I fished from 7am until 12pm on Saturday 12th April at Tilcon. It was 1 degrees when I arrived and approaching 20 degrees when I left. I had a float rod and a feeder rod. I was only going to use bread flake or sweetcorn on the hook. I had breadcrumb in the feeder and for loose feed.
Results
No fish landed, maybe a few taps and dips of the float.
Rod rests don't need to be complicated bits of kit.
Discussion
I could of got maggots and probably caught loads. The lake is fishing well given the variable temperatures at the moment. However, soon the fish will be going mad for bread and/or corn, pellets too. I wanted to know when this could be. A cormorant was on the lake when I arrived, it flew off quickly. Plenty of fish were topping but given the chilly conditions, I saw no cruising fish. I would think their metabolism is still slow and digesting a sweetcorn sandwich is not preferred over wiggling grubs of differing colours.
Given the lovely weather we are currently experiencing, Rupe and decided to head to Tilcon for the morning. Not quite slopping on the sun cream, slapping on a hat and slipping into a shirt, it was actually beanies, snoods and coats weather!!
The wind was cold and the clouds tried to stop the sun, but when it came out it was lovely. We even had lunch sat in the car, that was toastie (warm not a toasted sandwich!).
The first spring session is always tough, Tilcon is not a commercial, but a wild lake. The fish are there and feeding but they are also just 'waking up' from a cold Northern winter. We hoped to get them going with what we called slop. Dead maggots, casters, breadcrumb and some corn, in a very wet mix.
There was more than this, this was post our lunch
A float rod and a feeder rod between us, we opted for a swim together. For 90 minutes nothing happened on either rod. Then I got caught on a snag and snapped the hooklink. A change of that and some dead maggots on the hook did the trick. An ide each on the float in about 90 seconds and we were all smiles.
I had one more, I had to beat the boy at something.
Great to be out with Rupe, seems the other child is too lazy!
I had booked the last day of the river season off work and thought I would go fishing. The weather was looking ropey and it was to be a solo trip, maybe that is why I just could not be arsed! Unusual really as I love going fishing and usually the cba phrase is most used at work!!
The night before, I had not sorted any kit or decided where to go. Even in the morning, I said to the kids I was not feeling it and cba.
Thermals on (top and long johns), I made breakfast and three packed lunches and eventually I was feeling in the mood. I set off and headed for the Swale at Morton, a club water.
I fished a swim where I had caught many chub, including my pb of 5lb 8oz on 29th October 2019. The sun was bright and I was annoyed I didn't pack properly, no sun glasses, no hat. I had the dork hat and a snood on as the wind was cold.
Annoyed, I left that swim after an hour. I headed upstream, the next peg I wanted to fish had a huge branch in it. Annoyed, I headed further upstream to an area I have probably only fished less than a handful of times in my (maybe) 10 years of membership.
Second cast towards a raft by a fallen tree and I sat down to stew things over. The rod give a tap, then a wiggle. I picked it up. The drag spinning as the fish dived towards the raft, this was a battle. The flow was strong too but I finally got the fish towards me. I saw it in the clear water and it looked huge. I started to tremble. A few attempts and it was safely in the net.
Of course you know the weight now, but I was hoping for a six, I was sure it would break my pb. At 6lb on the nose, I was buzzing!!
The photos don't do it justice and I was begging for a dog walker to walk past to take a picture. No such luck, so it was self takes. What I may lack in photography, I make up in smiles!!
I fished a little bit longer but as the rain fell, I was more than happy to pack up and head home. I was unlikely to top that!
Four cars in the car park when I left, must be the last day of the season!!
As I sit here, my son just text me to ask how my day went.
I feel we both learnt a lesson here that you might not want to do something, but sometimes the benefits are sooooo worth it!! (I will remind him of this when it's GCSE revision Vs PS4).
Very cold conditions as I prepared for todays trip. Hill snow, rain and freezing fog. Two tears in a bucket...... (If you know the ending, well done) I was committed, so off I went.
Leaving early, I parked up at 7.15am and was cast in a few minutes later. Choosing a swim right by the bridge, I have caught in here before. It looked different today. I assume the landowner has removed the tree, doing some bank works, it was very different, but the water looked good.
One rod, hand warmers, waterproof trousers being the game changer today!
I got my steps in today and walked a fair bit, trying 15/20 mins in every likely looking swim. The chub were not playing ball, or maybe they were. I had no interest on the cheesepaste.
The bridge swim
Finally changing to maggot feeder, it was constant knocks. The first fish was a grayling, the second an out of season Trout, no pics. I value my life.
I made the effective decision to deliver at pace and collaborating with myself headed upstream. My usual banker, that had not served me or Rupe well in recent visits. I sat on the cold wet ground and watched the rod tip.
I need not bothered, it went no where. The last swim of the day is an old favourite. My mate Giles had a good pike from here many years ago, I was not allowed to say where. So here it is.
I thought about this as I sat in the swim. I wish I brought the pike rods. Constant taps on the maggot feeder but nothing materialised into a proper bite!
Heading back to the car, I met Ellis and Carole, they were out on a shopping trip. It was nice to catch up and admire their clean wellies. We must do a parmo soon!
Heading home I was glad I went out, but now I have had a few beers and some hot food. I am even more glad that I came home!! That's a game changer.
I didn't find the fish today. 2 hours roaming the river and 2 hours in a bait and wait style swim. Neither produced a knock.
Ledgered Cheesepaste on the Tees was the attempt, blank the result. It was fairly mild though and time on the bank was worth it.
I did think whilst sitting there, time is ticking away fast for this river season. I have some commitments for a few up coming weekends, so not sure how many more trips I will get in.
I was going to sit it out until dark, but after no interest, I decided an early bath might be a better use of my time.
Flooded, freezing rivers since the start of the year. Finally a day off coincided with good conditions. Ellis and I hit the Tees.
A very sharp frost, localised where we fished meant it was rather cold. I don't think my feet were warm for much of the day.
We fished our usual spots, me on the float. Ellis had float rod and maggot feeder. The latter proving a good choice as it was a technique that worked well today.
Ellis caught the first grayling on the feeder, after I had hooked, played and lost three! I had no luck. Ellis's fish was a beauty, at 1lb 4oz.
A walk to warm up and we fished the upstream section. Again my luck was not here I changed hooklink and first cast I was snagged and lost it. We worked our way back downstream and Ellis caught another good sized grayling, this time on the float.
We moved back to the island swim and finally I kept a fish on. In the net and my first fish of 2025.
Ellis had the final fish of the day, again on the maggot feeder. A lovely fish with a split dorsal, that looked exactly like the first fish he caught six hours earlier!! Repeat.
