No perch here, mate!

Date fished 5/7/2025

7am until 1pm 

A solo trip today to the Tees. I would like to catch a barbel from this river, so am going to try and target one. Likely, I will get bored and try for everything else, but let's see. 

I did my usual and was outside the back door of the tackle shop about 6.20am. They were actually taking delivery of the days fresh maggots. I was let in and bought some bits. 

4 pints mixed maggots

Small tub worms

8mm Robin reds

Sonubaits groundbait

2 packets hooks to nylon

Total £30

Yes, I only needed maggots but when you have a good, reliable tackle shop, I missed out local, it's worth spending some extra quid! 

I parked up just as another angler was unpacking. He was off to find a swim before I could enquire into his welfare! 

I had some spots to try down stream, but couldn't not have a trot with the float in the faster water first. Second trot through a good sized trout. I put him back and fished on. A bite a chuck and quickly I had half a dozen chublets of a similar size.

A few grayling and I was smiling. The float went under and I struck into something bigger. It didn't feel like a loony trout. I saw it was a good sized chub. It slipped into the net from the fast flow. 

I saw it seemed to have a piercing, so I removed that. Not quite sure how the size of that was snapped off, but it's out now. 

I fished on catching chublets and grayling on the float. An angler came and spoke to me, he was after salmon and sea trout, we chatted and he asked about catching perch here. I dont think Ellis and I have ever had a perch up this way, so I told him quite confidently "no perch up here mate!"

Eventually I headed off to search for barbel. I was expecting to sit behind the ledger rod, so was glad to have had an active start. 

The wind was warm and strong. I sat on a beach, which was prime dog swimming territory. Most owners, seeing me called their dogs and carried on splashing down stream of me. One running dog owner didn't seem to care and the dog carried straight through me and actually went under my rod! I moved on.

Finding a recommended spot, I sat with my meat in a hole (Jason's words, not mine). 

I was putting the bait and stop on the hair, not as easy nowadays without my glasses, which were at home. I reeled in the slack and noticed that I had cut the main line and now the rig was not attached!! 

I set the rod back up, but this time decided to hair rig three worms instead. I put the rod down and it instantly swung around. I was hopeful of a barbel, a chub even but I feared it would be a trout. I saw the very red fins of a perch as it came to the surface! 

1lb 5oz 

I fished on as the wind buffeted me. It was becoming unclear if they were bites or the start of my rod being blown away. I decided to walk back. 

A few hundred metres away, it was sheltered and warm. But that was not the right place for the fish. 

I decided I had been rewarded with the perch and nice chub, so will keep the barbel hunt for another time. 

Reely odd first fish

Date fished 20/6/2025

9.45am until 1.45pm

A red hot day, weekend, week, but I had the day booked off work. Once the kids left for school, I decided to jump in the car and try the Swale at Northallerton. 

I walked around a section that has changed 'again'. Ellis was telling me about the change, but I thought he meant the previous change as he had not been there for a while. I now realise he meant this change, and I agree Ellis. Its unrecognisable!! 

I am sure the fish would find new areas to live in the deep, fast currents. All I managed to do was realise I couldn't wade through as I usually did. 

I cast in a piece of hotdog sausage, am still trying to catch on this bait. The rod gave a slight twitch, I struck and a fish pulled back. It was a jagged fight, I soon realised why. A good sized eel had taken a liking go my sausage! 

I managed to unhook it, but not hold it for a pic. It really was a wriggly bugger. I needed some shade, so walked the long way round to the bank opposite. Finding a shady tree, I sat down and leisurely cast meat this tine against the far bank bush. 

A few minutes was all it took, the rod bouncing as the fish dived into the bush. It was snagged, I pulled, no luck. I took off the tension and left it for a minute, I could feel the fish still swimming about. Eventually, I gave a smooth sideways pull and the fish was out into the river. Quickly unhooked, photo and rested, it was away back to the bush before you knew it. I was happy. 

I walked to a few more swims and even fished mid river for a bit. No more fish, but the weather was getting a lot hotter. 

Sitting in my favourite spot, I threw in a couple of slices of bread. I was sure catching on floating bread would make everything OK. No fish found the bread, so I departed. 

ChatGPT

Ellis and I were talking about AI yesterday, so I thought I would give it a go. I have never used it (knowingly) before.....

I wrote (only) the following six words!!: writing a fishing blog - river fishing

It spouted out the rest in a time quicker than the barbel pulled my rod around earlier this week. There are a few spelling mistakes (just like my typing), but given all of that for six words, I am amazed at what it would do if I gave it more. I may be out of a job!! (Hobby). 😂

ChatGPT said:

Great! River fishing is a rich topic with lots of potential. Here’s a simple structure and a sample blog post to get you started:

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🎣 The Rhythm of the River: A Beginner’s Guide to River Fishing

There’s something timeless about standing beside a flowing river, rod in hand, waiting for the telltale tug of a fish. Unlike lake or ocean fishing, river fishing requires a unique understanding of moving water, fish behavior, and seasonal patterns. Whether you’re new to the sport or just new to rivers, here’s everything you need to know to get started.

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🏞️ Why Fish in Rivers?

Rivers offer a dynamic environment. Fish like trout, bass, catfish, and steelhead thrive in these moving waters. River fishing is not only accessible—many great spots are public and easy to reach—but it also keeps you on your toes, constantly adapting to changing currents and conditions.

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🎯 Finding the Right Spot

Success in river fishing is often about location. Look for:

• Eddies and pools – Calm water behind rocks or bends where fish rest and feed.

• Undercut banks – Prime hiding spots for bass and trout.

• Confluence zones – Where smaller streams flow into larger rivers, bringing food and oxygen.

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🧰 Gear Essentials

Start with the basics:

• Rod & Reel: A medium-action spinning rod is versatile enough for most species.

• Line: 6–10 lb test for most river fishing.

• Bait: Live bait (worms, minnows) works great, but artificial lures like spinners, soft plastics, or crankbaits can be deadly.

• Waders: If you’re planning to wade, invest in chest waders for comfort and safety.

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🐟 Reading the Water

One of the most valuable river fishing skills is learning to read the water. Fish often stay out of the strongest current to conserve energy, so target seams between fast and slow water, or areas behind obstacles.

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⏰ Best Times to Fish

• Early morning or late evening are prime times, especially in warmer months.

• After a light rain can be excellent, as runoff stirs up food and increases oxygen.

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🛶 River Ethics and Safety

• Respect the water – Rivers can be deceptively strong. Always scout before wading.

• Catch and release properly – Handle fish gently and return them quickly.

• Leave no trace – Take your trash, respect wildlife, and follow local fishing regulations.

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📝 Final Thoughts

River fishing isn’t just a sport—it’s a way to connect with nature. The challenge of moving water, the reward of a well-placed cast, and the beauty of a river at sunrise make every trip worth it.

Tight lines and see you on the river!

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Would you like me to help turn this into a multi-post series? We could cover topics like:

• River fishing for specific species (e.g., trout, bass, catfish)

• Seasonal river fishing tips

• Best rivers to fish in [your location]

• Gear deep-dives

Let me know your direction!

Trusty sidekick

Date fished 17/6/2025

8am until 4.30pm

Prologue

In a fraction of a second, my rod was bent nearly double. Line was peeling off the reel, fish on! Unfortunately I noticed the line was caught around the ear of my rod rest. I picked up the rod but wasn't connected to the fish. I scrambled to free the line off the rest, this was hard as the fish s was pulling! Suddenly, the hooklink snapped and my fish was gone. It was certainly a barbel, definitely a lost fish. Expletives followed!! 

A day guest with Ellis on the Swale was the second day of this season. Arriving at 7.30am it was much cooler. Cloud covered the sky and it had a little chill. We walked the whole beat as the last swim is good, of course there was someone fishing it. 

We settled on another swim with a large bush we could both cast towards. Lots of knocks, we assumed Ronnie and Reggie. Ellis deciding, when he had sorted his reel out, to fish the maggot feeder down the middle. Instant bites and a nice dace his blank saver.

The sun was now bright and getting much warmer. We walked back and saw some chub "partying" with eachother in the shallows. 

We soon found another swim where we both could sit and cast towards a deeper area by an overhanging bush. When I reeled in the luncheon meat, a large pike followed it in right to the bank. No pike gear was carried today though!! 

The bites started when the cloud came over. Suddenly getting darker, we assume the fish were more confident not being seen in the clear water. Both of us getting taps and rattles. We sat for a while and I needed to stretch my legs, I declared to Ellis I was off for a walk and his rod gave the tell tale sign. He played the fish towards the net deciding it was a barbel, then a chub and confirmed as a barbel when we saw it. 

6lb 2oz

It was a great fish and well deserved.

My bite as described above, came a short while later. I had already had a bite and struck far too early. We waited for another cloud coming over to top up the mole hill groundbait and the ever faithfull spicy sausage. Interest for sure to both of us, but the yawns were getting larger as the heat took hold and we decided to call it a day. 

I never did stretch the legs with a walk, but the landing, unhooking, weighing, pictures and resting all needed a trusty sidekick. 

272 days left!

Date fished June 16th!!

10:20am until 6:20pm

We only have 272 days left, so lets start!!

Its been 93 days since I last fished a river, and what a trip. A pb and my first 6lb chub. I have wanted a six for a while, so that was amazing. Lets see what this season will bring, or what I can fluke out....

Six cars already parked up gave me hope, however it started badly. The river was low, clear and hardly moving. That my excuse for blanking on opening day.

Ellis caught some perch (wasp), some micro chub ( chublet let lets) and a minnow ( blank saver). He persisted more than me in the hot weather, no idea how he stayed so cool!? . He adaptoped the float fishing to maggot feeder and back to float in the slower water. I adopted a chuck it and see approach for chub and barbel on sausage. 

Having exhausted one area, we trudged back to the cars and drove to another stretch. We walked through lots of undergrowth and I currently have a red arm, combination of sun and scratches. Oh well, there's always tomorrow!!

Cool as a cucumber 

Too Keen

Date fished 6/6/2025

7am until 3pm

A house warming, birthday and Anniversary party in London immediately got me thinking about fishing. Sadly the rivers are still closed for coarse fishing so it was a canal trip again. I usually fish at Coventry on my way south, but some investigation told me that I could try for zander in Milton Keynes. Speaking to my host, he said "I can get there on a direct train, I will meet you"! And that's how a plan works!!

My mate Jar, aka Mum, aka Alan, who I have fished with before met me in "the Keens" in the hope of catching something. I was after zander, he was after everything. I had a lure rod and a ledger rod with sweetcorn and breadcrumb as bait. 

I parked up like a troll and had a few casts. It was shallow but definitely looked fishy. This was confirmed when I text the (best) only lure angler I know - Tom. He also had mean things to say about my tackle, so we will ignore him!!

With no bites, I went and braved the multitude of roundabouts and collected Jar from the train station. Parking back under the bridge we went off left to find the lock. A few casts but mostly chat as we wandered, we were soon at the lock. A nice grassy area just beyond and it was time to lazy fish. It was lovely just catching up, casting a little and watching the float as small fish attacked the sweetcorn. Nothing with a big enough mouth, not including us two that demolished a kilo (if not more) of sausage roll!

The heavens opened and we took refuge under a smaller bridge. We really did look like trolls here, although the views were spectacular.

As we walked back, it was clear that a lure and ledger approach didn't work as a team. The sun was bright and we could see fry and smaller fish in our margin. Jar fancied a go at lure fishing. I switched over the rods and soon we were both flinging plastic into the canal, not littering! Also some of his casts didn't make the canal, just the trees!

I had explained that a real lure anger would of changed their lures a million times by now, and would probably be flinging some kind of floating, ribbed, sinking paddle tailed abomination with a rattle.

Jar looked at the lure box and decided on a sparkly number. Second cast he shouted " I have something".

Those of you will remember, I was after a barbel on the small river for a while, I took Jar and he caught one just whilst holding my rod. I thought, had he now fluked a zander too?!

It was a lovely perch, his first. I was buzzing, not because it wasn't a zander, but just to be able to take a good friend fishing and share in their success/happiness. 

We fished on and soon I noticed a large dark shape swimming down the middle of the canal, then another and another. A large shoal of big bream were on a day out. I chucked in some corn and bread hoping to slow them down. A few went for it, but the shoal didn't stop. I quickly set back up the ledger but as a boat came round the corner, the chance was gone. I think the bream carried on to Birmingham.

I sat under the bridge as Jar cast around the edge. A savage take on the lure shocking him, but sadly it got off. As we were at the car, hot and bothered and I had been awake since 2.30am, we decided to jump in and drive the 60 miles back to his house. At three hours and 18 minutes, you have to "love" Friday evening London traffic!

Cheers Jar 

Photos from Jar:

Workies

Date fished 24/05/2025

7am until 10am

Work party 10.30am until 3.45pm

The fishing was tough, sweetcorn and pellet on float or feeder. Nothing happened, I blanked! I was upbeat when Mark, a much better angler than me said he had one bit in 3.5 hours last night. The fish must be having a break or maybe they are down at Wembley. 

I stayed to partake in the work party, what could go wrong!? 

Work parties are an integral part of a volunteer based club of any persuasion. It is also a great way to meet new people. I chatted, joked and enjoyed the company of my fellow club members today. 

Branches were cut, areas cleared, pegs swept and silt removed. It was a hive of activity by less than 10 members. Then a new swim was built. Tiered, lawned and ready for any member (up to 35 stone). 

I am actually contemplating going tomorrow just to use it, but I think I will wait until Monday. If anyone is fishing it, I will pull ownership rights and politely ask them to move!! (Joke)

It was rhetorical, but I will answer anyway. Nothing went wrong! HR and health and safety can stand down.....