Grinding Pellets

I like to grind up Halibut pellets that I buy in bulk to use in my feeder mix when on the River.

I normally use a Korda Krusha which does the job , but it's slow and painful on your hands.As I like a look round car boots with Julie I'm always on the look out for a Meat Mincer or coffee Grinder.

Last week I picked up a meat mincer about 80 years old for £9 and what a cracker it is for grinding down the pellets.

Load the pellets in the top.

Few winds off the handle and it's very quick to crush up a pint of Pellet.

Closer look ,Perfect for the feeder.

Tight Lines .

Random Pictures on the River

My Barrow ready to roll.

Cover your bait bucket when this Swan is around.

Moody Sky Line

A Wierd cloud formation with Rod Tips.

My Feeder Mix

Barbel Biscuits .

Only Blank this season .

Keeping Dry .

Just some pictures I've took on my phone whilst on the River.

Tight Lines .

A Change Of Bait 13-8-16

So Saturday tea time I'm on my way to pick Chris up for a long overdue river session on the river ribble hoping Chris can catch his first Ribble Barbel.We went on the usual long walk down river and after a little negotiating I found the peg for Chris to fish that I've had some good success in and I made my way down river to try and find a peg as the river was up about 4 foot from last weekend I managed to find a spot and set up.It would probably take 3 hours for the river to drop and as we were early I was hoping the barbel would be on the feed as the river level dropped.It wasn't long and I recieved a text from Chris ,he'd caught a barbel,so I reeled in and walked up for photos .

Not massive but Chris was pleased ,I headed back to my spot ,got both rods out and sat back taking in all the fish topping,perch chasing fry in the margins.I decided to fish boilies on both rods as the river was up and fish 3oz feeders on Both and keep feeding every 20 minutes.I was getting a few knocks on my left hand rod and nothing at all on my right hand rod,then at 7-40 pm my right hand rod roared off a no barbel on,then off to a hook pull.As the evening progressed  I changed to a heavy lead and pva bag on my left hand rod and carried on with the feeder on my right hand rod.As soon as it was dark the river had dropped a good 2 foot ,I was sure we were in for some good sport.At about 9-50 pm I eat my last Tunnocks and decided to reel in my left hand rod,put the feeder back on,change my bait to a pellet with a longer hook link and hope a change of bait might make the difference.At about 10-10 pm my pellet rod ripped off and after a few powerful runs it was in the net .I couldn't believe it when I checked the net.

I was made up 10 lb 6.The scales were bouncing between 10-6 and 10-8 so as I wanted to return the fish it could of been a repeat of the 10-8 I had a few weeks ago,I'm not sure.I packed up not long after and went too see how Chris was.He had not caught any more ,but was getting plenty knocks and had lost a fish too.A real enjoyable evening and hopefully next time we can fish nearer .

Tight Lines Bloggers,Till the Next Time 

Double Trouble 6-8-16

I arrived at the river it was warm and muggy,I loaded the barrow and went on a long walk  looking for a swim.I arrived at a swim I'd fished before,the river was lower than last week .I decided to fish two rods straight away,one on pellet and the other on boilie.Both rods fished with crushed halibut pellet and hemp.I would be casting each rod every 15-20 mins to get some bait out ber fore darkness which was 9-30pm last night.I was fishing by 7-30pm,I poured a coffee and was baiting a couple of rigs before dark and at 7-55 my pellet rod roared off,fish on for all of 10 seconds.I reeled in and checked the hook it was fine,I recasted and sat back.I was getting plenty of taps and a good couple of raps on my boilie rod .It was 9 pm now and the breeze was wonderful,the wind had picked up putting some ripple into the slow flow of th river and a relief to cool down.The ducks and the swan that likes to get at your bait bucket were out in force looking for freebies as I was the only angler around.It was getting nearer to 10 pm and I was thinking of moving my right hand rod to another spot,then all of a sudden my right hand rod went into melt down,fish on.Loads of action on the clutch and what a fight it was putting up in the low levels of the river.I knew there was some deeper areas in front of me to net the fish and as I was sliding the net under the fish my feeder got caught in the net as the fish tried to make another run snatching my landing net pole from my hand,I was in trouble.I waded further out grabbed my net,freed the feeder and netted the fish I was relieved it was over.I decided to reel my other rod in and sort this fish out,too late it was off,another barbel on,what a job netting another fish when you have one in the net.Finally the manic 20 minutes was over.I rested both fish ,got the sling,scales already as I knew the bigger one was a Double.I weighed it and it went 11.2 lb ,was absolutely buzzing and wet to my knees after wading out.

And what a belter ,I was really pleased with the result.

Not massive but the other barbel .I re baited both rods wet,poured a coffee and sat back big smile on my face.I gave it till 11 pm ,packed up and and a wet squidgy walk back too the van,but well worth it.

Tight Lines Bloggers,Till the next time.

3 Barbel Twitches

Well after last weeks blank on a rainy evening last Saturday where I bumped what felt like a chub off 

That was my only action of that night.So last night I headed up to the river with a long walk in mind.

I arrived at the river loaded up the barrow and off I went,I was looking at various swims along the way and I settled on a swim about 100 yards past where I'd scored 4 barbel a couple of weeks ago .

The river was low and clear,there were two other anglers fishing about 90 yards away down stream from me crashing big feeders and firing pellets out .I opted to fish one rod and if nothing happened within the hour I'd move below where I had fished before.I had been there now just over an hour fish were topping and i had managed just a few twitches ,Doubt was setting in now,should I stay or should I go .In just over an hours fishing I was casting on average every 20 minutes to get some bait down .

Total opposite to me the 2 guys downstream were filling the river in crashing feeders out there probably spooking the barbel into not feeding on there spots.The evening was blue skies and lots of cloud cover and quite warm.By 8 pm I was getting a few twitches and pulls and now I was feeling confident again.

I was now contemplating shortening my hook length when the 3 foot twitch came and after a few crazy runs I pulled my first barbel over the net.

And what a cracker it was,around 8-20 pm,well chuffed as I saw the two anglers who were down stream packing up.Got me thinking now,there's an option ,go fish over there bait,but I didn't .

So now I got my other rod out before dark,plan of attack was casting that rod every 15 mins with a bigger feeder,pellet on the hair and after probably 4 casts just leave that rod out and concentrate on my other rod ,topping up the swim .As darkness fell I was getting some really quick twitches now and was looking good for a bite.As the time went by I could hear a clutch going on the far bank an angler had set up just before dark and was into a good barbel,would it be my turn soon.Then around about 10-30 after having no action to the pellet rod I was just getting up to reel the rod in to change to boilie

No time as soon as I stood up my rod pulled over violently,I leaned into another crazy fight in the low water conditions and finally after a few good runs I finally pulled my prize over the net cord another lovely barbel.

After I'd took this pic,I waded out into the river and rested the fish in the net,I walked back to sort my rod out,and boom the pellet rod was off,what a crazy run this barbel went on,my clutch was melting 

And I still had a barbel in my net,no chance of netting this one with one already in the net,so here's me playing what could be my best fish of the night trying inbetween runs to release the barbel from my night,which was no easy task.I managed to get the barbel out of the net and on its way,but this one was taking me all over place .Finally have two more runs near the net,I netted what looked and felt a double.I rested the fish in deeper water.Got everything ready and it went 10.8 a new PB and my second ribble double .

What a beauty.10.8

Same fish was well pleased on what was a slow night and I did the right thing in the end sticking it out like I did.So after this fish I re baited both rods cast out,poured a celebratory Coffee lit a cigarette and kicked back for 15 minutes.Nothing happened so I packed up and took the long walk back to the van .

Tight lines bloggers,Till the next time .

River Session Part 2

So my rod hooped over just under the hour before I was going to move and I was into my first barbel which was fighting like stink,it wasn't long before she was mine and in the net.

It would be another 45 mins before my next bite and even though she was small another decent fight for a splasher.

It wasn't dark yet and I was awaiting some action in the dark,plenty twitches and pulls.Before darkness came I put my second rod out and my first bite was an eel.Then it was probably just into dark my next bite and it was a 4-13 Chub ,probably go easy five plus in winter.

And it was a cracker ,Really pleased with this lovely Chub.My left hand rod now was getting twitches and pulls then boom another vicious  take,Barbel on and another great fight in the flow.

Not massive but there all welcome.My next cast wasn't in the water long before I bagged another eel .

I had decided to pack in at 11-45pm ,then vicious take and a big scrap to my biggest barbel of the night,plenty runs on the clutch ,and finally the prize was mine.

A lovely barbel.So when I packed up I was checking my peg and I noticed something swimming close in ,so I climbed down checked everything was solid and could see the smaller barbel I had was swimming about in 12 inches of water and as there was a grassy bank just below my peg it couldn't find its way back into the river,so I scooped it up with my hands and guided her back to the river.I shone my torch one last time and spotted the last fish I caught and did the same,Glad I checked what I'd saw.Now for the long walk back to the van being attacked by every fly and midges.

A real enjoyable session in a new peg .

Tight Lines ,Till the next session .

River Session Part 1

The Saturday evening was going to be my first outing on the river trying out a new stretch.Upon arrival I spent 15 mins looking at pegs and I didn't really fancy any , so a walk was in order, a long walk aswell as I wasn't really fancying any pegs I'd looked at.After walking for about 20 mins I put my gear down and had a look at 2 areas I fancied , but my mind was telling me go back to this peg I had seen 50 yards up river , so I did and after a bit of tredding down nettles and a few other various vegetation clearing I set up one rod as the idea was to fish for an hour and move before dark if I wasn't having any Success .

In my last blog I mentioned bait and this is the bait I'm using. I thought hard and long about using up what I had left and decided to start afresh with new bait .

My feeder mix, ground halibut pellet,and a selection of various pellets.Hard to see in picture but before I set of I had glugged the pellets with TC Glug a nice and smelly and oily mix.I just have to add a little water .Pack it in feeder and let the flow do the work .

My hook baits and feeders .

My sponsors for all my fishing Trips.

A nice moody black and white shot .

Back to the fishing I was fishing a gully about 3 rod lengths out and was getting plenty of small twitches and Knocks for the first 30 mins .I wasn't going to fish 2 rods until dark so I was only fishing the one rod.It was a lovely warm evening and 

It wasn't long before my rod bent over in a vicious Take .

Part 2 to follow