Trees bite??

Date fished 22/10/2022

8am until 4.30pm

Today was a trip to catch up, catch a break, catch fish, get the catch of the day and hopefully avoid the catch 22.

Ellis and I planned to fish the Swale. I was the guest. We fished a section of the Leeds club that Ellis is in, but I am not. Checking the levels last night, it was "flooded", so some chilli and/or garlic meat, pellets, worms and cheese paste were all loaded into the tackle bag. 

Not my dinner  but the fishes. I fried up two batches of meat for the trip. All in, I had 10 items (bags) of bait, which was enough for the both of us. Ellis brought me my bait courtesy of Carole  Thank you!! 

After I went on a slight detour, getting lost, I spotted EL Hut behind me so pulled over to let him lead. Moments later we were parked up. A barmy 13 degrees, it didn't feel like near November. We hoped this warm weather along with the large flood would have the barbel on the feed. Through the keyhole and a short walk to the river and we decided on a swim we could both fit in. This was a catch up, as I said above! Tbh by 4pm, our laughs could of been heard up at Morton, but more of that later. 

Keyhole entrance

Sitting pretty

Two, for now

With the river so high, two rods became "annoying" so we settled on one each. Both with single weights and meat as bait, flavour to be agreed upon when the fish took a liking to one....

The gentle tapping of the rods as leaves and debris collected on the line was hypnotic. We caught up on all things fishing and non fishing related when suddenly a beep and a tap turned into a pull! Ellis was in and quickly brought a Chub through the faster water to the waiting net. Easily over 2lb and a good start to the day. This got the concentration back on focus! 

We fished on, alternating between meat flavours, although the above was caught on chilli so this option was used most often! 

Ellis went for a walk to stretch the legs and take a good look at the beat. I think he found a new brolly shelter for when we next go night fishing!? 

The river was dropping, easily over 50cm during our session, maybe more. This caused it to go faster in places and actually change a lot. Slacks we fished mid river behind an island got smaller and then bigger as the levels changed. We ended up using two weights each, which had a canny resemblance to a part of a male dogs anatomy.

 It was fascinating to notice the change in river and next time we will do a time lapse to demonstrate this! (Well, maybe when we are retired) 

Is actually just the same pic, twice!! Haha oops.

The river really did change and an area that was unfishable when we arrived suddenly looked very fishable now! And in fact, on walking back to the car, a whole area that was a torrent this morning, looked like a perfect bolo glide this afternoon. 

Anyway, I digress. The inviting spot. Ellis got off his comfy chair and came to my left. It was a narrow, tree lined and covered channel that screamed fish. We decided to get the big guns out and and see if we could tempt something. 

Cheese paste was moulded around the dumbbell and cast near to the over hanging tree. Within minutes, Ellis was into a fish. Sadly it came off just as quick. As I hurried over to "help" aka fish next to him, we tackled up and cast in again. Well, I cast in. Ellis just cast. 

Moments later Ellis felt another tap, he got ready for the pull but nothing came. He waited. After some minutes, he decided to re cast. It was then that he noticed, he had been in a tree this whole time!! The second tapping must have been a tree bite!!! We laughed so loud, am still chuckling now. 

By now it was time to go home. Conditions looked good for staying into dark, but we had done everything we wanted and staying longer was just pushing our luck. Was great to catch up with Ellis and learn that trees can bite. I never knew that!! 

Tug o' worm

Date fished 8/10/2022

9.30am until 2.30pm

Checking the river levels all week, it was clear that the much needed rain would hamper fishing at the weekend. With well over a metre at broken scar (our usual marker)  it was decided to abandon a river Tees trip. Tom headed up to a Trout lake in search of pike and I decided on a session at Tilcon for bream. 

I left it "late" this morning as it was bitter cold first thing and wanted to give it chance to warm up. The weather certainly did warm up and some suncream would not of been out of place today. The wind however kept that in check. 

I only took the feeder rod, with pellets for the feeder and worm on the hook. I was sure that would be enough. 

Setting up in the swim I fished last time, I was sure this deeper area would be where the bream were lurking. 

A carp swam past, under the rod tip. Not in the picture above, that was me just showing you the set up. I was no way quick enough to take a pic of the carp, I did toss it some pellets for breakfast though. 

The worm was constantly being tugged. We all know what causes that. For effect, I can show you, but let you know that this was actually the second fish that I caught. 

Typical tugger

The tugger is known to not be much longer than said worm, but to pull the rod with might. It is mostly welcome but on some levels gets in the way of other tuggers that would give more of a pull round. That was what occurred first.....

A much better perch, one that would probably eat the tugger!! 

The wind got stronger and battered the rod, but I still got plenty of bites. All were missed and tuggers assumed, although there were some free spool spinning moments too, but nothing landed to be confirmed. 

The lake is looking a bit more full and the lillies starting to die back. I don't fish Tilcon much in winter, opting for running water in  the colder months. 

As I unpack the kit and look at the calendar, there does not seem to be too many weekends left until the end of the year (alternate ones being those I can fish). It seems crazy but this year really is whizzing past. There must be a perch in 2023 that is tugging 2022 along at an alarming rate! 

I enjoy catching the perch and being out on sunny autumnal days like today is magic. I just wish they wouldn't tug my worm so much! 🤣

Autumnal

Date fished 25/9/2022

8am until 2.30pm

I had not fished the Swale since June 29th, and had actually only fished it five times this calendar year. Checking the levels and seeking some local input, I decided a return to the Swale was needed. 

I fished a feeder with crumb and pellets that I needed to use up, with meat or worm on the hook. 

The river was quite low but what surprised me was the clarity. I could count the stones on the bottom in fairly deep water. I assumed I was going to struggle. 

Struggle, I did. I fished lots of swims and covered some river. However, apart from seeing a large barbel (I think) swimming about it was a fishless trip. 

When I switched to worm, it was getting battered by small fish, that didnt tempt anything bigger to come and investigate. 

It started fairly mild, but the wind soon picked up and it was autumnal by mid morning. I was glad I had put my long sleeve thermal top on. The wind created a ripple on the surface and lots of leaves fell from the over hanging trees. It got me thinking of cheesepaste and fishing in winter. I always enjoy that, strangely. 

Please remind me of that when I blank in freezing conditions! 

Five in five

Date fished 24/9/2022

7.30am until 12.30pm 

I enjoyed the trip to Tilcon with my dad last week, so fancied some more of the same. I usually fish the further venues on the Saturday of my weekend and the closer one on the Sunday, it being a school night! However, with a match on Tilcon this Sunday, I swapped it around. I also figured with wfh currently the blended way, a downstairs commute on Monday was easier than one involving the car and needing to be awake!

I took a feeder rod and a float rod and planned to fish exactly the same as last time, albeit without my trusty sidekick. 

Arriving at the lake, another car was pulling in behind me. I didn't have to get out and close the gate, today already looked promising. 

I decided to fish a different area of the lake today, an area I have not fished much. A deeper area in the hope of a big bream. 

Corn on the float and pellet on the feeder and I was fishing. The rain then started and was soon heavy enough for the rain coat. Eventually it stopped and gave me the motivation to make some changes. Worm on the float, and it was a fish straight away.

 The bites continued to come and they were all the same species, just different sizes. One perch was barely longer than the worm. I alternated between corn and worm and only had interest in worm. 

The ledger rod remained motionless, I cast near the bushes, away from the bushes and everywhere in between. There was certainly fish in this deeper water, lots were topping and some bigger fish crashed about. It was only perch that visited me though. 

The sun came out and the rain coat was removed. Sun glasses were actually needed. Soon, the rain came back and I contemplated what changes to make. It had been five perch in five hours. I decided a big change was needed and buggered off home!! 

Slab saves the day

Date fished 16/09/2022

8.40 am until 2pm 

The parental unit had been up North, North of here in fact, visiting the Northumberland coast. On their leisurely meander back South they stopped by to eat my food and drink my wine. I tolerated this and even took Davey to fish my club water at Ryton. We targeted bream on Tilcon. 

Float rods, worms, sweetcorn, some loose feed and with pellets and a ledger rod as back up, and we were set. Day ticket bought we arrived at the lake. 

There's something in the sling....

We set up in adjacent swims and started fishing. The wind was quite strong but when the sun broke through the clouds, it warmed us up.

A quick dip of the float and a small perch was first to banked. This was followed by a few more, all coming to worm. 

The ledger (sleeper) rod was next to show signs of activity. Just as I was having a cup of coffee, it pulled round and I knew I was hooked into a carp. I played it away from the lillies and eventually it was ready for the net. At 6lb 2oz, it was my largest Tilcon carp. 

We fished on and it was the ledger rod away again. I was hoping for a bream, but a nice little tench was the culprit this time. Some excellent photography from Davey, he managed both mine and the fishes head in the same picture (ish)!

Davey was soon catching fish, the switch from sweetcorn to worm brought three perch.  I called him over to fish the swim I was in. I was just ledgering now so there was space for both of us. Plus, I could berate and tell him off easier if he was closer. He was soon casting well and feeding close to the lillies. His float buried and he hooked a carp. The battle on the float rod was quick as the hooklink quickly gave way. Was this the story of the one that got away? 

I too lost a fish. Some weed drifted against my line. I saw it, but left it as I thought it would be fine. Moments later my rod pulled round and a fish was on. I couldn't play it with the weed attached too, and another one got away!  

Davey kept up the feeding and accurate casting, and soon his float sailed away. He struck and quickly declared "a better fish". 

Before I could offer guidance on the fighting carp, we both saw the bream pop to the surface. I had 'promised' Davey a pb, 4lb bream, so was careful with the net. He guided it over the net and it was ours. Smiles all round. 

This prompted us to pack up. Leave on a high. On the short drive home Davey remarked how "the slab saved the day"!

10/10 for blog titles, no shouting at him for that! 

£5.50

Date Fished 10/9/2022

8.30am until 1.30pm 

Northern fishing was back on after my exploits down south. What was trying to scupper my fishing was (much needed) rain, two teeth extractions yesterday and the sad passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II. 

All that aside, I planned a Tees trip with Tom, he was new to the club I fish, so it was to be a tour as well as a fishing expedition. The levels were touch and go. I got up at 5am to check, they were OK, so away we went. I collected him via a road closure and we headed to Rambo's so I could buy bait. A pint of reds and a small tub of dendras and we were away. 

Patriotic rod

I was going to float fish and Tom was lure fishing. I fed some maggots and set the rod up. Tom chucked some plastic into the river,  that's lure fishing not littering! 

We leap frogged upstream until I eventually found the fish. With the river being quite high, they were not a rod length out from the bank, more like a match stick length out. 

I caught half a dozen small roach and some even smaller chub. Chub that would be scared by minnows, they were so small. 

Micro chub

Tom had bites, connected but sadly the fish got off. It was promising they were finding his lures, so surely it was only a matter of time. We walked on, me showing Tom the area so he would know for next time. 

As this was an explore combined with fishing, we jumped in the car and I drove to another club stretch. We fished a few swims and was soon separated as I trotted and Tom lured. 

When we finally came back together there was a story. Tom had caught a nice perch but it jumped out the net whilst he was getting ready for a picture. 

We believe him though, a "one that got away" story usually is a 5lb perch not a 0.5lb perch! This is not a nod to the title, just a coincidence. I managed to leave the tackle shop by only spending £5.50!! 

Fish wranglers

No fishing today, but another work party. Today's was different though as we were netting Tilcon. I had the kids, so the three of us set of for an 8am start. 

Waders in various sizes were put on and we hatched a plan. My waders were also leaky so my plan was not to stay dry! Which was easy done in the rain that soon joined us. 

Tom and his kids were there also, as was the interest to see what lived in the depths of Tilcon. 

The net was strung across the lake, fish were corralled one way or another, the boat was instrumental in assisting our efforts and there was sinking in the silt! 

The first try to the right of the lake resulted in lots of silvers, some perch and some good sized bream. 

The second attempt was much more dramatic. We went to the deeper end of the lake. The method of using the boat as a trawler worked well to dispense the net. Unfortunately the tree lined bank was tough and some sunken cages snagged the net. There was some Carp in the net including a nice sized ghostie. The removal of the net from the  snag took an enormous tug of war with six men and a large silt filled cage. We won eventually but at what cost? 

We continued to pull the net in. A big carp jumped clean over the top and escaped but we were expecting others. When the net was in, it contained less than my normal net! The snagging had cost us the fish escaping. 

Soon, it was time to leave but it was a great morning. Look forward to trying again. 

I will give the last word to Steve, whose wet suit, swimming and diving were the highlight of the morning!!