Rupert, Martha and I went fishing, together! What's not to like?
Rupe wants to catch a few species on the "mission targets" of a magazine. I told him, I could certainly help. Chub was his first pick, I told him we could try but I could get him a grayling. Grayling are not on the list, but he was happy. We took Martha as she is "bait" and headed to the Swale.
Fortunately they are currently free in this club, it does depend on age. I think more clubs should be free for youngsters ( up to 16 with members), lets just say "they are the future!"
I took them to the swim I fished earlier in the week, I was sure we could catch some grayling from there, if the trout stayed out the way.
We shared a float rod and a ledger rod. Float for the grayling and ledger for chub, but not in this swim. Rupe was up first. He cast as I fired in maggots. He has not trotted before and was soon into the rhythm and getting bites. It wasn't long before he connected and his first grayling is pictured above!
Martha was soon wanting a go, they swapped over and she had the helm. The float buried and she was in. This was no grayling though and the fish was off, definitely a trout. The next swap and Rupe hooked and landed a trout. Martha told me " you just unhook it in water and not take pictures" she must read this blog or be the trout police!!??
Her next go was met with resistance, a bigger fish but I didn't think trout. Her grayling making Rupe's look like a baby! (Her words!)
Not to be outdone, Rupe kept fishing. I was now just watching as he did everything on his own. His next fish being a much better grayling. Martha's photography skills need more work!
Thanks Martha, we have heads!
I took this one
After some hot juice and a snack, we (they) decided that float fishing was completed. Now to try christen Rupe's new ledger rod with a chub. We walked upstream to where I hoped we would find some.
Rupe setting up
Martha wanting a go
Swap the rod for a doughnut!?
Happy angler
No chub here so we moved on to another swim. It was slightly drizzling and although the hand warmers were working well, some cold feet were being described.
I taught Rupe the lesson here that, a fish will always take the bait when you are distracted! I cast in the ledgered cheesepaste and he sat watching whilst I told him this lesson. He then hooked a fish but lost it, we didn't see it but hoped chub. Next, whilst Rupe was eating a sandwich, another bite ( proof of said lesson). Taking line, this fish came off too. I took the rod and waited. Within minutes, the rod went again. Rupe took over and played the much larger fish to the net. It christened his ledger rod, but was not the chub he wanted. A huge trout, 3lb plus.
After another quick go downstream, we decided it was time to head home. I have fished this club water for 10 years and rarely seen many younger anglers. As we packed up another angler walked past with two young kids accompanying him too. I was amazed, but glad I had seen some more future anglers!
With January quickly disappearing, I wanted to get out and have a go. I have been down in Dorset for the last week, getting thrashed by the parents at Crib and Rummy. I was expecting some pirate quenching liquid during the second one, but was alcohol free beer with Davey instead!
I have been watching YouTube and found a new ledger rig from another angler. Its very simple but I think a game changer. Two float stops above the hooklink bead/stop attachment. It means you can adjust the distance of the feeder!! I know! Simple, but I have never thought before and always thought my hooklink was too short etc but could not adjust as the running ring would run down to the stop.
I also found out about mashed bread on the internet. I use breadcrumb in the feeder alot but never mashed. So I spent the evening drying and then wetting bread. Who knew?!
Armed with my new ledger set up and mashed bread as groundbait, I decided to go to the Swale. A chub would be good, I took maggots and the float rod so I could try for grayling also. Oh, and because its January, I took cheesepaste too.
I planned to start with the float rod, feed maggots and a few balls of mashed bread. I would catch some grayling whilst the chub moved in, then would try for them. It was a perfect plan.
Grayling
First cast and the float vanished, I struck and soon a grayling was in the net. This was easy I thought!
I catapulted maggots at intervals and trotted like a pro. I ended on 10 grayling for the session. Most were really good sized fish and made a good account of themselves in the current.
All returned safely
And quickly
Chub
Less productive on this front. None came to trotted maggots. None fancied the bread flake trundling under the float after balls of mashed bread was introduced. None came to ledgered bread flake or cheesepaste on the crease I had been feeding. I even moved swims after lunch (11am) and tried by the banker tree swim and against over hanging bushes. No chub at all today.
Just the one person being Chubby!
Gate crashers
"What else did you catch"? I hear you shout.
Well, I also caught three 2lb plus brown trout. There is quite a few in this section and they go much bigger. They are out of season so all were looked at and unhooked in the water. It got me thinking about "out of season" though. Yes, I was fishing with maggot in a steady glide, just where the grayling like. Here I hooked two trout, landed one and lost one. The second was bigger.
After a few spots of rain the wind picked up. Float fishingvwas difficult so I moved over to ledgering bread. The rod pulled round, I struck hoping for chub, a brownie came to the net.
I changed to cheeepaste and the same thing happened. If anything, it was only trout that were consistent, being caught on all three baits!
Someone must do what my sister did for me at Christmas. Buy the trout a calendar!!
The year started with spending! There is a financial crisis going on, so of course it did! Last year ended with getting Christmas money, so there is a balance.
Earlier this week, I gave some of my blood away ( I do have a pic, but won't post for the squeamish) and then hot footed it to Washington, to a relatively new tackle shop that has opened there. One of the big online ones, that I have used frequently for years. Whats it's name?
I only needed one thing but came out the shop having bought thousands!! Admittedly the thousands were individual maggots! The one big item was needed though.
It was a great shop and I will definitely be back soon.
The rain continued to fall and the river rose, I wondered if I would get out before going back to work on the 9th.
My tackle has been on the table since my last trip and I think my daughter has been "sorting" it for me!
Anyway, I needed to get out today, so with the rivers looking flooded I headed to Tilcon for a few hours. I had the float rod, some maggots and a few worms. I just wanted to have a chill and if some fish came long, that would be a bonus.
I set up in the deep corner, it was fairly mild at 10 degrees and with no wind the lake was like a mill pond. I fed some maggots and cast my float amongst them. Nothing happened for a good while, but I was happy.
Soon the rain came, not heavy enough for the umbrella. I just put my hood up and sat it out. It felt great to be out and apart from the non disappearing float, it was all going well.
I continued to feed with the catapult, I was glad I remembered it this time! I had another feeding tool with me today though. Something I have had for years, brought from AD and never used. I have always wanted too but never seem to remember it. Well, it was used today and am not gonna lie, I had a massive grin on my face when I reeled it in and it was open and still on the end!!
I cast around a fair but as I was not feeding too accurately. Am not the best winter stillwater angler, but I try. I cast to a new spot and as I watched, the float bobbed under. I struck and although minimal resistance, a fish was on. A fish, just!
My first fish of 2023 and it was a tiddler. I cast to the same spot and continued to feed. Then disaster, my new catapult broke. I brought a new one because the last one also broke. I must be an over zealous catapulter!?
I could no longer get bait to the spot I wanted so I cast closer and fed by hand. A superb cast and the worm bait was exactly where I wanted it.
A matter of seconds and the float shot under. This was a better fish, it pulled back and I was soon getting it into the net. This was better.
The feeding was definitely working as this perch who was caught on worm, had been having a maggot starter.
The wind picked up and casting was difficult. A few snags later and I decided it was time to pack up and head home. I had not blanked and 2023 was underway with a couple of perch.
Just between you and me, I was going to call this blog 'spare' as I never bring any spare parts if something breaks and my catapult is pretty much just spare parts now! But I didn't want to be sued, stabbed in the back (actually with a dog bowl or metaphorically), have my necklace broken or killed. But that's enough topical shenanigans!!
High river levels at the start of the year proved for some difficult fishing. Ellis and I fished early Jan, Ellis lost a good few chub at the net whilst I was just there to make the numbers up. I eventually caught a couple, one from the Tees and one from the Swale when fishing into dark.
February
The weather didn't improve, the rain was now coupled with wind. Some dangerous named storms followed. I missed most of them thankfully, but it meant only one session during the month. A Tees chub on the float, maggots trotted by a tree doing the business.
March
I finally caught a particular chub in a swim on the Tees, after missing six bites! Davey caught his first chub, in my usual guiding swim on the Swale!
When the rivers closed for coarse fishing it was back to Tilcon for the bream. Caught a 3lb 13oz one on my second session.
April
More bream at the start of the month, one each for Tom and I, nothing bigger than the average though. A huge bream remained a target. Plenty of perch on several trips, and my first work party! My first ide, a bream on the float and a bream pb of 4lb 14oz capped off a great month on still water.
Ide
New pb
May
A "blank" holiday weekend started the month, I did get good at taking pics of Tom's bream though!
A couple of sessions with the float rod using sweetcorn as bait resulted in lots of fish. My first tench of the year in a haul of 13 fish, not bad for Friday 13th but I definitely lost a pb Bream. A second trip in the swim one to the left and more bream and silvers when I eventually got the fish feeding on the bottom.
June
Six sessions in June - Jubilee Thursday and I landed my first Carp from Tilcon, I must have been broken up a million times by them over the last two years. A nice looking common at 5lb 10oz. A couple of days later, I was back. Tench, roach, rudd, bream, F1, carp, skimmers and hybrids caught between Tom and I, definitely a mixed bag!
5lb 10oz - First Tilcon carp "landed"
The glorious 16th finally arrived. Ellis and I fished the Tees opening day and Swale the next. Plenty of fish, laughs and chat; perfect. An evening at his house showing just how fishing can be a social hobby. Great food, great company although Finn the dog still doesn't like me!
The fish highlights on low clear rivers were a nice Tees Perch to Ellis and a standard 4lb swale Chub for me.
A few days later I was back on the Tees, it was boiling hot, so I fished 6am until midday only. Feeder fishing for bream. A fair few nice fish caught, some perch, roach, dace and two surprise eels! The second nearly pulled the rod in! Amazing strength.
Oh, and I did manage some bream too!
7lb of Tees bream
Lovely release
A first after work session resulted in my first river blank of the new river season. Fished a swim I knew barbel had been caught in recently. The low conditions were a struggle, with constant weed on the line. A lovely evening spent sat on the bank, but nothing to show for it, well, almost nothing!
July
The year is flying past, all downhill now June 21st is behind us.
I was back on the Tees early in the month, a stretch I don't fish very often, but think I will in future. Lots of other anglers, which is nice to see. Caught plenty of perch, a roach, a chublet and a very surprised duck! Fortunately it all ended well, line snapped, nothing left on the duck and the favourite bolo rescued. As many fish lost as caught, I was kept busy through the rain showers and an early finish as it was a Sunday was welcome. News of barbel caught on the Swale ( from the swim I fished last week) had me thinking when am I going to be able to go back and try for them again?!
Not a river fish, but an after work session back on Tilcon. Plenty of silvers, roach of a really good size, a 4lb ish bream and this perfectly formed tinca.
A family trip to Wydon Water in Hexham was scorchio. Plenty of rudd and a tench each for Davey and I, expertly displayed by Rupe!
An early morning individual session on Wydon brought me four tench and two rudd. I walked the mile to the lake and certainly enjoyed walking back through town with the rod and net made up. I was home before the heat and content with the five hour session. It was too hot for a keepnet although don't think I have ever had four tench before, so would of made a good picture. I played around with the fish, rod shot!
The rivers were running on empty, if not even a bit lower. Time was spent watching you tube videos and doing rain dances. The rain finally came towards the end of the month but with the family holiday looming there was no time for fishing. Some short sessions were pencilled in but then rubbed out, my next trip was likely to be with the family whilst on holiday. I always love this trip, so I will update you on that soon.
August
11 of us went to a local Carp lake during our family holiday in Dorset. One of our group had never fished before and wanted to try it. I knew he would end up catching the best fish of the day, and he thoroughly deserved it. I hardly fished as with five spectator's and some novice anglers I was too busy "helping".
Rupe started it with a 5lb Carp on pellet, but Stan stole the show on float fished corn catching a 7lb 4oz fish during the afternoon. He fed and fished hard all morning, not even eating his lunch until he caught the big one, that's dedication!
Mid-month, a foggy morning on Tilcon produced a net full of mostly tench. I was using bread flake as hook bait and crumb as loose feed so I was surprised to catch mostly the green ones. It was a great morning and as the sun came out stronger, I packed up and headed home for a sausage sarnie!
The end of the month resulted in a trip to London. I fished 4 times in 5 days with varying success. I stopped on the Coventy canal as I headed south in search of zander. Many casts made but no zander to show. A small perch before the torrential rain started and I continued driving south with my tail between my legs.
On arriving in London I fished the River Colne and an urban river that remains a secret, although it is well fished, well publicised and well awesome! No fish for me, but we saw lots and as I was taking a different friend this time that is a novice angler, I was able to guide him to something. That something was a 6lb 7oz barbel!! That's another person I have got hooked on fishing!
That ended the "summer".
September
Started with a netting of Tilcon. No carp but some lovely bream. Was good to finally throw one of the leaking pairs of waders away before I use them in a very cold Tees for Grayling this winter. One leaking pair to go!
Some royal and governmental changes made for a busy British September. I took Tom to look at Tees waters now he has joined my club. I caught a few silvers on the float and Tom caught a perch that jumped out the net before a picture. Thought it was only fitting to share something British from this time.
Mid month, another pb for Davey when I took him to Tilcon to try for bream. I had 'promised' him a 4lb bream, so I definitely delivered!
I caught a little tench and a 6lb 2oz carp early in the session. The wind built up and after a few Perch each to worm, davey lost a carp to the lillies. Not deterred, he fished on. Eventually his strike was met with a bit more resistance. A bream popping up to the surface. We packed up after this, home to celebrate with a Belhaven Best or three!
4lb exactly
A week later and I was back to Tilcon. Maybe the autumnal weather was already upon us. Rain dampened my spirits early doors but a few Perch on the worm and the sun was soon shining. With nothing much happening, I buggered off home after five perch in five hours.
The next day I went to the Swale. Autumn had definitely arrived, coupled with a low clear river, conditions were tough. I saw a good sized fish, but couldn't tell what it was. I didn't manage to get it on the bank!! Or even on the hook. A blank followed, but it was good to be back on the Swale. The long sleeve thermal was useful in the cold wind, might be a big coat kinda trip next time out.
October
The river levels were up and down so a Tees trip was abandoned. Tom went to search for pike and I stayed local for bream. Of course it was only perch tugging on my worm, those little perch really do have an amazing appetite and strength when a worm is involved. A lovely sunny but windy autumnal day started the month and a couple of perch were caught. Completely contrasting in size, but both welcome as the colder months start to roll on.
Think one would eat the other!
Two weeks later, I was back out. The rivers were once again flooded, but with warmer weather there was chance of a barbel. Ellis and I fished a section of the Swale on the Leeds ticket. I was a polite guest and let Ellis catch the fish! One chub for him, a blank for me.
A great session casting strongly flavoured meat into a still section (slack) at the back of an island. Fishing was still tough, especially when Ellis was casting into trees!!
November
The first frost of the winter greeted me on a Friday I had booked off work to fish the rivers. Unfortunately the rivers were in flood, so it was to Tilcon armed with worms and dead maggots. Had a great time watching Kingfisher and even saw one dive and catch a fish. It was probably the same size as the micro perch I finally caught. Definitely need to brush up on my winter stillwater techniques if I want to capitalise this time of year. The hungry river chub a la cheesepaste has spoilt me during the cold winter!
December
A new month but back to an old favourite, trotting for winter grayling. The usual swims and a great day. 20 fish up to about a pound, each for Ellis and I. The only issue being not bringing sunglasses, who would think that in December in the frozen North!?
Ellis christened his 17ft rod and won the competition by one minnow. I am sure we should of had to deduct the length of our rods from our catch to make it fair!
The following day was very different. Tom and I went to the Tees, mostly so I could show him a new area but also to try and catch pike or chub. Short story shorter, we blanked, got wet and headed home with our tails between our legs!
The shortest day of the year meant a short session was needed. I had recovered from Covid and so was eager to get fishing. My first day of annual leave seemed a perfect day to do just that. The rivers were high and full of snow melt so I figured grayling on the Tees my best chance. I was wading by 8am and had cold feet by half past!! Actually not metaphorically.
No bites so I moved on. I needn't of worried, it seems the fish are just on Ellis's time. They like a gentle morning! by 9am I had caught a few fish and as I had blocks of ice for feet, I decided to head home. Not before another quick go in our favourite swim, and I was rewarded with a good grayling!
Time to head home, I was planning on fishing Christnas day again this year!
December 25th and the rivers were high. I still managed to get out and fish the Swale at Morton. I had float gear and ledger gear, but the float rod never got out the bag. Within an hour my rod hooped over and a bruiser of a chub at 5lb 5oz soon lay in the net. I missed another bite, but left happy. The river was certainly high and trees had moved in the winter floods and created new slacks and holding areas. I do enjoy the ever changing environment. It keeps it interesting!
I have now travelled down South (Dorset) with the kids to visit my family. That will likely be the last of fishing for 2022, so lets wrap it up with a look at the targets and see how I did.
Hmmmm. Not good, going by the targets. I achieved zero!
Although, I am sure you will agree by reading the above summary and the previous 46 blogs from 2022. I had a good fishing year and thoroughly enjoyed (almost) all of it!!
2023 will likely be a challenging year, so I will have just the one target.
