Spring/Summer 2023

Close Season

In the old days you couldn't do any coarse fishing at all anywhere in most counties. So my hangover from those days means I always get out the fly fishing gear for a few trips. Withern Mill is the closest and most welcoming fishery to me. My Labradors, the chaos twins, absolutely love it too. 

Daisy cooling off in the river at Withern Mill this spring.

I was going to leave this until last largely because nobody really gives a toss about your dogs apart from yourself. Daisy was however a big part of this blog and my life. She can't be a footnote. A week after the above picture she passed away. Daisy had been fishing with me more than anyone on the planet. She would often wander off, never out of sight but happily doing her own thing. She'd often appear on the other side of a pond or sometimes even come swimming by. She was an ever present joy in my life. I didn't go fishing for a month after her passing, I exclusively use my laptop to write this and it's the first post I've written without her.

Right now I've stopped crying, back to what you are here for- the fishing. I had a few trips to Withern Mill before a visit by Dave and Martin on a beautiful day late in the spring. I had caught on all my visits, modest rainbows in short sessions. Martin was already fishing when I arrived and was taking advantage of an early rise, again just little rainbows. When Dave arrived he stumbled upon a decent Brown Trout in the margins of one of lakes. 

He proceeded to fling every fly in his box at it over a period of maybe two hours. It wasn't interested in any of them. It appeared to be eating something though, we just needed to find out what. I say we, Martin would never jump in someone else's spot, I meant me, I was straight in there as soon as Dave's back was turned. I too, tried pretty much everything to no avail before we departed to try elsewhere on the fishery.

On the way back another chap was leaving the first area and said he had tried to catch the brownie too. Dave estimated it to be 6lb+, the other angler ambitiously declared it to be at least 12lb. I couldn't leave without knowing the truth and tried a slightly different approach. I borrowed some heavy leader from Martin and set about agitating it into striking at my offering. Did it work?

Our friends Dave Owen and Martin Barnatt

~slight pause for effect~

Finally fooled. It was 9lb 4oz. 

A new PB. It was lucky I borrowed some 10lb florocarbon from Martin as it powered off upon hooking. I'm always intrigued as to what the fight is like when someone catches a big fish and this one was fairly fraught. Luckily although extremely powerful it stayed pretty much in open water so I maintained a modicum of control before it was finally ready for netting. Dave was the only one of us with a net big enough so it was a true team effort.

Water Leisure Park

Earlier in the spring I set about the carp on the local caravan park lake. Just short sessions and always very productive. I had three over 20lb and a lot of doubles. Nothing serious, as fishing shouldn't be, just a bit of fun.

Pitsford

Our friend Nick Coulthurst was keen to fish for predators on a reservoir so with the weather still cool and Pitsford open early we decided to head there. A group of us had caught an incredible nineteen perch over 3lbs between us some years ago and I know the place reasonably well. A few days before our visit a two day pike match had taken place with some very big fish being caught so we'd have a go for those too if the perch weren't playing ball. 

Conditions on the day weren't great- no wind and very bright but I was still confident as I regaled Nick with past tales of glory while we motored to the first banker spot. Not a touch. Not even a sign of a fish which was very concerning. That set the precedent for the rest of the day really. Incredibly hard fishing and nothing like years past. So soon after the weekends match even the pike weren't keen to strike at any lures. Previously the travel and cost was outweighed by great fishing. We won't be in a massive hurry to return any time soon. 

I did manage one solitary perch of nearly 3lb

And a 4lb Brownie

 

Saltwater fun

Anyone who has ever lost a dog will probably tell you the grief is incredibly intense but thankfully quite short-lived. A few weeks after Daisy's passing I forced myself out on the boat and caught a few hounds and a bass. Looking at the photo now I don't look in a particularly happy place.

A week or so later I headed out with Daisy's sister for an early morning session on the beach. To preface what you're about to read I've caught hundreds of smooth hounds. My PB rose slowly over the years - 10lb 14oz, 12lb 2oz, 13lb while all around seemed to be catching bigger ones year after year. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of hours trying, cosying up to local experts, trying different baits and techniques, studying tides and conditions etc,etc.

The sun was already up by the time we arrived and I cast one piece of squid as far as I could and dropped one a bit shorter, maybe 80 yards. The sun was beautifully calm and Harriet was loving the break from our cats. Even now, months on, I can remember a wave of sadness washing over me that someone was missing (last time I'll mention Daisy, honest). I recast both rods just to keep myself busy more than necessity and truth be told I was just going through the motions.  

Out of the blue the rod fishing short dropped back. No tripod destroying run, no spinning clutch. I picked it up and bent into something that swam straight towards me. Even in close it didn't do much, just plodded up and down before I managed to beach it. No bigger than others I had caught I thought as I unhooked it. She was remarkably placid and very broad. It was only when I picked her up to place in the sling I realised her heft. A quick weighing and photo and she was back. Resting for a moment and my hands before slowly moving off and back out to sea.

14lb 12oz

Typical, all those years of desperately trying and I break my PB when barely bothered about catching anything at all. That fish though reignited my interest and was a kind of signal that it was OK to enjoy stuff again.

A few days later I went out with Zak on the boat. It was a strange session. We moved a lot which isn't normally necessary. Bites were sporadic and quite hard to come by. Conditions were perfect and it wasn't unpleasant just sitting out there on a flat sea in the sunshine. Zak had a few small hounds while I sat largely biteless. As I've said before these days I take almost as much pleasure in my friends doing well rather than catching myself. 

On about our sixth move of the afternoon Zak declared he had a bite which despite what I have just written was getting slightly annoying as I couldn't buy one. By all means give me a battering but no need to give me a running commentary.😂  Anyway he hooked a decent fish which was moving against the tide, a sign of a better one. A prolonged battle ensued before we finally got it into the boat. A new PB for Zak and very worthy fish.......

10lb 4oz

With the fishing so slow up to that point we were pretty surprised by that fish and me even more so when my rod tip started to rattle. Once again it moved against the running tide and I secretly knew it was a good fish even though I played it down to Zak. Always a good ploy in case they come off and you can claim it wasn't very big anyway. When it surfaced a short distance out from the boat we both gasped in amazement. It was physically huge, extremely long and thick across the back. 

Another PB 15lb 10oz

Two PBs for me in the space of a few days and one for my friend. Quite remarkable

One winter I set out to catch a 20lb pike and caught one first trip. I didn't fish for them again all season. I felt like that with the hounds and that was my last trip out on the boat. I did have one more attempt from the beach when Dave Owen came up for a go. Sadly the water had cleared and the hounds had disappeared. 

Linear fisheries

For the last few years the guys at SHUK have had a few days at Linear fisheries and I've never really shown much of an interest. It's not my thing. However Zak and his brother Josh are mad keen carpists and I thought if either of them wanted to attend I'd take them along. To my surprise Zak was up for it and our names were penned in. In the meantime I got in a bit of practice at my local specimen lake.

I rarely watch fishing videos but am aware they're incredibly popular. Zak must have watched every one of them on Manor lake in the weeks before our trip and once again gave me a running commentary. I've never seen anyone so openly enthusiastic about a fishing trip before. I said this to his face so have no qualms about saying it again, he did my tits in. I'm very much a turn up and see kind of angler. I banned him from talking to me about it on multiple occasions which fell on deaf ears as he rattled off his tactics.

He didn't shut up all the way there

We a three day lake exclusive and sure enough, trip organiser Dai Gribble gave us a run down on all the pegs as we looked across from the back of the tackle shop. From that vantage point there were seemingly fish everywhere. Tench humping out close in and carp crashing a bit further out. Then followed a draw for peg choices. With twelve of us it wasn't realistic for us all to go where we wanted. I drew eleventh choice and Zak twelfth. Fairly disastrous. 

Zak ended up only one swim away from where he wanted. I was in no-carp bay. Upon inspection Zak's swim was horrendous. Largely weed free for fifty yards and then a massive weed bed for the next fifty. Mine was ok weed wise but I didn't see any fish moving about anywhere near me. I did catch probably the smallest carp in the lake on the second afternoon while Zak remained fish less. 

Nate green was hauling in the peg closest to the tackle shop, Dai had an early thirty while Dave and Martin caught some decent fish. After the second night I moved in desperation but swim choice was limited and it didn't pay off. Zak didn't catch at all, the fish never came in close enough. Martin had a thirty as did Nate who ended up with nine fish. He told Zak as we left for home...."I didn't know what to expect so just chose the swim closest to where I'd seen all the fish when we got here". A decent lesson for us all.

Nate with one of nine carp 31lb 4oz

David Frame with a twenty

33lb 10oz common for Martin

7lb 10oz Male tench for Nick

31lb 10oz for Dai

7lb 3oz tench for Dan

26lb 8oz for Dave

Surprise 52lb 8oz catfish for Rob

Bar-b-que time

Then the rain came

No carp bay

Another lake exclusive

Fast forward a few weeks into September now. Life stuff got in the way of fishing through most of August apart from one solitary barbel on a visit to the trent whilst waiting for my wife to be discharged from hospital. After that I was with her at home for a few weeks and needed another trip to look forward to. Not that I didn't enjoy looking after my wife you understand (she sometimes reads this, hello sweetness). 

I booked a lake in deepest Norfolk that holds some very big catfish and assembled a few SHUKers to join me. I can't ever remember looking forward to a trip so much, I wasn't as excited as Zak was for Manor but wasn't far off albeit in a less annoying kind of way. I even got Louise to buy me some catfish rods for my birthday. Reels were spooled with 80lb braid and wide bore rig tubing ordered. 

The day of arrival came and Myself, Dai and Dave were first on the scene. We had a look around and had a chat with the owner before deciding where to fish. Martin then arrived and we declared we didn't need to have a draw as we all fancied different swims. I settled at the top end of the lake and fished one rod for cars with squid and one for carp with boilies. Alfie turned up a little later and chose an open water spot between me and Dave.  

Within an hour something showed an interest in the squid, slamming the bobbin up to the rod before returning. I was sure it was a dropped take. I had another dodgy take a couple of hours later. It wasn't until it was completely dark and I was drifting off to sleep that I had a proper bite. That too though didn't scream off, just a few bleeps and I lifted into something substantial. Fishing squid I knew it was a cat straight away so although it tried, I stopped it getting up a head of steam. I shouted for Alfie very soon into the fight for assistance such was its power. Alfie soon appeared as did Dave and Martin. Apart from wiping my other rod out as it tried to go in the marginal reeds it was a fairly straightforward tug of war. I was elated when it finally went in the net. As were the others. Apparently if I could catch it gave everyone else hope, the bastards.

40lb 14oz

It beat my old PB of 37lb 8oz by a modest margin but I honestly couldn't have been happier. Amazingly I had another dropped take about an hour later before retiring to bed.

When I went to Manor I wanted and hoped to break both my tench and carp PBs. With the cat out of the way I really wanted a big carp which the lake also holds. The next day I scaled down from 20mm boilies to 14mm pellets and it was soon taken. Sadly the culprit was a bream about 4lb. With another one next cast I swapped back to the boilies. News came that Martin had caught a 19lber at 3am while the others were still waiting for their first fish.

Dai was fishing directly opposite me and wound in to come round for a chat around lunchtime. I had a small island in front of me and was fishing to the point of it. Dai suggested fishing tighter along the inner edge of it. An area where I'd have little room for error should I be fortunate to hook a really big cat. He suggested I'd had a warm up and the right equipment and talked me into it. 

Dai wandered off and I slumped onto my bedchair out of the unseasonably hot sunshine. We'd planned to meet for a bar-b-que at 4pm so I had time for a snooze. The piercing sound of my alarm woke me and I flung myself out of my shelter and grabbed my rod. Again, no screaming run, just a pick up and then no movement. I lifted the rod and to my surprise I was into a cat. Its tail came out of the water almost straight away as it twisted around to power off. Not that big I thought (I later realised all cats have small tails).

.....and then all hell broke loose as I clamped down on it. Once again I screamed for Alfie. The power was incredible. My reel was fully locked up and it was still taking line. You can barely turn it by hand. At one point it spun me around on my feet trying to get away. A few moments later I had to place the rod between my legs to get more leverage. Dave and Martin were there by now and Dave ran off to get his big net. 

Even when in the net I wasn't sure it was much bigger than the previous one. Alfie declared it to be double the size. It was only when we tried to lift it onto the mat we realised he was being serious. 

85lb 8oz

Worth a couple more photos

That's my happy face

By this time Dai had turned up and it was congratulations all round. I offered my swim up to anyone that wanted it. I was serious too. I wanted all of them to experience what I just had. Nobody took up my offer but Dave and Martin did leave with some squid. They left me in a daze, it was such an incredible experience. 

With a couple of members unable to attend the event Dai cooked enough food to send Dave and I into a food coma. We both waddled back to our swims, Martin and Alfie were far more restrained. Within an hour of my return the cat rod was off again. It didn't feel like a cat though and I was amazed to see a big common pop up. As ever Alfie was on hand for netting duties while the others all trooped round again.

29lb 8oz

Another PB. Bycatch but i'll take it. Lovely fish too.

On dark that evening I heard a commotion in Dave's peg. I wound in a walked around. He'd hooked a cat, a good one apparently and it had snagged him. Several angles of pressure and slack lining was tried before Alfie declared he had some chest waders in the car and was going in for it. As Alfie went off Martin shouted he was in too. I double-timed it to him and found him with his rod hooped over and him declaring he thought he may run out of line. Slowly but surely Martin began to get the upper hand and after another epic battle he had a beast all of his own. Dave, having lost his fish joined us for the weighing and photos.

Incredibly long 54lb 12oz

Both runs had come to the squid which I was rapidly running out of.

 I went back to my swim and recast my rods. A short time later I finally had a run on the boilie and it also turned out to be a PB albeit a modest 16lb 4oz Grassie. 

Another half an hour passed and I had another cat, a kitten of about 8lb. 

The next morning saw Dave leave early while Martin slowly packed up. I had another kitten early on and this time I wasn't so tired and got a quick photo.

Quite cute

With a couple of hours left and my swim now resembling a jacuzzi (named after a man-Roy Jacuzzi, true story) I urged Alfie to jump in my swim. Thankfully he agreed and he soon had a couple of baits on the spot. The night before David Frame had arrived to fish an extra night with Dai so I left Alfie to have a chat with them. I'd only been there about five minutes before Alfie was shouting me back. Not a cat but another very welcome carp.

He deserved a fish for all his help. Top bloke.

Regular readers will know my Dever Springs trip was a massive disappointment. I had a great time at Linear but the fishing was rubbish. It was probably my turn to have a result. It was easily one of the best weekends of my life. Not just the fishing. Someone recently said it's not your achievements in life that matter but the quality of your personal relationships. Every one of those guys was so pleased for me and helpful it was all around a brilliant experience. They're still bastards, I'm just having a moment of weakness.

The night after we left David bagged himself a 50

Dai redeemed himself at Linear with a 55 and then a 65 recently. 

Not more carp

Zak was keen to go carp fishing again. I perused all the local specimen lakes and they pretty much all turned me cold. They almost all dictate the way you can fish. It's so scripted i'm almost drifting off trying to describe it. I go fishing partly to escape normal life's constraints. The cat lake had some sensible rules as did Manor. These Mcfisheries have taken it to an extreme level. You can basically use one or two types of rig, no unfrozen bait onsite, no lake viewings, no lifting of fish in landing nets, blah, blah. You can arrive two hours before your allotted time. I'm fishing not flying to sodding Majorca. 

Not wanting to let Zak down I suggested a day on the trent. I remembered a session a couple of years ago when I caught two carp by accident, maybe they actually lived there I reckoned. He seemed keen although I admit now I probably talked it up a bit so I didn't have to sit around a pond with a load of clones in their nylon masturbatoriums. 

We got to the river early and the spot I had in mind wasn't how I remembered. It was racing through so we wandered about to look for other likely looking areas. Nowhere else took my fancy so we returned to the original swim. Harriet had a paddle about while Zak and I set up. She wouldn't have been allowed at any of the carp lakes I looked at, the miserable bastards.

Zak had a couple of baits out while I fished well down the swim away from him. We settled back in our chairs and I expected a long wait for any action. It can be a ball breaker there. Unbelievably within an hour Zaks left hand rod tore off and he was in. I wound the other rods in as his fish put up a spirited battle. As he brought it closer I saw it as it rose in the water- "It's a carp!" I exclaimed. It was a good one too...

First cast 20lb 14oz, never in doubt.

Immaculate

Zak was made up, I was too. Carp aren't rare on the trent but they aren't that common either. Its mouth suggested it hadn't seen the bank often, if at all. 

The rest of the day was a blur. He caught a couple of barbel, one bang on 10lb. A double figure barbel and 20lb carp on his first visit was the stuff of dreams. He offered me a go in his spot but like I said before sometimes I'm happy to see someone else have a great day.

And that, folks is about it for this time. Blog entry number 99. I said i'd stop at 100 so the next might be my last. Thanks for looking and many people have said my last post was the best yet so be sure to have a look at that if you can. I know I said I wasn't going to mention Daisy again but I'm going to post some memories here because I want to. She loved coming fishing with me. I miss her.

Till next time