Showing willing
I wandered in here the other day and was rather taken aback by the statistics. Upwards of 62000 page views. Now when you consider the amount of times I pop in to check for spalling errots and the fact my mum has probably shown it to all her neighbours/friends and random passers by then that just leaves the three of you that have bemoaned the lack of recent posts. So, against my will and at a lot of inconvenience to myself this is for you- my regulars, the nausebags. For continuity's sake we are going to have to rewind a bit. I'll keep it as brief as possible, for you, like me have far better things to be doing with our time.
Back end
The secret river was in poor form last year. There are still perch there and they are as lovely as ever but no really big ones. Big perch are old fish, I'm hoping it's a cyclical thing. There are Otters present but have been for years so if I was a total idiot I'd blame them. Thankfully I'm not. I caught a lot of two's in the last month of the season so all is not lost.
I'd never caught a three pounder from the bream river and although I kept plugging away for another big roach or chub the conditions were never really conducive to either of those feeding with abandon. A distant memory of our friend Martin catching some reasonable perch from the river a few years back came to me and I decided to see if they were still there. They were. The first one I had was 2lb 15oz. Then I had a really old looking fish of 3lb 4oz. A week later I tried again. This time I took them apart. Six two's and two three's. The old fish again and this fresh looking one at 3lb 5oz.
The close season
One of our friends from Specimen Hunting Uk, Dave Owen was keen to try fly fishing and with the onset of the close season we decided to have a go. In fact he came over with a few other SHUKers- Andy, James and Leo. The venue was Withern Mill Trout Fishery and we had an absolute ball. Everyone caught fish upto nearly 5lb. It was Leo's first time fly fishing too and he absolutely loved it. A day to remember......
That trip sparked a renewed interest in Trout fishing for me and I went most weeks. Dave accompanied me on many trips and with him living in the midlands we decided to try a fishery closer to him. The memorial lakes at Belvoir Castle are set in absolutely stunning surroundings. Sadly when we went the fishing was terrible. Not a pull between us. I'm pretty sure successful trout fisheries take an incredible amount of work and dedication to run. You can't just dig a hole in the ground, put some trout in and expect them to still be thriving six months later. We were ripped off. I manged to get a free half day at a later date but we never went back. Probably never will. Such a shame, it really is a beautiful place.
The crafty buggers at Withern then teased me with some pictures of some very big Brownies that they had just stocked. Now you have to put back any browns over 5lb so some of them can be quite tricky to catch. Getting one that had just been stocked should be easy, or so the theory went. With five lakes on site it took me a few visits to actually locate the biggest fish of all. It was a beast of a fish. And turned out to be a total and utter bastard. Over the next few weeks I threw everything I had at that trout. I even had it on once, for about 5 seconds before it spat the hook out. It very nearly broke me spirit wise. Luckily I had a few others to keep me entertained including a new modest PB. They all went back, I rarely take any, rainbows or browns.
Withern Mill is on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds. The Great Eau chalk stream runs through the heart of it and feeds five usually crystal clear pools. It has facilities for short breaks and camping etc. If I had more money I'd live there and wouldn't let any of you reprobates on site so just in case I win the lottery and can force the current owners to sell it to me you'd better go while you still can......
http://www.withernmilltroutfarm.co.uk/
P. S I don't buy a ticket so you're reasonably safe.
Old Haunts
Twin Lakes just outside Horncastle used to hold a fabulous stock of sizeable roach. With the big brownie seemingly uncatchable I decided to have a rare night fishing session to see if they were still there. They weren't. As I arrived two roach anglers were leaving, not having had a single bite between them. I did get one just on dusk around 12oz but it was a poor return for my efforts. There are still some nice tench and carp present though......
Walthamstow
I went to Wathamstow Reserviors last year so I guess this years visit was my annual trip. That said, I'm probably not welcome back but that's another story. After seeing Martin catch a fabulous 13 pound bream the time before I was keen to fish in the same spot, on reservoir number two. After a blank first session I decided to up sticks and move. I had a little more success the following day. Not the quite the size I was after but very nice nonetheless. I even manged to tempt one from the supposedly tricky Coppermill stream...
Are you sure?
I mentioned to few friends that I was off to try for a few barbel from the tidal Trent. One of them insisted on sending a journalist to do a feature for both The Angling Times and Improve Your Coarse Fishing. Bearing in mind I'd fished it twice in my lifetime had me wondering for their sanity. When the day came I'd had six fish before Jake arrived and was absolutely flying. Typically it took me hours and a move to get another one for the camera. He really was the kiss of death. Curse of the camera they call it apparently. Jake was great though. Very patient and we parted threatening to go roach fishing together later in the year.
After the feature I went another couple of times. A big furore was brewing about barbel fishing in the heatwave and I did indeed see some fish float by me on one occasion. With over 80 miles of river above me it would have been impossible to pinpoint their origin. 10 seconds. I work on the 10 second principle. Does it work? It seems to. No doubt Bob Roberts will be spitting his teeth out reading this. I'm not an expert but if you need to take a barbel out of the water for longer than 10 seconds you're risking its life, especially in warm weather. If in doubt don't fish for them at all. That's a slippery slope though. You work hard, your time is precious, you fish when you like for what you like within the rules of the controlling club or the laws of the land. No angler wants to deliberately or even accidentally kill fish. A point lost on some.
Here's a couple from those brief visits.....
Groundwork
The Smoothounds were conspicuous by their absence from this part of the East coast this summer. A great shame. Maybe the 'Beast from the East' had killed all their food? Maybe it was too hot? Whatever the reason we all hope they return next year. I missed them. The lack of opportunity saw me exploring new venues. Rivers and drains. Sometimes not even fishing. I've become familiar with several venues that will really come into their own come winter time. This leads me to another of my bugbears. "Can't wait", "Soon be time" people declare. It really is massively dreary. Find something to do, anything. Don't wish your life away. Adapt, be flexible, god forbid try something new like fly fishing or sea fishing. Get a kayak, get a boat, get a one way ticket to somewhere that has fucking Autumn or whichever season you're droning on about this week for twelve months of the year. Excuse my French.
That's about it. I've caught a few Perch recently. Hundreds in fact. No really big ones but they will come. It's a bit early. I've seriously worried a few massive Chub without actually catching any but mainly I've been out and about exploring. Here's a few fish for me and our friends Martin and Andy caught while out and about in the boat....
Tackle Talk
Shimano Aero Match 4000
Feels like a Rolls Royce but also weighs about as much as one. Ridiculously heavy and bulky for a match reel. Superb build quality. When Shimano moved production from Japan to Malaysia they had some quality issues. I've had loads of Shimano reels over the years (I collect, remember) and the new models really are very impressive. If you need a reel for big rivers, say trotting for large fish then this would be perfect. I rarely do, hence it's gone to a new home. I'm still not entirely sold on the X-Ship system either.
Middy Arco-Tec Rods.
Deeply unfashionable Middy produced my favourite rods of recent times with their Nano-Core XK55's. When I heard of some new models from them I was keen to try them out. Typically my local tackle shop - Big Catch Tackle got some in and waved them under my nose and I walked out considerably poorer. I bought a K305 10-11ft Waggler rod. Ideal for F1's........urgh.....I'd rather catch herpes. Forget parabolic rods for setting hooks on long trots or distance fishing they say. Partially true but seriously, if you fish intimate little rivers and streams or at close range I've genuinely never used a nicer tool. It is stunning to use. Build quality isn't top notch and you can ignore the kevlar nonsense. The wrap doesn't even line up on mine. If, like me you like catching quality fish then give one a try, super, super little rods......
Silstar Traverse-X Rods
Blast from the past here. When I was younger Silstar Traverse X rods were out of my price range. They looked fabulous though. Is it me or is everything matt bloody black these days? Like most things that annoy me piscatorially, I'm blaming carp anglers. It wasn't just Silstar, all the manufacturers produced some stunning looking rods back then, deep maroons and greens, translucent glossy varnishes encasing fancy wraps and spirals. Maybe it is just me. Anyway I've got loads of Trav-X's in my collection now. Carp rods, tip rods, float rods and fly rods. They all have the same thing in common- relatively heavy and a tiny bit wooden compared to more modern stuff. That said they still look great, are super tough and perhaps most importantly of all you can still pick up superb examples for pennies. Nice for a trip down down memory lane and still very capable....
Photographs
http://www.withernmilltroutfarm.co.uk/
P. S I don't buy a ticket so you're reasonably safe.
Old Haunts
Twin Lakes just outside Horncastle used to hold a fabulous stock of sizeable roach. With the big brownie seemingly uncatchable I decided to have a rare night fishing session to see if they were still there. They weren't. As I arrived two roach anglers were leaving, not having had a single bite between them. I did get one just on dusk around 12oz but it was a poor return for my efforts. There are still some nice tench and carp present though......
While I was revisiting old haunts I had a very short but productive session at Keal Cotes. Arriving early evening I had thirty carp off the top in a couple of hours. Ridiculous fishing but sometimes you just need to get a bend in the rod.....
I also had a few half-hearted visits to Authorpe for little gain, apart from a few eels. Stillwaters really don't inspire me in the same way rivers do.
Flattery
Around the start of the season I was asked to be an ambassador for the newly formed River Anglers Conservation Group. While I have contributed very little so far there are people behind this group who are working very hard to ensure a brighter future for many of our rivers. You can visit the site and join here....
I bought Mrs P a kayak for her birthday. She uses it on the sea mostly but was keen to get out and help the cause. In fact we've both been out on it doing river clean ups. The amount of rubbish and in particular plastics is depressing. I'm preaching to the choir here but just to give everyone a gentle reminder, please, please take your rubbish home. Go wild, take someone else's rubbish home. Why should you? Why shouldn't you?
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| River Bain Horncastle |
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| River Bain Coningsby |
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| Haven't been using my Kayak for fishing have you? No dear! |
While we are the subject of surprise requests a very famous angler asked me to cast a critical eye over the script for his forthcoming book. I asked him not to tell anyone as I didn't really want to be flooded with book scripts. The fact that I like him and the promise of a free book swung the deal. It was an intense experience. You're reading this on some kind of device. One click and it has gone. Books are special. A book about one of the most successful specimen anglers in history that many of you are going to pay your hard earned money for even more so. Anyway, I can reveal it is a cracker so you won't be disappointed. Look out for it around Christmas time.
Walthamstow
I went to Wathamstow Reserviors last year so I guess this years visit was my annual trip. That said, I'm probably not welcome back but that's another story. After seeing Martin catch a fabulous 13 pound bream the time before I was keen to fish in the same spot, on reservoir number two. After a blank first session I decided to up sticks and move. I had a little more success the following day. Not the quite the size I was after but very nice nonetheless. I even manged to tempt one from the supposedly tricky Coppermill stream...
Are you sure?
I mentioned to few friends that I was off to try for a few barbel from the tidal Trent. One of them insisted on sending a journalist to do a feature for both The Angling Times and Improve Your Coarse Fishing. Bearing in mind I'd fished it twice in my lifetime had me wondering for their sanity. When the day came I'd had six fish before Jake arrived and was absolutely flying. Typically it took me hours and a move to get another one for the camera. He really was the kiss of death. Curse of the camera they call it apparently. Jake was great though. Very patient and we parted threatening to go roach fishing together later in the year.
After the feature I went another couple of times. A big furore was brewing about barbel fishing in the heatwave and I did indeed see some fish float by me on one occasion. With over 80 miles of river above me it would have been impossible to pinpoint their origin. 10 seconds. I work on the 10 second principle. Does it work? It seems to. No doubt Bob Roberts will be spitting his teeth out reading this. I'm not an expert but if you need to take a barbel out of the water for longer than 10 seconds you're risking its life, especially in warm weather. If in doubt don't fish for them at all. That's a slippery slope though. You work hard, your time is precious, you fish when you like for what you like within the rules of the controlling club or the laws of the land. No angler wants to deliberately or even accidentally kill fish. A point lost on some.
Here's a couple from those brief visits.....
The Smoothounds were conspicuous by their absence from this part of the East coast this summer. A great shame. Maybe the 'Beast from the East' had killed all their food? Maybe it was too hot? Whatever the reason we all hope they return next year. I missed them. The lack of opportunity saw me exploring new venues. Rivers and drains. Sometimes not even fishing. I've become familiar with several venues that will really come into their own come winter time. This leads me to another of my bugbears. "Can't wait", "Soon be time" people declare. It really is massively dreary. Find something to do, anything. Don't wish your life away. Adapt, be flexible, god forbid try something new like fly fishing or sea fishing. Get a kayak, get a boat, get a one way ticket to somewhere that has fucking Autumn or whichever season you're droning on about this week for twelve months of the year. Excuse my French.
That's about it. I've caught a few Perch recently. Hundreds in fact. No really big ones but they will come. It's a bit early. I've seriously worried a few massive Chub without actually catching any but mainly I've been out and about exploring. Here's a few fish for me and our friends Martin and Andy caught while out and about in the boat....
Tackle Talk
Shimano Aero Match 4000
Feels like a Rolls Royce but also weighs about as much as one. Ridiculously heavy and bulky for a match reel. Superb build quality. When Shimano moved production from Japan to Malaysia they had some quality issues. I've had loads of Shimano reels over the years (I collect, remember) and the new models really are very impressive. If you need a reel for big rivers, say trotting for large fish then this would be perfect. I rarely do, hence it's gone to a new home. I'm still not entirely sold on the X-Ship system either.
Middy Arco-Tec Rods.
Deeply unfashionable Middy produced my favourite rods of recent times with their Nano-Core XK55's. When I heard of some new models from them I was keen to try them out. Typically my local tackle shop - Big Catch Tackle got some in and waved them under my nose and I walked out considerably poorer. I bought a K305 10-11ft Waggler rod. Ideal for F1's........urgh.....I'd rather catch herpes. Forget parabolic rods for setting hooks on long trots or distance fishing they say. Partially true but seriously, if you fish intimate little rivers and streams or at close range I've genuinely never used a nicer tool. It is stunning to use. Build quality isn't top notch and you can ignore the kevlar nonsense. The wrap doesn't even line up on mine. If, like me you like catching quality fish then give one a try, super, super little rods......
For some reason I can't find an image without threat of getting arrested by the copyright police. Like most modern rods though, they aren't much to look at. I've got the light feeder rod too. Again a sublime tool for roach, chub and perch. Well worth checking out.
Silstar Traverse-X Rods
Blast from the past here. When I was younger Silstar Traverse X rods were out of my price range. They looked fabulous though. Is it me or is everything matt bloody black these days? Like most things that annoy me piscatorially, I'm blaming carp anglers. It wasn't just Silstar, all the manufacturers produced some stunning looking rods back then, deep maroons and greens, translucent glossy varnishes encasing fancy wraps and spirals. Maybe it is just me. Anyway I've got loads of Trav-X's in my collection now. Carp rods, tip rods, float rods and fly rods. They all have the same thing in common- relatively heavy and a tiny bit wooden compared to more modern stuff. That said they still look great, are super tough and perhaps most importantly of all you can still pick up superb examples for pennies. Nice for a trip down down memory lane and still very capable....
Contact
I have a new email.
shukphil@gmail.com
Photographs
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| World's ugliest carp |
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| Old classic in action |
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| Being watched |
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| Fishing for journalists |
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| Exploration |
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| Daisy at Withern Mill |
Till next time........
