How did you get on?

[peter crabtree]

My neighbour and I went to our usual Saturday haunt this morning at 7:30 just as it stopped raining. For a change we went to the upstream end of the pound where there's a bit more tree cover and shade. As we approached via an alleyway we were met with wonderful petrichor, most refreshing ...

I set up a light waggler as usual and the deeper track was quite near the far bank, deep too at around 5'.
Started on punch as usual, feeding liquy and roach duly showed up joined by some small skimmers and hard fighting hybrids. After a while I actually felt chilly and had to return to the car to get a jacket.
Luckily we were sheltered from the extremely gusty wind by a 3 story building behind us.

After a while I ran out of liquy so I changed to double pinkie, this brought a run of small ruff which I soon fed off and the roach returned. Around 1pm the sun eventually got onto the water so I packed up, mainly to avoid the pesky bleak which seem to favour sunlit water.

Probably had around 6lb of silvers, average for this venue.

 

[mikench]

Is there ever a day when you don't go fishing Peter? i wish! Next week I'll be back!

 

[O.C.F.Disorder]

Skegness trip!

9:00am My lady, my freind and I wake up, shower, pack, leave Rugby and head up to "skeggy". I had decided not to do much fishing so packed a few bits and bobs for a light spot of course fishing. I took one 16ft float rod, one reel loaded with two pound line, few floats, hooks, shot, net, disgorger, some maggots and bread.

I didnt bother fishing in the day, we went in the sea and ate loads of cockles and ice cream then after a few hours all of a sudden the sky clouded and the heavens opened! Hailstones and lightning! As suddenly as the storm started the clouds parted and a rainbow chased away the last of the storm.

picture: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

We decided to start driving home and we quickly caught up to the storm again. It had changed into a HARD rain storm, Im talking biblical proportions. We carried on through it at 5 mph in a 50 zone, following the car in front of us (the only thing we could see) before it came to a stop. I (bravely) step into the rain and soil my dry clothes to see whats going on and it turns out there was a 4 car pile up that had happened minutes earlier so we turn around and make our way west. We soon part ways with the storm and find ourselves at a little ditch (surrounded by sunshine) by an A road that I deemed fishable. there were some decent roach and rudd in there and they were far from hook shy.

We move onwards until we pass a little b&b with the River Glenn running right next to it. A quick google search and I found out its one of my clubs waters! The EA licence holders club!!

SKRRREEEEEEECHHHHH

We go in and ask for a table and a room then proceed to order a burger each. My friend thought he could handle a ghost pepper burger.. He couldnt.. Picture: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

So of course I break out my rod after food and :w I was a bit worried about my light line as my watercraft told me there were monsters lurking.. but I figured "whats the worst that can happen".

The venue: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

I fished a dirt cheap Chinese led float down my 2lb line to a size 14 hook with a lump of bread on the end. I basically just squeezed the bread around the line and left the hook completely exposed at the end. Oh and fished on the bottom by putting the shot all clumped near the bread/hook and set it to cock the float and sit on bottom. I chucked in a few slices of bread rolled up to look like my hookbait and then I waited... FOR TEN MINS! then the float lifted and took off ---------- I played the fish for about 20 mins and finally, it was in my net. The hook fell out in the net (which sent a shudder down my spine). I let him rest while i set up a "landing mat" and calmed down (I didn't bring a landing mat so i wet a towel and used that).

THE FISH: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

If anyone could tell me what they think it weighed I would appreciate it. I forgot my scales but i can tell you it measured 22 inches. I really dont understand why other anglers are not fascinated by rivers.. they are so exhilarating!

 

[Keith M]

That’s a really great Tench O.C.F. well done :thumb:

Have a look at this FM thread about Tench Length-weight tables:

Tench Length-Weight tables

The tables seem to be very inaccurate. I think you need to get some scales for next time.

Keith

 

[Jelster]

Gerrards Cross &Uxbridge DAS. Members only on the stretch opposite the houseboats at Langley (from the bridge by Langley station down to Mansion Lane.) Rest of canal is day ticket on the bank , at present you would be unlucky to be charged; not sure I should have said that, I'm a member !

I live in West Drayton, so the section from Cowley (where it starts) down to Hollow Hill Lane is on a day ticket?

Any idea what's in there? I've lived here 20 odd years and never fished it...

 

[Another Dave]

Monster tench OCF, well done mate.

 

[Hugh Bailey]

Huge tench - looks like a female so will have spawned. Probably won't weigh a lot now (5 and a bit?) but 4 weeks ago was probably 8 or more?

 

[tigger]

Huge tench - looks like a female so will have spawned. Probably won't weigh a lot now (5 and a bit?) but 4 weeks ago was probably 8 or more?

I was gonn'a say 41/2 to 5lb tops to be honest, nice fish though whatever it weighed .

 

[108831]

Returned to have a go at the tench in the cooler temps fishing in the margins,had four,biggest 5-2 and 4-12,along with 19 roach averaging 8ozs and a 5-12 bream,nice to be in the breeze,but not cold,or hot....

 

[peter crabtree]

Interclub match today on the GUC near Tring. The weather was horrendous, especially the wind. The pound we were on is quite high up the Tring flight as the canal crosses the start of the Chiltern hills. 12 Tring anglers and 8 from Hanwell AC.
4 anglers went home early, 2 because the wind was so gusty in their peg, another who's glasses got blown into the water, and one who's brolly turned inside out and he stepped on 2 sections of pole and broke both..
My pole stayed in the bag, I set up a bomb rod with small lead and a waggler rod.

You can see how windy it was by the willow opposite me showing it's white under leaves...For the first 2 hours it rained quite hard, my maggots stayed in the bag because I couldn't put my brolly up as it would have blocked the towpath..
Punch got me a succession of small gudgeon and a couple of skimmers, I would have carried on with it but couldn't keep the slices dry. Out came the maggots. The rain finally eased off and the kilo of the superb VDE dark roach GB I balled in bought the roach on. They were taking the maggot on the drop so I shallowed up my rig, caught steadily to the end...

A Hanwell member won it with 12lb:10oz of mainly skimmers on feeder across, follow up weights of 8:6 and 7:3.
I had 4:2 and came 7th out of 20. Didn't use the bomb at all as the waggler worked a treat, even in the wind.

 

[thecrow]

and one who's brolly turned inside out and he stepped on 2 sections of pole and broke both..

Expensive day out.

 

[S-Kippy]

I live in West Drayton, so the section from Cowley (where it starts) down to Hollow Hill Lane is on a day ticket?

Any idea what's in there? I've lived here 20 odd years and never fished it...

Used to fish the Cowley end a lot but that was many, many years ago. Small tench and loads of crucians. Whether that's still the case I wouldn't know. Same at Middle Green nearer Slough.

I often wonder about going back and having a go for old time's sake but I wouldnt know where to park now and I'd be fretting all day about whether the car was safe.

 

[Jelster]

Used to fish the Cowley end a lot but that was many, many years ago. Small tench and loads of crucians. Whether that's still the case I wouldn't know. Same at Middle Green nearer Slough.

I often wonder about going back and having a go for old time's sake but I wouldnt know where to park now and I'd be fretting all day about whether the car was safe.

Somewhere along Packet Boat Lane I would guess. There are retail units along the Cowley Road, so I'll have a look to see if there is a walk through close to the bridge by the Marina.

 

[mikench]

I offered my services( to tidy the loft) to er indoors this afternoon and was rebuffed as she preferred the Trafford Centre! Every cloud etc so I nipped out for a couple of hours fishing despite the promise of rain and a very gusty wind! My venue;

View attachment 5277

It threatened rain throughout and just as I packed up and got in the car the heavens opened! My timing was perfect! In 2.5 hours I had 5 carp to 8.5lb and 7 bream like this one;
View attachment 5278

Just as well they were all into spam because that is all I took! A very enjoyable few hours! If I knew that I would always catch within such a time frame and when , all day efforts with hours of inactivity would become a thing of the past!

First time out for a couple of weeks so much appreciated!

 

[103841]

Great post Mike, haven’t seen a brim in days.mg:

 

[Another Dave]

Took my youngest fishing today. She caught a chublet and a nice dace.

 

[barbelboi]

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I did give you a like though Mike...........

 

[103841]

So there we have it, beauty and the beast within a couple of posts.

 

[john step]

I had a day on my club water today in the welcome rain. It has been a tench desert in my parts the last few years so I was particularly pleased to catch this rare one at 6lb on the nail.
Long rod/centre pin/float by the lilies. Smashing.


View attachment 5281

 

[The Runner]

Somewhere along Packet Boat Lane I would guess. There are retail units along the Cowley Road, so I'll have a look to see if there is a walk through close to the bridge by the Marina.

Usual trick at that end these days is to park at the far end of Little Britain and walk the 300 yards down the track that leads to the Black Bridge. Not sure if there's a walk through at the Cowley Road anymore.
No, or vanishingly few, crucians there these days and the tench are mostly at the other end around Middle Green and St Mary's. Cowley end is decent skimmers with some proper bream as well as roach and rudd but it doesn't get fished much. Some big perch as well.

Anyway, how did I get on ? Tipping it down this morning so the planned long and rough walk in to Greshornish Point was a bit unappealing. Decided on an afternoon session down past the slipway at Staffin instead and by the time I got there the rain had cleared apart from the odd heavy squally shower, gradually turning into a lovely sunny afternoon. Not the best tide though, had last three hours of the ebb and first two of the flood and apparently it fishes far better there over high water. Two pollack both about 2-8 on paddletails and finally a couple of mackerel on feathers on the other rod which are now in my freezer for future bait requirements, hopefully to be joined by plenty more. Switched lure rod to float and mussel close in when feathering with the other, one bite which took me straight into the kelp forest at my feet, probably a decent wrasse.
Not much dramatic in the way of wildlife today, usual wheatears etc in the rough ground behind me and a very tame rock pipit. Small flock of I think Godwits flew past southwards (don't ask me which species), and the little pools of fresh water behind the rocks were full of very unseasonal tadpoles...

Probably wont be out again now for a week or so as lots to do, but if the weather stays decent priorities might well change.