Shaun the Shrimp, RIP

August 2019

Something a bit different for this blog. I was down in Dorset with the kids staying with my parents. There was defo a days fishing on the cards, but the weather was doing it's best to scupper it.

Eventually we found a day with a bit of sun, so in true family style we all set off to visit Washingpool lakes and try for Carp.

I had obviously prepared well, opening my bag to find hair rigs and no pellet bands but all the pellets had no holes! Thanks Ellis for the pellet drill a few months ago, I sat on the bank and started to drill some holes.

The kids were soon fishing and excitement was being shown. We saw a few big carp cruising just under the surface, but our sweet corn was float fished on the deck.

It was great to be fishing together, but sadly the fish were not so committed.

Davey being the only one lucky enough to tempt a small Rudd.

A few days later and we were at West bay, saltwater and after a more leggy creature. We were crabbing!
Bait and stones placed in a net bag in the middle of a deepish round net, lowered to the bottom of the Harbour. After a few minutes, pull up, catching any crabs feeding unawares and unable to scurry out the net.
Sounds easy, but it left Davey scratching his head!!

After a few tries, nothing was happening. We carried on and soon Rupe did catch a few crabs and all was happy. He ended up with 5.
The last one caught in the net had a shrimp in with it. This was named Shaun the Shrimp and was a loved pet (for about 10 seconds). I dropped the crabs in and they sunk below the water. I dropped Shaun in too, not accounting for his lack of weight, when he got to the water he began to swim down. Unfortunately at the same time a gull dived down for him.

Poor Shaun, today's lesson was "The circle of life" saves taking them to see Lion king again!!

A Swale Barbel!!

Date fished 25/8/2019
9am until 4pm

After a great meal last night at Ellis and Caroles house, it was going to be a second day fishing. This time on the Swale at Morton. We were hoping for some nice chub, but with maggots as bait, we were after anything that came along.

The second day was as hot as the first, so with plenty of water and sun cream we parked by the road bridge and walked upstream.

We didn't walk far, and soon found a couple of swims we liked. Me in one I had fished before but never caught, and Ellis trying a new area along some trees. Ellis was soon catching fish, and me? Well. I was "trying".

A quick walk down to Ellis to see if I was doing it right, and sure enough, I was. We both had the same size float on, 5 number 4's!  I went back to it. Soon my float was disappearing too and a little dace was my first fish.

Next a bigger fish got hold, was this to be my chub?? No, but a cracking trout was the reward.

It was time for a move, for no real reason other than we wanted to try different areas! We really have tried to walk the swims even if not fishing them, just to get an idea on river  levels each time. Now, we both feel we could tackle different swims in different situations, given the chance!!

Next stop, a little spot in the shade of some trees. Perfect as it was now approaching midday. The trotting here was easier and we were both catching dace, little chub and the odd Grayling. The best ones being caught by Ellis.

Then it changed. The minnows happened. Bite after bite from minnows. It was getting frustrating. My float buried and I struck to see the latest minnow, only this time the line was solid. A much larger fish, holding bottom, slow. Was this my chub? It took line and was running me all over the place. Ellis came to net it, a lovely 2lb Trout my prize! When I un hooked it, and took my hook out it was coupled with another hook and line. I was glad to remove this and return the trout after a rest to the depths.

It was time for another move. Dropping into a few swims we had not fished before, Ellis catching a few fish whilst I just watched the water. After a bit more exploring it was time to go back to the second swim. I was confident the chub would come eventually, so it was worth a shot.

The minnows continued, but the occasional larger (small) dace and chub kept us interested.

My float buried once more, again a larger fish, keeping low. Was this my chub?
I played the fish, but did not see it. Eventually it came to the surface, this was no chub, this was also no trout. This was my first ever Swale Barbel!!! I went to net it, but my (#$%#) net, again was not up to the job and the fish was not safely in it!! I called to Ellis and he quickly came over and netted my fish!! I was so happy. Exclaiming " I am throwing that net away and buying a new one!!"

Size isn't everything!!

As we fished on and the cows started wading through the river, we knew if we caught one of them it would be a pb!

Deciding to pack up early as we were boiling hot and exhausted from fighting those minnows, we walked to the cars.

It was a great day to be on the river, we thought, as we passed by some people blowing up a lilo, dance music blaring, bar b q smoking away, right in the swim I had been in a few hours before.
" That's no fun" said Ellis as we walked on by,
" They don't have any alcohol!".
I totally agree with you Ellis, and here's to my River Swale Barbel.

Itch scratched!

Date fished 3/8/2019
6.50am until 16.30

After the blank on the Wharfe, where Aidan and I both missed fish, I was keen today to catch some fish. This called for a visit to a stillwater. I decided on Moulton lane pond. I managed to catch a few different species last time so was hoping for more of the same.

I decided to leave early doors and see if I could catch them sleeping. First cast, my rod twitched and a little carp was caught napping.

Second cast and a bigger carp wanted breakfast. Barely 7am and I was happy to have caught. At 7lb 12oz it was a good sized fish for the venue, where they actually go to 27lb!

It seemed it was not just the fish that were now waking up. Other anglers started to fill the pegs. After 20 mins on my own, there was now maybe 20 of us trying our luck. It is a very different scene to the quiet river and I enjoy both! It was good to see kids, families and groups of people enjoying a day on the bank.

My tactics for today were Hybrid feeder and pellets. It was a simple, tried and tested approach. Casting to different areas in front of me, I steadily caught bream, skimmers and more carp. It was soon a squeeze as anglers all cast to similar looking spots. I thought I was going to add a Yorkshireman to the list of captures!

I cast towards some reeds, hoping for something big. My rod jumped up off the rests, the bait runner spinning. This was it, I thought. Only to wind in a roach of about 5 oz, he must have had 3 weetabix! I didnt even take a picture. Next cast to the same place and the rod twitched about an inch. I struck for the next twin Roach, but my prize was a much better fish....

It was now afternoon and 2 older anglers came and sat either side of me. This was when the social started. We were soon all chatting and having a good giggle. Mickey taking, laughing and making a racket. Even sharing bait, some home made curried pellets, smelt delish and the fish liked them too!!

Carrying on, I caught a brown goldfish, or so I thought. One angler said it's a crucian, and Ellis also agrees, he has only seen the picture. Any advice is welcome!

As I began to feed up an area close in, I dropped my feeder in hoping to get a Tench. Sure enough, a little Tinca obliged.

Packing up earlier than the feeding fish would have expected, I was ready to go. I had wanted to catch fish and I had. My itch was scratched! I hadn't expected to enjoy so much and have "bantz" too.
Fishing really is full of surprises!

Chances missed

Date fished 1/8/2019
11.30am until 20.15

Before I start with the blog, I must apologise for the current river levels and flooding. I can only assume that my decision to have 3 days off this week and potentially do 4 days fishing on 3 different rivers has prompted the deluge!!

Having written a Swale trip off from Wednesday due to the heavy floods, the planned Wharfe trip on Thursday was going ahead. Literally spending the day before glued to the river levels website, the level had dropped and looked fishable.

Packing the kit included some large 5.5oz weights, strong tackle and of course Doritos, Lucozade and pasties!! Yes, I was fishing with Aidan!

Picking him up after work at 10 (ish) it was a chatty 100miles to the river. Aidan has fished this stretch on many occassions and knows it well. He always gives me great advice and puts us on the fish.

The river looked good. High but dropping off and a good colour. We baited up our rods and cast out. I started with cheese paste and garlic meat, Aidan was on pellet and boilies.

After little interest, I swapped to double pellet on one and meat close in on the other. It was now after 1pm and we were getting to grips with the flow, rig position and hoping for some fish. I just thought I would have a drink of coffee. Flask out and pouring, it happened.
My rod arched over and line started peeling off the baitrunner. Dropping my cup, I was on the rod. I was in. The double pellet doing the trick. I felt the strong pull of the fish, definitely a barbel. And snap. My hook link snapped. Gutted.

The river was dropping quite fast, an area in front of us full of fry was quickly receding. A pike keeping the fry trapped until she was ready to lunge at them all making a splash. The kingfisher whizzing back and forth along the tree line.

Aidan was casting about, as we were holding bottom easily now. He must have had extra Lucozade today as every cast was dropping perfectly inches from the trees on the far side.  I nearly called the blog " The Cast Master".

A few biteless hours passed (6) and then Aidans rod bounced in true chub bite style. He was in. Quickly bringing the fish to our side of the river. When it got close, it woke up. Suddenly lunging down and diving deep. Unfortunately this was enough and the hook pulled out. We were both on a downer, like the river!!

As the evening drew on, conditions looked perfect. The hatch came alive, the wind dropped and the river looked calm. We fished on but sadly no more bites.

As we packed up, we remarked on the day. Aidan sure that the Barbel would have fed heavy as the river rose, and would be holed up somewhere now.
Me?, well I was just glad to be out. We agreed that although we " were happy just to be on the bank" a fish certainly makes the drive home more palatable. After all....

"A  week day blanking is always better than a day at work not fishing"

Swipe left for a troll

Date fished 14/7/19
8am until 3.30pm

3 men in a boat today!

Dave, joined Ellis and I aboard Big elbow for a day lure fishing. Ellis and I were after perch and if a pike came along, we would be happy. Dave was targeting pike, quick to point out " if I get a Jack today, I'll be happy!"

Setting off down stream, we were soon casting in our usual areas. Me missing 2 quick hits on the small pink paddle tail. Ellis also missed a bite so we were confident of catching later.

Dave wanted to troll his lures, which means slowing the boat down and pulling the lure behind the boat using the boats speed. It was Dave that caught first, a large branch was his prize!
A bit further on, he was in again. A good sized pike soon rolled on the surface but the hooks came out. No prize this time.
A little bit further on and he was in again!! This was turning into a rout, no perch for us but Dave had managed a pike.

We carried on, and soon Ellis and I were missing fish in other areas too!! We saw fish follow the lures, had knocks but no fish. It was looking deperate.
As we travelled on we said "morning" to a few open water swimmers. There were anglers on the bank pleasure fishing, match anglers, anglers in boats, rowers, swimmers and people strolling the bank. It was good to see so many people enjoying the river.

Ellis soon got into the act with a perch on drop shot. We alternated between trolling so Dave could target Pike and then stopping for us to fish for perch.

A few more perch for Ellis then a bigger fish took his drop shot lure. It's normally me that catches the little pike, but today I let Ellis have the prize.

I really was just making up the numbers, as after a few more knocks I still had not caught anything. In truth to Dave's first branch, Ellis and I had both caught a few big branches now too!!
I spotted a great looking swim, we stopped and started to cast. I cast under a tree, nothing. Ellis cast under the same tree, his rod hooped over and a much larger pike was pulling back.

The final nail in the coffin was when we got to our usual snaggy spot where we always catch, 2 people were fishing in it, so we had to leave it for today.

We tried everything as we approached the boat yard, but today was not my day. A blank on the boat!

The final final nail was getting back to the boat yard and being told that we could not leave the club till 19.30 as the roads were closed for a bike race. We are sat in the club house drinking tea/coffee that Dave has made!

Three men trapped in a boat club more like!!

Shocking trip!

Date fished 13/7/19
7am until 3pm

What can I say about this trip? It was shocking in so many ways. Ellis and I went to the Tees to fish the stretch that I had success on 2 weeks ago. We were targeting chub, perch, dace, roach and pike. Yes, pike. Read on!

We met at 7am and walked the quick way down to the river, I started in the same swim as last time and Ellis fought his way to the water and found a cracking swim upstream of me. I started feeding and soon was catching small fish. Alot smaller than last time, was this a sign? I hoped not.
A steady flow of perch and small chub and the keep net was getting used. The river was a similar height to last time but was alot clearer, I could see the snags this time! It didn't stop me catching other snags, and 6 hook links later I was still catching.
Feeding and casting was soon a routine. I cast, moved the rod to my left hand, fed with the right and switched back. This time though, my right hand bashed the rod in my left and it flew into the river!! It didn't sink, but started to drift away. I managed to catch it with the landing net at full extension, I was certainly lucky. Shocking!

Ellis was catching too, casting to a deeper area just off the main flow. We both had our keep nets out and would be weighing in at the end. I was getting hungry and it being 11 something, it was ok to eat my lunch. I went to see how Ellis was getting on. As we chatted and I ate my lunch, we heard splashing from down stream. " it's just the swans" I told Ellis.
As I walked back to my swim, I realised I had not seen the swans this trip!
Getting to my swim, I disturbed a large fish and it splashed away. I carried on fishing. Looking down at my keep net, it had moved. Alot!
As I fished on, I suddenly saw the fish. A large Pike was sat next to my net. At 1 metre in length, it was easily a double figure fish. It was sat watching the fish in the keep net. I called Ellis to come and see, we watched in amazement as this fish could not be disturbed. Eventually it swam away as I scared it. 2 minutes later it was back. I was unsure if I should try to catch it, but for now I carried on with maggots.
Curiosity of the weight finally got to me, so I walked back to the car to get some pike gear. On returning I tried with lures but the pike was having none of it. She just sat there, swam away and came back. For the next three hours, she was my companion. I touched her with my rod, put maggots over her, left a lure in front of her. She was not moving!!
It was shocking to see this, but also awesome.

I carried on fishing for small fish, but there was no fish in the swim!! Shocking. Apart from the large Pike a few feet away. This was not going as planned.
Suddenly my phone bleeped, Ellis-"  I snapped the top 6 inches of my an hour ago"
 Leg? Arm? Rod? Head?
I replied with "rod"!
Yes was the response!
Shocking.

It was turning in to an interesting session, so we decided to weigh our fish and move on. I weighed in at 4.75lb and Ellis 4.73lb - nearly identical weights. Shocking. Some cracking Perch made the weights honest.

We walked upstream to have a look at another swim. As we stood chatting, my rod dropped on the electric fence. Shocking! Was an understatement. I was not able to answer Ellis's question as the shock went up my Arm!!

Walking down the slope to the swim, I slipped and fell on my bum. It was time to end this session before anything else happened.

Walking back to the cars, I noticed something odd on my car. Now Ellis thinks it's cos I am a "fun guy" I just think it was an apt end to a shocking day!!