How did you get on?

[Graham Elliott 1]

Hi John.
A frequent problem on the Wye i have found it that the fish will simply engulf the bait and not move off at all. There are some real monsters.

This time however I think that the fish were just so cold they were just torpid.

 

[Tee-Cee]

Yes, I've found that kids seem to have very short arms and even deeper pockets when it comes to paying for meals out! They are very appreciative though.....Strangely, the promised 'next time the meal is on us' never seems to materialise....

Anyway, back to fishing.....

The difference in the weather yesterday was quite staggering; I left home at 7am with the temp gauge reading 4 degrees, a whole 8 degrees difference to the day before! On the bank it seemed like a heat wave by comparison but very welcome nonetheless. The previous day I'd spent ages thawing out frozen rod rings which involved far too much moving around in the swim which I hate doing, so it was nice settle down and enjoy the surroundings and relaxed fishing.
That said, come 09.30 a slight breeze came up and activated the chill factor which chilled the body to the bone. In a totally different way it felt almost as cold as the previous day!

It was an hour before I landed the first roach of 8ozs and this was repeated at intervals over the next couple of hours. Nothing big, but nice to see the float disappear once in a while. The swim, one of my regulars, is very good for trying different methods as it has variable depths ranging from 8' down to 4' going across the swim, and sloping away from similar depths running out from the bank. Typical of a gravel pit, generally speaking.
For this reason I changed float type and hook size several times over the session, going from dotted down to slim antenna as required. Shotting also needed adjustment to cope with 'on the drop' and hard on the bottom fishing. From time to time I also tried fishing shallow in 10' of water, casting into the usual sprayed maggots and this, to my surprise, eventually produce not a very nice roach, but a 1,5lb perch - the first I've seen for some time.
Not a big fish, but hooked at distance on light tackle (just for a second I thought good roach) it fought well on a 20 hook/1,5lb bottom linked to 2,5lb reel line. Bait was of the 'lets give it a try' variety and consisted of one red and one white maggot. The 'take' was almost instantaneous and followed a quiet spell when any form of bait combo failed to produce any interest,.ven going down to a 22 didn't help..

Needless to say, the perch was a one off, but it does give food for thought if they are likely to take a bait up in the water. Perhaps I will try a very slow dropping bunch of maggots using no 10 shot well spaced out and see what happens.

All in all it was a very enjoyable, busy session and the time flew by. I decamped at around 2pm as the hunger pangs set in, but I shall gagging to get back again on Monday with fresh bait. I understand some parts of the country may well enjoy a 'mild spell' next week so that is something to look forward to, when again big roach will be the target!

ps I did try hemp/flake for a while, but no takers................

pps Oh, I forgot to mention this; I dropped a handful of maggots various into a plastic bag at the start of the session, to which was added a goodly amount of Garum Masala powder and these I used as hook bait. I can safely say ALL my fish were caught on them.

I've thrown that titbit of info in for free!!! Hohohoho Well, it is almost Christmas!!

 

[mikench]

Two of my kids now do pay their way and buy the meals! Mind you I have had to wait nearly 28 years!!! They have very expensive tastes.

Had planned a days fishing but as McMillan said " events dear boy events" have stopped that!

 

[flightliner]

I had another day on the lower tidal trent yesterday. I timed my arrival with the top of the tide with a half hour spare for getting my kit in place and bait ready for that tiny window of minutes when it's stood still so that I could place a little free offerings in the same position as my groundbait feeder would come to rest--- a few casters and chopped redworms and a very few dead red maggots.
It all looked perfect for a result so all ready I made my first cast with worm and caster on a fourteen hook to 5lb to 3.5.
I was hoping that any bream I contacted last week would maybe drop downstream when the levels dropped it being some four foot deeper and still with a very lazy pace c8mpared to that of midriver.
The first bite came within minutes and was so fast, so savage that I had barely lifted the rod a foot when the hooklink parted--- maybe a barbel-- who knows but it rattled me for sure.
Anyway, next cast some twenty minutes or so later and a chub came sliding over the rim of the landing net, nice, but after a tiny tap on the quiver it went very very quite.
I dug in deep waiting for dusk and any last chance it so often gives, meantime I was given a superb display by the red arrows practicing oer Lincoln way, superb flyers that never fail to impress when
i,m this low down the river.
An hour before dusk sirens suddenly started to wail, two lots that did some five minutes a time before stopping for a few minutes then kicking off again. I'd never heard them before in all my years on the river, it occurred to me that they were maybe from Rampton, the institution for the criminally insane some two miles away that gave note an inmate had maybe absconded--- who knows -- whatever, but the hoped for last chance at dusk never came so I packed up but with a few minutes daylight left I walked some hundred yards further downstream than I had fished and found a tiny cutback on the riverbank where a crease hadformed with less pacy water on the downstream side, a good place to have tried earlier but I know from times past that it wouldnt have been visible earlier with the three extra feet of water that was above it some five hours earlier, so, no reason to kick myself but to remember it after the next flood has receded.

 

[neil1970]

Great captures and write ups all...enjoyable to read
I've not been out much due to my local river being in terrible condition, but have snatched a couple of hours on a GUC Perch hotspot.
Complete circus down there, and I've only picked up one pound+ perch along with loads of smaller ones on the lures
The pike are moving in at this time of year and everyone is drop shotting with worms, tiny lures or live baiting. I've gone for bigger lures with moderate success. Biggest Jack going 7lb 8oz.

I had a grim but interesting discovery while walking the banks of the river a few days ago....eyes bigger than stomach

 

[mikench]

What a grim scene! Shame it wasn't a cormorant! had a great day at A&E with er indoors! She has broken her ankle and is in a boot with crutches. She slipped yesterday in the conservatory and cruckled badly; very badly as it turned out. No driving for 4 to 6 weeks so I have her car whenever I want to go fishing! Every cloud........

 

[Tee-Cee]

mikench...........Who will be doing all the chores then??

Shame about the injury as it has probably put paid to your Christmas dance routine double act at the family party.........................................you know, the one where family giggle behind hands!!


Good to see you back, Neil..

 

[mikench]

Me Tee CEE so no change there then Anything that precludes me having to dance is a life saver. If I soundproof the bedroom I can really relax downstairs!

 

[Chefster]

Tunnel Barn Farm winter league today... 104 fishing!!,my team captain gave me High 30,a decent peg,deep,upto 8ft,down the track.Ive spent an hour in the deep water with pellet,with no bites at all,so fished pellet at 14m,onto a bit of a plateau,that was 4ft deep,another hour,still no bites,so i changed it to maggot,and caught almost instantly!,ive caught carp and F1,s steady,from just this one line ,to weigh 45-3-0,which was 2nd on the pool,and 4th overall,which resulted in a very healthy envelope..Paul Holland(Guru) won overall from High 48,with 73lb...Frankie G (Preston) was 2nd from canal 1,with 63lb,and Steve Ringer(Guru) 3rd with 47lb,from canal 17..On the team front we didnt fare so well though

 

[binka]

A real stinker of a day in terms of results but a nice day in every other respect.

On the river for daybreak and expectations were high given that it looked in near perfect nick, the target was a zander whilst trying to avoid getting mugged by pike as happened the other week although I would have taken anything by late afternoon.

Two very light float rigs were the approach but both on alarms just in case of any lapse in concentration, one with a single size 8 treble hooked in the centre of a small chunk of roach and the other on a Mustad Demon circle and hair rigged Eddie…




The nearer of the two saw a pick up very early on which began to move out towards the flow before being dropped, this was on an open bale arm and 2BB bobber.

From around 2pm onwards the light levels dropped very low and I would have put my last pound on a run but absolutely nothing materialised and chatting near the cars in the darkness afterwards revealed that the barbel lads had found things the same.

Just one of those out of sorts days I think but plenty to smile about and it was nice watching a busy Kingfisher working his beat.

There’s always good news though…



The eggs were nice, I laid ‘em meself barely an hour earlier… :w

 

[mikench]

What are your opening hours?

 

[Pete Shears]

Pike fishing again on the reservoir Friday yielded one pike of around 8lb and one dropped run,better than nothing which is what happened today another glorious blank - must try harder although it takes no effort at all to blank.

 

[skov]

Thought I'd stick to my home stretch of the Great Ouse this morning.
I'd mostly intended to target pike, but also took along half a pint of maggots and a 10' Maver float rod I'd impulsed purchased for £20 the previous day.

Started off on two pike deadbait rods and didn't get so much as a sniff.

Moved to a different stretch and tried one pike rod and the float rod.
Ended up putting the pike rod away after a load of swans kept going through my swim and I got very close to having to unhook one

The float rod was doing nothing until I looked down at my feet and saw the water was black from thousands of fry swarming past tight against the bank!
Dropped the maggot at my feet and got an instant hit, quickly followed by two more.
All tiny, but very welcome!
All of a sudden they were gone again, and that was that.

Thought I'd head further up stream and spend my last hour or so looking for pike (well away from the swans!).

I had to cycle along a backwater to get to my intended swim and on the way thought I spotted some fish out of the corner of my eye. Slammed the breaks on and went back and there were indeed some. A couple of dozen small fish packed tight under a tree root in a few inches of water.
I peered through the trees and bushes at the rest of water and ****** me,
It was absolutely teeming with life! Swirls and fish topping everywhere!
Unfortunately impossible to fish.

Video here - all the ripples you can see were caused by fish, the rest of the river was millpond still.

Luckily a few yards upstream there was a gap in the trees and bushes that looked just about fish-able with a short rod
I thought I could probably trot a float from there down to the lively stretch of water, but it turned out I didn't need to as there were plenty right under my rod tip.

In fact the the next hour and a half was bonkers.
I had a fish within seconds of each cast and every time I chucked some maggots in the water exploded with swirls!
I had dace, bleak, perch, roach, chub, and bream!
I'm fairly sure I caught more fish in that hour than the rest of the season put together.
Bloody brilliant it was!

 

[maggot_dangler]

How did i do

Huummm froze me bits off for 6 sardine sized roach and 2 perch similar size , But on the bright side i was not sat round the flat all day getting hissed orft dont do sitting around it gets me very shirty :wh

PG ...

---------- Post added at 18:02 ---------- Previous post was at 17:42 ----------

Thought I'd stick to my home stretch of the Great Ouse this morning.
I'd mostly intended to target pike, but also took along half a pint of maggots and a 10' Maver float rod I'd impulsed purchased for £20 the previous day.

Started off on two pike deadbait rods and didn't get so much as a sniff.

Moved to a different stretch and tried one pike rod and the float rod.
Ended up putting the pike rod away after a load of swans kept going through my swim and I got very close to having to unhook one

The float rod was doing nothing until I looked down at my feet and saw the water was black from thousands of fry swarming past tight against the bank!
Dropped the maggot at my feet and got an instant hit, quickly followed by two more.
All tiny, but very welcome!
All of a sudden they were gone again, and that was that.

Thought I'd head further up stream and spend my last hour or so looking for pike (well away from the swans!).

I had to cycle along a backwater to get to my intended swim and on the way thought I spotted some fish out of the corner of my eye. Slammed the breaks on and went back and there were indeed some. A couple of dozen small fish packed tight under a tree root in a few inches of water.
I peered through the trees and bushes at the rest of water and ****** me,
It was absolutely teeming with life! Swirls and fish topping everywhere!
Unfortunately impossible to fish.

Video here - all the ripples you can see were caused by fish, the rest of the river was millpond still.

Luckily a few yards upstream there was a gap in the trees and bushes that looked just about fish-able with a short rod
I thought I could probably trot a float from there down to the lively stretch of water, but it turned out I didn't need to as there were plenty right under my rod tip.

In fact the the next hour and a half was bonkers.
I had a fish within seconds of each cast and every time I chucked some maggots in the water exploded with swirls!
I had dace, bleak, perch, roach, chub, and bream!
I'm fairly sure I caught more fish in that hour than the rest of the season put together.
Bloody brilliant it was!

Your image is not displaying and clicking on the Icon makes no change ....
PG ...

 

[skov]

Your image is not displaying and clicking on the Icon makes no change ....
PG ...

Arrgh, not again mg:
It's a bit hit and miss when I try sharing google photos...
You're not missing much though, just a picture of the swim.

 

[peter crabtree]

Skovs image shows for me ok?

With the choice of 2 matches today, one on the river Thame and another on a lake I bottled out of both. My mate who did attend the lake phoned me an hour after the 'all in' to say he was sat in his car with the heater on full blast. The lake was frozen and they had broken the ice with breakers.. He called again later to say he had one roach and others were blanking...

I was however heartened to see the forecast for next week and we should be back in double figure temps after Monday so I'm planning a couple of days out fishing....

Watch this space......

 

[The Runner]

Club match on the Colne at Uxbridge today which promised to be a grueller with the river in a horrible state, a foot down, impossibly clear, full of leaves, sharp frost this morning and a bright day with an East wind just to help things along.
Drew peg 37 which was happy with as a decent chub swim at this time of year.

A bit of an odd one as is basically a hole in the gravel between two bits of very fast and shallow water and while in summer you can pick up dace and the odd chub from the shallows below, once the weed has gone you only have a very short, about 5 yards at most, catching area in the hole in front of you . Set up 2BB stick on 17' rod to search the backeddy across on the far side keeping line above the fast water down the middle, and a maggot feeder/ bomb rod both with a size 20 to 0.13
Started on stick and picked up an immediate minnow to save the blank, Had about 3 ft 6 of water at deepest point but far side boiling up badly and backeddy running a lot faster than usual. Wasn't happy that loosefeed was ending up anywhere near where I wanted it so cut it out and had half a dozen quick drops in with feeder to get some bait on the bottom on the crease. Back on stick, minnow minnow minnow minnow,,,, switched to feeder, wait longer for bite, minnow minnow, but stayed on it for a while . Back on stick and finally something pulled back, useful chub just before half time. Upstream end peg had had a barbel by this time but otherwise only small fish from the backstream swims.
Sun came round and got full on the water and could see everything in the swim apart from a 2 ft strip tight over. Knew little chance of catching again until the last hour, and as it happened, not even then, never had another sign.
Single chub (and 22 minnows) went 3-14 and got me third, the minnows being vital as 4th had 3-13.
A second chub for me would have made no difference to the result though, winner had two barbel and a few roach for 17-1 and second, a few pegs down from me, had a lovely barbel of 10-2 from his only bite with quarter of an hour to go. Edit; forgot to add that the bite didn't take him by surprise- river so clear that he watched it take his bait.

Could hardly have had less barbelly conditions , but what do we know ?

 

[maggot_dangler]

Arrgh, not again mg:
It's a bit hit and miss when I try sharing google photos...
You're not missing much though, just a picture of the swim.

OK just thought id let you know .

PG ...

 

[theartist]

Just got back from a few hours on my 'go to' river when its icy - The Gade. Haven't blanked there ever so wasn't going to start today although it was hard work and typically the fish were in spots that either involved a foot numbing wade or sitting in shade. Actually did better than I thought with four nice chub and a couple of roach and dace for about 10lb in total.

Not bad for a free stretch with half a pint of rank leftover maggots, just add fuel -magic!

 

[Chefster]

Todays open was put on High Pool,due to most of the complex being iced up,16 hardy souls!!!...I drew peg 30 again, the one i was 2nd off on the w/l on saturday...ive fished it the same,only better,for 55 F1,s for 67-0-0,and the win
John Johnson was 2nd with 22-8-0 from peg 50,and "Dead-Eye"**** Ashby 3rd from 27,with 18-0-0.
Back there tomorrow for the Tuesday open,and i think High Pool again,surely my luck must run out????Tight lines ,Gazza