How did you get on?

[thames mudlarker]

Sadly my first foray at trotting will have to wait until june I will however have a day( maybe less) at beachcasting for whatever I can catch! A few rays of the sun will be nice

I have to take the car for its first " contrôle technique " ( mot) tomorrow which should be fun. The fishing is afterwards : I will try some artificial crabs as bait!

To be honest Mike when you say artificial crabs I'm presuming that yer on about the crab sticks, if this is the case these have been tried and tested over the years and with very disappointing results, there basically next to useless :wh

My advice is that I definitely wouldn't bother with em, std fishing I'd try and get some lug or rag worm,
If yer specifically targeting the early run of thornbacks then I'd use herring, bluey, or unwashed squid :thumbs:

Be lucky mate

---------- Post added at 20:46 ---------- Previous post was at 20:36 ----------

Yes I fish the Fishers Green section. I can't complain, I had a 7lb 12oz chub last summer. But with the recent stocking I thought it might have made it easier to get a bite.

Yea I know what yer saying mate, I would of thought the same but this doesn't seem to be the case, it's still rock hard as ever,

Within the 28 years of fishing there I've had over 100 X 6 lber's and 4 X 7 lber's to 7 lb 6 oz :thumbs:

A fair number of the chub were caught touch ledgering but I'd say that the majority of all my caught chub have been on trotting tactics blitzing with maggot and caster.

Nowadays I don't chub fish as much as I'm more so concentrating on chalk stream big roach

---------- Post added at 20:53 ---------- Previous post was at 20:46 ----------

I did give it a go this afternoon and found it rising very slowly, very pacey and a reasonable colour. Very hard on the float but they finally switched on late afternoon. I managed a few nice chub in the last hour or so including a very nice "6". I reckon it will be spot on on Saturday and Sunday!

View image in gallery​

Absolutely pucka Neil, well done mate, very nice fish to almost finish the season with and we've still got the weekend yet :thumbs:

 

[Graham Elliott 1]

Well fished the Ivel near Bedford. Was thinking chub and barbel and roach in the day but everyone I spoke to said they were rare as hens teeth and the otters had decimated most of them??

So pretty disheartened after trotting flake for an hour without a touch.
Changed swims and finally started to get some decent dace up to 12oz.a couple of hours before dusk with a couple of chublets.
FInally the first beautifully coloured roach just short of a pound.
6 more roach followed best about 1.6. And really lovely colourings. Couple more dace then biteless barbel try for the last hour.

 

[mikench]

I have tried crab sticks Stuart with no success. I have some rubber artificial crabs which look just like a small crab. I also have some squid and sprats which I have defrosted so will give them all a go. I will be in the fresh air, some sunshine and without a care in the world( hopefully).

Make the most of the reasonable weather in the U.K.!

 

[theartist]

Funny I was thinking of going to the Ivel but stayed local as dad wanted to get out so after stressful drive into the smoke to get him (seems everyone's texting in their laps now thinking you can't see them) we were at a low clear river within two hours, Oh and it was sunny and warm too so thankfully the stupid wooly hat was left at home but the classy bait apron wasn't - as if! Bites were hard to come by as the light this time of year seems so much brighter than even the height of midsummer so I was happy with ten roach after two hours as one was pushing a pound and with the low sun shining on it's flanks in the net all was good, almost....

Poor old dad though was on a blank still with the downstream wind a right bit of work, hopping between fruitless swims I feared he'd be on for a right duff day, I was having to dot the float down so it was barely visible at times just to combat the wind whereas his was in danger of having a passing boat moor up against it. "Must get my eyes tested he said" which I confirmed twice as his hearing is even worse. Hoping he'd catch something in my swim we swapped however me hooking a good chub in his spot within a few runs down probably wasn't the best scenario. I proceeded to play the next couple with a gentle hand to avoid him seeing any commotion before thankfully he had a good perch in his net, at a pound and half he was happy and I was relieved.

He soon had a few nice chub as well as a bit of cloud came over and I continued to get more chub including one over 5lb which went on a barnstorming run upstream. No small fish were present probably due to the next fish on which I thought was a chub as it went for the snags on both sides and just wouldn't give up. A turn on the surface saw a mighty flash of of green and red and it certainly did look big as it rolled again in the sun which had reappeared, there was a blur of splashes and flashes in the sun's reflection but thankfully my light line held and it was in the net. At bang on 3lb it was easily my biggest perch of the season as I don't fish for them as such and it looked much much bigger as it wasn't a fat fish at all. They do after all say that the perch is the 'largest fish' and you can see why.

What a great way to end another wonderful fishing season. :w

 

[S-Kippy]

The Big Feller bullied me into a last hurrah at the Bury Hill zander yesterday. I really didn't fancy it as its been terribly hard this winter and with blazing sunshine forecast plus the likelihood of a big moon later I thought we were on a hiding to nothing. But he is a persistent buqqer so I went anyway.

M25 was fine. Arrived in blazing sun and temps pushing 20 to find my swims of choice occupied by brim angling pole gnomes as has become the norm. Plan B was further down but 3 blokes plotted up there too. Howl ! So I trudged down dejectedly pausing to ask if they'd done any good.

"Yes....5 zander and an 18lb pike "

These fish never cease to amaze me. The water wasn't coloured but there they were having a peck in bright sunshine. While chatting to the last bloke away went his rod again and another zander hit the net. They were all small fish [2-3lb] but I'd have taken that given my recent blanks. While I'm setting up a couple of swims lower down his alarm sounds and he's away again. Bloody tench on a prawn

The BF then bumbles up, I tell him whats going on and he's as bewildered as me but we settle in, though I moved because I had a tree giving me problems that were only going to get worse as the light went. Bloke below Phil then had a zander which made us the blanking fillings in a zander sandwich but at least it meant there were fish in the area.Phil had had a few beep beeps on both rods which was encouraging then at about 4-30 had a nice steady run and a fish of about 5lb. Meanwhile....I still hadn't had so much as a single beep! He then had another nice,slow run but went a lap early and missed it. I was really beginning to fret now.

Dusk came,the moon rose [ big one,not good] and both of us were now staring at motionless indicators. Convinced it wasn't going to happen I was thinking of admitting defeat when finally I had a very slow run on my rh rod which I left and left and left....and missed mg:. On inspection the bait had tangled with the hair and turned the hook right round . That, I thought, was my lot. I'm going home fishless again.

Then at about 7-30 I had another slow run which I left and left but this time connected with and finally a zander graced my net. Not a huge fish but a beautifully conditioned,plump fish of about 6lb....hooked very lightly in the lip so that was a whisker away from ending in tears too. Neither of us had a bleep after that and we packed amid the chorus of about a million bonking frogs.

My day was by no means over though. The DOT had again activated the Skippy App and shut the damned A24 for overnight re-surfacing work. This meant I had the pleasure [?] of a 45 minute mystery tour of the Surrey Hills to get 2 miles nearer home.

Still....we had a nice fish each which is a sight better than no fish each. The Double Serge [Blanco] was saved. Happy Days !

I have a really rubbish picture of my fish which I'll ask Simon to upload. It doesn't do it justice but I just wanted to prove that I do, very occasionally, actually catch something.

 

[flightliner]

Finally got around to visiting a water for a pike yesterday, one where I hoped would give me a personal best but tho I enjoyed the day in the sunshine it turned into a massive blank.
No one else fishing the place, maybe they know something I dont.
One last trip maybe early next week, lower trent perhaps.
Cant say I,ll be sorry to see the back of this winter period, it's been dire for me to say the least!!

 

[peter crabtree]

Skippy's zander.....

 

[S-Kippy]

A footnote to yesterday's tale. The bloke I was chatting to at BH seemed familiar....his voice in particular. This niggled away at me to the point at which I had to wander back and ask him outright if his name was Jerry B.

Long story short it was and it turned out both of us had thought we knew each other but as both of us were doing a Blues Brothers with sunglasses on we couldn't be sure.Jerry used to work for my lot and helped organise the National Angling events [ Coarse & Fly] which I used to attend [ and win occasionally I might add] which is how I got to know him. He's been retired 8 years now but I doubt I've seen him for 12 years or more.

What are the odds, eh ? Even odder is the fact that one of said events many years ago which Jerry organised was on BH. This was the 1st time I'd ever been there and I was chatting to him about the place and mentioned the zander. He said it was "well worth a go" and that stuck in my head for years until one day I thought I'd actually go try and catch one.....the rest you know.

Odder still....I won that match at BH with 35lb + of brim and from the very peg that I fished yesterday evening !

 

[mikench]

I knew it! You really have a soft spot for bream

 

[S-Kippy]

I knew it! You really have a soft spot for bream

No I don't...I was trying to catch tench at the time but the bloody brim wouldn't leave me alone.

 

[robtherake]

I have tried crab sticks Stuart with no success... .=

I fancy that banding's the way to go with pieces of crab stick, Mike. Their stranded nature makes them difficult to hook or hair rig. You may have more luck with it in a freshwater situation.

 

[thames mudlarker]

I have tried crab sticks Stuart with no success. I have some rubber artificial crabs which look just like a small crab. I also have some squid and sprats which I have defrosted so will give them all a go. I will be in the fresh air, some sunshine and without a care in the world( hopefully).

Make the most of the reasonable weather in the U.K.!

To be honest Mike I really don't hold much hope for the rubber crabs

I really would ditch these mate and just stick with yer squid and sprats,

With the squid I wouldn't mess about with little strips etc, I'd set up a pennel rig and use whole squid :thumbs:

---------- Post added at 18:47 ---------- Previous post was at 18:36 ----------

Funny I was thinking of going to the Ivel but stayed local as dad wanted to get out so after stressful drive into the smoke to get him (seems everyone's texting in their laps now thinking you can't see them) we were at a low clear river within two hours, Oh and it was sunny and warm too so thankfully the stupid wooly hat was left at home but the classy bait apron wasn't - as if! Bites were hard to come by as the light this time of year seems so much brighter than even the height of midsummer so I was happy with ten roach after two hours as one was pushing a pound and with the low sun shining on it's flanks in the net all was good, almost....

Poor old dad though was on a blank still with the downstream wind a right bit of work, hopping between fruitless swims I feared he'd be on for a right duff day, I was having to dot the float down so it was barely visible at times just to combat the wind whereas his was in danger of having a passing boat moor up against it. "Must get my eyes tested he said" which I confirmed twice as his hearing is even worse. Hoping he'd catch something in my swim we swapped however me hooking a good chub in his spot within a few runs down probably wasn't the best scenario. I proceeded to play the next couple with a gentle hand to avoid him seeing any commotion before thankfully he had a good perch in his net, at a pound and half he was happy and I was relieved.

He soon had a few nice chub as well as a bit of cloud came over and I continued to get more chub including one over 5lb which went on a barnstorming run upstream. No small fish were present probably due to the next fish on which I thought was a chub as it went for the snags on both sides and just wouldn't give up. A turn on the surface saw a mighty flash of of green and red and it certainly did look big as it rolled again in the sun which had reappeared, there was a blur of splashes and flashes in the sun's reflection but thankfully my light line held and it was in the net. At bang on 3lb it was easily my biggest perch of the season as I don't fish for them as such and it looked much much bigger as it wasn't a fat fish at all. They do after all say that the perch is the 'largest fish' and you can see why.

What a great way to end another wonderful fishing season. :w

Pucka bit of fishing Rob,

Certainly some very nice size chub and perch you've had today,

Well done mate and glad to hear that yer dad had a nice day

---------- Post added at 18:58 ---------- Previous post was at 18:47 ----------

No I don't...I was trying to catch tench at the time but the bloody brim wouldn't leave me alone.

Funny PMSL

---------- Post added at 19:10 ---------- Previous post was at 18:58 ----------





Well if all goes to plan I'm actually hoping to get meself out eaither this coming Monday or Tuesday for a day session on me local chalk stream roving about in search of some quality roach and chub,

Just need to double check on the weather and also the current river levels.

I'm rather looking forward to it as I've not been out on the bank for a while due to various other commitments etc,

I'll inform of any later updates :thumbs:

 

[theartist]

Thanks Stuart looking forward to a write up of how your chalk stream venture goes, you have to get out as the end of the season is nigh!

 

[Pete Shears]

What a difference 24 hours make - today ,cooler,river had dropped around 6" and a few fishing were topping in the deep pool on the Wreake but could I hit the bites ,could I hell !
I think the milder weather has woken up all the minnows which were hammering legered bread,
this idea backed up by having a white egret wading in the shallower and slower water.
Eventually had a chublet of about 12oz on float fished bread before some cold drizzly rain
forced an early finish.

 

[mikench]

Sadly the fishing from the shore in my part of the Med is poor and apart from the weather has little to commend it. I didn't manage it today for a variety of reasons but tomorrow is a definite! I may end up spinning from the rocks at a favored spot. It still beats working

 

[tigger]

I had the afternoon free today so decided to wet a line on the river. With the temp's being up a little and the river dropping off I thought I might have been in for a decent session...well we all know what thought did !
On arrival at the river it looked ok level wise but was still full of sediment from the recent rain and obviously there wasn't much visibility for fish to spot a moving bait. Anyhow it turned out to be a pretty shyte session with only four small chub obliging and one of them doing an impression of a leaping salmon and shaking the hook out of it's mouth. Plenty of otter prints and wildlife moochin' about including a seriously screechy ear piercing peregrine falcon.
I'm pretty sure I would have done much better if i'd legerd but I just can't do it, i'd rather blank trying with the float than catch on the leger....daft in'it !

 

[thecrow]

daft in'it

Nope each to their own I reckon

 

[john step]

Had a puddle bashing day. A club lake where you get plenty of bites. 8 carplets to about 5lb a chub and some rudd.
Nice and lazy, tucked behind my brolly out of the cold Easterly about 10 yards from my car.
My plans for the last river session on Monday are scuppered. Back down to London. Roll on June 16th.

 

[thames mudlarker]

Thanks Stuart looking forward to a write up of how your chalk stream venture goes, you have to get out as the end of the season is nigh!

Yea I know Rob, tell me about it I've been trying to get out for ages but keep on getting blimmin tied up with stuff and to be truthful I really haven't had the money for a while since the start of the new year to even go the distance onto me premier club fisheries
All I've been getting is bills and fawking out for stuff over the last two months or so which stopped me from fishing for a while.

Monday or Tuesday I'm just gonna go locally down to Crayford :thumbs: same river where you went the other week but a bit further downstream where it deepens and where it hardly gets fished

---------- Post added at 22:03 ---------- Previous post was at 21:44 ----------

I had the afternoon free today so decided to wet a line on the river. With the temp's being up a little and the river dropping off I thought I might have been in for a decent session...well we all know what thought did !
On arrival at the river it looked ok level wise but was still full of sediment from the recent rain and obviously there wasn't much visibility for fish to spot a moving bait. Anyhow it turned out to be a pretty shyte session with only four small chub obliging and one of them doing an impression of a leaping salmon and shaking the hook out of it's mouth. Plenty of otter prints and wildlife moochin' about including a seriously screechy ear piercing peregrine falcon.
I'm pretty sure I would have done much better if i'd legerd but I just can't do it, i'd rather blank trying with the float than catch on the leger....daft in'it !

Arhh......as much as I know that trotting is a very good tactic I'd never ever discount the option of ledgering

If anything if I'm after specimen roach, chub and even big dace I'd actually sooner use ultra light ledgers on a roving session :thumbs:

Definitely worth considering mate

 

[tigger]

Arhh......as much as I know that trotting is a very good tactic I'd never ever discount the option of ledgering

If anything if I'm after specimen roach, chub and even big dace I'd actually sooner use ultra light ledgers on a roving session :thumbs:

Definitely worth considering mate

I get plenty of huge dace during the summer if I want them .

I should do more legering Stuart but I find it boring in comparison to trotting the float and catching a fish on the float is more of a challenge imo and so I get a feeling of accomplishment when I do catch in difficult conditions using a float :w .