Shortest session ever, it's snow joke!

Date fished 24/12/2020

8am until 10.30am

The plan today was to fish the Swale. Watching the river levels app yesterday, all I saw was a big rise. I was determined to go, I even set the alarm for 5am to check the levels. However, it is now 6am and I just decided not to bother with the river. I will go to the lake at Ryton and see if I can tempt a Pike instead. The river trip may have to wait until tomorrow. 

I drove the short journey to the lake and parked up. As I got out the car, I wondered what the feathers were falling on my head. Looking up, I realised it had started to snow. Unperturbed I walked to the lake. The edges were frozen but there was plenty of water to still fish. Out went the lamprey and I waited. The morning was still, the lake flat. If it wasn't for the snow, I may have said perfect. 

As the snow eased off, I walked around the lake. Soon, the second swim I tried was just as snowy! I walked up and down to keep warm, my rod out over the lake. Just as I turned around a Kingfisher was getting ready to land on my rod, two birds in as many trips! My movement scared the bird and it spun on a sixpence and zoomed off around the lake. 

That's where the adventure stopped. A few more areas also didn't produce any fish. Alot sooner than I intended, as the snow came down heavier it was time for me to go thaw out. 

Short and sweet sums this up, but in reality it was cold and wet!! Nevermind, there is always next time.

 

Robin's perch

Date fished 22/12/2020

8am until 2pm 

With the fear of further tiers looming and the prospect of longer days (technically) ahead, I decided to get the rods out and go fishing. There had been alot of rain recently so I put some feelers out and got some replies:

Muddy puddle

Looks minging

Brown and running fast

Sh@tty brown 

Taking all the above into account and thinking I might need some toilet roll, I decided on cheese paste for Chub on the Tees. 

Arriving as always bright and early, I thought I might have a few short sessions over Christmas and fit in some eating and drinking too.  I was parked up whilst it was just getting light. I got the small amount of tackle I brought with me and walked the short way to the river. It was much colder here then when I left the house, a frost blanketed the hill towards the river. 

Looking right then left, the river was up quite a bit but I thought looked ok. I found a swim and cast out the rod. A few taps and I was feeling confident, however on reeling in I saw the culprit of the taps, "leaves on the line!" 

Every cast seemed to come in with leaves. Although on the surface the river looked good, underneath told a different story. Soon the sun burnt through and I felt the warmth.

This seemed to bring the river to life. Two large splashes in the swim above me, pike chasing bait fish? Chub splashing on the surface for more cheese paste? No idea but I moved on. 

I fished several more swims on my way upstream. The cold weather had killed alot of the bank vegetation and although slippery, alot of swims were open for business! 

I walked a way further and finally decided that was enough. I turned 180 and headed back downstream to fish some swims I primed on my way up. Settling in a perfect looking swim, a shake of the rod caught my eye. It didn't come from fish though, it seemed I was so motionless that nature started to take hold!

And there was you thinking I had invented a new sub species of Perch!! 

I ended up in the swim I started in, I had been cold, warm and now I was starting to get cold again. A quick chat with the club bailiff who was out to keep an eye on the stretch and I decided to call it a day. 

The chub were not in the mood today, it was the first day after some floods, so I think the leaves and sediment had put them off. It was a nice day to be on the bank however, and the Robin made me smile (honest!!)

Hear a pin drop

 Date fished 12/12/2020

8am until 2.30pm

December usually means Ellis and I are chasing ladies. This is not a reference to work Christmas parties, but ladies of the night, I mean Stream!! Ladies of the Stream!! aka Grayling.

For a few years now, Ellis and I have spent hours stood in freezing cold water up to the "important" part of our perfectly chiselled bodies, watching our floats and hoping they would disappear. Today was no exception. We were back on the Tees to do just that. 

On our last trip, Ellis mentioned the other end of the beat we were fishing. It is a drive further along the road and would be a new stretch of water for me to fish, Ellis having fished it before many years ago. We met in the car park and drove to the new area. 

Since our last fishing trip, Ellis had acquired a new centre pin, and very kindly passed onto me his previous one. I too could now be the centre of attention, or create a big birds nest of line?!?

Attaching the new reel to my rod, I struggled as the reel seating was not the right size for the reel. Thinking this would fall off any minute, I took my closed spool reel just in case. I would be fishing for the first time with a centre pin and was exclited to try something new. 

Both armed with centre pins and float trotting gear, we walked towards the river. We waded to an island and started to fish. Ellis was soon into a Trout, first cast no less. He unhooked it in  the water and off it went. Soon I hooked a fish. Ellis was right, striking with a centre pin is easy. Thumb on the drum and a quick flick. It worked and I hooked a fish. As quickly as it was on, it was off!! I carried on regardless. Another chance soon came, I had christened the centre pin and a fancy picture was required! 

Another trot through and I was getting to grips with the spinning drum. A light touch of the thumb causing the bait to flutter in the current. Another quick strike and I was in again. 

Today was all about walking and seeing this new stretch. We actually walked more than fished today, but it was worth it. We walked all the way to the end of the beat. Another day we may walk the upstream section too. 

Leaving this first swim we set off for another likely looking spot . I thought my waders had leaked and I had a wet foot! Fortunately it must have been my imagination as back at the car both socks were bone dry! 

We fished on and I managed to catch a snag three times which took a hooklink each time. Ellis a stone's throw upstream managed some more fish including the Grayling of the day. We were defo playing with the arty shots for this picture! 

A lovely fish to keep us going as the rain started to fall. We carried on downstream and found a non descript swim that we fished just because. 

Ellis started with a Grayling and I jumped in to show Ellis what was happening with the pin. I was explaining to him how I was holding the line guide, when suddenly my rod was nearly pulled from my grasp. A greedy Trout grabbing my bait.

Ellis and I alternated with the rods. Leaving when I had two Trout and Ellis two Grayling.

Eventually we found the swim. It looked perfect. We started to fish. Ellis announcing "I will eat my hat if there is no fish here". 

We fished it for a few minutes, but it was obvious that we needed to leave. It was far too shallow and didn't live up to expectations. How do you want that hat served Ellis?? 

Our last swim on our downstream stroll was another wader.  We stood a third of the way across and cast to the foam line. For about 20 minutes we fed and trotted. The pin was working perfectly and felt so easy to use. My float buried and I struck. I played the Grayling towards me, but he wriggled free before I could net him.  

A quick fish at the end of the beat and it was Ellis who lost a fish and catapult. Dont ask!! We decided to walk back upstream and try in the first swim again before calling it a day. 

On the way we found another great looking run, albeit with a rather steep bank. We did our best cliffhanger impression and managed to fish. Ellis catching a Grayling first cast. 

Back in the first swim, we were feeding and trotting and all was well with the world. My float dipped and I struck. It was a snag, but as I realised there was no pulling on the other end my reel seat decided not to be left out. It spat off the centre pin and it splashed noisily into the shin deep water. It could have been alot worse! 

My first ever fish, a Perch, that was caught on boxing day 1990 was caught as Davey and I tried to untangle a massive birds best. The fish pulling the line we were trying to untie. Today's Trout reminded me of that, pulling as I was explaining to Ellis about the reel. It just shows 30 years on with a new reel and method and I am still learning. I still manage to fluke the odd fish too!! 

A dry net

Date fished 29/11/2020

7.35 am until 2pm 

The bones had barely thawed and it was straight back out. I decided that whilst conditions were good, I would keep on fishing! I decided to head to the Swale today and target those Chub. 

It was not frosty when I loaded the car,  and alot milder than yesterday. The car told me it was six degrees. I had planned on just float fishing maggots for the Chub but at the last minute I chucked the ledger rod and a few pieces of meat into the boot. That was my back up, but I had blanked with that on my last few trips! Undeterred I saddled up and headed South in search of Chub. 

A quick eggy sausage re-fueling stop and I was all set. I parked up and walked the short distance to the river. I could get all poetic and sentimental here, but let's just say " the river looked Great!"

It was very misty, so I settled in a swim I know. It was the first swim through the gate. I fished here for 30 minutes so the sun had chance to brighten my route for me. I cast the meat to a likely spot and waited. No fish wanted an early feed, so I headed to another swim.

I settled in a spot where I could float fish the far bank against willows. I had decided to fish a waggler instead of the usual stick float. I had seen match anglers using mag and wag tactics to good effect. I set up a 3AAA waggler and put enough shot to just show the tip. It worked well, I had plenty of weight to cast to the far bank, and the float went down the swim nicely. I started firing maggots at the top of the swim and followed them down with the float. In short  I did this for three hours and by 11am I had no maggots left. Not one bite, but I enjoyed the new approach. I will have to try this again soon, my last nice Chub on the float was last December. 

I met the club treasurer, I had arranged to meet and get my members ticket for next year. Looking through my book, I have been a member since 2014! We chatted about likely swims and spots and it was good to share knowledge. 

I now switched to the ledger rod. I headed off upstream in search of a likely Chub hidey hole. I saw plenty, fished them all, unfortunately the Chub didn't play ball. 

I met another angler, he had caught a Pike this morning. It made me wonder if I should hang up the Chub gear and concentrate on Pike?? I used to Pike fish all the time, some blanks but some great Swale fish caught. I will ponder this for my next trip. 

I walked back downstream and fished some more swims. Nothing was happening for me today, so I headed back to the car. 

As I packed the kit back into the car, I thought about the trip. It wasn't all bad I thought, at least the net doesn't need to dry tonight!

Ladies take centre stage!

Date fished 28/11/2020

8am until 2.30pm

Friday evening was spent sorting through the tackle. Getting the stick floats, bait apron and catapult. Ellis was back to fishing ways after building a summer house at home, so I let him decide on the approach. He opted for a day wading with stick floats for Grayling on the Tees. It was 3 years nearly to the day that I first tried for the "ladies of the stream", so I couldn't think of anything more perfect! 

I started getting a few bits together

And soon, I had a little bit more

It was a frosty start and I don't mean making Ellis get out of bed early! As I packed the car, the windscreen was sparkling. I told myself, I love fishing on these cold and frosty mornings! The car said it was minus three. 

Parked up, I braved the cold to set the float rod up. My fingers getting the first taste of the cold carbon. I was glad for the thermals today, top and bottoms were employed!

We walked to the river. The sun was just rising and the ground all white with frost. It was certainly the coldest day I had been fishing in a while, it was bitter. We saw the area we normally fish, both of us remarked at how different the island was. It had been narrowed by flood water alot! It has been a while since we had fished here, so was amazing to see the change. 

We decided to walk all the way to the furthest point and fish our way back towards the car. We would also warm up a bit on the way! We were soon in a swim and trotting. There was little wind and although cold, it seemed perfect. Ellis was into a fish straight away, a small Grayling. We fished on. As our legs got colder it was time for another walk to warm them up. We walked all the way to the lower limit and fished some likely spots. Ellis caught another few smaller Grayling. I managed to catch a snag and loose the hooklink. I tied on a new hooklink and as Ellis had caught snag with the same outcome,  I jumped into his swim to try my luck as he did some tackle repairs! I felt spots of rain, but looking up I noticed it was not raining. It was Ellis chucking maggots at me!! By accident, allegedly! 

We found some great looking swims on our bank and fished them hard. All we (Ellis) could manage was a fish not much bigger than the bait! 

Ellis decided to go explore another Island, he waded off to check it out. I stayed in another spot and managed to get snagged again. This time I lost the lot. I pulled for a break but it broke the main line. I watched as my chubber float headed towards the sea! 

I retackled and when Ellis finally plodded back through the water, I asked him how he got on? 

"Knackered" he replied.

"Effort equals reward" my reply! 

"Plenty of the first for none off the second" Ellis concluded. 

We decided to walk back to our banker swim. The main event. Saving the best till last, and all of that.

We waded across, and it was a little deeper than we thought. Both our bags got soaked, I was on tip toes and still the water was over waist deep. Eventually we got to the swim and started to fish. Finally I managed a fish, the biggest of the Grayling so far.

Not to be out done, Ellis soon started catching and the fish were getting bigger. 

We both lost fish too. It was full of action, thick and fast. Ellis managed to catch a trout too, we unhooked it in the net and it was off.

Soon Ellis decided to change his reel. He had brought a centre pin with him and was dying to catch on it. He tackled up and soon had the drum spinning in time with the current. As the float buried, a quick finger stopping the spool and he was in. He had christened the reel with a few lovely Grayling. 

Soon the cold got too much and we needed to warm the feet. We climbed out, a shallower way, and headed up stream. We battled through thick bush and ended up at a spot by the bridge. It looked Good, but I was not convinced.

"I am not feeling it" I declared.

Just as Ellis' float buried. He was in again, and it was from five yards in front of me! I lowered my float in the spot and sure enough, it went under.

The fish had suddenly come alive and for a 15 minute period, it was all stations go. I ended with three nice fish and Ellis a dozen I guess.

It was a great trip and great to see a "master" at work. I have always wanted to see a "professional" working hard at the top of it's game. "Catching" fish. Trying" hard. Today I saw all of that.

Oh! Not from either of the humans. I give the Centre pin all that credit!  

Pros and Cons

Date fished 15/11/2020

7am until 1pm

There is a little bit of deja vu with this blog, but after yesterday's blank I wanted to get back on the horse straight away! 

I fancied a day on the Swale at Morton chasing the Chevins aka Chub! I had cheese paste and meat and I was hoping the Chub were hungrier than yesterday's Pike were. 

I won't bore you with the details but sadly another blank. Two days in a row. I will give you the highlights.... lowlights? You can decide which are which. 

1. I arrived early and set up by the bridge just as the sun was breaking through. Is a really nice time to be fishing.

2. I walked alot, so got some exercise. I fished loads of swims but had zero patience. If a bite didn't happen in 5 to 10 minutes, I was away! Usually Chub are on cheese paste quickly so it may have worked but I lacked focus today. I stayed in a few swims for longer periods but couldn't tempt the fish.

3. I climbed over a barbed wire fence and ripped my coat. 

4. I met two Kevins. (Not Chevins) both club members who were extremely knowledgeable and we chatted about lots of different pegs. 

5. The banks were fairly slippery and twice I did some skating. 

6. I fished a new area where the river forms a loop. I thought I had a bite, but on reflection it was not. As I fished a small section of bank slipped in. Some Areas I fished so close to snags I think I was more likely to catch a Beaver than a Chub! 

7. The torrential rain came just as the gusty wind was at its strongest. I had no pertractor to measure the angle but let's just say horizontal!

8. I fished areas I had caught in before and made a note of levels in relation to snags and flow. Am seeing alot of the river in all conditions. 

9. Kevin and his son had caught, I was glad the fish were feeding, maybe I need to tweak my bait flavour a little!? 

So that was my day. Of course the pros outweighed the cons (6-3) but also I was fishing. A day fishing is better than any day not fishing! (I think) 

Cons - 3, 5, 7. 

Like watching paint dry

Date fished 14/11/2020

7am until 3pm

When Boris announced lockdown 2.0, thoughts immediately turned to "what we are allowed to do?"

I saw many FB posts about,' I will do this', 'You wont stop me doing that' and I am not going to preach to anyone. Just do what you feel safe and comfortable with, ensuring its within the law/guidelines.

I am still going fishing. I will be alone this trip as Ellis is working away. I will be travelling to my usual spots on:

the Tees,

the Swale, 

and when they are not fishable, I will be trying at Ryton.

The weather has been fairly mild of late, but with some heavy rain mid week, when I looked at the levels the rivers were rising. I crossed fingers, toes and other dangly bits that conditions would be right for the weekend, and as I sit here now on Thursday evening, I am still not sure which of the 3 options above it will be!

I decided to head to the Tees today and try for Pike. The river was in flood and dropping. I had seen another angler have success Pike fishing post flood, so I decided to copy. I planned on fishing a couple of areas, they are a 20 minute drive apart so I would use that time to reflect! 

Arriving 10 minutes before dawn (the time of day, not a new female angling partner!) I was set up and walking to the river just as it was getting light. I walked to the furthest swim I was planning to fish and would work my way back towards the car. I cast my float fished Joey Mackerel into the slacks and waited. 

After a few casts around the swim and a biteless hour, I upped sticks and headed upstream. I found a few swims I had never fished before, so I gave these a try too. 

I was soon at a familiar spot. Ellis and I Pike fished here last year. I plonked my kit down and ping! The strap on my Aldi special tackle bag broke. A few running repairs and I was back in action. 

No bites in this swim, so I headed to the car to drive to another section. Being in a club can mean sections of water close together. The club stretches are also spread out a little in some cases so it's best of both worlds. Today I fished a club stretch and an Association stretch, the latter is a collection of waters that all individual Tees clubs share for all their members. It's great to have more water and I still have not fished it all! 

A short drive and it was Pike 2.0 time. I now had Lamprey on the hook, my favourite Pike bait so I was hoping for a fish or two! 

Nothing in the first few swims so I walked on. There was an angler on my bank, so I stopped for a distanced chat. He was a dedicated Pike angler and had some good information. He was also a dedicated angler as he had come on a push bike!! It was electric though, but that's dedication! He only had to come from Darlington, I think from Hexham would be a tad far!! 

He told me that an angler, I had just walked past on the opposite bank had caught a 19lb 6oz Pike a few minutes before! He also told me that he had a take but his bait had no teeth marks, I told him that could be Chub. Now with my Lamprey I was hoping for Pike or a big Chub! You will know, I have had Chub on Dead baits before so is quite likely. 

I was fishing slacks only about a rod length from the bank. I found fallen trees or bushes to also target, in the hope a Pike was laying close to the structure. Nothing was happening so hunger got the better of me.

I fished on and tried swims I had found earlier in the year, that looked like they would hold Pike. They were just not "having it" today, or they were not home! As I crept forwards in a tight swim under a tree, I pushed the bank stick into the ground. Crack!, I broke the angle holder. Today was starting to rack up the breakages!

I enjoy watching the float. Of course I enjoy it more when it bobs, rises and slowly sails away. To non anglers it may seem as dull as watching paint dry, and I accept their opinion. But for us anglers, there's nothing better. So please enjoy.....