Ide be happy with one pb, but two!!!

Date fished 17/4/2022

12.30 pm until 18.00

Adam, chapter 4, verse 3. On the third day, he went to the lake again! 

With no other plans, I decided I would complete the hatrick and go back to the lake. An afternoon session this time, still targeting those slabs. Not the concrete ones like yesterday, the bream flavoured ones. 

Since my first trip to Tilcon when I used my pole, nearly every other trip I have used a feeder. Today I took the float rod and some wagglers, I was going to see if I could catch my first ever proper bream on the float, (of course the ledger rod came too). 

Picking a swim I had never fished before was ambitious, especially as I slipped on my way down to it and broke a step. One for me to repair next work party! 

I set up the ledger as a sleeper rod and concentrated on the float. Worm on the hook, I fed pellets about a rod length out against a bush. It was warm enough for shorts, but there was a steady breeze, creating a chop on the water. It was not blowing constantly and when it stopped, the lake was like glass. Quite a contrast.

That reminds me, I must buy milk...

After an hour of feeding and casting my first bite. A little Perch to deny the blank. 

As I fished on it was a Perch a chuck, all on worm. Some small, some bigger. About 25 in all and certainly kept me busy with a smile on my face on the float rod.

 

I kept up the feeding and was nearly out of worms. The float dipped and I struck, this time resistance and the fish pulled back. A good fight on the float rod and I had succeeded. A bream of between two to three pounds lay in the net! 

The wind picked up and with no worms left, I put the feeder against the bush and did some close in ledgering to see if any more bream were down there. There was, another fish similar to the first but this time falling to pellet.

I carried on feeding and the fish were definitely feeding as line bites gave them away. Another member was walking his dog and we had a chat. As we did, the rod started pulling and another bream was on. We saw it come to the top, it was bigger than the first two and I played it towards the bank. Like with everything when you are being watched, you just can't do it the same and the bream came off! 

"You can blame me for that" said the other angler and off he went. 

I cast straight back out and within minutes the rod went again. I was better now and a larger fish lay in the net. No blame there! 

This looked much bigger and deserved a number. 

My previous pb was 4lb 13oz. Gotta love these digital scales when your pb is going up an ounce at a time!! 

Sure of more fish, I fished on. The rod gave a huge tap and line started to come off the spool. Novices will think this is a big fish, but experience tells me, its usually a tiddler.

A small but perfectly formed ide and my first ever, so technically another pb!! 

I carried on a little while longer but I wanted to pop and see my friend Ronald. He is moving to Hexham soon, so will be great to catch up. I drove thru and had a celebratory burger and headed home. 

Having the lake to myself was great this afternoon and the pb's were amazing. I enjoy the  (social) club aspect too, so will be looking to sort out that step on my next work party. 

Maybe there should be a rule where a pb equals cakes!? Will have to see if that catches on, as I tuck into my (frog) chocolate. 

Golden frog made by my kids for Easter

Work party

16/4/2022

10.30 am until 12.30 pm

There was no alcohol, no sausages, no jumping naked out of cupboards, no snogging and no photocopying of genitals but this was indeed a "work party". 

I was at my first club work party and today we were doing work at Tilcon.  

Five of us (wishing we were fishing) spent a good two hours sorting and tidying the on site container. Useful to keep bits of wood, but when is too much? 

There was alot more than this! 

HMS Missy pie, a large boat, more afloat than some others in the news at the moment. 

A good sort out was needed so equipment would be ready for swim repairs, path completion and other jobs throughout the years.

At the end, the container was spick and span ready for the summer, apart from the odd smell of dust, Guinness and coffee! 

With a good job completed, some old wood burnt a few decided to fish. I headed home to cheer on the red men. 

Assault and battery

Date fished 15/4/2022

8.30 am until 2.30 pm

Or any days

Bank holidays = fishing days. Not always but this particular Easter, I was able to go fishing. Happy to keep both kidneys, I decided not to sell one for fuel and opted to fish local. I headed to Tilcon. 

I decided to fish in my old favourite swim, and not the new favourite swim. Confused? Well, I fished in the lake, let's leave it like that. I had two rods, worm on one and pellet on the other. They were both set up last night, so I was fishing in minutes. Traps set, it was a lovely morning, mild and with no wind. I wished I brought the float rod!!

It was not long until the worm rod got some attention. By attention I mean GBH, ABH and any other H's you can think of. Short, sharp pulls on the tip as the worm was getting its face smashed in. I knew the likely culprits and soon I had one on the bank.

Our old friend, Mr Perch. You will remember, a Perch was my first ever fish? Anyway, today they were starving. They attacked the worm constantly, so I decided to up sticks and fish in a new area for me. The Carp were crashing around by the rushes and I wondered if a tench may be close by. I crept into position and decided not to fish tight against the snags, but the opposite way but under all the scum and surface film being blown that way. There would definitely be fish here. 

First cast in and I spooked a fish dozing just under the surface. I sat back and waited. Sure enough the rod started to get attention, it would appear someone's eyes were bigger than their belly!! 

About half a dozen Perch in as many casts and I chuckled to myself. I was hoping a bigger one was also sat down there....

No such luck, they were all the same size. Although the way the rod was being tugged implied they had been eating at least 3 shredded wheat each! 

I decided to move again, in the hope of catching something different. 20 minutes in a sheltered spot and the aggression of the little Perch had disappeared. If I believed in meditation or such things I may of started humming. It was so peaceful. 

The clouds came over and I no longer needed my sunglasses. When I put them away, I just carried on with the rest of my kit. Without realising I was back at the car and ready to go. A short, sharp worm bashing session came to a close. I have a party tomorrow so it's early bath time.....

4lb average

Date fished 3/4/2022

9.30am until 3pm

Assume you all have windows, eyes and a memory?! So, I wont need to tell you that the weather has gone from 20 degrees to snow the next day! What this must do to wildlife and fish... at least we can simply ( if we can afford it) flick the switch and turn the heating back on. The fish must be freezing mid spawn!

Anyway, it was my birthday end of March, so I treated myself to some new gear. I bought a stack of new swim feeders, Korum supa lite rod saver and a bait pouch - seems the heating will have to be turned off until 2023!  

Small grippa feeders, just 15 and 20g, ideal for small amounts of bread crumb when targeting chub on the rivers.

A nice bit of kit, I bought the two rod version, should be great for roving the rivers or an evening session on the lake.

I had planned to fish with Tom at Tilcon. The pike season finished on 31st March, so there was no need for Tom to be over at Stargate (blanking) anymore! 

We decided to fish a bit later than normal to allow for some warmth. I set off and headed down the a69, soon realising I had left the worms in the fridge, so back I went! Eventually we met at the car park and had a good look at the lake. Armed with pellets and worms, the bream were the target.

We both had two rods in the water in next to no time and were soon sat back, coats off, enjoying the sun. We chatted as the rods lay still, but regular casting had us thinking the fish would be on the feed. We commented on what the average weight of bream is in the lake, we agreed on 4lb. We wanted to see what the largest is and if the lake is netted, we may get a chance. Would be good to know what our quarry is, although the surprise is nice too. 

There were nearly 10 anglers on the lake today, was nice to see. As usual when I fish with Tom, he gets the fish!! True to form, and skill, his rod was away. A quick scoop and a 4lb 1oz bream lay in the net. 

Pellet the bait of choice

We fished on as the sun moved around behind us. The wind was cold but its battle was lost against the sun and we remained warm. When the sun went behind the trees, the wind got its revenge and within minutes, it felt like winter. Loads of knocks on my worm rod enough to keep me warm (ish).

At 1.30pm Tom decided it was time to pack up so he left, I thought I would fish on a short while. I was watching the constant taps on the worm, in truth my worm was being hammered! Then the pellet rod was away, a quick battle, it actually pulled back! And a spirited bream lay in the net. 3lb 15oz

Anticipation.....

Seems I needn't of gone back for the worms!

I fished on until 3pm. The wind was now very much in control and with no more bites and clouds gathering it was soon time for home.

Now, I did do A level maths but I don't thinks it's needed to confirm the average of today's efforts!! 

A is for apple, B is for bream

Date fished 19/3/2022

7.30am until 2.30pm

The curtains closed on running water, with some impressive nets/individual fish caught from the Swale and Tees. I may book the last day of the season off next year, I tend to fish opening day but never closing day. Who's to say its any better or worse on any given year? I just see it as a day off to go fishing!

This closed season (as per the last two), I will be targeting the bream on Tilcon, and probably hooking and being snapped up by carp along the way! They have an amazing ability to be in the weeds before you even get a chance to pick the rod up. 

Preparing for the closed season pushes me towards pellets, the power of pellets:

Pellets in all different sizes and flavours, easy to store, easy to use. A very versatile bait.

I had the ever faithful hybrid feeder to use on the ledger rod and the float rod with a puddle chucker just in case. Along with a plethora of pellets, I had some bread and worms. 

As I drove to the lake the car told me it was four degrees, then 2 degrees. The fog clearly showing me it had been a chilly evening. I arrived at the lake, it was still quite high from water that runs in on the far side. I opted to fish over that side as the sun would be over there in the morning and the wind (that was quite strong) was blowing that way too. 

First cast and I was getting line bites, fish were in the area. I decided to switch from pellet on the band to a worm on the hook. The taps continued. Setting up the float rod was enough to get more interest in the feeder, I was soon ignoring the float and awaiting a three foot twitch. 

I didn't happen quite like that though, a small inch pull. I struck, fish on. Was great to feel a bend in the rod and the usual fight and amazing first sight of a bream soon followed. I never fail to be impressed when I first see them. They look so huge! A quick weigh however gave it only 3lb 13oz, it looked bigger. Was still happy! 

I fished on a little while but as the  sun moved around behind me and the wind picked up, I was soon actually quite cold. I decided to move to the other side. A brisk walk and chat with another angler and a couple of guys doing some maintenance and I was soon warm again. Is always nice to chat to others whilst fishing, I always say the social side is enjoyable.

I fished my old favourite swim for a couple of hours but no luck. it is very different before the lillies have grown. It was much warmer here and I probably didn't need the thermal t shirt, the jacket came off. 

I finished my lunch and before I packed up, I noticed my groundbaiting had worked. I had managed to get the antz (I know!) feeding!! 

Guiding

Date fished 10/03/2022

8am until 1pm 

The parents had come North again, so I offered Davey the usual "guarantee" of catching a fish. I had taken him a few times recently in the hope of getting him a Chub but sadly ending in blanks. Today was different, as I had about a pint of maggots I offered him the guarantee of a Grayling or (he said and) a Chub!! 

We set off early as it is parents evening tonight, me to attend, fortunately not about me! Arriving just as another angler was setting up in the car park, we said some pleasantries and headed to the river. He was fly fishing and was going to fish the area  I wanted to for Grayling. We headed off upstream first, the Grayling would have to wait. Within minutes we were fishing, six passed and no bites, very odd! Some casting practice for Davey, resulted in a lost hooklink. 

After a bite less hour we headed off for a new spot. The fly fisherman had moved so we jumped into the spot. I stepped in the water, only to discover a leak in my thermal wellies now. A wet foot for the rest of the day. 

Davey was soon casting to the same (ish) spot each time, and I was firing out maggots with aplomb. As the jets practiced around us, we fished on. The second Davey looked round to see the planes his float buried. I shouted "strike", he did and the fish was on. He felt the pull and twisting, but sadly it was off just as quick! We persisted until the maggots were all gone, there were some more float disappearances but none as good as the bumped fish. 

We moved to a new spot, determined to change our luck.

Up until now, we had been using meat. I decided to change to a bit of cheese paste. Davey cast in and waited. In a matter of minutes, the rod gave an indication. Davey struck and the rod stayed bent. His first ever Chub, so obviously a pb. Unweighed but a good three and a half pounds I would say. 

We fished on for a little while but no other bites. It was a successful trip, my guiding skills have paid off. I have put two people on their first Chub, same swim too! 

I gave Davey an overall score of "greater depth". 

First cast

Date fished 6/3/20222

10.30am until 6.30pm

I finally made it back to the Swale after a month. I wanted to fish here since 6/2/2022 but conditions didn't allow. Was it worth it? Let's find out.

I arrived and there was two other cars in the car park, dog walkers I assumed. The full poop bag hanging from the rear bumper gave me my biggest clue. I walked to see the river, it was up but looked good. I checked to see if Shane was fishing, he was not in his usual swim, so unless he fell in I assumed he was not fishing yet. 

I wasn't sure where to fish, so I walked a few swims. I settled on one of my favourites. I fished it Christmas day in 2020 and had my pb Chub from it on Halloween 2019. 

At 11am I cast in, the first cast. It was perfect, I sat back. At 11.06 my rod tapped once, twice. I got ready. It hooped round. I struck, met with thin air! I had missed the first bite. I cast back in and waited some more. 

It's now 16.48 and am sat on the bank typing this, in short- still waiting!

I have fished a few swims, watched the Mink, Kingfisher and Cormorant in the water. Its been a coat off day until about 4pm when the sun started to dip. In truth, fishing earlier was difficult, I forgot my sunglasses and couldn't actually see the rod as the glare from the sun was so bright. 

Home now and writing the rest: I swapped baits but could not tempt another bite. I chatted with another angler whilst we packed our cars, he had only caught Trout on bread and cheesepaste, no Chub. Made me wonder what had been the culprit at 11.06. We will never know. 

I fished until my only companion was high in the sky above me.

Night all. Of course it was worth it. It always is!!