Untold story

Date fished 26/10/2024

7am until 4pm

As I prepared my kit, two blue bottles flew out of my seat box. I felt like a proud father opening the window so they could go forth and enjoy the Hexham air. After that, I got my kit together. The new quiver taking a back seat as I was only taking one rod! I was "promised" pb barbel by Ellis. As this was going to be a new river for me, any barbel or fish would be a pb from that, I wonder if that's what he meant?!

Edit. 

Ellis messaged me to say four rods could fit in the swim he wanted to fish. I grabbed another rod and the quiver was happy! 

Two hours drive and I was soon meeting Ellis, the location was the Ouse. I have never fished it before so was excited. We parked up in the dark and got the kit ready. Another car pulled in to the car park, this put Ellis into speedy mode and we were quickly walking past some cows to the river. 

The swim was perfect. Wide, sandy and the river looked great. 

It's difficult to say how good the swim was, but comfort, social and fishing wise it was spot on. We tackled up as the beautiful sunrise lit up the sky. At 7.49 we cast in the feeders and waited. Regular casting got some bait in the swim. Pellets, meat and dumbbell boilies the hair rigged baits. 

Again you will think this is cliche but this was one of my favourite blanks ever. We talked about so much. Men's health, life, fishing trips, other anglers and there were moments where I was laughing like a school boy! It was such a great day. 

The fish were secondary and on this occasion and stayed in their watery home. There will be times when fish dominate the session and we don't have much time to chat! 

For this reason this blog is special to me, so I am not going to share all the memories. The highlights though. 

Sausage sarnies by Carole

Condiments

Sausage puns

Cow's bodily functions

Bush casting 

Angling etiquette 

Clubs

Would you rather...

Oh, and you never told me that story Ellis!!! 

Quiver my timbers

I have always wanted a rod quiver. I have had multiple rod bags but none have hit the mark. Finally found one on ebay, used but good condition. A few clicks later and one very happy Adam. 

It has a 3 piece rod in bag, a 2 piece rod made up and my 7ft rod. Oh, and of course rod rest with camera mount, landing net handle and net too. 

See you on the bank soon. 

Two club chub

Date fished 12/10/2024

7.15am until 12.30pm

The BBC weather app was now behaving. It was not showing 16 thousand mile an hour winds, so with 0% chance of rain until 2pm, I headed south. The Swale at Morton my target. 

A few days ago, I started planning for this trip. With recent rain, the river would be up but fishable. The freezer was still full of breadcrumb so I decided to turn it into something more substantial! 

Cheesepaste made I was ready. I am a member of two clubs that have water at Morton. There may be others, but I am not sure. There would be no casting just to mid river for me. 😉

I arrived at the river and sat in the car with a cup of coffee and ate my second breakfast. All very civilised. The first swim to fish was a stones throw away, so I waited for the light to get that little bit brighter. 

The river looked spot on. High, maybe dropping but definitely good for a fish. I cast my ledgered cheesepaste into the slack and waited. 

This swim only produced a snag and a lost hooklink, so did the next swim. This was not going well. 

I walked on upstream. I got to a sign that declared the end of this clubs stretch. I am a member of the other club, so hopped over and continued on my way. I am no longer able to fish the opposite bank. The first club no longer have rights. I looked at past swims I had caught in. Particularly noting "9lb bay" where Davey had a 9lb pike from many years ago. It made me smile as I walked on past. 

The third swim I tried I really like. I had my first ever touch ledger caught chub on curried meat. Its a swim I am fond of. I sat and watched the constant taps on my meat (I had switched baits), I think I knew what was happening. 

Ronnie or Reggie

I then walked to a big bend, I have fished here unsuccessfully in the past, why should today be any different? 

I cast in the ledger and nothing. I watched a small pike, about 25cm, come up to the surface, look around and then slowly drift down to the depths. ( If it had been 25 lb not cm, I would of called you Tom! )

It was 9.04. I decided to take off the weight and free line a big lump of cheesepaste. I would give it until 9.15 and then I said I would move on. I had left my coffee, lunch and third breakfast in the car. I had to drive to the next set of swims, so this was planned, not forgotten. 

The clock had not hit ten past when I watched the line tighten. I tightened up and was soon playing a small chub. I am being generous with myself if I say 2lb. Definitely the smallest I have had on ledger on this stretch, a sign for the future. A blank saver anyway!! 

The success made me make one more cast and add 20 mins to the timer. All this did was mean the rain started. 0% huh!?! It was quite heavy, I trudged through the rain back to the car. A sheep had its head stuck in a wire fence. Looking around for Little Bo Peep, she was nowhere to be seen. The sheep had dented the ground it had been there a while. I put my kit down and walked over to help. The thought of me helping was enough for the sheep to wiggle with increased vigor and was soon free. Glad I didn't need to manhandle it, not sure what I would of done, I walked on even wetter but a little bit smug. 

Back at the car for third breakfast and a cup of coffee and I watched the rain slowly stop. Enough time to briefly chat to two other anglers, who had pike success, and I was soon driving to the next spot. 

I parked again and got 'everything' this time to take with me. See, there was logic with eating stuff before. Less to carry! I also left my sunglasses and cap. I would not need them. I headed down the track to the river. 

I came to a swim I have another fondness of. I got snapped up by something in here years ago. Something big. I never saw it, but I always wonder. 30 minutes here today with just a few knocks, I wonder if they were fishy or with claws!?! I moved downstream. I played in a few swims, but I knew where I wanted to fish. 

The big bend! It's a washing machine of flow going both ways, around in circles and every which way but loose. I had been using weights and feeders in all swims since catching the free lined chub. Here, I took the weight off again, it's not needed in the washing machine.

I cast in and sat back. Within 10 minutes the line started to tighten and I was in again. The 7ft rod, I thought I was going to be casting close in behind bushes and in slacks, looking silly playing a fish in open water. It did the business though and it was soon in the net. At 4lb 10oz, a much better fish. 

The clock had not hit midday yet. I sat back and watched the water. The sun came out and I took off my big coat. Ironically the sunglasses and cap would of been good, but I settled for a sarnie! 

I had caught a chub from each of the clubs water I belong to here, so I figured that was enough. The pike anglers had walked past, so I went and told them the washing machine was free and they could jump in. 

A 20 minute walk uphill to the car and I was certainly warm when I popped the boot and loaded my kit in. A successful few hours spent reminiscing about swims and washing machines. Now back home to the reality!