How did you get on?

[nottskev]

I wasn't tempted to rush out for the last day to any of my local rivers, but it was such a pleasant morning that at lunchtime I did a quick bait audit - half a dozen lobworms and a bit of liquidised bread in the freezer - and decided to have an hour on the little brook. It was just back within its banks, the ground around was a marsh, and it was running off strongly.

The swims (such as they are) are definitely of the one bite/one fish variety



You drop your float in and let it run the couple of feet til it rests against the tree with your bait underneath and hold it there. First go with a piece of flavoured bread got no response. Second go with a lobworm cut in half and hooked through the cut ends, and this little chub snapped the bait up



Time to move swims, but I had a feeling I'd had my lot, so I settled for two casts, one worm, one chub and walked back to the car. By the middle of June, you'll be barely able to see the water, much less fish it, but it has been a good little find, and I've heard it holds fish in a couple of other locations which I plan to explore.

 

[103841]

How do you follow Neil?

The last day started with a two hour session chucking lures into a very coloured river at Fordwich, all I can say with some very pleasant spring sunshine is the walk was very enjoyable.


A quick coffee before a change of tackle and another assault on the chub in the urban section which yielded three for me yesterday but today it wasn't to be. Frustrating because I had a few bites which I just couldn't connect with, I suspect eels were chomping away at my lumps of cheese.

A strange season with the river never really in an ideal condition, from opening day it was low and clear and remained that way til Winter when it then turned into a rapid flowing highly coloured water and remained that way right up to this day.

I'm pleased enough though, caught my first few pike on both deadbait and lure, so different from any other type of fishing and an experience that won't be forgotten in a hurry. The chub obliged although often hard to find, it was my target to catch a hundred plus from the town section ove the course of the season and it seemed an easy target as I caught regularly throughout the Summer going into Autumn but the dramatic change in the river brought an abrupt halt to my ambitions. Really happy to have caught three chub yesterday which I think we're the first of the year!

Looking forward to April 1st when the Estate lake opens and thoughts turn to early morning starts hoping those Tench and Rudd bring as much pleasure this Summer as they did last year.

 

[john step]

Not only is it the last day of the river season, its the last day of PCs perch challenge.
As the rivers are out of sorts I had a go at redeeming myself with attempt at a perch big enough to be included.

Failed...Only small perch plus a roach or three and 3 mirrors about 6ish.

Now what I don't get is that its still bitterly cold up on the Wolds with snow in the ditches. carp always used to be summer fish. I have struggled recently with traditional winter fish ie pike and perch.

The worlds gone madmg:

 

[tigger]

Today i'd fancied a repeat of last years closing day when I had a change from trotting and legered and had some nice chub and barbel. After having a chat with a good friend of mine he convinced me to do some trotting and off we headed down the motorway to one of his favourite little rivers. He dropped in a swim and caught one chub and lost two more while I tried several more swims upstream but I had no luck. I walked back down to him and we made a move downstream together. He dropped in a swim just below a bridge and I walked on in search of a likely looking swim. The swim I fancied was occupied when I reached it but the angler was ok with me fishing just beyond his trott.
Anyhow I won't go on boring you with all the details and how i'd spent nearly all the session chit chatting mg:.
At the end of the day i'd had one chub and my m8 got another one making it two for him.....i'll never hear the end of that lol.
Even though the days catch wasn't very good I did enjoy my m8's company and chatting to some other anglers, so all's well that ends well .

 

[Philip]

First trip out in ages, with the water level up I decided on a river spot that usually fishes well in those conditions. Out went a bit of groundbait and a feeder and I sat back. I was actually hoping for a Roach but this lovely Chub gate crashed the swim. It was such a handsome example I felt it deserved to have its photo posted. Added some nice Bream and a couple of Roach but truth be told I was just happy to be out.

 

[Tee-Cee]

Once again the promised 14 degrees didn't materialise and the stronger than expected wind made it feel more like half of that. I sat facing into the wind (more an annoying gusty breeze) thinking any surface 'warmth' might roll into my swim. If it did, it did not make the slightest difference!
I had a good selection of fresh bait, each of which were given time to shine, but after a couple of hours I could sense I may well end up with a 'b' word and I wasn't disappointed. Four times I changed my float/hook set up to no avail, and as for changing depth, well the saying 'like a fiddlers elbow' comes to mind....
One bright period, at a round 11am, saw the float suddenly lift 10mm and then settle again but even with my hand on the rod it was too quick for me. Again, around noon, the slim antenna float dipped by the same amount, the second of which I struck into fresh air (liners?)........................Bait on all three occasions was 3 red maggots and although I downsized to 22 with a single, that was my action for six hours of total effort. Grrrrrr.

Off to see my dear old mum this morning (the wife has a garden club committee meeting at home and it's really peeing down anyway) so it will be tomorrow before I venture out, but back to the same venue or to pastures new is in the lap of the Gods. I'm trying heavens hard to keep my chin up and push on through the disappointment but with the blanks piling up and seemingly no breakthrough in sight I'm starting to lose confidence, simply because under 'normal' circumstances I don't do blanks - well, not in this number, anyway!

I've got today to come up with some form of alternative plan - maybe a light feeder will do the trick - but yesterdays miserable bites were up in the water and other depths produced ziltch. I've given light ground bait some thought - perhaps in one part of the swim - but I'm not keen at this time of year, and anyway bottom fishing just hasn't worked.

Anyway, onward and upward, as they say...

ps I did spend some time with chopped worm and segments etc on the hook in a swim that had produced reasonable perch, but not even a small fish found them of any interest.

 

[jasonbean1]

Its been a very busy end to the river season for me and i've been out 10 of the last 12 days. We finally got to Hereford to fish on the Sunday and despite the conditions we were up and running straight away..

Sunday, river Lugg one 5lb chub on bread shared with mate as we only had one rod.(no other anglers)

Monday, wandered around Hereford town stretches eventually finding the chub at Bartonsham and finishing with about 9 3lbers on the maggot feeder(1 other angler)

Tuesday, bit of a walk to the end section of Hereford waters at Eign, cracking bit of water and with big houses opposite and sat dreaming that when the lottery came in one would be mine. again found the chub that were fortunately close in with the river rising and finished with around 8 with a cracking fish of 6lb 1oz. falling to a mixtures of bread maggots and worms.(no other anglers)

Wednesday, back down to Eign, wandering around picking up about 12 chub in the 3-4lb bracket(no other anglers)

Thursday, started at the tennis courts and with no luck wandered down to Bartonsham and had a play with chub again. fisnished with about 6 around 3lb and a surprise barbel around 7lb.(1 other angler)

Friday, back down to Eign wandering around for a few hours and picked up about 8 chub and a nice end to the break with my mate who also caught steady through the week.( 1 other angler who could talk for England from Essex so no surprise)

Saturday, small open match on the upper Thames at Grafton lock...water up and pushing, drew a flier and came 3rd with 2 nice chub, few missed bites and one fell off halfway across which cost me some money...can't remember the weight.

Sunday open match on the upper Thames at Clanfield... not the best draw but came 5th with one perch for 2lb 15oz, bumped one and missed a few bites which cost me a few quid.

Monday, back at work so day off.

Tuesday, at work and was planning on going the Cherwell on the last evening of the season but noticed on the EA site how quick the river was rising so decided to go down after work for a few hours with groundbait and lobworms. managed a nice bream and chub with a couple of chublets.

Wednesday, was planning on the Cherwell but was looking very iffy...had a look after work and I was finally beat...it had burst its banks, I may have been able to fish but with the car park under water and know where to park I was finally beaten on the last day.....sometimes you have to admit defeat:surrender::surrender:

So got through all that with the conditions we had and not blank I finished the season on a high note and in some ways i'm a bit deflated now wondering what i'll do for the next couple of months. the highlights for me were my first 7lb chub and double figure barbel on the float...can't wait till next season.:cheer2:

 

[Neil Maidment]

Really I didn't like this post as it just makes me feel inadequate !

Cracking fish Neil and clearly a successful season for you! I have several advantages over you though! First I have never caught a chub and still have that pleasure to come so there!:wh Second I'm still after a double figure barbel and thirdly , erm , erm I'm younger than you!!!:thumbs::behindsofa:

The Dorset Stour is far from dead (as some would have us believe) but still faces a lot of challenges. Takes a bit of effort but I'm now far more local to the lower reaches than I was for the previous almost 30 years. That allows me to fish it far more frequently and able to often pick my time and conditions.

As for the age thing, I'm already looking forward to next season as I reach the age where my club membership fee is reduced by £60

 

[Neil Maidment]

How do you follow Neil?

Usually to be found on the Dorset Stour anywhere between Longham and the tidal. :wh

 

[flightliner]

Four days of the season left with three outings planned so decided to report the lot in one go.
Sadly not to be three but two on account of external circumstances but ok with that all things considered.
So, first off my Trent trib that was heavily swollen but fishable, just, as it was cast feeder and recast every two minutes on account of drifting weed that was a nightmare.
Two hours with flake produced nothing so a recast with four red maggots gave an instant bite from a nice 3-7 chub that was most welcome.
Two more hours alternating baits gave nothing more but I had a result so was happy with what may have been one of the last fish caught from the water this season just closed.
My second outing was short on account of a docs appointment, three hours luring on a local lake saw me fishless and reading the river levels that night my last planned visit to any river was a decided no no!
Here's my upside down Chub --- ps, ignore the float-- I found it !

 

[mikench]

I must be a glutton for punishment! I set up two feeder rods and they were both within 5 ft of my newly erected Tracker Tempest brolly used for the first time( a crimbo pressie from my kids) . I have rechristened these rods Rip van Winkle rods!

Not a nibble all day! The brolly was brill, easy to erect and provided full protection from the wind and rain. I made a latte with my little stove and whilst the absence of a fish was a source of disappointment , I was out in the fresh air and avoided a visit from my brother in law! That was well worth a blank!:wh

 

[nottskev]

I must be a glutton for punishment! I set up two feeder rods and they were both within 5 ft of my newly erected Tracker Tempest brolly used for the first time( a crimbo pressie from my kids) . I have rechristened these rods Rip van Winkle rods!

Not a nibble all day! The brolly was brill, easy to erect and provided full protection from the wind and rain. I made a latte with my little stove and whilst the absence of a fish was a source of disappointment , I was out in the fresh air and avoided a visit from my brother in law! That was well worth a blank!:wh

Good for you, Mike - I didn't even go out; just couldn't fancy another cold, windy day. The pendulum will surely swing!

 

[Tee-Cee]

Unlike my fellow anglers above, I was treated to a really lovely windless morning with high cloud and some minimal sunshine. The temperature, according to the car, was 8 degrees at 6.15 and even the Marlow by-pass behaved itself!

How I wish I could tell of lovely roach sliding over the rim of the net, but even though conditions looked to be ideal the fish failed to show. I'd chosen a really nice swim with 6' of water running down to around 10' in places, so I had plenty to go at depth wise and this I did over several hours. I fished just off bottom to over depth against the slope but all this effort produced not the slightest interest....
Again, as an act of pure desperation (bored watching a motionless float!) I came up really shallow and fished over lightly sprayed maggots with continual casting. After half an hour I had a ' now you see it, now you don't' type of bite, and my gentle strike was met with the solid resistance of a carp. Some 15 minutes later a pretty common of around 6lbs was steered into the net, and a blank avoided.

Not what I wanted, and to be honest I would've been happier with a 10oz roach, but...................

The weather looks dreadful for this weekend so maybe I will give it a miss until later next week....... that's what I'm say now, anyway!!

 

[ian g]

I'm not really a fan of flood water fishing but I managed a session on the Severn last Sunday . Tried my new to me Ray Walton Rolling pin , fished a big slack with meat as bait but nothing was happening , switched to worm and missed a run . I went for a chat with my mate , tried another couple of spots before returning to the slack . I got another bite and a splasher barbel of around 5 lb. Out again on Wednesday for a short evening session , very windy but dry and fairly mild . Tried a couple of likely spot though I couldn't manage a bite. End of season which is always sad but I've done ok and enjoyed myself.

 

[markcw]

I must be a glutton for punishment! I set up two feeder rods and they were both within 5 ft of my newly erected Tracker Tempest brolly used for the first time( a crimbo pressie from my kids) . I have rechristened these rods Rip van Winkle rods!

Not a nibble all day! The brolly was brill, easy to erect and provided full protection from the wind and rain. I made a latte with my little stove and whilst the absence of a fish was a source of disappointment , I was out in the fresh air and avoided a visit from my brother in law! That was well worth a blank!:wh

A latte ???!!!! What is wrong with having a proper manly coffee instead of a poncy latte ? mg:
I hope to justify you having it, you drank it from a mug ?

 

[john step]

A latte ???!!!! What is wrong with having a proper manly coffee instead of a poncy latte ? mg:
I hope to justify you having it, you drank it from a mug ?

Reminds me of a recent rare visit to a coffee cafe. I only wanted a coffee. I hadn't a clue what the young lady was on about. Did I want a Latte, an American etc etc. Apparently they didn't do Nescafe.

 

[markcw]

John, if I have to use one of the Costa type places where a "large " coffee comes in a double handled soup bowl.
My standard reply once they have rattled off about 15 different coffee drinks is "Black With Milk"
At the moment "The Pound Bakery" does the best coffee, out of a tub into a take out cup and topped up with
milk from a bottle,

 

[mikench]

I certainly did use a mug , an insulated one at that! Delicious it was and like many adults like me( boys at heart but with men's ways) I got a perverse pleasure being under canvas, messin about with a gas stove and pretending to be Bear Grills! The fishing was mere periphery! Just as well really:wh

 

[markcw]

Mike, I do it the easy way, a great big stainless steel "Stanley" flask that holds around 1.75 litres of coffee and stays hot all day, I found the cups don't float though, mine is now a small fish refuge on the
bottom on "Nookey Hollow" pool at Fir Tree Fisheries, so I have to take insulated mug with me now, mg:

 

[flightliner]

Mike, I do it the easy way, a great big stainless steel "Stanley" flask that holds around 1.75 litres of coffee and stays hot all day, I found the cups don't float though, mine is now a small fish refuge on the
bottom on "Nookey Hollow" pool at Fir Tree Fisheries, so I have to take insulated mug with me now, mg:

Mark, if Mike did his coffee Italian style and had to find a replacement cup he would have to raid his wifes sewing box for a thimble!.