Chasing Ladies

The stunning River Irfon

A day full of minor disasters that ultimately finished a success.
The alarm went off at 4.30am and for once I did not hit snooze, I was dressed and the kettle was on quick smart. A fishing trip always excites me but this one was more eagerly anticipated than most. The  river Irfon in deepest darkest Wales is a beautiful waterway crammed full of wild Trout and hard fighting Grayling and I love it.
Cue the first disaster, a pea souper outside. Not enough to stop me going but it would make the two hour trip last closer to three. Disaster number two, my sat nav gives up the ghost halfway there. Luckily I was past the complicated bit and pretty much knew the rest of the way but the return journey would be interesting! I arrived at the spot just after 8.00am-not bad considering.

Like an aquarium

The river looked in great condition, maybe just a little bit too clear! The fish must be somewhere so I dropped into a likely looking run where I couldn't see the river bed, hoping that fish were there. If not I had three pints of maggots that would draw them into the swim anyhow.

I set up a two swan loafer to 2lb line and a size 18 hook and cast out. Disaster number three, the float got halfway down the glide and stopped, I didn't have enough line on the reel. Luckily there was some 3lb Maxima in the bag so I respooled up the reel, set up again and cast out. Perfect, first run through and fish on, a Grayling weighing 1lb 6oz.

I then realised I had missed out the butt ring with my line so had to set up yet again. Tangles and lost hooks also followed, today was one of those days when you perform poorly, but thankfully I also caught fish, losing count of the number of Brown Trout landed (all carefully looked after because they are out of season) and six Grayling (four over a pound to 1lb 14oz.

Also carefully released.

I took several wrong turns on the way home but it was all worth it!

Pb Silver Bream from Willow Farm

The sun bursts through to melt away the mist on a perfect autumnal morning. The overnight temperature was a little on the low side and that slowed sport for the first few hours until the rays had raised the mercury by a couple of notches, only then did bites start to materialise.
A fortnight ago I had fished Willow farm for Perch but failed miserably however I did stumble across some Silver Bream of the sort of size to make them interesting and today I targeted them properly.
My initial bait was pellet but I changed to worm when that failed. Bites were hard to come by but there were a few indications and I kept feeding chopped worm and maggot into the swim in the hope that things would speed up. In the meantime a Kingfisher kept me amused as it went about getting it's breakfast. It was putting me to shame.

At one point it landed on a branch so close I could have almost reached it but it flew away just before I could press the shutter on the camera-next time!
By lunchtime I started to get amongst the fish facilitated by a another bait change, this time to maggot. Roach, Perch and a few small Silver Bream were caught. I then had a bite on the drop followed by a large swirl and I hooked into a Silver Bream that made me nervous. Early on in the fight I could see that it was a pb and I repeated to myself 'stay on', 'stay on'. Thankfully it did and I slid the net under a 1lb 2oz fish.

I fished on despite my mission being completed, landed a few more tiddlers. The difficult morning forgotten with just one fish, funny how that happens!

Dace day

It's nice to set off fishing knowing that there is very little chance of a blank, which is exactly how I felt this morning as I trudged across the soaked fields heading for Barton weir. Heavy overnight rain meant the river would be rising but I knew it would be a few hours before it started to affect the fishing conditions. The lower than recent temperatures would not matter either as I was chasing Dace, a fish that will feed in all but the very extreme temperatures.
My tactics were simple....

four pints of maggots.....

one rod, a John Wilson travel avon, easy to transport and light......

and a simple running rigged black cap feeder with a float stop to create a self hooking/bolt effect. Barbless hooks because they are easier to extract from small delicate mouths leaving no damage.

I caught a Dace first cast into the fast water and a steady succession followed mixed in with a couple of Perch, Roach and a big Gudgeon.

I gave up at 2pm, the bites had slowed up, the river had risen three inches, I was freezing cold(must dig out the long johns) and I had just lost my third feeder to an unseen snag.

An enjoyable day chasing a stunning diminutive fish that are very obliging.

A Trotting and Fly-fishing mixture

Size 8 barbless hook to 8lb hook link, swivel, loafer and 10lb mainline-works for me

I just couldn't make my mind up what to fish for this weekend or where to go so I decided to have a couple of mini sessions, the morning chasing Barbel on the river and the afternoon fly fishing for Carp.
I have really enjoyed trotting for Barbel with luncheon meat and been pretty successful doing it so when on my first run through I struck into a fish I thought that it was going to be a bumper session. The fish was no monster so I did a quick self take, didn't bother checking it and put the fish straight back, thinking there was bigger to follow.

Not weighed

A blurred photo was the result and captor not looking at the camera, poor effort!
I fished on for about an hour with no bites so decided on a roam. The second swim I tried has a large overhanging tree which when trotting is no problem apart from on the retrieve when it seems to grab hold of the tackle whilst reeling in. The solution is to wade out which I did, nothing took the bait but I did get a fright when I looked down to see a Pike eyeing me up from about three feet away. It watched me for a good ten minutes before it decided that I was too big to eat and sloped off to find a smaller snack.
The river is very low and clear at present and the fish that I spotted along the stretch seemed very spooky and skittish. That's my excuse for not catching more. It is amazing the lack of water considering the summer? we have had.
In the afternoon came the change of tactics and although the temperature was not high and there was little sun I got the fly rod and dog biscuits out down at Stubb's pool. It took ages to get anything interested but eventually a few Carp started sipping freebies off the surface. I waited so long for a take when it eventually came my reactions were miles away and I missed it. It turned out to be the only take of the day.
Eight hours fishing and the only capture was first cast. I have been playing with the camera quite a lot lately, trying different settings and stuff and I took this photo of a swan which I am quite proud of.

What do you think?

A better class of fishing truck

'Er Indoors has been on a funny one lately, she said that she didn't mind me going fishing for a second day running! There must be something in the offing but not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth I jumped at the chance. Having spent all day yesterday staring at a float and needing a change from all the recent Barbelling I have been doing I grabbed the fly gear and pointed the car to Oxfordshire. There is something civilised in the lack of tackle needed to fly fish. I took my work car because there is no smelly nets involved and raced down to Lechlade. I had set off late after enjoying a lie in, no rush, there would be plenty of swims available, unlike the river.
It is wonderful chopping and changing flies, casting to visible fish in the crystal clear waters and watching the reactions of monster Rainbows to each offering I amateurishly tossed their way. Within an hour I suckered one in to taking a gold headed red lure type fly and my confidence soared. A spirited fight on the wippy rod followed and just as my arm began to ache the fish tired and slid into the net. A nice bow weighing 5lb 6oz.

I only ever buy a two fish ticket as I am not that confident of hooking the full four but at this point I was thinking 'easy easy' and wondered if I was going to regret my lack of self belief.
With my next attempted cast I tried to get it out that bit too far and instead caught the tree behind. I pulled carefully but lost the fly, too high up to reach. I went on to try every bit of fluff in the box and although I had a few follows they turned off at the last moment every time. It became frustrating but still enjoyable. Thank goodness I stuck to the two fish ticket. Just the one was it then which has now been gutted and Uncle Dave and Aunty Maureen will have for their tea.
It's another world this fly fishing lark, look at what some chap drives to the lake!

Silver Change

This morning I set off with big Perch in mind. I took loads of bait: maggots, dendroboena, lobworms and prawns. My tactics were Prawn on the float rod and a sleeper rod with lobworm on a low resistance rig. I baited continuously throughout the day to attract small fry to the areas and the big Perch would follow them and fancy a seafood appetiser or wriggly treat. All good in theory but the Perch didn't follow the script.
The sun came out and made it warm and bright, not classic Perch conditions so I moved to the shaded area behind the island. It sort of worked in that I found fish that were willing to feed just not the target species. I finished the afternoon with several Roach, Tench, baby Perch and Silver Bream up to a pb equalling 12oz.

I did not know they were in this particular pond but I would guess they could grow to a decent size in here, well at least to over a pound! On my return I think they will be the target.

Catching is just a bonus!

My last chance for a mid-week evening foray due to the nights drawing in and the pool league starting again next week. I only allow myself one night out during the week, not fair on 'er indoors to have the daily battle that we call 'kid's bedtime' on her own every night! It is a question of balance and fairness and she does let me get away with a fair bit!
I fancied a change from the river so I grabbed the fly rod and dog biscuits and went in search of Carp. They had not read the script and I blanked but the close quarter sighting of three big muntjac on the path down to the pool(they vanished before I could get the camera out) plus this spectacular sunset made the evening enjoyable.

The sun sets across Stubb's pool.

Sometimes just being out in the countryside is enough!

Where is everybody?

Amazing, bank holiday Monday and I had the whole river to myself, either the weather had put everyone off or they were at the angling festival in Evesham. Every year I wander down there and every year I am disappointed, the same stalls selling the same crap as the previous year. I know where I'd rather be.
The river looked perfect, a couple of inches above recent levels and with a lovely tinge of colour. I was trying a different stretch from normal that looked good for a fish or two. I started in the fast water below the weir, trotting meat down a lovely long glide as far as I could see. Nothing was forthcoming but twice in as many minutes there was a big splash from a fish above the weir. I had no choice but to give that swim a try.
I also changed tactic to a static leger approach and within an hour I had a Barbel on the bank.

This must have been the culprit of the splashing because there was no sign of anything after that.
As a last roll of the dice I dropped well downstream to a slow deeper section and although this also was quiet I did land a 5lb 7oz Bream which put up a fairly decent fight-for a Bream.

On the way home I stopped off to have a look at another popular section of the Avon and that was deserted too, not everybody could be at the festival, surely?

Brilliant Barbel Session

Following my previous success with float-fished meat I ventured down the Avon again this morning looking for a similar result. I was late getting to the river, not arriving until gone 7.30am and considering it was a lovely warm morning I was amazed to have the river to myself. Again a 2 and a half Swan loafer was employed, bulk shotted 6 inches above the hook, hair-rigged meat as bait.
First run through resulted in a familiar fish coming to the net. A four pounder with only one eye which I have now caught three times this season, he must like me!

My friend 'cyclops'

A couple more casts later and I landed another small fish, this one had eyes that made up for it's mate.

I have caught quite a few Barbel this season but have not had a single 'double', which was beginning to wind me up a bit but all that was to change, in quite spectacular fashion. I hooked a fish that felt a different class altogether, dogged deliberate fight, large tail slapping against the surface, the sight of it made my nerves jangle. Luckily everything held together and I put the net under an immaculate 11lb 9oz specimen.

11lb 9oz

My biggest Barbel for three years and I could have gone home happy right then. I am glad I didn't because the very next cast I landed another beauty, another 'eleven', this time 11lb 1oz.

Over twenty two pounds of Barbel in two casts, cloud nine now!
The swim then went quiet so I wandered downstream, trying a few swims as I went without success.
After an hour I returned to the original swim and first run through had another good fish just short of a double weighing 9lb 13oz.

I caught three more smaller fish before calling it a day, it was still only 1pm but I was shattered.
Eight Barbel for well over fifty pounds, not a bad morning's work and a great recommendation for using moving baits to catch old Barbus.

Is a static bait the best way to catch Barbel?

This week I have used up a couple of days of my few remaining days off work left in order to give my Summer barbel campaign some real momentum.
Tuesday 21st August.
Got to the Avon early and baited up the swim with Hemp in order to fish meat over the top. The swim is one of my favourites and my confidence was high. The barbel had not read the script though but it was still an enjoyable couple of hours as I was visited by a moorhen and her four chicks which came really close considering what a skittish bird they normally are.

The Kingfisher was very active getting it's breakfast, I will never grow tired of watching these beautiful creatures.

and there was also the usual Swans, Duck, Sparrows, Wrens and a noisy Thrush.
The bird life was a pleasant distraction but I soon grew tired of them and the motionless rods so decided for a change of tactic.
Out came the waders and I tackled up with a loafer, bulk shot down the line and the same hair rigged meat on the hook.

Such a good look!!

First cast and I was into a fish straight away.

Not a monster by any means but a good fighter and a blank saved. I carried on, roaming from swim to swim and finished the session with five Barbel and two Chub.

Trotting certainly outfished static on this occassion.

Troutless

A frustrating day spent fly fishing. The hottest day of the year and spooked fish led to a blank on Bushyleaze Trout lake. I tried every fly in the box, saw lots of fish but they ignored my offerings, all except a mayfly-like effort that gave me the only bite of the day-I missed it!
I still enjoyed it though, a beautiful day spent in stunning peaceful surroundings.

Fishing is a wonderful excuse!

Big Bad Bruce the Blanker

My Aussie neighbour has set off back down under but we managed a short evening session before he went to try to get him a 'Pommie' fish on the bank. This time I took him Barbel fishing, sitting in one swim, blowing the froth off a couple of 'tinnies' was much more relaxing than the previous session of lure hiking. We put two rods out, both baited up with luncheon meat over a bed of hemp, Bruce would take the left one, I the right.
The right side rod was inevitably the first one to go and I played in a 7lb 8oz Barbel.

We were happy to just get a fish on the bank so from then on the big Aussie would have both rods. As the light faded we got another bite, and Bruce was away. The fish made an unstoppable run downstream and then with Bruce applying steady pressure it started to come back towards us. It was clear it was a good fish, we could see nothing in the darkness but the fight was deliberate and tough, signs of a biggie. It was looking like Bruce was getting the upper hand when disaster struck, the fish kited across into a weed bed and became stuck solid. Steady pressure wouldn't shift it so we tried the slack line approach, nothing worked. After 10 minutes we gave it too much pressure and heard the sickening crack as the line went.
Within seconds of recasting one of the rods did a three foot twitch and Bruce was in again. This time there was no way it was getting to the reeds. Bruce piled on the pressure but sadly a bit too much pressure and the line snapped. There was time for one last bite but it was missed, the hook did not penetrate due to a snail masking the point. It was not his night and Bruce was sent home an unlucky blanker. There is always next time!

Slow start to my career as a fishing guide

Sun setting over the Warks Avon

My guiding service will have to remain cheap, free in fact until it improves significantly. This week I have had two sessions with new angling friends and both have blanked despite considerable effort on all fronts.
On Wednesday evening I met up with Jim. Jim has been fishing Stubb's Pool midweek while I have been fly fishing for Carp. He has also been after the Carp and last I week I photographed a cracking 16 pounder for him. We chatted a bit and talk turned to Barbel, he fancied a go for them having only caught one small one previously so I offered to give him a few pointers on one of my favourite stretches.I showed my rig, method and bait, let him choose which swim he wanted and told him where the fish were likely to be. I dropped in the next swim. It was fairly quiet until dusk started to fall then I had the first take and after a cracking fight I landed a small Barbel.

I thought it was much bigger until it was in the net. Twenty minutes later the rod buckled and the reel screamed and I was in again. Another great fight and another Barbel landed, this time a much better fish weighing 8lb 8oz.

8lb 8oz

Sadly that was all the action, an enjoyable session but a shame that it was a blank for Jim.

Session Two

My next door neighbours have an eldest son who has lived in Australia for the last 28+years, since he was 18 years old. He was born in England but speaks with a broad Aussie accent. His name is Bruce!!-brilliant!
A keen fisherman Bruce so we met in the pub last week and arranged a day out on the Avon. I figured that a day spent behind motionless rods probably wouldn't be his bag so we decided to lure fish for Pike.

Big Bruce 

Friday was clear and sunny and I knew it would be tricky but I thought we would catch something, we blanked. Miles of riverbank were trodden in search of old Esox, every lure in the box was cast but we ended with a couple of follows from small Perch and that was it.
Strewth-being a fishing guide is harder than I first thought!

New lure- instant success

I spent Wednesday evening down by the river playing with some new toys that I have recently acquired, some big Pike flies.....

and some fancy new plugs......

These are pretty impressive pieces of kit. They were probably designed with Bass in mind and I am itching to cast them into the sea. Three ball bearings rattle in the 'belly' and you can just about see the red oil that rocks around the inner chamber looking blood-like! They have a lovely action and fish just below the surface on the retrieve.
I cast it out downstream and mid river and as I started to turn the reel handle it got nailed.

A Jack had taken an instant liking to the lure. Not a monster but I was pleased. I fished on for about an hour, exploring this quiet stretch of river, had one more attack on the lure but the Pike missed it before the heavens opened yet again and I decided to retire to the pub.

I am bored of this weather now!!