A good feed

Date fished 30/07/2024

8am until 11am

You didn't think I was just talking about the fish getting the feed!? They did though, when we packed up, a fair bit of left over bait went in. What the swans didn't eat would be putting pounds on the chub. 

When we woke up, I told Ellis I was tired after yesterday's excursions in the heat. He replied with, "yeah, those of us that battled barbel have a sore arm too!!" 

An early breakfast, Ellis got his clothes from 'the wardrobe' and we headed back to the town stretch. Starting where we ended on Sunday, I caught 4 small chub in a few casts. 

Ellis headed downstream and waded out to the middle. It was actually shallower mid river than some of the margins. I joined him and he started catching, I must be his lucky poacher! 

We fed hard and soon he was catching chublets, dace and bleak a plenty. I caught a few more but didn't trouble the score board. 

As we walked back to the car over the bridge, we spotted 20 chub cruising in the sun. A few were 4lb plus. 

A great end to 3 days away. We have talked about 'next time', just need to get it booked. Shotgun the bridge swim!! (At both venues)

Too hot, too sunny, Two barbel

Date fished 29/07/2024

8am until 8pm 

A day at Aramstone today. High twenties forecast with bright sunshine. We got our excuses in early. 

Not as early as breakfast though. A full cooked breakfast at 7am in the pub and we were ready to go around 7.30. A stop to buy lunch and we were at the fishery by 8am. The fishery is a quick Google if you want to know more, but most people know as this........

I have many more like this! 

We (carefully) drove the entire length of the beat. Only stopping when I saw three chub swimming past. By the time Ellis stopped the car, I had counted 14. By the time we got out the car, we spotted over 25 chub circling around an overhanging tree. They might be targeted later, we thought! 

Ellis was unpacking his gear. I was already cast in and ledgering a 15mm Robin red pellet. The rod hooped over and I played the fish towards me. Annoyingly it dislodged the barbless number 10. When Ellis was ready we waded across the fast water and targeted the fish from above. It was very fast and I didn't quite get the angle right, Ellis preserved and landed two of three hooked chub. All whilst I lost another on the ledger!! It was going to be one of those days for me when the excuses are needed. 

As the day got hotter and brighter, I wondered about those 25 chub. Could they be my blank saver? 

We liked the scenery 

We walked up to them and they were still just hanging out. A float fished piece of meat soon disappeared and I had my fish!! Deeply hooked, I tried to unhook it with my finger. The bugger bit me!! It's pharyngeal teeth crushing my pinkie and drawing blood. I guess that was fair!? 

Deciding to wade to another area, I had already removed my waders. Not to worry on a day like this. I waded in my socks and they were soon dry! 

Walking back to the car, it was now boiling. We decided to sit in the shade, away from the river and just chat. We went through all the baits I had brought and finally realised we should be making rigs. So we drank a beer and tied some hooks! 

At 4pm we carried on fishing. We were feeding the area quite heavily, which definitely got the fish responding. Plenty of crashing about on their behalf. Plenty of snagged gear for us! The area was so rocky. We both lost gear but were getting bites, so we persisted. 

Ellis was rewarded at 5pm as his rod hooped over and his first Wye barbel lay in the net. 

5lb 10oz

He lost another one, but at 7pm he was rewarded again. This time 7lb 6oz. A new pb. Well done mate!!! 

The pb was met with a refreshing reward. 

I jumped in Ellis's swim and even used his rod as I had been snagged and lost my gear. I gave it 45 mins but nothing. As I reeled in, I was snagged again. A broken hooklink my reward!! 

Probably

Date fished 28/07/2024

12.30 until 7pm 

280 miles from home to todays venue. The mighty River Wye. 

A 4.30 alarm and I met Ellis outside his house at 6.30am. An impromptu wee spot for me (obvs) and we were soon in Ross on Wye. Our accommodation for the next two nights being the White Lion. 

A quick trip to the shops to buy (liquid) lunch and we were  soon on the river. We walked most of the stretch and found a peg we could both fish in.  First cast for Ellis and he was in. A bleak, followed by a million more. I cast in, my first bleak, so a pb. Followed by a million more. Maybe some dace, but I think mostly bleak. 

We watched some perch chasing silvers around, they didnt want maggots though. Ellis decided to change to meat to avoid them. He fished hard for a while with a few bites but with no luck. The sun and heat were relentless. Ellis decided to go and get some bits from the car. I switched to meat and caught a small chub second cast, I wont relay the message Ellis replied!! 

We fished on with no luck. A local came to chat to us and told us about a different swim where "100lb of chub" was possible. We moved there!! 

Hemp, casters, meat, sweetcorn and maggots all fired in on the perfect line. I followed this up with float fished meat. The float buried three times and three more chub were added to my tally. 

Ellis caught a chub too. We had a successful day, probably....

Four of these, I consumed. 

Heavy loss

Date fished 20/07/2024

5am until 9.30am

I caught three of five fish that I hooked this morning. Lots of other bites and pulls too. It was a great morning, but.....

An early start as I decided to stay local, I had thought about going to the river but I have some busy weeks ahead, so figured a lazy day was in order. Lazy means a 4.15am alarm for me!! 

7ft ledger rod, small feeder, sweetcorn for the hook and I was ready.  I headed to Wydon lake in Hexham. A long drive, didn't even manage a whole song on Heart 80's and I was there. 

Setting up in my usual swim, the lake looked good. Fish were topping and after a few handfuls of corn, I even saw a tench come to the surface. Grab a floating skin and a flick of its big green tail and it was gone. 

The three fish caught were all around the 3lb mark. Great fun on a little rod at fairly close range. Not sure why tench are so angry, but they seemed to be this morning. 

Two grains of corn on a size 14 to 3lb hooklink seemed to do the business. A 10g cage feeder with mashed corn slop completing the rig. 

So, why the but......? 

The second fish I lost, I didn't see. It's 'best' that way, I think. Or is it? You tell me. 

The first fish I lost, which was the second I played. I saw. It's hard to say a weight in the water, but by it's length it was a very big tench. And it didn't fight half as strongly as the others. I will never know, but that's the "joy" of fishing. 

Home for tea and medals before a ball was bowled. 

300th blog entry!

Date fished 06/07/2024

5.45am until 10.30am

For the 300th blog, I wanted to do something special. However, the special trip to the Wye that Ellis and I have planned has not come around quickly enough (end of July). I had a free day so decided to hit the Swale. Recent matches have proved "peggy" with the fish shoaled up (but still had to be caught) 44 chub and a barbel for 189lb. I would not grumble at that for the 300th blog!

A ledger rod, the usual tactics plus an 'alternative' bait and a raincoat completed the kit list. I set off early and arrived in good time.  Setting up, I realised I had forgotten my bait needle.  It's quite hard to push a hair through meat with a blade of grass, but I managed! 

The first cast went to my right by a fallen tree. I sat and waited. 

Regular readers will know, I usually set targets each year. I didn't this year, with stuff going on personally, I just didn't have the thought. But in reality the targets remain the same, as they are yet to be achieved, even after a few years. 

A 2lb perch

A proper Swale barbel

A 6lb bream

A zander

I have had one Swale barbel before. This little guy on the float.

The rod hooped over and the bait runner sang. This was a fish. I hoped it was 'something' as I played its powerful runs. Then I saw it. It was a barbel, a chap, a bumble. My legs gave a wobble. 

I went down to the water to net it, in truth it took three trys. It giving powerful kicks each time. The barbless hook holding firm as the fish frequently dived down deep. Eventually it slipped into the net. A stones throw from the swim Davey caught his first ever Chub, pretty pertinent this time of year and I am not to macho to say, a tear rolled down my cheek. 

At 6lb 7oz, it was not a pb and not a massive fish. For me, it was my world. I was so happy. A quick look at the clock, 06.17am. 

I put the phone camera holder in my bag 30 seconds before I left the house this morning. So glad I remembered that! 

A Kingfisher fished in the peg next to me as the wind picked up and the temperature dropped. I was actually cold. The rugby commentary on my phone warming me up as England went close to a victory in New Zealand. At half time, I stretched my legs. Seems the fish were waiting for the break too, the rod pulled round and I was in. This time it felt chubby, unfortunately the hooklink broke as I played it near the boulders. I never saw the fish, so who knows!? 

A short walk closer to the tree resulted in more snags. I learnt my lesson in casting too close and a re tackle was required. I chucked some bread crusts in and watched them float away whilst contemplating the tackle change. A loud splash as the bread disappeared. I tied on  a hook and tried my luck. 

A few floats down, of course all the freebies taken whilst my piece remained unscathed. I might of caught if I kept going, but the clouds were getting darker and home called. 

I have watched Ellis catch a barbel on the Swale, I have seen many Facebook friends share their catches. Today, I joined them. I achieved a target! 

Oh, and the alternative bait!? Yeah, it didn't work. But "has potential, must try harder". Just like all my school reports used to say!