08/02/2012 - Bits and Bobs

Two weeks without fishing and I'm getting jumpy at the prospect of losing any more time to work and to the weather. At least the flexi is building up nicely! Fingers crossed and weather permitting, have got a grayling trip in the offing next week, so was knocked sideways when I was sent the picture below by a friend this week.  

Blimey!

Photograph shows a 3lb 10oz grayling taken from the River Clyde recently. That's nearly twice as big as my PB. It was caught (and clonked unfortunately!) by the little lad holding it. Even taking into account the fact he's only eight, the fish still looks huge. Oh well, gives us all something to aspire to!

07/12/2011 - Bits and Bobs

Well, I suppose it had to end sometime - couldn't keep having double figure temperatures in November forever, could we? Did some retail therapy to cheer myself up. First of my early brithday/Christmas presents to myself hit the doormat with a thump last week - the new book from the Perchfishers, "Biggest Fish of All".

Weighty!

After a quick leaf through it looks to be another well-produced book that's sure to become a classic reference like the first one (see http://theperchfishers.org.uk/). I remember getting my copy of the first Perchfishers book from the cheap bookshop on Ashby de la Zouch high street. They had quite a few copies at the time and I wish I'd bought them all given the price they go for now! Had a quick squint at the big perch list at the back of the new book and had a suprise - a 5lb 1oz perch from the River Soar caught in July this year! Must have missed that in the press, but certainly something to aim for!

Bits and Bobs - 12/07/2011

Hopefully going eel fishing with my friend Dai in the not too distant future. Thought it would be a good idea to bone up a bit on the subject, so reached for my copy of "Coarse Fishing for Beginners" by Kenneth Mansfield.

Gold dust!

Ignoring the picture on the cover of a surly youth (wearing a velvet jacket??) with two dead 1lb + roach at his feet, I turned to the chapter on eels. Two passages immediately jumped out at me.

"When you deliberately set out to catch eels you must forget most of the rules that govern ordinary fishing. Tackle must be strong, and there is no question of playing an eel gently: it must be brought to land as quickly as possible. Nor are there any ethics about putting them back. The more eels you kill the more everyone with any interest in the water will be pleased".

Hmmmmm.

"As soon as you feel a fish reel in as quickly as possible without pause. Drag the eel up the bank on to level ground and put the sole of your shoe on it an inch or two behind the head. Keep the line taut. With your knife (which should be ready to hand) cut through the backbone just behind the head but do not sever the head completely".

How times have changed. Now where did I put that knife.....?

Bits and bobs - 23/06/2011

Am looking forward to three weeks in France in the summer and am hoping to break my bass duck at some point. Have therefore been on the lookout for a "proper" bass lure rod that didn't break the bank (or was red!). Think I found the answer in the Daiwa Powermesh X-Spin. Received one in the post today. It's a fantastic looking, light and whippy rod.

Shiney

RRP for the 9' version is £110, but Mark at Alderney Angling (http://www.alderneyangling.com/) sorted me out one for £97.98 including VAT and postage, which was a still couple of quid less than the cheapest one I could find on the UK mainland. Can't wait for August now!

Bits and Bobs - 09/05/2011

Rest of April was pretty uneventful fishing wise, even though I'd sneaked some kit in the car for our trip to Pembs. Turned out we were too busy going to the beach, flying birds and building aviaries. Latest addition to the business is a Southern White-faced Scops Owl called Frodo, sometimes more parrot than owl!

Pieces of eight...

Parcel was waiting for me when I got home containing the fruits of my eBay sales.

Shiney, shiney!

Got a chance to put them to use first weekend of May. Was down in Saunton for a surfing trip with the lads, but had arranged to meet up with a local guide, Joel Soul. A dawn start saw us heading for a small rocky cove on the North coast in time for low tide. Scrambled over the rocks down to the water level and started off with surface lures. Had just got hang of "walking the dog" with a Xorus Patchinko, when a fish came up and slashed at the lure. A bump on the rod top and it was gone, but it was enough to get the heart pumping! A few minutes later Joel shouted he'd got one on. His rod had an impressive bend in it, so I got the camera out to take some action shots. Unfortunately, at that moment, Joel lost his footing and ended up chest deep in a gulley. Slack line and the fish was gone. Gutted! We carried on fishing as the tide came in, changing over to sub-surface lures. The morning light turned to bright sunshine (via heavy rain!) and our window of opportunity was gone. Was extremely enjoyable despite the disappointment of a lost fish. Looking forward to a return trip later in the year. Look Joel up at http://www.joelsoul.co.uk/ if you're in the area.

Bits and Bobs - 18/04/2011

Blimey, last two weeks have flown by, although I haven't really had the inclination to go anywhere. Last session left me a bit jaded and wondering if I was just fishing for fishing's sake. The cold I had three weeks ago is still hanging around as well. I sound like a 40 a day man when I wake up in the morning! Still, there's positive things on the horizon. Going down to Pembs for 10 days over Easter, followed by a surfing trip down to Saunton with the lads. I'm taking down the lure fishing gear this time and hoping to hook up with a local chap while I'm there for some bassing. That's lead me into the high tech and expensive world of bass lures. Twenty quid for a piece of plastic (an albeit beautifully designed piece of Japanese plastic) is pushing anybody's budget, prompting me to delve into my own lure collection. This revealed no end of other bits of plastic that have never seen the end of my line. I can only think that I must have had my nose in the Harris Angling catalogue a bit too often! I've sorted a few out (mostly surface lures by Heddon, Smithwick, Luhr Jensen, Argobast and Bagley) and put them on eBay along with a couple of centrepins if anybody's interested (search for "toodle2" under items by seller in advanced search).

Everything must go!