How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
stu_the_blank
Well-known member
My angling rehabilitation continues!
A weeks Barbel fishing in France. Great banter, good food and wine and I caught 51 Barbel to 8-12 (8 chub to 4-08, a 4lb Bream and 3 Roach over a pound. Fabulous week.
Most caught on banded glued elips behind an open ended feeder.
Planning next outing.
Stu
A weeks Barbel fishing in France. Great banter, good food and wine and I caught 51 Barbel to 8-12 (8 chub to 4-08, a 4lb Bream and 3 Roach over a pound. Fabulous week.
Most caught on banded glued elips behind an open ended feeder.
Planning next outing.
Stu
I have not done much river Carping for quite some time & have had a hankering to try and bank a good one so with the days drawing in I knew it was now or never for this year. I cooked up a few buckets of mixed particles, some sinking dog biscuits and some boiles, and prebaited a spot on the river. Its actually a tributary but still a large river in its own right. I don’t have time for long sessions so it was going to be short sessions & I wanted to put the odds in my favor.
Prebaiting take some effort ,preparing bait, filling the buckets, making the round trip to bait up often well after dark (@1 hour to get there bait and return) and then go through the motions again each day. I am usually confident fishing a swim after 3 days of baiting but for various reasons I could not get down to fish it till after 5 baiting trips. I noticed on the last trip several swirls close in as I arrived to bait.
The swim itself was on some little steps down to water level but completely overgrown, ideal as clearly no one had been fishing it and I could bait and fish undetected. I cut myself a nice opening in the undergrowth and created a tight little swim from were I could fish 2 rods.
On arrival I flicked out a couple of baits and settled back. An hour or so later the rod tore off and after a short but spirited battle I landed the Mirror below. He was a bit of a warhorse but these are wild fish from a big river not a small stocked pond. Every one is welcome. 3 more bites came my way, a Barbel, a Chub and a nice Bream so it was a nice quadruple for a 3 hour session and good start in the new spot. It also summed up why I like the rivers so much, you just don’t know what the next bite will be.
I’ll keep the bait going in and cross my fingers.
Prebaiting take some effort ,preparing bait, filling the buckets, making the round trip to bait up often well after dark (@1 hour to get there bait and return) and then go through the motions again each day. I am usually confident fishing a swim after 3 days of baiting but for various reasons I could not get down to fish it till after 5 baiting trips. I noticed on the last trip several swirls close in as I arrived to bait.
The swim itself was on some little steps down to water level but completely overgrown, ideal as clearly no one had been fishing it and I could bait and fish undetected. I cut myself a nice opening in the undergrowth and created a tight little swim from were I could fish 2 rods.
On arrival I flicked out a couple of baits and settled back. An hour or so later the rod tore off and after a short but spirited battle I landed the Mirror below. He was a bit of a warhorse but these are wild fish from a big river not a small stocked pond. Every one is welcome. 3 more bites came my way, a Barbel, a Chub and a nice Bream so it was a nice quadruple for a 3 hour session and good start in the new spot. It also summed up why I like the rivers so much, you just don’t know what the next bite will be.
I’ll keep the bait going in and cross my fingers.
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Hertsbloke
Well-known member
Lovely Carp - any idea on weight ? Looks a good double ?
no-one in particular
Well-known member
The one i caught last week, probably only about 4lb but it is the catching of a wild river carp that does it, something very satisfying about it I find whatever the weight.
no-one in particular
Well-known member
Just a couple of hours on the pier yesterday to use up some left over bait from a month ago, about 5 lug and 5 sand eels, frozen of course which is not always the best bait. Did not catch anything and the rain drove me off in the end but as often is the case it’s the people you meet that made the day.
Three other blokes fishing, serious guys with all the gear, last Wednesday they had loads of fish, one bloke kept a log of it all which he showed me and allowed me to take a picture. Pouting, Dover Soles, Dogfish, Whiting and 4 Cod!! The cod were about 4/5lb he said, not seen any caught on the pier for a long time. What a day they had, his log book recorded the lengths, not the weight and he said they had had 40ft and so many inches of fish between them. He knew exactly and that wasn't counting all the small fish about 70 he said, what a character and what a day’s fishing. He showed me some pictures and there were some hefty Dover Soles up to 2lb.
So, they are there on the right day and you’re prepared to put in the time and effort, wish I could do more of that.
The sea was churned up a bit with a 4 or 5 wind blowing, I was using my carp rod with a 2oz weight and a two hook trace casting at the bottom of the peir into a little gulley hoping for anything but, bass sometimes follow that gulley which is what I was hoping for. I missed the high tide though which would have been better. The guys on the end were only catching loads of pin Whiting this day and they got fed up, they just snaffle everything up before anything else gets a chance. No two days are ever the same fishing!
Three other blokes fishing, serious guys with all the gear, last Wednesday they had loads of fish, one bloke kept a log of it all which he showed me and allowed me to take a picture. Pouting, Dover Soles, Dogfish, Whiting and 4 Cod!! The cod were about 4/5lb he said, not seen any caught on the pier for a long time. What a day they had, his log book recorded the lengths, not the weight and he said they had had 40ft and so many inches of fish between them. He knew exactly and that wasn't counting all the small fish about 70 he said, what a character and what a day’s fishing. He showed me some pictures and there were some hefty Dover Soles up to 2lb.
So, they are there on the right day and you’re prepared to put in the time and effort, wish I could do more of that.
The sea was churned up a bit with a 4 or 5 wind blowing, I was using my carp rod with a 2oz weight and a two hook trace casting at the bottom of the peir into a little gulley hoping for anything but, bass sometimes follow that gulley which is what I was hoping for. I missed the high tide though which would have been better. The guys on the end were only catching loads of pin Whiting this day and they got fed up, they just snaffle everything up before anything else gets a chance. No two days are ever the same fishing!
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Got a bathroom to fit at home, and doing my utmost to avoid starting it, so went down the river for a few hours armed with some bread and a few maggots. Nice gentle weather today, and the river was looking nice.
Chucked a bit of mash in a few swims and had some runs through with a bit of flake, not much doing, so changed to maggot and things really picked up.
Ended up with a nice mix of small Chub and Dace, with a few better ones of both.
About 15 mins trotting in the net head.
Chucked a bit of mash in a few swims and had some runs through with a bit of flake, not much doing, so changed to maggot and things really picked up.
Ended up with a nice mix of small Chub and Dace, with a few better ones of both.
About 15 mins trotting in the net head.
Another Dave
Well-known member
Took my youngest down to the weeping willow swim described in my last post here. Target species perch, bait was lobworms. She only had one fish but it was a nice one that had the clutch whirring.
I'd only been fishing for barbel until lately, and it didn't seem worthwhile to keep posting the same report, plus or minus a barbel or two. But just before the latest floods, I had a day with Steve (Binka) on a little river over his way. We got saturated in no fewer than three separate downpours, but the fishing was a treat with umpteen different species caught on canal-style gear. Steve had four tench and four carp, and I sat on a little weir, trotted a little waggler, and caught chub, dace, perch... and tench! If you look to the left of the chub's nose, you can make out Steve among the foliage.
Today, with the main river just starting to come down from 6' on, I thought I'd try the marina if I could find a bit of dry land to fish from. I ended up in armchair comfort, with water conveniently lapping the edge of the access road.
With 12' of water under the rod tip - it was a long rod - I opted for a centrepin and a 2AAA waggler sliding a foot between stops with an olivette at half depth and light shotting below. A few balls of groundbait and loosefed hemp got plenty of bites from roach on tares
Seed baits are best for the roach here, but I'm always sorry that you miss out on the perch, so I fed another line with casters and had a try for a perch now and again
The conditions - weather and water - were just right, and the fish were keen to feed. That includes the pike, and there are plenty in here. The first two to snatch a roach spat it out after I'd played them for a bit. The third got itself hooked in the scissors, and after a long fight that covered pretty well every inch of the water in front of me, I was looking at a beautiful beast of a pike that I'd guess weighed over twenty pounds, parked on the surface in front of me. My landing net was about a quarter of its length, so I detached the keepnet and tried to steer it in. I had its nose in when it decided to react explosively, and that was that. It seemed a shame that, having got the thing in, I couldn't get it out, but I'd had a decent morning's fishing
Today, with the main river just starting to come down from 6' on, I thought I'd try the marina if I could find a bit of dry land to fish from. I ended up in armchair comfort, with water conveniently lapping the edge of the access road.
With 12' of water under the rod tip - it was a long rod - I opted for a centrepin and a 2AAA waggler sliding a foot between stops with an olivette at half depth and light shotting below. A few balls of groundbait and loosefed hemp got plenty of bites from roach on tares
Seed baits are best for the roach here, but I'm always sorry that you miss out on the perch, so I fed another line with casters and had a try for a perch now and again
The conditions - weather and water - were just right, and the fish were keen to feed. That includes the pike, and there are plenty in here. The first two to snatch a roach spat it out after I'd played them for a bit. The third got itself hooked in the scissors, and after a long fight that covered pretty well every inch of the water in front of me, I was looking at a beautiful beast of a pike that I'd guess weighed over twenty pounds, parked on the surface in front of me. My landing net was about a quarter of its length, so I detached the keepnet and tried to steer it in. I had its nose in when it decided to react explosively, and that was that. It seemed a shame that, having got the thing in, I couldn't get it out, but I'd had a decent morning's fishing
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A visit to Grove Ferry and no Lithuanian trawlers insight.
Bagged my favourite swim which surprised me being a Saturday and arrived just as the tide was about to turn and ebb out.
I normally have to spend an hour feeding the swim little and often to get the roach going but today they were biting from the first cast and a few were in the net after the first hour. They then decided to switch off and the next few hours it was hard going trying different lines and different depths.
The upside though was the fact that the roach were slightly bigger than usual and using a size 22 hook to 1lb 10oz hooklength meant a few needing the net.
Last visit I was harassed by over enthusiastic pike, today they were absent, much to the dismay of a pike angler trying his luck in the next peg.
Enjoyable as always with a few fish to show for the effort.
Bagged my favourite swim which surprised me being a Saturday and arrived just as the tide was about to turn and ebb out.
I normally have to spend an hour feeding the swim little and often to get the roach going but today they were biting from the first cast and a few were in the net after the first hour. They then decided to switch off and the next few hours it was hard going trying different lines and different depths.
The upside though was the fact that the roach were slightly bigger than usual and using a size 22 hook to 1lb 10oz hooklength meant a few needing the net.
Last visit I was harassed by over enthusiastic pike, today they were absent, much to the dismay of a pike angler trying his luck in the next peg.
Enjoyable as always with a few fish to show for the effort.
mikench
Well-known member
I had a few hours on my favourite venue and spent a good part chatting with members. For reasons I cannot fathom I was often asked what tactics to adopt , the best swims and baits- as if I had a clue.
I caught 30 fish but no carp pleasingly . Today was gudgeon city and this pic shows a monster.
View attachment 7685
Very enjoyable and Liverpool won so what more can I ask.
I caught 30 fish but no carp pleasingly . Today was gudgeon city and this pic shows a monster.
View attachment 7685
Very enjoyable and Liverpool won so what more can I ask.
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
I felt like a change today so I went down to the Colne in town.
Low chair, and rucksack instead of 4 wheels and a pile of gear..
Started off in this swim....
Nothing there so I moved upstream to another one.
Just took meat for bait and punched out pellet shaped baits which I impaled on a 12 barbless carp feeder hook.
I started getting tugs on the bait but whatever it was wouldn’t take it properly? I began to think my 8” hooklink was too short so the fish were feeling the lead and spitting the meat. A quick change to a 2’ hooklink and I recast. As I tightened up and went to put the rod down it was nearly wrenched out of my hands.. Fish on!
It must have taken the bait on the drop and hooked itself against the tip of the rod...
After a tug of war I landed it, a chub of exactly 5lb..
The swim was trashed so I set off downstream and settled in another swim.
Had just one proper bite and the fish shot off like a train heading for a fallen tree. I managed to divert it into net distance and it surfaced, an angry slab..
Then someone started chucking a big lure in the next peg up, of course it was Neil 1970.
Had a good chat and a cuppa back at his....
Happy day..
Low chair, and rucksack instead of 4 wheels and a pile of gear..
Started off in this swim....
Nothing there so I moved upstream to another one.
Just took meat for bait and punched out pellet shaped baits which I impaled on a 12 barbless carp feeder hook.
I started getting tugs on the bait but whatever it was wouldn’t take it properly? I began to think my 8” hooklink was too short so the fish were feeling the lead and spitting the meat. A quick change to a 2’ hooklink and I recast. As I tightened up and went to put the rod down it was nearly wrenched out of my hands.. Fish on!
It must have taken the bait on the drop and hooked itself against the tip of the rod...
After a tug of war I landed it, a chub of exactly 5lb..
The swim was trashed so I set off downstream and settled in another swim.
Had just one proper bite and the fish shot off like a train heading for a fallen tree. I managed to divert it into net distance and it surfaced, an angry slab..
Then someone started chucking a big lure in the next peg up, of course it was Neil 1970.
Had a good chat and a cuppa back at his....
Happy day..
Hertsbloke
Well-known member
Is that the North Harrow Waltonians stretch ?
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
No. Next one up..
Notts Michael.
Well-known member
Had an hour and a half before darkness fell at a local pond, One mirror carp of around 2 1/2 lb was all that took interest in a hair-rigged punch of Plumrose's finest, but the sights of the approaching evening were better than the fishing, across the water I kept hearing the splosh of boilies being dropped into the margin, but no one was there, several times I saw and heard the splosh splosh, then realised a Jay in the overhanging oak tree was gathering (and dropping a fair few) acorns, and flying off with them. the call of a green woodpecker, echoed around, then a brief fly past from it, a rat swam by very close unaware or uninterested that I was sat there quietly. a genuinely memorable short spell of not catching much, but at least it wasn't a blank.
rayner
Well-known member
Well the casters survived, they lasted pretty well in the pellet pump. A breath of fresh air every day to prevent them from dying and they were quite fresh looking.
Had my day tormenting roach, not very successful.
I managed a few smaller samples, very slow going. May have had a few more if my terminal tackle could have stayed intact, kept getting trashed with carp.
Had my day tormenting roach, not very successful.
I managed a few smaller samples, very slow going. May have had a few more if my terminal tackle could have stayed intact, kept getting trashed with carp.
Notts Michael.
Well-known member
A quick couple of hours on a local day ticket spot, last minute decision, The dreadful forecast was rather wrong again, or I would have planned to go earlier, and apart from the wind, it was a great afternoon, 4 common carp, ranging from 1lb to 6lb, then this 15lb-er zoomed off a hundred yards from the margins where it gulped double sweetcorn on a size 14.....
Birdwise, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, a group of Long-Tailed T1ts. a good few dragonflies about enjoying the sunshine too.
Birdwise, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, a group of Long-Tailed T1ts. a good few dragonflies about enjoying the sunshine too.