to a lb with 75% falling to the berry fished mostly mid water with almost all the better fish falling to them..Well worth a go over the next few weeks !!!

 

[greenie62]

... I ended up with 25/30 roach to a lb with 75% falling to the berry fished mostly mid water with almost all the better fish falling to them.....

Sounds like a good session and some good 'sperimentation with the berries! Top angling!

I was just waiting for the 'p.s.' to be "...and then I woke up!"

Let us know if Laguna's berries work as well or better - when he sends you some for evaluation!

 

[tigger]

I met up with a Terry Pratchett character (a police man in Pratchetts book) yesterday for a days trotting on the river. The weather was pretty dire when we met up but did improve when we started fishing. We had a good chin wagg and Sam had brought a few different fishing rods and tackle along for me to look at, some which i've never seen before!
Anyhow after a chin wagg we set off walking to a couple of glides that can be productive if you hit them on the right day. Fortunately it wasn't a long walk as i'd injured my achilles tendon and my back mg:. We dropped in our swims and started trotting, I had a few chub up to about 4lb plus, some smaller ones, a trout and several barbel but Sams glide seemed to be slow going so he move down and had a go in my swim. He did ok catching some dace etc and christened his new rod and reel with a very nice barbel :w. All in all a enjoyable days trotting apart form my injuries giving me gyp .
Sam playing his barbel, note the superior action of the normark rod ...




A couple of my barb's below.....