tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78556139195577501802024-03-24T08:53:44.714-07:00ordinaryanglerHello, my name is Ian Firkins and I am a very ordinary angler. If there was a school report for fishing, mine would read "tries hard, could do better"! See below my attempts to catch big fish (well, any fish!) of various species from the rivers Trent, Derwent, Dove and Soar.Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.comBlogger336125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-92133974931467565342024-03-19T15:09:00.000-07:002024-03-19T15:09:47.305-07:0014/03/2024 - A last hurrah!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rain at the weekend put paid to any plans of adding to my tally of Trent grayling. Having confirmed their presence last winter I had been keen to see whether they had established themselves any further and had got any bigger. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqEWmS7uwy52M8rymX_wX1m7NeRf99ikzuuZuSxNTmMlqSbkLBwJb43UyZ84sKPPA2TQwfELsuGquztY1pAg-hhiSgZNnPlRaNdy2Mobk745YJoK9j1Trfp_v7z8N0Mk0L4If35xGQmo8O_aX1kjEeI9QPtXOc6v2LquG89KcVfPj5BGRdYpnnx2rNX4/s4032/IMG_3344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqEWmS7uwy52M8rymX_wX1m7NeRf99ikzuuZuSxNTmMlqSbkLBwJb43UyZ84sKPPA2TQwfELsuGquztY1pAg-hhiSgZNnPlRaNdy2Mobk745YJoK9j1Trfp_v7z8N0Mk0L4If35xGQmo8O_aX1kjEeI9QPtXOc6v2LquG89KcVfPj5BGRdYpnnx2rNX4/w150-h200/IMG_3344.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, that will have to wait until next winter now - providing that they've all not been washed downstream and into the Humber that is! Instead I was yet again watching the weather forecast and checking the river levels in the hope that there would be somewhere fishable come the 14th as I'd already booked the day off work in anticipation. On the day the local "lowland" rivers like the Trent and the Derwent were still too high for me, although I suspect that the barbel anglers were probably happy enough given how mild it was. The Dove, however, by virtue of it's flashier nature had recovered far more quickly and up at the top end of the catchment it was virtually back to normal winter level. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0VfKKxRoj9l8gOcdMiSdWwtt1W4SEXuhBXYznhqRp1b9bDpjABqeQUssY6L3rX2nte-Oy-z7SImQEYLGpMDfJyl7VHkzCnuo67vQ-EOZZNF_ENb-ponJSSIFC-vx93tM2u1yr8ZrztlfVcYQavFstguCAFvybUKhlkxDnhBMDl4_aIfJuoWdmGezpgA/s4032/IMG_3328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0VfKKxRoj9l8gOcdMiSdWwtt1W4SEXuhBXYznhqRp1b9bDpjABqeQUssY6L3rX2nte-Oy-z7SImQEYLGpMDfJyl7VHkzCnuo67vQ-EOZZNF_ENb-ponJSSIFC-vx93tM2u1yr8ZrztlfVcYQavFstguCAFvybUKhlkxDnhBMDl4_aIfJuoWdmGezpgA/w150-h200/IMG_3328.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I therefore had a leisurely breakfast before heading west once more, hopping briefly into Derbyshire before heading over the boundary into Staffordshire. Arriving at the river I thought I'd made a mistake as at first glance it looked to be far too coloured, but it turned out to be a bit of an optical illusion. A closer look confirmed that there was indeed a bit of colour but I could easily make out the gravel bottom from up on the bridge, so I breathed a sigh of relief and went and got togged up. The club section here is only short, consisting of a single field, and has a limit of two rods at any one time. Whilst all of it is easily wadeable in the summer, there's really only two swims suitable in the winter for trotting that offer easy access into the river combined with a decent, unhindered run. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbLtmg0napVwaW9xTavRX0hdSf2SWPfrpYrzArJi0RPsuLTNi_4UgwbNkCOWbktZ4XvMR8-w1ouWulZ0Mhm1gsWs8dLMXa6zgV650oPtpiz7avD30fg7wKU-jdEIUvO6Q4xHHSsNUQZTMXaKte-4bbzwipAigNZXSbwYRjmQcAISC-cmwjSnds-spusI/s3741/IMG_3318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3741" data-original-width="2806" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbLtmg0napVwaW9xTavRX0hdSf2SWPfrpYrzArJi0RPsuLTNi_4UgwbNkCOWbktZ4XvMR8-w1ouWulZ0Mhm1gsWs8dLMXa6zgV650oPtpiz7avD30fg7wKU-jdEIUvO6Q4xHHSsNUQZTMXaKte-4bbzwipAigNZXSbwYRjmQcAISC-cmwjSnds-spusI/w150-h200/IMG_3318.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was therefore pleased to find that I had it all to myself again and dropped into the first spot, literally sliding down the bank like a big, fat otter and into the footprints that I'd left behind last session. Although the river was only a few centimetres higher than last time, there was noticebly more flow, so I put a couple of droppers of maggots in at the head of the run before I started fishing just to make sure that I had some loosefeed on the deck. If I had a tenner for every first cast grayling I'd have a few quid by now as the very first run through with the float resulted in a fish that dogged about in the flow putting a pleasing bend in the Acolyte. From then on it was steady if not as prolific as last time with the fish coming in bursts, much like the rain. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqBbz5NI1Z1bfZ2GO-yyMw8kGv-lMD3HlUHHNum70Kdpx_PJG0a6FQDGk4uXnp8kKcOrKBVgYAdYhdkBDP8DfeNZ0z_T8gFF-zyULoslXtNFG3jFcYuTtbUT7fBzNIIOTRm_Hvc_KBejsQgcI1-3oy1tnmtyvgYJfQsdLqBq7WFY55R_SX1clRz9x0sY/s4032/IMG_3330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqBbz5NI1Z1bfZ2GO-yyMw8kGv-lMD3HlUHHNum70Kdpx_PJG0a6FQDGk4uXnp8kKcOrKBVgYAdYhdkBDP8DfeNZ0z_T8gFF-zyULoslXtNFG3jFcYuTtbUT7fBzNIIOTRm_Hvc_KBejsQgcI1-3oy1tnmtyvgYJfQsdLqBq7WFY55R_SX1clRz9x0sY/w150-h200/IMG_3330.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">With my Sundridge bait apron finally biting the dust I'd bought a boilie bag for my maggots that I could hang around my neck. The only problem is that it doesn't have a lid, so during the showers I had to clasp the bag shut by holding my arm across my chest like Napoleon! Would account for the funny looks I got from two teenage girls on the opposite bank, although when they got upwind of me it was obvious that they were smoking more than just tobacco. In between the grayling, I was again troubled by out of season spotties, although I felt a little less guilty knowing that the trout season was only 4 days away, but still encouraged as many of the buggers to unhook themselves before I had to put the net under them! </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJG8wXqEzm_u5tKdtiDDGHCoAmgYhQ0KHyP_DMHeDqqUxmacEcnDHEJBxXBF68wWMjxWbMXsPA0UbZT_mcL9j1eF21OmC9j1faV-QqBTdxlPvAmSqrC-W2hALxPmeHgbY_FDDMnPcwP-8hscCpeT4GA82qmMGhGSEoy0tGcOHoMNb_Ltb8521iDAsaTA/s4032/IMG_3343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJG8wXqEzm_u5tKdtiDDGHCoAmgYhQ0KHyP_DMHeDqqUxmacEcnDHEJBxXBF68wWMjxWbMXsPA0UbZT_mcL9j1eF21OmC9j1faV-QqBTdxlPvAmSqrC-W2hALxPmeHgbY_FDDMnPcwP-8hscCpeT4GA82qmMGhGSEoy0tGcOHoMNb_Ltb8521iDAsaTA/w150-h200/IMG_3343.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The dipper was active again, flying up and down the river several times, as was the red kite soaring lazily over the coppice by the bridge. Was also distracted by loud call from the trees on the opposite bank at one point and a quick check with the excellent Merlin Sound ID app revealed it to be a nuthatch, which I eventually spotted before it disappeared higher up into the branches. By lunchtime my interest was waning and my stomach was growling. The bites had tailed off and instead of moving to a different spot I decided to call it a day, consigning the remains of my maggots to the river in a final offering. Finished with 25 grayling and 15 trout, although the bigger fish eluded me once more. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Can't say that I'll look back upon this winter with too many fond memories as yet again so many plans fell by the wayside, mainly because of the weather. Oh well, time to regroup, sort out the tackle and tidy up the man cave now!</span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-31258743773043769002024-03-10T06:35:00.000-07:002024-03-10T06:35:48.440-07:0008/03/2024 - That's more like it!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With plenty of flexi in the bank I booked Tuesday off with a view to venturing a bit further afield in search of a 2lb grayling. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZF78mY8eN8gLZ44NIPAq0u5DSuHHFB6CjV6fv-eVK70BkMaXJ0Yl89PYZ7RzccWyaKUVvun4fxFiBP2jAvVnczEDrjQx7hHnyFyJK05cdjdqCOBvYInoVgXSqaxDyUy3XJluEeAi49EP7yfk7YDr-5g1I-nlVuHuC_JYPyvdkC7wSP2EpzGfU4rcZFwI/s2016/IMG_3296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZF78mY8eN8gLZ44NIPAq0u5DSuHHFB6CjV6fv-eVK70BkMaXJ0Yl89PYZ7RzccWyaKUVvun4fxFiBP2jAvVnczEDrjQx7hHnyFyJK05cdjdqCOBvYInoVgXSqaxDyUy3XJluEeAi49EP7yfk7YDr-5g1I-nlVuHuC_JYPyvdkC7wSP2EpzGfU4rcZFwI/w200-h150/IMG_3296.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The only potential fly in the ointment was going to be the gusty, easterly wind, so I had a think about where I could best go to avoid it. </span>In the end I decided to head up to the upper Dove to a short club section near Norbury, which would give me options downstream if needed. Had a leisurely breakfast then headed west on the A50, arriving at the venue just before nine. The river looked spot on when I had a quick look over the bridge but more importantly the high, tree-lined banks were providing some protection from all but the worst of the gusts. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Got togged up in my chest waders and made my upstream spotting a dipper and a kingfisher in the process before dropping into the river mid-way along the section at the head of a nice, evenly paced glide. Spent a few minutes trickling in a few maggots before sending the Avon through the swim for the first time. Halfway down the run the float disappeared and the strike was followed by the mad gyrations of a hooked grayling. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7oNHloWP-pm-m6JtirbbRv8bH-e3zruMSd4tvZ5ubfknTSk223_bQBsGjPiQOl1f8V9uv6FKIU_oyJCStVITf5V5WSSjjG-TFufakt803GROCNlFPJ2VnH4-OHM_rmylj0ElsOlltKdw4nrD6weR6fSWLud2ZM-JUgg5vl__ulml1tFfe9lcciKctq4/s2016/IMG_3231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7oNHloWP-pm-m6JtirbbRv8bH-e3zruMSd4tvZ5ubfknTSk223_bQBsGjPiQOl1f8V9uv6FKIU_oyJCStVITf5V5WSSjjG-TFufakt803GROCNlFPJ2VnH4-OHM_rmylj0ElsOlltKdw4nrD6weR6fSWLud2ZM-JUgg5vl__ulml1tFfe9lcciKctq4/w240-h320/IMG_3231.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzWtReNg9WLaI43cjt5rQh6FU8hUC-faegOeW87_XzxYrN4kParrR-WKn0AAalBlnpF1_TeeU9ZTjSF6VKjTHFNrBCu6ANYOuzymzgbcyDlWiaC4yOakm9Lwazg6aBdnQfCDMB8uEIMPMXyMR2FFRRY9jBONR1ALwg-Dv41PWIYMtCc8chEvcIOJ1bZ0/s1790/IMG_3239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1790" data-original-width="1343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzWtReNg9WLaI43cjt5rQh6FU8hUC-faegOeW87_XzxYrN4kParrR-WKn0AAalBlnpF1_TeeU9ZTjSF6VKjTHFNrBCu6ANYOuzymzgbcyDlWiaC4yOakm9Lwazg6aBdnQfCDMB8uEIMPMXyMR2FFRRY9jBONR1ALwg-Dv41PWIYMtCc8chEvcIOJ1bZ0/w240-h320/IMG_3239.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Was the first of many as I carried on catching steadily throughout the morning. After a few modestly-sized fish I had a cracking, chunky male, the darkening, battleship grey hues of his flanks contrasting with his flambouyant dorsal fin. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7ZD88SNPDbHow5b_DkEMITZkeulvfgXBoWlcbr39dj_rZIlGG943cKlaHzf-pLyTgH50ixU9huh5c9zWi3KOa3SV5lDTZIWWjSBUylzJaubSd0VRrw0qajIFKpP7MFba7IMBsSWbB0lDI_pjlabWEqs-5_nDsmSJh9jSiS6NeutGD-gYm_j77f2_FaM/s2016/IMG_3258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7ZD88SNPDbHow5b_DkEMITZkeulvfgXBoWlcbr39dj_rZIlGG943cKlaHzf-pLyTgH50ixU9huh5c9zWi3KOa3SV5lDTZIWWjSBUylzJaubSd0VRrw0qajIFKpP7MFba7IMBsSWbB0lDI_pjlabWEqs-5_nDsmSJh9jSiS6NeutGD-gYm_j77f2_FaM/w150-h200/IMG_3258.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">These bigger fish fight completely differently to their smaller brethren, staying deep and plodding away in the current against the bend of the rod and just giving the occasional head shake to test your nerve and the hookhold. It's a relief when they eventually capitulate and the sight of that fin waving above the surface as they head towards the net for me is one of the best sights in fishing and one I'll never tire of. Being quite a way up the river and loose feeding maggots it wasn't long before the resident brownies joined the party. Beautifully marked and in mint condition they were still obviously a couple of weeks out of season, so they all went back as quickly as possible. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0higo9lznDpnBxR0RyIcI_D7RFjcZ9MizhBkcWcqLZfgH5fbC85ytHTpsbZP0YmshclO-FzrraEEnkUkrejHzE-BnQTsD2Sa5MTQehXgm6LHKjwuj8yfSsRC9jZnNJoCLRZZq5ualftuRALUBMOTCdpXozTGWBF_4U_ZK4VEccqw4bpWhkKewdlN9Aag/s2016/IMG_3295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0higo9lznDpnBxR0RyIcI_D7RFjcZ9MizhBkcWcqLZfgH5fbC85ytHTpsbZP0YmshclO-FzrraEEnkUkrejHzE-BnQTsD2Sa5MTQehXgm6LHKjwuj8yfSsRC9jZnNJoCLRZZq5ualftuRALUBMOTCdpXozTGWBF_4U_ZK4VEccqw4bpWhkKewdlN9Aag/w150-h200/IMG_3295.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Before I knew it three hours had flown by and by now the bites had understandably started to tail off, so I clambered back out of the river just as a red kite came lazily spiralling overhead on the wind. Dropped in again about 50 metres downstream. However, after a grayling first cast the next half dozen fish were all of the spotty variety. It was also lunch time and I'd left my pack up in the car, so I decided that I'd call a halt to proceedings, have some snap and then head a short distance downstream to a different section. Up to that point I'd had 32 grayling, including several over the pound mark, and 18 brownies, so anything else would be a bonus. Scoffed my sandwich in the car then made the few minutes drive towards Uttoxeter. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The river down here is bigger and therefore more exposed to the wind, but I'd brought along the feeder rod just in case float fishing became too difficult. As it was the strengthening breeze was blowing straight downstream and it was difficult to control the float from the off and almost impossible to keep track of it any distance down the swim. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQZ29xfyjt9tlWYAaDh6Ev3MwKAXOhHrjEhVvVv-v8eXP05y5GJ_bfhfsv-eYYmRyVzCNw9vbZZkcZNn65xpkbRVP066ieWUNG4m_r-8F_84qexghDP2OveG_e4VIuYhTEPXg_fPMpbPIQNrkw1HofE6XCPnADe5ze0S0N_SBWyFgOMqIxgOPxAYgwCg/s1889/IMG_3272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1889" data-original-width="1417" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQZ29xfyjt9tlWYAaDh6Ev3MwKAXOhHrjEhVvVv-v8eXP05y5GJ_bfhfsv-eYYmRyVzCNw9vbZZkcZNn65xpkbRVP066ieWUNG4m_r-8F_84qexghDP2OveG_e4VIuYhTEPXg_fPMpbPIQNrkw1HofE6XCPnADe5ze0S0N_SBWyFgOMqIxgOPxAYgwCg/w240-h320/IMG_3272.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nXlsJWZ4E9_Xm24fQL4i8kNDl2KjmSX-jQD8O2FZ3dDMTvDd3gHoMuC208me8Vk4zXrh2i7lyvp52JkEl-TbL3fqBZCZezsvwgRsoHn6D712ul3jk2klE9yi5zd9UjKjLn_FPh94DfLRhq-I5QvZ6nuRR7bCKYB7HMUuOezt7yJiEFsKVByy7Tv_-58/s2016/IMG_3276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4nXlsJWZ4E9_Xm24fQL4i8kNDl2KjmSX-jQD8O2FZ3dDMTvDd3gHoMuC208me8Vk4zXrh2i7lyvp52JkEl-TbL3fqBZCZezsvwgRsoHn6D712ul3jk2klE9yi5zd9UjKjLn_FPh94DfLRhq-I5QvZ6nuRR7bCKYB7HMUuOezt7yJiEFsKVByy7Tv_-58/w240-h320/IMG_3276.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I suppose that I coould have put on a bigger float and nipped a shot on up the line to help things but instead I opted to head for a swim where I could comfortably sit and watch the tip, plus have the chance of a bonus chub. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ic9agAIa_CqotGGO93imsnEA4dgXHA3G62NBQCu69kRtqvyBPvIg5cY0XvBR6fLp3sOUVE33GAheL7DhC_u5W0xjL9VmbAbnKeLoArPHg2wY3kEZUax5rig-5syEnIzb_draJEgDX0n1c-1-r0obeJtsVZTQNJZHJK46jqnrCvxa3KPJw5PD5i7m8_Y/s1508/IMG_3300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1508" data-original-width="1131" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ic9agAIa_CqotGGO93imsnEA4dgXHA3G62NBQCu69kRtqvyBPvIg5cY0XvBR6fLp3sOUVE33GAheL7DhC_u5W0xjL9VmbAbnKeLoArPHg2wY3kEZUax5rig-5syEnIzb_draJEgDX0n1c-1-r0obeJtsVZTQNJZHJK46jqnrCvxa3KPJw5PD5i7m8_Y/w150-h200/IMG_3300.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">There was a pair of black swans in residence when I got there, but after a bit of head nodding and whistling they slid into the river and made their way over to the other bank. Got set up with a 30 gram blackcap with a short hooklink to avoid deephooking the grayling as much as possible. Spent the next hour filling the feeder and casting it down the crease very five minutes. Bites were a bit slow so I let my gaze wander over the fields opposite me, spotting a pair of buzzards, a male sparrowhawk and a huge, noisy flock of fieldfares that landed briefly in the tree to my left. Decided that I'd had enough about 5 o'clock having added just 3 more grayling to the tally for the day. Didn't catch a monster, but it had been just what I needed after such a crap winter. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We'll see what we can do with what remains of the season, but it looks to be turning wet again and that wind isn't going to go away!</span></div></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-61390277429716242792024-03-09T09:29:00.000-08:002024-03-09T09:29:41.915-08:0007/03/2024 - Give us a break!<span style="font-family: arial;">I'll be glad to see the back of this winter. Fishing wise it has been very poor, with just a handful of snatched sessions in the few windows of opportunity available. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR3rtnd6wed2ge6z4_evLKJcLWYEosxQyOdFYZEb5nBbtuIvphpJ88Qazkj5Drh-H0dyaozz6Z_0h0BYyvlDj7tlYmtVBA8LecGUCuU5NLGWjCjytRvEPQfcRGSuinLgg4xJdedjCFlGeOGZtOlSDSMpPcLJENqGwCVpkgMSgs9jz3InJszRB3M34aUM/s4032/IMG_2473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR3rtnd6wed2ge6z4_evLKJcLWYEosxQyOdFYZEb5nBbtuIvphpJ88Qazkj5Drh-H0dyaozz6Z_0h0BYyvlDj7tlYmtVBA8LecGUCuU5NLGWjCjytRvEPQfcRGSuinLgg4xJdedjCFlGeOGZtOlSDSMpPcLJENqGwCVpkgMSgs9jz3InJszRB3M34aUM/w150-h200/IMG_2473.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>However, with the local rivers out of sorts yet again at least I had a weekend with our friends in Exmouth to look forward to and with it the prospect of some early season LRF. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">When Friday came around the fishing tackle went into the boot with the suitcases along with some of last summer's salted rag that I'd found in the back of the bait fridge. However as we drove down the M5 it soon became apparent that it had been pissing down in the South West all day. Sure enough a check of the conditions the following morning revealed the estuary to be the colour of a fresh turd (probably contained a few as well) with zero visibility. Any thoughts of fishing were therefore abandoned and we headed over to neighbouring Budleigh Salterton and had a mooch along the seafront instead. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQh9ujzNqbMkKzkU1dtwmMRQujFGcvEp0sdC-yrn7wSq6I8E3J_Ek8QJkopNeh4kVFCD_5uVI_jZCuJuy9Y7xVfi2e-jJDMrCJxGCYB1hW1cQZc6SxWeXGjKQAFy-s9Zmm0sgBzAGJTWYnA6DcFyEPR8BT8llvTMSsbWKSSE2ePBD3crQjsc-1XB0uk68/s4032/IMG_2462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQh9ujzNqbMkKzkU1dtwmMRQujFGcvEp0sdC-yrn7wSq6I8E3J_Ek8QJkopNeh4kVFCD_5uVI_jZCuJuy9Y7xVfi2e-jJDMrCJxGCYB1hW1cQZc6SxWeXGjKQAFy-s9Zmm0sgBzAGJTWYnA6DcFyEPR8BT8llvTMSsbWKSSE2ePBD3crQjsc-1XB0uk68/w200-h150/IMG_2462.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Sunday morning my friend Simon and I headed down to the marina hoping that conditions had improved. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately it appeared that the incoming tide was just returning all of the crap back up the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">estuary as again the water was highly coloured with little or no visibilty. Undaunted we tried a few of the usual spots and actually found a few fish, including a few shannies, a tompot and a couple of mini-ballan wrasse. However, fishing blind into structure had the inevitable result and after snapping several hooks and losing a set of gear we packed up and headed back for a full English. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuy6kqBs3ONkQ3ZVE86ST-Jm8Jq8o7f5bXI17OsEgwTXzfpq9TMAfGRCDrvgIjuDCSRoqvYb2oV0Rpsm17dQmUH8BYdVkvQ4Bl1ekH8ukq6vULEJ81kiD095aPIGBVpe38gDBGt3mqIWlkIrPYDAlvJdocsGRiY12Y05LxF909AHoqtv2sf2RlERc3aps/s3261/IMG_3197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3261" data-original-width="2446" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuy6kqBs3ONkQ3ZVE86ST-Jm8Jq8o7f5bXI17OsEgwTXzfpq9TMAfGRCDrvgIjuDCSRoqvYb2oV0Rpsm17dQmUH8BYdVkvQ4Bl1ekH8ukq6vULEJ81kiD095aPIGBVpe38gDBGt3mqIWlkIrPYDAlvJdocsGRiY12Y05LxF909AHoqtv2sf2RlERc3aps/w150-h200/IMG_3197.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Upon our return to Nottingham it not only looked as if the local rivers were finally heading in the right direction, but that the weather was also going to behave itself as well. By Tuesday I therefore reckoned that it was worth a quick punt on the Derwent for the grayling, so I wrapped up work early and was </span><span style="font-family: arial;">out the door shortly after 3 o'clock. Fifteen minutes later I was at the river in bright sunshine. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Whilst the level was still a bit higher than I'd I was sure that I would be able to find a few fish and headed for a spot downstream of an island where I knew from previous sessions that that the flow would be a bit gentler. Had a few trots down the inside without a bite then had a speculative cast upstream into a slightly deeper pocket of water right under the hanging branches of the trees on the island. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wlSbMAoA9pk_n_Vgt_0a08B0QihVks3jk3rpd_EfGpwoILN7WR2J55nkfzKjLsneYt_WqEIpVjNXgzEFjWaDJJkEJ2XFFD8-EG58HHqcaG7gk55JSopKiQntZtYa0Yruk5WRTkaJlBEzwG5T7QbBs8OkE2e2M8rzwWSfRtCY7jq8N5Yw1Fu9s2mN9jg/s4032/IMG_3181%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wlSbMAoA9pk_n_Vgt_0a08B0QihVks3jk3rpd_EfGpwoILN7WR2J55nkfzKjLsneYt_WqEIpVjNXgzEFjWaDJJkEJ2XFFD8-EG58HHqcaG7gk55JSopKiQntZtYa0Yruk5WRTkaJlBEzwG5T7QbBs8OkE2e2M8rzwWSfRtCY7jq8N5Yw1Fu9s2mN9jg/w150-h200/IMG_3181%20(1).jpg" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">As the float trundled back towards me it promptly disappeared as a grayling snaffled the double maggot. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Added half a dozen more in the same way from this little spot before it all went quiet and I headed downstream to "the beach". By now the slight breeze had dropped away to nothing and the surface of the river was like a mirror. Found that the river had done a bit of re-modelling and had scoured out a channel down the nearside bank forming a bar. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Added three more grayling stood out on this new feature, but rather annoyingly pulled out of a much better fish that hung deep in the flow and never showed itself. However a mini-murmuration of starlings over the fields as I made my back to the car was a nice highlight.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLceL6U8EgLNk0knbpRcv0uBeIJbaX2XS55cB9Ws6Hnfg6K5ChRakwWTBc-W4qfvkMfx10LBs5AMs93IIUnwSuj5okkpRT1MawbPP95tGJX2dM7w3yU6qZbJHD-s5UFgqehhrB-ZFcl974v_OWSVSG1QxSAlmN-WGD4H-LG0hVn8hhEgxpMv0tpzsZal8/s3647/IMG_3223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3647" data-original-width="2735" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLceL6U8EgLNk0knbpRcv0uBeIJbaX2XS55cB9Ws6Hnfg6K5ChRakwWTBc-W4qfvkMfx10LBs5AMs93IIUnwSuj5okkpRT1MawbPP95tGJX2dM7w3yU6qZbJHD-s5UFgqehhrB-ZFcl974v_OWSVSG1QxSAlmN-WGD4H-LG0hVn8hhEgxpMv0tpzsZal8/w150-h200/IMG_3223.jpg" width="150" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Two days later I was back again, but in contrast it was dull and overcast with a cold, brisk Easterly wind. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The river had also dropped significantly allowing me to try a couple of my more usual spots further upstream. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">However, whether it was because of the conditions or that the fish had yet to re-distibute themselves after weeks of high flow I don't know, but I failed to buy a bite until I got right back down to the beach. Thankfully I managed to avoid the blank by adding a trio of graying before the gloom descended, which made me rue the decision to head upstream when I first arrived. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Hopefully the rivers will continue to improve for the remainder of the season as I've got some flexi to take, although it's looks like the east wind is going to be with us for another few days at least.</span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-8912511433097352232024-02-04T12:50:00.000-08:002024-02-04T12:51:53.699-08:0001/02/2024 - A scrappy Soar session<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fancied dusting off the pike rods, so when I saw that the wind was due to ease on Thursday, accompanied by relatively mild temperatures, I booked the morning off and made the necessary preparations. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Was up nice and early and made the short trip down the motorway, the moon setting to my right and the first glimmers of orange appearing to my left.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMtE6wz2huF4NMJZgxKutxnfz1n8idczRmBgwBtSUUQgkt7nxF7MY67YX4IEpJbGU8AmuwNTvaFZwYhyoypjXkzWX2Sjbn-kSnAPlxPJRuGXkqIKvhnvvxrKd7ft73O4PuoQlaLNjEQhvYRgfF6QH_H002PpMafZItcokA4P_x11eSdzbrYc6c50qKGY/s4032/IMG_2820%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMtE6wz2huF4NMJZgxKutxnfz1n8idczRmBgwBtSUUQgkt7nxF7MY67YX4IEpJbGU8AmuwNTvaFZwYhyoypjXkzWX2Sjbn-kSnAPlxPJRuGXkqIKvhnvvxrKd7ft73O4PuoQlaLNjEQhvYRgfF6QH_H002PpMafZItcokA4P_x11eSdzbrYc6c50qKGY/w240-h320/IMG_2820%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bumped my way down the track to find an empty car park and the river running at a prefect level with just a tinge of colour. As usual, I'd chopped up any old bait left in the freezer and as I walked upstream I flicked a couple of bits into any likely looking spots in the nearside margin. Don't know if this actually makes any difference, but I'd like to think that it puts a bit of scent in the water and stimulates the Esox tastebuds for when the main course arrives a bit later. Got to my starting point around the bend and soon had the rods out - a smelt flicked upstream next to a dead reedbed and a headless joey over against the far bank. </span>Unfortunately the baits had only been in the water five minutes when a double scull crewed by a middle-aged couple came steaming towards me. Had been sat concentrating on the floats, so just had time to jump up to reel the far bank rod in as fast as possible, losing the bait in the process.</div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgva_cuW3Qoro2vmqBNifdLK1OrkK3xtVjY2KJ7tcZCrxgve7MirG-PEIMJy15xKRuypTNChyL4fuZARQiuRVokonWr51dO__pwOXe8o3qoAS1uOdKkQE4xEzZlx1ywcdWU2ZcfPU5VPH3zjzw1FUFpnCQcZv-nqyBFD_-pfzpjBDln8pLjwBY6BSaq94w/s4032/IMG_0419%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgva_cuW3Qoro2vmqBNifdLK1OrkK3xtVjY2KJ7tcZCrxgve7MirG-PEIMJy15xKRuypTNChyL4fuZARQiuRVokonWr51dO__pwOXe8o3qoAS1uOdKkQE4xEzZlx1ywcdWU2ZcfPU5VPH3zjzw1FUFpnCQcZv-nqyBFD_-pfzpjBDln8pLjwBY6BSaq94w/w240-h320/IMG_0419%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">In total they came passed six times that morning, which had me constantly on edge, as I not only had to watch the floats but also had to keep glancing upstream and downstream for their next appearance. I was therefore relieved when they finally disappeared back upstream from where they came. With nothing doing after half an hour I moved downstream, again putting one bait in the nearside next to a clump of reeds, whilst the other bait I alternated between the far bank and mid-channel. It was the nearside float that eventually bobbed a couple of times and then lay flat on the surface. When I picked up the rod I thought the bait had been dropped. However, after a few seconds the float started to turn slowly on its axis, so wound down and hit it. Met token resistance before winding what turned out to be a small jack upstream towards me. Could see that he was only lightly hooked and as I went to land him the hooks pinged out and he swam into the net! </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrfDJmKEFOkbe00wKwORvn51YAswMSK-aCXoGyGVb8D209hdu-lqqnGB3zUo1MooP5Bq0k0Z3EG88C7ex1x4Ai3MtApZsUHC7162j4zSZryPV-R5KvNSyCuQmlIh6zDTq3G_T683NnM1-zEaOb1DxpC5jWC_z9AeXaqxnqSnl2iurxu31gFcMLIpVqgU/s3830/IMG_0411%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3830" data-original-width="2872" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrfDJmKEFOkbe00wKwORvn51YAswMSK-aCXoGyGVb8D209hdu-lqqnGB3zUo1MooP5Bq0k0Z3EG88C7ex1x4Ai3MtApZsUHC7162j4zSZryPV-R5KvNSyCuQmlIh6zDTq3G_T683NnM1-zEaOb1DxpC5jWC_z9AeXaqxnqSnl2iurxu31gFcMLIpVqgU/w240-h320/IMG_0411%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Moved again and as I came around the bend and looked down the long straight I could see that two anglers had set up camp right in the middle of the section and had at least five rods spread out between them, which meant that they effectively monopolised all of the swims that I had pre-baited and had intended to fish. Was cursing my luck as I hardly ever see another angler mid-week, but flicked the baits out again, one down the side and the other over to the boats. <span style="font-family: arial;">Wasn't long before I was spotted by my fellow anglers and one soon got up and started walking </span>upstream towards me. Couldn't believe it when he stopped and leant over to peer at my float in the margin! When he eventually ambled over we had the usual exchange starting with "You had owt?. They'd arrived about an hour after me and were yet to have anything. As we talked his mate came over, stomping past my marginal bait again. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3sIPUzQueXF7KsnqQhBNkKbwUk6ajNVD8cOHuqfnDo5xCE6kZnWrkwGB2JQ3919a9TPrzzje1IRFevnHrbEsX0ccTPHhEOyCk4yJxWvSDds1DXoiOqZZIDLOmRHyEms5yLD8OGUElkPQK84D4ZzvWrD3ks_f_93DAmD-mTuvEYASht2eAdIN4sOkLTY/s4032/IMG_2823%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw3sIPUzQueXF7KsnqQhBNkKbwUk6ajNVD8cOHuqfnDo5xCE6kZnWrkwGB2JQ3919a9TPrzzje1IRFevnHrbEsX0ccTPHhEOyCk4yJxWvSDds1DXoiOqZZIDLOmRHyEms5yLD8OGUElkPQK84D4ZzvWrD3ks_f_93DAmD-mTuvEYASht2eAdIN4sOkLTY/w200-h150/IMG_2823%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Chatted a bit longer before they both ambled back to their base of operations. As my near-side swim had been well and truly compromised I lifted the rod to wind it in and found that it was in a snag anyway. Bent the hooks hooks with a straight pull, losing another half mackerel in the process. By now it had turned into a bright, sunny day and I had contemplated packing up, but went back to my starting point instead. The jack I'd caught had been covered in leeches, so I decided to be a bit more active and move the baits every fifteen minutes or so in the hope of dropping one on the nose of a fish. </div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIAnkzUmqZXnhfb027rFce4gA0MWBMQjT3GoZCfcr4_6htk8O8M7Zx04oMtBupeTB0i4w7yPhV4GkZn9zHbSylJDDimISH_VKgvhhS2PCNgLxX30KDkwddG8C1pwWScS2n7BpgUEbwvjAxwNRU0kWIcbpWzpyO908oPLdRJlr8G6RJB9WpCe0ck9s0Xc/s4032/IMG_E2825%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIAnkzUmqZXnhfb027rFce4gA0MWBMQjT3GoZCfcr4_6htk8O8M7Zx04oMtBupeTB0i4w7yPhV4GkZn9zHbSylJDDimISH_VKgvhhS2PCNgLxX30KDkwddG8C1pwWScS2n7BpgUEbwvjAxwNRU0kWIcbpWzpyO908oPLdRJlr8G6RJB9WpCe0ck9s0Xc/s320/IMG_E2825%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div>Nothing in the first spot, but when I put half a lamprey in mid-channel it must have dropped into a slightly deeper hole as the float was barely visible. When it disappeared completely in the ripple caused by the freshening upstream breeze I let some slack out. However, the float didn't re-appear and I saw the line tightening up. Wound down into another jack as it made off with its prize, although again it was barely hooked when I got it on the bank. Moved 25 metres downstream and repositioned the rods. This time it was the rod down the nearside margin that bobbed and disappeared within a few minutes. As I drew this one closer I saw that it was only hooked by one point of the bottom treble, so bundled it into the net where the hook promptly fell out. Seemed that even when I dropped a bait right on their head they weren't really committing. Made another couple of moves before the lamprey in mid-river shot off, the float shooting across the surface towards the far bank. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, my strike met no resistance and the bait came back with hardly a mark on it. That seemed to mark the end of the actionas I failed to elicit any further response. Packed up and made my way back to the car, stopping to chat to my angling companions who were still sat in base camp, where they'd had one jack each. One of them showed me a bait that had been down the throat of one of their fish - a very familiar, undigested half mackerel! Oh well, at least I'd had some fish, but I do ask myself sometimes why I keep going back there given recent results. Perhaps time to try somewhere else.</div></span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-56411049065421392532024-02-02T05:43:00.000-08:002024-02-02T05:43:36.036-08:0030/01/2024 - A brief window of opportunity<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Good riddance to disposable vapes! Not a day goes by without me picking up at least one on my morning walk. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLEOdhnrqXTWCAvglqK0j5Y15HYhScq06ukJtqFCZecCESYz9WX7ZFNparbGjqzWtl1igyiEq6qZy3wbbwLkctqkClrAw7wcR2HPeh-GdF2CE-XQ5_FJT7CDagYXnPJtRX3uHgIhtvPrT_b6ll7TvC1KVTuYYjFYDSOfB6MGNiCgH5UnjODUSd_yNeKs/s4032/IMG_2750%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheLEOdhnrqXTWCAvglqK0j5Y15HYhScq06ukJtqFCZecCESYz9WX7ZFNparbGjqzWtl1igyiEq6qZy3wbbwLkctqkClrAw7wcR2HPeh-GdF2CE-XQ5_FJT7CDagYXnPJtRX3uHgIhtvPrT_b6ll7TvC1KVTuYYjFYDSOfB6MGNiCgH5UnjODUSd_yNeKs/w150-h200/IMG_2750%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Whilst acknowledging the risk to children's health, there is a massive environmental cost to them as well. The figures are staggering - according to Greenpeace roughly 8 vapes a second are binned in the UK. The way they are manufactured make it difficult and expensive to recycle them, so in 2022 in the UK alone 40 tonnes of lithium was thrown out with disposable vapes - enough to make batteries for 5000 electric cars! You only have to feel the weight of one to realise how much non-recyclable resource is packed into them, ultimately just to be chucked in the bin, or worse still in the gutter, on the verge or in the ditch. Anyway, as well as discarded vapes, I've seen some nice sunrises on my morning jaunts recently. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4tJX3CRQzP6igGyRKA-mbugHQY-xoD90nfqmuqQ5-rCbXrGgM5LvMKCGpBBY4eEQHo0gXqE0PVv9D_ovypZyaCaSBcDUUnmyqBkl1dPOCOYRq3SvgsZdbkgvvYsGOATt2Ikd7yl0v8NqtQCl9GFUbjUNlMbiAGa63c1ObQ3EhOkuVpkXw0O3LPqEYJs/s2617/IMG_E2804%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2617" data-original-width="1963" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4tJX3CRQzP6igGyRKA-mbugHQY-xoD90nfqmuqQ5-rCbXrGgM5LvMKCGpBBY4eEQHo0gXqE0PVv9D_ovypZyaCaSBcDUUnmyqBkl1dPOCOYRq3SvgsZdbkgvvYsGOATt2Ikd7yl0v8NqtQCl9GFUbjUNlMbiAGa63c1ObQ3EhOkuVpkXw0O3LPqEYJs/w150-h200/IMG_E2804%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">In contrast, today it was grey and gloomy and didn't look very promising at all, but by mid-day I could see some patches of blue sky from my office window and within another couple of hours it was clear and sunny. Not wanting to waste an opportunity and with a few maggots still remaining in the fridge I wrapped up what I was doing by three o'clock and was out the door asap. Was at the river and pulling into an empty car park within 15 minutes. Felt pretty warm as I got out of the car and there was a cloud of midgey looking things dancing in the afternoon sun. However, reckoned I only had about an hour and a half of usable light, so decided to split that evenly between the two swims I'd fished on my previous visit. </div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaa5oiumYPlU1eZIoDCyP4y7CMoGZw8fyen35w17IGtB2EFLNZPHVqaxfY9Asmn8Nf7atQVzaKe99hjYIMP3XsLjEqjYpKYisYUCfBLZJfkKezmrvF16Fo_Fv5xcBxt0G6HxLT-K-6cO5Yf3qsR3u9U0HhD49fxxW4_QrEaDOmSnuVeYCMXZon1xxMAI/s4032/IMG_E2805%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaa5oiumYPlU1eZIoDCyP4y7CMoGZw8fyen35w17IGtB2EFLNZPHVqaxfY9Asmn8Nf7atQVzaKe99hjYIMP3XsLjEqjYpKYisYUCfBLZJfkKezmrvF16Fo_Fv5xcBxt0G6HxLT-K-6cO5Yf3qsR3u9U0HhD49fxxW4_QrEaDOmSnuVeYCMXZon1xxMAI/w150-h200/IMG_E2805%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Therefore quickly headed upstream, disturbing a little egret and then a kingfisher in the process, and dropped in behind the island once more. The river had fined down a little since last time, but again it was a case of targetting the steadier water away from the main flow, which was still tonking along the far bank. Waded out onto the gravel and started running the float down off the rod tip. Bumped a fish almost straight away, the hook coming back minus the double maggot, but a few trots later I had my first grayling in the net. By the time my 45 minutes were up I'd had another three and had even seen a decent fish rise on the surface, so was in two minds whether to stay or move to another spot. </div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7IBzOhSKwMocjqdHDFrCzsBjiCgqywgcTGEAshX75O5rGu6JP9Vm8f_xKK823WGOIl0ySq0smEEomlP0zXnhX5erX1_uwsJhAPKKkWY793pAUKlHoWyTZ3knjo_Icidp3Kqe0QNnSKUq0DNnReMEUkrQLZZjDx_aaKQc9pDzbZucydQGe1-KknqZyG4/s4032/IMG_E2810%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7IBzOhSKwMocjqdHDFrCzsBjiCgqywgcTGEAshX75O5rGu6JP9Vm8f_xKK823WGOIl0ySq0smEEomlP0zXnhX5erX1_uwsJhAPKKkWY793pAUKlHoWyTZ3knjo_Icidp3Kqe0QNnSKUq0DNnReMEUkrQLZZjDx_aaKQc9pDzbZucydQGe1-KknqZyG4/w150-h200/IMG_E2810%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">However, the sun had now gone behind the trees on the island behind me and it was difficult to keep track of the float in the ensuing gloom. I therefore upped sticks and legged it downstream to my second swim, where I added three more grayling as the light faded, although I was actually fishless for the last fifteen minutes. Was back home shortly after 5 o'clock and got the kettle on as the wife walked in from work. Whilst it's nice to have some grayling fishing on mydoorstep I just feel like I'm scratching an itch at the moment and I need to be putting in more time and travelling further afield if I want some better quality fish, but we'll have to see what the fickle weather wants to do and there's more wind on the way last time I checked! </div></span><p></p>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-75180382511184961562024-01-27T11:10:00.000-08:002024-01-27T11:10:18.572-08:0026/01/2024 - Another short session with the float rod<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Had a rare day in the office today as I had some scanning and printing to do, but fortuitously had wrapped everything up by mid-afternoon. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiER_hsfDVvd7aLfEYVxX4IikXbj4s4_sgU9yQe049uIGU77JykYas1nPm5BVDERnaMvAVuCZcrrMpVGTRS85aP4mk4Hlcu84sW5-DgM4S81-mK_vNaWWeGbybvTUfpKIWM76NNrF_MXEVUZo0YDV4X_PBMcXKNuZZc1azVLSp0BRRFBQhWQ763at9AEhM/s4032/IMG_E2776%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiER_hsfDVvd7aLfEYVxX4IikXbj4s4_sgU9yQe049uIGU77JykYas1nPm5BVDERnaMvAVuCZcrrMpVGTRS85aP4mk4Hlcu84sW5-DgM4S81-mK_vNaWWeGbybvTUfpKIWM76NNrF_MXEVUZo0YDV4X_PBMcXKNuZZc1azVLSp0BRRFBQhWQ763at9AEhM/w150-h200/IMG_E2776%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Still had the gear in the car from last week and so had chucked in the remains of my maggots on the off-chance before leaving the house, so took the opportunity to drop in on the Derwent near Draycott on the way home. Despite a brisk westerly breeze it was bright and sunny and at a balmy 8 degrees Centigrade it felt positively warm. Reckoned I had two hours of light at best, so headed upstream to the first sheltered swim in the lee of an island. Storm Jocelyn had brought yet more rain during the week and, whilst the river was fining down, it was still actually higher than when I fished it seven days ago. The main flow was therefore racing along the far bank. However, it was again far less angry and had much more of a gentler pace down the inside. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5vDz3eiqV7BNFZyRYBLPqGpj5dKp0QJOs2hC8VdB2h-ZH_c0Yrc5hyFwO0QCpNpNY0CdmrqUeS_UhYC_wbp4qtRldDWwB604GGGIryXKkLgfrxr_XdoN7F120N9d2ftjH7Hu59I_zhiEqLMH3UgFaZnagX2FBobNVHxlEX-z6IvQnBoXsUJsyIDNfbc/s3016/IMG_E2784%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3016" data-original-width="2262" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5vDz3eiqV7BNFZyRYBLPqGpj5dKp0QJOs2hC8VdB2h-ZH_c0Yrc5hyFwO0QCpNpNY0CdmrqUeS_UhYC_wbp4qtRldDWwB604GGGIryXKkLgfrxr_XdoN7F120N9d2ftjH7Hu59I_zhiEqLMH3UgFaZnagX2FBobNVHxlEX-z6IvQnBoXsUJsyIDNfbc/w150-h200/IMG_E2784%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Waded out over the dead reed beds until I was stood on clean gravel and started running the float down off the rod tip. Bites were slow in coming, so doubled up the maggot on the hook to give the fish a bigger target. Also amused myself by flicking a few maggots in the direction of a beautifully marked grey wagtail bobbing up and down on what was left of the sand bank. Eventually the float buried and the hook went home with a satisfying thump causing the grayling on the end to start gyrating like mad. </span>Again, not huge but big enough to put up some stubborn resistance in the flow. Carried on but after about an hour I had only added one more fish, so with nothing to lose and about half an hour of light left I decided to head downstream to another swim. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6b410m4N-Oa5wb7GVItAIeFOGBSUNIYjGvzDecu_tp-dDhKDjSQV5GMdAo2P_XaSKyaMNhkU4Yzc_HJZFWSvg5d-G_2xfgKRKsKBcWD1ah1w5cgy6qOxeP-qf6tww1T0bFhhOTerTn2DjAZ1oPc5S27VQn_eA_qTJFYrOEbcVlRaght9HdrqnXcQUZ0/s4032/IMG_2779%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz6b410m4N-Oa5wb7GVItAIeFOGBSUNIYjGvzDecu_tp-dDhKDjSQV5GMdAo2P_XaSKyaMNhkU4Yzc_HJZFWSvg5d-G_2xfgKRKsKBcWD1ah1w5cgy6qOxeP-qf6tww1T0bFhhOTerTn2DjAZ1oPc5S27VQn_eA_qTJFYrOEbcVlRaght9HdrqnXcQUZ0/w150-h200/IMG_2779%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This was the same spot that I had failed to attract a bite in last week, but I was sure that it would hold a few fish in the conditions. Avoided the boily water at the head of the swim and moved downstream until the flow had settled into a nice, even walking pace. The sun was now low in the sky making it a bit difficult to keep track of the float in the glare on the glassy surface of the river, but not enough for me to see it disappear resulting in another feisty grayling. Seemed to have dropped on a few fish as I quickly added half a dozen more and lost one that got itself wrapped up in the hooklink, making me think I'd hooked an absolute monster. Called it a day with the best fish of the session as the sun finally disappeared below the horizon. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1qxAspTenJCZE7e5xgKe9ujKgb7IJq3lQbYRaE7THEOL6OBxqeGqK82N7cABHfqhQhXpfD-9jdav92e5mB5fEgU4YCw0097X0ydirdKWM3eIhypDCNFtvsk1lna06WwKfHdPm40TxrRh9TJ8R-uKLkvX6ehXXiGGV1b3wWHLPc8i-JedARyJtQEGXjI/s4032/IMG_E2789%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1qxAspTenJCZE7e5xgKe9ujKgb7IJq3lQbYRaE7THEOL6OBxqeGqK82N7cABHfqhQhXpfD-9jdav92e5mB5fEgU4YCw0097X0ydirdKWM3eIhypDCNFtvsk1lna06WwKfHdPm40TxrRh9TJ8R-uKLkvX6ehXXiGGV1b3wWHLPc8i-JedARyJtQEGXjI/w150-h200/IMG_E2789%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A couple of dog walkers came past at this point causing a bird up in the dead tree next to me to start calling in alarm, so I got out the phone and used the excellent Merlin Bird Sound ID app to identify it as a greater spotted woodpecker. Sure enough, peering throught the gloom, I eventually made him out hopping up the side of the trunk. Headed back to the car accompanied by the cackles of the fieldfares roosting high up in the riverside trees. Think this will be the pattern until the rivers and the weather settle down - short trips as and when the opportunities arise. Looking at the forecast ahead the wind definitely can do one - my pike rods hanging from the ceiling of the garage have got cobwebs on them!</div></span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-16279342075740510202024-01-21T12:51:00.000-08:002024-01-21T12:51:29.992-08:0019/01/24 - Not getting any easier<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With the cold weather continuing through the week I thought I'd have another go for the grayling in the hope that they'd had a few more days to acclimatise to the temperature and make their way back into their pre-flood haunts. Had an appointment in the morning, but wasn't in a rush to get out anyway as it had been minus 4 degrees Celcius overnight. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94OpWS371QTAwZ39sLsZsXg24XblKPmUDu2EIfyHU2YZ-V5VeGfepRypKOxdrTNt4sEBTU1Naqu7lG9Vx9KKfB7lfdoy3vdphIIL5_crCWGzmRVxgnjY1q7Eu5m5_aLy4vgrjMV1mqRT-5ZhMhwfNM392Z8o98rcTHsp8_YQNx-5YIHM7WWZwQcSf89Q/s3827/IMG_E2666%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3827" data-original-width="2870" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94OpWS371QTAwZ39sLsZsXg24XblKPmUDu2EIfyHU2YZ-V5VeGfepRypKOxdrTNt4sEBTU1Naqu7lG9Vx9KKfB7lfdoy3vdphIIL5_crCWGzmRVxgnjY1q7Eu5m5_aLy4vgrjMV1mqRT-5ZhMhwfNM392Z8o98rcTHsp8_YQNx-5YIHM7WWZwQcSf89Q/w150-h200/IMG_E2666%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore got work out the way first and headed to the Derwent after lunch when the sun was about as high as it was going to get and the temperature was a much more bearable 1 degree! There was a couple of cars in the car park when I arrived, but looking downstream I could see their owners hunkered down out of the breeze with rods up on rests, presumably after a chub, so got togged up before heading upstream. The river was still at about the upper level that I'd normally fish it with the float rod, still influenced by releases from the reservoirs further upstream, and in my first swim I could just about comfortably stand in the margins. However, third trot down the avon disappeared and I felt the familiar mad gyrating of a grayling on the end of the line. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkE5VEW1TWFjStHJtOVYjBoXoxB-oxHVL2yjF024IhaFHTIgM7_Nx41cQEPolAET9bRKmeybk_x-xlTVSUFM32HAflGnCYchLSg7MnFBk3rPz7yz_a9YvblOw36QoTU5TXmPcoJ4DhhpBSKYhz6vR6T5QHZ5plWsMQV3UtDN24f_DoVoiRxbRiFk8H8vo/s4032/IMG_2669%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkE5VEW1TWFjStHJtOVYjBoXoxB-oxHVL2yjF024IhaFHTIgM7_Nx41cQEPolAET9bRKmeybk_x-xlTVSUFM32HAflGnCYchLSg7MnFBk3rPz7yz_a9YvblOw36QoTU5TXmPcoJ4DhhpBSKYhz6vR6T5QHZ5plWsMQV3UtDN24f_DoVoiRxbRiFk8H8vo/w150-h200/IMG_2669%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Bumped one soon after and as there appeared to be a few fish about I decided at this point to put in a couple of droppers full of maggots at the head of the swim. May not have been the best decision as over the next hour I could only manage one more fish so, despite the sun nicely warming my back, I headed downstream to my next usual spot noting where the river had breached the flood bank and meandered across the adjacent field. Discovered that a tree had come down in the margins making access into the water impossible, so found myself in my third swim a bit sooner than expected. Funnelled by the island upstream the main flow was whipping along the far bank. However, the pace inside was far gentler and althought the water was only about three feet deep I reckoned that's where I'd be if I was a grayling. </div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ly56MbyLP8BzKwMV5PF9oOl17pYHzWLWeGfFmqAPFs5VcrQj5Mc-1M-w6Lpahl4e2vcr-0zFsbAkMqC9k3PGHWq8vbM6fD8RBY9w27c5G6u1KJ3PPLsKCTXOR6Rafgwui2FiVJIgOL5XZSf5T9y5-4THLpHgBOspijbHUgJ8mobeHgp1XdIfpvi8pOo/s4032/IMG_E2678%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ly56MbyLP8BzKwMV5PF9oOl17pYHzWLWeGfFmqAPFs5VcrQj5Mc-1M-w6Lpahl4e2vcr-0zFsbAkMqC9k3PGHWq8vbM6fD8RBY9w27c5G6u1KJ3PPLsKCTXOR6Rafgwui2FiVJIgOL5XZSf5T9y5-4THLpHgBOspijbHUgJ8mobeHgp1XdIfpvi8pOo/w150-h200/IMG_E2678%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Didn't bother with the dropper this time as I was a bit more confident that my loose feed would be getting down to the deck in the shallower water. Seemed to be correct on both counts as after a few trots down I had another grayling that, although modest in size, punched above its weight in the flow. Added half a dozen more over the next hour and whilst not as prolific as normal, at least I was getting a few bites. However, when I bumped a good fish at range (the maggot had folded back onto the hook at just the wrong time!) and with the sun falling lower in the sky, I opted to try another, usually reliable swim a bit further downstream. Again, with hindsight it wasn't one of my better decisons as I couldn't buy a single bite. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Mi_iBJXpE4huUACkci1kV3HuA08D-773uXOMECv1x06ShQi1BkhxpH_jyzRFSw3pDn7McULJgtm-sSHIdAZXOPRBRtGPwOKfE_ZiOR0ZPaEz4gbwb2z29YE3bwfTd-VgWy4IjxdAJuUlP2YHhOxCN_Qo8aQf5JxTyQe03DUVU0yHzacncjtoGEn5h94/s4032/IMG_E2684%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Mi_iBJXpE4huUACkci1kV3HuA08D-773uXOMECv1x06ShQi1BkhxpH_jyzRFSw3pDn7McULJgtm-sSHIdAZXOPRBRtGPwOKfE_ZiOR0ZPaEz4gbwb2z29YE3bwfTd-VgWy4IjxdAJuUlP2YHhOxCN_Qo8aQf5JxTyQe03DUVU0yHzacncjtoGEn5h94/w200-h150/IMG_E2684%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">In addition, as the sun disappeared the combination of the falling temperature and upstream wind began to bite and my fingers that were in contact with the metal cage of the centrepin were soon completely numb, so headed back to the car. On the way home, the stubble that had been washed off the fields and trapped on the roadside fence betrayed how high the water level had been over the winter, reaching its highest recorded level, so it possibly wasn't surprising that the river and its inhabitants hadn't yet returned to normal. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, looking at the forecast for the weekend we've got rain, double figure temperatures and 70 mile an hour winds to look forward to. Bonkers!</span></p>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-26167814532746406402024-01-17T14:59:00.000-08:002024-01-17T15:01:18.335-08:0014/01/2024 - Tough going on the Dove<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Whilst we've had at least a couple of weeks of dry weather now, due to the ground being absolutely saturated everywhere, it's taken an age for the local rivers to fine down to fishable levels. Even as we speak the Trent and the Derwent have only just come back down to what I would call "normal" winter levels. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr8JiIlYFrAct4O6yoW-F1n9luX57hQHRLwb9Vl7r7ZTwvHt0p75vm3UeSiVFa7d28bqYO9lcNBbwpmo4LCPNTCUVWZe0cy7CK-KOyG0ZyK2YQKpHOu1Bs6jlvSyY3ipzlcQ2e9SvEWe19AL7gEjL4dNGqpMOHqmDoANA3v-sT4uVvCu8gCHWrYZqCak/s4032/IMG_E2618%5B1%5D.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLr8JiIlYFrAct4O6yoW-F1n9luX57hQHRLwb9Vl7r7ZTwvHt0p75vm3UeSiVFa7d28bqYO9lcNBbwpmo4LCPNTCUVWZe0cy7CK-KOyG0ZyK2YQKpHOu1Bs6jlvSyY3ipzlcQ2e9SvEWe19AL7gEjL4dNGqpMOHqmDoANA3v-sT4uVvCu8gCHWrYZqCak/w200-h150/IMG_E2618%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Dove on the other hand looked to be perfectly fishable at the weekend, so early on Sunday morning I headed west on the A50 into Staffordshire. Let myself into an empty car park, quickly checking before I pulled off onto the grass that I wouldn't sink up to my axles. The sun was just coming up over Nestle's and with the lack of any wind it looked as if it was going to be a pleasant, but cold morning. Walked up to the first glide, flushing a kingfisher from his bankside perch as I did so, set up the rod and slid into the river. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaN7C9neMKpZZBrITaz5YDKN0P-0BtSf6ortp0kzkprAKOtUr5jby3aixbtLFYSHAVdRRROa0ObkriJRfDmkH_jueD6yhV4RnnW51Lz6kxClx59qhN2gMN2he4my1Kjbw0VpyXzy9zT5C4ptNE03XPY4SIfmWm9BoIRTfMcxMOUwLIIREoDXzYW671_k/s4032/IMG_E2622%5B1%5D.HEIC" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaN7C9neMKpZZBrITaz5YDKN0P-0BtSf6ortp0kzkprAKOtUr5jby3aixbtLFYSHAVdRRROa0ObkriJRfDmkH_jueD6yhV4RnnW51Lz6kxClx59qhN2gMN2he4my1Kjbw0VpyXzy9zT5C4ptNE03XPY4SIfmWm9BoIRTfMcxMOUwLIIREoDXzYW671_k/w150-h200/IMG_E2622%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Sent the float down after a handful of maggots and was surprised when it promptly disappeared halfway down the run. The water still had a hint of colour, so didn't see the fish straight away and thought I'd managed to snag a decent grayling on my first cast. However, changed my mind when it tried to dive headfirst into the nearest reedbed and after a bit of welly a small chub slid into the net. Didn't take long though before I had my target species as I had a small grayling just a few casts later. Thought I was in for a few fish, but subsequent bites were very slow in coming. Over the next hour I could only manage another small chub and a couple more grayling before deciding to move downstream towards the end of the glide. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6niE0i9-phrabWSp1LGDIJX6nJn8PWaysP3SroDpCJCJe9DcogEQvG8vmgCq1n51cR_vgKTeDxich0vkIXUStrGI1bDpnnVAMk39NR8Yp72zqCKd2354vI8mOJvi5Jf9Y_sQUCakpVjdR3yRrI7HdRupv3ht2qguZ60wULoKXWrY8u9Y9SViFAWK3fgY/s3910/IMG_E2632%5B1%5D.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3910" data-original-width="2933" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6niE0i9-phrabWSp1LGDIJX6nJn8PWaysP3SroDpCJCJe9DcogEQvG8vmgCq1n51cR_vgKTeDxich0vkIXUStrGI1bDpnnVAMk39NR8Yp72zqCKd2354vI8mOJvi5Jf9Y_sQUCakpVjdR3yRrI7HdRupv3ht2qguZ60wULoKXWrY8u9Y9SViFAWK3fgY/w150-h200/IMG_E2632%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the new spot it was again a first cast fish, but this one put a bit of a bend in the Acolyte as it hung stubbornly out in the flow. Drawing it upstream and into the waiting net it turned out to be a nice fat hen fish of well over a pound. A couple more followed, but it seemed that either the fish weren't there in numbers or that they just weren't having it, so I upped sticks and headed up to another glide at the top of the section. There were hundreds of fieldfares hopping around in the pasture next to the river and as I walked upstream they flew in front of me cackling their alarm calls and showing me their grey backsides. First cast in a new spot yielded another small grayling again, but it was the same story with further bites hard to come by. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbojePUSRhVywn0UqlfZLf5Tu0IIz5V03RFOc7j5rixNXty-0-3nYZlXV3ZdDN-ilBwQBGCBYkZUDmGRtxuX-K9c5cEW772LmRtySSZn5MwzpuF60RTk3Z5rGM-zU5jV4rsJJMK27QwqyApgp2HHgyEKK3OADrcU9jj04QMU5UF0J4fryI9SOjux42uxo/s3520/IMG_E2641%5B1%5D.HEIC" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="2640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbojePUSRhVywn0UqlfZLf5Tu0IIz5V03RFOc7j5rixNXty-0-3nYZlXV3ZdDN-ilBwQBGCBYkZUDmGRtxuX-K9c5cEW772LmRtySSZn5MwzpuF60RTk3Z5rGM-zU5jV4rsJJMK27QwqyApgp2HHgyEKK3OADrcU9jj04QMU5UF0J4fryI9SOjux42uxo/w150-h200/IMG_E2641%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Did have a bit of excitement when I hit a fish that shot off downstream, forcing me to bully it back against the flow. However, when it got level with me it kept going and eventually went airborne showing off a spotty flank. Got him in the net and back in the river and carried on, but my heart wasn't really in it having fished hard for three hours. Called it a day after having nine grayling, two chub and that out of season brownie. Did think about dropping back into my first swim, but two chub anglers had plonked themselves down directly opposite. Carried on back to the car, spotting a mink slinking under a bush on the far bank. Had earlier dropped my Korum rod butt protector somewhere between the car park and the river and fully expected to find it in the grass, but it was nowhere to be seen. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Possibly picked up by one of the dog walkers that had passed me during the morning. Oh well, that's two odd sets that I can make a pair with now! </span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-8033154306621818682023-12-20T09:04:00.000-08:002023-12-20T09:04:20.449-08:0016/12/2023 - Still here, but it's been a bit of a struggle!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Can't remember a stranger few months - did more sea fishing than anything else during September and October and then work, the weather and illness have conspired against me ever since. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DkfhXF8kgGX0GFfv297d_vR5HKwP4dqcL3AABhlu6bmLF9jTqroLgCbvmEhXAw9Hlf0uCD0kf26qBE884YAZsnS4hwLOUkgnDf6puptWvWroTJA-O4c-Uk-Lz-zg_YLY43xHSVDFkaVcEbtumBt0Xif5IgBGit1i-XbxLE6j8fhtPuMZy2Ym3Vkh5KI/s4032/IMG_3234%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DkfhXF8kgGX0GFfv297d_vR5HKwP4dqcL3AABhlu6bmLF9jTqroLgCbvmEhXAw9Hlf0uCD0kf26qBE884YAZsnS4hwLOUkgnDf6puptWvWroTJA-O4c-Uk-Lz-zg_YLY43xHSVDFkaVcEbtumBt0Xif5IgBGit1i-XbxLE6j8fhtPuMZy2Ym3Vkh5KI/w150-h200/IMG_3234%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Did manage a couple of after work sessions in early November on the River Trent, firstly to a free, urban section of the river after my interest had been piqued by a picture of a very large perch taken on a float-fished deadbait of all things. Had a couple of hours with the feeder rod, fishing down the side with lobworm on the hook and chopped dendras and dead maggot in the feeder and whilst I caught a few perch, they weren't of the size I was after. As the light disappeared I took off the mono hooklink and clipped on a trace baited with a small, headless roach deadbait hoping that the deep water close in would harbour a zed. However, half an hour without a twitch on the quiver tip saw me heading home, although I will certainly be making a return visit at some point. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVh0NIAvrIHf8l9vUxvYtTMfEa40b1Z_gRkGP62FIYxez2U-D_-L9HqqwcQWFdwAt6VU9r6APZu0yRLX0rAIJlLnJubcNGwwtqyl7eUzlWLsW76mjfGDGlGVx7jxCqFmVkGlyji4K2VuWi4PnJqmoeR3aGSKU38nlSChxDp6MkRnAEvjgHc66ELClbCJQ/s4032/IMG_2494%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVh0NIAvrIHf8l9vUxvYtTMfEa40b1Z_gRkGP62FIYxez2U-D_-L9HqqwcQWFdwAt6VU9r6APZu0yRLX0rAIJlLnJubcNGwwtqyl7eUzlWLsW76mjfGDGlGVx7jxCqFmVkGlyji4K2VuWi4PnJqmoeR3aGSKU38nlSChxDp6MkRnAEvjgHc66ELClbCJQ/w150-h200/IMG_2494%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Second session was closer to home and was solely with zander in mind, a species that is fast becoming my nemesis. Thought I'd cracked it a few seasons ago with a run of fish to just under double figures, but have struggled ever since. Needless to say this session wasn't any different as, despite seemingly perfect conditions, I went home fishless yet again without even the eels bothering me. And then came the rain. What a totally shite period of weather we've had (and are still having)! Never mind giving these storms nice names. I know what I'd like to call them and it's not printable. Eventually the promise of a few, rain-free days resulted in just a glimmer at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately with the ground so saturated the main rivers seemed to be taking age to fall to a resonable level. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmbbQNYcMewrHyeDO4mBMUbULpGYTUucGkRm0zqG8NAmmWHUBkr2Du7OdD1Dt1O3tRxUEEqGBXnuYtx0qMwzL6AuMm8OaO7joAMW_E3mJVP0_1PllurdAUCT70D0Z2w05GRdFVJrpXn9QzaqGY_q2OAYJp_jUrBy6GElAc3akqz_O5C5_gocnRXuCn4g/s4032/IMG_2483%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmbbQNYcMewrHyeDO4mBMUbULpGYTUucGkRm0zqG8NAmmWHUBkr2Du7OdD1Dt1O3tRxUEEqGBXnuYtx0qMwzL6AuMm8OaO7joAMW_E3mJVP0_1PllurdAUCT70D0Z2w05GRdFVJrpXn9QzaqGY_q2OAYJp_jUrBy6GElAc3akqz_O5C5_gocnRXuCn4g/w150-h200/IMG_2483%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, higher up in the catchments it was thankfully a different story. Therefore booked a morning off work and headed west on the A50 into Staffordshire with my float rod and a pint of maggots hoping to catch my first grayling of the winter. Parts of the fields next to the river were still ankle deep in water, the ground sucking at my feet with every step, so by the time I got to the top of the section I was puffing like a steam train due to the lingering effects of a "hundred day cough". However, the river itself looked absolutely bang on and after I had regained my breath sufficiently to coax an out of season, but energetic, brown trout out of a small nearside slack on my first cast I thought that I was onto a winner. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgInFrVGPq94jTkbrIMztSyMoqmP4wIOP3H8Vpb8I_LLjhYqO0jdyFlJHy87KyyNKjnDNaPwlZZf0zidODljOX9u6yPI5QpEwab6W_oTML3t4dX9IRwNUbyV8PJVyKxK_yaXEVtm1Vv9Ny3OFRCwt36hse5E95rKMAuWEJzHICnMM_B0kIpiidZFH9sps/s4032/IMG_2487%5B1%5D.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgInFrVGPq94jTkbrIMztSyMoqmP4wIOP3H8Vpb8I_LLjhYqO0jdyFlJHy87KyyNKjnDNaPwlZZf0zidODljOX9u6yPI5QpEwab6W_oTML3t4dX9IRwNUbyV8PJVyKxK_yaXEVtm1Vv9Ny3OFRCwt36hse5E95rKMAuWEJzHICnMM_B0kIpiidZFH9sps/s320/IMG_2487%5B1%5D.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately it turned out to be completely the opposite and a bit of a grueller instead. Whilst I stayed mobile and tried as many of my usually reliable spots as possible, I left many empty handed. Where I did manage to tempt a bite it was just from the odd, solitary fish. Didn't help that it stayed gloomy all morning to the extent that I was struggling to keep track of the stick float down the runs and had to change over to one with a larger, domed top instead (although I later realised that I was wearing an old pair of glasses that were at least one prescription out!). By lunchtime I'd just had that one brownie and a dozen grayling to show for my efforts. Called it a day when I failed to buy a bite in my "banker" swim where I'd had not only grayling, but perch chub and dace in the past. Just seemed to have dropped on a day when they weren't having it. Still, at least I hadn't blanked and it had been good to be out and not staring at a screen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It had also been good to get re-acquainted with the river, which had again done a bit of re-modelling since my last visit resulting in the loss of some swims but the formation of others that will get a proper look at next time. Squelched back to the car, disturbing a buzzard looking for easy pickings in the form of drowned worms. <span style="text-align: left;">Remind me to ask Santa for some nice clear, cold and settled weather in the New Year!</span></div></span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-84953064221300101732023-11-02T09:13:00.008-07:002023-11-02T09:19:11.551-07:0031/10/2023 - Wild, wild West<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This half-term the wife and I were meant to be going to see the lad and his girlfriend in Lithuania where he is about to start a PhD on sea eagles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQwswRYy7NCzWN9OTAUnXF0e-4B13QmcYwOEzkTVBLdqXKVrLLPpzfuOgEKySVifYgfVcK56We_xVYWnvtVZuw0B01URZz2WloAtIOG8YFN7zfGArp4v-NVF7IXdMpO6I4X_jpXt0ncU1-p1TG51rJYvsW_mywKINN1dD-KZJmobWYgwDy1WqwIRMYLM/s3908/IMG_E2366%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3908" data-original-width="2931" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQwswRYy7NCzWN9OTAUnXF0e-4B13QmcYwOEzkTVBLdqXKVrLLPpzfuOgEKySVifYgfVcK56We_xVYWnvtVZuw0B01URZz2WloAtIOG8YFN7zfGArp4v-NVF7IXdMpO6I4X_jpXt0ncU1-p1TG51rJYvsW_mywKINN1dD-KZJmobWYgwDy1WqwIRMYLM/w150-h200/IMG_E2366%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, due to the long-winded process required to obtain his residency permit and the risk that he would run out of Shengen days before he got it, he had to come home for a bit. </span>This left us at a bit of a loose end so, whilst the weather forecast was not exactly ideal, we decided to head down to Pembrokeshire instead. On the journey down the effects of Storm Babet were still much in evidence with virtually every river still out of their banks and fields full of flood water. Despite a last minute diversion over the Brecon Beacons to avoid a crash on the M4 we eventually arrived safely, albeit in the middle of the first of many torrential downpours we were to experience over the next few days! </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh136i2GGaNixrWZOPt_eBsHYpVtL1UrkR739JevF52uZZeYXCUNXftxYzS6JmfwGZnOJw2_kdZQdDfM7AImwFZnSNgHD9P6WBQxWZhPTv9miGDLueekP6gwMPv6YRLy66ooCL0aMpZmYGuvm3iLBga_XVgl1hgckKWnJ8pZa-Dyx-gMBBE2MhPBKcJNVE/s3493/IMG_E2365%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3493" data-original-width="2620" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh136i2GGaNixrWZOPt_eBsHYpVtL1UrkR739JevF52uZZeYXCUNXftxYzS6JmfwGZnOJw2_kdZQdDfM7AImwFZnSNgHD9P6WBQxWZhPTv9miGDLueekP6gwMPv6YRLy66ooCL0aMpZmYGuvm3iLBga_XVgl1hgckKWnJ8pZa-Dyx-gMBBE2MhPBKcJNVE/w150-h200/IMG_E2365%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Managed to get a walk in down on the beach at Amroth on the Saturday during a brief break in the weather, before heading back to watch the rugby. In contrast Sunday looked like it was going to be a complete write off. <span style="font-family: arial;">However, rather than go mad watching the rain batter against the windows, we braved the water-logged lanes and went for a warming bowl of cawl (lamb stew to the non-Welsh) at our favourite cafe at Lawrenny Quay, overlooking a very wind-blown and grim-looking estuary. </span>Persuaded the wife to pop into Pembroke Dock on the way back and got some ragworm from Roddy at JBM Marine. His overall summary of the local fishing prospects was a resounding "crap", the main issue being the amount of fresh, but dirty water being dumped into the sea by the river. </div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncPSJhG9MY6iokdxnoYO-TjtZ1kzg823ovPSMMnSiqAVV7e1jGC8Jdl1Ab3mn5MwYly8Gq6c-Tr9dDF8KhXY2ySpxIv7lKFGddPnM_RoVoEx27K2VrC6KJ1uDJP1_qosomhpmtUByp_O21dIblbJAdkh2ntG53rh4d8XsVTHlvOJbSYhFXRxElO8lSxE/s3739/IMG_E2388%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3739" data-original-width="2804" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncPSJhG9MY6iokdxnoYO-TjtZ1kzg823ovPSMMnSiqAVV7e1jGC8Jdl1Ab3mn5MwYly8Gq6c-Tr9dDF8KhXY2ySpxIv7lKFGddPnM_RoVoEx27K2VrC6KJ1uDJP1_qosomhpmtUByp_O21dIblbJAdkh2ntG53rh4d8XsVTHlvOJbSYhFXRxElO8lSxE/w150-h200/IMG_E2388%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Had a quick look at Hobbs Point, which only seemed to confirm his assessment as the estuary was the colour of mud, with water pouring in from the storm drains! <span style="font-family: arial;">The following morning I therefore headed up to Fishguard on the north coast instead hoping that the rain would have had less of an influence and that there would at least be some whiting about to pull the string. Walking out to the end of the breakwater at first light I was relieved to see that the water was relatively clear, so got set up on the top of the rock apron well out </span>of the way of the swell. Had a selection of baits with me and started off with ragworm on a two hook flapper on one rod and a mackerel/squid cocktail on a pulley pennel rig on the other. </div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0zzrwyZhEX1dwY2d9MEdfpWU-PIIpDlX0hlsMA5ZTrhL3c6Ymn4W0xSwstLh9pT8k0uyNePZMSEuOSx4RSsnsjB3QBytB_H71kCJHvS1KNBCeMfeeWnAbnOqGT-SyBODwvlRVHALcE91FSv0UnoRqJBwPm9FYJeq5xB-hLAArUS7KMrNwbiGw7avjR4/s3869/IMG_E2392%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3869" data-original-width="2902" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0zzrwyZhEX1dwY2d9MEdfpWU-PIIpDlX0hlsMA5ZTrhL3c6Ymn4W0xSwstLh9pT8k0uyNePZMSEuOSx4RSsnsjB3QBytB_H71kCJHvS1KNBCeMfeeWnAbnOqGT-SyBODwvlRVHALcE91FSv0UnoRqJBwPm9FYJeq5xB-hLAArUS7KMrNwbiGw7avjR4/w150-h200/IMG_E2392%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Started getting rattles and pulls on both rods and was feeling pretty confident, but after two and a half hours I'd only had one small pouting to show for my efforts. With the wind picking up and the sky darkening yet again I therefore returned home with my tail between my legs! The next day I decided to gamble and headed towards Milford Haven with the light gear. It had actually been clear and calm overnight and the temperature was down to 5 degrees, the grass verges covered in heavy condensation, although it had warmed up a bit by the time I arrived. Whilst the water in the docks was the colour of my Costa coffee, parking up at Hakin Point I was again glad to see that clarity in the estuary itself was pretty good.</div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyNGlb60_6EqbqTtko0ZtBcdkK0rS5LeGHT5lf-ugVgW-RIEGkiCmD9RP1J5QC0AS3aXo5l-niE088k6OQV_juayLYTQVkN4eaRI8m0kGa1zjgT01geOA0NBpgYDNC0CiR1DTEOJrd16aXg43t5x_DT0pzR1f8JnW6E30yJJmf3Gt-osWOnU9-qAIxvQ/s3479/IMG_E2391%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3479" data-original-width="2609" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyNGlb60_6EqbqTtko0ZtBcdkK0rS5LeGHT5lf-ugVgW-RIEGkiCmD9RP1J5QC0AS3aXo5l-niE088k6OQV_juayLYTQVkN4eaRI8m0kGa1zjgT01geOA0NBpgYDNC0CiR1DTEOJrd16aXg43t5x_DT0pzR1f8JnW6E30yJJmf3Gt-osWOnU9-qAIxvQ/w150-h200/IMG_E2391%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This was despite the debris on the high tide line indicating that the pier had only recently been under water due to the combination of big spring tides and floodwater. Set up my usual two hook mini flapper made up with size 10 Tronixpro Sabpolo Wormers, baited the bottom hook with a scrap of ragworm but put a sliver of squid on the top hook just for a change. Slowly worked my way along the wall, dropping my rig down every couple of metres or so, until I found the fish literally stacked up in one spot. As soon as the bait rig hit the bottom the ragworm was snaffled by a corkwing wrasse, although they weren't having it all their own way as the squid proved to be as popular with the pollack, who were snatching it on the drop. </div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpy0r2oHOZl3ikYOciH8_R2AoUNJLUQ4mlqDzEcUmC040cwDXrviOi3q1SpmqZata12vE-3Wkd0dHrrnikrYjJorBpT_7b6Hlj6bNc4HFWgfU3fgwGPGDsSkPBO3ByLJW-KOpZCH8yT6uYl14ErUSS4zZt94aW1Dq3GauyWx2fTr0hI8Cm0t5ocqMDQdk/s3913/IMG_E2397%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3913" data-original-width="2935" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpy0r2oHOZl3ikYOciH8_R2AoUNJLUQ4mlqDzEcUmC040cwDXrviOi3q1SpmqZata12vE-3Wkd0dHrrnikrYjJorBpT_7b6Hlj6bNc4HFWgfU3fgwGPGDsSkPBO3ByLJW-KOpZCH8yT6uYl14ErUSS4zZt94aW1Dq3GauyWx2fTr0hI8Cm0t5ocqMDQdk/w150-h200/IMG_E2397%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Whiled away the next hour and a half catching both species in equal numbers and adding a few, perpetually glum-looking shannies and the odd, uniquely coloured ballan. </span>Had to tear myself away in the end as unfortunately we had to head back up the motorway for an appointment with the carpet fitter later in the afternoon, otherwise I would have happily carried on all morning. However, having caught one short of fifty fish in total I'd had a pretty busy session. On reflection it's been a strange couple of months as I've done very little coarse fishing recently. Will have to see what impact the storm Ciaran has in the next few days, but hopefully I will be able to get some short, "smash n grab" sessions in after work for the chub, perch and zander. That's the plan but I guess we'll have to see!</div></span><p></p><p></p>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-34531659174991307312023-10-11T00:56:00.001-07:002023-10-11T00:56:09.239-07:0007/10/2023 - Topwater bass action<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Had been in touch with Joel Squires, North Devon bass guide, again before we came down about the possibility of another lure session somewhere. He replied that the tides weren't brilliant, being small neaps, but that he'd have a think about it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g3b8lhJVGjITtqDUqMQ20M5FjOuE0GBSjr3Cz-njAOWJA2ktNieMSGOarx3fj6IzJtjgB0FcQb1CxziBms-wlnqDT71cPf9CmqdTxARwZGTfGkRe4lD9bCPtvBbpM-yiG-EAfiw94kcW3Tlw9hEbTu0HAPdmTQYf8JJOHdNzqmCFPIwEfVY2XV0vGnA/s4032/IMG_2267%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g3b8lhJVGjITtqDUqMQ20M5FjOuE0GBSjr3Cz-njAOWJA2ktNieMSGOarx3fj6IzJtjgB0FcQb1CxziBms-wlnqDT71cPf9CmqdTxARwZGTfGkRe4lD9bCPtvBbpM-yiG-EAfiw94kcW3Tlw9hEbTu0HAPdmTQYf8JJOHdNzqmCFPIwEfVY2XV0vGnA/w150-h200/IMG_2267%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As it happened I ran into him on the beach at Saunton on Saturday when I got back from Ilfracombe and after a quick chat I arranged to meet him on the estuary at Crow Point later that afternoon. </span>Walking up from the car park towards the mouth of the estuary we discussed tactics. It had been a cracking, warm sunny day up until then and Joel thought conditions would be spot on for a bass off the top as the evening progressed. However, as previously, I started off by bumping soft plastics along in the current, but the small outgoing tide meant that there was not a lot of flow and I kept snagging up in the weed on the bottom. Joel meanwhile had headed a little futher away to see if the bass were interested in a big Pachinko.</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuUcQJJo7OjIvuXygypIJQGOR1e4NegAB6ZHBoUHqTMEddpLpwST_s0v2OGeemdJgLcRn6en4ua2Vbhl4iTQhyphenhyphenX1qe6_FUB0VDg8rkzptRjlRjH2vMF04snm_L04j7rFLPWFROR7pFwkGB5nDumX6scbs8M84qw5sY4NEPC6yFNBp3jAin9UXkwxTPII/s3763/IMG_E2303%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3763" data-original-width="2822" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuUcQJJo7OjIvuXygypIJQGOR1e4NegAB6ZHBoUHqTMEddpLpwST_s0v2OGeemdJgLcRn6en4ua2Vbhl4iTQhyphenhyphenX1qe6_FUB0VDg8rkzptRjlRjH2vMF04snm_L04j7rFLPWFROR7pFwkGB5nDumX6scbs8M84qw5sY4NEPC6yFNBp3jAin9UXkwxTPII/w150-h200/IMG_E2303%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Therefore, as soon as I saw him catch a small schoolie I clipped on one myself and started banging it out towards the horizon. Walking the lure back towards me along the surface I could see swirls behind it and the occasional garfish leaping after it, so was full of anticipation. However, the first proper take resulted in a bass that wasn't much bigger than the lure itself! A few minutes later I managed a better one around 2lb, before snagging another tiddler. Joel had also had another couple of small fish, but after a bit of deliberation he decided that a change of location to some shallower, rough ground was required if we wanted a better fish, so we walked back up the estuary where weed-covered fingers of rock exposed by the tide jutted out into the main channel - an inspired move as it turned out. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHHvgGlk5BwfJOJX9XLfQ_bP_CfP9RPTHEL3KZrBk01Dj1bGNo2LbdZQSZn2_0GrfFSp5K2tzJrOWBo5ywturytMJNBbgPywSuYyezwpRZhtIFkVUo4iFd6j4mZjtcETN8ud1Lu36TLAzcDoQ_TGv60_HAQzpGBN6U3l4lUoryaA3kdQyy_GaDn1cWUM/s4032/IMG_2272%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHHvgGlk5BwfJOJX9XLfQ_bP_CfP9RPTHEL3KZrBk01Dj1bGNo2LbdZQSZn2_0GrfFSp5K2tzJrOWBo5ywturytMJNBbgPywSuYyezwpRZhtIFkVUo4iFd6j4mZjtcETN8ud1Lu36TLAzcDoQ_TGv60_HAQzpGBN6U3l4lUoryaA3kdQyy_GaDn1cWUM/w150-h200/IMG_2272%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>Wading out from the shore I did wonder whether Joel was going to stop before we got to Appledore on the opposite side of the estuary, but we eventually got to our new positions with me on one side of the furthest gully and Joel on the other. The light was disappearing rapidly now and the water in front of us was like glass - absolutely perfect! As advised I changed down to a slightly smaller Savage Gear panic prey and again started covering the water in front of me. The move certainly appeared to have been justified as second cast Joel had another schoolie and moments later I happened to look over as yet another fish slashed at the surface at his lure. This was obviously a much better fish and, after getting weeded up a couple of times, he held up a cracking bass of about 5 lb.</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There certainly seemed to be plenty of fish in front of us as, frustratingly, I had three aborted takes myself before Joel advised me to slow down my retrieve and I eventually hooked into another bass of around 2lb that also did its best to weed me up on the way in. The light was really fading now and we were into the last ten minutes of the session when my lure was sucked into a vortex, the line tightened and the rod hooped over. Learning from the last fish I bullied it straight into the deeper water of the gully where it woke up and gave a good account of itself at close quarters. Joel by now had waded over to me and as the fish tired on the surface he secured it first time with the boga grip. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaWfWzdldxeR91Ax3-cHTvyEeJzRiTX4dGwy6Db-zL3-II41I7tvTnyTtQ9HT3RVduilQhwRInkX5w9_RE0628Z8F6VQ194alc0-SXneX5BDgNHUXIVVsaq-oqFkjJf0qWqpwEeg6EaOI8ONnO9EYZOba9MyO9IgAM5p3p2CtNnNpX4CgwGAXdGhnDI8/s3849/PA07E8306%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2887" data-original-width="3849" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTaWfWzdldxeR91Ax3-cHTvyEeJzRiTX4dGwy6Db-zL3-II41I7tvTnyTtQ9HT3RVduilQhwRInkX5w9_RE0628Z8F6VQ194alc0-SXneX5BDgNHUXIVVsaq-oqFkjJf0qWqpwEeg6EaOI8ONnO9EYZOba9MyO9IgAM5p3p2CtNnNpX4CgwGAXdGhnDI8/s320/PA07E8306%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not as big as his, but a superbly conditioned, dark fish of about 4 lb, so I was well pleased with that. Got a quick snap, unhooked him and sent him back on his way. Whilst we had a couple more casts each that fish nicely brought the session to an end and we waded back to the shore, giving the legs a good workout in the process. Was fully dark by the time we got back to the car park and after promising that we'd hook up together soon we went our separate ways - me to a freshly cooked cod, chips and curry sauce that the others had kindly brought me from Braunton. Fantastic end to a fantastic day! </div></span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-64748155068129947722023-10-10T01:53:00.004-07:002023-10-10T01:56:03.238-07:0007/10/2023 - Return to Ilfracombe<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hot on the heels of our visit to Cornwall it was time for the second of our bi-annual trips to Saunton Sands in North Devon - good job we have understanding wives and partners, although I suspect that they are glad to get rid of us for a bit to be honest! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngilx8HDdHdt9q_WE_Mu2-ULON_3iK2bCVridYp2P_uN1EEjGXSyxUoFLyEHfOu84hq5Xp6pB9-V5KznqwR0aGgiNLc0R3PeUHJgGX6wEVdGtuXkxAegzy6-bixaZILph0eHubm8S1wYWvjuoq7OEC3AW-I0lMtRGx_7ynFboLO_H9d6ddO6b-V3_8qM/s3565/IMG_E2244%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3565" data-original-width="2674" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngilx8HDdHdt9q_WE_Mu2-ULON_3iK2bCVridYp2P_uN1EEjGXSyxUoFLyEHfOu84hq5Xp6pB9-V5KznqwR0aGgiNLc0R3PeUHJgGX6wEVdGtuXkxAegzy6-bixaZILph0eHubm8S1wYWvjuoq7OEC3AW-I0lMtRGx_7ynFboLO_H9d6ddO6b-V3_8qM/w150-h200/IMG_E2244%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As usual I'd been keeping an eye on the weather and tides and had packed some fishing tackle accordingly. Early Saturday morning I therefore headed up to Ilfracombe hoping to catch a few mini-species. The sun hadn't yet risen over the headland when I pulled up in the car park under the imposing gaze of Verity. However, I could see that there was already another angler set up on the end of the lower landing of the pier, so I made my way down and set up at the bottom of the steps to the upper deck. Tackled up the Rock Rover with my usual mini-two hook flapper consisting of size 10 wormer hooks baited up with sections of leftover ragworm that I'd salted down in Wales. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dropped this down down the side of one of the wooden pilings and didn't have to wait long before I started getting some aggressive taps on the rod tip. After a couple of minutes I hooked into my first fish of the morning - a female corkwing wrasse. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U6wJPsdGfmsHstsKK7dxvb7ibe5jjU_8EGkSNXIEkzvGPbEI_u7ghnOUtTi-uFJaqjusXaWak2j3MTITnX9NDutGC8jVEAh_ZKd8gyEfg26Owd1iTiNQnW0oG5S0_g0NXtEvEESA5PeNvO_htf0dEemxTO7GS7gEkp5zyOvl3z1NZG7gxD2EGYpBEDA/s3417/IMG_E2245%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3417" data-original-width="2562" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-U6wJPsdGfmsHstsKK7dxvb7ibe5jjU_8EGkSNXIEkzvGPbEI_u7ghnOUtTi-uFJaqjusXaWak2j3MTITnX9NDutGC8jVEAh_ZKd8gyEfg26Owd1iTiNQnW0oG5S0_g0NXtEvEESA5PeNvO_htf0dEemxTO7GS7gEkp5zyOvl3z1NZG7gxD2EGYpBEDA/w240-h320/IMG_E2245%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V8oeJVG_pEmf1K1ZyHFhBXj9XFHkYhJzmTTEhgoDKNUEn7FUV6zWKj6-25AFzd2igmDmcP3JrJXaukGiYfXFMK6OrLbfHed3Oa8_p2YK1O7XwFWScV9uwO4OElqR7uMmhYzLhtIeIBmMTsmBPeE8mc_I1IjZlxY3UoCvOXSfZluN0b8YkyYxjylJQ0E/s3814/IMG_E2248%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3814" data-original-width="2860" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9V8oeJVG_pEmf1K1ZyHFhBXj9XFHkYhJzmTTEhgoDKNUEn7FUV6zWKj6-25AFzd2igmDmcP3JrJXaukGiYfXFMK6OrLbfHed3Oa8_p2YK1O7XwFWScV9uwO4OElqR7uMmhYzLhtIeIBmMTsmBPeE8mc_I1IjZlxY3UoCvOXSfZluN0b8YkyYxjylJQ0E/w240-h320/IMG_E2248%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The bites continued to come thick and fast and over the next hour I added several more species to the list, including pollack, poor cod, rock goby, common blenny and ballan wrasse.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9UYTwx6ranyfhdbbuzCFZL8YOP2ikgPKOxD5GChSQkVjQ8TDNVOsUkum-0cqpL11ZKCVSGPQiHI3jzzMTbMhM1VRyhW_dCFFj0A2zcnq4mGq_riflqf-grOdkQO0_edODrxa9vNOsuEchFhXEAwl4lx_eH0dcmAWjFdOTb4b_9ytEj_-uvbeow2lOqc/s3309/IMG_E2258%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3309" data-original-width="2482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9UYTwx6ranyfhdbbuzCFZL8YOP2ikgPKOxD5GChSQkVjQ8TDNVOsUkum-0cqpL11ZKCVSGPQiHI3jzzMTbMhM1VRyhW_dCFFj0A2zcnq4mGq_riflqf-grOdkQO0_edODrxa9vNOsuEchFhXEAwl4lx_eH0dcmAWjFdOTb4b_9ytEj_-uvbeow2lOqc/w240-h320/IMG_E2258%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxWK59LB1FFat2CHu2We5pkVcKmrOOaUT6brgwk78N-crBKBVdYKv7sKkc_a09mvn5xdFzZ5XFXbvb4ARTdJEFd759NLLa0K86ULl2MYqAjyB5iD8m7Xh1iXlkUO-GvD1nP5TQZEog-_HBOa2jXmA8tTlWMdNNAQqEJPRNtotdMOTnoBs6E1St5Dw2_A/s3204/IMG_E2257%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3204" data-original-width="2403" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxWK59LB1FFat2CHu2We5pkVcKmrOOaUT6brgwk78N-crBKBVdYKv7sKkc_a09mvn5xdFzZ5XFXbvb4ARTdJEFd759NLLa0K86ULl2MYqAjyB5iD8m7Xh1iXlkUO-GvD1nP5TQZEog-_HBOa2jXmA8tTlWMdNNAQqEJPRNtotdMOTnoBs6E1St5Dw2_A/w240-h320/IMG_E2257%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By now the occasional larger wave had started to wash over the end of the lower deck, so my fishing companion had wordlessly moved his gear to the steps above me. However, he became a bit more chatty after he dropped his bait elastic in the drink and I rescued it with my long-handled landing net. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HV_yljs2My8r2dlutQCg7Cd4W_OrJbsCYoIPo37X26U6V-_wlnD7P_79X2lnULMsc8JpUD-RU_WqFr0y2mCWYd9Gic1sa8UPwS7wCadeHGHNx_kydelHzAl_GMy0Ms1XeOxb5LAg_7e3xAO9D-6RyCbhBMtYKAzBGqHGNfDEEoCK4eRLjq8N5KmuZjA/s2705/IMG_E2252%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2029" data-original-width="2705" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HV_yljs2My8r2dlutQCg7Cd4W_OrJbsCYoIPo37X26U6V-_wlnD7P_79X2lnULMsc8JpUD-RU_WqFr0y2mCWYd9Gic1sa8UPwS7wCadeHGHNx_kydelHzAl_GMy0Ms1XeOxb5LAg_7e3xAO9D-6RyCbhBMtYKAzBGqHGNfDEEoCK4eRLjq8N5KmuZjA/w200-h150/IMG_E2252%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP1WBsoq2Nli_CxWjmUqxVMkTMHSL8fRImqJtA72VaQJZ_9btvN8-ppjnl0QdbAh88i39CT0KVgTs_hMLvN_-8RObWp1Gwq0NCF349RgxLaq3LEtJlhDGIbv_GBkjoUd0nA-kXtENBbgMcWh3MS_4TVMXmixnMCq0Tx6ZuKIthc6WKhK8vtIXJb0YKjo/s3397/IMG_E2259%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3397" data-original-width="2547" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP1WBsoq2Nli_CxWjmUqxVMkTMHSL8fRImqJtA72VaQJZ_9btvN8-ppjnl0QdbAh88i39CT0KVgTs_hMLvN_-8RObWp1Gwq0NCF349RgxLaq3LEtJlhDGIbv_GBkjoUd0nA-kXtENBbgMcWh3MS_4TVMXmixnMCq0Tx6ZuKIthc6WKhK8vtIXJb0YKjo/w240-h320/IMG_E2259%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He'd been fishing since 3 o'clock and showed me some pictures of some decent pollack that he'd had along with some strap conger and a single mackerel on feathers. The latter had been cut into strips that were now bobbing around under a couple of floats in the hope of a garfish. Moved up onto the upper deck myself in order to avoid wet feet and first drop down between two of the pilings I had an aggressive bite almost as soon as the lead hit the bottom. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This resulted in another species - a lovely coloured pouting. Quickly had a three more, followed by species number eight - a tompot blenny. Unfortunately, having just discovered this little honey hole I was approached by a crew member from the Lundy Island ferry and politely asked to move so they could adjust the mooring ropes. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrn_9IMkVuCWoFrFbTmgy51lVvmpZl3ll9FUVrkePhezZRCNXvnpkETQpbldwHQpY_CiIPQVJLOsOPUfnq2lEQXGSfYl9PIYHedginHQ-9ElTVTgFUPhqi8-Tcati68Ss6-A4346FJqCYibg3q-oKTlJ0pkbjCK_T57t12t5kua-dKfV7WgL2ij-9RVg/s3333/IMG_E2260%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3333" data-original-width="2500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrn_9IMkVuCWoFrFbTmgy51lVvmpZl3ll9FUVrkePhezZRCNXvnpkETQpbldwHQpY_CiIPQVJLOsOPUfnq2lEQXGSfYl9PIYHedginHQ-9ElTVTgFUPhqi8-Tcati68Ss6-A4346FJqCYibg3q-oKTlJ0pkbjCK_T57t12t5kua-dKfV7WgL2ij-9RVg/w240-h320/IMG_E2260%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYtxMKHHQlpI16xGNYiyCuBQBna-fAoitlVbUXOSKC7S_MEf7frGzu3XKfEZniXR6ilqZec9aplzuF1GsA1UkuZn6694kuhEyN2lCvlb7VqLAH3MOgU-4Eni82wQwlHTJKPap7nhqq9QtKr7jrP7Zap9XAJEMSj7yJHXGmvYvK51bu7SfSB-6AEbvjoE/s3823/IMG_E2264%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3823" data-original-width="2867" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYtxMKHHQlpI16xGNYiyCuBQBna-fAoitlVbUXOSKC7S_MEf7frGzu3XKfEZniXR6ilqZec9aplzuF1GsA1UkuZn6694kuhEyN2lCvlb7VqLAH3MOgU-4Eni82wQwlHTJKPap7nhqq9QtKr7jrP7Zap9XAJEMSj7yJHXGmvYvK51bu7SfSB-6AEbvjoE/w240-h320/IMG_E2264%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When they susbequently fired up the bow thrusters and turned the water below into a boiling vortex I decided to call it a day. I'd rattled through all of my rag by now anyway and was using a bit of squid that I'd cadged off my new friend, who had also added to his tally with two small garfish. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdfb2cFN8e4MJH6nZtlTBbZ7KCIeRksVn1WCheNcOZqokVtEow_lJLWlFebPwaNKl46gzI6oOWCzuXTMJKredkR9D_Kw-30nRwarFMLwVJYs27Rft57IJu-tbI7aLhmiwBiQN1gAcNuwIhi2MqrynWwg2ii3p_p3KHuVnQcMBUeNnk6J7wlfi1KGAT8A/s2842/IMG_E2302%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2842" data-original-width="2132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdfb2cFN8e4MJH6nZtlTBbZ7KCIeRksVn1WCheNcOZqokVtEow_lJLWlFebPwaNKl46gzI6oOWCzuXTMJKredkR9D_Kw-30nRwarFMLwVJYs27Rft57IJu-tbI7aLhmiwBiQN1gAcNuwIhi2MqrynWwg2ii3p_p3KHuVnQcMBUeNnk6J7wlfi1KGAT8A/w150-h200/IMG_E2302%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Armed with that knowledge I returned at first light the following morning with some small metal lures in the hope of snagging one, or even a late mackerel, for myself. In contrast to the previous day the morning temperature was barely into double figures, requiring me to pull on my quilted jacket. Despite this there were again a couple of anglers already set up at the end of the lower deck. However, this still gave me plenty of water to cover with the lures. Decided to hedge my bets and tied on a trace with two micro-sabikis and clipped a 7g Major Craft jigpara slim on the end. Started off by casting parallel to the pier, letting the lure hit bottom and the retrieving it close to the structure. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jIHu4ho-eYez390VqcMTaSy0ZK2JFKZyyNJlZWYdpJ1ehyphenhyphenfuEnj4QT6W5FLU06Y60a-QsTOaLhijLMh7VL9rQ_T1nMvJEEk1wam74ZWrECuHg9NE6LG-dnIY7W_yzJYZoxqIRSxi_CTqQb-heAQ73mks0IDW9TmMLsCbw0axOM9OfE3gAXkyZ93esOQ/s4032/IMG_2277%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jIHu4ho-eYez390VqcMTaSy0ZK2JFKZyyNJlZWYdpJ1ehyphenhyphenfuEnj4QT6W5FLU06Y60a-QsTOaLhijLMh7VL9rQ_T1nMvJEEk1wam74ZWrECuHg9NE6LG-dnIY7W_yzJYZoxqIRSxi_CTqQb-heAQ73mks0IDW9TmMLsCbw0axOM9OfE3gAXkyZ93esOQ/s320/IMG_2277%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Had a few pollack this way early on, but when the sun rose over the headland they seemed to disappear, so I started casting out into the bay and retrieving the lure close to the surface. Had done this a few times when I felt knocking and banging on rod tip and as I drew the lure closer I could see a garfish snaking behind it in the clear water before it veered off. A couple of casts later I felt a few knocks again before the line tightened and I was into a gar, albeit a lot smaller than the one I'd seen tailing the lure earlier. Carried on a bit longer, but as quickly as they had appeared the garfish seemed to have moved on, so packed up and headed back to join the others for breakfast leaving the pier now bathed in full sunshine. Was happy with nine species as there have been times when I've caught bugger all! However, the oddities that Ilfracombe throws up, such as leopard spotted gobies and clingfish, still elude me. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hopefully I'll be able to keep going for as long as Verity continues to oversee things, which will be for next nine years at least!</span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-50886021333745411012023-09-24T12:07:00.000-07:002023-09-24T12:07:31.459-07:0022/09/2023 - Wrasse bashing at Porthoustock<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Helford estuary is one of the few remaining private tidal fisheries in the country and is now owned by Prince William as part of his portfolio as Duke of Cornwall. Whilst recreational angling is allowed subject to local and national byelaws, the main restriction appears to be access, particularly on the south side of the river where we were staying. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg975tgo9uNWIitZVa0dH89gADM4fM9yZNVOVLZrEBJNL3eCxI5etaRQb2KAd-AddJM7To3X_V2OUG4D1_vkgVDfAc2iZtq6CA_9MybY5b7EqaOP1gDXR83ua3xg1fUSEHPfQ5m7IoAb92KeEndxZzjFQDPB2cr11JuSGCQIjpIuF6IxagxCvcj5omqsbM/s4032/IMG_2112%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg975tgo9uNWIitZVa0dH89gADM4fM9yZNVOVLZrEBJNL3eCxI5etaRQb2KAd-AddJM7To3X_V2OUG4D1_vkgVDfAc2iZtq6CA_9MybY5b7EqaOP1gDXR83ua3xg1fUSEHPfQ5m7IoAb92KeEndxZzjFQDPB2cr11JuSGCQIjpIuF6IxagxCvcj5omqsbM/w150-h200/IMG_2112%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">It was very much second home territory and the road signs left you in no doubt that there was either no public access or no parking was available. All of the "locals" we came across were very well spoken and although we did our best to mind our Ps and Qs, we did run into a couple of individuals who were quite rude and dismissive of our attempts at engaging in conversation. I was therefore lucky that our cottage had it's own access down to the estuary. However, I was also keen to go and explore further afield so, following a shopping trip to Helston one day, we braved the single track lanes and 25% gradients of the coast road and had a recce of a few places on the way back to the house, including Coverack, Porthoustock, Polkerris and Porthallow. </div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrk3mH5zqsECxln8uFVs6QXiVv5LzCpATuMxGjRqd5sZ61kNEZOizN8XmFRf8e63CXv3Y-cR1TpcOo3qnqFLh2gntPDyZo_OKxtKBn-tLWHCy0KMVsMQCE2ymTNMjYxQAZ6p9v5LZSvidvwuCqTpkIXVv5o0a0ss6U8i2gCc6IdygNribtRNOit0qqH0/s4032/IMG_2156%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrk3mH5zqsECxln8uFVs6QXiVv5LzCpATuMxGjRqd5sZ61kNEZOizN8XmFRf8e63CXv3Y-cR1TpcOo3qnqFLh2gntPDyZo_OKxtKBn-tLWHCy0KMVsMQCE2ymTNMjYxQAZ6p9v5LZSvidvwuCqTpkIXVv5o0a0ss6U8i2gCc6IdygNribtRNOit0qqH0/w320-h240/IMG_2156%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Of these Porthoustock looked the most promising (not least because it had lots of free parking!), although it isn't the prettiest spot in Cornwall with a steeply shelving pebble beach bounded on one side by an active quarry where "gabbro", a type of volcanic rock, is extracted and loaded directly onto ships from its adjacent wharf. What interested me was the imposing, dis-used concrete loading silo on the other side of the beach. This had a convenient ledge around its base that would give access to some deep water at high tide. </div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWAr3yuAImUCS9mY7dRxaxuEhZsHEfhm6ObNsWJGT2EKuAD177MWlrPDD1c73YOB0Vtb0yARFjVSp7L7pXniMe1qKrKkuf5q_UtNMfnS05ceEdnR0QG3Whlrkpl0xDu24aWcq-9WCjoYhR2iUnGRe8VzWkm--dtX3HCtB9lanoyEtTk-KeCLJ8tEhT2s/s3464/IMG_E2137%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3464" data-original-width="2598" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWAr3yuAImUCS9mY7dRxaxuEhZsHEfhm6ObNsWJGT2EKuAD177MWlrPDD1c73YOB0Vtb0yARFjVSp7L7pXniMe1qKrKkuf5q_UtNMfnS05ceEdnR0QG3Whlrkpl0xDu24aWcq-9WCjoYhR2iUnGRe8VzWkm--dtX3HCtB9lanoyEtTk-KeCLJ8tEhT2s/w150-h200/IMG_E2137%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A few days later I therefore returned with the LRF gear and the remains of the ragworm we'd dug from the creek. Had a quick chat with a couple who were feathering for mackerel, but they'd only had one foul-hooked garfish between them. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Made my way along the beach past the rotting dolphin carcass that was maturing nicely in the sun and around the base of the silo. The water had a milky blue appearance, but I could see clumps of "sea spaghetti" looming up vertically from the depths. Baited up my usual mini-two hook flapper with bits of ragworm and dropped it down into a gap in the weed. Just had time to feel the dropshot lead hit the bottom when the tip banged over, resulting in a double shot of Mr & Mrs Corkwing! </span></div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Must have been snided out with them down there as subsequent drops were met with an equally instant response and I quickly added several more to the tally. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of the males were stunning, more like a tropical fish than something that would inhabit our relatively cold waters. Out of the blue I hooked a much bigger and more powerful fish that shot straight into the weed. Gave it a couple of minutes then felt it swim free, so pressured it up onto the surface and swept the net under an equally impressive ballan.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePv9jcQq6TFyeDHj_L1lLxKL3yfQROk_EOozf20-9Iq_FixBCLQirFfp6_rcjrX49RICmviXt-9VTH9c1Us5kqjYQ3n__7wtMKdKe4-Kbg8AjexfoUnRlLBBiaEWr8RqAi_AK2zg3RvEBoslOrxjt634xhYCM-WpkkeMgnoi7HvJFpIT5GMuEO9QXh5w/s4032/IMG_E2151%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePv9jcQq6TFyeDHj_L1lLxKL3yfQROk_EOozf20-9Iq_FixBCLQirFfp6_rcjrX49RICmviXt-9VTH9c1Us5kqjYQ3n__7wtMKdKe4-Kbg8AjexfoUnRlLBBiaEWr8RqAi_AK2zg3RvEBoslOrxjt634xhYCM-WpkkeMgnoi7HvJFpIT5GMuEO9QXh5w/w240-h320/IMG_E2151%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDdELvc2aZivwkkolLtyD9LK8OsW9nOThrXPuzje5_4kh25ES7-nGIV9Gd1U5yILwYNDDoQqL1zif_wXbjLn8IBR2ZMEyJK6y8SKfDX5cD90f31UXcBojlrHcqcF81bOVOcTVMetqUTuUkBJVAcFAdSSONkYrNpADTX5adl7z1KFRB9gdH0S2LAP4zlE/s3240/IMG_E2147%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="2430" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDdELvc2aZivwkkolLtyD9LK8OsW9nOThrXPuzje5_4kh25ES7-nGIV9Gd1U5yILwYNDDoQqL1zif_wXbjLn8IBR2ZMEyJK6y8SKfDX5cD90f31UXcBojlrHcqcF81bOVOcTVMetqUTuUkBJVAcFAdSSONkYrNpADTX5adl7z1KFRB9gdH0S2LAP4zlE/w240-h320/IMG_E2147%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae4cUhqat1rzCtcQ3O0P-GTKKb7wXTTGJUugDfJ-w4bewmUnPVWnepxjlELtTjUzEuwJue9z02hKbH8thalFJLjyPKqfMTFh-l2smaYVVRJH8OnlCtmac1Iy0cQB3ntRg_WVa3q1_pprw3cBdk_AWuFgkR7xfdKRHjN0PDNWdnqzY2ZOUQBmZIQpeU5w/s4032/IMG_2144%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjae4cUhqat1rzCtcQ3O0P-GTKKb7wXTTGJUugDfJ-w4bewmUnPVWnepxjlELtTjUzEuwJue9z02hKbH8thalFJLjyPKqfMTFh-l2smaYVVRJH8OnlCtmac1Iy0cQB3ntRg_WVa3q1_pprw3cBdk_AWuFgkR7xfdKRHjN0PDNWdnqzY2ZOUQBmZIQpeU5w/w150-h200/IMG_2144%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Amongst the wrasse were a few brassy pollack that either snatched the bait on the drop or as I raised the rig off the sea bed. Carried on catching until my friends eventually turned up and while Rob went to explore the quarry Stuart joined me on the ledge. Passed him the rod and, whilst the bites had started to slow down after a hectic first half an hour, he quickly did the treble as well. At one point we had a surprise when a grey seal bull with the head the size of a cow's popped up right in front of us, snorted his disapproval and then lazily porpoised off out to sea again. The tide was dropping away quite quickly now and the stands of weed had started to lie flat on the surface making it difficult to find a clear spot. The rag was down to the last few scraps by this stage anyway, so we made our way back along the ledge to the beach.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Ended up with 20 corkwings, 8 pollack and 5 ballans in a little over an hour, so a nice little session on what was our last full day in Cornwall. Shame it's a 6 hour drive from home otherwise I'd be down a lot more!</span></p></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-73169099945907489932023-09-23T14:00:00.000-07:002023-09-23T14:00:28.663-07:0021/09/2023 - Can I dig it?<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the things I did glean from Google about the local area was that in the early 1990's Gillan Creek, situated immediately below our cottage, became notorious for large-scale commercial bait digging.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIbRd84fNoPfKtxJfSYyh-2JvIpL1QsrqUzFMroUBhIRvLLJIufiHCs_uVJXMa9iGKsj37V06ZzoK78MXbY0WL9VbuH9n4aB_sKNDdITRE4rbF1UuvuAqP3uWlHJ-f7eJJ3OuaIRxvstrUlA68BLEWz4T7PFPD2Z-Dbsg58aOIPswdLB-qwfGo6YtXHM/s4032/IMG_2167%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIbRd84fNoPfKtxJfSYyh-2JvIpL1QsrqUzFMroUBhIRvLLJIufiHCs_uVJXMa9iGKsj37V06ZzoK78MXbY0WL9VbuH9n4aB_sKNDdITRE4rbF1UuvuAqP3uWlHJ-f7eJJ3OuaIRxvstrUlA68BLEWz4T7PFPD2Z-Dbsg58aOIPswdLB-qwfGo6YtXHM/w240-h320/IMG_2167%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the season the creek was said to "resemble a battlefield", with the trenches, basins and mounds of spoil left behind by the bait diggers persisting for months. <span style="font-family: arial;">In addition, the narrow local roads alongside the creek were obstructed by cars parked up in the passing places. This lead to widespread local resentment that commercial diggers were exploiting the resource without paying any regard to either wildlife or the local community. Consequently, commercial digging is now actively discouraged. However, collection of a few worms for personal use is tolerated subject to a Code of Conduct and sat up on the decking overlooking the creek we had seen at least one person a day heading out across the mud at low tide so, armed with a bucket, spade and weeding fork, we decided to go and have a look ourselves. </span></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYTOHYlzZbZ83Z_BoYzwI9sMeZkMxaOzBr2Ne-feExvVcQrRXG0NIx3Rm8z3GAsiJ4X58wCaliRvBMc8a09Hs5zS6itJbOp_R9vfPXRS3pSEaD9OKzYQTZKqpWmcH1fDB-TWhMsfQogBvi5NUjD1I6ii1f8FTlUmCizOr32eLIjaM6BqwipQgzeYTto0/s4032/IMG_2036%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYTOHYlzZbZ83Z_BoYzwI9sMeZkMxaOzBr2Ne-feExvVcQrRXG0NIx3Rm8z3GAsiJ4X58wCaliRvBMc8a09Hs5zS6itJbOp_R9vfPXRS3pSEaD9OKzYQTZKqpWmcH1fDB-TWhMsfQogBvi5NUjD1I6ii1f8FTlUmCizOr32eLIjaM6BqwipQgzeYTto0/w150-h200/IMG_2036%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRDpaC0xsxSN9xlz7QvAQGETe-EBHSSWAlVx2_m2Jx3wmx0C635KF8ZALjJ-VHvwEoGzaVBH7A61DcZ505FY6_6n1iGDoDr7ZXhRU2nL_8j2hvNGu47l2aYt8t6vvWVZ2Cm-ClPuMF3-UHoTkvRG7aIBvmEQHEhl1npcOGt2k0tspzTZFZzT41PzxTYE/s4032/IMG_2061%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRDpaC0xsxSN9xlz7QvAQGETe-EBHSSWAlVx2_m2Jx3wmx0C635KF8ZALjJ-VHvwEoGzaVBH7A61DcZ505FY6_6n1iGDoDr7ZXhRU2nL_8j2hvNGu47l2aYt8t6vvWVZ2Cm-ClPuMF3-UHoTkvRG7aIBvmEQHEhl1npcOGt2k0tspzTZFZzT41PzxTYE/w150-h200/IMG_2061%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The seaward part of the creek consisted of sand, grit and small stones and was covered in a wide variety of seaweed, along with masses of empty shells. Whilst we didn't really know what we were doing, raking around the edges of any standing pools of water yielded loads of clams and some stonking, fat cockles that we later cooked in lager with some garlic, chili and parsley and ate with brown bread slathered with Cornish butter. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj150-cYgpeVsJHMuurb_aVSBMRMNaqYdoCkFx4mMci9G4OSXsDqSAZ7MdC7mxpSxIVIXFP4i2bcbEnphvsowTdwaqvJH7q4sZFdFnpe__DHdxALoKJAlvh0TJrVDHTiQLGJX01fQlGaYHHmpMN8qhBg79eviGQLruJcNBKXVX9FBA0jRjW2uU0FTQPo6Q/s4032/IMG_2037%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj150-cYgpeVsJHMuurb_aVSBMRMNaqYdoCkFx4mMci9G4OSXsDqSAZ7MdC7mxpSxIVIXFP4i2bcbEnphvsowTdwaqvJH7q4sZFdFnpe__DHdxALoKJAlvh0TJrVDHTiQLGJX01fQlGaYHHmpMN8qhBg79eviGQLruJcNBKXVX9FBA0jRjW2uU0FTQPo6Q/w150-h200/IMG_2037%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Further up the creek the sand and grit transitioned into mud and digging at the boundary line we soon found a few worms and after half an hour or so had a decent haul of white rag, king rag, maddies and a few lug - certainly enough to keep me going for a couple of bait sessions. </span>As it happened high tide that evening was just before 8 PM, so about an hour before that I headed down onto the rocks where I caught the two bass a couple of days previously. Again, whilst I'd found no specific reference to gilt head bream in my web searching I knew that they were present in the nearby Fal estuary, so my first rig consisted of a running paternoster with a lugworm mounted on a Paul "Bassman" Gordon stinger rig (see his Youtube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5lU7OiKxzJVshkrDjzBWrQ/videos?view=0" target="_blank">here</a>). </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO83i4rJIy9JBmuBgTX3ld7R2rQ4pgxjZ7Qtit0dV_WtuQ_Ree5Rw-3_6Qt-37-U4yv3FrdMdiv4KkmJHjj-CuoGRGzHkLRZqX-8UrXOL5pRvraKQxhbk4QN37O8VV0NIPYZnm3w9ygwEHOhulesAKkxjb0ZG9nTvZmEwxef_66Obvh8iBA5wAn3CpegM/s2714/IMG_E2043%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2714" data-original-width="2036" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO83i4rJIy9JBmuBgTX3ld7R2rQ4pgxjZ7Qtit0dV_WtuQ_Ree5Rw-3_6Qt-37-U4yv3FrdMdiv4KkmJHjj-CuoGRGzHkLRZqX-8UrXOL5pRvraKQxhbk4QN37O8VV0NIPYZnm3w9ygwEHOhulesAKkxjb0ZG9nTvZmEwxef_66Obvh8iBA5wAn3CpegM/s320/IMG_E2043%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">On the other rod I had a simple one up, one down flapper rig, which I baited with the rag. Lobbed both of them out to hopefully rest on the sand beyond the weeded fringe of the rocks and sat down to wait. There had been a couple of other anglers out in a boat when I arrived fishing lures on the drift (Gillan Creek isn't part of the Helford bass nursery area where boat fishing for bass is prohibited from May to December). Given that they had the whole of the rest of the bay to work with I therefore couldn't believe it when they gunned the engine, turned towards me and motored straight over my baits! I could only raise my arms in incredulity, eventually getting a muted apology from the chap on the outboard. They steered well clear after that and eventually headed off fishless as far as I could tell. Wound in both rods just before it got dark to find the baits had been completely stripped, so I baited up again and cast out again into the gathering gloom. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Five minutes later I had a knock and then a pull down on the lugworm and picked up the rod to feel a fish on the end. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As it came closer the gold bar that I had hoped for turned to silver as a small schoolie bass appeared on the surface. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Popped him back and re-baited with the last couple of lug. Gave it another half an hour into full darkness, but wasn't troubled again, so packed up and made my way carefully over the rocks and back to the house.</span></p>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-38125757125934400672023-09-20T10:35:00.000-07:002023-09-20T10:35:07.141-07:0018/09/23 - Back after the bass<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Around this time each year I have a week away with the "lads" (now aged 56 to 66!) and, whilst we have previously travelled to places like the Canary Islands and Madeira for our autumn break, the post-COVID years have seen us venture down to Cornwall instead. This year we found ourselves on the south side of the Helford River near Flushing. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIdY2jJPmHbcxlOovcK9BvYUKUvX_5Z7GHF3irtALGIWbKY4qgbJRqE_y0C_7xRvj_AszhRJqTVAGBVB_3eNNoUSwWbnHOivYNg8a7uDqM1aahkXWIhlsIEVjxzEUlHpFfux1VaYd87TPdwYrxnfyO4G-8i7ZmzIOf5YQITVg5HDRcXbq4KvtMxr1xuA/s4032/IMG_2031%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIdY2jJPmHbcxlOovcK9BvYUKUvX_5Z7GHF3irtALGIWbKY4qgbJRqE_y0C_7xRvj_AszhRJqTVAGBVB_3eNNoUSwWbnHOivYNg8a7uDqM1aahkXWIhlsIEVjxzEUlHpFfux1VaYd87TPdwYrxnfyO4G-8i7ZmzIOf5YQITVg5HDRcXbq4KvtMxr1xuA/w200-h150/IMG_2031%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A Google search for fishing information was a bit sparce, with lack of public access and parking cited as the main issues. This was soon confirmed as, after a fairly uneventful drive down the M5 and the A30, it took an hour to cover the 30 miles from Truro. The last few miles took me down twisty, narrow lanes that had me doubting whether the sat nav actually knew what it was doing. However, I eventually arrived at the Air BnB, which was perched on the side of a river valley with a fantastic view across Gillan Creek and over to St Anthony in Meneage. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnjtAdZZjKmvEyuk51Lc__TigCf5zwsGmtHG1wLu2ehOge0UTJblzRDzJ4N_SGSotj0NAKU4AhUGLeUci0haTZJS4gbqzG8iAprUaRAsglIPWzCsK98tJBwYCoJHgDc7w6rRyigtNBFcN7e0vGfo-6Jhu6GO0SfG0-E-9PAGkGunbbVXvmQ_CkRaThjw/s3583/IMG_E2012%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3583" data-original-width="2687" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnjtAdZZjKmvEyuk51Lc__TigCf5zwsGmtHG1wLu2ehOge0UTJblzRDzJ4N_SGSotj0NAKU4AhUGLeUci0haTZJS4gbqzG8iAprUaRAsglIPWzCsK98tJBwYCoJHgDc7w6rRyigtNBFcN7e0vGfo-6Jhu6GO0SfG0-E-9PAGkGunbbVXvmQ_CkRaThjw/s320/IMG_E2012%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Checked in with the others, then went for a quick recce before it got dark. The path from the property went down to a private jetty at a point where the creek narrowed, forming a natural pinch point that looked ideal for ambushing any fish travelling up or down with the tide. Spot sorted for the morning I went back to the house and sat out on the decking with the others with a glass of red wine watching the little egrets fly upstream to their roost. Was up bright and early to find it grey and overcast with a stiff breeze blowing straight in from the mouth of the Helford. There was another chap lure fishing on the opposite bank, but he left shortly after I arrived. Spent the next couple of hours fishing the area either side of the the pinch point with soft plastics as the tide pushed through the channel, firstly on the remains of the flood and then on the start of the ebb. However, when it came time to climb back up to back up to house for breakfast, I'd not had a sniff of a fish. </div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VSH-W10zqVzbv7UCYGqzrNCyVN4iTgJImTlfuQhLIXrWLpLM9fKU3YyQRRa_gnxZQto6UOiB_3cPnqunsj_j6kKYE_JMCHe9NqsTDVL3UuDce8ikAvZ6FBbJ13bBWorULlfWKrJdW1R1YtZteGgdXh2xkbqNuQP6kwPRzEoW5BJGzeMhvkIgYjJORpI/s3535/IMG_E2016%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3535" data-original-width="2651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VSH-W10zqVzbv7UCYGqzrNCyVN4iTgJImTlfuQhLIXrWLpLM9fKU3YyQRRa_gnxZQto6UOiB_3cPnqunsj_j6kKYE_JMCHe9NqsTDVL3UuDce8ikAvZ6FBbJ13bBWorULlfWKrJdW1R1YtZteGgdXh2xkbqNuQP6kwPRzEoW5BJGzeMhvkIgYjJORpI/s320/IMG_E2016%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The next morning I was back again, only this time it was in bright sunshine.The wind had also changed direction and was now blowing down the creek and out to sea. Again I started with soft plastics, bumping them along the bottom in the flow. After an hour of this stood out in the wind and still fishless I decided to try and find somewhere a bit more sheltered, so walked a short way along the coast path towards Flushing. Found a gap in a hedge that took me down onto the rocks on the left hand side of the bay. Water was gin clear, so went with a Savage Gear V2 weedless sandeel in a natural green and silver colour. I had covered the water in front of me for about half an hour when I eventually felt a thump on the rod tip as a fish whacked the lure after only a coupe of turns of the reel handle. After a short scrap I steered my first bass of the holiday into a rock pool and a few minutes later I had a second. </div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0IQAbUBtKlfn23jgjDFxNP2WzNAW2vCNJ-6D1aD5NCk5dMNE3xfA5er-lBgSbX_1hsmg4ScFIzOnGoJxo14-jmycSNjtMWg0Cw8Zj2P9fVWfyyxU9wQQE5gwIy1nbUWdXlZDpnqkWvebv1CKjbTB1EUb4qzsu_b4mS4eT4rFBjm3-96mGDgGMEXwb9E/s4032/IMG_2067%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0IQAbUBtKlfn23jgjDFxNP2WzNAW2vCNJ-6D1aD5NCk5dMNE3xfA5er-lBgSbX_1hsmg4ScFIzOnGoJxo14-jmycSNjtMWg0Cw8Zj2P9fVWfyyxU9wQQE5gwIy1nbUWdXlZDpnqkWvebv1CKjbTB1EUb4qzsu_b4mS4eT4rFBjm3-96mGDgGMEXwb9E/w200-h150/IMG_2067%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Had cast out and was letting the lure sink to the bottom on a tight line when it taken on the drop by another, slightly smaller bass. Carried on in the hope that there were more about, but that was to be my lot when the breakfast gong sounded again. When I walked past later in the day at low water I saw that I had been casting out onto sand and then bringing the lure back over a band of weed where the sand met the rocks, so suspect that the bass had been patrolling along this. </div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Confident that I'd "cracked it" I returned the following two mornings but blanked both times, albeit in horrendous wet and windy conditions when any sensible person would have probably stayed in bed. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh well, if it was too easy it would be boring!</span></p>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-52593482013327526382023-09-10T15:11:00.004-07:002023-09-10T15:17:25.968-07:0007/09/2023 - Troternostering in the heat<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Summer temporarily abandoned us over the Bank Holiday with some decidely mixed weather in Wales, but it was back with a bang this week with daily temperature records tumbling once again and the BBQ getting a late run out as a result. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBTvumKTQnyjzmNcefxH2rBHCe6VJzTJaI9-aUEP_16KRgJkpk7e9wRRBrYEUtXW1Af0ixC6_Jp56TpOO-bL3RhFyUIZLhDsnNu4UFbp2T58E3-f0UDab2yZQWjJSdsNP8NDwzHG71rbAUAR31Z7vKYD2TvQi9xY2UlFvF7KFCsQek3eTY3xC1kQ-5VY/s2738/IMG_E1904%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2054" data-original-width="2738" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBTvumKTQnyjzmNcefxH2rBHCe6VJzTJaI9-aUEP_16KRgJkpk7e9wRRBrYEUtXW1Af0ixC6_Jp56TpOO-bL3RhFyUIZLhDsnNu4UFbp2T58E3-f0UDab2yZQWjJSdsNP8NDwzHG71rbAUAR31Z7vKYD2TvQi9xY2UlFvF7KFCsQek3eTY3xC1kQ-5VY/w200-h150/IMG_E1904%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I had therefore been in two minds whether to brave the heat and go fishing, but I had the best part of a pint of maggots in the fridge to use up, so headed over to the Soar for a few hours. Although it was late afternoon the c</span>ar dashboard readout was showing that it was still over 30 degrees when I pulled up on the bridge in Kegworth. I therefore quickly decided that it was going to be far too hot for the chest waders and that I'd just put on my wading boots and "wet wade" in my shorts. Was a great idea in principle. </div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, I hadn't reckoned how overgrown the path over the island had become and when I got to my swim my knees and shins were smarting with numerous nettle stings! </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXGspdoPLRKqSLPKW0rMYT5VfAmWABxkMwWhIo2KUcoORsSVRLGAkZ1cwdly8hjgKKCaU4oqMlmhA0ttdMWDOeFi8Q4sy9pCbnL2Z2295jE2azbz9-Ci5FB1KsD0sGE07FtzKyOUQRg99qPhq6fb_hzIIWSiH5ItIrpOU2J-ZnlkFfj51haxjRr-COFs/s3532/IMG_E1905%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3532" data-original-width="2649" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXGspdoPLRKqSLPKW0rMYT5VfAmWABxkMwWhIo2KUcoORsSVRLGAkZ1cwdly8hjgKKCaU4oqMlmhA0ttdMWDOeFi8Q4sy9pCbnL2Z2295jE2azbz9-Ci5FB1KsD0sGE07FtzKyOUQRg99qPhq6fb_hzIIWSiH5ItIrpOU2J-ZnlkFfj51haxjRr-COFs/w240-h320/IMG_E1905%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLzrJWDHELOE_F2X7FZhCqtCoMiQ9XR40YPNnrg52eXc6sz0sXyWTrNSthRFP5j7GRjwNCoKlVPrWpcVDwPSPLvuiV1KkVfZ-wI_aOhofsO5tYK2vD2xCcgmcKMSTVBgF_PindTcueSdd0Imq_npvoIKV14DgJHi9v1DdNGIBYUilgnk3FP5e1jc6zfk/s3881/IMG_E1907%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3881" data-original-width="2911" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLzrJWDHELOE_F2X7FZhCqtCoMiQ9XR40YPNnrg52eXc6sz0sXyWTrNSthRFP5j7GRjwNCoKlVPrWpcVDwPSPLvuiV1KkVfZ-wI_aOhofsO5tYK2vD2xCcgmcKMSTVBgF_PindTcueSdd0Imq_npvoIKV14DgJHi9v1DdNGIBYUilgnk3FP5e1jc6zfk/s320/IMG_E1907%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was therefore nice to eventually drop into the relative cool of the river and get some respite. The level was probably the lowest I'd seen all summer and I could clearly see the bottom with the polaroids. Thought things might prove a bit difficult. However, first trot down along the edge of faster water the float disappeared resulting in a small roach.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLbSVmQz3Y_Hvg6qtbN755z52xzXi-NwJ6u1PddyEu2q2Chf0QPR4wKdoYunLOQXYMGiiG6aIkC3dtuOg4M7q502cvutlv5bnxwCIhIgqmwUK3Fl12MQoeCSjo_pmJbjkCKUVp55TkFui4RSZbrp4py7kg4MRs4GLt1-jgLXdFsd1ubB4NzlXVbfwNEo/s4032/IMG_1912%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLbSVmQz3Y_Hvg6qtbN755z52xzXi-NwJ6u1PddyEu2q2Chf0QPR4wKdoYunLOQXYMGiiG6aIkC3dtuOg4M7q502cvutlv5bnxwCIhIgqmwUK3Fl12MQoeCSjo_pmJbjkCKUVp55TkFui4RSZbrp4py7kg4MRs4GLt1-jgLXdFsd1ubB4NzlXVbfwNEo/s320/IMG_1912%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuVCS8qPQEsOxz9MdOhzz75ecXJv4J1iQFUfCimAzjH9XarbAReVhX0hWQJCDaS3Np8EpKSc1Seq6cG-ZTJhsCFPZnmsYeiQO34ofKFq1mabDVAMewkQcT4sKsZtEdZTd8NUBCQnaqT3Uwv6MLZl7VHxnAGmDqyof0LuSBS79VQwhUeYZSurcY74VM8o/s3820/IMG_E1913%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3820" data-original-width="2865" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuVCS8qPQEsOxz9MdOhzz75ecXJv4J1iQFUfCimAzjH9XarbAReVhX0hWQJCDaS3Np8EpKSc1Seq6cG-ZTJhsCFPZnmsYeiQO34ofKFq1mabDVAMewkQcT4sKsZtEdZTd8NUBCQnaqT3Uwv6MLZl7VHxnAGmDqyof0LuSBS79VQwhUeYZSurcY74VM8o/w240-h320/IMG_E1913%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0MWXfhid1iGQVh29iibcnsGqUVeKP1-j7-yfvtgYLNIuWSf9v7yufERGTi-z6WiCfSWrZxxqVNPYcimADL9ZAV5PKods1MWNbPH11KNgFai2R4ec8fu_pyxbFOpPiejNlyVLsw9crb032VaBKqvGII1LR75mwjP9wLwYTix3ioF3rg63MJS66k3NBOc/s3295/IMG_E1917%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2471" data-original-width="3295" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0MWXfhid1iGQVh29iibcnsGqUVeKP1-j7-yfvtgYLNIuWSf9v7yufERGTi-z6WiCfSWrZxxqVNPYcimADL9ZAV5PKods1MWNbPH11KNgFai2R4ec8fu_pyxbFOpPiejNlyVLsw9crb032VaBKqvGII1LR75mwjP9wLwYTix3ioF3rg63MJS66k3NBOc/w200-h150/IMG_E1917%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd brought the perch paternoster rod with me this time, so he went into the bucket for bit later. Added a few more roach, a chub and bleak before deciding to put the paternoster out at the tail of the swim. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Swung it out onto the edge of the crease and had only just got the line in the clip when the tip </span><span style="font-family: arial;">banged down as the bait was quickly taken. Turned out to be a little jack that must have thought that he was a salmon judging by his subsequent airborne acrobatics. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As I drew him over the net I saw that there was a larger pike shadowing him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5N5g6cs_4iC5MXNlsIDJ3FvfJ774m1n88MNyLyk79gMJsSoFpNi3MjZxbFBhvWlR7XYnuqbuVBESY_3D4TReynRORdGaLUPqG9o3FULbzcu7-wZTDUxYRKrxo1mIG5wmXXzb9g0Km_QK08gt21NWpTBv_rdo778yRTNdS4PC8cPZqIV6F62oFmbvKNFw/s4032/IMG_1929%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5N5g6cs_4iC5MXNlsIDJ3FvfJ774m1n88MNyLyk79gMJsSoFpNi3MjZxbFBhvWlR7XYnuqbuVBESY_3D4TReynRORdGaLUPqG9o3FULbzcu7-wZTDUxYRKrxo1mIG5wmXXzb9g0Km_QK08gt21NWpTBv_rdo778yRTNdS4PC8cPZqIV6F62oFmbvKNFw/s320/IMG_1929%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Whilst his smaller companion shot off like a scalded cat when I popped him back, he just sat on the surface eyeing me up and holding station with lazy movements of his fins. Expect if I had put on another bait and dropped it on his nose he would have taken it as well but I was after different prey, so waited until he'd drifted away before putting out the rod again. Carried on trotting, getting a bite a cast and adding several gudgeon and perch to the species count. Was interrupted by the bite alarm a few minutes later, picked up the rod and briefly felt the weight of a fish before it spat the bait.This came a bit beaten up and missing a few scales but alive, so was put straight back out again. The perch on the float rod were now up to hand-sized, so suspected that one of these had been responsible. However, the next time the float disappeared I hit a much better fish that made a couple of breaks for the far bank and then dogged around a couple of rod lengths out. </div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHtbx5oonuC3bJUJFZIv52OsVi5V-aVqArg6OPLmlCWgN7sA4qh1Ihxx2bOeM8vCBNHwmOL59RrPZ3SShCun0X1hbWnmXfja2AKQkiHiKNPqR84tlBagGkf_i73PhjM4At01li2wDRfu1RyrT6QEXRpbgz7gZKgDlsK2zq4JJe5whdPVbd95-GQapURw/s3864/IMG_E1931%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="2898" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHtbx5oonuC3bJUJFZIv52OsVi5V-aVqArg6OPLmlCWgN7sA4qh1Ihxx2bOeM8vCBNHwmOL59RrPZ3SShCun0X1hbWnmXfja2AKQkiHiKNPqR84tlBagGkf_i73PhjM4At01li2wDRfu1RyrT6QEXRpbgz7gZKgDlsK2zq4JJe5whdPVbd95-GQapURw/w150-h200/IMG_E1931%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Eventually caught sight of it in the clear water and saw it was a decent stripey. Looked nice and fat when I got it in the net, but it didn't have the length, although at 1lb 9oz it was nice fish nonetheless. Whilst I had no further action on the paternoster the last half an hour with the float rod was dominated by dace that appeared out of nowhere after being absent for most of the session and when I reluctantly packed up to get home for dinner with the wife the river was alive with topping fish. Unfortunately I had the return trip through the nettles to contend with and despite striding manfully back to the car as quickly as possible I was still feeling their effects the following morning. Lesson learned - it will be waders next time, hot or not!</div></span></div></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-68854594878969670092023-08-31T07:10:00.001-07:002023-08-31T07:10:16.064-07:0029/08/2023 - Last chance saloon<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Was pleased when the lad expressed an interest in coming out fishing with me on the last morning of the holiday. He's off to Lithuania shortly after we get back home to start a PhD in eagle ecology at a research centre in Vilnius, so thought it would be good to get some "lad and dad" time in given that our plans to go surfing and paddleboarding earlier in the week had been kiboshed by the weather. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlnOBin9bxR_2_fVKUL2QuwvWMnelA5kb_RRLpZpAvId7H7RvqamsqE6qOI3M6wm3EsK6e8Hqh4uHaxQgC-VsagcWNQwKM5L5b0ICfK1xZqgR-G6a62mZfstBYRvg2MXhpmL_e5sOeOQBtaf6wKIgHi4X_E3JngToISm8euLGbjkWxIDlF7Qo2zOyv30/s4032/IMG_1869%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlnOBin9bxR_2_fVKUL2QuwvWMnelA5kb_RRLpZpAvId7H7RvqamsqE6qOI3M6wm3EsK6e8Hqh4uHaxQgC-VsagcWNQwKM5L5b0ICfK1xZqgR-G6a62mZfstBYRvg2MXhpmL_e5sOeOQBtaf6wKIgHi4X_E3JngToISm8euLGbjkWxIDlF7Qo2zOyv30/w200-h150/IMG_1869%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He didn't even flinch when I said that we'd be leaving at 6 am to catch high tide up on the north coast, it being an hour later than down on the south. Was a bit gloomy when we set off, but it had only just gone sunrise. However, as we climbed up towards Maenclochog we could see that the Prescelli Hills were shrouded in grey cloud and we were soon enveloped in drizzle. Said that I was sure it would clear when we dropped down the other side.....but it didn't and when we arrived at Fishguard and looked out over the bay we were in two minds whether to even get out the car! </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSJuoxS220PN4FKHpV6Om_rj20NA1xDklVA87eKXN-G7VEakmy4HZljkC-ZaA-XUCWYP0jSNLs2sEeudvlHHur_s1OMnNS5mip1-eicHhL9rkbXC9Uqt3xsCYGHOdCql9lha-Wc3ooWLrSKLCbSVA3D7dVB45q2yAuGCYdShIJ1cnEKP0QGIH0F6XQpg/s4032/IMG_1867%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSJuoxS220PN4FKHpV6Om_rj20NA1xDklVA87eKXN-G7VEakmy4HZljkC-ZaA-XUCWYP0jSNLs2sEeudvlHHur_s1OMnNS5mip1-eicHhL9rkbXC9Uqt3xsCYGHOdCql9lha-Wc3ooWLrSKLCbSVA3D7dVB45q2yAuGCYdShIJ1cnEKP0QGIH0F6XQpg/w150-h200/IMG_1867%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">However, nothing ventured, nothing gained and we had some prime rag to use up, so we got our waterproofs on and made our way out to the end of the inner breakwater. Whilst we'd arrived just after high the small tide meant that the water level was well down the rock apron but, to be on the safe side, we stayed up on top of the breakwater rather than risk venturing down the steep, slippy sides. Set the lad up with a lightweight outfit consisting of my lure rod with a simple two hook flapper. Baited up the size 4 Aberdeens with sections of ragworm and swung it out so it came to rest as close to the base of the rocks as possible. The lead had literally been on the bottom for all of two seconds before the rod tip started banging away. </div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHH43LI9q3aQY7NA58FOHwY2yaLSOuqTlfs1mgQpmeiJlAEddbcawc_AnlGD6h8MR23t62hvBFpkKF91YA-TTNvFRRaopoLC3-gsy_4l5Qcmw48rbX3oYX_6fx_dvp-9RI4v8R3aqZi4jakU8oOzfQ-Hd_V-LQb7cuUCVqYYjVb9vtdf_be2CgzeAxng/s4032/IMG_E1862%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHH43LI9q3aQY7NA58FOHwY2yaLSOuqTlfs1mgQpmeiJlAEddbcawc_AnlGD6h8MR23t62hvBFpkKF91YA-TTNvFRRaopoLC3-gsy_4l5Qcmw48rbX3oYX_6fx_dvp-9RI4v8R3aqZi4jakU8oOzfQ-Hd_V-LQb7cuUCVqYYjVb9vtdf_be2CgzeAxng/w150-h200/IMG_E1862%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">However, the hasty strike didn't meet with anything and the rig came back with the rag on the bottom hook already a mangled mess. Got him to sit on his hands for the next one and wait for the rod tip to properly bend over. Again the response was almost instantaneous, but this time his strike resulted in the first of many pouting splashing to the surface. Actually quite a pretty fish with its shades of purple and bronze, but not the intended species, although there were obviously lots about as I struggled to get the other rod set up in between unhooking and re-baiting (laddo not wanting to get slime and "ragworm juice" on his hands!). Eventually there was enough of a lull to make up a pulley pennel and bait it with a mackerel and squid cocktail. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This was lobbed out into the bay and left to fish by itself in the hope of at least a doggy. After a few more pouting on the rod down the side we eventually got what we were after in the shape of a nice male corkwing and a small ballan. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilak6GiX0XE0lWfAt1y_tadoIwaxJSGk_1UCNeL60e2tjxZ1Vgyz-EaUphhVkFGBQ-fsa8JuU3fsA-4_YKS3fikfeuV_IoVfE9QFoFpRa8LFe7Z4hOAJ6FXmmxzQrfBDCIj-QDAh07yvUzgPEM5z5gNQ3FVjqHi10bzRGdQgio5QTWUkbIYFhQY8MSBY4/s4032/IMG_1859%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilak6GiX0XE0lWfAt1y_tadoIwaxJSGk_1UCNeL60e2tjxZ1Vgyz-EaUphhVkFGBQ-fsa8JuU3fsA-4_YKS3fikfeuV_IoVfE9QFoFpRa8LFe7Z4hOAJ6FXmmxzQrfBDCIj-QDAh07yvUzgPEM5z5gNQ3FVjqHi10bzRGdQgio5QTWUkbIYFhQY8MSBY4/w240-h320/IMG_1859%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_dAFacn0zhMGz_MKUK6p2wLKvJI8GJH0-N0Pt_XF9HuC3uYRazDXZDZ_whsL17kgmTDi1Nhaf32szbgOUADqs5ysrej6YCMa39E-nAy7eez8p0_miNg0nx9EEanChqVwZ4WuOUTC97TW-gytNIRLA9887CiT4M2gSvAnU1ZqPd5MhmF8maWFW80VlTE/s4032/IMG_1864%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_dAFacn0zhMGz_MKUK6p2wLKvJI8GJH0-N0Pt_XF9HuC3uYRazDXZDZ_whsL17kgmTDi1Nhaf32szbgOUADqs5ysrej6YCMa39E-nAy7eez8p0_miNg0nx9EEanChqVwZ4WuOUTC97TW-gytNIRLA9887CiT4M2gSvAnU1ZqPd5MhmF8maWFW80VlTE/s320/IMG_1864%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh8cB69GcpXJJIujLFysWOFO4H1GAFZ1kwMjEsMX0XY-ckPoKc7hqJ1wBMhKd2OzJRKbstb92BUGHsaflIoprUZb-bCtcERKhoA5Zwgj0ZMJcXskX_naHQGD4WVTHnzSmEQm5o4CVVQyJuAC4BD14XvAH8Y9GKfLUVvcUbth8XCUNpLsHszBE_v1eZWA/s4032/IMG_1870%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXh8cB69GcpXJJIujLFysWOFO4H1GAFZ1kwMjEsMX0XY-ckPoKc7hqJ1wBMhKd2OzJRKbstb92BUGHsaflIoprUZb-bCtcERKhoA5Zwgj0ZMJcXskX_naHQGD4WVTHnzSmEQm5o4CVVQyJuAC4BD14XvAH8Y9GKfLUVvcUbth8XCUNpLsHszBE_v1eZWA/w150-h200/IMG_1870%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I'd had wrasse in good numbers on previous trips and felt sure that there would be some decent ones about. However, it was back to the stripey bait shredders after that. About two hours later the relentless drizzle finally got the better of us, soaking into our clothes and the fishing gear and giving us wrinkly fingers. The bites had dried up anyway as the tide had dropped, so wound in the other rod to find that the bait had been completely stripped. We'd probably been fishing with bare hooks the majority of the time! Headed back to the ranch for a well deserved breakfast of bacon, egg, laverbread and lots of coffee. In summary, not the greatest few days sea fishing I've ever had in Pembs, but I'm down in Cornwall for a week in September, so fingers crossed for then.</span></div><p></p>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-25279625690987287532023-08-30T12:49:00.000-07:002023-08-30T12:49:45.199-07:0028/08/2023 - A bank holiday brownie bonanza!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After three consecutive early mornings I was in need of a lie in, so had a day off from the fishing and went for a walk with the family instead. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2JOfoeEKtD5BTvxO1liIkXQxQIyyB5MsdVwA1gWZVqb4O79xHNa9uHdNrHUALuUWr7ZeJQFVn_ECZyJA_kOhTS0HQ_kcCXn0EAHSovwTVKmMIIVK4K-CmQF1c9j6AaCZcQ_Kz5-xmPM318mZdZVIGay0v4dT3Dzu2w92z5ezrRs_IPHRO3QsR-1nMWQ/s3491/IMG_E1807%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2618" data-original-width="3491" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2JOfoeEKtD5BTvxO1liIkXQxQIyyB5MsdVwA1gWZVqb4O79xHNa9uHdNrHUALuUWr7ZeJQFVn_ECZyJA_kOhTS0HQ_kcCXn0EAHSovwTVKmMIIVK4K-CmQF1c9j6AaCZcQ_Kz5-xmPM318mZdZVIGay0v4dT3Dzu2w92z5ezrRs_IPHRO3QsR-1nMWQ/w200-h150/IMG_E1807%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, arriving down at Amroth later I wished that I had got a rod and some feathers with me as there was a large flock of gulls chasing a shoal of sandeels or whitebait on the surface close to the shore, no doubt as they were harried by the mackerel from below. There were a couple of grey seals knocking about as well and when my lad went in for a quick swim one of them popped up about two metres from him to say hello and then followed him over the next few minutes, much to the amusement of everybody watching. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rg3aa4JYLU4IP6LJr40VXynwJR5X3un0xsfHifJYOAnxdFX93aDJtyMnHWfJOWdz88zmhtb31CC2DwttfGJTqy6EKRd28leGVF37NzIyX9GZ_rfYDy3zi_ib-IC1Xe027reiWVKpgT-zk5IdDoB1xDcQWwVYz0ZFZIhIGVYkSRUZv8koMqSKM1EpfQQ/s4032/IMG_E1811%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6rg3aa4JYLU4IP6LJr40VXynwJR5X3un0xsfHifJYOAnxdFX93aDJtyMnHWfJOWdz88zmhtb31CC2DwttfGJTqy6EKRd28leGVF37NzIyX9GZ_rfYDy3zi_ib-IC1Xe027reiWVKpgT-zk5IdDoB1xDcQWwVYz0ZFZIhIGVYkSRUZv8koMqSKM1EpfQQ/w150-h200/IMG_E1811%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyway, suitably refreshed by a large coffee and a bowl of chips at the Pirates Cafe and back at the in-laws I pondered where to go on the Bank Holiday. Decided that a change of scenery was in order, so spent an hour scrabbling around in the farmyard turning over wood and plastic sheeting until I'd gathered a hundred or so redworms. Early the next day I was off to Haverfordwest to "my" urban trout stream. Parked in the layby off the dual carriageway, surreptitiously donned my waders and then slipped down the bank when the coast was clear. It was dark under the tree canopy and when my eyes adjusted I saw that the little stream was clear, but running at a nice level - not bare bones like last summer. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Baited up a pink, 0.5 g tungsten jighead with a worm and cast it upstream, allowing it to bump back along the bottom with the flow assisted by little flicks of the rod tip. Was just about to lift it out of the water when the worm got smashed at my feet. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpV-u1cIEEf2JSTF8disW5wBA2Zr5T_ImpbNvr5-T6dSXpH_Fi8MPVKb6In5523H-6HkfclgC5-5mr18bFU3bTMXlFLrQlbWgIDydCNtV_9ETVk0aQl7WrsR4NOVTYiACu1nM1vp8XLD62-LSiVYWDQVLtPxmKZllCewYIfU-q-dBblwLOPXJkrsGL0E/s3673/IMG_E1820%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3673" data-original-width="2755" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpV-u1cIEEf2JSTF8disW5wBA2Zr5T_ImpbNvr5-T6dSXpH_Fi8MPVKb6In5523H-6HkfclgC5-5mr18bFU3bTMXlFLrQlbWgIDydCNtV_9ETVk0aQl7WrsR4NOVTYiACu1nM1vp8XLD62-LSiVYWDQVLtPxmKZllCewYIfU-q-dBblwLOPXJkrsGL0E/w240-h320/IMG_E1820%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzGOoNiwUIRkCBXb6z5F6GDdGMs_3KHacOeyHjLjiFuyokCgAKRLd5FrMXiMCILLgNt2-8D1AYHHFsSQJPUCcYf5MtSzHfDCKH6yxR25dsfj_8cen_j5bjqk5asGyw-d6zyfYGhWandwPlMJrVPB0hnwmEx21LkM0KbMWHWjQK6zILLUgZCdM6g1_Ry8/s3791/IMG_E1821%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3791" data-original-width="2843" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijzGOoNiwUIRkCBXb6z5F6GDdGMs_3KHacOeyHjLjiFuyokCgAKRLd5FrMXiMCILLgNt2-8D1AYHHFsSQJPUCcYf5MtSzHfDCKH6yxR25dsfj_8cen_j5bjqk5asGyw-d6zyfYGhWandwPlMJrVPB0hnwmEx21LkM0KbMWHWjQK6zILLUgZCdM6g1_Ry8/w240-h320/IMG_E1821%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Unfortunately he didn't stay on long, but it was a good sign. Worked my way slowly upstream, casting into any little holes or "pockets". Pricked and lost another three before finally nailing first perfect little brownie of the morning. Had been checking the hook point and it had seemed fine, but then lost the next two fish as well before I was forced into changing the jig head after opening out the hook pulling it out of a snag. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyqn5cc5AWp-te4Mj33eT7t51W2Vw65cVASJekYCYK84T51jD_5Ipd54_1vLcwtgPPdPsJ1qq2FxMV4SL9LEpRL-l4gq4Sx4iJE_QwVwOO_5QHAWCCdbgfVikHFv4lFSCWMC7zp7qCvSoxE6z1DVzO6ronJUCJr9nHTiEQqKNyJFFodZw-9ArqONC9NI/s3785/IMG_E1836%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3785" data-original-width="2839" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyqn5cc5AWp-te4Mj33eT7t51W2Vw65cVASJekYCYK84T51jD_5Ipd54_1vLcwtgPPdPsJ1qq2FxMV4SL9LEpRL-l4gq4Sx4iJE_QwVwOO_5QHAWCCdbgfVikHFv4lFSCWMC7zp7qCvSoxE6z1DVzO6ronJUCJr9nHTiEQqKNyJFFodZw-9ArqONC9NI/w240-h320/IMG_E1836%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgb-PGsa-XphfIYMfTLleioRyo7S0UPJ2fwwqAriGMixhQnyzcY6VCzmVUsSopTd9f6Mi05f2eVHK4WUvNo1GnjAOW6mYqp4Hl23IY-9uAyx1YHYcBlhmtlmxdk-XU4VQbELI79qsgC721kQyxnl4cf6HKEtai9llddP5eQUo7-R6OmxvgvMPcnkTAX4/s3836/IMG_E1839%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3836" data-original-width="2877" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgb-PGsa-XphfIYMfTLleioRyo7S0UPJ2fwwqAriGMixhQnyzcY6VCzmVUsSopTd9f6Mi05f2eVHK4WUvNo1GnjAOW6mYqp4Hl23IY-9uAyx1YHYcBlhmtlmxdk-XU4VQbELI79qsgC721kQyxnl4cf6HKEtai9llddP5eQUo7-R6OmxvgvMPcnkTAX4/w240-h320/IMG_E1839%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Perhaps unsurprisingly I started hooking up properly after that - just shows, if in doubt change your flippin' hook! The action was pretty fast and furious and I was going through my worms at a rate of knots as they were getting shredded by tiny teeth on each drift. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJV3009iQ5ljSPNGul1x1lCEdlDqGvaJlAItY2avGWnwF5L8VY3IvuJcjJakL4u60kJpzkE-Jf7I3Im4eu-bMkjSPlJI7c-Tlx_ATaRqzldWmffw3luCZfFxPJinvH-1ft7AAABuiNbzf2W4uBHjjnSrVTdIF-CRZMtqvrzmA_3gNpo4WXTmozrYovYSg/s4032/IMG_1844%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJV3009iQ5ljSPNGul1x1lCEdlDqGvaJlAItY2avGWnwF5L8VY3IvuJcjJakL4u60kJpzkE-Jf7I3Im4eu-bMkjSPlJI7c-Tlx_ATaRqzldWmffw3luCZfFxPJinvH-1ft7AAABuiNbzf2W4uBHjjnSrVTdIF-CRZMtqvrzmA_3gNpo4WXTmozrYovYSg/w150-h200/IMG_1844%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Managed to avoid getting caught up too much on the various bits of urban debris, but it was still frustrating when a perfect cast ended up straight in a snag and I had to ruin the swim to go and free it. Was sad to see the number of disposable vapes appearing with all of the rest of the usual rubbish. The bloody things are everywhere and should be banned in my opinion. By the time I had reached the top of the section just two and a half hours after starting I'd had twenty uniquely spotted little, wild brownies and had lost half as many again, mainly due to my earlier laziness. Had really enjoyed myself after the relative struggles of the last few days and even felt inspired to try and fit in a session back home before the end of the trout season. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Said goodbye to my bit of Welsh trout fishing heaven for another year and headed home for some well-earned breakfast.</span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-60091470373796397082023-08-29T05:42:00.000-07:002023-08-29T05:42:04.100-07:0026/08/23 - A windy morning at Hobbs<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Was up early yet again this morning. However, on this occasion I headed off to Hobbs Point in the hope of replicating last year's success and catching myself another trigger fish. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJAgm7XDrmiuw0zyOJQ0G4yIsfg0rYDricjdPS4t6LlnT_ygdQ1SgMNHPL-YcG2mn375MyFQqNzR6AqD0S7KjwBo2Tjc6aKwIyBKLAPqxzmhEAjjF7PhvCmJgZD6Vfutlr_JM4VJsba2DoE9QDkHgtAL7DURxlwjHVeEXe1qlJzRIUKxhz3tyDseumx8/s4032/IMG_1764%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJAgm7XDrmiuw0zyOJQ0G4yIsfg0rYDricjdPS4t6LlnT_ygdQ1SgMNHPL-YcG2mn375MyFQqNzR6AqD0S7KjwBo2Tjc6aKwIyBKLAPqxzmhEAjjF7PhvCmJgZD6Vfutlr_JM4VJsba2DoE9QDkHgtAL7DURxlwjHVeEXe1qlJzRIUKxhz3tyDseumx8/w150-h200/IMG_1764%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Didn't actually know whether they were about yet and was aware they'd been late turning up at places like Chesil, but as I had caught one exactly 12 months ago to the day I thought it would be worth a shot. There was always a chance that a wrasse, or even a bass, would show up as well. Had planned as before to fish over low water and had chosen this morning because it was the smallest neap of the week, which would give me maximum depth at low tide. Called in at Tesco at Pembroke Dock and got a packet of raw king prawns for bait before driving down to the point as the sun was just clearing the land opposite. Apart from a taxi driver taking a break I was the only person there, so carefully made my way as far down the ramp as I dared without slipping and falling on my arse. </div></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMC6_H5B43xoIlXTF57GVg_aB9Q9NOtACWMrc7NMx8m7Zklyv74M3t02oMyOGeDS6ikPvEnzrXT2Dee9NASfbHfdWfpo5BrzGVO_Fe4lSGTYfBtYlhWYSrzGXy8zhSkrvxQdVit9pVzVS5FHC90e9bL0G8OazofK4Ih4BmpkuWX4G_7PgQDKQZX7yszFM/s4032/IMG_1768%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMC6_H5B43xoIlXTF57GVg_aB9Q9NOtACWMrc7NMx8m7Zklyv74M3t02oMyOGeDS6ikPvEnzrXT2Dee9NASfbHfdWfpo5BrzGVO_Fe4lSGTYfBtYlhWYSrzGXy8zhSkrvxQdVit9pVzVS5FHC90e9bL0G8OazofK4Ih4BmpkuWX4G_7PgQDKQZX7yszFM/w150-h200/IMG_1768%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Set up a two hook flapper with size 4 Sakuma mini mantas, whipped on a couple of prawns and dropped the rig down the side of the wall. On previous, successful occassions </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the fish had been straight onto the bait, so I sat down on the quayside holding the rod and waited for the tell-tale "tap, tap, tap" of a trigger. </span>However, 30 minutes later I'd not seen any indication of any interest, so decided to hedge my bets and set up the LRF rod. Left the other rod to fish by itself, keeping an eye open for any movement on the tip, whilst I baited up a mini two hook flapper with bits of last summer's salted ragworm and sent it down to the bottom. Didn't have to wait long for the first determined enquiry, but was surprised when a black goby appeared on the surface. </div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnrdIiqv1eKPkMeB4expYik8ONLJCnMVUBXvzlEmqWZ2a_q3UduJRKWn0cpWtMcUiSss8rugXAc7QV321PiYEw0uX3tteON2vyDN69bFRyC4JIKpef1sY9Y0g7Un10s35gNlumnArTIXmrgUIn9VgWorQfVSkqgyklhCf_ntcz6LagVkzJS-Og0j6Uj8/s4032/IMG_1772%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnrdIiqv1eKPkMeB4expYik8ONLJCnMVUBXvzlEmqWZ2a_q3UduJRKWn0cpWtMcUiSss8rugXAc7QV321PiYEw0uX3tteON2vyDN69bFRyC4JIKpef1sY9Y0g7Un10s35gNlumnArTIXmrgUIn9VgWorQfVSkqgyklhCf_ntcz6LagVkzJS-Og0j6Uj8/w150-h200/IMG_1772%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">These usually play second fiddle at Hobbs to their more aggressive cousins, the rock gobies. However, I added three more on successive casts before a small ballan wrasse broke the monopoly. Was kept busy over the next half an hour re-baiting the LRF rod, adding more black gobies, a couple of corkwing wrasse (Mr and Mrs) and (eventually) a rock goby to the tally. However, the prawns to my right remained un-touched. A couple of<span style="font-family: arial;"> other anglers had arrived by now, including another chap with LRF gear. Saw him catch a couple of fish on the dropshot before he came down to ask me whether I'd had a scorpion, as he was after one for a species hunt. However, when I responded in the negative he went straight back to his fishing. </span></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAprQnzwbH7_SzU6uFnysqBXlnFNXOfaAL7Jyq1krk1EkA1W6mWDNesnMsUD8w4Lpto_SLuhibEy3GifgOhKGsxx-4IAUJr92JxDOk1w1yZTCczawvnY5ajTCBsBAtDTsWyAlZUmKs9sqkFzH_sqxjdjH8vvoj84tfiRTeJZIICwEXtL9JcTa7znocqbg/s3734/IMG_E1774%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3734" data-original-width="2800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAprQnzwbH7_SzU6uFnysqBXlnFNXOfaAL7Jyq1krk1EkA1W6mWDNesnMsUD8w4Lpto_SLuhibEy3GifgOhKGsxx-4IAUJr92JxDOk1w1yZTCczawvnY5ajTCBsBAtDTsWyAlZUmKs9sqkFzH_sqxjdjH8vvoj84tfiRTeJZIICwEXtL9JcTa7znocqbg/w150-h200/IMG_E1774%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carried on a bit longer, but the bites had slowed down and my nose was dripping due to the stiff, cool breeze that had been blowing straight into my face all morning. Gave myself one final cast with the LRF rod and had an opportunistic pollock shoot out from the kelp to intercept the bait on the drop. Wound in the untouched prawns before packing up and making my way back up the ramp. <span>Stopped and asked my fellow angler if he'd had his scorpion, but he was also now packing up after catching a few ballans. </span>Took the opportunity to have a quick chat about the local fishing. He was interested that I'd been after the triggers and that I'd caught them from Hobbs in the past. Turned out that he had held the Welsh record for a boat caught trigger at one time. </span></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTveezPdkdzTG6oLW1sKAi7VHCr-VnyEDZgxfw7krSL6xG3x3qGDNSeZzsXKudmFirCcUamNwgLwE55k8qdOdT07lkn2A91zFlkRaF1g1mi-m7dyD3cOIQvbpX-qhPHzCX2zlSBSv76kbgCZIeF5sclbymB104gi22ekm-odIvAbK1zszLSQBKMBOvMNY/s4032/IMG_1777%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTveezPdkdzTG6oLW1sKAi7VHCr-VnyEDZgxfw7krSL6xG3x3qGDNSeZzsXKudmFirCcUamNwgLwE55k8qdOdT07lkn2A91zFlkRaF1g1mi-m7dyD3cOIQvbpX-qhPHzCX2zlSBSv76kbgCZIeF5sclbymB104gi22ekm-odIvAbK1zszLSQBKMBOvMNY/w200-h150/IMG_1777%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before he left he gave me details of another spot on the other side of the haven to try for them and introduced himself as Nev. Thought his face was vaguely familiar, later realising that he was a member of the Tenby and District Angling Club whose Facebook page </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/532383590702188/">here</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> is a valuable source of information for a travelling angler like myself and one I often refer to. Was therefore pleased to receive a message from him later offering his knowledge and assistance whenever I was down in Pembrokeshire - the power of social media! </span></div></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrhH_QjYnAaFQ362q-h8OWPle22wfNQSw19tzSzQRTnerZvE0UZsxKu1QDPqHdowNNDs1Ky6R7RiGvpZB0Sx7PjWCjPq69fT0ApTWvmIZ4D_W8qRUkh226RnWxszBu3ykWY4tB5X-jtIxDNRlLdgyaEsso-U1-HoDYsl6wGBWkChsI0c_TtOaNTUe1gE/s3070/IMG_E8777%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3070" data-original-width="2302" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrhH_QjYnAaFQ362q-h8OWPle22wfNQSw19tzSzQRTnerZvE0UZsxKu1QDPqHdowNNDs1Ky6R7RiGvpZB0Sx7PjWCjPq69fT0ApTWvmIZ4D_W8qRUkh226RnWxszBu3ykWY4tB5X-jtIxDNRlLdgyaEsso-U1-HoDYsl6wGBWkChsI0c_TtOaNTUe1gE/w150-h200/IMG_E8777%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Had just left the car park when I spotted a sign for bait by the side of the road. Therefore stopped for a quick look and was pleasantly surprised to find a well stocked tackle shop at JMB Marine (details </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jmbmarinepembroke/">here</a><span style="font-family: arial;">), </span><span style="font-family: arial;">even more so when the guy behind the counter said that he'd got plenty of fresh rag in at £5 a quarter. Getting bait in Pembrokeshire has always been a problem as decent tackle shops are few and far between, so I duly parted with my money and got a pack of nice fat worms in return. Again I took the opportunity to glean any local knowledge before I left, promising the chap I'd be seeing him again. Will hopefully get to use the rag over the next couple of days, but at the very least I can salt them down for future use. Onwards and upwards! </span></span></div><p></p>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-27395998053870255762023-08-27T05:28:00.001-07:002023-08-27T05:28:28.964-07:0025/08/2023 - Estuary blues<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Whilst we'd already had our main summer holiday in France, I'd got enough leave in the bag to be able to have a few days in Wales either side of the Bank Holiday. The weather forecast leading up to our departure had been all over the place, but it looked as if we were going to be in for some cool, windy, unsettled weather. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGP_PAW4xWS8ar0CV0WZ2VB-cl_XvhrCluIh7rgKL1EeZsDDdPsYzewGzetee-c376SXqZfBPHbGxa_NsXiSPYnDh7Rx3Axd1T5PE4f1lerQmc0R1ShAmkEReaurJECAQRWWI6_OfPd7M3xbBSN_KhM8aT6rpxnXl9OynlLM8Kf1ycA7PUfv6ezOdJj4/s4032/IMG_1728%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGP_PAW4xWS8ar0CV0WZ2VB-cl_XvhrCluIh7rgKL1EeZsDDdPsYzewGzetee-c376SXqZfBPHbGxa_NsXiSPYnDh7Rx3Axd1T5PE4f1lerQmc0R1ShAmkEReaurJECAQRWWI6_OfPd7M3xbBSN_KhM8aT6rpxnXl9OynlLM8Kf1ycA7PUfv6ezOdJj4/w200-h150/IMG_1728%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Tides were not ideal either as we would arrive in the middle of some very small neaps. However, the bass and LRF gear went into the car along with everything else anyway. First morning I was up at 5 AM to get down to the estuary for low tide. The forecast had been for light winds, but as I got out of the car I could hear the sound of stays pinging against yacht masts in the breeze. Got the waders on and walked down to the water's edge, the dropping tides evidenced by parallell lines of seaweed and various bits of flotsam and jetsam. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrN_C2nrB5ad9ikZVYaNHC6uKNjYLPA47GTHFN269Kk9hX6yykb9DPKSJAcjxIxLr9CRUpUr-KwfKP0DQz7KLVpNwcMeeUKMz_bXhmq28rGxwvu5P5p5jXVGyR5Lt3Rapcro1AjBvHtYTlLYLjjoysNHuTUzk2y7D-83RbaiGGzyv4f0En4TsVlBOhC8/s4032/IMG_1744%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrN_C2nrB5ad9ikZVYaNHC6uKNjYLPA47GTHFN269Kk9hX6yykb9DPKSJAcjxIxLr9CRUpUr-KwfKP0DQz7KLVpNwcMeeUKMz_bXhmq28rGxwvu5P5p5jXVGyR5Lt3Rapcro1AjBvHtYTlLYLjjoysNHuTUzk2y7D-83RbaiGGzyv4f0En4TsVlBOhC8/w150-h200/IMG_1744%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The wind was coming over my right shoulder and riffling the surface of the water, but around the corner in the lee of the quay it was nice and calm and looked spot on for some surface lure action. Therefore started off with a Fishus Espetit, with a teaser fly on a dropper tied on with a water knot about three feet up the fluorocarbon leader. Second cast I'd just started "walking the dog" when there was an eruption just in front of the lure as a fish snatched the fly. Played it all the way in and was just drawing it into the shallows when it came off! The angle of the light on the water had prevented me from seeing the fish the clear water, so consoled myself that it had just been a little 'un from the lack of significant resistance. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxJ9ss7fQ4USYbuAdMDFOqwfySG0aNt0J9YDfqJ4YM87sW4-nlcUZIdXkLTzE2nifC8RDiS7cawjt9tKX62ei9__gdfD3atN-Xta1gV5ISMVKs_x7SZG4O9L01fpXh3KQ6_s86UvYrD1tflIYp7JDS_i0JLz9Q03l1pltnfAtjCTN5Xd2Fe2p10nJlGI/s4032/IMG_1724%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxJ9ss7fQ4USYbuAdMDFOqwfySG0aNt0J9YDfqJ4YM87sW4-nlcUZIdXkLTzE2nifC8RDiS7cawjt9tKX62ei9__gdfD3atN-Xta1gV5ISMVKs_x7SZG4O9L01fpXh3KQ6_s86UvYrD1tflIYp7JDS_i0JLz9Q03l1pltnfAtjCTN5Xd2Fe2p10nJlGI/w150-h200/IMG_1724%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Thought this might have been a good sign, but despite working the area hard over the next hour I had no further takes or follows. The tide was pushing in now and the new digital display on the quayside had started ticking over as the water level began to rise. Swapped the lure for a shallow diver - a Megabass X-120 - and started making my way against the tide up to the mouth of the inlet. However, despite thrashing the water for another hour, I was still fishless when I reached the point. Despite it being a small tide, there was still a decent incoming push and the mullet (some huge ones judging by the distance between their dorsal and tail fins!) were now taking advantage of this, flaunting themselves as they made their way to who-knows-where further upstream. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPXl2FYnUj4G_jgN6B4FRrzBNW3OZ9Es07GuC_-JoGIzeK7P1dlJBTH7mxjzMAmb6ue40Sl8k6aKGkTitBGZoHUQbC_i2ETB5OJxf-c5LhnT-7GfJnLH6Y1EviyH76SYCUGEPBVe2Gj1c5y3VXBGgDYnSO6fe3sKJ-2QCNgdbwWcFuak8kUepw5z-jBQ/s4032/IMG_E1746%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPXl2FYnUj4G_jgN6B4FRrzBNW3OZ9Es07GuC_-JoGIzeK7P1dlJBTH7mxjzMAmb6ue40Sl8k6aKGkTitBGZoHUQbC_i2ETB5OJxf-c5LhnT-7GfJnLH6Y1EviyH76SYCUGEPBVe2Gj1c5y3VXBGgDYnSO6fe3sKJ-2QCNgdbwWcFuak8kUepw5z-jBQ/s320/IMG_E1746%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Snipped off the teaser and swapped the lure for the normally reliable Savage Gear V2 weedless eel and started bumping the bottom in the flow. My enthusiasm was waning now and when the lure became irretreivably stuck in the rocks I called it a day. The following morning I was up early once more, but headed further up the estuary to a spot I'd noted on one of our walks where another inlet (known as a "gut" in these parts) joined the main channel on a sweeping bend. My theory that it could hold fish at low, slack water seemed to be confirmed as I walked down to the water. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB_A0e-r9YJK9HHqQUHCFwNH37zuPDxfqwUHzpuhTDAbTMqdaa3xz9e9KizM7UhHKPzxTKUuEnq2Pi6i06RlwLGal6RDw-RgeaARczfGXbdZ6SwCsLSLuK5aRvdZAGm8j-W7xRAnEhz3X1PMb-y6WNljW4u94RS9Qm75r3LdHg6MLYlDkniWAmnNa1jQ/s4032/IMG_E1748%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB_A0e-r9YJK9HHqQUHCFwNH37zuPDxfqwUHzpuhTDAbTMqdaa3xz9e9KizM7UhHKPzxTKUuEnq2Pi6i06RlwLGal6RDw-RgeaARczfGXbdZ6SwCsLSLuK5aRvdZAGm8j-W7xRAnEhz3X1PMb-y6WNljW4u94RS9Qm75r3LdHg6MLYlDkniWAmnNa1jQ/s320/IMG_E1748%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>The margins were alive with mullet, pushing right up into the shallows to feed. <span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore started with an Espetit in a mullet pattern to "match the hatch", again with a teaser tied in above it. On only the second cast the water exploded and I found myself connected to a fish, albeit very briefly as it ran straight into a big clump of bladderwrack before I could react and came off! Had fleeting visions of deja vu and missed chances, but was rewarded a few casts later with a schoolie that stayed attached. There was more surface activity now that didn't look mullet-related and casting into the general area I started getting bangs and knocks on the rod tip, before hooking another bass on the Espetit that was barely hand-sized! Had four more of these ambitious little buggers on both the surface lure and the teaser, before I swapped over to a Megabass X-120 in an attempt to get away from them. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkbW1uqMRNLeQp38ylVAjNfF3ggptnICL_ovgqIIAx8sScC2d3wT1XfiyuPjnsir8trUbFMLSO9kS3U6pO93NJrwUNWHJ5YfQf7mtd5c5TXNu1-D5O47WZCkYoFilTjXUnULoRiQqQmPkVUuIY1Cgb5V9-TLfj5ApT8JduELnPQn2apboBTAvQSxp9dM/s3606/IMG_E9232%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3606" data-original-width="2704" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkbW1uqMRNLeQp38ylVAjNfF3ggptnICL_ovgqIIAx8sScC2d3wT1XfiyuPjnsir8trUbFMLSO9kS3U6pO93NJrwUNWHJ5YfQf7mtd5c5TXNu1-D5O47WZCkYoFilTjXUnULoRiQqQmPkVUuIY1Cgb5V9-TLfj5ApT8JduELnPQn2apboBTAvQSxp9dM/w150-h200/IMG_E9232%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">However, this didn't work as on the very next cast another tail nipper hung himself on the end single. Luckily I wasn't frustrated for very much longer because they seemed to clear off as quickly as they arrived. Unfortunately so did everything else as the action completely died a death! Half an hour later the wind that had been coming over my shoulder suddenly changed direction and starting blowing stright into my face. When I felt the first few spots of rain I looked up to see the far bank of the estuary greyed out, so decided to hot foot it back to the car, only narrowly getting to shelter before the heavens opened. So a a difficult and disappointing couple of mornings, but at the very least it was more information added to my expanding file on bass fishing. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This was added to further by a subsequent trip to the local tackle shop where I was told that a 10-pounder and an 11-pounder had recently been caught and released at Lawrenny - now they really would put a bend in the Nebula!</span></p>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-53421552648186830202023-08-20T15:06:00.002-07:002023-08-20T15:08:29.792-07:0016/08/2023 - Summer trotting part IV (yet more dace)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just spent a relaxing two weeks at the in-laws place in rural France, eating cheese and baguette and the odd punnet of snails, drinking wine and just dossing about. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The "neighbours" were certainly varied this year - we had redstarts in the garage, lesser horseshoe bats in the barn, roe deer in the back field, bumble bees and lizards in the walls, honey bees in the chimney and dormice in the roof. However, the buddleia in the garden kept us entertained for hours with the huge variety of butterflies and moths it attracted, including scarce swallowtails, southern white admirals, silver streaked fritillaries, hummingbird hawk moths and broad banded bee hawkmoths. Even managed to get some half-decent pictures with the iphone (along with many more blurred ones!).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkVJXd_NAOIQb4r5JOAYPHZx8freG-lP-wnojwe2PBzoGgfhnYZuG31zV-eCin11I4cAuRKLPvBrM_S0Ow5yZAl7I_ho5kgJa66KpTv5ATXebXCtYxk46QYK73AQv3rg3ZUPCe5tgZIGPJdIG59WXIorSp7AZGsktw10NF3SZeAb0m14JmbvAi_MQWtM/s1215/IMG_E1383%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="912" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkVJXd_NAOIQb4r5JOAYPHZx8freG-lP-wnojwe2PBzoGgfhnYZuG31zV-eCin11I4cAuRKLPvBrM_S0Ow5yZAl7I_ho5kgJa66KpTv5ATXebXCtYxk46QYK73AQv3rg3ZUPCe5tgZIGPJdIG59WXIorSp7AZGsktw10NF3SZeAb0m14JmbvAi_MQWtM/w240-h320/IMG_E1383%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF0bQSPfhmUD2fnDZ91PtvZ0_8CeOxGfCiZHNfjtJsdhhl54BshNdPbtXExl4Yp_CL-OgJKeB8IQogjeNgmtt6ODmF42Q1Kdhpxl_TAy6LJ0E6XRtYBrRkrJBgKQagxObqUC5FUAuAn2bFP4ygJ-CLRXPps6piFeC9ddovNKt7dM874ba7cDbaAD2dnQ/s2713/IMG_E1642%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2713" data-original-width="2035" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF0bQSPfhmUD2fnDZ91PtvZ0_8CeOxGfCiZHNfjtJsdhhl54BshNdPbtXExl4Yp_CL-OgJKeB8IQogjeNgmtt6ODmF42Q1Kdhpxl_TAy6LJ0E6XRtYBrRkrJBgKQagxObqUC5FUAuAn2bFP4ygJ-CLRXPps6piFeC9ddovNKt7dM874ba7cDbaAD2dnQ/w240-h320/IMG_E1642%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Unfortunately it was all over too soon and it was time to make the seventeen hour journey back home - not quite the same as the outward journey that had been full of excitment and anticipation! </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFueBPJsv0buRKH56vY_oVXCb9bv3fbYfaU8U2F0x0FZOj-L9VbqBvtg7z4_gjZs9xkvoePzTod9enDGKtW2yDLSXLFU8VhF47nZQIj8wyHcF85o-MDVbMcBkp7XwAALO8jHyz0TlXeUoR9SuGP-lACRAzRjYWBPjwObcOdL_dsfuYkGqOrPuy4XsUZww/s4032/IMG_E1698%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFueBPJsv0buRKH56vY_oVXCb9bv3fbYfaU8U2F0x0FZOj-L9VbqBvtg7z4_gjZs9xkvoePzTod9enDGKtW2yDLSXLFU8VhF47nZQIj8wyHcF85o-MDVbMcBkp7XwAALO8jHyz0TlXeUoR9SuGP-lACRAzRjYWBPjwObcOdL_dsfuYkGqOrPuy4XsUZww/w240-h320/IMG_E1698%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Hadn't bo</span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">thered taking any fishing tackle on holiday with me this time due to my complete failure to even buy a bite on the local River Charente last time, so I was ready to get my string pulled again. </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Lasted all of two days back at work before I decided to have an early finish and head off for a few hours on the Derwent. Had just the one swim in mind from my previous visit - the one that had involved a scramble down a near vertical, ten foot high bank. However, I was better prepared on this occasion with a bank spike and a length of rope as I very nearly didn't make it back up last time! Timed my arrival at the car park just as another angler was opening the gate and had a quick chat as we both got kitted up. He'd just come down for a couple of hours with the float rod as well, but opted for one of the more comfortable swims near the footbridge while I headed upstream for a spot of abseiling. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">With the crops in the fields now harvested there was a distinct "end of summer" feeling. The banded demoiselles, so prevalent last time, had also disappeared and there was just a few dragonflies hawking up and down like police helicopters patrolling the local estate. Arrived at the swim and sorted out the bank spike and rope before sliding down into the river, getting showered by seeds from the Himalayan balsam as I did so. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTnezWp9g2b-VA70dvnvFV-y1unDHt1CqWeF9cIOteV_uQ32sbqFDLpE_pnq5EbzGjb7Km7ICGYhpoC8fhvIW2N9g4nV7TlArj7hieFs4ITjEe0bx2VMI3VDPJfIxfaTxJx8K25BLbC2Lm-P2JBH91efOFOwlwsHC5BkD0AMe6UhINBjiEIl9koGPmqg/s4032/IMG_E1701%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTnezWp9g2b-VA70dvnvFV-y1unDHt1CqWeF9cIOteV_uQ32sbqFDLpE_pnq5EbzGjb7Km7ICGYhpoC8fhvIW2N9g4nV7TlArj7hieFs4ITjEe0bx2VMI3VDPJfIxfaTxJx8K25BLbC2Lm-P2JBH91efOFOwlwsHC5BkD0AMe6UhINBjiEIl9koGPmqg/w240-h320/IMG_E1701%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaN3fUn_PQ8ciyk9xv_NG_r0JV96LqNu-zORW_vNlcjj30pi1ApA3lceoYPAMwKr3tVG5uJqjvu7OMKD_IUkY0fvwGcyMS5r2yqohc_EVCawC4kjmQLH_G1au__uKeS4FzXRTZRdA4XDt6hDjfTLfT-Oafv6B8R9LQRzuzxgvpXyD4PqqvWPTETpjbN0/s3783/IMG_E1175%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3783" data-original-width="2837" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaN3fUn_PQ8ciyk9xv_NG_r0JV96LqNu-zORW_vNlcjj30pi1ApA3lceoYPAMwKr3tVG5uJqjvu7OMKD_IUkY0fvwGcyMS5r2yqohc_EVCawC4kjmQLH_G1au__uKeS4FzXRTZRdA4XDt6hDjfTLfT-Oafv6B8R9LQRzuzxgvpXyD4PqqvWPTETpjbN0/w240-h320/IMG_E1175%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">The decision to go fishing had co-incided with a warm, sunny day with virtually no wind for a change and I'd already got a bit of a sweat on walking up, so it was nice to feel the relative cool of the river through the waders. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDViIk5DeHIvdhPN4elNZzAbHt_GeLo1OfCdAtPk8nDgHGZaXVkE-YnGA2ey9QnwPOQLn6SlnqS9BkXGC9Z43Nd6peC2-ltDtlsXivykm3vAdlWvAwYCBGJiaNi_5XRvmJF7tdebm5ndBSIFEyxuGkNkEmoYOAlJBObIdVJdmJJzs4muR1mhU5PUQ9n4/s4032/IMG_E1706%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDViIk5DeHIvdhPN4elNZzAbHt_GeLo1OfCdAtPk8nDgHGZaXVkE-YnGA2ey9QnwPOQLn6SlnqS9BkXGC9Z43Nd6peC2-ltDtlsXivykm3vAdlWvAwYCBGJiaNi_5XRvmJF7tdebm5ndBSIFEyxuGkNkEmoYOAlJBObIdVJdmJJzs4muR1mhU5PUQ9n4/s320/IMG_E1706%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Got into the usual routine of trickling in a few loose maggots whilst running the float down the nearside crease and it wasn't long before the first of many, chunky dace came to hand, all like peas in a pod. </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Tucked down under the bank I was in my own little world and for the next couple of hours I was kept busy, adding bleak, chub and grayling to the mix. As the bites eventually started slowing down I gave it one last cast before calling it a day and had another of those pristine, elusive Derwent roach that keep tantalising me. It was at that stage that I realised that I'd lost the pawl out of my centrepin and so couldn't engage the drag. Briefly had a look around my feet to see if I could spot it on the bottom before giving it up as a lost cause and finding a piece of stick that I could push through the reel housing to stop it rotating as I clambered back up the bank. Luckily, upon returning home I was able to cannibalise an old fly reel for a perfect replacement, so it was panic over. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Off to Wales next week, so probably won't have time to fit in another session on the rivers, but will be looking forwards to chasing some bass and wrasse instead!</span></div></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-64361328073504676042023-07-19T08:11:00.002-07:002023-07-24T14:47:13.902-07:0016/07/2023 - A swift change of tactics<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was the daughter's graduation down at Falmouth Univeristy at the start of this week - her second in fact, as she started an on-line masters in Illustration during COVID to complement her degree in Graphic Art & Design. Anyway, we decided to make a few days of it and found a campsite within walking distance of the town. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oWmH78KyjGiI76yvePwxgdBaEmDf5Y0HNvfqnpn25KEsibwxCQVFulhmmRF0Z7fOwA6Tsi2-wLODW2c1DWsbI3LrIw4kxDzhgvbo6euhGynkelz1DFXGCj3OR2huqAP1xG9189KJvPD04NNd6LsW4GuTCAewGyne-hprtAUpCHmGCYnEUKf7jgWfLXM/s4032/IMG_1206%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oWmH78KyjGiI76yvePwxgdBaEmDf5Y0HNvfqnpn25KEsibwxCQVFulhmmRF0Z7fOwA6Tsi2-wLODW2c1DWsbI3LrIw4kxDzhgvbo6euhGynkelz1DFXGCj3OR2huqAP1xG9189KJvPD04NNd6LsW4GuTCAewGyne-hprtAUpCHmGCYnEUKf7jgWfLXM/w200-h150/IMG_1206%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My lad already had spent four years down there doing his own Masters in Zoology and we'd been frequent visitors, so I was pretty familiar with the area. With space limited in the van I therefore opted just to take the wrasse gear as I knew there were plenty of nice, deep rock gullies along the headlands. Got delayed on the M5 as usual around Bridgewater, but otherwise had a leisurely journey down and got settled in on Saturday evening. The next morning we had a quick breakfast, got packed up and walked down to Swanpool. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvVr5Tv_kKSmxXSKKhwxco7-g3-7GV1NFgvOBKWvw9kgdY7jnf8YzXy_Wq7oNwxo-0KTYYw46sglzxavWHzf-9vQ7WKDk7Ukg4C1LNgdpIiOyYq5wd3xBBwURRbtrEXCPAAkEP0Pp-D2uLTwsmmlZRJTP-bH_gidkq1HyVwV--ytYPieD4BJXYgMRrKw/s4032/IMG_1233%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvVr5Tv_kKSmxXSKKhwxco7-g3-7GV1NFgvOBKWvw9kgdY7jnf8YzXy_Wq7oNwxo-0KTYYw46sglzxavWHzf-9vQ7WKDk7Ukg4C1LNgdpIiOyYq5wd3xBBwURRbtrEXCPAAkEP0Pp-D2uLTwsmmlZRJTP-bH_gidkq1HyVwV--ytYPieD4BJXYgMRrKw/w150-h200/IMG_1233%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Left the others on the beach - laddo snorkelling and the girls with their books - and made my way further along the coastpath towards Maenporth. A quick look on Google Maps had shown that there were some promising, big gullies on the Swanpool side of the headland, so that was where I headed. Got down onto the rocks and had a quick forage around for some bait. Was about an hour before high tide, but managed to get a dozen limpets within a few minutes before setting up the gear. Had got my 15 - 60 g lure rod, paired up with a 3000 size spinning reel loaded with 10 lb Big Game. My wrasse rigs are made up from shop-bought size 6 or 8 Sabikis - the string of 8 feathers cut up to give 4 two-hook flappers, with a swivel tied on one end and weak link for the lead tied on the other. Nice and cheap and simple.</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J8lSAUwx62qEZjnNtSiS1LxUdbzmt9Xun7YgU5dfSJSSa6aryXa7v_xwT5bN-7e2KknTdHttWItBqh0gik7_f-K59dvnT8kF6GkiP3iCM7-_dasJMqGqZy3NlJVVm6PrCmb4JPzrMF8sbbeTKz_38eLSzhKQ3Uj_7R8-BE4Dt_NH3DSPOu3swxk00d4/s2964/IMG_E1219%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2223" data-original-width="2964" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0J8lSAUwx62qEZjnNtSiS1LxUdbzmt9Xun7YgU5dfSJSSa6aryXa7v_xwT5bN-7e2KknTdHttWItBqh0gik7_f-K59dvnT8kF6GkiP3iCM7-_dasJMqGqZy3NlJVVm6PrCmb4JPzrMF8sbbeTKz_38eLSzhKQ3Uj_7R8-BE4Dt_NH3DSPOu3swxk00d4/s320/IMG_E1219%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This would prove significant a bit later, but for the moment the hooks were baited up with bits of limpet and the rig lowered down the side of the gully. Was getting a few knocks and pulls and was waiting for the tip to pull round properly when the surface of the water erupted in front of me! Was so surprised that it took me a few seconds to work out what was happening. Basically the mackerel had herded a huge shoal of whitebait into the gully where I was fishing and was now smashing into them in a feeding frenzy. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBvT1GRY7bE3emoiQwiC9tpp_6ORwos2uk-h9viENZ5phYTMeHeFXgqgeBALmRb7osSLUaZOa5xW7CXFm_tgfda_KaGLlD6R7u-Vu7EyYG6JELXOEFQafG8vuBRorhQrHL9mEWVTZgdxO25AJXCObLQnClMx-_V-MreQ0biDdAKgnQcEe-gUwprqBFzc/s4032/IMG_1229%5B1%5D.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBvT1GRY7bE3emoiQwiC9tpp_6ORwos2uk-h9viENZ5phYTMeHeFXgqgeBALmRb7osSLUaZOa5xW7CXFm_tgfda_KaGLlD6R7u-Vu7EyYG6JELXOEFQafG8vuBRorhQrHL9mEWVTZgdxO25AJXCObLQnClMx-_V-MreQ0biDdAKgnQcEe-gUwprqBFzc/w150-h200/IMG_1229%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I could clearly see the larger, darker shapes of the mackerel underneath the fry, so q</span>uickly wound in, took the bait off the hooks and waited for the next eruption, dropping my feathers right into the middle of it. The rod tip thumped round after only a couple of turns of the reel handle and I thought I'd actually got a bass on as it fought like stink, but it turned out to be a sizeable mackerel instead. Had nine in quick succession, each time dropping the rig into the middle of the maelstrom. Kept two for the pot before my fun was curtailed - not by the fish leaving, but by a group of local kids turning up and thinking it would be great fun to start tomb-stoning straight into the shoals - but for a mad fifteen minutes it had definitely been a case of right time, right place! </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore found another gully and went back to the wrasse fishing, but was just getting little rattles, so cleaned the two fish I'd kept and made my way back to the others. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Back from his snorkel my lad reported also seeing loads of whitebait close into shore being harried by shoals of foot-long launce, but his highlight was a ballan wrasse as long as one of his flippers! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW7CKKtgN-8VDoCIapJu9t3BluZrTsPWLO6H0L9rMOqXSx5nMmNbz3UUr5fc0-ByfaP5XSjKj7j53APr_FfMVoZvs4tARNEPgjktvzSZri7JAxStuXynFVwOG5-N-2ASNPIGQynAISEyqzVs8f_PquSszzehCE11197L651q_feFo3fngvrQXZRMQV-k/s4032/IMG_1235%5B1%5D.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzW7CKKtgN-8VDoCIapJu9t3BluZrTsPWLO6H0L9rMOqXSx5nMmNbz3UUr5fc0-ByfaP5XSjKj7j53APr_FfMVoZvs4tARNEPgjktvzSZri7JAxStuXynFVwOG5-N-2ASNPIGQynAISEyqzVs8f_PquSszzehCE11197L651q_feFo3fngvrQXZRMQV-k/s320/IMG_1235%5B1%5D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Seems I should have stayed on the beach. However, back at the campsite the mackerel - filleted, seasoned, pan-fried and eaten with some bread and butter - was amazing! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">P.S. if you like your sea fishing and are looking for a diamond in the usual mountain of dross on YouTube then check out Wayne Hand aka The Shore Hunter <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheShoreHunter" target="_blank">here</a> - he's very knowledgable, very funny and above all honest!</span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-6434609467995615152023-07-14T04:16:00.000-07:002023-07-14T04:16:25.946-07:0013/07/2023 - Summer trotting part III (more Derwent dace)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Weather's all over the shop at the moment, blowing a hooley and heavy showers at the drop of a hat. However, looked as if there was going to be a bit of a respite on Thursday, so made plans to return to the River Derwent. Restocked with maggots and headed to the river for late afternoon. Car park was empty again, but I knew that would change as the "night shift" started to turn up a bit later. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0PAwh6iMIJxcqeH3KzOCfjXTvyrBs3ggTZimJObZjwqOXxrU6Gieg9IjEabShrBfuPEZl1lp1QzeinI9siUhP1Clx4jICbiIWtCWq7k7j8ON-D-nFhV3fTeSPSFmDLd4HKr7qoqexLwIzDOD_4iAkQM9kVH_Dv-MQ3Z4NiIdfCYaCYHrFS4oNL7RptU/s3725/IMG_E1157%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3725" data-original-width="2794" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0PAwh6iMIJxcqeH3KzOCfjXTvyrBs3ggTZimJObZjwqOXxrU6Gieg9IjEabShrBfuPEZl1lp1QzeinI9siUhP1Clx4jICbiIWtCWq7k7j8ON-D-nFhV3fTeSPSFmDLd4HKr7qoqexLwIzDOD_4iAkQM9kVH_Dv-MQ3Z4NiIdfCYaCYHrFS4oNL7RptU/w150-h200/IMG_E1157%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Crossing the footbridge I was distracted for a couple of minutes by a huge shoal of fish, possibly bleak or dace, topping along the far bank willows. It's always looked like a spot where the chub would also hang out, so made a note to perhaps come back with the waggler rod at some point. Headed up to the second of the swims I fished on Monday hoping that I could latch into some of those roach again. That day there had been a distinctly "autumnal" feel about things what with the weather and the amount of leaves coming down the river. There had also been a nice tinge of colour in the water, but now the river was absolutely gin clear and I could easily see the bottom a good few rod lengths out. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX9z2nrseEo2rRkBJ2JAoZ6zqo_ccz3rbPWOSLadbAAA6d_t6nRf9TrXlm1BEFPAdRlPFH7OAqYtE_lEtyMb0Xj8q9Be5xt-SQoghwDJ2wj4_dhZyNacermKNCAb5nd5htIp4Ub1uNAffQqYeh3JrdxjErgwjWWXnopspL-Ro6SU0FIBoXPbderXDpmI/s3875/IMG_E1149%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3875" data-original-width="2906" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX9z2nrseEo2rRkBJ2JAoZ6zqo_ccz3rbPWOSLadbAAA6d_t6nRf9TrXlm1BEFPAdRlPFH7OAqYtE_lEtyMb0Xj8q9Be5xt-SQoghwDJ2wj4_dhZyNacermKNCAb5nd5htIp4Ub1uNAffQqYeh3JrdxjErgwjWWXnopspL-Ro6SU0FIBoXPbderXDpmI/w150-h200/IMG_E1149%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Dropped into the river and sent the float on its way accompanied by some loose feed. Had a dace after a couple of trots down, followed by one of the biggest bleak I've seen for a while. However, the maggot hookbait was being completely destroyed by the ravenous hordes on each run down and I spent a frustrating hour try to hit "unmissable" bites. Was so clear that at one point I saw an unmistakeable bronze torpedo with coral fins come slowly mooching upstream before he caught sight of me an vanished with a flick of his tail. Did manage to add a few more dace to the tally, but hadn't had a sniff of a grayling or a roach yet, so decided to move on. Next spot was on a long straight where the flow was a bit faster and a bankside willow was creating a nice crease on the inside. </div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAKsEY97inRurxW3kK3xWd2GhgwuQKXg-5JZxUXD4jGRPu_Jvteh7Ja-aR4CRgSEYRv3fNYXAfmcTaA47dzq5-E83VGgvyNHxABkM3M2-cqZscWxNGI189M9Mu_I0EcEj7hptjGqrfXhGv2Ye6CUwPdh4keUlZmivn1n43X1tGkYxNARylB508IV9aXw/s3892/IMG_E1166%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3892" data-original-width="2919" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAKsEY97inRurxW3kK3xWd2GhgwuQKXg-5JZxUXD4jGRPu_Jvteh7Ja-aR4CRgSEYRv3fNYXAfmcTaA47dzq5-E83VGgvyNHxABkM3M2-cqZscWxNGI189M9Mu_I0EcEj7hptjGqrfXhGv2Ye6CUwPdh4keUlZmivn1n43X1tGkYxNARylB508IV9aXw/s320/IMG_E1166%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Required a bit of a scrabble and slide down the steep bank and I was at the bottom before the thought of how I would get up again even crossed my mind! Anyway, started trotting away and was immediately rewarded by yet more dace, interspersed with a the odd chublet. Again, the water was clear enought to see fish flashing under the surface as they pursued my loosefeed, with one in particular looking pretty decent and few trots later the float disappeared resulting in a cracking grayling. Let him recover and had just seen him safely back when I heard voices, fully expecting to see a couple of fellow anglers walking up the bank. However, a couple of paddle boarders appeared instead, struggling upstream against the fast flow. I am a paddle boarder myself and have a waterways licence from the Canal & River Trust to allow me to paddle on navigable rivers - certainly not the case for the Derwent. </div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nT8tP4DhGF2pouBv2Od8oOG-V3Qcycv0A8GCS6-tgDOoa939FyekdgShZpqaffEFF--DE-M-EgKrspKF0bERj1rrf7CJSUga77CXrz9z7j6L7wbs29h8E266e0PGfJuyzZ5dV2MtzwiWNNoBQUuvdIEGt85wKy-j3a48oEkceOjREgCkqtZcpF1l-Uw/s3782/IMG_E1168%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3782" data-original-width="2837" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nT8tP4DhGF2pouBv2Od8oOG-V3Qcycv0A8GCS6-tgDOoa939FyekdgShZpqaffEFF--DE-M-EgKrspKF0bERj1rrf7CJSUga77CXrz9z7j6L7wbs29h8E266e0PGfJuyzZ5dV2MtzwiWNNoBQUuvdIEGt85wKy-j3a48oEkceOjREgCkqtZcpF1l-Uw/w150-h200/IMG_E1168%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">I personally wouldn't paddle it in any case because it is too fast and shallow and potentially dangerous in places. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">However, they were polite enough and didn't really affect me, but I did warn them that the two</span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">barbel anglers fishing at a pinch point in the river further upstream would be less happy to see them! Carried on trotting and added more dace, chub and smaller grayling over the next couple of hours and even had a couple of roach, again absolutely pristine but not quite the stamp of the fish I'd caught earlier in the week. Had a bit of excitement when the float disappeared and I struck into a solid lump. Nothing happened for a couple of seconds then the acolyte bent round as it slowly moved upstream and out into mid-river. Could feel a slow thump, thump through the line, but as I tried to apply a bit of pressure the size 18 Kamasan widegape pinged out. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhOVn4qZuZwxZQoBIcYKSU9AHcAg841qz2WJ2vsieU63AmX31kNWEYVy6OJSEw4wP44_lVD_RhQ-sc7bZGdqNq6ego7hbv-c7vA0LZvCTbP9Y0iE3FxzjeMoj9ZV5GFRpjAcba2Hsb_Fnhy30K00nYgElr06Q4Ut_ArHycBbZfd5lkggiKaeCkUnlWCE/s4032/IMG_E1171%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhOVn4qZuZwxZQoBIcYKSU9AHcAg841qz2WJ2vsieU63AmX31kNWEYVy6OJSEw4wP44_lVD_RhQ-sc7bZGdqNq6ego7hbv-c7vA0LZvCTbP9Y0iE3FxzjeMoj9ZV5GFRpjAcba2Hsb_Fnhy30K00nYgElr06Q4Ut_ArHycBbZfd5lkggiKaeCkUnlWCE/w200-h150/IMG_E1171%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Assumed that it was a barbel and that it probably hadn't even known it was hooked! </span><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Heard voices again shortly after that and assumed it was the paddle boarders returning, but it was two kayakers this time. Again, they were polite enough and stuck to the far bank as soon as they saw me. Had stayed warm all afternoon and I was nicely tucked out of what breeze there was. There were even a few big, yellow mayflies coming off the water. However, they were being swiftly nailed by not only the great tits, but also the larger banded demoiselle damselflies. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Was still getting bites and as much as I wanted to carry on I eventually decide to call it a day as I had promised my lad we'd have a Chinese. Managed to scrabble out of the river using handfuls of grass and Himalyan balsam to haul myself up the bank. Made me think that a spike and a piece of rope would be a sensible purchase for the winter! Ran into a couple more anglers on the way back to the car and one of them mentioned that he'd lost a barbel earlier in the week under the bush I'd been stood next to, which probably confirmed what the lost "monster" had been. Resisted the temptation to have a couple of casts in the "perch swim" - that'll be one for another time - and headed home. Got a long weekend in Cornwall for the daughter's graduation coming up, so I'll have to see if I can sneak a rod in!</span></div></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-74729221610806375312023-07-11T15:25:00.000-07:002023-07-11T15:25:24.315-07:0010/07/2023 - Summer trotting part II (River Derwent after the downpour)<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With the wife off all week on a school field trip I was obviously hoping to get some fishing in. However, looked liked my plans were going to be scuppered right from the outset when thunderstorms and heavy rain swept across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire at the weekend. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPOkjc8VcuG3Hm2Uxaufhxd2CkGsue5UeS2lVkHF2b6m-p3pLL1NF6_biSwKGOQx9ujhc52Y6XbRhYpVLBnn8Q9PjYpmEl5RupDYffCWQ8ghNph8UkL4I0e81Woo8vmW9fImGA1Sjco9f0UKrvrI79IfdMU5NxL5aUSNgiLKq5oRatSRFRqntHOmAoDU/s1107/IMG_E1111%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPOkjc8VcuG3Hm2Uxaufhxd2CkGsue5UeS2lVkHF2b6m-p3pLL1NF6_biSwKGOQx9ujhc52Y6XbRhYpVLBnn8Q9PjYpmEl5RupDYffCWQ8ghNph8UkL4I0e81Woo8vmW9fImGA1Sjco9f0UKrvrI79IfdMU5NxL5aUSNgiLKq5oRatSRFRqntHOmAoDU/w218-h320/IMG_E1111%5B1%5D.JPG" width="218" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Luckily, whilst the rain was truly monsoon-like in its intensity and enough to cause flash flooding in Beeston town centre, it was blown through very quickly and only had a minor impact on the local rivers. By Monday afternoon levels had all but returned to normal. Unfortunately the weather forecast wasn't brilliant - blustery showers - but I was confident that I could find somewhere to tuck myself away. Therefore wrapped up work as early as I could and headed off to the River Derwent near Church Wilne. Arrived to find the car park empty and the river running at nice level with just a tinge of colour - bliss! Got togged up in the chest waders and headed upstream, the long grass either side of the path full of painted ladies and banded demoiselles. Had a brief look at the weir pool at the head of the section with a potential future session in mind before dropping into my first swim where a fast, shallow riffle dropped into a little pool. </span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LBLLhLyR8-K34WFCB0mL9_ZvTVs4-syIOQVVYp1yM6nKLX7GzDDyZ_ue4byQxs6ARTM8JsNmp29uBuiQn_SasG9zkGjsFvED75tGRtcP1ZlxV8j17-iXxtZzr5IReNecF-VsbQnhvlzJ5PL7ARo3bG-2NwBLABwRr4vIwdpTilaWOWGWoMJ1Q8rgIh8/s4032/IMG_E1114%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LBLLhLyR8-K34WFCB0mL9_ZvTVs4-syIOQVVYp1yM6nKLX7GzDDyZ_ue4byQxs6ARTM8JsNmp29uBuiQn_SasG9zkGjsFvED75tGRtcP1ZlxV8j17-iXxtZzr5IReNecF-VsbQnhvlzJ5PL7ARo3bG-2NwBLABwRr4vIwdpTilaWOWGWoMJ1Q8rgIh8/w200-h150/IMG_E1114%5B1%5D.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fed in a few maggots before swinging out the stick float, holding it back hard and then releasing it as it passed over the drop off. Had a couple of fast, un-hittable bites that rattled the rod top before one of the culprits revealed themselves - a fat, brassy, fin perfect dace. Added a couple more, but I was itching to move down to the next swim and do some proper trotting. Sheltered from the wind by trees on both banks it looked spot on. Dropped into the river and waded out to the edge of the reeds. </span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">First trot down the float disappeared and the acolyte bent round as a fish went crackers out in the flow. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">After a few acrobatics a summer grayling slid into the net. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqVHoh7wjTCRjPAtHyhFLAPFKdlBkvKdCXHNiNrX1pBUqC1MXKpBBhH2dgYf5BkkcxGInG06XYO_5lThZn_z-vh3P8AlDJgosxUHbBqGoEwHkA1IaNW_XZ_0PJS2_O7Vf_86gp0o0WvEoehJ8OJ3f8K7q115e3Qs6oxW0wtFp1r7RupfRJShiId-xzhE/s3571/IMG_E1126%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3571" data-original-width="2678" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqVHoh7wjTCRjPAtHyhFLAPFKdlBkvKdCXHNiNrX1pBUqC1MXKpBBhH2dgYf5BkkcxGInG06XYO_5lThZn_z-vh3P8AlDJgosxUHbBqGoEwHkA1IaNW_XZ_0PJS2_O7Vf_86gp0o0WvEoehJ8OJ3f8K7q115e3Qs6oxW0wtFp1r7RupfRJShiId-xzhE/w240-h320/IMG_E1126%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4hbuY5NtJ4_4UtaGi36WAVnqqT3kOvXrHFTBJp0bZ-sz_xqXzG1qH5UBJmSGZ_X2Mx2SBtYpPobh6YNBCmH6DI34VEb76Fhapb-NDKkNIAU7v8zjKkPPVjWafQxO7NpHjqZiFq6sFSjeN9ueTLac3GbtnL2UyhDmIF4Et6EPjuDQDBa3Er5zryKOvSI/s3732/IMG_E1141%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3732" data-original-width="2799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4hbuY5NtJ4_4UtaGi36WAVnqqT3kOvXrHFTBJp0bZ-sz_xqXzG1qH5UBJmSGZ_X2Mx2SBtYpPobh6YNBCmH6DI34VEb76Fhapb-NDKkNIAU7v8zjKkPPVjWafQxO7NpHjqZiFq6sFSjeN9ueTLac3GbtnL2UyhDmIF4Et6EPjuDQDBa3Er5zryKOvSI/w240-h320/IMG_E1141%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><p style="text-align: justify;">Added a few more of a stamp that I'd be happy catching over the winter, but all requiring a bit of attention to make sure they went back properly after their exertions rather than belly up! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOO2P4ygdSSfJYJumjgE-tGJ64dBQmVbustys8OWDwm4Bh-fLqhEUq0hU1yuCTXBiKdzEsobXbjpR4uPgNjV_DN9eC5OuPyPzv34L9L0oJZnrSP_Sz8Dfw-FLH_QPZe_vHJsNKrzA8J2V8HCiuLxWaAPRykAQMbP-kcYtUcjCMi_Fz4nn10VLxxIrIwlo/s4032/IMG_E1137%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOO2P4ygdSSfJYJumjgE-tGJ64dBQmVbustys8OWDwm4Bh-fLqhEUq0hU1yuCTXBiKdzEsobXbjpR4uPgNjV_DN9eC5OuPyPzv34L9L0oJZnrSP_Sz8Dfw-FLH_QPZe_vHJsNKrzA8J2V8HCiuLxWaAPRykAQMbP-kcYtUcjCMi_Fz4nn10VLxxIrIwlo/w150-h200/IMG_E1137%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In between the grayling came yet more dace along with a few bleak, chub and small perch. Unlike the last session when I didn't really have to work for my fish I was getting into a nice rhythm, running the float through to the end of the swim and then batting it back with the centrepin. When this didn't result in a fish the maggot invariably came back crushed by the tiny hordes and needed changing anyway. The showers up to this point had been light and short enough to be bearable in my shirt sleeves, but a heavier squall saw me reaching for my coat. The very next trot down I hooked into another angry fish and fully expected another grayling to grace the net. However, I was pleased to see a pristine, hand-sized roach on the end of the line instead. </div><p></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr9rjHwnfhOJlysu0R4f64iOgJpqLeRELi81VGrFyQPQQB-AhqfcuyisTT-Ub8WTT-7-osW_EOLirye66dssiav2LH0CEtjmjjauDXt_qChl55Gb2vcGRuyDZ5BK9ezlDl6fa2y5teBfJzESRRqVdAV-nTvSMklSQKlasw895k950luvshALa1w25lzY/s3742/IMG_E1142%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3742" data-original-width="2806" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEr9rjHwnfhOJlysu0R4f64iOgJpqLeRELi81VGrFyQPQQB-AhqfcuyisTT-Ub8WTT-7-osW_EOLirye66dssiav2LH0CEtjmjjauDXt_qChl55Gb2vcGRuyDZ5BK9ezlDl6fa2y5teBfJzESRRqVdAV-nTvSMklSQKlasw895k950luvshALa1w25lzY/w240-h320/IMG_E1142%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I added half a dozen more of this size and quality over next hour or so, which made me wonder where they subsequently disappear to later in the year, as I've never had a sniff of one fishing the same swim for grayling in the winter. Carried on with just a couple of kingfishers and a buzzard, kiting on the wind above the treetops, for company. However, eventually the bites started to slow down and I had to drag myself away as my lad was cooking us an authentic carbonara for tea and there was another one of my "banker" swims I wanted to try before I left. Unfortunately when I got there I found that another angler had plonked himself in the middle of it since my arrival. Had a quick chat and discovered that a big snag had been deposited there over the winter and the barbel had moved in, hence why he was now there, so I moved downstream to the next run. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Added a few more dace and chub to the tally, along with a couple more clonking roach before my time was well and truly up and I headed home after another successful, multi-species outing with the float rod. And yes, the carbonara was great! </span></p>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7855613919557750180.post-77270014144066461252023-07-08T03:17:00.000-07:002023-07-08T03:17:01.062-07:0006/07/2023 - Summer trotting part I (a super Soar session)<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Bit of a late start for me, but I've been incredibly busy with work. On top of that it just didn't feel right to go fishing in June with fish kills happening all over the country due to the abnormal temperatures and plummeting oxygen levels. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRMWcAcF0tQ5jK1b6PYWSIgoxpLMgaN2rxW4S9Qb0gnJZzxA-EPVP7xfLWRIqlthUg6u_1Uk1cwL2DbR7WXlQzFAch1inSscDOwdSFco1H7Fp9lnc2KO11XEYRRzA5Ts-fGHSsHgTa1r3Wtfsjh_nxtbsWca2_OoyV6fDFVToVieDUJ6gc4CneRtPQ3Y/s1053/Screenshot%202023-07-08%20104836.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="1053" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRMWcAcF0tQ5jK1b6PYWSIgoxpLMgaN2rxW4S9Qb0gnJZzxA-EPVP7xfLWRIqlthUg6u_1Uk1cwL2DbR7WXlQzFAch1inSscDOwdSFco1H7Fp9lnc2KO11XEYRRzA5Ts-fGHSsHgTa1r3Wtfsjh_nxtbsWca2_OoyV6fDFVToVieDUJ6gc4CneRtPQ3Y/w200-h164/Screenshot%202023-07-08%20104836.png" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Locally, thousands of fish died trapped between the locks on the canalised section of the River Soar in Leicester just a couple of days after the opening of the season. In fact one of the clubs I belong to put out a plea to members to wait until temperatures had dropped before going fishing, so as not to add to the stress that the fish were obviously under. Sign of things to come? We shall see, but it was certainly a testing time for the Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust, with staff out deploying aeration being stretched to the limit. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPBV0C-2ue6qbrvk7Uv6da1T8iFm6_uJdZN9RhAu5D9n8y_Cjic0rDIuglw22hfgAZckGafR5LOyZI8RUc7rYqyR7i6CEVczBMLxz1rGugbTuf8rzlYyUXqJaWdIUHG_CuBTby8bnkrSFUKg3lrQNLa5SmaaWHfd8sehiepvCE6KPqeocvHneL2DuoxM/s4032/IMG_1087%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPBV0C-2ue6qbrvk7Uv6da1T8iFm6_uJdZN9RhAu5D9n8y_Cjic0rDIuglw22hfgAZckGafR5LOyZI8RUc7rYqyR7i6CEVczBMLxz1rGugbTuf8rzlYyUXqJaWdIUHG_CuBTby8bnkrSFUKg3lrQNLa5SmaaWHfd8sehiepvCE6KPqeocvHneL2DuoxM/w150-h200/IMG_1087%5B1%5D.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, once things had cooled down it was time to dust off the float rod and do a bit of what I like best - getting down the river with minimal gear and trotting for whatever comes along. Had been down at Rothley for the day, so on the way back up to Nottingham I took the opportunity to pop in and see Scott at Soar Tackle in Kegworth for a pint of maggots</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> before heading to the river. Got togged up in my chesties and had my first look at the section, which was alive with topping fish as far as I could see. The club had cleared out the usual armchair pegs nearest the car park, but as I carried on upstream I soon found myself out of reach of the strimmer and when I crossed over to the island I had to push through chest high vegetation to reach my swim. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">I was therefore surprised when I emerged onto the bank and found another angler already there. Luckily he wasn't in "my" spot and was chucking a maggot feeder to the far bank, but had struggled all day with snags and tangles and just had a few, small fish to his name. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I had got a sweat on walking up and wanted to get into the relative cool of the water, so politely wound up the conversation and carried on a short distance upstream past a recently downed willow that would provide an obvious feature for the predators later in the year.</span> <span style="font-family: arial;">Filled up the bait apron and dropped into the river, wading out until I could reach the faster flow coming down from the weir. My theory that the fish would be stacked up in the oxygenated water was correct as first trot down the float disappeared, resuting in a chunky dace. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmBjGfMISPbINoJM-hBIpAGASZzugBlfAF74sJN0cO5K3LdxV23KgVFvtCjYwICA5qIwuzI6TGMymutLgE9H0BnObnIkvl5v04hTj5-XY4mKqo_9bjglRUYEXH6fa0MwwaPF5bVO9CNJmyV49_8jts-Dxvn16jTFXz_gej7Ym6I2vr3q96_7_ys6Oogg/s4032/IMG_1093%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmBjGfMISPbINoJM-hBIpAGASZzugBlfAF74sJN0cO5K3LdxV23KgVFvtCjYwICA5qIwuzI6TGMymutLgE9H0BnObnIkvl5v04hTj5-XY4mKqo_9bjglRUYEXH6fa0MwwaPF5bVO9CNJmyV49_8jts-Dxvn16jTFXz_gej7Ym6I2vr3q96_7_ys6Oogg/s320/IMG_1093%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_RsnUVSnYc_6t7bHTX00x8TeetN21iV0POcThBiJxDE6D9E0D-Gg9niknKGQYmG3uih0zdzUKnmli5PAXBspvltXsAaAu7tcK03f7r3ir0iBYtoyGoOK4LX_Ot5RzQ5PJURZ_wZrnZUToovZnJAOjUVVAc3h5Ckm2o8WCP6nOLW_h1o5DpyZByrfcg4/s4032/IMG_1086%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_RsnUVSnYc_6t7bHTX00x8TeetN21iV0POcThBiJxDE6D9E0D-Gg9niknKGQYmG3uih0zdzUKnmli5PAXBspvltXsAaAu7tcK03f7r3ir0iBYtoyGoOK4LX_Ot5RzQ5PJURZ_wZrnZUToovZnJAOjUVVAc3h5Ckm2o8WCP6nOLW_h1o5DpyZByrfcg4/w240-h320/IMG_1086%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">After that it was literally a bite a cast for three hours. Got to the stage that I just had to swing the rig out and just run it down a few feet off the rod tip, no line actually leaving the reel. Could have easily fished the swim with a whip. Dace were the predominant species, like peas in a pod, along with bleak, chub, roach, perch and a few welcome gonks.</span></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5ahJtu7RfBZ6mwhc-FWcCjIaPQn2sRaahyCzpqeW87q7Z2zJeBBE8M6j1BPaXUjJYQNeFq-lQqWIGXTcFDG7_ut5ZsbEbzRv8Q3xBMl9H2yjELzAX2wTHf7UHTrRh4JZujsBTmtqlMsqWlGfK4TzFF-NfJANDR8mWohmOH-D0gJ4MaFX0DMqlvZ6JBc/s3793/IMG_E1096%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3793" data-original-width="2844" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5ahJtu7RfBZ6mwhc-FWcCjIaPQn2sRaahyCzpqeW87q7Z2zJeBBE8M6j1BPaXUjJYQNeFq-lQqWIGXTcFDG7_ut5ZsbEbzRv8Q3xBMl9H2yjELzAX2wTHf7UHTrRh4JZujsBTmtqlMsqWlGfK4TzFF-NfJANDR8mWohmOH-D0gJ4MaFX0DMqlvZ6JBc/w240-h320/IMG_E1096%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxKWjPeDftyseCKP2uvHfbrijKpDyhwP36BPgB70eNL4gBLjLxuFqL7bkpWciQXW9W5zVzUYDco2KkvsrsFXPUmHqL_w_FsTUWhPPJ8TDaMz8HLbo1jq6Vb0pn6xihUTaAlKEhJJPawzdRta_bXpI7wHuXSrbAzQRJtQsC7VpXUIM_mYOZJ0b_J82FXE/s3663/IMG_E1081%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3663" data-original-width="2747" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxKWjPeDftyseCKP2uvHfbrijKpDyhwP36BPgB70eNL4gBLjLxuFqL7bkpWciQXW9W5zVzUYDco2KkvsrsFXPUmHqL_w_FsTUWhPPJ8TDaMz8HLbo1jq6Vb0pn6xihUTaAlKEhJJPawzdRta_bXpI7wHuXSrbAzQRJtQsC7VpXUIM_mYOZJ0b_J82FXE/w240-h320/IMG_E1081%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Dabbled the float along the edge of the lilies at one stage to see if I could tempt a ruffe or a silver bream, but couldn't get past the dace. Had also been keeping my eye on my neighbour who had been dilligently bombing the far bank but hadn't seen him catch anything, which he confirmed when he appeared behind me to tell me he was off - just in time to see me add yet another dace to the tally. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCa70BNrfhSDl8uKBc2zmsGZaQnE-lDjjyxrgqSL6FEq0ZdeAkegBoIo-ogq0ZzoFpI7Z5wxLQx10j6KresMwBPRWB6xcUAzKSAZxuY2kC2qRqmi6RgZzRWuFJRofxjaKWfaD0XMSbo4jg2QobzpJBJtIzgoWRRTzIQnhFLgfMav14ejBxteU_5Tossc/s3703/IMG_E1095%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3703" data-original-width="2777" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCa70BNrfhSDl8uKBc2zmsGZaQnE-lDjjyxrgqSL6FEq0ZdeAkegBoIo-ogq0ZzoFpI7Z5wxLQx10j6KresMwBPRWB6xcUAzKSAZxuY2kC2qRqmi6RgZzRWuFJRofxjaKWfaD0XMSbo4jg2QobzpJBJtIzgoWRRTzIQnhFLgfMav14ejBxteU_5Tossc/w240-h320/IMG_E1095%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmlPTS7UqnNCJRo2D-AaD7AU-XQM_-ABTlsFzvUctB2Y7xGnMa58u4QoJ8ImuHHd1oGNzugimwZgqh0AGH53JrNCKZ0f8vRMzB21dGWiVl8zTSK-9OkPBTFktH7ZV48UlMaxkV0Fi_AdjEui4GBBI0i_y-T58FAqsjOFgqjfZqqJouPC1TtNMmmla4_Q/s3687/IMG_E1100%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3687" data-original-width="2765" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmlPTS7UqnNCJRo2D-AaD7AU-XQM_-ABTlsFzvUctB2Y7xGnMa58u4QoJ8ImuHHd1oGNzugimwZgqh0AGH53JrNCKZ0f8vRMzB21dGWiVl8zTSK-9OkPBTFktH7ZV48UlMaxkV0Fi_AdjEui4GBBI0i_y-T58FAqsjOFgqjfZqqJouPC1TtNMmmla4_Q/w240-h320/IMG_E1100%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Packed up myself not long after and headed back to the car, fish still topping along the length of the river. Final numbers were 85 dace, 25 bleak,14 chub, 8 perch, 5 roach and 3 gudgeon - not bad for quick session and hopefully bodes well for the rest of the season.</span></div>Toodlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08006248852152006006noreply@blogger.com3