How did you get on?

[sylvanillo]

Sorry Steve for your bad fall, I hope you're getting better.

Not sure I should post this, it's too small compared to the carp, chub, roach you've shared!
Anyway I was fishing this morning, a real race after school run, in order to get bread and baits ready, and one wheel on the car had a crack and I got flat. But I managed to fish for about 1:15 or so.
Strange day where my nose tells me that fishing won't be good, difficult to explain. Glass tip of 1.5 and a cage of 70 gr that sort of contradicts the light tip, but it seems it wouldn't break this time as long as I'd be a bit careful with my toys!
I chose a different stream and the first swim gave this small chub in maybe 2 mins

Fishing's gonna be good :rockon: Well no An hour later, after a few strong bites always looking "interrupted", there was nothing more to photograph. As my little one says "Daddy, it don't matter, can we watch TV now?".

 

[S-Kippy]

Bored all week so decided to go today. Nowhere I truly fancied but in the end I decided on Bury Hill as I’ve loads of deadbait and I’ve only been out after the Zander once this winter. I was greeted by Dave in the cabin telling me it’s not fishing at all. Busy too.

So... I am sat here staring at motionless indicators in an area I rarely do any good from and I am only marginally less bored. I’ve seen two fish caught....one bream and what looked like a small pike. I will do well to get a fish I think

Exactly as I predicted....I never had a sniff of a fish. No single bleeps, half hearted pick ups or 1" lifts.....nothing. It was so dead I didn't even bother to stay for the 10 to 8 mugfish.

 

[wetthrough]

Back to the Dam yesterday. They've cleared a peg that had been hemmed in by reeds all the time I've been fishing there and I just wanted to give it a go. Surprised to find it's shallow compared to most of the Dam end pegs at 5' so not sure what to expect. It's just as well I didn't expect anything because that's just what I got, nothing. Fished a gt antenna at about 15M, 20s light hook, on the bottom, mid water, up top and in the margins, not even a nibble. Packed up at 1:30 when the gt antenna encountered an overhanging branch and did what gt antennas are best at, snapping, the last straw. The fish just weren't there. Water was quite coloured and it wasn't what you'd call cold so no idea where they were. I should have moved pegs. There were two guys on the tip to my right practising for a match. One had a small Common (didn't say how small) and a single Roach the other nothing. The Gulls were all huddled in the far right corner. Maybe that should have told me something. They're usually scattered all over the Dam.

 

[S-Kippy]

Well....as predicted that's 3 blanks in a row for me. I felt sure I'd get a bite at least...good area, rig and bait good, temps decent, wind onto my bank and no bloody cormorants within half a mile.

I had one " bip bip" and a half inch jerk of the bobbin about an hour into dark and that was it. I may have to wind my neck in and visit a commercial just to break the cycle.

Or I could stick at it because if it all comes good it will be worth it. I did strangely enjoy it for that reason.

 

[theartist]

Went down to the river late morning yesterday and actually got a decent spot as the place was pretty empty, trouble was in this swim the fish are always up under a clump of rushes requiring an upstream flick of the float and a downstream wind is not ideal, yesterday the wind owned me and I felt it an achievement to get 6 roach. A chap had packed up from upstream saying he had a couple of chub so off I went out of the wind.

He had been fishing bread by the looks and that's always a good bait to follow with maggots and sure enough a chub was on first run through - it was nice to be trotting downstream with some good flow on, nice to get a decent chub and nice to be out of a wind that seems to have been persistent of late, at least it wasn't cold.

What followed was typical February chub fishing, not quite a fish a cast but it seemed like it in spells, nothing else could get a look in and after 22 almost identical size fish it was time to call it a day as the light faded. They all looked like this dude, nothing huge but there's something each year about February chub that always reminds me of how I got so into river fishing as a kid.

 

[sylvanillo]

Back from a minifishing just now. It was freezing. That was Roach Day 2020, and I didn't know!
As it was going to be very windy I took the 4oz carbon tip with me, also to test it as I've just painted it neon yellow.
With the idea of catching the biggest chub around, I caught this roach...

It probably managed to hook itself until I noticed.
For a time, the fishing action limited to watching a motionless tip...

I love fishing near bridges. The lightest wind is enough to make all mini-skirts fly high, especially when the wearer is riding a bike!

After moving closer to the Thames, I then found a deeper area which seemed to host dozens of roach, given the number of bites. Unfortunately they were probably spitting out on feeling the hard tip. Perhaps a softer tip would have got them hook themselves on the stop, but I don't know.

Roach is a funny species. I wasn't aware they can remain so active in winter.

Have a good day everyone!!

 

[The Runner]

Started getting a bit of cabin fever up here after a month of strong winds and rain so when finished what work I had to do by 10 30 today made a quick decision to have a few hours along at Scorrybreac. Got two mackerel fillets out of freezer and dropped bag in a pan of warm water for a rapid defrost, checked that all I needed was still in rucksack, picked up light beachcaster and set off on the three quarter mile walk.
First cast at 12, to be honest not really expecting to catch much if anything as loads of fresh water has been going into the head of the sea loch in the last couple of weeks and no strong tides to disperse it. Anyway, simple running ledger set up, 4oz lead (heavier than would usually use on this mark due to a nasty crosswind) and mackerel strip on a size 4 as dabs or whiting the most likely catch at this time of year.
Well, gave it three and a bit hours until shortly after high water alternating between 80 yards and a lot closer just past the kelp without a sniff on anything but nice to be out again despite the cold wind and the odd squally shower.
Not much wildlife about, but much of what there was was unusual. A couple of shags working the loch in front of me (seemingly blanking as well), don't often see them here in the enclosed water rather than on the open sea. Probably pushed in by all the recent storms, which would also explain the Iceland Gull that flew past.
Passed a couple of birders with the full kit of scopes etc on my way back and told them I'd seen the Iceland further along. They'd seen it as well but were looking for the American Herring Gull which apparently had been around for the past few days. I didn't even know there was such a thing- seemingly a real rarity over here. .

Weather permitting might be out again later in the week, cant decide between Dornie or Balmacara on the mainland or Armadale Pier, waiting to see the wind direction as its staying pretty strong.

 

[theartist]

Couldn't resist a few more hours down by the river today and ended up in the same swim as a few days ago not by choice though as I hate fishing the same spot twice in a row. With freezing fog giving way to blue skies the fish weren't having it at all this time, the water was clearer too. One lone chub gave me the only bite I had for a good few hours, weird thing was it was bigger than any I had the previous trip, bit of a tatty old girl but it saved me from a blank.



I must admit I enjoyed working for it today but it's easy to say that when a blank is avoided. I tried a few other spots but couldn't even get a roach or dace even going as light as a dare and still no joy but there was the odd cloud around now. I carried on roving and settled in a spot good for roach but lucked into something much bigger just as I was thinking of packing up, after a bit of a tussle with the tree opposite I slipped the net under a welcome barbel. Once again not the prettiest of fish but a bit of chunk to end the day, all my shot had pinged off which I plan for but the float had ridden up a few feet and the line snapped with a gentle tug after the fish was released, jammy or what.



Two bites and two fish for 12lb and not a sniff of a roach, dace or gudgeon, what a difference a day makes

 

[mikench]

Shouldn't you be painting or etching or something?

 

[tigger]

I went out to christen a 14ft sphere waggler rod this afternoon. I roved the river in search of chub and I found my fair share of 'em. I used some terrible line which sinks and is no good for trotting at all ( according to the FM trotting experts) and yet once again I caught fish with it, can't be right surely? Maybe i've been miss reading the labels on the spools for 15yrs and i'm using something totally different lol.
Strange I know but the line seemed to float or lie on the surface of the water without breaking through the surface film really well and it made lifting and laying it back on the surface a doddle, I think that may be called mending the line?
Anyhow, here's a few pic's of some fish caught with a decent rod but shitty line....

 

[103841]

Anyone like me and look out the bedroom window soon as you wake up? I do, gaze at the sky and then focus my bleary eyes on a house not far away that boasts a wind speed device and a Union Jack on a flag pole, perhaps the owner is a patriotic meteorologist, useful for me anyway. For many weeks the silver cups have been a blur with their speed and the flag has strained to release itself from the pole, today a still machine and a limp flag.



I had many chores and errands to run but was determined to find a spare hour to try a couple of things out on the river. With a little cunning and plenty of stealth I found myself by the bank by 11am. I was there only 48 hours previous, didn’t post about the visit, the river was racing through with a rich caramel colour, left after fifteen minutes.

Today the levels had fallen and the colour was an acceptable hue that promised much. I balled in a few golf ball lumps of groundbait midstream and was set to go. The two things I wanted to try was my latest acquisition, a Ryobi Closed face reel and some stewed wheat discussed here a few days ago. Didn’t take long, on the second trot the float dipped and a small chublet was swung to hand, first ever fish on wheat, very happy. A couple more followed before one that put a nice bend in the rod, a chub of about 2lb, which had a mouthful of ground bait and wheat. The reel performed very well and early thoughts are that it is better to use than my Abu and Daiwa CF reels.

A few more fish followed including a couple of clonking dace but my time was up all too soon and a quick departure was necessary.

I have a bit more spare time tomorrow, can this lull in the weather last before Storm Ciara arrives? Hope so I’ll have another dabble if so.

PS line used was the perfectly non political Bayer Perlon.

PPS this is my third attempt at writing this post, this forum’s bugs do my head in.

 

[john step]

Just to prove that this thread is not just for red letter days I will say that today I blanked. I was convinced there were pike in the Trent but apparently not.:wh

 

[103841]

I often blank because of the pike!

 

[wetthrough]

Out yesterday on my local club pool. First time out for my new rod rest - more 3d printing madness! Canals and hard pegs are a bit of a problem rest wise and I'd been using the Korum Anychair rest. It might fit any chair but isn't really ideal. When you rotate side to side it goes up and down due to the angle of the chair leg and the up and down increments are way to course. The rod tip is either a foot under the water or 6" above unless you happen to drop lucky and the fittings get in the way when packing the chair up. The club pool has concrete pegs so a good place to try it out. @Markcw - the Heat Holder socks were a good investment, thanks.



Started around 8:30, 20s light hook sparingly loose feeding caster, maggot and hemp. Not sure about the hemp but it makes a nice noise when going in, like rain blowing water off the trees which should signal food coming in. It's not long before I get a bite and a nice Roach of around 5oz. By no means exceptional for this pool but a nice fish. The pool is probably warmer than most places we would fish as it's in the heart of suburbia. It's acually the remains of an old moat (it's called The Moat), sheltered from the fields at one end by trees and bushes, houses along both sides with trees inbetween and the club house at the other end.



Ended up with 17 altogether. 2 tiny Perch, 5 Crucians and the rest Roach to about 8oz. Not a bad day at all. Not a breath of wind and no rain

 

[103841]

I like that 3D innovation Gordon. Is the arm home made too, or a commercially available product?

I also like a swim next to the car park!

 

[wetthrough]

The arm is home made but it will fit the Korum arm, they're the same diameter but the home made version is 100g lighter and I already had some of the parts. It will only fit my NGT chair though as the parts clip on, sort of.

Edit: The fittings are printed the tubing is just stock carbon fibre tubing off eBay.

 

[theartist]

Shouldn't you be painting or etching or something?

Mate I missed all last winter working so the only etching i'm doing for now is more notches on the roach,chub and barbel tally

 

[108831]

I went out to christen a 14ft sphere waggler rod this afternoon. I roved the river in search of chub and I found my fair share of 'em. I used some terrible line which sinks and is no good for trotting at all ( according to the FM trotting experts) and yet once again I caught fish with it, can't be right surely? Maybe i've been miss reading the labels on the spools for 15yrs and i'm using something totally different lol.
Strange I know but the line seemed to float or lie on the surface of the water without breaking through the surface film really well and it made lifting and laying it back on the surface a doddle, I think that may be called mending the line?
Anyhow, here's a few pic's of some fish caught with a decent rod but shitty line....

If your getting these Spheres so cheap i think you ought to get me one Ian

 

[tigger]

If your getting these Spheres so cheap i think you ought to get me one Ian

Alan, I can put you onto the seller if you are serious?
There are only two wagglers and two spliced tip rods to my knowladge, although Chris is the real expert on them so he would be the man to know what's what in the ranges.
I fancied the set of spliced rods and wagglers and i've got them now, all tried and tested pretty much as soon as I got hold of 'em.
As I said Chris would be the man to give a better account of them as he's used them much more than I have, but out of them all I think i'd say the 15 6 spliced rod is the best of the bunch....jmo of course.
Bear in mind i'm not a fan of longer rods!

 

[markcw]

Out yesterday on my local club pool. First time out for my new rod rest - more 3d printing madness! Canals and hard pegs are a bit of a problem rest wise and I'd been using the Korum Anychair rest. It might fit any chair but isn't really ideal. When you rotate side to side it goes up and down due to the angle of the chair leg and the up and down increments are way to course. The rod tip is either a foot under the water or 6" above unless you happen to drop lucky and the fittings get in the way when packing the chair up. The club pool has concrete pegs so a good place to try it out. @Markcw - the Heat Holder socks were a good investment, thanks.

View attachment 8192

Started around 8:30, 20s light hook sparingly loose feeding caster, maggot and hemp. Not sure about the hemp but it makes a nice noise when going in, like rain blowing water off the trees which should signal food coming in. It's not long before I get a bite and a nice Roach of around 5oz. By no means exceptional for this pool but a nice fish. The pool is probably warmer than most places we would fish as it's in the heart of suburbia. It's acually the remains of an old moat (it's called The Moat), sheltered from the fields at one end by trees and bushes, houses along both sides with trees inbetween and the club house at the other end.

View attachment 8193

Ended up with 17 altogether. 2 tiny Perch, 5 Crucians and the rest Roach to about 8oz. Not a bad day at all. Not a breath of wind and no rain

What pool is that Gordon, ?
I have a couple of pairs of heat holder socks differentnt tog ratings,