wetthrough
Well-known member
Great day thanks Mike. Had a couple more small Crucians after you left and a few more bits.
How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
Great day thanks Mike. Had a couple more small Crucians after you left and a few more bits.
stillwater blue
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I went to see a friend this morning who happens to live close to a small but lovely section of river, deciding it would be rude to waste a lovely morning I took some fly fishing tackle with me.
I had a quick scout of the river and wasn't surprised to find nothing rising, as I didn't have long it was an easy decision to fish with nymphs and I chose a small red tag jig nymph.
By the time I'd sorted myself out I had just over an hour of fishing. I managed a grayling first cast and despite the bright sunshine and crystal clear water went on to catch another five all on the same red tag nymph, nothing huge but a delightful way to spent an hour.
I had a quick scout of the river and wasn't surprised to find nothing rising, as I didn't have long it was an easy decision to fish with nymphs and I chose a small red tag jig nymph.
By the time I'd sorted myself out I had just over an hour of fishing. I managed a grayling first cast and despite the bright sunshine and crystal clear water went on to catch another five all on the same red tag nymph, nothing huge but a delightful way to spent an hour.
mikench
Well-known member
I must be a glutton for punishment as I turned out again today with the Hardy bomb rod and the Shimano Aero 4000 feeder reel on a local venue I have mentioned before! I had 8 carp with the biggest featuring in the pic around 8.5 lb! I fished for 4 hours until my chair broke.
The weld on the Korum Accessory chair on the front crossmember just sheared off as I was folding it down. I have been in touch with Korum to see what they will do as the chair is only about a year old. I am becoming like our beloved Binka!
The weld on the Korum Accessory chair on the front crossmember just sheared off as I was folding it down. I have been in touch with Korum to see what they will do as the chair is only about a year old. I am becoming like our beloved Binka!
wetthrough
Well-known member
Nice fish Mike. Shame about the chair though.
mikench
Well-known member
It is as I really like the chair. I have emailed pics to an Andy Young at Preston Innovations( the parent company of Korum) and spoke to him on the phone! I must say he was very sympathetic and helpful! He will send out a spare part asap! The leg brackets and the cross member can be replaced so I plan to do so when the replacement part arrives. I will keep you posted John.
mikench
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Now where is my meccano kit?
Ralph’s your man.
Been a hard couple of months for me. I have plugged away on the local rivers, when they were anything like fishable, with very poor returns. Three dry nets and the rest being only odd fish, facesavers basically. So I have been in dire need of some Piscatorial Therapy. With that in mind, today I made my way to Todber Manor Fisheries, with the intention of some comfortable pole fishing at around 9m. Sharp frost first thing which gave way to a beautiful morning and around 9 o'clock I set up on a 6ft deep peg, with a deck like a snooker table. I was hoping to bag a few bream so cupped in some expanders I had frozen up weeks ago, plus a few red maggot. Two reds on an 18 hook, fished 3 inch overdepth and second put in produced this:
[url=https://postimg.cc/R6rRpspJ]
[/URL]
quickly followed by this:
[url=https://postimg.cc/FfFVmLBb]
[/URL]
and this novelty:
[url=https://postimg.cc/MnSYP40F]
[/URL]
I continued to pick up tench and bream, of a similar stamp, with an odd (unwanted) carp turning up now and again. Come 11.20 I had taken 50 fish and got severe backache, so time to knock it on the head and adjourn for a malt sandwich. Confidence restored, I started the 20 mile drive back feeling well satisfied with myself, but to be realistic, it was a bit of a con, because for Todber Manor you can read Aquarium. Pete
[url=https://postimg.cc/R6rRpspJ]
[/URL]quickly followed by this:
[url=https://postimg.cc/FfFVmLBb]
[/URL]and this novelty:
[url=https://postimg.cc/MnSYP40F]
[/URL]I continued to pick up tench and bream, of a similar stamp, with an odd (unwanted) carp turning up now and again. Come 11.20 I had taken 50 fish and got severe backache, so time to knock it on the head and adjourn for a malt sandwich. Confidence restored, I started the 20 mile drive back feeling well satisfied with myself, but to be realistic, it was a bit of a con, because for Todber Manor you can read Aquarium. Pete
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Neil Maidment
Moderator
Todber, or at least the run of the mill ponds, is what it is, a heavily stocked commercial complex. Each of those ponds has just about every Heinz 57 variety swimming in them. For a premium you can have a bit more of a challenge but even those ponds are well stocked albeit with far fewer ornamentals and hybrids.
I've only fished it twice in recent times. Once in a memorial match last year and managed 40lbs+ of small carp and then a year or so before, with an ancient previously unused MKIV Avon and a Speedia (just to see how the rod behaved with decent sized fish - prior to daring to try for barbel and chub on the Dorset Stour). The rod performed very well indeed as I selectively targeted margin cruising carp.
Like you I packed up early afternoon having had more than enough easy carp.
Just a few miles nearer Shaftesbury there is another commercial: Coking Farm. It is similar with a range of ponds to fish but the standard fair overall, to my mind, provides a better quality of fish and fishing.
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
Yesterday’s old codgers fixture was on the Aylesbury arm of the GUC near Tring. Since they fixed the lock gates the level has remained full, as opposed to half empty.
This and the coloured water looked good for a few fish.
In the event it proved to be very peggy with some of the 13 anglers failing to get a bite. I had a flurry of roach in the first hour on punch before the familiar pattern of 4 hours of staring at a motionless float.
The 2 end pegs came 1st and second with both landing bream. The winner had 6 of them for 21lb.
I came 4th with 1lb:1oz...
This and the coloured water looked good for a few fish.
In the event it proved to be very peggy with some of the 13 anglers failing to get a bite. I had a flurry of roach in the first hour on punch before the familiar pattern of 4 hours of staring at a motionless float.
The 2 end pegs came 1st and second with both landing bream. The winner had 6 of them for 21lb.
I came 4th with 1lb:1oz...
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Been meaning for a while to do some investigation regarding marks I plan to fish this Summer in search of Bass. In the short time I’ve been sea fishing I have only visited these spots at high tide so have no clue as to the terrain I’m fishing over.
With a free day and a low spring tide at 10am I made the 25 mile drive leaving the Thanet North Sea coast for Hythe on the English Channel side, so very different in nature. I left gloomy grey skies and welcomed a much sunnier aspect as I arrived in the attractive town just outside Folkestone.
Two marks that I tried last Summer, a rock groyne which at low tide has shown nothing other than shingle either side, so no snags allowing deep diving lures or dragging a lure slowly across the sea bed.
A mile further to the east a few rock pools identified that I look forward to casting some shallow diving or surface lures over in a month or two.
A fifty mile round trip without a dangle and only thoughts of things to come wouldn’t have made the most of this journey and a further attraction of this location is having this literally just across the road.
A lure rod had been packed and a pleasant hour was spent spinning a small Mepps spoon resulting in a small Jack and a few perch.
The grey skies had now caught up with me, time for a warming coffee from my now favourite beach cafe, sipping a Flat White thinking of hopeful days ahead catching both Bass and perch, and if I’m really lazy maybe on the same rod!
With a free day and a low spring tide at 10am I made the 25 mile drive leaving the Thanet North Sea coast for Hythe on the English Channel side, so very different in nature. I left gloomy grey skies and welcomed a much sunnier aspect as I arrived in the attractive town just outside Folkestone.
Two marks that I tried last Summer, a rock groyne which at low tide has shown nothing other than shingle either side, so no snags allowing deep diving lures or dragging a lure slowly across the sea bed.
A mile further to the east a few rock pools identified that I look forward to casting some shallow diving or surface lures over in a month or two.
A fifty mile round trip without a dangle and only thoughts of things to come wouldn’t have made the most of this journey and a further attraction of this location is having this literally just across the road.
A lure rod had been packed and a pleasant hour was spent spinning a small Mepps spoon resulting in a small Jack and a few perch.
The grey skies had now caught up with me, time for a warming coffee from my now favourite beach cafe, sipping a Flat White thinking of hopeful days ahead catching both Bass and perch, and if I’m really lazy maybe on the same rod!
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mikench
Well-known member
Nice narrative John and great pics as usual. It won't be long
I have been banned from fishing due to an infected chest but managed a quick illicit walk and coughing session round a local lake.
I watched a member land a double figure mirror on a pole. He told me he had no 18 elastic on. Thats the first time I have seen a carp as big as this on a pole.
That satisfied the withdrawal symptoms for the day but can't wait to get out.
I watched a member land a double figure mirror on a pole. He told me he had no 18 elastic on. Thats the first time I have seen a carp as big as this on a pole.
That satisfied the withdrawal symptoms for the day but can't wait to get out.
Been today on the deep club lake,decided to fish pellet on the slider for a change and caught 8 roach all around 6ozs ,along with a very hard fighting carp of exactly 25lb,not too bad on 4lb line,there was one other angler around fifty yards away whom I called and asked if he could take a photo,didn't come,so I had to take one on a mat,I went over to him and it turned out he was as deaf as a post,hey-ho.
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Been meaning for a while to do some investigation regarding marks I plan to fish this Summer in search of Bass. In the short time I’ve been sea fishing I have only visited these spots at high tide so have no clue as to the terrain I’m fishing over.
With a free day and a low spring tide at 10am I made the 25 mile drive leaving the Thanet North Sea coast for Hythe on the English Channel side, so very different in nature. I left gloomy grey skies and welcomed a much sunnier aspect as I arrived in the attractive town just outside Folkestone.
Two marks that I tried last Summer, a rock groyne which at low tide has shown nothing other than shingle either side, so no snags allowing deep diving lures or dragging a lure slowly across the sea bed.
A mile further to the east a few rock pools identified that I look forward to casting some shallow diving or surface lures over in a month or two.
A fifty mile round trip without a dangle and only thoughts of things to come wouldn’t have made the most of this journey and a further attraction of this location is having this literally just across the road.
A lure rod had been packed and a pleasant hour was spent spinning a small Mepps spoon resulting in a small Jack and a few perch.
The grey skies had now caught up with me, time for a warming coffee from my now favourite beach cafe, sipping a Flat White thinking of hopeful days ahead catching both Bass and perch, and if I’m really lazy maybe on the same rod!
That bouldery bit is crying out for a Patchinko or similar fished over it as the tide is flooding...
Pete Shears
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Another piking trip to the local reservoir and again in the 'jungle' swim,setting up just after 6am glanced up and watched a red kite glide by at tree top level inspecting me.Nothing for the first couple of hours except for a cold breeze which meant fighting with the brolly (it likes to collapse around me and suddenly everything turns green) to use as a wind break.A mate who is on the sick with a bust rib stopped by for a chat and whilst he was there I had two fish 6lb and 8lb.A little later another fish of 11lb was in the net and around 11am another at 4lb then nothing.Packed up and went round to the far side to catch up with a colleague who managed just one pike of around three pounds.
S-Kippy
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Normal service is resumed.
Off to the club carp lake with both Big Dave and Big Phil today. Its a safe venue but I confess to feeling particularly content having those two lumps within hailing distance. Like having a pair of tame bears.
Bright as you like when we arrived early afternoon so we weren't expecting much action until later....only the action never materialised at all. None of us had a touch...not even a single bleep. BD reckoned the "wind was all wrong for this bank,mate"....he has a theory about everything but on this occasion he was probably right. A wandering non angler said all the carp were sunning themselves up the other end of the lake.
Oh well....such is the way of things. Nobody got hurt and there is always tomorrow.
Off to the club carp lake with both Big Dave and Big Phil today. Its a safe venue but I confess to feeling particularly content having those two lumps within hailing distance. Like having a pair of tame bears.
Bright as you like when we arrived early afternoon so we weren't expecting much action until later....only the action never materialised at all. None of us had a touch...not even a single bleep. BD reckoned the "wind was all wrong for this bank,mate"....he has a theory about everything but on this occasion he was probably right. A wandering non angler said all the carp were sunning themselves up the other end of the lake.
Oh well....such is the way of things. Nobody got hurt and there is always tomorrow.
I have noticed this on waters I frequent. I am sure others will also have seen this.
Sometimes it happens with no visible logic. No sun. Cold wind where they are. Must be females!
Neil Maidment
Moderator
An almost summer like afternoon and, prompted by a call from a mate and my post on Coking Farm fishery a couple of days ago, it was time to see if the carp fancied something off the top. I met up with Chris who is a fine angler but has done very little surface fishing.
The venue is not difficult by any means but targeting the somewhat better fish is a challenge. Although we had the lake to ourselves, the carp were initially slow to respond. But they eventually turned up and started to show a bit of
interest.
We added a bit of competitive interest by "playing" a version of angling matchplay. To a backdrop of expletives I easily went 3 Up as Chris realised I wasn't kidding when I advised giving the carp plenty of time to take the bait. He finally worked it out and quickly got back to All Square. Neither of us got more than 1 Up for the next couple of hours and at All Square again, enough was enough!
I used one of the budget rods from The Tackle Box: a Darent Valley 11ft Specialist 0.75tc. Not particularly the right tool for the job but a joy to use and a nice little rod
Typical commercial fishery fare, loads of carp to go for and good for a few sunny hours on an afternoon. The carp have put on a bit of weight since my last visit with our heaviest around the low to mid teens backed up by plenty of doubles although we both tried our best to be selective and avoid the smaller carp!
The venue is not difficult by any means but targeting the somewhat better fish is a challenge. Although we had the lake to ourselves, the carp were initially slow to respond. But they eventually turned up and started to show a bit of
interest.
We added a bit of competitive interest by "playing" a version of angling matchplay. To a backdrop of expletives I easily went 3 Up as Chris realised I wasn't kidding when I advised giving the carp plenty of time to take the bait. He finally worked it out and quickly got back to All Square. Neither of us got more than 1 Up for the next couple of hours and at All Square again, enough was enough!
I used one of the budget rods from The Tackle Box: a Darent Valley 11ft Specialist 0.75tc. Not particularly the right tool for the job but a joy to use and a nice little rod
Typical commercial fishery fare, loads of carp to go for and good for a few sunny hours on an afternoon. The carp have put on a bit of weight since my last visit with our heaviest around the low to mid teens backed up by plenty of doubles although we both tried our best to be selective and avoid the smaller carp!