I went to the deep gravel pit where I caught the seven pound tench,I blanked,never had a touch,had bream spawning in the margins all day,apparently they were at it all down the far bank too,must be a few bream there,carp anglers love em...
You still get the odd Tench out of the L-L (allegedly), but I've yet to encounter one - I was reading somewhere that they were far more prolific 20+ years ago when the water was a lot clearer - better sunlight penetration allowed filamentous algae to grow in abundance. Once the water became more murky, the algae died off and the Tench disappeared... apparently.It's just that kind of place, jon, the bites were coming as quickly when I packed up. When I lived in Chester, there was a former brickyard at Tattenhall that held hordes of small tench. Your canal used to have a lot around Lydiate, but that's going back a bit.
You never know until you try Mike - days like that remind us that it's fishing, not catching...Gordon and I set forth to a new water on a mutual club card. We met at 7.00 am to find a neglected water with about 10 pegs of which only 4 or 5 were useable. We set up in a spot were the bank was relatively free of mud and not underwater.
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It looked promising and we thought we would do well. Alas we were wrong. I blanked and Gordon managed one roach.we both saw loads of small fish, cruising carp and even a couple of jacks but couldn't tempt any of them on maggot or anything else. As the temperatures rose and as the willow fluff covered the swims, our lines and blocked our rod eyes we packed up disappointed and a little fed up. We shall not be returning any time soon.
My day yesterday was a carbon copy Mark. All prepped and ready to go but at the last minute I baulked, the thought of sitting by my intended venue in the sun after having to endure a near 3/4 mile trek with my kit on a trolley was offputting so, I put plan B into operation and went fish spotting on a tiny little river not far from where I live.I did something I have never done before, I went fishing and decided not to bother. I walked up the pier with all my fishing gear and the first thing was the wind, it was not cold but I did not fancy sitting in it; I was a bit doubtful in the morning as the forecast was east and it was. The second thing it was still right at low tide so not a lot of sea to fish in but that was a small reason as it was just starting to come up. The third reason and the main reason was I asked a bloke who was fishing if he caught anything and he said nothing but spider crabs. Last time I walked up there nothing was being caught and everyone was complaining about them but I forgot about it. I think they are on the march and come through for a few weeks while they march to their breeding ground but, I am not sure about that. All in all I just decided not to bother, I just didn't have the enthusiasm for it, unusual for me once I am there but, I went for a coffee then came home and got on with something else more pressing. The bait has gone back in the fridge and can wait for another day however, I might think about some coarse fishing next time; maybe I just need a change of scenery.
My day yesterday was a carbon copy Mark. All prepped and ready to go but at the last minute I baulked, the thought of sitting by my intended venue in the sun after having to endure a near 3/4 mile trek with my kit on a trolley was offputting so, I put plan B into operation and went fish spotting on a tiny little river not far from where I live.
Ive been meaning to do it here for a couple of years but I always pass it by on my way elsewhere but here was as good a day as any.
That's given me an idea Flight, looks great, might do something similar, get the old magic back.