2018

As I sort my kit for my first trip of 2019 at the weekend, I started to think how good 2018 was as a fishing year, but was it really?? It's hard to tell as memory is a funny thing.....

We started on 1/1/2018 and fished right up to 31/12/2018. According to my blogs, the start of the year was, well let's just say "tough"!
I fished 6 sessions across the Swale, Tees and Ribble and blanked on all 6!! Not to mention loosing my landing net and pole.

It was not till April that I caught my first 2018 fish, some may think that was a bad start to the year. I would agree but for my first fish being a 13lb carp and new PB that had stood for maybe 20 years, I was more than happy!

I then mixed fishing with travel, staying at Ullswater for a weekend to try on the lakes. A little trout being my reward on a huge water.
Once the river season started again, I was back on the Tees mostly. Spending a few trips on Big elbow with Dave and Ellis cruising about and fishing well. A Tees pike was my reward, something I had been trying for for a while, so again another success.

A glamping trip with Lucy followed, a lovely carp being caught after a long battle stalking the fish. It was nice to fish near to where we stayed, and I would be looking forward to more "fishing with accommodation" trips!

August saw me back on the Swale, suited and booted when I forgot to pack my change of clothes so had to fish in my work clothes. The fish did not seem to mind, and the evening ended with another PB. A 5lb chub being caught on floating bread.

Next I became provider, taking a friend from work fishing. I had taken Mark fishing before but we blanked, this time it was different. We both managed to catch fish and it was his first ever fish. He left talking about buying some tackle, so not only had I lead him to the water, it seems I made him drink it too!

Next was an easier encouragement, I joined my son up to a local club, and taking him for a few hours with maggots and his whip was ace as he managed 16 fish! He is definitely hooked for life now!

It was back on the Tees after for perch with JJ, who introduced us to spinners. Some e bay purchases later and Ellis and I have both caught nice perch and pike on our spinner friends.

My river Barbel count can still be done on a single hand, but I am getting there. My target this year was a Swale Barbel, and although I have not managed it, I have added another river Barbel. 2018 saw me catch one from the Wharfe, expertly guided by Aidan. I have now caught 3 Barbel in total from the Trent, Wye and Wharfe.

Evening trips go the Tees followed, lures were re-found, trees collapsed, it was all exciting.

It was then that Ellis and I mixed camping with fishing, me not bringing a sleeping bag and nearly freezing to death. Sure it was colder the next trip when we slept in our cars!! The fishing was coupled with bar b q food, beers and whiskey, obviously all washed down with plenty of laughs!!

Ellis and I visited new places on the Tees, finally going to sockburn for a nice nature trail, a walk made longer by the bailiff!

Our next trip was memorable, it was "the" Tees pike, a 5lb fish. Not massive, but my biggest Tees fish. It rounded off a crazy 30 mins of action in the evening that saw Ellis catch a cracking Perch, and me catch some micro pike too!

A final overnight trip to Cundall had me repeatedly explaining to Ellis the difference between a pike and a Barbel, but in the end I caught pike too and abandoned the Swale Barbel!

The annual Chumbley trip followed, Davey not falling over at all on this trip making for a quiet affair. Oh, I nearly forgot Davey did poach a cracking 10lb carp out my swim!!

The quest for catching something new, had me travelling again. After a trip with Ellis on the canal, I headed south. Visiting Anthony in Nuneaton to try for a Zander. I was not to be lucky, but Ant caught the predator grand slam, so at least I saw my first zander!

December sparks the Grayling sessions, and although we blanked the first time, we more than made up for it the second. Plenty of magnificent Grayling coming to our expertly trotted maggots.

Another first in December, a first on cheese paste. What was going to be a hard day, made a dramatic turn around when the 4lb chub snaffled my cheese paste.

Which brings me to my last trip. Buoyed up by the cheese success, I continued with it to try to tempt a Tees Chub, only to be thwarted by a Tees pike picking up my cheese paste!! Strange but true.

When I look back, the numbers are not huge but there are some Pb's and firsts amongst them. There has been plenty of laughs, good chatter and memories made. When I look at the pics, there are smiles. It's been a great fishing year, am looking forward to 2019.