OK, it’s the 1st September, so I’m going to start back on June 16th… go figure!
June 16th: Yeehaa! the start of the fishing season. Although I’m sure many of the anglers lining the banks this year on the 16th are probably not aware that there used to be a close season or now pass it by as just another day the 16th has always been a special day for me. However, like the last 2 years, work got in the way of a planned trip and I found myself heading for North Wales and Wakefield (uurrggghh) for a couple of meetings instead of the side of a river. Not to worry, the weekend is only 5 days away! Oops again, that will be the daughters 6th birthday party and ‘Daddy’ was doing the disco for 30 6 year old monsters!
Yeehaa! again. My ticket has arrived for one of my waters. WHAT? Fishing this year is now from 6am to 10pm. What’s that all about then? Someone (insert numpty name here) has decided that after 50+ years of 24hr fishing without issue to residents, wildlife or fish that this year now it’s a shared water that fishing shall be limited. Jeez, some people!
July:
2 short evening sessions through July to said river section result in Bream, bream and more Bream, then a crazy 2 hour trip whereby 5 Tench take a liking to a Jungle Boilie wrapped in paste.
Live Update: Fishing time restrictions lifted, common sense prevails, Hoorah!
August:
I run a section of the River Great Ouse in Buckinghamshire as a private syndicate, with Perch to 5.2 , Chub to 6.10 and some clonking roach (oh, not forgetting the double figure wild brown trout!) and we are currently in the process of digging a new backwater lake in one of the flood meadows. A grant from the lovely people at the EA and ticket monies from the members saw 45 work placement students with spades and shovels descend on the field for 3 weeks of 24/7 digging by hand. Aww, go on then, we actually had 2 blokes in 2 enormous diggers and earth movers hard at it for 5 days and on Bank holiday Saturday after the main body was dug the barrier was broken through into the upstream river feed and we now have a superb winter haven come the floods.
p.s; for any members of the Rectory who may be reading this, please note that this a bailiffs only swim! he he he .. If you’ve read your letters with your tickets it won’t be such bad news!
Not wanting to waste the walk (OK, I grabbed a lift off George on the quad) I did take a rod and a tub of lobworms with me. A2.8 and 3 x 3’s to 3.10 was the result of 2 hours fishing into dark. still got it!
I managed a holiday too in August (get the violins out), first one in years! Rented a cottage in Devon, left the rods at home, silly thing to do but racked up some massive brownie points with the lady wife. Notice I said holiday, Not Summer holiday. Good grief, Devon is wetter than Paula Radcliffe’s running shoes and right hand! eek.. what a marathon. Did manage to achieve a few hours Piscatorial adventure at the Living Coasts exhibition... captured this little critter. Anyone for Guinness?
Bank Holiday weekend saw a trip to my parents’ boat on the Ouse at Ely. Fished for Zander on the Friday evening/night and had 5 zander, which was nice. Sunday spent a few hours tiddler bashing with the kids and Jessica had a PB perch of just over 1lb.. gets it all from me! Cameron, got a PB landing net pole break, 3 places in one movement! Got the toothy critter gear out again come the evening and took 4 pike to 21.4, which again, was nice.
September:
At last! I hear you cry. Hello, are you still there?
Well, not truly September, as the trip started in August but finished in September. Off to the river in search of a whiskered friend, using whiskers sticks and whiskers paste sporting a new set of whiskers on my face! Hey, now that’s how too plug a product…
Back on track now Leigh, you’re rambling.
Pulled up in the car park, nobody else was about, lovely. After a days soaking as the weather from Devon got blown northwards the river was carrying a bit of extra colour and pace. Perfect for a fish or two. Packed away at 1am with an 8.5 and a 12.10 barbel in the bag. Well, not literally, barbel tastes awful (are you listening certain people?) Also had a massive liner during the session. A dog otter swimming up river with a huge bream in its mouth….who said Otters are bad for barbel fishing? ;-)
Both fish taken on the LILO, no, not an inflatable beach toy, on a Fluoro leader with back stonze to a 3” stiffy (more use for an inflatable toy) and size 8 The Hook using whisker stick and paste.
Well, that’s all from me for now. I do hope you’ve enjoyed my piscatorial ramblings and hope that you keep checking back each week as I venture out in search of a fishy! Please feel free to email any questions or comments to me and I’ll be sure to forward them on to someone who knows about fishing!
Tight Lines…
Next weeks Blog preview:
I land a target upper 30 scaley beast mirror on first visit to the water…. here’s hoping.