How did you get on?

[maggot_dangler]

Spent a very pleasant couple of hours dropshotting on the Stour at Grove Ferry this morning, fourteen perch, no pike but did record my drop shot pb for a perch with this lovely stripey weighing 2lb 4ozs. Just gets in on the leaderboard temporarily so why not.

Nice stripey there had a few like that recently and all on single white maggot ..

PG ...

 

[Tee-Cee]

As it turned out, yesterday morning wasn't too bad. Trying yes, but with a bit of patience, just about manageable....

At 06.30 it was very breezy but it was still dry and I had hopes it would stay that way for my morning session, but common sense told me that heading west down the A4 toward Reading I was going toward the wet stuff that was travelling over that part of the country. It was till dry as I pulled onto the grass verge some 200m from the lake and I wasn't surprised to find myself alone as even both keen pals tend to shy off once rain and wind are on the cards, and yesterday was no exception.

The swim I'd fished earlier in the week didn't look very inviting with wind racing across the surface in sudden squalls. One minute a flat calm, the next something like Southend wasn't what I was after, so I walked on until I found a corner with flat water that didn't change in the time it took to set up. The heavy duty range of floats I'd raked out the evening before (including an old 2,5 swan Driftbeater to beat the wind) became surplus to requirements and a pretty standard Glo-tip was more than adequate.

Fast forward an hour or so and I was well settled with three roach around the 9" mark on hemp, when suddenly the rain decided to put in an appearance. To begin with it wasn't too bad but one look skyward told me I was in for a soaking, but with overhead trees offering some protection I didn't feel the need to bother with the brolly, but soon changed my mind as the rain started to bounce off the lake surface!!
I did what is generally known as 'sitting it out' for the next hour and unsurprisingly managed to miss almost every bite (which were few and far between anyway) in the process. Eventually, at around 9am the heavy stuff stopped but I was till left with the odd squall so down came the brolly, a really big mistake which had me wondering if I'd learnt anything at all in almost 70 years of fishing. Heavy rain, trees overhead and blustery wind equals a second drenching almost as bad as the rain itself........simple really.
In the end it became so bad that I had to move swim to one out in the open (I'd dismissed it earlier) and this I did in record time.

Once settled and after some tea I sat and surveyed the water, considering my options. I still had the squalls to deal with and as I wanted to float fish (call in a blue sky moment if you like) I went for a method I haven't used for many, many years - the float ledger! Up the line went a very slim peacock float followed by a lead bullet of 1960's vintage and probably last used in that era. This was stopped some 8" from the 16 hook, onto which went a curried chickpea. Rod was placed in twin rests, float tightened to within 12" of the submerged rod tip leaving 1/4" above surface.
Within five minutes the float went, the rod tip curved round and a bl**dy carp headed off at speed before coming off. Two further bites were missed so I moved the stop shot to within 3" of the hook. I managed to pour another tea without moving my other hand away from the rod and sat and waited. And waited.

I was totally focused on that float tip (did I actually blink?) so I didn't miss the almost imperceptible dip (more a slight sinking if you know what I mean) before settling again. Next second the float was gone, the Ultra rod tip was curved around and I had tightened into a fish!
It was solid for a few seconds before turning into deeper water and it fought like a demon for the next (seemingly) few minutes. I could not have bought it in any quicker such was the jagging deep down, but in the end it came up through the water and into the net. Absolutely pristine and with unimaginable colouring it moved the scales down to 1lb 5ozs, maybe 1lb 6ozs if I could be bothered to check, which I wasn't. Two quick photographs, and a few seconds rest in the landing net later, it was back in the water.

Of course size matters and I was chuffed to catch such a lovely fish (not too many come out of this size) but more I was so over the moon that I had made the effort to leave a warm bed in pitch darkness and decide to do what I love most - catch roach. Yes, I was wet, yes I was uncomfortable and stiff and conditions were, as I said, very trying, but it was worth all of that to see that fish in my net......

One lost carp later and with the sun on the water it was time to go, but not before I'd stood for a few seconds glancing around the empty lake........................

ps Out again Monday all being well, and hopefully without the wind!

 

[peterjg]

Well done Tee Cee - proper fishing!

 

[peter crabtree]

Well, it was very wet and squally all the way down the M40, then down the B roads through the Oxfordshire countryside. Dodging some huge puddles, some deep too wasn't much fun but I arrived eventually at Mapledurham on the Thames in one piece.
Setting up in pissing rain and a downstream wind it was a choice of pole or waggler? Haven't used the pole for a while so that came out of the now sodden bag.
No sooner I'd set it up with a top 4 rig, 1gr float to an 18 I regretted it. No time left to set up the wagg so I battled on at the all in cupping in a kilo of groundbait at 11.5m in 8' of water.
By now everything was dripping wet, every time I shipped in and out water from the pole dripped up my sleeves.
Soon started catching roach on caster which took my mind off the horrific conditions. Around 1pm I trashed my rig after pulling out of a snag, wasted 10 mins trying to untangle it before spending another 10 shotting up a new rig, slightly heavier at 1.5gr float I was soon catching roach again.
Only 5 hours match today, which was a blessing as it turned out and I weighed in 7lb:11 of roach which got me 3rd overall. 10lb+ won it and runner up had 7:13 so it was one fish separating us...

11 fished...

 

[tigger]

If it hadn't been for re rigging you would have most likely got 2nd Peter !

 

[stillwater blue]

I went to a new section of river at first light targeting perch, I was using a rod rated to 12g and 8lb braid and was fishing a 2.5" soft plastic shad. I caught a few perch but nothing spectacular, I dropped into the last swim of the section and first cast I had a good bite, I struck and all hell broke loose. Ten minutes and several long runs later I was wondering what I'd hooked, it didn't feel like a pike and it certainly wasn't a zander. Suddenly I was gaining line and then this popped up at the net, tail first :wh

 

[103841]

Well landed sir! That must have been interesting playing a foul hooked carp on a light lure rod.

I had planned to spend the day trotting for roach down at Grove Ferry which is fishing quite well at the moment but last nights forecast had rain falling for much of the day so I abandoned the idea and put it back til Wednesday.

Swmbo asked if I’d take her shopping as I wasn’t fishing today, well as it happens the rain never came, one of those Autumnal days shrouded in fog, very still and not cold either, I should have ignored the forecast! Anyway whilst she was shopping I went drop shotting, chose the formal Westgate Gardens section of the river in search of a few stripeys.

Glad I had taken a pot of lobs with me as the perch showed zero interest in anything plastic, had eight in total, a couple heavy enough to need a net.

I gave a quick glance and thought I’d left a lure on top of my bag, closer inspection revealed a very pretty critter, tempted to try it as bait, perfect colours but I was in a charitable mood and allowed it to face another day.

Spotted a swim someone had told me of that’s holds some decent sized roach and sure enough the roach were there, I’ll be returning there come the winter months.

 

[S-Kippy]

Well, it was very wet and squally all the way down the M40, then down the B roads through the Oxfordshire countryside. Dodging some huge puddles, some deep too wasn't much fun but I arrived eventually at Mapledurham on the Thames in one piece.
Setting up in pissing rain and a downstream wind it was a choice of pole or waggler? Haven't used the pole for a while so that came out of the now sodden bag.
No sooner I'd set it up with a top 4 rig, 1gr float to an 18 I regretted it. No time left to set up the wagg so I battled on at the all in cupping in a kilo of groundbait at 11.5m in 8' of water.
By now everything was dripping wet, every time I shipped in and out water from the pole dripped up my sleeves.
Soon started catching roach on caster which took my mind off the horrific conditions. Around 1pm I trashed my rig after pulling out of a snag, wasted 10 mins trying to untangle it before spending another 10 shotting up a new rig, slightly heavier at 1.5gr float I was soon catching roach again.
Only 5 hours match today, which was a blessing as it turned out and I weighed in 7lb:11 of roach which got me 3rd overall. 10lb+ won it and runner up had 7:13 so it was one fish separating us...

11 fished...

Nice to see Brother Simon back in pre season training before the winter sets in. Almost worthy of an Iron Man Award.

Even when I was younger and mad for it you'd not get me out in that lot !

 

[theartist]

Spent the wet weekend on a wet and windy south coast, the second time in a row that my short break has coincided with some foul weather coming in so blame me if you got wet. First up was a short trip to the Frome at Wareham and it must have been some of the worst conditions I have ever fished. With the wind gusting to 60mph across the flood meadow the only bit of sheltered water was by the bridge but at least it was directly behind me, it almost blew me in a few times and casting was a case of just releasing the bail arm with the rod up as swinging in a float wasn't an option, the wind was stupidly warm though which was just as well.

The hardy local opposite facing the wind blanked and I fared little better although a small trout saved the day followed by an even smaller dace and the worlds smallest bass which was the size of a minnow. I packed up to head to the campsite before the tide came in again and over the banks.



The only other trip was a sea affair on the quayside at Weymouth, once again it was windy but it had done an about turn and had a bit of a bite as it was now a northerly coming right up the channel, throw in some squally showers and I was wondering what the heck I was doing here, I even said it out loud. I couldn't find anywhere out of the wind so settled on the only spot where it wasn't super choppy and I wouldn't hook a boat or pontoon.

Trotting (if you can use that term in the sea) a heavy stick with bread I was delighted to get bites and the first of many small pollack came in, a switch to prawn saw even more and it was right a load of pollacks but I didn't care, a good sign, here's one as they all looked the same



Managed over twenty fish including some gobies which always seem to pull well for their size, tried close in for some wrasse to no avail and it was evident the mullet were long gone. Did finish off with one of my favourite sea species the 'Bib' or Pouting and had over twenty fish which wasn't bad going all in the same spot on light coarse gear, beats staying at home.

 

[103841]

“A right load of pollocks”

 

[john step]

Bigger perch still elude me this Autumn. I went to a small pool that contains some good uns.
I had 14 on dead baits and prawns. Biggest about 8lb. Unfortunately they were mirrors.mg:

Some stonking bites on the deadbaits with the bait taken well down very quickly.

 

[The Runner]

Had my first go at Armadale Pier towards the South end of the island today. The Mallaig ferry docks along the side of the pier and you fish off the front end, about 40 yards wide, hoping before you get there that there isn't a cruise ship moored up for the day...

There wasn't, no other anglers either (apparently can get busy in summer), set up beachcaster for out and lure rod for down the side, or lure fishing if need be. Deep water, 50 yard cast and it took 3oz bomb about 18 seconds to hit bottom, and a healthy depth next to the stonework as well
View attachment 5768
Squally day with a crosswind and the occasional heavy shower. Still no tripod...
View attachment 5769
Bites straightaway on both rods on lug and rag dug late yesterday afternoon but only little codling on the beachcaster. Small coalies and the odd little codling at first down the side and then two of these at the top of the tide
View attachment 5770

Worm getting hammered by the little cod as soon as it hit bottom on the long line so optimistically had 30 minutes with a string of feathers on the beachcaster in search of some late mackerel. Nope...Worm wouldn't last long enough at this rate so sacrificed a couple of little coalies for fish strip, not really an adequate substitute for mackerel but better than nothing. At least it slowed the bites down and found a couple of 8 inch whiting on it as well as one or two more codlingettes. As the tide dropped the small fish in the side slowed down as well and being able to keep a bait in the water a bit longer started to find the odd wrasse again as well as some better coalies, still not huge though
View attachment 5771
Added a first for me, a poor cod (like a smaller thinner pouting) and then , having missed a bite on coalie strip on the beachcaster, this grabbed the tiny bit that was left on the hook on the retrieve, quite near the surface as well
View attachment 5772
Back on the feathers to try and stock up the freezer, nope again.
Big strips of mackerel on the beachcaster for the last hour, nothing doing. Venue is known for spurdog and thornbacks but not today.

Ended up with seven wrasse and five or six of the better coalies, all on the light rod, as well as lord knows how many smaller fish. The entire seabed all round the island seems paved with undersized members of the cod family at the moment.

Wildlife ? Quite a few Shags about (fnarr fnarr) and a Great Northern Diver flew across and then came back fishing just about in front of me. One for the twitchers yesterday, digging bait out on the mud, a few gulls about on the tideline and one of them looked a bit different. Got a good view when it took off, no black feathers anywhere on the wingtips, thought I knew what it was and double checked to book when I got home.. Mediterranean Gull, first I've seen.
Not the most unusual thing I saw yesterday though- lovely sunny morning so took a walk at lunchtime along the coast path along the north side of the Loch. Turned a corner about a mile out of town, nobody else around, and there in front of me sitting on a rock was a girl playing a harp..Did wonder whether I'd passed through some secret gate into Elfland; suppose I should have sneaked a closer look to see if she had pointy ears.

 

[108831]

Sounds like a real pleasure runner,your fishing that is,wonderful...

 

[john step]

Runner, just google mapped your spot. Idyllic and far from the crowds i think.

 

[Tee-Cee]

Another great post from you, Runner...Always good to read about somewhere that sounds like the other side of the world compared to my neck of the woods!

 

[The Runner]

Thanks all, yes, loving every minute of it up here so far.
Size of the fish on the marks I'm fishing at the moment is less than anticipated, but not too bothered when can catch on lightish tackle.
Sticking to the less remote marks at the moment- back in the summer when I first moved up, had some cracking pollack (one in double figures) from a couple of spots right at the north of the island but a bit wary of fishing either of these at the moment as very exposed and likely to have heavy seas running as well as both being very remote (couple of miles from road) and sketchy access (in one case a scramble down a 200ft cliff, and the other a choice between a mile of boggy moor or a pathless crossing of a very steep grassy slope above a drop, none of which seem a good idea if wet ). Fishing on my own, happy to do these in the season when theres a lot of people about but not so much now unless we get a spell of dry weather (fat chance on Skye)
Loads more places to try though, very few sea anglers up here (nearest coarse fish would be pike in Cluanie, a good hour and a half away)

 

[no-one in particular]

I gave a quick glance and thought I’d left a lure on top of my bag, closer inspection revealed a very pretty critter, tempted to try it as bait, perfect colours but I was in a charitable mood and allowed it to face another day.

By coincidence saw one of these on my mates garden path last week s63, we looked it up as it was so strange looking and its a "Pale Tussock Moth", not uncommon apparently but I have never seen before and now two.

 

[103841]

No lures , braid or large hooks today, instead a far more traditionall method, trotting maggots for roach.

Grove Ferry was the destination and I arrived just as the tide had reached its peak and was turning to run back seawards...perfect.

Tough going at the start around 8am, with just a few fish in the first hour. With dodgy fingers using small hooks is a right p in the a but necessary if I was to up the bite rate, time to blow the dust off some little used size 22’s

Instant success with a fish a cast, mostly roach but a few perch and a lone chublet too, that’s great to see as this part of the Stour isn’t known for chub unlike the town section a few miles upstream.

I was thinking just how different this fishing was compared to my roving trips stalking chub in Canterbury, not a soul about, no traffic noise, just bird song.....that all changed at 2-15pm when the peace was shattered by the thundering roar of two fighter jets passing low overhead, a sight that always gives me goosebumps, fifteen minutes later another solo jet passed along the same path, so close to the city of Canterbury, what were they up to?

I stopped fishing at 3pm just as the tide was about to turn and my supply of maggots had just about run out. I lost track of how many fish I caught, the weight in the keepnet was considerable, my photo didn’t do the catch justice.

I must do this more often, it’s very peaceful (jets aside) and constantly catching is fun on a nice light Matchpro rod.

 

[mikench]

Nice post and great photos John! I like my matchpro!

 

[peter crabtree]

Nice one John, proper fishing....