How did you get on?

[mikench]

I had a delayed start yesterday as I couldn't make up my mind which swim to fish on the very low, clear and cold Dorset Stour.

The frost and freezing fog didn't help and that fog, which actually got thicker during the morning, didn't finally clear until after 1pm. In fact when I started I couldn't really see the float even before it reached the end of the swim! So a little dodge/habit I've had since a kid worked yet again. Count an additional 5 turns of the pin and strike..... third time I tried that I was met with considerable resistance. A decent chub of 5lbs 01oz eventually slipped into the net.

Throughout the rest of the afternoon I managed another three chub with the best one again around 5lbs. Also lost 3 others which was annoying but a 4-3 win on a day like yesterday was a very good result.

In comparison with this time last year the Stour is flowing at a very low level. I was stood on "dry land" yesterday that I couldn't even fish comfortably with chest waders on last year

View image in gallery

View image in gallery​

Neil will you kindly refrain from posting such fabulous images of wonderful fish I can only dream about. I am quickly becoming disillusioned with 1lb ish roach; what am I becoming? I will have to try and catch a chub

 

[103841]

Don't knock "1lb ish Roach", rare as hens teeth round my parts at the moment.

 

[wawaw1867]

Tough going this afternoon on the Derwent near Matlock. Started trotting red maggots managing a couple of Grayling. After about an hour though my runners were freezing up making it almost impossible to trot maggot. I did persevere for a few more runs with lobworm. Had a few big takes but nothing on the strike and just the head of the worm left on the hook. Changed to a small lead 1oz, just enough to hold bottom, with worm and caster combo and had two takes - nothing on the first take and a young trout on the second. Third cast I snagged on a rock and called it a day. At least I didn't blank

P.S. Any tips on how to combat frozen runners? or is it just part of life and get on with it?

 

[sam vimes]

Any tips on how to combat frozen runners? or is it just part of life and get on with it?

A drop or two of glycerine.

 

[wawaw1867]

A drop or two of glycerine.

Nitro? lol

I'll give it a try, cheers.

 

[peter crabtree]

Don't knock "1lb ish Roach", rare as hens teeth round my parts at the moment.

Rare anywhere I'd say...

Any pics Mike?

 

[jon atkinson]

Just got home to defrost! At 8.00 am I conducted my litmus test of how cold it is by going into the garden in my dressing gown! I determined it was quite cold 0 degrees but it didn't seem that cold or very windy so I dressed more suitably and set off!

I arrived at the lake about 8.30 and set up; I was totally alone. It was cold and the biting wind was strong and unpleasant. I had a veritable kaleidoscope of maggots and resumed my maggot feeder/ helicopter rig success with roach after roach and with several around the 1lb mark. The trouble was I was frozen particularly my hands. I decided to change my hook and link from a 20 to a 16 in the hope I could grip it better and attach my bronze maggots . I thought I had lost it and then found it attached to my finger; I didn't feel a thing

Several eyes on my rod had frozen and the line just would not pass through and I had to scrape out the ice before I could resume. My bait tray attached to my chair had ice on it from the maggot feeder and those recalcitrant few maggots that always seem to find their way to the edge of the tray were duly frozen. Even my thermal cup of tea had ice at the bottom. I felt cold but it didn't look it! No frost or ice on the lakes but I knew just how cold it was. The last roach of about a pound and blind in one eye was one fish too many for my frozen mitts!

I decided I was bonkers and packed up with some difficulty. Roll on spring

Although that sounds like dedication above & beyond, when I think about how cold I was in work today I know where I would rather have been! Spring will be here soon enough & those tinca & crucian will be calling...

 

[mikench]

Rare anywhere I'd say...

Any pics Mike?

I didn't take any pics yesterday as I was just too cold ! I had a hand warmer but each cold wet fish I caught made my fingers just that bit colder to the point where I actually didn't want another bite

It was at that point that I called it a day. I am a little OCD and like to pack up in a systematic way so that everything is neatly in its place and I really struggled putting the line in the clip once I had reeled in.

À demain!

 

[Neil Maidment]

I'm fortunate that in parts the Dorset Stour holds a big head of chub. They still require a lot of catching and a 5lb+ example is a cracking fish but quite common. I got sidetracked by a few roach last season and happily ignored the chub in the hope of a 1lb roach. Only had a few but were definitely very welcome.

 

[mikench]

I am sure they do Neil but they are magnificent examples of which you can be rightly proud. I have ordered some cheap mechanical scales which arrived this morning. They only weigh up to 11 lb in 1 oz increments. Having weighed bags of coffee and nuts they seem accurate enough to me for 1lb ish roach so I will weigh the next decent one I catch.

I would love to catch Chub like that and will try to do so.

 

[steve2]

I was going out yesterday but when I got in the car it was showing minus 2 degrees. I went back in doors and had a cup of tea. I will try again next week.

 

[dicky123]

Back on the little river and a blank, didn't bother me as it was so bloody cold.

I wore some neoprene chest waders, as the banks are very wet, soggy, waterlogged. But my feet got really cold. As cold as ever. They took hours to get warm back at home. I've got good boots but I'm sure I need a better sock style arrangement really.

Thoughts?

 

[theartist]

Back on the little river and a blank, didn't bother me as it was so bloody cold.

I wore some neoprene chest waders, as the banks are very wet, soggy, waterlogged. But my feet got really cold. As cold as ever. They took hours to get warm back at home. I've got good boots but I'm sure I need a better sock style arrangement really.

Thoughts?

Aah the holy grail of warm footwear, not sure there is such a thing in this weather if your sitting or worse still standing still in freezing water. Beware extra pairs of socks as there's nothing worse than having a loose toe bit hanging off the further you walk in your waders. The best thing i've found is to go for a regular walk every hour or so if youre sitting still, that way the cold don't get through you as much, only takes a five mins to get the feet warmed back up a bit, hands in pockets too to warm them up as well.

 

[bill1]

Back on the little river and a blank, didn't bother me as it was so bloody cold.

I wore some neoprene chest waders, as the banks are very wet, soggy, waterlogged. But my feet got really cold. As cold as ever. They took hours to get warm back at home. I've got good boots but I'm sure I need a better sock style arrangement really.

Thoughts?

Neoprene booties will keep your feet warm if you've room in your wading boots. I had a pair from Aldi from around a fiver and they've lasted a couple of seasons no problem. Sealskinz socks or army surplus goretex socks are pretty good but if they get wet inside, they stay wet and the sealskinz are on the pricey side.

 

[mikench]

Back on the little river and a blank, didn't bother me as it was so bloody cold.

I wore some neoprene chest waders, as the banks are very wet, soggy, waterlogged. But my feet got really cold. As cold as ever. They took hours to get warm back at home. I've got good boots but I'm sure I need a better sock style arrangement really.

Thoughts?

I have śome Muck boots and Some Preston Innovation boots both made of neoprene and when walking with some thermal socks are very warm. Even when sitting on the bank in miserable weather they are fine. However as I discovered yesterday if you are just sat there you will freeze regardless. I recommend the periodic walks to restore circulation to your feet. However in truth there is little enjoyment in fishing in the current low temperatures and once your fingers are numb it takes more than a Zippo to restore functionality

 

[Tee-Cee]

As 'the artist' has already said, the chances of keeping your feet warm, or at least at an acceptable temperature, without any form of movement is highly unlikely ( the very young accepted!). Standing in cold water as well can only make the situation worse.....
The feet are the furthest from your blood pump which is the heart, consequently your feet will always take longest to heat up or retain heat.
As said, some form of exercise is the cheapest way to get the circulation going without some form of help but if this is too much of a hassle then maybe the 'Mycoal Foot Warmers' which are air activated might do the trick BUT, the do cost something like £1.38 or so for about 5 hours of warmth. They fit into the boot without issue...

IMO. I suggest it is a price worth paying to be comfortable for those few hours on the bank with two packs about the same as a pint of maggots.

Others may have better ideas, but socks, unless you are young with top circulation, will never work miracles with feet in very cold water !

 

[dicky123]

Yes all correct, I should go for a walk. But when I'm fishing in th winter on such short sessions, I'm loathed to move. But I will.

 

[peter crabtree]

Surprisingly mild this morning when 5 of us met for a knock up on a S.Bucks lake... We had to break the ice though which caused half an hours major commotion...



4ft deep @9m I fished punch just off bottom after cupping a small ball of liquy...
First fish was this 1lbish roach:wh



It was hard going with intermittent cloud and very bright sun on the water..
Weighed in 2lb 14 for 4th place..



7lb won it with 5lb9 runner up.....

 

[wawaw1867]

Another afternoon on the Derwent after chub and grayling. Ended up with 0 chub, 1 grayling, 12 trout rainbow and Brown, 1 broken rod tip , a trapped thumb, A van stuck in mud mg: and wet through. Thoroughly enjoyable - I think?........... Now for some beers and a curry

 

[mikench]

Surprisingly mild this morning when 5 of us met for a knock up on a S.Bucks lake... We had to break the ice though which caused half an hours major commotion...



4ft deep @9m I fished punch just off bottom after cupping a small ball of liquy...
First fish was this 1lbish roach:wh



It was hard going with intermittent cloud and very bright sun on the water..
Weighed in 2lb 14 for 4th place..



7lb won it with 5lb9 runner up.....

You must have enormous mitts Simon!