How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2014
- Messages
- 6,172
- Reaction score
- 1,950
After yesterday’s disappointing trip to Fordwich it was a relief to find the river at Grove Ferry a few miles downstream devoid of any anglers and with plenty of depth. The tide had just reached high and was turning as I arrived, perfect.
Set up in my favoured swim with the same setup as yesterday and alternating between maggot, caster and corn I caught roach steadily throughout the six hour session, all very small with just one about 8ozs. A few chublets and a rather nice perch added to the tally of roach, the perch the only fish needing the landing net.
I should have needed the use of the net in the first hour when I struck into a very good fish, got it close to the net and was excited to see that it was a trout, something I’ve yet to catch but it wasn’t to be as it bumped off the hook moments before netting, may have been a sea trout as one was caught there a few days ago.
A stunning day, they say the weather turns tomorrow, nice while it lasted.
Set up in my favoured swim with the same setup as yesterday and alternating between maggot, caster and corn I caught roach steadily throughout the six hour session, all very small with just one about 8ozs. A few chublets and a rather nice perch added to the tally of roach, the perch the only fish needing the landing net.
I should have needed the use of the net in the first hour when I struck into a very good fish, got it close to the net and was excited to see that it was a trout, something I’ve yet to catch but it wasn’t to be as it bumped off the hook moments before netting, may have been a sea trout as one was caught there a few days ago.
A stunning day, they say the weather turns tomorrow, nice while it lasted.
seth49
Well-known member
View attachment 6417
After a white frost first thing, it was bright sunshine and blue cloudless skies, all day yesterday, we arrived at the fishery just after nine thirty, and after a look round decided to have a go for the barbel in one of the lakes.
I’d been thinking about these barbel, and we knew that they were attracted to garlic flavours, a couple of weeks ago I’d bought some garlic purée from aldi, and mixed some with some hemp oil,hoping that this would lift the smell up in the water, and spread it about, I cut some pepperami into chunks and soaked it in the above mix.
Started fishing in the margins were they usually patrol, and nothing to me, mick had a barbel of a couple of pounds and that was it, it was nice in the sunshine, so not to bothered about not catching, there were two more fishing without much luck either.
Anyway about three o clock I was looking at the south side of the island about fifty yards away, and thinking that’s been in the sun all day, and could be warming up, so I cast across to it.
View attachment 6418
First barbel about two and a half pounds.
View attachment 6419
Second. One five pounds fourteen ounces.
Love it when a plan comes together.
After a white frost first thing, it was bright sunshine and blue cloudless skies, all day yesterday, we arrived at the fishery just after nine thirty, and after a look round decided to have a go for the barbel in one of the lakes.
I’d been thinking about these barbel, and we knew that they were attracted to garlic flavours, a couple of weeks ago I’d bought some garlic purée from aldi, and mixed some with some hemp oil,hoping that this would lift the smell up in the water, and spread it about, I cut some pepperami into chunks and soaked it in the above mix.
Started fishing in the margins were they usually patrol, and nothing to me, mick had a barbel of a couple of pounds and that was it, it was nice in the sunshine, so not to bothered about not catching, there were two more fishing without much luck either.
Anyway about three o clock I was looking at the south side of the island about fifty yards away, and thinking that’s been in the sun all day, and could be warming up, so I cast across to it.
View attachment 6418
First barbel about two and a half pounds.
View attachment 6419
Second. One five pounds fourteen ounces.
Love it when a plan comes together.
mikench
Well-known member
That looks an attractive lake Keith. I assume it's in the Clitheroe area ! Nice fish!
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2009
- Messages
- 9,335
- Reaction score
- 1,696
I did a lot of walking today!
When I got to my target swim the river had just several inches too much water on it to be able to fish it properly. I know three inches doesn't sound much but it makes a massive difference to this torrent of a swim. Anyhow, I caught a sea trout of about a pound and a half before getting on shanks pony and going to another fast swim downstream. First trott through and I had a fish on, it squirmed about for twenty or more seconds before coming off, I reckon it was a grayling. Next fish came off also but my hook looked ok so they must have only just been nicked. The third take and the fish shot straight up out the water by about 4ft when I struck into it! It was a chunky trout and it fought really hard. It looked well over 3lb when I got hold of it but I didn't mess about with it any longer than necessary and unhooked it out in the river releasing it straight away. I had a nice grayling of about 2lb after that and then a mix of trout and grayling before I got bored, and climbed back on shanks pony. I walked a good mile to another swim where again I lost a fish after a few seconds! This time when I checked the hook it was opened up a bit. I had been stuck on a few rocks or whatever on a number of trotts so I think the hook had been damaged when I pulled it free and not on the fish....needless to say I changed the hook for a new one. That was as good as it got in that swim so straight on shanks pony again and a walk of a few hundred yards to another swim. The river was wide here, and it required a long cast to get to a glide where there was a chance of a fish. I cattied out several pouches of maggots before casting out, and on my first trot the float buried. I struck and the new hook held fine. This time it was a chub and since I was fishing off the bank there i took a picture of it. So not a very productive afternoons fishing in the way of fish, but enjoyment wise, it was very productive, walking in absolutly beautiful surroundings with all kinds of wildlife around me was great.
When I got to my target swim the river had just several inches too much water on it to be able to fish it properly. I know three inches doesn't sound much but it makes a massive difference to this torrent of a swim. Anyhow, I caught a sea trout of about a pound and a half before getting on shanks pony and going to another fast swim downstream. First trott through and I had a fish on, it squirmed about for twenty or more seconds before coming off, I reckon it was a grayling. Next fish came off also but my hook looked ok so they must have only just been nicked. The third take and the fish shot straight up out the water by about 4ft when I struck into it! It was a chunky trout and it fought really hard. It looked well over 3lb when I got hold of it but I didn't mess about with it any longer than necessary and unhooked it out in the river releasing it straight away. I had a nice grayling of about 2lb after that and then a mix of trout and grayling before I got bored, and climbed back on shanks pony. I walked a good mile to another swim where again I lost a fish after a few seconds! This time when I checked the hook it was opened up a bit. I had been stuck on a few rocks or whatever on a number of trotts so I think the hook had been damaged when I pulled it free and not on the fish....needless to say I changed the hook for a new one. That was as good as it got in that swim so straight on shanks pony again and a walk of a few hundred yards to another swim. The river was wide here, and it required a long cast to get to a glide where there was a chance of a fish. I cattied out several pouches of maggots before casting out, and on my first trot the float buried. I struck and the new hook held fine. This time it was a chub and since I was fishing off the bank there i took a picture of it. So not a very productive afternoons fishing in the way of fish, but enjoyment wise, it was very productive, walking in absolutly beautiful surroundings with all kinds of wildlife around me was great.
Last edited:
mikench
Well-known member
I need to get into training!!!
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2009
- Messages
- 9,335
- Reaction score
- 1,696
I need to get into training!!!
Lol Mike, I think you would have managed well enough, especially if you take the same amount of tackle as me
.
S-Kippy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 15,264
- Reaction score
- 7,756
Planned to go on Thursday but with the weather on the turn and rain forecast thought I'd best get out today instead. Not really sure what I wanted to do so inbthe end opted for a carp session on a club water which is fairly shallow and therefore ought to have warmed up a bit in this unseasonal weather.
Maybe it has and maybe it hasn't but it was jolly bright when I arrived and not a sign of a fish. Big Dave rocked up later for a chat and bullied me into moving to an area where he'd seen the odd fish move. TBF to the Old Goat there was the occasional fish showing whereas I'd seen nothing where I started. Anyway...I felt reasonably confident of getting a fish.
But didn't. I had 3 indications which must have been liners because there is no way a fish can pick my bait up without getting hooked. That's my excuse anyway.
I stayed on hoping for the 10 to 8 mugfish but he was nowhere to be found. Gave it best at 8pm. Once again I quite enjoyed it despite blanking.....again !
Maybe it has and maybe it hasn't but it was jolly bright when I arrived and not a sign of a fish. Big Dave rocked up later for a chat and bullied me into moving to an area where he'd seen the odd fish move. TBF to the Old Goat there was the occasional fish showing whereas I'd seen nothing where I started. Anyway...I felt reasonably confident of getting a fish.
But didn't. I had 3 indications which must have been liners because there is no way a fish can pick my bait up without getting hooked. That's my excuse anyway.
I stayed on hoping for the 10 to 8 mugfish but he was nowhere to be found. Gave it best at 8pm. Once again I quite enjoyed it despite blanking.....again !
I went roach fishing to the Kennet yesterday. This stretch I have fished many times, in view of the bright sun forecast I fished the deeper downstream end of the fishery. Started before sunrise and first cast caught a 4lb chub on legered punched bread. No further bites, tried 3 other swims, also tried trotted dead maggots and punched bread in 81/2ft deep swims. Later at 5.00pm had only the second bite of the day on trotted punched bread and caught a brown trout of about 11/2lbs. No other anglers there. Water temperature was 46F.
Another Dave
Well-known member
I had a spare hour and my worm-jigging rod was still tackled up so i nipped down to my nearest swim, which has been unlucky for me this season. A few pulls from small fish on the dendros but no interest from perch or chub. And i wasn't feeling it.
On a recent walk i'd spied a spot i'd never fished that looked just about doable so i thought i'd see what that was like, as it was effectively the next potentially fishable slot upstream. It was a bit of a scramble down, but i did it like a ninja. The bank behind me was dry and i was somewhat sheltered from the drizzle by overhanging ivy-clad branches.
I was still getting tugs from tiddlers then i remembered that i had one lob that i found the other day while i was earning gardening brownie points. On that went and then i was feeling it enough to take a snapshot. As you can see, i am right down by the water, where i like to be:
This was the view behind me:
Almost straight away, a really healthy looking fish:
On a recent walk i'd spied a spot i'd never fished that looked just about doable so i thought i'd see what that was like, as it was effectively the next potentially fishable slot upstream. It was a bit of a scramble down, but i did it like a ninja. The bank behind me was dry and i was somewhat sheltered from the drizzle by overhanging ivy-clad branches.
I was still getting tugs from tiddlers then i remembered that i had one lob that i found the other day while i was earning gardening brownie points. On that went and then i was feeling it enough to take a snapshot. As you can see, i am right down by the water, where i like to be:
This was the view behind me:
Almost straight away, a really healthy looking fish:
Tried a different spot today as there were about 6 other barbelers on the stretch. I have never seen so many before. I wonder if some dipstick has been spreading the word on line?
It forced my hand as I have been meaning to try this new spot for some time.
Needless to say I blanked.
It forced my hand as I have been meaning to try this new spot for some time.
Needless to say I blanked.
sam vimes
Well-known member
After the recent bright sunshine and high pressure, I wondered if the lower pressure of today/tomorrow might improve the local stillwater fishing. A phone call last night meant an off the cuff meet was arranged with an angling friend. Both of us travelling a fair distance to the venue.
The weather was dull grey with a very light northerly and temperatures struggling to get much past 6 degrees. The fish were finicky as hell. I ended up striking at everything. All those "is it or isn't it?" movements that you'd normally ignore. It paid dividends though. After just over five hours of it I'd spawned my way to fifty two roach, all but a handfull being netters and around ten or so safely over the pound mark. The best roach would have been around the pound and a half mark. Only one carpy interloper, a tidy mirror of five or six pounds. That was interesting on two pound bottoms and a still unbroken Acolyte Ultra (11ft version).
Not a bad day, but I'm still looking forward to the real spring to come.
The weather was dull grey with a very light northerly and temperatures struggling to get much past 6 degrees. The fish were finicky as hell. I ended up striking at everything. All those "is it or isn't it?" movements that you'd normally ignore. It paid dividends though. After just over five hours of it I'd spawned my way to fifty two roach, all but a handfull being netters and around ten or so safely over the pound mark. The best roach would have been around the pound and a half mark. Only one carpy interloper, a tidy mirror of five or six pounds. That was interesting on two pound bottoms and a still unbroken Acolyte Ultra (11ft version).
Not a bad day, but I'm still looking forward to the real spring to come.
mikench
Well-known member
I hadn't planned to go today as it was miserable grey drizzly weather. However after taking my wife to the station I had the day to myself and still yearned for putting a real bend in the Titan!
I arrived at the venue in pursuit of roach fishing and set up on the float with an 18 hook on a 3 lb hooklink! The pics tell the story.
Sorry Tigger but I hadn't planned on a 9.5 lb common either taking my 2 maggot hookbait or me being remotely capable to play and land such a fish on such light Tackle. I was after roach when all said and done. What a bend in the rod. Was the Titan meant for this?
It was really cold all day with an almost permanent and imperceptible drizzle which just made it that bit more unpleasant. I also caught over 20 roach but non needed the net! One could say the old rod has been put to the test which it passed with flying colours! I have to say my Stradic C14 4000 reel is my favourite reel and enabled me to set the drag perfectly to play the fish. It's light and lovely to use.
I arrived at the venue in pursuit of roach fishing and set up on the float with an 18 hook on a 3 lb hooklink! The pics tell the story.
Sorry Tigger but I hadn't planned on a 9.5 lb common either taking my 2 maggot hookbait or me being remotely capable to play and land such a fish on such light Tackle. I was after roach when all said and done. What a bend in the rod. Was the Titan meant for this?
It was really cold all day with an almost permanent and imperceptible drizzle which just made it that bit more unpleasant. I also caught over 20 roach but non needed the net! One could say the old rod has been put to the test which it passed with flying colours! I have to say my Stradic C14 4000 reel is my favourite reel and enabled me to set the drag perfectly to play the fish. It's light and lovely to use.
Last edited:
mikench
Well-known member
It did John. I was surprised at the bite but the rod and reel managed superbly! It felt really cold though. Murphy's law is certainly very evident when roach fishing
sam vimes
Well-known member
Not really, but they are very capable rods.
Shame that, being rear drag, they are so far out of fashion as to be almost invisible to many. They are excellent reels. The Stradic has well and truly exceeded my expectations of a rear drag reel. There's even a chance that it might yet topple the Ci4 Twinpower as my favourite. That oversized spool on the Stradic adds quite a bit to my liking.
Last edited:
The Runner
Well-known member
Couldn't decide today between giving it another try on Loch Slapin which I hadn't fished since the summer, and the Station Jetty at Kyle of Lochalsh. Kyle won in the end on a combination of (much) shorter walk and possibility of loose weed being a problem on Slapin after a lot of southerlies recently.
Set up usual beachcaster, 4oz lead and two hook rig, one squid, one mackerel as well as lure rod to work the inside, didn't go too far out on heavy gear either as had been told better fish likely to be close in and also very snaggy with a fierce tide run well out
Bit of an odd place to fish, view in front looking across to Skye.,,,
View attachment 6427
and, standing in the same spot and turning 180 degrees...
View attachment 6428
To cut a long day short, racked up my first blank here (other than one short session in the middle of my move with no proper tackle or bait.) One hit and run bite on squid after a couple of hours and that was it , not even any little coalies down the side. Still, nice day out, if a bit of a chilly wind. Various friendly harbour staff coming along for a chat and to let me know in advance whether the boat coming in was for refuelling or loading so knew whether or not to move along the jetty- shipping was unexpectedly international, as well as a few local ones, one registered in Valletta and , inexplicably to me anyway, a Finnish survey ship.
Not too much wildlife, plenty of shags and a few cormorants passing but none fishing (wonder why...), one seal went past close in, and a few oystercatchers on the island in front of me
Rounded off the day nicely with a big bowl of Cullen Skink from this splendid little establishment just round the corner from where I fished.
View attachment 6429
Had been warned that the fishing up here could be hard from late Feb to late April so may have a few more blanks to come...
Set up usual beachcaster, 4oz lead and two hook rig, one squid, one mackerel as well as lure rod to work the inside, didn't go too far out on heavy gear either as had been told better fish likely to be close in and also very snaggy with a fierce tide run well out
Bit of an odd place to fish, view in front looking across to Skye.,,,
View attachment 6427
and, standing in the same spot and turning 180 degrees...
View attachment 6428
To cut a long day short, racked up my first blank here (other than one short session in the middle of my move with no proper tackle or bait.) One hit and run bite on squid after a couple of hours and that was it , not even any little coalies down the side. Still, nice day out, if a bit of a chilly wind. Various friendly harbour staff coming along for a chat and to let me know in advance whether the boat coming in was for refuelling or loading so knew whether or not to move along the jetty- shipping was unexpectedly international, as well as a few local ones, one registered in Valletta and , inexplicably to me anyway, a Finnish survey ship.
Not too much wildlife, plenty of shags and a few cormorants passing but none fishing (wonder why...), one seal went past close in, and a few oystercatchers on the island in front of me
Rounded off the day nicely with a big bowl of Cullen Skink from this splendid little establishment just round the corner from where I fished.
View attachment 6429
Had been warned that the fishing up here could be hard from late Feb to late April so may have a few more blanks to come...
Last edited:
The Runner
Well-known member
Yep, thick soup with smoked haddock, spuds and usually leeks