How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
Notts Michael.
Well-known member
I've arrived at the water before to find I had no hooks in the bag! and I'm 'only' 50
mg:
S-Kippy
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Walked the local river on 23rd...up,coloured and with a bit of pace. Looked really good for a few hours chubbing after Christmas.
Except that when I rocked up today it had dropped and cleared and all the terrific looking swims from Monday were now 4" deep and gin clear. I probably would have done better trotting maggots but I'd only taken a tip rod and some bread/cheese......murky water gear in other words.
It was nice to get out but all I had was a couple of dace sized chublets and ended up with a big knob of paste on in the hope there was a barbel about...which there wasn't.
But there were some bats which ought to be hibernating but I guess it has been rather mild of late. The BF got a "bat detector" from Santa. Had he been there he could have tried it out. Would have been interesting as bats are hard to id on the wing and these were too big to be pipistrelles.
Except that when I rocked up today it had dropped and cleared and all the terrific looking swims from Monday were now 4" deep and gin clear. I probably would have done better trotting maggots but I'd only taken a tip rod and some bread/cheese......murky water gear in other words.
It was nice to get out but all I had was a couple of dace sized chublets and ended up with a big knob of paste on in the hope there was a barbel about...which there wasn't.
But there were some bats which ought to be hibernating but I guess it has been rather mild of late. The BF got a "bat detector" from Santa. Had he been there he could have tried it out. Would have been interesting as bats are hard to id on the wing and these were too big to be pipistrelles.
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
14 fished a club fixture today at Lakeside, Cublington.
Fishing pole @11m in 8’ of water I caught skimmers, roach and ide on single maggot over fishmeal gb..
A couple of carp had been caught elsewhere on the lake so I set up a 10’ bomb rod with cage feeder and cast across to the island. Had just one bite on double maggot which produced a bream around 2:8:0.
It made a nice change to catch some ide, which although small fought well.
Weighed in 5:9:0 for 8th place....
Fishing pole @11m in 8’ of water I caught skimmers, roach and ide on single maggot over fishmeal gb..
A couple of carp had been caught elsewhere on the lake so I set up a 10’ bomb rod with cage feeder and cast across to the island. Had just one bite on double maggot which produced a bream around 2:8:0.
It made a nice change to catch some ide, which although small fought well.
Weighed in 5:9:0 for 8th place....
Clodhopper
Well-known member
Got out on the river today.
That's it.... enough!
My last blank of the decade.
Sent from my SM-A705FN using Tapatalk
That's it.... enough!
My last blank of the decade.
Sent from my SM-A705FN using Tapatalk
It's been a long while since I've been able to get out, pretty much all my spare time has been consumed putting a new bathroom in, but the weather has been rubbish, so couldn't really get out anyway, which has taken a bit of the pain out of the extended DIY.
On the plus side, She Who Must is well pleased with the result, so I'll have a very decent chunk of credit when the weather finally improves.
Anyhow, did a few errands this morning, and it was a lovely day, so decided to get after the Chub for a couple of hours.
Quick look at the levels, and it was a bit high, about 6 inches more than I like for the float, better for ledgering, but I had a pint of whites and really fancied running a float, so that's what i did.
Gave the first swim an hour, feeding mags steadily, but no joy, so moved elswhere for a while, nothing doing, so returned to the first, which looked the best given the height.
I was concentrating on a slight near bank crease,where i was thinking if I'd get a fish anywhere, it would be there, then running on through into some faster stuff where i wasn't expecting much!
After a while, well in the faster stuff,the float went and i tightened down. Very solid, bloody snag, i thought, but it started to move!
Had a job controlling it, couple of powerful runs which i got through, then lots of heavy thumping. Started getting it up towards the net, and it went for the near bank cover, which I was expecting, but it still got in there, ****!
Got the net out and had a prod about, and miracle of miracles out it came and I netted it first time!
I could see it was a lump for this river, and gave it a weigh, it went 4lb 4oz, so probably my best from here, the better fish usually go to about 3.
I was buzzing after this, so moved to another swim which can produce, but just had a couple of Dace.
Once the sun started setting, I called it a day.
On the plus side, She Who Must is well pleased with the result, so I'll have a very decent chunk of credit when the weather finally improves.
Anyhow, did a few errands this morning, and it was a lovely day, so decided to get after the Chub for a couple of hours.
Quick look at the levels, and it was a bit high, about 6 inches more than I like for the float, better for ledgering, but I had a pint of whites and really fancied running a float, so that's what i did.
Gave the first swim an hour, feeding mags steadily, but no joy, so moved elswhere for a while, nothing doing, so returned to the first, which looked the best given the height.
I was concentrating on a slight near bank crease,where i was thinking if I'd get a fish anywhere, it would be there, then running on through into some faster stuff where i wasn't expecting much!
After a while, well in the faster stuff,the float went and i tightened down. Very solid, bloody snag, i thought, but it started to move!
Had a job controlling it, couple of powerful runs which i got through, then lots of heavy thumping. Started getting it up towards the net, and it went for the near bank cover, which I was expecting, but it still got in there, ****!
Got the net out and had a prod about, and miracle of miracles out it came and I netted it first time!
I could see it was a lump for this river, and gave it a weigh, it went 4lb 4oz, so probably my best from here, the better fish usually go to about 3.
I was buzzing after this, so moved to another swim which can produce, but just had a couple of Dace.
Once the sun started setting, I called it a day.
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Nice fish and well deserved Bullet.
My day was a tad more disappointing, wasn’t sure if the river would be in a fit state to fish yet so headed for the mighty Stonar lake near Sandwich. On arrival I couldn’t believe my eyes, nearly every swim occupied, not a sight you even see in Summer. Found an available swim about 300 metres from where I’d have liked to fish but beggars...........
A beautiful day with clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine, a stiff breeze just spoilt the comfort but it was doable for an old git.
I fished a maggot feeder for two hours without as much as a knock, rigged up a 6m whip and fished both for another two hours, not a touch.
A blank for the end of the decade................I might just sneak a hour tomorrow on the river.
My day was a tad more disappointing, wasn’t sure if the river would be in a fit state to fish yet so headed for the mighty Stonar lake near Sandwich. On arrival I couldn’t believe my eyes, nearly every swim occupied, not a sight you even see in Summer. Found an available swim about 300 metres from where I’d have liked to fish but beggars...........
A beautiful day with clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine, a stiff breeze just spoilt the comfort but it was doable for an old git.
I fished a maggot feeder for two hours without as much as a knock, rigged up a 6m whip and fished both for another two hours, not a touch.
A blank for the end of the decade................I might just sneak a hour tomorrow on the river.
Mark Wintle
Well-known member
I hedged my bets today. Although I wanted to revisit a stillwater I last fished 18 months ago I also wondered whetehr I could just about get on the high and steaming Stour. I took maggots and a pole for the stillwater and put a groundbait bowl, river groundbait and some river floats in the box which is primarily used for stillwater fishing. The pond proved harder than I hoped, odd bites and three roach, best 12oz, in an hour and a half. Time for the river. I hadn't fished this bit of bank for a decade and it was only just in its banks. No wind was a bonus and the colour looked spot on. I mixed up half a bowl of Gros Gardons and balled in 5 big balls. I started with a 13BB Avon but a fault in the line meant that was lost soon after starting. I changed lines and put on a 5SSG swan quill Avon, with a BB dropper. First bite produced a small dace then a pound roach that put an alarming bend in the rod due to the heavy flow, More small roach followed and eventually that groundbait did its stuff (another ball every 5 minutes), and I had plenty of 8 to 14oz roach, one cracker of 1-5, 45 roach in all in two and a half hours. One omission in my gear was the right river hooks for bread fishing but some barbless B611 in a 14 proved just about right.
ian g
Well-known member
Bright sunshine made the upper Severn stretch I fished with a mate hard going . We were targeting chub on a slowly falling river . I mainly fished bread flake , alternating with meat , tried quite a few swims through the day but didn't have a bite . Highlights were seeing a little egret before finishing the day with otter swimming around my swim . Great to be out after a week and a half with out fishing and great to see the river falling nicely.
30th Dec. Last day out of the year. Not a huge success but it was sunny and dry for a change.
On a club pool with the remnants of the pinkies and some worm.
Lots of tiny perch and two small carp until dusk then the roach fed. Had quite a few until darkness forced packing up.
One thing I have noticed and has been confirmed again this year is the behaviour of dab chicks( little grebe) Whenever I disturb one it usually dives for cover being an extremely shy species.
However once the water cools right down they are reluctant to dive and scoot off above surface. Its only this observation that has made me realise that they can actually fly!
On a club pool with the remnants of the pinkies and some worm.
Lots of tiny perch and two small carp until dusk then the roach fed. Had quite a few until darkness forced packing up.
One thing I have noticed and has been confirmed again this year is the behaviour of dab chicks( little grebe) Whenever I disturb one it usually dives for cover being an extremely shy species.
However once the water cools right down they are reluctant to dive and scoot off above surface. Its only this observation that has made me realise that they can actually fly!
Had a few grayling and trout off the top end of the Severn, had to work hard at it finding a fish here and there, nothing of any great size but sporting - trout were nice. Think the bulk are probably holed up in the bottom of the deep pools still after the floods, settled water may bring them back out to their usual haunts, or not?
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
It was mild and still this morning so I was soon off down to the Colne in town. I’d been fishing for around an hour when I heard a familiar voice behind me, it was Skippy and big Phil.
Skip set up on a peg just down from me while Phil went further downstream.
Trotting punch I had 3 tiny roach, it soon became clear the better fish weren’t having it.
Skip didn’t get a bite at all and decided to give the canal a go. I told him about my supermarket swim and he was soon on it.
I joined him on the opposite bank and had a few roach, gudgeon and perch...
Phil had the best day but had to walk a long way downstream for it.
Skip set up on a peg just down from me while Phil went further downstream.
Trotting punch I had 3 tiny roach, it soon became clear the better fish weren’t having it.
Skip didn’t get a bite at all and decided to give the canal a go. I told him about my supermarket swim and he was soon on it.
I joined him on the opposite bank and had a few roach, gudgeon and perch...
Phil had the best day but had to walk a long way downstream for it.
rich66
Well-known member
Thought I’d have a last go before the end of the year & the decade the rivers dropped and just started to clear. A few anglers today all saying the same thing nothing much biting. The odd perch coming out.
Tried one of my favourite spots one ledgered cheese paste with no bites for over an hour, changed to a bit of flake on the float. Had one small chub for my efforts. Please with that tbh I’m always happy to catch regardless of size etc.
Sunny and cool but ok for the time of year.
Now let’s see what 2020 brings
Tried one of my favourite spots one ledgered cheese paste with no bites for over an hour, changed to a bit of flake on the float. Had one small chub for my efforts. Please with that tbh I’m always happy to catch regardless of size etc.
Sunny and cool but ok for the time of year.
Now let’s see what 2020 brings
S-Kippy
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It was mild and still this morning so I was soon off down to the Colne in town. I’d been fishing for around an hour when I heard a familiar voice behind me, it was Skippy and big Phil.
Skip set up on a peg just down from me while Phil went further downstream.
Trotting punch I had 3 tiny roach, it soon became clear the better fish weren’t having it.
Skip didn’t get a bite at all and decided to give the canal a go. I told him about my supermarket swim and he was soon on it.
I joined him on the opposite bank and had a few roach, gudgeon and perch...
Phil had the best day but had to walk a long way downstream for it.
It was also bloody wet ! As well as a few roach I had the first gudgeon I've caught for goodness knows how long ( plus his mate) and a hand sized skimmer ( the horror !) . Good to see Simon and I can see why that swim on the canal fishes....it just didnt today. I was hoping for a ruffe as I've not had one of those for about 20 years but I didn't have any worms and it just didn't happen.
Last edited:
ian g
Well-known member
I had a chance to get out on the Severn today and target perch , The river was back at normal winter levels after a month . I headed to a stretch below Shrewsbury with my new pin and trusty float rod. A mate of mine was pike fishing half way along the stretch . I settled in my intended swim , 8 foot off the bank and a nice slack . I fed maggots and fished lobworms and soon had a bite , first fish of the decade a chub around 8oz . Bit of a wait before my next bite but just nice to be out , around 3 o'clock my float disappeared and I was briefly connected with a decent fish before the hook pulled , back in and another fish , a scabby looking chub around 3 lb , plenty of missing scales and a few leeches . I had set up a tip rod to fish a little further down stream but mine next bite was again on the float rod , this felt a good fish and charged around the swim , probably should have got out of the chair a little quicker as it eventually stuck me in a willow slighlty upstream , pretty sure it was another chub and a decent one at that. Managed one more chub around a pound on the tip rod as the light faded. Graet to be able to get out and do some float fishing , hopefully the perch will show soon
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My last trip of 2019 produced an inglorious blank, needed to get the new decade off to a positive start with a short session on the river at Fordwich this morning.
On Christmas Eve the river was about to breach the banks, today it’s down to its lowest level with the colour dropping out. Trotted maggots and was catching a dace every other cast, in the ninety minutes I fished I caught a dozen or so dace, a few chublets and one roach, none needed the net but a enthusiastic Jack did which put a nice bend in the rod for a few minutes. The wind got up and was time to head home and warm up.
On Christmas Eve the river was about to breach the banks, today it’s down to its lowest level with the colour dropping out. Trotted maggots and was catching a dace every other cast, in the ninety minutes I fished I caught a dozen or so dace, a few chublets and one roach, none needed the net but a enthusiastic Jack did which put a nice bend in the rod for a few minutes. The wind got up and was time to head home and warm up.
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
Although quite windy it was very mild here today in Herts.
I met up with Rob (artist) on the GUC on the outskirts of Berkhamsted around 11am.
Both of us fished waggler and maggot down the track and Rob was first to catch...
Shortly after I hooked a big perch which fell off, much to my displeasure....
A few minutes later I was into another one (possibly the same one) and landed it successfully on my 20b511 to 0.06...
Later on Rob had another one...
We were both anticipating more bites as the light began to fail, but despite fishing until we could barely see our floats, it simply didn’t happen...
I met up with Rob (artist) on the GUC on the outskirts of Berkhamsted around 11am.
Both of us fished waggler and maggot down the track and Rob was first to catch...
Shortly after I hooked a big perch which fell off, much to my displeasure....
A few minutes later I was into another one (possibly the same one) and landed it successfully on my 20b511 to 0.06...
Later on Rob had another one...
We were both anticipating more bites as the light began to fail, but despite fishing until we could barely see our floats, it simply didn’t happen...