How did you get on?

[peter crabtree]

9 codgers turned out yesterday for our weekly match which was on the Aylesbury arm of the GUC near Tring. Once again temperatures soared to 30degrees but luckily this pound has tall trees on the towpath side and the sun is unable to penetrate.

This Summer's drought and heavy boat traffic has left the canal at very low levels, I had just 2'6" depth down the track in front of me.
It wasn't exactly peaceful either with the building site opposite with noise from machinery and Polish bricklayers chatting loudly.
Despite that, fish were there, my light waggler with punch caught me plenty of roach, Rudd and skimmers although most were sub 4oz..

Later I changed bait to double pinkie in search of some perch which grow big in this venue but the ones I caught were mainly tiny.
In the end I weighed in just 2lb1oz which saw me in 5th position, the winner on the other end peg in slightly deeper water had some bream and bits totalling 16lb:10. 2nd had 6lb:4.
9 fished.

 

[mikench]

Three days in a row! I have used up all my brownie points this week! I met up with Markcw at a day ticket water in historical Dunham Massey which happens to be on my club card! I have featured this venue before! After some confusion caused by me entirely, we met up on the newer snake lake!

View attachment 5305

This was a competition between the pole at 11 meters and my short bomb rod! I had 6 FIs and a skimmer and Mark had considerably more! The fish were surprisingly subdued today and maybe the high pressure and humid dark skies had something to do with it! It looked like a thunderstorm would hit at any time but never did!

It was good to see Mark back out again and we swapped tales and discussed bits of kit! Mark kindly offered me his maggots which, after yesterday, I declined! I am still finding the little blighters!

Marks pole can just be seen casting a shadow across the water! Wait a minute did that frighten my fish?

 

[bracket]

Fished a normally prolific water this morning but fate decided otherwise. Every thing looked good but I got that feeling that it wasn't going to happen. Anybody else get that? With me, I'm not sure if it's intuition, instinct or just the fact I'm a bad luck b*st*rd. What ever the results the same. After an hour contemplating my navel I had a "bar of soap" and twenty minutes later took his mate. After that it got a bit slow but eventually I picked up this:

Around a pound and a half, so things were looking up. Then finally I got a face saver:

This scaled at 6lb 1oz, which meant I now could got home on a high. So I joined the never ending queue of tourists making their way to the Jurassic Dorset coast and did a journey that took me 25 minutes at 6 o'clock this morning in just an hour and five minutes. So all in all just another day's fishing. Got to be better than working. On Monday I am going to Abbotsbury mackerel fishing, with two mates from the Village. Never done it before, no idea what to do. Doubt I will use the Acolyte. Pete.

 

[thecrow]

Doubt I will use the Acolyte.

I reckon feathers are about what they can support

 

[bracket]

I reckon feathers are about what they can support

Crow. You get straight to the nub of it don't you mate. Pete

 

[markcw]

After spending about 30 minutes playing hide and seek with Mike, we finally met up, I was waiting at the pool he said we would be fishing, change of plan.. I wasn't told it was the other pool. Anyway he had saved me a peg on there and it looked ok, I put my less is more theory to the test, Maggots, meat and 2mm pellets over wetted, I think Mike had 3 fish as I was turning up. I targeted 3 lines, one across to the rushes at 11.5 metres and two down the track at 6 metres at 10 o clock and 2 o clock, The far side was fed with meat and a sprinkling of 2mms via a 50ml pole pot, The two swims down the track were fed with Maggots on the 2 o clock swim and meat on the 10 o clock swim, As I was plumbing up the track swims I could feel the plummet going into the fish just off the bottom, I thought I was going to bag up at 6 metres, I did on the maggot swim, the usual fins and eyes, So a switch to the meat swim produced a few decent roach and a skimmer, Now plan C comes into play, meat at 11.5 metres, I had seen the rushes moving now and then, I didn't bother hair rigging the meat it was 8mm cubes hooked direct to a size 18 hook. The bites were shy to say the least, slight dips on the float, not like a couple of weeks ago in my match on there when the pole tip was bounced down to the water with some of the bites. the bites I managed to connect with before the meat got taken off the hook resulted in some nice roach, a couple around the 8 -10oz mark, some F1's and a few carp around 3 - 4 lb. It was hard going possibly due to the conditions, I had to make several depth changes to keep in contact with the fish, Every time I went across to the far side I put a few smaller pieces of meat in via a pole pot, It was a case of feed, strike and hope you connected. I think today using the pole was the best method both for presentation and being able to change depth. I am sure Mike had more than he let on, I will admit to 20lb+ . On another day the method feeder could outfish the pole. Mike had a few down the margins, I put a few maggots an d couple pieces of meat in my margin swim, and as soon as it hit the water there were swirls, Small roach going for it, I tried it for a couple of minutes but was plaged with bits. We packed up around 2 o clock and arranged to go out again hopefully next week to a venue I have not fished for many years.. Lymm Dam, Thanks for another enjoyable day Mike, Good company as usual, Next time we will meet t the roadside, so then you will be in plain view, :wh

 

[tigger]

I had an interestimg afternoons trotting on the river today, some things to do with my fishing, some where to do with bailiffing and clowns on the bank and some was to do with a incident with M'larid insisting from a cliff top I leave my secret spot as it was his .....but as you can imagine I carried on fishing and even caught some nice chub infront of him and his possy, just to rub salt in their wounds....apparently the police where on their way LOL.

Amongst all the agg I had some very enjoyable trotting even though my best fish where only a few chub between 4 and 5lb. I walked into a bunch of barbel in a foot of water but none of them where interested in maggots. I walked back across river to get some corn from my old yogurt tub to see if the barbel would be enticed into sucking that in but when I got back they'd vanished. I think they'd gone into the tangled mass of a fallen tree laying along the margins of the river.
I caught countless dace, lots of smaller chub up to a pound or so and some nice gudgeon, no idea where all these gudgeon have materialised from....wierd.
I'm quite worn out right now after all that walking the banks and walking down the middle of the river also!

 

[markcw]

Gordon, we will give you a shout if out next week, Today was a last minute venture and wasn't sure where you would be, If we go on the Dam, Going to give the Church Shallows a try, only because I am not trecking to the top end with my gear, I would be shattered before I start.

 

[Another Dave]

I managed to find a couple of hours this morning to try again for the roach, this time with lighter line and a small drennan antenna float, with bread on a size 14. The swim was dark with millions of fry of various sizes, it really was a sight. Amazingly i didn't see a single predator strike all session.

Some large red dragonflies and a moorhen added some colour to the scene, and while the fishing wasn't quite one-a-cast, i think i did respectfully. By keeping a steady flow of small very loose balls of mashed bread going in, i kept a few fish interested all session and finished with a dozen, along with a dace and a minnow.

 

[no-one in particular]

On Monday I am going to Abbotsbury mackerel fishing, with two mates from the Village. Never done it before, no idea what to do. Doubt I will use the Acolyte. Pete.

I dont know where or how your fishing Pete, but ask your mates if its an option to float fish, your biggest float, a slider maybe, buy a herring or a few sprats from the fish monger-any fish really but something with a bit of silver in it normally best, cut in little strips on a carp hook and your fishing the Frome for grayling, well not quite but could still be fun. And a carp rod is as good as anything for this. Pumping feathers out on a big rod which is basically 6 lures in a line is good for quantity but its hard work and doesn't really allow you to enjoy the fish and they are fighters plus black bream, pollack, gar fish, bass could grace your rod. leave that one with you to think about but ask your mates what they think first, make sure its a viable option or go with the flow if feather fishing is planned, it might be your fishing where the mackerel need casting to far out-feather fishing can be fun, 6 mackerel on at once is worth an experience if you never done it ..

 

[bracket]

I dont know where or how your fishing Pete, but ask your mates if its an option to float fish, your biggest float, a slider maybe, buy a herring or a few sprats from the fish monger-any fish really but something with a bit of silver in it normally best, cut in little strips on a carp hook and your fishing the Frome for grayling, well not quite but could still be fun. And a carp rod is as good as anything for this. Pumping feathers out on a big rod which is basically 6 lures in a line is good for quantity but its hard work and doesn't really allow you to enjoy the fish and they are fighters plus black bream, pollack, gar fish, bass could grace your rod. leave that one with you to think about but ask your mates what they think first, make sure its a viable option or go with the flow if feather fishing is planned, it might be your fishing where the mackerel need casting to far out-feather fishing can be fun, 6 mackerel on at once is worth an experience if you never done it ..

markg. Thanks for that advice. I am sure it will be feathers we use, fishing from the shore at Abbotsbury. I'm taking a 10ft heavy feeder rod and a ABU Cardinal f/s reel loaded with 10lb line. My mates will supply the rest. I am just going for the craic and a look see. I suspect I will be the one doing the gutting and paying for the Ale. Pete.

 

[no-one in particular]

markg. Thanks for that advice. I am sure it will be feathers we use, fishing from the shore at Abbotsbury. I'm taking a 10ft heavy feeder rod and a ABU Cardinal f/s reel loaded with 10lb line. My mates will supply the rest. I am just going for the craic and a look see. I suspect I will be the one doing the gutting and paying for the Ale. Pete.

Kah, remember the days well, a serf or two to do that for you and a couple of groats tossed their way and a half noggin of mead if they shaped up well. Cant find one these days, EU rules I wouldn't be surprised. Leave you in their capable hands then, watch yourself in the trendy bistro afterwards, mackerel stink-good luck; you should get a few this weather..

 

[wetthrough]

No problem Markcw. I'm trying to keep my humiliations down to less than one a month anyway Expect a PM later.

I've fished the Dam a few times since last posting so a bit of a catch up.

A week ago Friday made my mind up to fish the slider towards the top end on the west side. It turned out to be a mistake. I'd wrongly assumed it was much deeper but turned out to be only 6'. What the hell, I'll carry on anyway as I was using an inline olivette and it would have meant stripping down, I should have done. Couple of casts with the plummet on and I pick up what turned out to be a carpers line. There were no cars in the top car park so I never thought to look for anyone else and you can't see any other pegs from where I was. First thought was I'd picked up a poachers night line but no, a walk up the bank and there he was, two pegs up fast asleep in his bivvy - so much for bite alarms! Anyway, he'd got four rods out and didn't get worked up about it. The one I'd picked up was right across the pegs albeit 15:20M out.

Next thing I do is catch the trees behind me with the plummet. Thankfully the plummet lands close to me, on with another hook length but I've lost what I call the tail rubber and didn't have a spare. The tail rubber is a short piece of silicone tubing I push over the float stops I use to hold the olivette in place. It creates a bit of a boom on the cast that helps to keep the droppers and hook length away from the olivette and float. That's the idea anyway and it seems to work as I spent the rest of the morning undoing tangles I did pick up a nice bronze of 4,6 though so not all bad. Eventually got fed up of the tangles and stripped down and put my biggest Glow Tip Antenna on which turned out to be enough to get to where I'd baited up. Spent the rest of the day picking some nice Roach up, maybe 12/15 but I might be underestimating.

Tuesday fished the East side half way up. Got there quite early, fishing by 6am and was treated to a few Kingfisher fly pasts. Apparently there are two pairs on there now although at 80M it's a little difficult to tell one from another. Put the usual couple of loose balls of groundbait in followed by a few solid ones. Fairly slow start, loose feeding maggots and casters and picking Roach up every now and then with corn, tares and casters. It picked up pace after a little while until it went quiet around 12:30 just picking the odd fish up here and there but all a reasonable size. After an hour or so it started getting a bit more active and by the end of the day I'd had 46 fish, all Roach. Yes, I've invested the princely sum of £2.69 in a tally counter (I saw Mikench using one), no more guessing! I did have a bit of a hard time with the wind and the tow. The Glow Tip was getting pulled under so I had to switch floats. How is it that when you have a box full of floats there's never one there that's just right for the conditions? Good sized fish though. Mostly 3:6oz biggest being around 9oz and I think 5 netters in total so a good day, for me. Something else would have been nice though but when you go tackled up for Roach it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise if you catch - Roach.

Fished the same spot Friday (yesterday), same approach, same setup. 5bb Glo Tip Antenna as there isn't much wind, 3.3lb FC hooklength to a 16 light wire hook. I've re loaded the reel with some Shimano Aero Super Match 6lb 0.2mm in response to my main line snapping when pulling for a break. So far I like it but time will tell. Started off a bit better than Tuesday but still not frantic. Trying various baits, corn, tares, casters and bread. The only thing that didn't catch was bread. They just weren't interested. It got a few nibbles presumably by tiddler pecking at it bit but nothing positive but that changed later on. After the usual early afternoon lull they started taking the bread and I picked up quite a few with it. Same stamp of fish as Tuesday in much the same proportions but rather more of them, 67 in total so not a bad day, albeit quite a long one, about ten hours fishing in all.

I was putting the gear into the car as a woman and what looked like her daughter or a younger friend were getting into the car behind. The conversation went something like this.

Them - It's been quiet today hasn't it?
Me - I thought it was quite busy. I expected it might be with it being school holidays.
Them - Have you caught much.
Me - 63 (it was 63 last time I looked at the counter)
Them - We've only had 4 (sh!t, me and my big mouth)

Yes, two women fishing. How was I to know? I couldn't even see any tackle when I looked at the car. Anyway it turns out they'd only started at 12:30 so chatted a bit longer and explained that they'd fished the worst part of the day which hopefully made them feel a bit better.

 

[mikench]

We'll done Gordon! You sound like you have the Dam sussed; shall we go to Lloyds Meadow instead ?

 

[bracket]

Kah, remember the days well, a serf or two to do that for you and a couple of groats tossed their way and a half noggin of mead if they shaped up well. Cant find one these days, EU rules I wouldn't be surprised. Leave you in their capable hands then, watch yourself in the trendy bistro afterwards, mackerel stink-good luck; you should get a few this weather..

Mark. Your point is well made. One of my mate's is a right animal, no sooner a word than a blow, the other is ex 41 commando. As I will have no security issues I'm happy to do the skivving but may horsetrade on the Ale paying bit. Pete.

 

[Pete Shears]

Another early start at the reservoir this morning with a cool NW breeze.First cast with the method feeder and I had a male tench of 2lb 3oz in the net - must be the smallest in there but at least it had managed to dodge the cormorants and getting a roach every cast on float fished corn from a few ounces to 8oz plus so have a lot of other fish.Had two skimmers on float fished corn and a lean scruffy looking pike of about 6lb which grabbed a roach,luckily it was hooked on the edge of the jaw which I returned only to have it still charging through the swim chasing anything that moved -float,corn hook bait and even the bare hook as well as the roach which I was trying to bounce along the top to confuse it.Just after 10am the sun burst through and with the water being very clear the bites died away.Time to go home,at least the landing net had dried out properly so the car didn't stink.

 

[Roger Johnson 2]

Here in SW France the temperatures are reaching 37-38 and due to continue the same next week. The downside of this weather and having a garden incorporating the river bank is that the world and his wife thinks it’s ok to sunbathe, play badminton, swim and let their dogs **** in your garden! The upside is the last 3 afternoons have seen a couple of very attractive girls sunbathing topless,( not that I’ve been looking, Mrs J!).
Fortunately river levels and flow remain good with plenty of riffles to oxygenate the water.
This evening I decided to wander down to the swimming pool swim for the last hour of daylight in the hope of nabbing a barbel, only to find it occupied by two bikini clad young ladies, anyway the upside is after a little chat, in French! ( I’m getting better slowly) about where they’re from, work, our house renovations and the propensity for the Dutch to drive Volvo estates fitted with roof boxes and tow bars, they had the decency to wander off and leave me in peace to catch 2 Bream both about the 5 lb mark. I can’t get over the superb condition and colouration of the fish from the river, a result of clear water and a good flow of clean water. The topless and bikini sunbathers? Just a distraction.


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[markcw]

We'll done Gordon! You sound like you have the Dam sussed; shall we go to Lloyds Meadow instead ?

Wait until we get him on the shallows Mike, Sounds like he only likes the deep end :wh Now you know why I fish the pole Gordon, a bit of a breeze and I can either change the rig for heavier one or keep the one I am using depending on the breeze and back shot it. I keep trying to convince Mike to buy one,

 

[108831]

Went again to my club lake,four pegs along,attempting as much shade as possible,almost a repeat of last week,four tench,this time the two biggest were males 4-5 & 4-15,one bream 2-8 and 25 roach,one welcome addition was no carp lost,or hooked.

 

[tigger]

Thanks John, it’s the River Dordogne in France, technically I own and am responsible for the the riverbed to halfway across, but still have to allow access for anglers and still have to buy my own permit to fish, but for 90ish euros it’s valid across 90% of France, so quite good value really.
To say living on the river is a dream come true is a bit of an understatement! We’ve just set up a holiday apartment and currently renovating the house to offer B&B by next year, come and have a visit I’d be pleased to show you around.


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I gott'a addmitt, I do fancy that!