How did you get on?

[john step]

I had a few hours this morning on a club lake that I had never fished before, chose the wrong spot as it quickly became engulfed in the fluffy blossom stuff which did neither my hayfever nor my rod rings any good. Moved round to a sheltered bay where some chaps were packing up along with their film crew and I thought Simon took a lot of gear

Turned out to be Keith Arthur who came across as a nice fella as we chatted mostly about the weather, he had a couple of tench and I didn't catch a lot but enough silvers to keep me busy. Was one of those chill out short sessions where anything was a bonus

He is a nice chappy. Not like the grumps he comes across in his AT articles. I attended a dinner dance/presentation and was seated next to him some years ago. There was far too much after dinner brandy and I cannot remember how I got home.

 

[108831]

Naughty person....

 

[mikench]

Being still a bit early for Bass the challenge was a bit optimistic but a fun few hours which I shall repeat again soon

Great post John and very original . Great pics as always.

The military canal looks lovely and well...... military!

 

[peter crabtree]

17 codgers today on the canal at Berkhamsted. Warm and sunny but chilly in the shade. Not much to report personally, I came nowhere again with 1:11 of bits.
However the winner had 20lb of bream and skimmers, a great canal weight. Another caught a 1:7 roach, a stunning fish to behold, and one caught a tench which is also quite a rare sight on the GUC....

 

[mikench]

It was the same oop north; lovely in the sun but decidedly chilly in the shade!

 

[sam vimes]

The result of a mad hour or so on a gravel pit.

3lb 15oz


4lb 12oz


4lb 9oz


5lb 5oz

 

[mikench]

I could go off you Sam .

Cracking tench!

 

[barbelboi]

After Naseby last week we stayed local and yesterday were going to have a tench session on one of the pits but, with every bodies favourite, pussy willow cotton wool adorning the surface it was an about turn over the fields for a session on one of the woodland ponds. The idea was to catch some of the crucians but they were not having it (usually the 20C and sunny conditions would have been a good omen) so ended up with quite a few roach and small carp which were quite lively on an ‘18’ to a 2lb bottom. Fished from 10.30-4pm for an enjoyable few hours..................

 

[sam vimes]

I could go off you Sam .

Cracking tench!

If you knew the number of blanks it takes you'd be less concerned. Compared to last May they've been ridiculously hard to find. On the more positive side, I've not had one smaller than 3lb 10oz so far this year. Still to crack the 6lb mark though. I know they are in there somewhere.

 

[103841]

If you knew the number of blanks it takes you'd be less concerned. Compared to last May they've been ridiculously hard to find. On the more positive side, I've not had one smaller than 3lb 10oz so far this year. Still to crack the 6lb mark though. I know they are in there somewhere.

My local estate has behaved in a similar fashion with a far more productive May last year compared to this one.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

I took a wander across to the river opposite to my house earlier and saw one of the largest mayfly rises I've ever seen along that stretch . . . . . and the brownies and the grayling were really enjoying the huge buffet.

Most of the trout were in the pound plus class but also a few larger fish, and in particular one old crafty trout that seems to reside just under a little bridge, and who I have sort of promised myself I'll not target . . . . just seems right not to . . . .

 

[barbelboi]

My local estate has behaved in a similar fashion with a far more productive May last year compared to this one.

Seems that this is pretty general regarding tench - only one productive session so far this season from local pits otherwise the odd fish here and there...........

 

[jpwebster]

Had another crack at the local park lake that is known to hold a good head of tench and bream. Previous sessions over the last year have resulted in more blanks than not and at most a handful of roach. Well I'd say this qualifies as a good session even though I only caught 2 fish over 6 hours. I could ponder if there was more to catch, I'm certain there was but I'm still chuffed to bits at the result.

8.5lb Tench

First tench I've had since coming back to fishing last year, biggest before was about 3lb and 20 years ago!

Also had a lovely bronze bream at a touch over 7lb, that picture came out even worse though.

 

[Keith M]

8.5lb That’s a cracking Tinca JP, well done mate :thumbs:

I would say the same for the bream, but even at 7lb it’s just a bream. You probably got bream snot on your lens :wheaceful:
(Only kidding)

Keith

 

[mikench]

Ditto to that! What a fantastic tench, I would be thrilled to bits with a fish like that; well done!

 

[103841]

Spent an hour either side of HT at Westgate On Sea this afternoon. Sea was flat and calm but well coloured with signs of the May rot still in evidence, I wasn’t optimistic. On about the tenth cast an almighty bump, was I catching a rock? Happened again a few cast later, then the third time I realised these were bass attacking the lure as I had one on only to lose it moments later, this was repeated a few seconds later, my mind is now telling me to go back to trebles and replace the fish friendly barbless singles. mg:

It was a case of third time lucky and bringing a bass to the net, only a small one but I reckon three times larger than those I caught last Summer, for such a small fish, boy did it scrap.

And that was it, the shoals come and go quickly, tried various lures but it always seems to be the Dennet Super Sprat that catches me a fish, small, light, casts to the horizon and cost a princely £1-49.

Here’s a photo of an expensive lure that hasn’t had a touch yet.

Having broken my duck for this year I drove home a happy bunny listening to some top tunes, now what possessed me to pick this?

 

[mikench]

Exceedingly good taste! I love that track! Well done by the way; lovely fish and great pics! I must get some of those lures for France.

 

[103841]

Exceedingly good taste! I love that track! Well done by the way; lovely fish and great pics! I must get done of those lures for France.

Dennett Super Sprat SeriousFishing.com

 

[108831]

So you have auto correct on your device Mike???

Never heard that track???

 

[mikench]

No Alan I have you!

I have ordered one of each John! Ta!