It has finally happened, after 30 years of fishing. A slightly opened bait box......
20 plus worms have enjoyed a day trip in my fridge!! I didnt have the stomach for a pic with all, but I could tell where they have been by the soil trail. Needless to say, the bin is now full and the fridge is sanitized!
Fortunately the cold got them and the were mostly dead, but just around and about.....seem to have enjoyed a slide down the water hole.
Date fished 18/8/2021
Whilst I was fishing at Tilcon, Ellis was on the Severn. His new set up looking superb, I think!
His only fish of this trip, this Bleak.
On our last trip on Saturday we were chatting that we had never caught a Bleak, so it was pretty spooky that he goes out a few days later and catches one. So unreal, I just had to blog about it......
Date fished 18/8/2021
17.30 until 21.19
It was back to work on Monday and after reviewing the 222 e mails in my inbox, I figured it was time for some more fishing! Tom and I planned to have an evening surface fishing session at Tilcon. I had heard of an approx. 8lb Bream taking surface baits, I wanted some of that action!
Tom picked me up at 5pm and it was all systems go towards the lake. Not quite as sunny and warm as it had been, but I was confident of getting the fish feeding off the surface.
Another angler was in the swim we wanted to fish so we had a look on the opposite bank. The wind was blowing towards us and towards some lillies so we thought our baits could drift that way. We cast out and fired a few dog biscuits out. Soon the fish were feeding off the surface but the "trot" was short as the wind was blowing our line quickly into the lillies. We wound in and started again, not wanting to have to battle fish in the lillies.
It was Tom that had the first take. A strong fish taking his bait. He struck and fought the fish, but sadly lost it. The only action I had was quite close in that we saw the Carp, very golden in colour. It came up several times and sucked my float, I assume thinking the white float was a piece of bread!
The other angler packed up so we moved around to our favoured spot. We cast to different areas and fed slowly. We were soon seeing Carp and Bream taking the baits. Carp being noisy and sucking them in and the Bream breaking the surface with their back and porpoising over the biscuit.
Tom had another two takes, but lost them both. The first a reel malfunction when the line caught round the handle quite unexpectedly and the second when the fish swam fast towards him and the line was slack.
As the bats came out and we could just still see the floats, I asked Tom when we were leaving. I asked the time, it was 21.13 and so I said
"ok, at 21.20 we pack up".
He laughed and said "21.15 might be better!"
It was no use, I could not take the fish taking everything around my float but my bait, so I gave up. Just as I did, Tom struck. His fourth take. The time was 21.19 and the odds were with him. The fish was in open water, it was played to the net.
At exactly 9lb, it really was a job well done. Maybe I should get a different job, another blank for me!!
Date fished 14/8/2021
7am until 3.30pm
I am writing this blog at 17.50 whilst watching the hundred cricket on tv. I am enjoying this as a tournament and it's very apt today as we must of caught a hundred fish between us today!
Ellis and I fished a club water on the Tees. We met at the car park at 7am. I arrived at 6.45 and was set up when Ellis arrived. Luckily he had brought me something from Ronald! What a surprise and great start to the day.
We walked towards our swims. The grass was almost waist height and there were no more swims to be seen. This was not a heavily fished area. I was going to fish in my usual swim but decided that we could both fit in the swim Ellis fished last time. We were soon chatting away as some silver's came to the net. Not our usual Perch though, just Roach and Chublets.
We were soon feeding a line and fishing along it either side of the middle. Quite often I was fishing under and further down than Ellis (he was downstream). We were doing some synchro fishing, inspired by the Olympics!!
A change to worm still didn't bring any Perch so I suggested we move. As soon as I did Ellis's float buried and a Perch was in the net. My next trot through and Perch number two. We carried on for a couple of hours, I added only small silvers and smaller Perch, Ellis managing a few better sized Chublets and some decent Perch. We weighed our catch out of interest and about 50 fish for 4lb 13oz, it had been a great couple of hours.
We went for a stroll (in humid heat through long grass) downstream. We were looking for pegs as last time we fished this in winter the vegetation was less and you could get to the river. We walked the whole stretch and found one peg. Ellis fished it with the float and instantly was into Perch and Chublets. I ledgered meat aside a bush for a Chub, none wanted a late breakfast.
From the downstream end we walked back to the upstream end. This was where we caught Chub last time, including one of 4lb so we were hopeful of some better fish here. It was 12.51 and I gave Ellis until 1pm to catch a Chub. He duly succeeded and a Chub was in the net at 12.57!
The next 2.5 hours were over in a blur. We changed between meat and worms and caught Chub and Perch a plenty. The highlight was a Chub on worm (no pic) and several good Perch on ledgered worm that was such a different bite than Chub on meat.
The keep net of the day would of been impressive but we both much prefer being able to roam. Well, as long as the long grass let's us!!😉
Even though I am so fast I can be in two places at once!
13/8/2021
05.45 until 15.30
03.30 Alarm went off
Junction 51 on A1
Two hash browns from Ronald
A peg I have never fished before, in the teens
Two rods - 12 ft 1 1/4 tc Daiwa specialist Avon and 12 ft 2lb tc Korum Barbel Rod
Many baits of 15mm pellets and luncheon meat cubes
One sunrise
06.10 rod hoops over. I strike
9lb hooklink snaps. Lost fish. Gutted.
Fifty thousand more casts, bait fired in
Zero bites
Favourite bait needle snapped- yes I have (had) a favourite bait needle, one of four. However the other three were at home!
Four other swims tried, then back to the first
13.30 drive to Parklands tackle shop for four pints of maggots for tomorrow
£23 spent on sundries, they don't sell maggots (livebait)
Blank saving one hour at another close by swim for part two - zero bites
"Fresh breeze" 18 mph defo felt like more than that. I nearly got blown away!
No fish. A resounding blank.
A68 home, traffic awful took 90 mins!
Wonder if the jinx of Friday the thirteenth is to blame? No, surely not. It's just a number!
Date fished 10/8/2021
8am until 3pm
August normally sees me down in Dorset with the kids at my parents. This year was no different, although today's family trip was just 3 Chumbleys in D, A and R versions!
I went early and set up kit whilst Davey went and collected Rupe from the Dawson's, where he had a sleepover. I set up a float and ledger rod for Davey and Rupe and I had floats already set up. It was gonna be a hot day and already I saw a few Carp on the surface.
I was stalking a few fish when the others arrived. I missed a few bites so went back to fish alongside Rupe. We had luncheon meat and sweet corn as bait, some new and some that had been in the freezer since last August! Needless to say, the old stuff floated. This was both useful and not in equal measures!
It was Davey who caught first, not the Carp we were after but a fish all the same.
We fished on as the sun got warmer. Soon, I was off to the car to set up an umbrella over Rupe and I, the fishery is about a mile from my parents house so we literally could have brought the kitchen sink!
The Carp were showing, but on or just under the surface. We were fishing on the bottom so didn't have the tactics just right.
Eventually I hooked one of the varmits that was constantly attacking the corn/meat.
With two of us off the blank, we looked to Rupe to level it up. It was not long and we were on 1-1-1 and all was good.
We stopped for lunch, and sat together to eat our sandwiches. Davey commenting that Rupe was the last of the Chumbleys to keep the blood line going. No pressure son!
Before we packed up, Rupe and I tried for a Carp off the surface, but with just the crusts from Rupes lunch, we were gonna struggle. A proper fish took the bait, but sadly no hook up.
It was a great session with the youth and father. If today is anything to go by then the Chumbleys will be fine, as the final scores were:
R, A, D = 4,2,1
Date fished 31/07/2021
4.50am until 1.20pm
PC, an old school friend was visiting today to come and watch the Lions Rugby match with a few beers and a curry. He was due about 4pm, so I had plenty of time to fish if I went early. With sunrise at 5.15am, I thought getting to the bank by 5am would be perfect.
A drive down to Morton via a 30 min detour around the A167, that slowly got me awake and I was ready. I had planned to fish with pellets on the float as I still want some more Chub success on the float. However, I thought of a quick cast near to where I parked with the ledger rod to see if I could tempt an early blank saver. The 5.5ft, 1.5tc river ambush rod was set up in the car, so before I walked to my float swim, I had a quick try. I must have been too early for the fish as there was no interest here.
I walked through the drizzle to my chosen swim. I kept catapulting a few pellets every few minutes as I set up. I was all set up and carried on with the feed before my first cast. As I stood up, I saw a good sized Chub swimming down by my left, I was in the right place. The casting and feeding rhythm was soon in place and my float buried. A lively, jumpy fight on the float rod. This was not a Chub.
The set up was simple. A pellet waggler with a few shot around the float. The 6 or 8mm pellet was banded to the hook. Simples.
I fished for an hour and nothing else was happening. I was not confident of my skills, so decided to have a wander has I had the short rod with me still and set up for ledgering a larger pellet.
I walked to some some usual spots. The channel where the river used to run was completely still as the river has changed its course. I saw a few Chub in here and lowered in a pellet. A few small fish grabbed my pellet as the larger Chub slowly swam away. I kept moving. I came to a swim I might of tried but there was a keepnet in it! In the water. I thought someone had left it, but then I thought someone could be fishing downstream. I checked the net, it had fish in. Before I released them, I thought I best check for anglers. I left my gear and walked downstream. I found the owner in the next peg. He had caught a few and was keeping them away from where he was fishing.
We chatted and I watched him feed and fish in alot better rhythm than I did. I must practice more. I bid him goodbye and walked on. I tried several more swims and soon I met another angler. I chatted with him and saw him catch a lovely Chub. It was good to meet fellow anglers, you know me?! I love a social.
I tried a few more swims with no joy and was soon back to my first swim. I was going to try and float fish again. As I got ready, I noticed loads of casters on the floor from a previous angler. Thinking waste not, want not I picked two up, put them on my hook and chucked and handful of soil with a few casters into the swim. The float buried on my second cast. The next 40 minutes were frantic as six eight inch Chublets could not resist the casters!
If I had three more pints of casters I may of caught a bigger fish. I was happy though. It was great to see the float in action and I was more confident in my method.
I decided it was time to go home and get ready for the rugby. I walked back and was planning to go back in the very first swim and see if a Chub had woken up yet. I was side tracked though by an area I had never fished before. I cast my pellet in on my short rod and waited. A few minutes passed and the usual knock and pull. I was into a much better fish. The rod handling it well in the flow and it was soon in the net. A pristine Chub of 4lb 13oz. This was definitely something to finish on. The lions await!
As I drove home, I remembered the plastic baits I have. I have casters, maggots, the lot. I may just take them in future, I can't rely on bait from the floor every trip!
