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Da€e fished 19/8/2023

07.30 un€il 12.00

I was going €o wri€e the whole blog wi€hou€ the le€€er T, bu€ €hough€ €hat would be €oo annoying! Jus€ like when I woke up........

Without my morning cup of tea, you are lucky I was able to even function!! A quick stop at Tesco to get some bottled water and I was off to the river. 

Back on the Tees, on a club stretch, and honestly my favourite section. No idea why, I just really love it, and have had some great trips here. 

I walked down the hill to the river. I left the chair in the car as the banks are not level and its not worth carrying. The keep net too as I was just hoping to have a few hours and use up the maggots. 

I got to my favourite swim and it was different. The vegetation was washed away and the bank nearly flat. A chair would have been ideal! Not to worry, I tackled up the float rod and started fishing.  By the second trot down, I had fallen in love with float fishing. I miss it.

The wind was strong but warm. Upstream at times making trotting both easier and then difficult. I was sheltered mostly, but alot of branches on the far bank were blown off and crashed into the water. 

I caught steadily today, finishing on at least 100 fish. Mostly small chublets but also plenty of roach. The first fish was a roach and a great blank saver.

Followed by chublets

The predators were in the margins. I could see and hear them attacking smaller fish. I kept feeding and fished on. A bite a chuck is cliché but it really was. The net would of been small but it would of looked great too! Not to worry, maybe I will bring the keep net next time. 

I lost a better sized fish, the hook just coming out. I wondered if the perch were now on to the maggots. The next few silvers were interspersed with some decent perch. The best weighed 1lb 4oz, a real beauty. 

I was feeding fairly heavily and the roach seemed to respond. They were getting bigger too.

Soon the inevitable happened. A pike grabbed the roach I was bringing in. The hooklink snapping immediately. I watched it swim off to the depths. I fished on a little longer but the bait was going down fast. I used up all I had and decided to call it a day. A good few hours on the bank, back home to a cuppa! 

Move closer

Date fished 18/8/2023

8.30 until 14.00

A few days of annual leave left and I was back in the North. I had yet to visit the Tees this river season, so thought it was rude not too.

I needed bait so it was an early trip to Rambo's. I was waiting outside long before the shutters went up. Some maggots, worms and groundbait and I was off to Bowesfield to sit behind the feeder rod. 

Similar tactics, rigs and swims as previous trips here. I do like ledgering rivers for the bream, there is always the chance a big perch comes along too.  Not today though, only two fish caught. Neither big, but I didn't mind. 

Today's main error was dressing like its August. The wind was cold and when the drizzle started, my rain coat was not enough to keep me warm. I actually sat and shivered!! In August!! I blame Betty! 

I also started out clipped up and fishing quite a way across. A biteless two hours before I started casting nearer to my bank. This brought immediate action. Plenty of bites and the two caught fish came from this move closer.

Spending more time on the river, I am witnessing things other anglers talk about. I have had pike attack my keepnet, take fish I am reeling in, watched otters, mink and other critters at close quarters. Today there was a new first. As I reeled in my feeder, a pike went for it. Swirling on the surface, it got hooked. I fought it for a while but the 2.5lb hooklink no match for it's sharp teeth and soon it was gone. 

Anyway, it was nice to not blank and be back on the Northern rivers. Am thinking of doing it all again tomorrow but with the float rod this time! 

Oh, and of course it was fine once I moved closer, made me think of the first album I ever owned. On cassette no less!! Ask your parents if you dont know what that is!!

All at sea

15/8/2023

09.45 until 10.45

We decided this year to not fish fresh water, opting for salt instead. Eventhough I brought a car full of  coarse fishing gear with us, we booked an hour Mackerel fishing with Lyme bay boat trips. 

The trip was scheduled a few days before but the weather scuppered those plans. The morning finally arrived and calm seas and blue skies greeted us. 

We walked along the cobb and climbed aboard, welcomed by all the crew!

Due to sea conditions the skipper informed us we would be going 1.5 miles off shore and drift over a wreck. That would give us the best chance of catching fish as the Mackerel were proving difficult. We drifted over the 70ft wreck which lay in 80ft of water. 

After getting snagged first cast, Martha and I soon got the hang of it and caught some 'poor cod' that's me not saying the cod were not rich or hard done by! The boys both caught too, Sam managing two at once! We ended with eight fish between the four of us and 17 across the whole boat of 10 anglers (5 rods). 

It was a great 20 minutes fishing and an enjoyable hour trip. 

As we headed back to the harbour that's usually where my fishing ends but today was different. It was a catch and cook kinda day....

One for Dad

Date fished 29/07/2023

6am until 1pm

Over two months has passed since I last fished. Davey's Pancreatic cancer diagnosis in December 2022 hit the whole family hard. We did what families do and supported each other. Taking pills, recording poos and talking about past fishing trips all being part of the daily routine. Sadly, Davey died peacefully at the end of June and I wanted to fish as he would, well not really... I don't sleep whilst I fish!

We always had fun on our fishing trips and I am sure some stories will come out over the years I fish with my own son. Too many fishing memories to begin to unbox, but the lasting one was a picture my sister and I had commissioned for fathers day 2023, captured Davey perfectly. 

I needed to get back on the bank and catch something. I could of taken maggots on the Tees and caught all day, but I decided to see if I could catch a chub on the Swale. For no other reason than it was on my mind. 

The usual alarm, drive and Ronald stop and I was at the river. It was warm, 16 degrees and quite cloudy. I had no rain coat so took the golf brolly from the car boot. I had a float rod, ledger rod and bread and meat for bait. 

The bread because I have watched alot of YouTube, where Avon angling catches alot of chub on float fished bread. This is an aim of mine. The meat because I had some leftover sausage meat from Christmas, so I decided to jazz it up!! 

I walked over the flood barrier and was expecting to see cows, what I did see had me thinking the cows would of been better!! 

No idea what this was, I found out after speaking to a dog walker that the field owner had a "bongo thing on". Am still non the wiser. I went to find a swim.

The banks were very overgrown and I could see the water had been really high recently. I fished in a swim I fancied but I couldn't cast. I couldn't sit properly,  I just didn't feel right. So I went for a walk. The second swim was better, I fed mashed bread and float fished flake for a solid hour. Nothing. I was getting annoyed and wanted today to be chilled, so I upped sticks and went for a third swim. I had my new waders in my bag so it was surprising that I walked in the river in the wellies I had on and got wet feet!! I changed to the waders and started playing properly! 

I pulled my act together and did what I knew best. I ledgered luncheon meat. Not my amazing chilli flavoured sausage, I had not had a touch on it so far. The upstream  wind was strong and warm, the rain annoying rather than getting me soaked. Soon the rod was pulling round to a bite. 

A nice 3lb ish chub breaking the blank.  I carried on fishing here but soon got scared. I watched a big pike swim between me and the bank. I was wading up to my waist and feared it might grab hold somewhere, so I scurried onto dry land. 

I had achieved what I wanted to do and it was still early. I decided to have a walk and see what was happening. The happy campers were now up and the field was busier than usual. I went and sat on the spot where Davey caught his first and only ever Chub (link above). 

I smiled as I ate my lunch, my rod not even in the water. Eventually I cast in and listened to the cricket. The rod hooped over and I played the culprit towards me. I was ready with the net and pulled the branch out the water!! It started as a fish, I felt it pulling back, seemed it transferred the hook on the way. 

I chuckled to myself and fished on. Soon kids were playing in the river opposite and lunch was being taken at the Oval. I decided that was my cue and I packed up. 

Mission accomplished! 

Contemplation

 Date fished 24/05/2023

12.50 until 16.35

The lighter evenings are perfect for a few after work hours. Driving to Tilcon takes 11 minutes from the office, so it makes sense to combine the two. "If I have to go in the office, I will fish" - something like that. I pity the person that line manages me!! 

I am off to Dorset with the kids for half term, so thought I would get an extra trip in, I am also thinking of going early (5am) on Saturday too, we will see and I will let you know! Is kinda hard to say no when the weather is playing ball. 

I was preparing before the trip and I noted this is my 274th blog entry, maybe I should of kept that for the 300th, but I looked now. Maybe I will remember for the 300th too, do something special!?

Just the float rod this time, with stronger line. As much as I am not after the carp, I dont like them always smashing me up, lets get one on the bank!

Lots of bites but no fish hooked. Was nice to sit and contemplate stuff on the bank for a few hours. 

Workin' 9 to 5

Date fished 20/05/2023

Fished 5am until 10am and work party until 2pm

A 4am alarm woke me up, it must be nearly summer time! I tumbled out of bed and stumbled to the kitchen.

Getting in the car, it said 4 degrees, maybe not quite summer. The mist rose off the lake as I parked up. I wanted to fish a particular swim and at 5am with two cars in the car park, I felt lucky. Of course the two anglers were in that swim, I settled for my second choice. 

As usual bream were the target. It never goes to plan and the first bite was a lovely tench. Still not even 6am. I had the float rod with sweetcorn on the hook and also the feeder rod with pellets or corn, depending. I fished with both rods at first, but the constant knocks and bites meant I could only concentrate on one. I opted to float fish. 

Watching the float as the mist rose was awesome.  It was a bit chilly but the flask of coffee soon warmed me up. I wanted a good picture of the lake but I didn't have my filmographer with me and thought my phone would not do it justice. I fished on and soon it was a bite a chuck. 

Fishing the float is such a nice way to catch, nice and calm. The float buried and the rod was pulled around. The drag spun as the fish was now heading towards Newcastle City centre! My tackle was not suited to carp, so as predicted, it "smashed me up!" Proper style, nothing came back. It is a hard balance using beefy tackle to bully the carp away from the weedy areas, but when you are catching small silvers "most" of the time, I don't need the sea rod and rope style line just yet! 

It's enough to drive you crazy, if you let it! 

I now just had the feeder rod, so carried on fishing with that. The sun was coming through now and I took the wellies off to warm up my feet. This distraction didn't worry the fish and several more tench on the feeder graced my mat. 

Still wanting to float fish, I tackled that back up and cast in. The float was away again, another train heading to the far side of the lake. I played this carp a little longer but again its strength and ability to get to the weeds proving too strong for my 3lb hook link. You think you will land them, they let you dream, just watch 'em shatter!

I was surprised to hook carp because as far I could see and hear, they were busy in the reeds "getting it on." A heron watching over them, surely they are too big for its lunch?! Although I did see the heron at 5am having a large silver fish for breakfast, I thought they targeted smaller fish!? Says the zoologist!? 

The carp left me alone and I enjoyed some fish in the float. 

It was soon 10am, work party time. I swapped the rods for a spade and set about relocating some Iris to the silt trap area. The rest of the crew were in the same boat with a lot of your friends, waitin' for the day you ship'll come in and repaired some swim platforms on both sides of the lake. 

These photos make it look easy, but these civil service hands are not used to manual work. Three hours of digging and about 15 plants moved, including the big one that required wheels!

Am home now, jump in the shower, and the blood starts pumpin'.

It was a great morning, fishing and some manual labour. Unlike Dolly though, I don't agree that .....

"For service and devotion, you would think that I would deserve a fat promotion!"

(Did you spot the other lyrics?)