February 2014 Part 2

Finding somewhere to fish

I made my way over to the caravan park with the elusive monster perch. Once again I was there bright and early. "Have you finished that road yet?" I enquired hopefully. "No, they are still working on it." Came the reply. No bother, I'll head down to the river I thought and bought a pint of maggots from the park shop before heading off. When I got there it was as high as I have ever seen it and I knew instantly it was a no-go. Where to go now then? I know, a lake hidden behind a farm that has some monsters in that has been on my radar for some time. Ten minutes later I was driving through the farm gates. The owner came to greet me and he was a thoroughly nice chap. he informed me they weren't officially open yet but I was welcome to have a try. "I'm after a four pound perch.". "Oh yes, there's certainly some that size in there." the farmer replied.

I handed over my fiver and hurriedly drove around the cattle sheds to the lake side. With sunken trees all around it was difficult to know where to start. I decided to try and work my way around, flinging some soft rubber lures in while having a sleeper rod on the worm. Several spots and five hours later without a bite was enough punishment for me and I left bewildered and ever so slightly dejected. Blooming place......

A change of tack

With the caravan park and river still out of action I couldn't face another session at the mystery lake so I headed over to the coast. The venue? Chapel Boating lake. Now I'm pretty sure it doesn't contain any four pound Perch but I had been reliably informed it does hold some good fish and not just Perch so it seemed like a happy medium. I baulked slightly at the cost of the ticket (£9 for two rods), I guess it's the price you pay for fishing a lake that also contains big Carp. With the weather forecast not looking great I set up my brolly first and got comfy. I fished one rod on maggot and one on worm. It didn't take long for my bait to attract some interest.......

The fishing was slow and in the first couple of hours I had only a few small Roach to show for my efforts. Then the storm came. My word it was rough. Testament to my Korum brolly though, it held firm. As sods law dictates with the bad weather came an increase in action. I managed a nice Perch that spat a mouth full of maggots at me in the net and some bigger Roach, the best of which is here with the Perch....

The action then tailed off and I waited for the rain to subside before making my escape. On my way out I popped into the incredible on-site shop and bought a few bits and bobs. "You haven't had a full day have you, pop back anytime and have another go on us," said Steve. That was a really nice touch and very kind of him. Check out the tackle shop there sometime, it's as good as you'll find anywhere. Hopefully the following two pictures can convey how bad the weather was...

A week later I was back for my freebie. I just fished in the morning as I had some jobs to do at home and didn't want to take advantage of their hospitality. Unfortunately this time although the birds were bigger the fish were smaller........

Still a fine place though and the fish really were in great condition. It was also quite novel hearing the waves from the nearby North sea crashing on the beach when sat by the lake. I left the shop vowing to go back when it gets a little warmer in the hope of some more consistent sport.

I wasn't expecting that.....or that.....or that!

I looked at the clock on the dashboard of my car and had a double-check. It was just after seven am and already the sun was rising rapidly. The days are certainly getting longer I thought as I made my way to my favourite Chub river. A short journey later and I parked up expectantly. Taking advantage of the gap in atrocious weather I peered over the small field and was pleased to see it was at a reasonable level and a great colour. It was still very cold though and I wrapped up warm with some extra layers I always keep in the boot for such occasions. I set up my tip rods as normal with three swan links and baited up with some fresh Blue Stilton, moulding it around a size eight hook. Keen Chub anglers spend hours making special pastes and the like but I can't be bothered with all that nonsense. You know me, if there is a lazy way then that's the option I'll take. Plus I don't think it makes a blind bit of difference.

Settling in my first swim the high bank shielded me from the sun. Did I mention it was bloody freezing? Anyway after twenty or so minutes I moved downstream to another spot. Equally as shaded and no warmer I cast towards a tree, the branches of which were dragging in the flow. If there was going to be a Chub anywhere it would be here. There was......

As soon as I hooked it I knew it was a biggie. It held stubbornly in the flow as my rod absorbed its initial lunges. Five nerve racking minutes later I had it safely in the net. At 5lb 4oz it was a personal best and I was elated. I stopped for another half an hour before going back home to cook Mrs P a celebratory breakfast. 

At noon I woke up annoyed. I had fallen asleep and had wanted to be at the second river of the day by that time. I quickly said my goodbyes to Mrs P and headed off again. By one pm I was bankside in the peg that had given me those big hybrids in the past. Sure enough it didn't take long for my tips to start dancing and although the wind had picked up the bites were fairly obvious. As ever they fought like tigers and as ever a bit of gear was lost by casting straight into the bush on the far bank. I lost what felt like a good fish followed by another. Scratching my head I cast out again hoping the loses hadn't spooked the rest of the shoal. They hadn't and after an almighty battle I had a beast that weighed 4lb 9oz! Here are the pics....

As the afternoon drew to a close I was reluctant to leave the Hybrids but I was keen to hedge my bets and try a little further downstream for a Perch. The wind was really howling by now and it was super difficult to keep my worms in position. A few tell-tale shivers on my far bank rod gave the game away though and I struck into something that wasn't at all happy. As the fight developed a big, spiky dorsal fin broke the surface and my heart was in my mouth. Luckily it stayed on and at 3lb 12oz it was an equal PB. 100% a different fish to my previous one from there too....

Was it the best days fishing I've ever had? I certainly can't think of a better one fish-wise so I guess it was. I'm still on a high from it now, a week later.

A repeat?

A few days after that amazing session I found myself back at the Chub river super early. Only one bite though and I missed it. Damn. It was bloody freezing again and I headed home deflated and cold. A couple of hours with Mrs P later and I was back, this time at another river after something special. Trouble was I wasn't exactly sure I was meant to be on this particular stretch despite assurances from a friend. My nerves weren't helped by a crop scarer nearly blasting me off my chair (probably further away than it sounded) and I gave up after about half an hour. Sorry I can't give you more details but I'll be back there soon and you'll be the first to know when I catch what I am after. 

Where to go now then? It had to be my favourite river. The Hybrid peg had given up a massive Rudd to my friend Ken a few weeks back and the river is so dynamic you never really know what is going to turn up. In the end I did have one Hybrid of 2lb 10oz but I was more than surprised to catch these....

The biggest two went 2lb 6oz each and although I was happy to catch them I really don't want anybody to think I'm fishing for the same fish all the time because I'm not. I'm not certain I've caught these particular ones before but I have to admit I could well have. It was a hundred or so yards from where I normally catch them so who knows? More interestingly as the light faded the river came alive and I started catching Roach. I kicked myself for not having any bread but it has sown a seed in my mind and despite the high proportion of hybrids I haven't given up on my dream of a genuine two pounder from there.

Tackle Talk

How are those 4010 GTM's you bought Phil? Brilliant. The drags are the highlight, silky smooth and predictable. One of the reels wobbles a bit on the retrieve but I like that. A bit of character is endearing. I've also happened to come across the predecessor- a 4000 Carbomatic. That one is on eBay though. If you do have any old reels get them on there. I have sold a couple recently and they make good money. Admittedly the fees are quite high but why have something lying around when you can turn it into cash to buy something you really want.

Talking of eBay I have bought a couple of old tackle catalogues and my word they have brought back some memories. These used to lie around a tackle shop I worked in while at University and it is great to have a couple of copies for old times sake. Only a couple of quid too...

 

 

Once again if you want to contact me feel free, it is always nice to hear from you-

 

Email-  the.power@tesco.net

 



Final Word

While on my travels I came across a scene that really made me stop and think. A chap was fishing near to me and someone had informed me he wasn't very well. As I passed we had a quick chat and although obviously very poorly he was in fine spirits. I made it to my chosen spot and looked across at him from time to time. Why isn't he abroad or doing something amazing I thought to myself. The thoughts kept milling about in the back of my mind until I sussed it. For most of us there is no happy retirement on a beach somewhere. Why? Because we'd rather be fishing. Even on a cold February day, in a gale. I think you call that a passion and those of us that have that passion should consider ourselves very fortunate.

Till next time.......

February 2014 Part 1

The Search Continues.....


After speaking to a few anglers in the know it seemed as though I was on the right track with my local drain in the search for a massive Perch. Better than that I was also in the right area last time. Rumour was it had done not one but two five pound Perch in the past.

On my next day off I was there at first light for a short morning session. I settled in a peg not far away from the one I fished on my previous visit. I rigged up my two trusty tip rods with three-swan links and size 12 wide gape specialist hooks. The session didn't get off to a great start when I sank into the mud and water up to my knee while putting my keepnet in. A wet foot on a cold February morning wasn't really what I needed and it would throb for the next couple of hours with that horrible biting cold ache that will be familiar to many of you. I'd timed my arrival just right though as it was just light enough to see my tips by the time I was ready to cast, which I did with great anticipation.

Just as before it didn't take long for something to show an interest in my worms and a flurry of frankly disappointingly small Perch came to hand. My spirits were slightly buoyed by the amount of activity in the water though. Some big fish were on the hunt, small fish scattering all over the drain betraying their location. A lure rod was quickly assembled and I had numerous casts at the unseen monsters all to no avail. The tips were suspiciously still too for a while. It soon became apparent that not only was the peg full of small Perch but also somewhat of a rarity- the Ruffe. Annoyingly even with my super sensitive tips they wouldn't give you a bite, just sit there with worm firmly in their mouths until I unknowingly wound them in. I had three of the little blighters in the end along with twenty odd Perch. They were even smaller than last time with nothing over a pound. One of the Ruffe with my one dry but still very muddy foot....

The Perch.....

So that is two visits, over sixty Perch and only one just over two pounds. This coupled with the horrible nature of the place (steep banks, muddy margins, busy road ten feet away etc) has made me reluctant to go back. Another factor is the amount of eastern European beer cans that litter the banks. You know me, I always play down the effects of Otters, Cormorants and the like and I'm sure only a tiny percentage of our foreign friends take fish for the table. The controlling club has put signs up everywhere too, in several languages so maybe it is just my mind trying to make excuses for my lack of skill. The only thing that is nagging at me to go back are those unseen Predators. Maybe, just maybe, some off them were Perch. 

Sidetracked.....

Remember those lakes on a caravan park I told you about last time? If you don't they produced a massive perch of 4lb 6oz in the not too distant past. After a magnificently dull first session there I decided to have another crack. On arrival I reported to reception and was happy to see a different man from the last time. I paid my £6 and also bought some maggots to feed. "Which one are you fishing?" enquired the chap. I told him and the reply wasn't great. "We're putting a new road in and you might not be able to get down there, have a word with the workmen," he added as I departed. Driving as close as I could I soon came across the workmen and did  indeed have a word with them. They were typically blunt and I resisted the urge to bury them under their own hard-core and returned to reception to get my money back. Off to the river it was.

On unloading my gear I was a little perturbed that one on my reclining knobs on my chair had disappeared. I blamed it on the ridiculously muddy drain and resigned myself to be without a back rest for the rest of the day. Anyway, back to the fishing, with all the rain the River was heavily coloured as it has been for most of the winter. It was pulling through well too. Too much for my favourite Perch peg so I settled in a spot running on to a bush which is usually well clear of the water. With the water level up the branches were in the water and had collected some debris forming a valuable bit of cover. A simple four swan link-leger and a fourteen hook with three maggots went.......straight into the bush. A new rig quickly tied and I was finally in position.

As a set about catapulting a few free offerings well upstream my tip started to do its merry dance. As I struck my rod took on a satisfying curve and I gingerly played in my prize. Prior to this visit I had done a bit off digging on t'internet about the river. It turned out the much maligned E.A had done some electro-fishing a few years back and turned up, among other things, some examples of Blicca bjoerkna, the Silver Bream. This made me wonder about all those fish I had caught before that I thought were hybrids. Back to the action and i netted a sizable silver fish and upon inspection I was sure I had a genuine Silver Bream and at 2lb 11oz it was only ounces short of the British record......

With that fish safely in the net I carried on fishing and it wasn't long before I had another fish. It fought a lot harder than the last and was slightly bigger at 2lbs 14oz. But what was it?.... 

That was the end of the action for the rest of the day. Too much debris was coming down and I had to recast every five minutes or so to clear my lines which became very tiresome.

Sadly after having both fish checked it is thought my Silver Bream, although very close to a genuine one is most likely to be a hybrid and also my second fish is thought to be a Roach/Bream hybrid. Bugger.

Elation followed by Disappointment.

With the river still out of sorts, the road at the lakes being constructed and still mad at the drain for consuming bits of my chair I needed a new venue. After some more searching online I hit the jackpot. A lake about an hour away had the following described about it- 'There are Perch here that could threaten the British record'. Two days later I was outside the lake in my car and ready to go. One problem though- a big sign on the gate saying 'No fishing- closed'. I called the number on the online fishing guide and a curt chap answered, 'Sorry, closed about a year ago and is now closed permenantly'. As he put the phone down I cursed profusely. The sight of  the reed-lined lake diminished in my mirrors as I drove away, its secrets to remain a frustrating mystery.

After another hour or so drive I ended up back at the river. I didn't stop long because it was still incredibly hard to fish, in addition to this a massive storm was due to hit around lunchtime. I did mange a couple of nice silvers again. I'll leave you to work out what they are, I've given up for the time being.........

A Change

With one free day left before another five-day stint at work and after the ridiculous amount of driving the day before I decided to stay close to home for my next session. A commercial complex about a mile away from my house was my chosen venue. The wind was a pain though, I couldn't really fish where I wanted to as I was keen to try the float for a change. I soon found a calm area though and set about cupping in some chopped worms and maggots to try and attract any resident perch. I wasn't going to fish the pole though and I set up my float rod. I don't really use my pole unless it's absolutely necessary. Somebody else was keen on it that morning though.....

To cut a long story short I didn't catch a single Perch all day. I did have about ten carp though including a nice but slightly deformed Crucian......

A couple of the Carp....

Tackle Talk

The tip rods I use are 10ft Shakespeare Mach 2's. Brilliant rods and the trip to the commercial confirmed just how nice they are. Playing small Carp is a great test of gear and they performed faultlessly. I think I paid £36 each for mine and you get four tips with them. The tips from the 9ft version also fit (I've just bought two just for some replacement tips) and I paid a barely believable £21 for these. The link is here......

http://www.sportsdirect.com/shakespeare-mach-2-xt-9ft-wand-fishing-rod-941250?colcode=94125003

After just encouraging you to buy something online I'd better sing the praises of my local tackle shops in the name of fair play. Tackle 4U in Skegness has most of what you need including something you can't put a price on- great advice. My tackle shop of the month though has to be Spilsby Angling Centre. They have an absolutely great stock including just recently Korum and Preston Innovations. They even have some fly fishing gear in stock. The bait is great and the service friendly. What more can you ask for?

Some welcome additions to my kit came from an unlikely source this month, a work colleague had been secretly harbouring these without my knowing for a while now.....

As soon as I found out I had to have them and a deal was struck. I fell out with Shimano for a while after a Stradic I owned didn't live up to my expectations but these 4010 Gtm's are the reel deal (excuse the pun). 'Made in Japan' models in my mind are far superior to the newer 'made in Malaysia' versions. Reel aficionados will remember Mitchell went much the same way when they stopped manufacturing in France. These views are, of course, just my opinion and not proven facts. 

I still haven't fixed my chair so if anyone can get me a tension knob for a Korum deluxe chair then please, let me know. Also if you want to get in touch, for any reason then feel free via my email:

the.power@tesco.net


Afterword

The AGM for Spilsby Angling Association has been and gone for another year. It was an interesting meeting although very poorly attended. Lots of things were discussed although one thing wasn't mentioned. That is the amount of work done be various members on Partney Pit over the last year. I take this opportunity now to thank everyone involved. It's a great club and at £20 a year, embarrassingly cheap. If you go back a few months this Diary will inform you of the best pegs, tactics etc. Tickets from the above tackle shops. Thanks for reading.

Till next time.................................