Bloody Tinca!

Date fished 14/06/2026

7am until 11am

It's so nice to walk to and/or home from fishing. That's kinda why today, I fished Wydon in Hexham. 

Arriving at 7am, I walked to the swim I love to fish in. There was someone already in it! In truth the lake was fairly busy ( great to see). 

Realising I knew the guy in my swim, I chatted with him, George,  and then tackled up in the swim next door. 

George and I have talked about fishing together before but work and life schedules have never aligned, not sure this counts but will have to sort one day mate! 

Short rod, hybrid feeder and I was soon fishing down my left, not one rod length away from the reeds. 20 minutes of nothing and I got the 13ft float rod out. I was still fishing close in, but the length helps! (Stop the sniggering).

The float buried and I was in. An angry tench (assumed, not seen) kept deep and low and messed me up around the left reeds, then out in front and then the right hand reeds. I got the rod down and tried to bully him. It resulted in a hook pull and a lost fish. I was raging!

Am not normally an angry chappie, except when driving, but this annoyed me. Soon, I was back to normal when the offspring arrived. 

There is much more to life than a lost fish. 

1. Sunday breakfast

2. Cute pic of the young offspring 

3. My nephew sorting his fishing gear like I used to when I was young 

4. A nice rudd, both Rupe and I caught a few

5. Early morning at the lake

Feeding frenzy

May

My second work party of the month, this time it was hot and sunny, very different from the torrential rain of the last one. 

It was good to give back, meet fellow members and have a laugh. 

After today's work party, I fished for 70 mins exactly. I could of done with the counter as I had either 12 or 14 ide. I actually forgot! 

I did what I should, I shallowed up. I fed maggots continuously with the catapult and fished over the top. The ide were going crazy, swirling at every pouch full, it really was great fun. I probably missed double the number of bites.

I even allowed my swim to be shared, two young anglers fishing on the lake. I helped them catch some ide, and they had a good few from my swim. 

I left them my maggots and off I went. Two good deeds done!

RoboAngler

Date fished 4/5/2026

9am until 12.30pm

An unexplained but very painful wrist, thumb and forearm injury had me sporting specialist equipment. Would it impact my fishing?

After a leisurely morning, I headed to Tilcon. It had been red hot earlier in the week, but much cooler and wet yesterday. 

I just brought the waggler rod and a few different baits. I wanted to catch on 'summery' baits like sweetcorn in the hope it would make me forget about the bad winter fishing I had. I also wanted to try a new bait. 

I have been watching lots of YouTube recently and not just fishing either! And whilst I tell the kids to stop watching such nonsense, I am totally addicted to Geowizard and Jetlag the game. Check them out! 

Now, they do some cool things and challenges. I wasn't going to go so far, but decided that I could only use tackle from my dad's old box. I brought mine too, but left it in the car, I'm not crazy!! 

I tackled up and was soon fishing. The wrist was doing OK and bites started. I missed a few but with regular feeding, I could see the ide cruising just under the surface. They are not hard to catch and soon I had a few to corn and maggot. 

As long as my non injured forearm! 

I had another toy with me, inspired by watching Snagged bro on YouTube. I told you I am addicted!!

It actually ended on three but I missed a fair few bites, bumped off some fish and even lost a good bream at the net due to wrist failure! 

It was a good few hours on the lake, which was packed. Most anglers I have seen fishing on it, which is great to see. I didn't manage to catch on the new bait  but am sure it won't be long and I will have the bream eating out of my 'splint less' hand!! 

End of river season poem

14/3/2026

8am until 12pm

The rivers may or may not of been fishable. I didn't take the risk, I went to Tilcon. 

Worms as bait. Cold overnight. Was not in the mood. 

Say no more. 

So I asked chatGTP to write me a poem.

The wind came first, sharp and thin,
Whispering winter across the skin.
A grey sky hung where hope should be,
While waters kept sighing endlessly.

The rod stayed still. The float did too.
No silver flash, no sudden pull through.
Just drifting hours, slow and long,
And the distant cry of a lonely song.

I wasn’t sure why I came that day,
When warmth and rest felt worlds away.
My heart was heavy, my mood was low,
Like winter caught in the undertow.

The bucket empty, the daylight thin,
Only the cold kept settling in.
No fish, no triumph, nothing to claim—
Just numb fingers and a quiet shame.

So I packed my line as the dusk drew near,
Breath like smoke in the brittle air.
The lake kept secrets I couldn’t keep—
And carried my sadness back to the deep.  

Crazy how much it knows. Gets me every time!!

Blank

Date fished 28/02/2026

7am until 11.30am 

Broken scar, Tees today's venue. 0.99m on the guage, fishable but only just in the slacks, and would be tough.

Ledgered worms,  pellets or chesepaste for the hook. 

Accompanied with a feeder stuffed full of dead maggots, bread crumb and pellets.

Not a touch in three swims. A few snags, and even managed to flash a passing dog walker! He still chatted to me after and pointed me in the direction of a good swim. 

Knowing what I know now, would I still of gone?? 

Too bloody right!!

Same but different

Date fished 2/2/2026

8.50am until 1.15pm

I had booked some days off work to fish the river. Looking at the weather, I decided to just stay local again. I was not in the mood for a long trip in tough conditions. 

First fish of 2026! Not quite the size I was after  but the correct species. 

I was armed with fresh, alive maggots and worms this time. I left the dead maggots in the freezer. A float rod and a ledger rod was taken, however I was lazy and took the trotting float rod. It was already set up with a closed faced reel and trotting float, am sure it would be fine. 

The lake was deeper than last trip, full to brimming! I fished the deep end which was flat calm. Out of the wind, it was pleasant. I nearly lost my bowels when the bird scarer positioned behind me went bang! Not put off though, but the cormorant circling over head and not settling on the lake was! 

Worm on the hook and maggots in the feeder in one and maggots all the way on the float and I was fishing. 

The little perch was caught on the ledger. A bite whilst I was chatting with a potential new member, I missed. As he left, another bite. This time I got the culprit and in he came. 

A nice few hours on the bank, restful really. I just watched the rods and World go by in equal measures. Now I am sat thinking of warm sunshine and fishing in shorts. Roll on summer!! 

Long shot

Date fished 23/1/2026

9.45am until 1pm

Cold, wet and flooded was my evaluation of the rivers at present. So, I avoided those and decided on a trip to Tilcon. I knew it was going to be tough but needed to just sit and try. After a bacon buttie, I headed to the lake.

Sit and try, I did. I float fished dead maggots about a rod length out or just under a bush to my right. I had thought about ledgering prawns and firing maggots over the top in the hope of hitting a target, 2lb perch. In hindsight, I should have but could not be arsed to go buy prawns. 

I fired maggots regularly around the float and huddled for warmth. The wind was cold but when it dropped, it was like something out of 'The day after tomorrow' and bitterly cold. My feet soon felt like ice blocks.

I chatted to another member who was out doing some avian pest control. It was a blank all round.