Day 1/7 - Battery check!

Date fished 22/6/2020
6am until 12.40pm

I am off all week and thinking of fishing everyday for the next 7. Stay with me, if today's anything to go by it's gonna get bumpy!!

The alarm went off at 4am, by half past I was driving away and by ten to six I was parked in  a farmyard ready to fish the Tees. My first trip of the new season and I was excited.
I was fishing where I had the 10lb plus net of fish last June. Was today the day I beat It?
Please read on, but in short the answer is no!

Walking down the hill to the river, I was so eager I slipped on the wet grass and landed on my knee. Not the best start.
Getting to the river, there was a good track above the swims. Last year, it had been a jungle and it was luck I found the swim. Today, I walked straight to it and it looked great.

The river was a little low and very clear. Instead of fishing off the bank, I dropped down to a new mud bank behind a fallen tree. I was not in the water, but at the same level. It was a better place to fish from.

A few hand full of maggots went in while I tackled up. 13ft float rod, Abu Garcia 1044 with 4lb line, to a size 18 on 2lb hook link. Float was a 6 no 4.
Setting the depth, I was soon casting and feeding. The sun was just in my way, and seeing the float was hard. However, I managed a lovely perch on my 3rd trot down. Time to send it to Ellis as his alarm call!!

The sun made it difficult and the wind was picking up so I changed to a loafer style 3ssg float. Again, I caught, Roach and a few chublets. It was great to be back on the bank.

Soon the kingfisher went off down the river shrieking. It was time for a coffee. I kept the feed going in and sat back with a coffee. First cast after, 2 herons flew past at exactly the time I cast, 1 took a detour left and the other dived for cover. Glad I didn't catch them, not sure I would have landed them!

The next angler I was to see was a furry kind. The otter working the far bank, doing somersaults in the water and generally larking about.

I sat down for a sandwich and suddenly the next fish catcher to appear was a pike. It swam at my keep net, attacked it (have just seen a small hole) and tried to get the fish. As I stood up, it swam away. It was not the size of the pike that sat with me last year in this swim for most of the day. She was much bigger.

I decided to change floats again. The wind was quite strong now and in truth, I got in a big tangle with the loafer so switched to a bolo instead. Fishing away, I saw a fish appear near the keep net, thinking it was the pike, I went to scare it but saw it was now a big perch. I am not sure on the water to eye magnification but let's just say "forearm length" It was a lovely fish. Of course, I threw it some maggots and dangled my hook in front of it. It was not disturbed at all, and lazily swam away upstream under a bush.

I had been given maggots from a local angler as I could not get to the tackle shop before 6am, so it was great to be able to fish straight away. Thanks Chris!
I was also given some worms from Tom. It was time for a worm. Second trot down, the float buried. I struck and hooked something decent. It swam up stream, then over the width of the river, I think it was a good sized perch, but I am not 100%. Not sure if it was 'the' perch. Unfortunately as I tried to back wind on the closed face reel, the hook came out. I fished on. A few more Roach and I was getting into the flow. Another perch next, a bit bigger and a smile was forming.

I fished on and the bites dried up. I was only going to fish until lunch time and with the maggots going down, I was nearly ready. I thought I would empty the net, weigh the fish and fish on for a bit longer while the sun dried my net.

Collecting my 13 fish in my landing net, I was ready. I took my brand new korum digital scales out the bag, pushed the button. Nothing!! A blank screen. I was raging, had I broken them? Had they been faulty. "Oh darn" I thought.
Never mind, this net was no where near my 10lb target, so after a few pics, I released the fish.

As the net dried, I used the last of the maggots but kept a worm on the hook. The float buried and I struck, another solid fish pulled back. This time it came to the surface and caused a big boil in the water, I did not see it though. It then swam straight towards the far bank and the hook link snapped this time. I am not sure if it was a chub or a pike that took my worm but it didn't feel perch like!

That was the final straw, so I packed up and headed for the tackle shop to buy bait for tomorrow. £30 lighter, I drove home thinking about the lost fish and the broken scales!

I have just got the box out the recycling bin and grabbed the return slip.
Now, I will tell you, cos you can keep a secret!?I just tried a new battery in the scales and they work a treat!!!
At least I can weigh anything on day 2 now!

There is a moral in there somewhere but after one day, I am not sure I learnt the lesson. I will let you know after day 7!!

Social Photograper

Date fished 14/6/2020
5am until 1pm

4am - alarm went off
4.15am - make flask of coffee, eat a slice of toast
4.30am - car packed, next stop Ryton
4.45am - thoughts about catching Bream and Tench on the feeder
4.55am -Arrive Tilcon

5.00am - Tom also arrived for an early morning session
5.02am - Tom said " come be sociable, in this swim (10 plus metres from him) next to me, don't fish that 'banker swim. We can natter!
5.05am - first cast to the new lillies, in my new swim with 12mm Robin Red pellet
5.06am - good view of swim, lillies to my left, open water to my right. Looked superb!

5.10am - second rod cast with luncheon meat on the hair to the open water side
5.45am - crow chasing a heron in flight, assumed trying to steal it's breakfast
6.05am - kingfisher out to stretch it's wings
7.00am - Tom went for a walk, came back 5 mins later defo looking lighter!
8.00am - started eating sandwiches!!
8.30am - putting the world to rights, we had a good old natter. In truth we were chatting for most of the minutes since 5.02!
9.01am - Tom's left hand rod away. Lovely Bream in the net. I take a photo for him

9.25am - check my rods still "working" been motionless!
9.56am - No fish so start taking photographs

10.41am - Tom's left rod again. Same result. This man is a pro! More photos by me.

10.55am - Tom feeding his swim superbly. 4mm pellets creating a good noise and making the fish look for baits
11.07am - I think my left hand rod had a knock! Yes, defo a line bite!
12.00pm - "Right, I'm packing up. These fish don't like me!" Says I.
" Go on, stay until half past, I am staying" the reply.
12.04pm - Tom's right hand rod!! Another Bream. A lovely fish, weighed 4lb exactly. A new Pb. Well done that man!

12.30pm - "Go on, 1pm, we'll pack up" he said
" wake me up when you are going!" I managed to reply.
12.56pm - I was packed up and ready for the off.
1.02pm - Tom finally pulled in the rods, leaving them out as long as he could.

As I got in my car and drove away, Tom behind in his. I let Tom get out and lock the gate, was about the only time I was in front all day.
I was thoroughly beaten today, three nil.
Although, obvioulsy there was no competition, it was a draw on the chats and laughs.
It was a great morning and better to be spent  with a mate!

As usual

Date fished 9/6/2020
15:30 until 22:00






With my membership for Ryton and District Angling Club coming a few a days before lockdown, I thought it may end up being a very expensive decision. However now we are allowed to fish, I feel I have had my monies worth and consider my membership great value for money.
6 trips so far (including this one) - 1 blank, 5 Bream, 2 Tench and plenty of silvers.

As usual  I worked until 3pm then jumped into the car and headed for the lake. Still fishing Tilcon as usual, there is another lake called Stargate which I must try soon.
I was after Bream again as usual, with the usual two rod set up and Robin Red pellet. Staying true to form, I opted for my usual swim. Casting to the usual spots, I scattered a few pellets around and waited for the usual.

For a June evening it was unusually cold but I had a long sleeve thermal on so I was toastie warm. The clouds were still overhead and a few rain spots appeared.

As usual the lake felt good for a fish. There was plenty of fish topping and it felt good. Talking to a few people however, the lake was fishing slow. A match on Sunday was won with 8lb. Like all critters, the fish can have off days. Fish lives matter!



Sitting comfortably back, I watched the birds flying back and forth while I waited for a bite. Fishing this same swim is giving me a picture of what goes on where. Most of the fish have come to my left rod (I think). So unusually, it was the right hand rod that tapped and gave me a jolt. Taking line, it was a spirited fight. As usual, a nice looking Bream came to the surface and was quickly netted.
My usual procedure followed, minus a weight. It was not for a lack of scales, I have ordered the Korum ones from Angling Direct, but I brought my old ones just in case. This Bream was smaller than usual, so I didn't need to weight it. I would say 2 to 3lb is about right.

Both sides, that's unusual! 

Sitting patiently, I recast a few times and fed a few pellets. With still signs of fish, I was unusually impatient for a bite. Suddenly a loud crack to my right and stones shot up and hit my arm. It was unusual for some idiot to be throwing stones at me, but it has happened before (not whilst fishing I might add). Now, Tom said he might be coming fishing so I assumed it was him winding me up, I spun around but no one was on top of the bank. I looked again, no one. But stones don't just fly up at me on their own? very odd. I sat down and watched the rods. Still unsure of this unusual activity, I looked around. Finally the penny or should I say poop dropped? A bird must have delivered its payload and it splatted a few centimetres from where I was sat! It's supposed to be lucky if a bird poops on you I thought, although I didn't quite feel that now!

Doesn't look a lot but it made a lot of noise and kicked up a lot of stones when it landed!

Tom did arrive a little after 7pm, ready for the witching hour. We sat several metres apart and chatted loudly about all things relevant and irrelevant. A few knocks on the rods, plenty of fish topping and Tom throwing in free offerings no where near his hooks followed for the next few hours. Some noise from another angler alerted us to a nice common carp being caught. At just under 9lb, it was a match winner and would be welcome any day!


It was soon 10pm and time for me to pack up, it had been a long day and with few fish actually feeding, I was unusually happy to call it a day.
Packing up took only a few minutes and I was soon in the car heading home, leaving Tom for the last minutes of light. Approaching Mickly, I got a message to say Tom had lost a fish. Like me last time, a fish picking up the bait at warp speed and swimming off so fast, as soon as tension is applied by holding the rod the hook link snapped. It was disappointing but good for him for sticking around for that last bite.


As with all these evening sessions, the lake comes alive with fish. Unfortunately that does not mean they are necessarily going to take your bait. Luck pays its part too, and if the bird poop just misses you I am not sure if that's lucky or not?! I tried though and I bloody well enjoyed it, as usual!



Winning weighs

Date fished 03/06/2020
15:30 until 21:10




I have fished Tilcon 4 times up to now and only blanked once. That was on an evening session, so today I decided to fish another one!
Finishing work at 3pm, I jumped in the car and headed to the lake. I really was enjoying the proximity to home, short, sharp sessions are usually more beneficial during the summer, either an early morning trip or an evening session. Once the rivers open on June 16th, it is likely I will be on them more often so will only be having a few trips on the lake (maybe, weather and Covid dependant).

Tom had fished Tilcon earlier in the week and sent me a pic of scales showing 7lb 3oz. It made me jump up in bed! "What a Bream", I thought!!
Fortunately or not depending on your view, it was alas a Carp. Tom was over the moon and it was a great fish. Well done mate! He also caught 2 Bream on that trip.

So, back to todays session. The weather had changed. From 21 degrees to 11 in a few hours and I was fishing after early morning persistent rain. The wind was Northerly and about 15mph so it felt a bit chilly, pressure was 1014 mbar. The forecast also said 14% chance of rain, that was indeed 100% inaccurate!!

I had opted for 2 ledger rods, both with Guru Micro lead clips and both with Robin Red pellets (12mm). With my usual green and orange rod rests, this was quite the rainbow!

I had misplaced the hook links that I showed you last time, so I had different hook links today. In truth, I packed the wrong ones! I also forgot the phone / bank stick adaptor that I use for selfies on my phone. I only found this out later on the trip! Spoiler alert!!

Setting up quickly, I cast to the usual spots and scattered 5 pellets around each. I am not a heavy feeder, and don't think it's always needed. As I sat back in my chair a kingfisher whizzed past one way, then the other.
I watched the swans swim past my line too, easily seeing it and swimming right up to it, ducking their heads and going underneath.
My left hand rod then was away, I saw the line tighten and was onto the fish. I knew straight away that this was not a Bream. It fought really hard, I managed to get it into the open water and played it to the net. Another Tench from this venue and it looked a great fish.

At 63 ounces exactly. I was more than happy. Now, let me tell you about my scales. They are rubbish!! Polite way. I have never been happy with them, but was trying to convince myself that I was. The back does not shut properly and they weigh in 0.1 of a pound. So 3.5 pounds is 3lb 8oz. Which is fine, untill you get some other weights. 0.3 is..... , well it's some ounces. So I do weigh accurately and have other non digital scales, but when I go for the British record, I need to be sure. So I hate these scales! To get over the 0.1 increments of the pound, I weighed in ounces. It just means I need to learn my 16 times table!! So, 63 ounces, 3lb 15oz it was a lovely Tench!!

I cast out both rods again and waited. All that came was the rain. It tipped it down, with wind blowing it sideways across the lake. The wind was also pretty cold too. I huddled down and waited some more.

The rain stopped and I watched a green woodpecker fly across the lake and back into the woods, assuming he was going home for dinner I decided to join him.

The sun came out too and I started to warm up.

There were plenty of taps, and line bites on both rods but no positive takes. Finally a proper tug on my left hand rod, I struck and felt a fish. As I brought in a small Roach, I saw the line had lassooed around it's tummy and back and the hook was not on the fish, but wrapped on the line, holding it in. I brought it in, unravelled it and let it go back. Not foul hooked as it was not even hooked!!
More rain fell and I had thought about packing up, but with knocks all the time, I thought there was more luck to be had.
Suddenly my left hand rod was away. And I mean away. Usain Bolt style. The rod stayed on the rests but the baitrunner whizzed round like the kingfisher earlier! I picked up the rod and wound down. The inevitable happened and the hooklink snapped, clearly not Extra Strong enough!  It will definitely be the story of the one that got away.



As I sit and fish,  I am always thinking about the blog. What will I write? What will the title be? Today's was going to be about all the colours. But then I thought about my scales, it would be scale related.
"But you lost the big fish, how are you winning"? I hear you ask.
Well, when I sat under the brolly, my phone pinged. An E mail saying I had won on my Investment Bonds. Eagerly I checked the raffle, sure enough, I was a winner. Not millions I'm afraid, but £25. It will definitely buy me a better set of digital scales!!

Changes

Date fished 30/5/2020
5.30 am until 12.00pm

Today I fancied a change.  With Ellis busy, I decided to stay local and fish Tilcon for the Bream again.  Leaving the Hybrid feeders in the cupboard I decided to change and fish one rod on a simple safe lead clip system and the other rod was to be fished with a float!! I had wanted to watch a float for a few hours and hopefully see it disappear.

GURU micro lead clip

Drennan loaded floats

With more hot weather forecast a dawn raid was the decision. Alarm set for 4.40am, I was driving off  by 5am. Arriving, tackling up and fishing by 5.30am. These are the best days!

I decided to change baits too. Opting for robin red pellets in 6mm on a band for the float and 12mm hair rigged on the ledger, instead of Marine Halibut.
I was using a hook length with hair rig stop attachment I had not tried before too! It was a day for changes.

I am not sponsoured by Drennan! 

The ledger was cast to the edge of the lillies and I scattered a few pellets over the top. At this time of the morning the lake was alive. Carp crashing through the lillies to my right like earlier in the week, obviously still getting jiggy and plenty of fish showing on the surface.

I set up the float to fish flat on the bottom a couple of rod lengths out. A scattering of 6mm pellets and I was fishing. The hours ticked by, and sitting in the shade of a tree because I had left my cap at home, I must admit I was getting a bit chilly! A few cups of coffee and some movement and things were hotting up.
I missed a couple of quick bites on the float and things were looking promising. A few other anglers joined the party and with Heart FM in the background it was nice to hear people catching, even if I wasn't!

I say the hours ticked by, it was still only just 9.50am. My ledger rod hooped round with a positive bite.  I had already stopped float fishing and the rod was stored behind me, so I was on the ledger rod straight away.
The tell tale 'pull and float' tactic of a Bream was obvious. A lovely Bream coming across the surface to the net first time. As I rested the fish to get the mat ready, I looked at a fin perfect Bream. The fish was angry and tried to swim off with the net! Who says Bream don't fight? This one was a warrior!

A quick weigh gave me 4lb exactly. I was happy. A few precious photos taken and the Bream was away. I watched it swim down the slope, giving a quick tail flick as it disappeared.

I float fished again for a while, feeding a few pellets each cast but had no more bites on this. I packed it away, will try again with maggots or worms next trip maybe, or in the Autumn.
Sitting behind the ledger rod, the sun got higher and higher until it was threatening to warm my exposed "40 year old man's solar panel".

Product Trademark and Copyright obtained! 

I am sponsoured by "Chumbley Head Gear!"

It was a perfect morning on the bank. I enjoy the buzz of other anglers around me. It makes fishing as social as you want it to be. In these time of social distancing, which we all observed, it was nice to be alone with my thoughts of tackle changes whilst within the comfort of a club.

It was soon time to pack up, with Puff daddy  'I'll be missing you' on Heart to my right,  I felt I was being serenaded and it was an appropriate song to end on.