Today the forecast showed 8c and little rain, the best forecast of the week. So I took the opportunity to try out my latest rod creation.
My old 13' 1-3 oz bass surf rod had gradually become a 9' 11" heavy duty quivertip rod, perfect for work amongst the many swims surrounded by low hanging tree branches. I was never likely to use the bass rod again, so bits of it (decent Scottish made Daiwa blank) gradually morphed into a useful 2.5 lb TC rod with a 4 ozs quivertip spliced in.
It's a gamble cutting hollow carbon tips to splice in solid carbon quiver sections. Very much a judgement call where to cut to get a progressive curve around the join, get it wrong and all the strain is on the weakest point.
So it was important to give it a try quickly, despite very cold river conditions and a pretty full on flow after recent rains.
My recent found barbel swim was my choice, though the chance of barbel low in the conditions. But there are other species that like the massive back eddy here. Bream most likely, but a fair chance of a winter carp.
FIshing buddy Alistair joined me, for a few hours the weather was very kind to us and we had a few fish. Only bream were feeding but we were grateful with that. I had three and Alistair just the one, all between three and four pounds.
The first did the bream flip after netting, threw the hook and slid back into the river - a quick release!.....
That shoal moved to Alistair and he had one of similar size and missed some bites.
When they returned to me I had two more, might have been the same fish as the sizes seemed identical!
The rod chucked a big, well loaded feeder an easy 50 yds. At the end of the session I changed to an 85gr grip lead, this nearly made it to the opposite bank 70 yds+. The 4ozs quivertip sat nicely in a decent flow - so I am pleased with the "new" rod. Just need a big fish on it now!!!
At this time of year I am satisfied to catch whatever the river cares to give up! Good three hours on the bank! ?
