Last knockings
Looking back on my previous fishing year I was acutely aware that my fishing had developed a pattern. It's often the easy option that we take and without any doubt I could have devoted the last two weeks of the season to catching Chub as I had done the previous year. I was keen to break the cycle though, I fancied a challenge.......
Big Roach
There aren't many natural rivers in East Lincolnshire. It's the one thing I missed when I moved over from the midlands at the turn of the century. The ones there are though are absolute crackers and virtually unfished, forgotten in a whole slew of commercial fisheries where bites are a lot easier to come by. You don't even need to do much legwork either where Carp puddles are concerned, the match results will tell you all you need to know. Peg42 wins every week I'll go and sit there. What was I saying about easy options?
Even after thirty-odd years there are plenty of aspects of fishing I still consider myself to be a novice. River fishing isn't one of them. Despite this on my first trip I was having trouble getting a single bite let alone a fish. I moved around a lot, my lack of patience is legendary. There is sometimes method in the madness though on in my sixth swim of the day I finally found a few fish. It was a new area to me and I couldn't be sure the first fish I had hooked wasn't a Chub. Luckily it was a Roach and a big one too at 1lb 12oz. I took it on the usual- a 2 swan link with a size 14 hook and a small piece of breadflake.
The river was quite narrow and lined with dying reeds on both sides. After a couple more smaller Roach something rather odd happened. I was feeding some liquidised bread on a little an often basis. Now normally after a few fish you would expect them to back off slightly but those Roach did the exact opposite. They came upstream, even beyond where I was feeding. I didn't think they were spooking off the feed, I had an inkling something else was moving them. I caught the next fish right under my rod tip and sure enough a Pike struck at it on the way in, its predatory senses sent into overdrive by the struggling fish. Despite trying (and failing) to catch the Pike I ended the day with around twenty Roach. Here are the best ones.........
At the next available opportunity I went back to the river. Conditions weren't perfect but I still fancied my chances. The river was up and coloured which made it really tough going. Towards the end of the day I managed to get a few bites. Biggest this time was 1lb 9oz..........
The final day of season was another really strange day. I started off fishing for Perch with little to show for my efforts. The Perch river was still holding too much colour and I just manged a few modest Perch........
In the afternoon I went back to the other river to try and catch some Roach. Benidorm Dave joined me but the Roach just seemed to have disappeared. We decided to abandon the Roach in favour of some hopefully, easier to catch Chub. It was a case of peaking too early for me though and after all day wandering about by about four pm I'd had enough, well before the most productive time of the day. Dave manged a near double-figure Pike that took his steak on the way in but that was the highlight of a very disappointing day. Never mind. Looking back the rivers were very kind to me in 2015/16. Bream to 8lb 10oz, Roach to 2lb, Rudd to 2lb 11oz, Chub to 6lb 4oz, Perch to 3lb 4oz and Dace to 15oz...........
Fluff flinging
Late March and all of April in the previous two years had been terrible angling-wise. I cast my mind back to when the close season was enforced on all waters and realised I hadn't been Trout fishing for a while. My local fishery had also posted on Facebook that they had just introduced some big Trout, it was all the encouragement I needed. The venue in question is Withern Mill, five small lakes besides the beautiful Great Eau.....
Tickets start at a very reasonable £15 which is catch and release, rising to £30 for a six fish ticket. Unsure of my prowess with a fly rod I opted for a two fish ticket on my first trip. The weather wasn't great either and after unloading the car I headed straight for the on-site fishing hut to make a warming brew.........
I started off at the furthest lake and gradually worked my way back down to the car park. After a slow start I ditched the floating line and opted for an intermediate. Spring hadn't yet sprung and it was two hoodies cold. With my small gold-headed montana working deeper I soon had a take. I'd forgotten just how hard Trout fight and after a spectacular battle a lovely Brownie was in the net. By the end of the day I finished up catching six fish and despite the weather had a great time. Great stamp of fish too although no real monsters.......
The weather was no better on my second visit although just like the previous time I had the place to myself. More confident of my abilities I opted for the four fish ticket as I knew someone who would appreciate a couple for the table. In the old closed season proper, anglers would be giving Trout away left, right and centre. We all know giving gifts is sometimes as nice as receiving them. Anyway I took three fish quite quickly but typically the forth took nearly the whole afternoon to fool. I had some bigger ones too. It is worth checking when you buy your ticket whether Browns are to be taken as some times they should be returned. I didn't check so I hope I didn't break any rules. They are certainly quite abundant though or maybe just more eager to feed in cold conditions. Beautiful nonetheless........
For me, Trout fishing is a luxury. In the scheme of things, it is good value but personally, a little too expensive to do all the time. With this in mind I treated myself to one last trip to see if I could locate one of the bigger fish in residence. My old Rainbow PB of 7lb 12oz was taken over ten years ago and I longed to better it. Unusually the sun was shining, would it be an omen? On my second cast, despite placing my fly exactly where I wanted it I got into a slight tangle. Just as I was unpicking the knot it was ripped from my hand in a savage take. The knot clattered through the rings with such force it took the ring lining of the end eye with it as it went. You don't get that with Roach. The culprit? My new PB, 8lb 2oz of magnificent Rainbow......
To add to that I had three superb Brownies to complete my limit......
What a brilliant fishery, I can't recommend it highly enough.......
http://www.withernmilltroutfarm.co.uk/
SHUK News
A few pictures now from the Specimen Hunting UK team. Starting off with James Aris and a couple of Big Chub. A man who can never have too many hats......
6lb 4oz
6lb 2oz.....
Midlands Barbel ace Dave Varnham with a 13lb 13oz specimen........
Keith Supple with another fine looking Barbel......
Keith's blog- http://keithsangling.blogspot.co.uk/
Leo Heathcote with a late season Chub.......
and some fun on a commercial.
Leo's blog- http://fishermans-journey.blogspot.co.uk/
Have I saved the best till last? I'll let you decide. Southern supremos Nate Green and Mike Lyddon. Mike kicked off with this amazing 31lb Pike.......
Nate with a new PB Chub of 5lb 5oz........
Then they both went to France. While the fishing wasn't as prolific as they would have liked they had a fantastic time and manged some rather large Carp.
49lb.......
56lb.....
Nate with a Mirror of 46lb.....
Tackle Talk
Lure Reels on test. All bought and used by myself.
***** The best of the best.
**** Very good, a worthy buy.
*** Average.
** Poor, flawed in some way.
* Dire, avoid.
Fox Rage Ultron. £48-£54.
**
Friends that only use them for dropshotting love them. Try casting with one though, the bail arm flips over through inertia alone. Terrible.
Okuma Trio. £35-£50
****1/2
Nearly perfect. Line lay could be better and finish on white versions is not as hard wearing as it could be.
Trabucco Airblade. £50-£70
***
Wouldn't recommend to anyone but they have a certain charm. The Alfa Romeo of the reel world. Designed by a genius, made by a halfwit.
Korum Snapper KDS. £35-£40
*.
American tournament anglers don't use bail trips on open faced reels because they create slack. It doesn't matter with this because with fine braid it will find its way under the spool nut, coaxed there by its riduculous design. Dreadful reel
Onto some recent purchases now and keen to continue my quest to explore different brands I bought some scissors from Gardner. Not being a Carp angler I don't really know what products some of the firms do and that is a shame because they do some very nice gear that can be used in a multitude of situations. Hey they're only scissors but I like them. Better than my teeth and not having to steal Mrs P's I get to keep them too (my teeth that is, bit fiery you see).
Finally I bought some more Flyweight scales but this time the 12lb version. Presumably they are similar to the stronger version so not especially robust and need constant care but if you look after them they should provide good service. Always hold by the handle when weighing....
Signing off
You may have noticed I've deviated slightly from the monthly routine. Not deliberate but had a slight loss of writing mojo. Not sure what that means for the future but if you keep enjoying it, I'll keep writing it. In the meantime I'll be on the bank somewhere, probably undoing a tangle.....
Till next time..............
