mikench
Well-known member
Should have gone to spec savers. Cracking fish Ian.
How did you get on?
- Thread starter peter crabtree
- Start date
rich66
Well-known member
Had to get out this morning work was p’ing me off and forecasted weather looks poor. Thought I’d go on my usual stretch of the canalised river Soar. Fished bread and liqqy bread but not a sniff of a bite in 3 hours and 3 different swims. But still a lovely morning to be out. My Trakker suit kept me very warm as usual. Ended up feeding my bread to the 3 young swans that have been knocking around all morning.
sylvanillo
Well-known member
Some fishing today. I was about to write "winter fishing today" but... in the morning it was winter at around 0º, by midday it was Spring and I was fishing around in t-shirt! A surprising weather but a really enjoyed session.
I tried a stream which isn't the most beautiful one around but is close enough so fits between the school runs that I'm in charge of at the moment.
On top of that, it looks like a public landfill in places.
In terms of catches, well that wasn't brilliant. Today it was Bank Holiday for the Roach, and I didn't know!
A small chub saved me from a blank though.
I walked and stayed on several swims for about 10 minutes, trying attractive spots that could potentially host a chub, or perhaps a perch?
But noone was especially interested.
Under this sun it would seem we're in April. Almost calling for czech nymph fishing with one or two nymphs!
The small chub who made my day. But (not sure if everyone will agree), it looked all sad to me?! It looked all brexited.
Have a good evening everyone!
I tried a stream which isn't the most beautiful one around but is close enough so fits between the school runs that I'm in charge of at the moment.
On top of that, it looks like a public landfill in places.
In terms of catches, well that wasn't brilliant. Today it was Bank Holiday for the Roach, and I didn't know!
A small chub saved me from a blank though.
I walked and stayed on several swims for about 10 minutes, trying attractive spots that could potentially host a chub, or perhaps a perch?
But noone was especially interested.
Under this sun it would seem we're in April. Almost calling for czech nymph fishing with one or two nymphs!
The small chub who made my day. But (not sure if everyone will agree), it looked all sad to me?! It looked all brexited.
Have a good evening everyone!
Nor am I Ian,if this would have been ten years ago I might have bought one,but age is catching up with me and my aches and pains are a real concern at present,same as many on FM...
sam vimes
Well-known member
I had a sudden urge to get out. Largely a culmination of seeing the forecast, a dash of stir crazy and a smidge of slowly desiccating maggots. After losing one last week, I also needed yet another straight hazel stick to season before use (I usually keep a couple of spares and one in use).
I also had a spot to venture to that is one of the longest walks on this club's waters. The peg in question used to be a favourite for many. However, the lack of matches, most folks being unwilling to walk as far, and a horrible mess of brambles on the steep bank, means that I, and many others, rarely bothered with it. The fact that I've rarely done any good up there didn't help matters. However, the landowner has taken to keeping a few sheep in there. It was worth a look and the exercise wouldn't kill me.
The long and the short of it was that I blanked, not a sniff in a bit of water that looks fantastic. If there's any danger of me seeing and catching chub and barbel, on our water, this will be the place.
On the positive side, the bank was accessible, though the brambles were still a bit thick in patches.
I cleared a few branches that might make fishing the swim awkward in summer. I cleared a bit of excess tree growth elsewhere on the stretch. I got rid of some past their best maggots and got a bit of exercise to boot. Considering it's a good track and I travel light at a decent lick, it's perhaps not surprising that few venture as far when it took me over twenty minutes to get from peg to access point. I look forward to giving it a go early season. Seeing some barbel might be a novelty, but I suspect the dace will be stacked up when they finally arrive.
Roll on summer.
I also had a spot to venture to that is one of the longest walks on this club's waters. The peg in question used to be a favourite for many. However, the lack of matches, most folks being unwilling to walk as far, and a horrible mess of brambles on the steep bank, means that I, and many others, rarely bothered with it. The fact that I've rarely done any good up there didn't help matters. However, the landowner has taken to keeping a few sheep in there. It was worth a look and the exercise wouldn't kill me.
The long and the short of it was that I blanked, not a sniff in a bit of water that looks fantastic. If there's any danger of me seeing and catching chub and barbel, on our water, this will be the place.
On the positive side, the bank was accessible, though the brambles were still a bit thick in patches.
I cleared a few branches that might make fishing the swim awkward in summer. I cleared a bit of excess tree growth elsewhere on the stretch. I got rid of some past their best maggots and got a bit of exercise to boot. Considering it's a good track and I travel light at a decent lick, it's perhaps not surprising that few venture as far when it took me over twenty minutes to get from peg to access point. I look forward to giving it a go early season. Seeing some barbel might be a novelty, but I suspect the dace will be stacked up when they finally arrive.
Roll on summer.
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A hard frost for the last two nights and a bitter East Wind today did not bode well. I chose an easy small water that produces even in winter.
Not today though. 5 Hours on a waggler produced one small perch one roach and one small carp.
As Sam said above. Roll on Summer.
Not today though. 5 Hours on a waggler produced one small perch one roach and one small carp.
As Sam said above. Roll on Summer.
flightliner
Well-known member
I really don't have much, if anything to talk of fishing wise .
Five whole days in recant weeks have come to nothing tangible except a couple of lovely dawns, a few nice chats with the odd walker but absolutely nothing fishwise!
Anyway, today I decided to have a walk down to the local commercial to have a look round and maybe chat to the odd aquintance that frequent the place.
Unusually it was very quite and almost devoid of anglers , but, has luck would have it a friend was sat fishing a corner peg so I beelined him for a chat.
He said it was hard going and in the next 25minutes he had two small f1s.
He had to make a call and said for me to have a go for ten minutes until he finished so I popped down into his seat and took over his feeder rod, pulled out, rebaited and recast.
Wow! I had a bite, even a bigger surprise was my immediate response considering my recant five inactive weeks.
What a fish, the biggest and best I've ever caught-----------------
a Goldfish , must have been at least four inches long.
Mmmmm, must get back to my stunning dawns.
Five whole days in recant weeks have come to nothing tangible except a couple of lovely dawns, a few nice chats with the odd walker but absolutely nothing fishwise!
Anyway, today I decided to have a walk down to the local commercial to have a look round and maybe chat to the odd aquintance that frequent the place.
Unusually it was very quite and almost devoid of anglers , but, has luck would have it a friend was sat fishing a corner peg so I beelined him for a chat.
He said it was hard going and in the next 25minutes he had two small f1s.
He had to make a call and said for me to have a go for ten minutes until he finished so I popped down into his seat and took over his feeder rod, pulled out, rebaited and recast.
Wow! I had a bite, even a bigger surprise was my immediate response considering my recant five inactive weeks.
What a fish, the biggest and best I've ever caught-----------------
a Goldfish , must have been at least four inches long.
Mmmmm, must get back to my stunning dawns.
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Three fishing trips this week:
Monday, roach fishing on the Basingstoke Canal which was flowing due to all the rain. Layed-on bread flake, caught a few roach to 1lb and a small snottie using an elasticated whip with two floats - the top float is very thin peacock quill 3 inches long which lies flat on the surface and the second float is balsa (takes 4bb) which is directly underneath the peacock quill. A bb shot is on the deck 5 inches from the size 12 B525. Also tried trotted bread punch, had a few much smaller roach. Stupidly I snapped the telescopic top kit of whip when putting it away - blast! Water temp 46F. I used to use jointed floats and then it occurred to me why not just use two floats next to each other - it's a nice stable set up which does not sway or waggle in the current, also very sensitive.
Wednesday, roach fishing on the Thames using mended whip. Layed-on flake again. Thames still a bit coloured but fast, struggled with the whip but had a few roach on the leger rod to 1lb 3ozs. Also had a small chub and a silver bream - first I had caught for a long time. WT 45F.
Friday, Thames again, different bit. Still laying-on flake caught two roach biggest 1lb 13oz. Swapped to leger because wind increased, caught a few more roach, 2 smallish chub and 2 dace. Baits were flake or dead maggots. Cold SE wind, bites stopped at 10am, had a couple of fish at last light. WT 43F.
Monday, roach fishing on the Basingstoke Canal which was flowing due to all the rain. Layed-on bread flake, caught a few roach to 1lb and a small snottie using an elasticated whip with two floats - the top float is very thin peacock quill 3 inches long which lies flat on the surface and the second float is balsa (takes 4bb) which is directly underneath the peacock quill. A bb shot is on the deck 5 inches from the size 12 B525. Also tried trotted bread punch, had a few much smaller roach. Stupidly I snapped the telescopic top kit of whip when putting it away - blast! Water temp 46F. I used to use jointed floats and then it occurred to me why not just use two floats next to each other - it's a nice stable set up which does not sway or waggle in the current, also very sensitive.
Wednesday, roach fishing on the Thames using mended whip. Layed-on flake again. Thames still a bit coloured but fast, struggled with the whip but had a few roach on the leger rod to 1lb 3ozs. Also had a small chub and a silver bream - first I had caught for a long time. WT 45F.
Friday, Thames again, different bit. Still laying-on flake caught two roach biggest 1lb 13oz. Swapped to leger because wind increased, caught a few more roach, 2 smallish chub and 2 dace. Baits were flake or dead maggots. Cold SE wind, bites stopped at 10am, had a couple of fish at last light. WT 43F.
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I keep telling myself to try somewhere different but I still find myself gravitating to the same spot that I’ve been fishing over this winter, partly through convenience and laziness but I have this 100yard stretch of the river Stour all to myself, no other members seem interested in fishing it, suits me.
It also allows me to experiment with different rigs and baits and maybe learn something when the location is constant.
So like a couple of days ago I was here again this morning, same swim, same setup and same variety of baits, wheat, bread and maggots.
What does seem to vary each trip are the fish caught, or not as is often the case. A few days ago I had a few nice chublets, a decent chub and a couple of clonking dace.
Today was a frustrating one, lightening quick bites which I struggled to connect with but when I did succeed they were all very small dace of a couple of ounces. Not only were the bites really quick, these tiny dace were putting up one hell of a fight for their size, I was convinced as each were hooked I had a “goer” but as soon as they surfaced I knew differently.
The weather was glorious, blue skies, abundant sunshine and the slightest of breeze, hard to imagine we are in for a major storm tomorrow.
It also allows me to experiment with different rigs and baits and maybe learn something when the location is constant.
So like a couple of days ago I was here again this morning, same swim, same setup and same variety of baits, wheat, bread and maggots.
What does seem to vary each trip are the fish caught, or not as is often the case. A few days ago I had a few nice chublets, a decent chub and a couple of clonking dace.
Today was a frustrating one, lightening quick bites which I struggled to connect with but when I did succeed they were all very small dace of a couple of ounces. Not only were the bites really quick, these tiny dace were putting up one hell of a fight for their size, I was convinced as each were hooked I had a “goer” but as soon as they surfaced I knew differently.
The weather was glorious, blue skies, abundant sunshine and the slightest of breeze, hard to imagine we are in for a major storm tomorrow.
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Hard graft today at the club lake. A group of the usual more dedicated members rebuilt several swims. Sorry that's my Essex upbringing. Pegs up here.
My job consisted of wheel barrowing rocks and soil. I am 71. It seems the youngest members are always too busy.
Lets see what tonights storm does to the trees around our fisheries.
My job consisted of wheel barrowing rocks and soil. I am 71. It seems the youngest members are always too busy.
Lets see what tonights storm does to the trees around our fisheries.
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With the weather looking pretty dire for the foreseable future and me having a pint or more of maggots I decided to have a couple of hours swimming the stream this avvey to use some up. The wind was pretty strong already and my rod bent round with the gusts! I was on a wide open spot on a large river which didn't make the fishing very pleasant. Anyhow, I did catch a few chub which were like peas in a pod and all gave a good account of themselves. Here's the first one to oblige....
Golden Eagle
Well-known member
Page 1462 and my first appearance! Better late than never.
Had an urge to fish the maggot feeder for silvers on a relatively local commie. Not something I regularly do, in fact I’m not much of a Winter angler in any respect since returning after a 25 year break, 3 or 4 years ago.
Arrived to find no one in the shop and no answer from the number on the door, eventually found them in the cafe having breakfast and paid my way. The lad selling tickets was telling me of the latest ‘cell dumbell’ that is proving irresistible to the fish. This old carp’s a bit too wiley to swallow that one son, but top marks for trying, maggots, corn or bust for me today.
Lakes were surprisingly busy. I’m often amused by the carp lads, head to toe in camouflage gear, even their buckets cannot be seen by the naked eye but boy do they love a mallet! The big storm never materialised but I wouldn’t be going near the San Andreas Fault anytime soon, after the hammering one young lad did to his buzzer bars which must have sent shock waves to the very core of the Earth, every fish for a 100 mile radius was put on red alert! Anyway...
There was a bloke fishing in the swim I’d mentally earmarked so I had to go one further along. ‘Any good mate?’ I asked as I passed, noticing he was on the tip and looked to be fishing a very similar style to my intended game plan. I’m not sure what I want to hear as the answer to that question but I suppose in February it should offer a glimmer of hope? Nothing of the sort from my new pal:- ‘Not a touch, I’ve tried everything, every trick I know, haven’t had so much as a tiny indication, pellets, corn, dead reds, tight to the island, deeper water, even short, not a tap, nothing.’ There really isn’t an answer to that is there? A half hearted ‘You never know they might switch on as the day warms up’ was basically a lie, all I could offer but well intended.
I managed three roach over 4 hours. Despite trying to net the first one as inconspicuously as I could, the poor chap next peg packed up almost immediately after, I hope he’s contemplating golf rather than something darker and my friend, if you’re reading this, we share your pain, brother!
There’s millions of fish in that lake, well at least 12,500, according to the website, and I caught three. Of the other 7 anglers I could see, no one caught anything, my three roach not great in size, but pretty little silver pieces of magic on a very tough Winter day. The storm turned out to be hype, as real as the pristine net of redfins I’d dreamt of the night before. But the joy of fishing always wins.
Now where’s that guy who said commies are too easy?
Had an urge to fish the maggot feeder for silvers on a relatively local commie. Not something I regularly do, in fact I’m not much of a Winter angler in any respect since returning after a 25 year break, 3 or 4 years ago.
Arrived to find no one in the shop and no answer from the number on the door, eventually found them in the cafe having breakfast and paid my way. The lad selling tickets was telling me of the latest ‘cell dumbell’ that is proving irresistible to the fish. This old carp’s a bit too wiley to swallow that one son, but top marks for trying, maggots, corn or bust for me today.
Lakes were surprisingly busy. I’m often amused by the carp lads, head to toe in camouflage gear, even their buckets cannot be seen by the naked eye but boy do they love a mallet! The big storm never materialised but I wouldn’t be going near the San Andreas Fault anytime soon, after the hammering one young lad did to his buzzer bars which must have sent shock waves to the very core of the Earth, every fish for a 100 mile radius was put on red alert! Anyway...
There was a bloke fishing in the swim I’d mentally earmarked so I had to go one further along. ‘Any good mate?’ I asked as I passed, noticing he was on the tip and looked to be fishing a very similar style to my intended game plan. I’m not sure what I want to hear as the answer to that question but I suppose in February it should offer a glimmer of hope? Nothing of the sort from my new pal:- ‘Not a touch, I’ve tried everything, every trick I know, haven’t had so much as a tiny indication, pellets, corn, dead reds, tight to the island, deeper water, even short, not a tap, nothing.’ There really isn’t an answer to that is there? A half hearted ‘You never know they might switch on as the day warms up’ was basically a lie, all I could offer but well intended.
I managed three roach over 4 hours. Despite trying to net the first one as inconspicuously as I could, the poor chap next peg packed up almost immediately after, I hope he’s contemplating golf rather than something darker and my friend, if you’re reading this, we share your pain, brother!
There’s millions of fish in that lake, well at least 12,500, according to the website, and I caught three. Of the other 7 anglers I could see, no one caught anything, my three roach not great in size, but pretty little silver pieces of magic on a very tough Winter day. The storm turned out to be hype, as real as the pristine net of redfins I’d dreamt of the night before. But the joy of fishing always wins.
Now where’s that guy who said commies are too easy?
theartist
Well-known member
This is from Friday when it was not quite storm 'Ciara' but more like gentle breeze 'Keith' I had an urge to fish the River Bourne as I hadn't been there for a few years. It's a tributary of the Thames which runs alongside an old fashioned flood meadow that's usually a foot underwater each year, for this reason it's one of the larger undeveloped areas inside the m25 and you get some good skies.
The Bourne is a trickle in summer and a muddy channel in winter, it is really tiny and intimate, so I set up in spot in the woods where it widened, I could still touch the opposite bank with my rod tip, it was real fern gully fishing. Long Tailed **** and Parakeets made for some colour amongst various hues of brown, not to mention the Kingfisher which almost flew into me, on the first of several such encounters during the day
Ice was still on the deck making the mud hard and on it was some frozen maggots so someone must have fished here the day before. I set up a small stick and thought it would be hard but had ten roach and dace straight away which was a nice surprise. I left the swim to warm up my knees and venture downstream.
I bypassed a long stretch that was a couple of feet wide and slinging through, if anything this river is too straight and needs widening with some shallow gravels, just as I was thinking that I saw a sign saying they were planning river improvements with gravels so that was good, be interesting to see if it improves things.
The pylons were hissing and things were warming up, as I walked downstream a kestrel shadowed me along the meads and I wondered if I was disturbing anything, never had one follow me before. Also there was a college on opposite bank where in the distance I could see a herd of deer feeding on their football pitch, perhaps the grass is tastier there or like the Kestrel they were finding food hard to find.
The mind wandered to deer playing football - Joe Hart, Barry Venison, Glenn Roedeer, Stag Collymore, Muntjac Grealishmg: Safe to say I needed to get fishing again.
Further downstream the Bourne joins the Bourne, the second arm from a different source that the locals call the Addle, here the two rivers try to be a proper one but its still quite small however there is the chance of something big coming up from where it meets the Thames round the corner. It's mega snaggy with wood on the bottom almost everywhere. I had many more roach most of which weren't big but were in great condition
I managed to get to the bottom of the river, catching 39 roach 10 dace a small bream and quite a few bleak, I was covered in mud as was my gear and I had nothing big all day, who cares, I had a great time. On the long straight walk back I wondered if the kestrel had any luck, If it's better to be a fish in a world where you're spending all day every day either looking for food or hoping not to be food, at least they got our bait to keep them going through winter.
Blue sky fishing
The Bourne is a trickle in summer and a muddy channel in winter, it is really tiny and intimate, so I set up in spot in the woods where it widened, I could still touch the opposite bank with my rod tip, it was real fern gully fishing. Long Tailed **** and Parakeets made for some colour amongst various hues of brown, not to mention the Kingfisher which almost flew into me, on the first of several such encounters during the day
Ice was still on the deck making the mud hard and on it was some frozen maggots so someone must have fished here the day before. I set up a small stick and thought it would be hard but had ten roach and dace straight away which was a nice surprise. I left the swim to warm up my knees and venture downstream.
I bypassed a long stretch that was a couple of feet wide and slinging through, if anything this river is too straight and needs widening with some shallow gravels, just as I was thinking that I saw a sign saying they were planning river improvements with gravels so that was good, be interesting to see if it improves things.
The pylons were hissing and things were warming up, as I walked downstream a kestrel shadowed me along the meads and I wondered if I was disturbing anything, never had one follow me before. Also there was a college on opposite bank where in the distance I could see a herd of deer feeding on their football pitch, perhaps the grass is tastier there or like the Kestrel they were finding food hard to find.
The mind wandered to deer playing football - Joe Hart, Barry Venison, Glenn Roedeer, Stag Collymore, Muntjac Grealish
mg: Safe to say I needed to get fishing again.Further downstream the Bourne joins the Bourne, the second arm from a different source that the locals call the Addle, here the two rivers try to be a proper one but its still quite small however there is the chance of something big coming up from where it meets the Thames round the corner. It's mega snaggy with wood on the bottom almost everywhere. I had many more roach most of which weren't big but were in great condition
I managed to get to the bottom of the river, catching 39 roach 10 dace a small bream and quite a few bleak, I was covered in mud as was my gear and I had nothing big all day, who cares, I had a great time. On the long straight walk back I wondered if the kestrel had any luck, If it's better to be a fish in a world where you're spending all day every day either looking for food or hoping not to be food, at least they got our bait to keep them going through winter.
Blue sky fishing
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steve2
Well-known member
Wonder how many people are out fishing today in this gentle breeze.
mikench
Well-known member
Nice post Golden Eagle . It wasn't Partridge Lakes you fished was it?
Well done Rob; You had a great day. Do you support the Kashima Antlers?
Well done Rob; You had a great day. Do you support the Kashima Antlers?
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Great post Rob and Golden Eagle
Set me to thinking, should one carry a special rod when roving? I’m not clumsy but you can bet your bottom dollar I would manage to find a hazard that magnetises itself to my rod tip at some part of my roving journey or I take a tumble, definitely wouldn't take an Accy with me. My roving takes in no more than a few yards of reasonably jungle free river banks, I have a Shimano Beastmaster 9/11ft which suits the job just fine at the shorter length and it seems to have a bit of robustness.
Set me to thinking, should one carry a special rod when roving? I’m not clumsy but you can bet your bottom dollar I would manage to find a hazard that magnetises itself to my rod tip at some part of my roving journey or I take a tumble, definitely wouldn't take an Accy with me. My roving takes in no more than a few yards of reasonably jungle free river banks, I have a Shimano Beastmaster 9/11ft which suits the job just fine at the shorter length and it seems to have a bit of robustness.
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theartist
Well-known member
Yes defo, I should have a shorter rod for such venues but I know my tip is robust enough to cater with alder/willow branches which were everywhere. Using my normal rod also gives me more options if I need a plan b venue for some reason
Also net handle, if you notice it's an old fashioned metal number, perfect for using as a wading staff or for standing on rushes/mud, climbing down slippy banks, testing depth and dealing with hoodies
Hook/line set up is also important fishing heavier than usual with 4,4 and 3,7 hooklength allows for minimal hook losses on what are usually snag filled rivers. The hooks I use usually bend on a wooden underwater snag before any snappage and whilst it's not ideal to use a hook bent back you can still land big fish on it, Beats having to lose hooks all the time, must have hit at least a dozen solid snags that day
What rod is that Rob,an acolyte?
Went to a small sidestream of the Ouse,fished hard but had four roach over ten ounces to 1lb 6ozs,lost another that came off,a monster,which i hooked fifteen yards downstream only for it to come off as it approached the net,around two and a half pounds,absolutely gutted,sat there cursing myself unable to fish for around twenty minutes...
Went to a small sidestream of the Ouse,fished hard but had four roach over ten ounces to 1lb 6ozs,lost another that came off,a monster,which i hooked fifteen yards downstream only for it to come off as it approached the net,around two and a half pounds,absolutely gutted,sat there cursing myself unable to fish for around twenty minutes...
theartist
Well-known member
Never mind my rod mate where on the Ouse is doing 2's at the moment? Pm me if you want to swap info
peter crabtree
AKA Simon, 1953 - 2022 (RIP)
Had a very disappointing day on the Colne Thursday trotting flake for no bites, my blank being saved by a tiny bleak on maggot.
Yesterday I went back with my tip rod and maggot feeder.
The peg I fancied was occupied Thursday, where I saw an angler lose a big fish on his maggot feeder approach, but was vacant yesterday.
Cast out my feeder and sat back enjoying the mild and windless day. Nothing happened for the first 2 hours until, whilst watching a robin in the garden opposite, my rod was almost wrenched from my hand!
The fish made a quick dash for the near bank and dumped my hook in a heavy sunken branch.
After landing said branch and tying a new hook to replace the misshapen blunt one, I recast.
After another long wait my tip wavered before starting to twitch. I lifted the rod and it was on again. I didn’t see it as it powered up and down the swim before dumping my hook once again.
Buqqer!
With just 30mins daylight left I packed up as the swim had been trashed and my patience tested.
I suspect it was a large chub although barbel and carp also frequent the river.
I will return next week...
Yesterday I went back with my tip rod and maggot feeder.
The peg I fancied was occupied Thursday, where I saw an angler lose a big fish on his maggot feeder approach, but was vacant yesterday.
Cast out my feeder and sat back enjoying the mild and windless day. Nothing happened for the first 2 hours until, whilst watching a robin in the garden opposite, my rod was almost wrenched from my hand!
The fish made a quick dash for the near bank and dumped my hook in a heavy sunken branch.
After landing said branch and tying a new hook to replace the misshapen blunt one, I recast.
After another long wait my tip wavered before starting to twitch. I lifted the rod and it was on again. I didn’t see it as it powered up and down the swim before dumping my hook once again.
Buqqer!
With just 30mins daylight left I packed up as the swim had been trashed and my patience tested.
I suspect it was a large chub although barbel and carp also frequent the river.
I will return next week...