Went back to Bedford today,fished a couple of swims downstream of where I was last Saturday,decided to fish expanders or bread over groundbait and 4mm pellet,no maggot as my bait fridge went kaput,used the slider again and had a 6oz roach on bread after half an hour,but struggled for three hours when suddenly I had a bite out of the blue and hooked a large fish,which came off,I thought a foulhooked bream,but didn't have any snot on the line,fished on for more than half an hour without a sniff so decided to change to feeder on the same line,first cast after a minute or two the rod sailed round,bream I thought...nah,bloody great chub 5lb 4ozs,now I've fished in the town centre all my life and I have never had a chub,so with a smile re-cast only to have continual liners,cast after cast,all afternoon,ended up with three bream between1-8 & 3-8.
How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
On a local stretch today, the river was looking nice, decent height but much clearer than I was expecting. If I had taken a float rod with me instead of just the tip rod I would have trotted !
I was getting interest straight away from Chub of a pound or so, with one ot two better ones in between.
Pick of the bunch..
..
I was getting interest straight away from Chub of a pound or so, with one ot two better ones in between.
Pick of the bunch..
..
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
With a club fixture tomorrow on the GUC at Winkwell near Hemel I thought I’d go for a practice session. We will be spread along 2 different pounds which are very different. So Thursday I fished the upper pound
A mild, overcast day with the slightest of breezes it was comfortable but the water was gin clear. I started on punch down the middle on a light waggler set up, tiny roach which must have been sitting there soon snaffled it but then it was quiet.
I didn’t want to get the pole out due to the clarity of the water so I upped to a slightly heavier waggler and started feeding squatts across to the moored boat. Single maggot did the trick with perch after perch of no great size but bites at least. I fed squatts continuously throughout which I feel kept them coming. During the afternoon a few roach, chublets and gudgeon turned up too. Perch are a good weight building fish I find.
After 5 hours I reckon I had 6lb odd which would probably be a good a average weight Sunday unless some bigger bream turn up.
Friday I fished the lower pound which is much wider and a little shallower.
Weatherwise it was a degree cooler and drizzled all morning, fishing the same waggler set up with punch down the middle it was solid with small roach.. Occasionally a chunky dace showed up along with some equally chunky Rudd which were taking my punch on the drop. Twice I got ‘jackpiked’ reeling in but it let go both times and the fish were unscathed.. In the 5 hours I used just 3 slices of bread and ended up with around 6lb yet again. So a good benchmark set for tomorrow and a practice on both pounds, either of which I could draw.
Today I forewent my usual date with my neighbour as I had preparation to do, I did however get itchy feet around 3pm so I grabbed my 10’ light bomb rod and a tub of lures. A quick drive down to the local canal, speedy set up and I was off.
Tried a metal spoon type spinner to no avail but a change to a small diving plug provoked a take.
A mild, overcast day with the slightest of breezes it was comfortable but the water was gin clear. I started on punch down the middle on a light waggler set up, tiny roach which must have been sitting there soon snaffled it but then it was quiet.
I didn’t want to get the pole out due to the clarity of the water so I upped to a slightly heavier waggler and started feeding squatts across to the moored boat. Single maggot did the trick with perch after perch of no great size but bites at least. I fed squatts continuously throughout which I feel kept them coming. During the afternoon a few roach, chublets and gudgeon turned up too. Perch are a good weight building fish I find.
After 5 hours I reckon I had 6lb odd which would probably be a good a average weight Sunday unless some bigger bream turn up.
Friday I fished the lower pound which is much wider and a little shallower.
Weatherwise it was a degree cooler and drizzled all morning, fishing the same waggler set up with punch down the middle it was solid with small roach.. Occasionally a chunky dace showed up along with some equally chunky Rudd which were taking my punch on the drop. Twice I got ‘jackpiked’ reeling in but it let go both times and the fish were unscathed.. In the 5 hours I used just 3 slices of bread and ended up with around 6lb yet again. So a good benchmark set for tomorrow and a practice on both pounds, either of which I could draw.
Today I forewent my usual date with my neighbour as I had preparation to do, I did however get itchy feet around 3pm so I grabbed my 10’ light bomb rod and a tub of lures. A quick drive down to the local canal, speedy set up and I was off.
Tried a metal spoon type spinner to no avail but a change to a small diving plug provoked a take.
Neil Maidment
Moderator
Since my last session on the Dorset Stour, it has had the first proper flood of the season. That worked wonders with a fair amount of the decaying reeds and weed sent on its way towards the harbour. By the time last Friday arrived the river had fined down a treat, still held a bit of colour and was moving at a fair old pace.
I decided on a full day on Throop and sort of planned to move around a bit looking at several areas that may have opened up a bit more for my preference of running a float through. I was not disappointed.
I had plenty of roach from ounces to just over 1lb as well as a few minnows, bleak, a good number of big gudgeon, dace and chublets. But I had to wait until early afternoon for the better chub to arrive.
The first one arrived at 12:30 and then they just kept coming. Most were again in the 4lbs/5lbs bracket but several were heavier, certainly big "5's" maybe nudging 6lbs.
I also had a bonus little barbel which, although had obvious well healed tail damage, gave a spirited fight on the relatively light float gear. The out of focus image was the fault of a robin that decided to perch on the camera just as the shutter fired.
All on double maggot on a #18 under a 6grm balsa.
I decided on a full day on Throop and sort of planned to move around a bit looking at several areas that may have opened up a bit more for my preference of running a float through. I was not disappointed.
I had plenty of roach from ounces to just over 1lb as well as a few minnows, bleak, a good number of big gudgeon, dace and chublets. But I had to wait until early afternoon for the better chub to arrive.
The first one arrived at 12:30 and then they just kept coming. Most were again in the 4lbs/5lbs bracket but several were heavier, certainly big "5's" maybe nudging 6lbs.
I also had a bonus little barbel which, although had obvious well healed tail damage, gave a spirited fight on the relatively light float gear. The out of focus image was the fault of a robin that decided to perch on the camera just as the shutter fired.
All on double maggot on a #18 under a 6grm balsa.
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
What a difference 2 days make. After a very chilly night the clear skies and biting East wind put paid to a good day’s fishing.
15 of us turned out this morning at Winkwell where I drew virtually the same peg I fished last Thursday on the upper pound.
It was a right grueller, 5 hours of purgatory in fact!
Couldn’t get a bite on punch or squatts.
All they wanted was single flouro pinkie and be they perch or roach they were tiny...
Some good old fashioned banter kept our spirits up and nobody went home early.
The winning weight was 2:8 taken on the lower pound opposite the marina.
2nd was 2:4 from the peg to my right and 3rd 1:4
from further up my section.
I was section winner and 4th overall with my hard earned 1:3..
15 of us turned out this morning at Winkwell where I drew virtually the same peg I fished last Thursday on the upper pound.
It was a right grueller, 5 hours of purgatory in fact!
Couldn’t get a bite on punch or squatts.
All they wanted was single flouro pinkie and be they perch or roach they were tiny...
Some good old fashioned banter kept our spirits up and nobody went home early.
The winning weight was 2:8 taken on the lower pound opposite the marina.
2nd was 2:4 from the peg to my right and 3rd 1:4
from further up my section.
I was section winner and 4th overall with my hard earned 1:3..
Does chopped work work well for the perch there Simon,I always found when it was colder,chop,and moving(lifting the float a few inches,or dragging it from side to side)tempted perch on cold canals,usually with small pieces of worm.You obviously know the method.
Tee-Cee
Senior Member
With a promising day in the offing (and the thought of much colder days ahead) I decided to make the longish journey to the other side of Reading yesterday for a few hours fishing. I expected to find temperatures of around 8/10 degrees when I left home so I was a little shocked to see 4 degrees in the car. Not a major issue as I always dress for the worst anyway, but it was a more than a little chilly with the east wind coming from behind me, but at least this was pushing the floating leaves away from me - shear bliss!
Not a swim I use a great deal as the sun becomes a problem after a few hours, but a change is a s good as a rest and I tackled up, almost with excitement. Plumbing up I found some 7' of water but I hesitated around fishing deep as some surface activity was apparent causing me to dither with uncertainty, so I had a cup of tea and watched the water for a while. In the end I set the float at 7' but spaced the very small shot up the line, my thinking being I could lay the set up on the water and then allow the red mag to sink very slowly, to see how the fish responded.
In the first four cast I had four fish at four different depths. Then I lost a decent one which was on long enough to race through the very clear water, boring with the usual thuds as it went. The end result was bites stopped immediately so I was forced to change tactics and fished hemp at 4', this producing a few more small fish, before it to was changed.
More tea was followed by punched bread fished just off bottom over very small amounts of liquid bread. Again this
proved effective with three quick fish, followed by nothing for the next 30 minutes!
Over the next couple of hours I chopped and changed with all sorts of set ups even going down to a single maggot on a 22 and I did continue to catch spasmodically, but they wouldn't settle on anything, or anything I had to offer!
It was a busy (and frustrating!) mornings fishing and the time flew by, but I finished with something more than 20 fish so well worth making the effort amd I shall revisit the swim at some future date as it has possibilities with its shelf going from 7 to roughly 12 feet. A longer rod coupled with a slider, I'm thinking........................
I intended going again this morning but with other things to do and doctor appointments/car service looming I decide against and looking outside this morning I think I made the correct choice! A lot colder and the breeze has turned into a very positive east wind. Not for me, thank you very much!!!
Not a swim I use a great deal as the sun becomes a problem after a few hours, but a change is a s good as a rest and I tackled up, almost with excitement. Plumbing up I found some 7' of water but I hesitated around fishing deep as some surface activity was apparent causing me to dither with uncertainty, so I had a cup of tea and watched the water for a while. In the end I set the float at 7' but spaced the very small shot up the line, my thinking being I could lay the set up on the water and then allow the red mag to sink very slowly, to see how the fish responded.
In the first four cast I had four fish at four different depths. Then I lost a decent one which was on long enough to race through the very clear water, boring with the usual thuds as it went. The end result was bites stopped immediately so I was forced to change tactics and fished hemp at 4', this producing a few more small fish, before it to was changed.
More tea was followed by punched bread fished just off bottom over very small amounts of liquid bread. Again this
proved effective with three quick fish, followed by nothing for the next 30 minutes!
Over the next couple of hours I chopped and changed with all sorts of set ups even going down to a single maggot on a 22 and I did continue to catch spasmodically, but they wouldn't settle on anything, or anything I had to offer!
It was a busy (and frustrating!) mornings fishing and the time flew by, but I finished with something more than 20 fish so well worth making the effort amd I shall revisit the swim at some future date as it has possibilities with its shelf going from 7 to roughly 12 feet. A longer rod coupled with a slider, I'm thinking........................
I intended going again this morning but with other things to do and doctor appointments/car service looming I decide against and looking outside this morning I think I made the correct choice! A lot colder and the breeze has turned into a very positive east wind. Not for me, thank you very much!!!
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
I didn’t really know whether anyone would turn up yesterday as I set off for the codgers match at Boxmoor near Hemel. With 3degrees forecast all day, sleet and a bitter cold East wind, I began to question myself...
But, to my surprise, there were 8 codgers waiting in the car park when I arrived...
Setting up my gear I fumbled with no11 shot, frozen fingers making everything double difficult.
Needless to say it fished rock hard, most bites coming in the first 2 hours on single pinkie for me.
Gudgeon, chublets, perch, ruff and roach. There were a couple of lock movements but being deeper than usual the boats failed to stir up much colour in the clear water.
On the upside one codger landed a 4lb bream amongst other bits and had his first ever win with 5lb 3oz..
Runner up had a 1lb perch plus bits for 2:15...
Discounting 3 DNW’s I came last with 1:4 of bits..
But, to my surprise, there were 8 codgers waiting in the car park when I arrived...
Setting up my gear I fumbled with no11 shot, frozen fingers making everything double difficult.
Needless to say it fished rock hard, most bites coming in the first 2 hours on single pinkie for me.
Gudgeon, chublets, perch, ruff and roach. There were a couple of lock movements but being deeper than usual the boats failed to stir up much colour in the clear water.
On the upside one codger landed a 4lb bream amongst other bits and had his first ever win with 5lb 3oz..
Runner up had a 1lb perch plus bits for 2:15...
Discounting 3 DNW’s I came last with 1:4 of bits..
Another Dave
Well-known member
What are DNW's?
steve2
Well-known member
Either people that never caught fish or those that didn't bother to get their catch weighed.
mikench
Well-known member
Those old codgers darn sarth are clearly made of stern stuff! A walk to the quacks yesterday persuaded me that I wouldn't be going fishing just yet!!!
That's it. Stands for Did Not Weigh.
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The Runner
Well-known member
Seem to have had the better of the weather up here, glorious sunshine for the last few days, clouding over a bit today but with an increasingly cold wind swinging round to easterly.
Had an old mate from Newcastle visiting for a few days fishing which sadly was nowhere near as good as the weather, a real struggle for only small fish.
First day, dug some bait in the morning and walked out to my local wrasse mark for the afternoon. Not a sign of any wrasse which could now have moved off for the winter and only a few small pollack and little codling between us. Only excitement of the day was an ongoing argument overhead between one of the local sea eagles and an assortment of ravens and hooded crows which didn't appreciate its presence .
Second day and a run out to a spot I hadn't fished before at Carbost Pier. Lovely spot; view down the loch and then up it, with the Talisker distillery on the right and the Black Cuillins in the distance
View attachment 6032
View attachment 6033
Despite being armed with squid and mackerel, again only small fish with a half pound codling that I had on a ragworm type lure the best between us, only little pollack down the side and an assortment of codling and whiting on the beachcasters. The old boy who came to collect the money from the honesty box for mooring asked if we'd had any rays yet so obviously the mark has a reputation for them. One for a summer evening I think. Suppose we could have tried a bit of wreck fishing but it was on the shallow side of the jetty- the storms a couple of weeks back have ended up expensive for somebody...
View attachment 6034
Day three and was going to be lure fishing at Staffin but the wind had turned much colder and would have been straight in the face there so we wimped out and just went round the other side of the island to the ferry terminal at Uig (fished 400 yards from the distillery at Carbost and 200 yards from the Isle of Skye Brewery here- can anyone see a pattern emerging ?) Usually loads of coalfish close in here, all sizes up to 2 lb but again only small ones today and not that many of them, and also again only those little codling well out. Pretty low survival rate of the fish today though; a couple of deep hooked fish that weren't going to make it got fed to this little fellow who was hanging around most of the day (we think waiting for the two lads on the small fishing boat that was moored up to leave so that it could go on board and see what it could find- at any rate it kept coming out from its hiding place and looking over the edge of the jetty)
View attachment 6035
and after the first few fish, anything returned to the water had to run the gauntlet of this, just sat waiting close in for the next snack...
View attachment 6037
As I say , fishing was well below expectations but a nice few days with good company. And an unexpected evening last night; we went down to the Merchant for a pint or two and after half an hour or so a couple came through from the restaurant and sat at the table next to us, both with Newcastle accents. Got talking to them about where they were headed for next on their driving tour, where in Newcastle we all came from etc etc when the woman stopped, stared at me for a couple of seconds and said "You're Martin Harper, aren't you ?". Was the best mate of my girlfriend from my late teens/ early twenties, hadn't seen her in getting on for 40 years.
Of all the bars, in all the world.... So we stayed for a few more drinks.
Had an old mate from Newcastle visiting for a few days fishing which sadly was nowhere near as good as the weather, a real struggle for only small fish.
First day, dug some bait in the morning and walked out to my local wrasse mark for the afternoon. Not a sign of any wrasse which could now have moved off for the winter and only a few small pollack and little codling between us. Only excitement of the day was an ongoing argument overhead between one of the local sea eagles and an assortment of ravens and hooded crows which didn't appreciate its presence .
Second day and a run out to a spot I hadn't fished before at Carbost Pier. Lovely spot; view down the loch and then up it, with the Talisker distillery on the right and the Black Cuillins in the distance
View attachment 6032
View attachment 6033
Despite being armed with squid and mackerel, again only small fish with a half pound codling that I had on a ragworm type lure the best between us, only little pollack down the side and an assortment of codling and whiting on the beachcasters. The old boy who came to collect the money from the honesty box for mooring asked if we'd had any rays yet so obviously the mark has a reputation for them. One for a summer evening I think. Suppose we could have tried a bit of wreck fishing but it was on the shallow side of the jetty- the storms a couple of weeks back have ended up expensive for somebody...
View attachment 6034
Day three and was going to be lure fishing at Staffin but the wind had turned much colder and would have been straight in the face there so we wimped out and just went round the other side of the island to the ferry terminal at Uig (fished 400 yards from the distillery at Carbost and 200 yards from the Isle of Skye Brewery here- can anyone see a pattern emerging ?) Usually loads of coalfish close in here, all sizes up to 2 lb but again only small ones today and not that many of them, and also again only those little codling well out. Pretty low survival rate of the fish today though; a couple of deep hooked fish that weren't going to make it got fed to this little fellow who was hanging around most of the day (we think waiting for the two lads on the small fishing boat that was moored up to leave so that it could go on board and see what it could find- at any rate it kept coming out from its hiding place and looking over the edge of the jetty)
View attachment 6035
and after the first few fish, anything returned to the water had to run the gauntlet of this, just sat waiting close in for the next snack...
View attachment 6037
As I say , fishing was well below expectations but a nice few days with good company. And an unexpected evening last night; we went down to the Merchant for a pint or two and after half an hour or so a couple came through from the restaurant and sat at the table next to us, both with Newcastle accents. Got talking to them about where they were headed for next on their driving tour, where in Newcastle we all came from etc etc when the woman stopped, stared at me for a couple of seconds and said "You're Martin Harper, aren't you ?". Was the best mate of my girlfriend from my late teens/ early twenties, hadn't seen her in getting on for 40 years.
Of all the bars, in all the world.... So we stayed for a few more drinks.
mikench
Well-known member
It may be my eyesight but the photo of the boat gives the impression it is a semi submerged model boat! Nice post and what a small world!
Amazing really. According to some of the nature progs I have see those sea otters are elusive and need to be approached on all 4s and downwind. They should buy a fishing rod.
Great photos and smashing views.
Great photos and smashing views.
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Kerr, I think it's a seal John :w.
HA HA Tigger, Go to specsavers. What's that running across the concrete towards the yellow crane? Take more water with the:w