New Years Eve Perch 2014

Well where do i start.My last two barbel sessions i got leafed out and i decided to turn my attentions to billy perch.I wanted to try something different this winter and maybe should of started a little earlier.Any way my chosen venue has a few features,but i needed to locate them.

My first couple of sessions i fished one rod on alarm and float fished with the other,bait was lobworm on the hook,maggot feeder on the alarm rod.I missed two good bites on the float and struck to early.My third session was to target another area,same tactics as last time,i kept to the same tactics and at 2 o clock the water came alive,fry jumping,fish swirling........things were looking promising,i had my first run and struck to early,just didnt read the bite.

Todays tactics would be different,an all out attack with the alarms,one rod in the margin on prawn,the other on maggot feeder,chopped up worm and two half lobs popped up.Nothing happened on the prawn rod,so i casted to the right of my other rod,same bait but with a straight lead.I carried on feeding a few pouch fulls of reds,little and often.As time wore on i was getting plenty of liners on one rod.at about 1-30 i changed rods over,i put the lead over to my left hand spot and moved my left hand rod further to my left.

Then the rain came,id left the brolly in the van,and i wasnt prepared to reel in,so i stuck it out.The rain stopped just after 2pm,so i fed my spots again.I waited now,at the back of my mind i wanted to go home,id dried off but was cold.I poured my self a coffee to warm up.I put my cup down and my bobbin rose about 6 inches,i waited,within seconds the bobbin hit my rod,fish on.

As i guided billy to my waiting net,i was so relieved i had decided to stay.And also fishing this swim after what i witnessed last week it defo paid off........................................

It had started rain again so a few quick pics,this isnt the best,i have others better,but you can see the venue
This is a new PB for me by 2 oz ....................2lb 2 oz,well chuffed................................

My blog wouldnt be complete without a couple of red robins from a previous session...........................

I have had a great season,Tench 8.10 Chub 5.2 Bream 10 . Barbel 9.13 and now Perch 2.2
5 PB,S in a season,well chuffed...............................................................
Tight Lines for 2015 and a happy new year x

Merry Christmas 2014

Well I havnt been blogging because I've been blanking.Id just like to wish all the bloggers out there a great Xmas and happy new year.
Tight lines stay safe,no drinking and driving and drink in moderation lol.

River Looked Spot On 9-11-14

Ian messaged me and said was i out,i said it wouldnt be till 6pm,so he headed up river earlier and i arrived as expected.The river and conditions looked spot on.A swim i wanted to try was taken ,so i headed to a new peg.Plan of attack would be boilies on both rods and pva bags,i fished one rod close in and the other downstream.I text ian and he said he had not had any fish .My left hand rod twitched twice and i lifted into my first bite,a chub.

Not much room in the peg,so not a great pic,chub never seem to want there picture taken,lol

It would be another hour before any movement in my rod,at first i thought i had a leaf or weed on my line
when the rod moved again,i struck and fish on,after a good fight,she was mine.

A nice barbel,bit to close to the camera.......................................

At about 9 pm ian turned up and said he was going to fish below me,i decided to stay another hour and if nothing happened i would move too.At 10 pm i packed up and got the peg i wanted earlier.I got both  rods out ,sat back and enjoyed a coffee.I managed two twitches and called it a draw at 11-30pm.
Ian managed a chub,so we headed home,Browny 2 Mann 1...............................................

Tight Lines bloggers,just cant say no to my barbel fishing at the moment,lets see what happens this week.

November Barbel Bonanza And A New PB 1-11-14

Well it looked a  really good evening to fish the river,a decent level of water,mild weather and low pressure.
I really hadnt made my mind up where to fish upon arrival at 6-30pm,this time last week it was still light,this week pitch black . I decide to fish an area that had seen me catch a few fish lately and i had an idea the barbel would be in the shallower area of the river.

This week i would fish a boilie and pva bag on each rod and feed a few boilies.I fished across to a deep hole and up streamed my other rod.Then it was time to sit back and wait,leaving the rods for 30 mins before recasting.It was really mild evening with the wind blowing across river ,as usual a marker at the side of my rods to keep an eye on the level.

I had just poured a coffee and had one sip as my right hand rod tore off,burning my lips in the process.Soon as i had the rod im my hands my spool went into meltdown as this fish went on a powerful run,it felt a really decent fish,was it the double i havnt caught yet,i turned the fish and after a couple more runs i guided her over the net at the second attempt. I turned on my torch to have a look,she looked big,was it a double.
I rested her in the net while i sorted my sling and scales.

I decided to weigh her first,rest her then take pictures,the scales hit 10,then were bouncing between 9.13 -9.15 till they settled at 9.13.Well chuffed smashed my pb by 11 oz.

The two sides.............9.13 NEW PB Barbel

I had only been fishing just over half an hour when i caught her,my next barbel came 10 mins later,a splasher barbel.It wasnt long before my right hand rod went again,and no 3 was in the net.

Another splasher barbel....................................

My next bite came not long after on the same rod a fish of the same size,barbel no4.I had only been there about an hour and a half and id managed 4 barbel,my next bite was a chub,that i bumped off at the net.
The wind was building up now,blustery at times ,by 10pm i slipped my 5th barbel over the net with what looked like a damaged tail.

Could be otter damage.............................................

I decided to stay as late as long as the bites came coming,from 10 pm to 11pm the wind changed direction and it was drizzleing and to windy to put an umbrella up,the river was falling and by 11pm i hadnt had another bite,so i packed up.

A great evenings fishing and a shame the mild weather is coming to an end.I need to get my Pike head on,but for now i will see what happens come next week.

Tight Lines Bloggers

3 Bites and a Swan 25-10-14

I decided to leave earlier last night due to it going dark earlier.I arrived at the river at 6-10pm,it was busy,decided to fish where i was last time with an option to move upstream.I had opted to fish feeders this week,boilie and pellet as bait.

With the clocks going back i decide i was going to stay later,and i took an umbrella just incase.My first bite was a proper 3 ft twitch,i leaned into the fish and the hook pulled.It was about 30 mins later when i struck into two twitches,rod hooped over,felt a good chub,net ready and guiding the fish to the net my hooked pulled,damn.It was still early so moving yet wasnt an option.

I recasted both rods every 20 mins to get some bait down,the river was dropping as i had a marker to keep an eye on the level.It would be 9-30 before my next bite,it tore off,i leaned into the fish as my clutch went into meltdown as it went on a powerful run ,i turned the fish and it made to more powerful runs before i netted her.I looked into the net and really thought it was a double.

9.2 that matches my personal best,different stretch.............................................

o took pics of the otherside that were better showing the fish better and size,they were poor.i leaned back here for some reason...............................................................

I moved up stream at 11pm to a new swim,casting every 20 mins and not a sniff,i packed up at 1am,arrived home as the clocks went back to 1 am,cant complain.................................

Tight lines bloggers,not ready for pike yet so one more barbel session to come as its so mild.....................

Funny watching this swan peck at my bait tub....................................

17-10-14 .....Barbel x 8

I decided to fish friday night after work,saturday and sunday looked unpredictable with the weather and also i had to work saturday and sunday morning.I arranged to meet Ian at are chosen river.On the way there i had,well i wasnt far away from coming off the motorway i realised id forgotton my landing net head ,DOH..

I rang ian and with luck he hadnt set off and said he would bring one,my saviour.I arrived at the river earlier than ian,i walked up and the two pegs i wanted for us,there was anglers opposite,damn.................

I walked back and ian arrived ,we decided to try a spot we have fished before,me in a peg i knew and ian further up in a peg he hadnt tried before.I decided to fish the usual,bomb and a bag,with boilie on both rods.

There was a chance of rain so an umbrella was taken this time.I got both rods out and after about half an hour i was into my first barbel.....

First fish of the night a splasher................................

It wasnt long before i was into another,this one came on the other rod,different boilie...............

A better fish at 6.10..................................................

The rain came and the scores on the doors were 2-1 to me,then my rod went again ,i didnt take a pic as it was raining heavy noe,it was about 4 lb,3-1 to me..............................

It wasnt long before ian was in,3-2,...................................

A very nice barbel for Ian..........................................
As the rain came down ian had another ,3-3 ,we decided to fish till 11-30pm at 11pm my right hand rod roared off,biggest of the night for me...................................

8.4 well chuffed...........................................

It wasnt long before ian,s rod roared off 4-4.............................................

Another cracker,ian had a 8.3 and a 8.9 well done...............................................

We had no twitches or knocks,they were full blown takes,a great evenings fishing,really enjoyed it.
Tight Lines Bloggers.......................................................................

Wet wet wet 9-10-14

I arrived at a different stretch at about 7-10pm,was hoping for a certain peg,it was taken,oh well headed down stream and ended up in a different peg .I was surprised how mild it was for this time of the year.

I fished bags on both rods with pellet and boilie,it wasn't long before the left hand rod twitched,then at 8 pm it roared off,a nice barbel about 4 lb.

 Then came the rain,it was off and on and no umbrella makes it difficult.At about 9 -30 I had a bite that just hung it self,i netted it expecting a small chub,it was a barbel about 2 pound maybe less.
I sat there for another hour and then the weed and leaves were coming down,I recast my downstream rod twice,then the downpour came,wet wet wet ,not that soppy 80,s band but a good soaking I got.

I packed up and headed back to the van,happy I had 2 barbel,not happy I had to pack in.Must remember a damn brolly next time.my stuffs on the line drying as I type .

Till the next time bloggers,tight lines over the weekend,no pike for me yet ,got barbel on my mind lol.

The magic of the river 4-10-14

I arrived at the river just after 6 pm,I decided to take a walk with no tackle and have a look at a peg.
I looked at the peg and noticed another angler arriving in the swim opposite,I decided against fishing here,something I would regret..........

I walked back to the van and the heavens opened,I sat there for 10 mins,whenever it cleared I headed down to my peg,a peg I've fished before,a good size peg with plenty of options,anyway more of that later......

As I was setting up I noticed perch smashing minnows in the margins,the minnows were jumping to escape the perch.There was a huge black cloud looming in the distance,so black was it carrying a downpour as it dispersed into grey clouds as it started to drift towards me.As darkness fell the moon lit the sky up on my peg like someone had switched a bright spot light on me.The clouds were drifting across the moon ,giving off that eerie feeling ,as the shine of the moon became dark hidden amongst the clouds.

I moved down river and the moon became brighter as the night wore on,shining so bright down on to my peg,you could hear an owl in the distance,the faster water further down stream could be heard every now and again as the mist rolled down the river towards me like a heavy fog,covering my isotopes.The ducks moving from one side of the river to the other looking for left over bait.

The mist cleared for a short time ,then it rolled in again thicker than before,the temperature was now dropping,the rods were lifeless as I reached for my flask for a hot coffee to keep me warm.As i reeled in ,I attached another bag to cast out into the mist,I was lost in all the things I saw tonight,it was magical.

Goin back to the fishing,I should of sat in that peg with one rod,do I regret it,NO the thing is I'm there to get away from it all,take in the every changing scenes I witnessed ,this is the magic of sitting on the river for 5 hours,I packed up at 11-55pm,called it a night.That was my enjoyment for another week,a special place to sit,even if I didn't catch ,the river beat me,but it was magic................

Tight lines bloggers,stay safe and enjoy it..............

A Blank,A Barbel and a Low Flying Bird 20-9-14

I headed up to the river last night to try out a different stretch,new peg.As i took the long walk i saw two anglers filling there swims up with bait.I arrived at my swim,same tactics feeders,pellet and boilie hook baits.

Id been there a few hours now and all to show was one good twitch.I thought about moving but i was limited in the dark to try out another swim and i dont like to move when im building a swim.

At just after 11pm ian joined me for a social,he had been on another stretch an had 3 barbel.At just after midnight we headed back up river as the guys who had filled there swims had gone.We set up and it wasnt long before Ian,s rod roared off................................

8.3 WELL DONE IAN...........................................

At about 2 am i got hit on the back by a low flying bird,crapped me self ha ha.We stayed till 2.30 and packed up,the fog was closing in and visability was getting hard to see,the temps really dropped.
till the next time bloggers.............................

New Swim,same river 13-9-14

I headed up to the river earlier than normal as the nights are drawing in now,dark at 7-30.As usual the long walk,not another angler in sight,till i got to where i wanted to fish,swims were taken.I walked back down stream and chose a peg just past where id fished before.

Tactics as per usual,feeders,boilie and pellet.I fished one rod across the river and one half way.It wasnt long before the twitches and pulls started,looking good,well i thought it was.It wasnt until it got dark i got my first bite,a small chub.Up river from me all i could here were feeders crashing and boilies plopping,anoying to say the least.I decided to switch rods over,boilie to the left and pellet to the right,what a mistake,wasnt long before i got that thumping on the rod tip,and slipped the net under a damn eel.ewwwwwwwwwwwwwww
made a mess of the net,hooklenth,dropped my forceps in the river,what a mess.Finally sorted it out got my forceps back and eel went on its way.

Wasnt long before the rod went again ,same style,this time it came off,then again same thing,bloody eel,s
i recasted to another area,it stopped,seems eels like boilies,lol.

I just carried on regardless and looking at my bait situation it was looking low,a change of pellet and a bag of goodies paid off at midnight.

A welcome chub,packed up at 12-30,no barbel,till the next time,tight lines bloggers.............

Temperature Drop. 7-9-14

Arrived at the river later than usual at 7-15 pm,lovely and warm.Headed down stream to fish above two anglers who were below me,a new peg i hadnt fished before.Decided to fish both rods up stream,feeders on both rods with pellet and boilie hook baits.The moon behind me lit up the bank as soon as it went dark at 8-30 .Then the temperature started to drop with a nice mist on the river.My tips were rattling so i felt confident of a bite or two.Wasnt long before my right hand rod twitched and a small chub fell to pellet.I was casting every 20 mins to get some bait down,hoping the barbel would turn up.

At 10pm my left hand rod rattled off,barbel on to boilie,quick pic and put her back,not massive but welcome.

Not a great picture.....................................................

I had another chub at 11pm and twitches but nothing more,i packed in at 11-30 and headed home.Till the next time bloggers,tight lines.Winter will be here soon .Hoping to get a few more sessions in for the barbel.

Korum River Feeders 2-9-14

Not really reviewed any tackle lately,having purchased 4 of these i was really impressed.I normally use homemade feeders with cow leads,hair curler and a boom.These feeders pack up your ground bait really tight,with smaller holes for slower release.

Designed to sit lower on the river bed,the river feeder was designed to use less lead on the feeders,making your tackle bag lighter.Its hydrodynamic shape allows the water to pass over the top of the feeder,while the specially designed holes allow the flavour to leak out from the feeder and downstream.
This was taken from the korum website....................

Available in small 60 and 90 g small and large 90g and 120g...................................

My groundbait with the 90 g feeders,really impressed,cast really well and hold bottom.Not cheap at £2.50 ea.But in my opinion worth the money...........................................................

Last day of summer 31-8-14

So it was the last day of summer and a lovely day cosidering how poor august has been.I wanted to fish saturday night,checked forcast and the rain put me off and with the river rising i decided to go sunday.
The plan was to meet up with ian at new stretch,a text from ian saying it was too busy he headed over to another stretch of the river.I was pondering what to do as he text me and said it was busy there asweell.

I set of and upon arrival at the river i decided to take the long walk down to where ian was,after a brief chat i decided to head to a swim i fished a day session a few weeks ago,this meant i fished above all the other anglers,rather than in between.

Tactics on both rods,feeders ,pellet on one rod and boilie on the other.I set up and fished across on one rod and the other down stream.I was getting nudges ans nocks,so i made my mind up to stay where i was,the guy below me left and that gave me an otion to move,if needed.

First barbel of the night came at 8 pm as the light levels were starting to go.

First fish into dark and my second to pellet..........................

Biggest fish of the night 6.2 . Another taken on pellet........................................

My fourth barbel of the night,taken to pellet.....................................
I lost what felt like a decent fish not long after the above fish,took me across a rock and snapped me.Re made the rod up and wasnt long before it went again.

A nice chub to end my evening at 4.2..........................................

Tight Lines bloggers,till the next time......................................

New PB Chub 23-8-14

After watching the levels of the river all week,friday looked spot on,unfortunatly i couldnt go.So i went saturday evening.The river had fallen quite a bit,i had an idea where i wanted to fish,i arrived at 6-45,set up and was fishing for 7pm.

My approach would be feeders on both rods ,casting every 25 minutes,boilie on one rod,pellet on the other.
I had to wait just over an hour,a good fight and a new pb chub was in the net,taken on the boilie rod.

5.2 NEW PB,Well chuffed.
It seemed ages till my next bite on the left hand rod,on pellet another chub.The fish seemed to have a stunted tail.

you can just see the wierd twist below its dorsal......................................................

My left hand rod went again,this time the fish bumped it self off,could of been a roach.It was just after midnight and my left hand rod was off again on pellet,no mistake this time,a barbel.

A rushed self take........................................

I packed up about 12-30,a difficult evening with a nice reward.Till the next time bloggers,Tight Lines.

First river session in ages 17 august 2014

Good evening bloggers,just a short blog about my session on a wet and windy river.I have not been out since holiday due to various reasons and worst of all my Mum had a stroke a week ago which has been a stress full time,shes home now and getting better.

I met ian early to a wet and windy day,we headed up river and chose our swims,mine feeder and bag approach, ian trotting for roach.

I was recasting every 30 mins and nothing was happening,then i cast  out and a chub took my boilie on the drop.Ian was into a few chub,but presentation was ruining his waggler work,also his keep net went missing,lucky a salmon angler returned it,lol.

I decided to move and after a few hours decided to call it a draw.Packed up and we got wet through walking back,Did we learn anything,yes dont fish this stretch when its windy.....................

Saved a blank,till the next time........................................................................

Lure fishing U.S.A Part 2

Before i start ill pinpoint where i have been,ishpeming is a city in marquette county,in the upper peninsula of US state of michigan,population 6,470......

The next part of the trip was to go out on the boat.We banked fished throughout the holiday at various times,but as the boat had been stored through the winter a few jobs neded to be done first............

Lucy ready for our first trip out to fish lake 13 mile trip for an evenings fishing....................

Fish lake as we were on the water.............................

Id had 2 pike before i hooked this bass on the same MW Wake bait,Jim and Andrew decided to fish for Blue gill on worm.................................

Jim with a blue gill.................................................

A mepps caught pike,i had 8 pike in total that evening..............................

Jim with his worm caught pike.............................................

A Calm Fish Lake................................................

We were kindly given the use of this cabin for the weekend.Cook lake a private lake that has various properties around the lake,either as a permanant or weekend getaway.

The boat belongs to the cabin and the home made boat launch.Fishing here proved difficult,it was too windy friday evening,saturday it was red hot,so went out saturday night and i had four pike before a storm kicked in........................

A good sized lake,seems the ruling any pike over 24 inches must be removed,classed as a nuisance fish,i put all mine back,as always.........................................

Boat launch at Deer Lake........................................................................................

The sign at Deer Lake,suits me as they are going back any way...................

A bright evening as we set off...............................

This way skipper...............................

Andrew was into the pike first on a spoon.................

Andrew caught 4 pike very quickly in this spot.....................................

I was getting into them now,this pike had black colours to it,shame the shot doesnt show it due to the sun.

Moved in closer to the island,this little fella had some nasty bite marks.............

Few battle scars...........................................

This pike hit the lure at the side of the boat i as i went to hand land it,it went beserk and wraped the trace around its gills,i tried to free one hook and as i did it shook the other hook.

Then the walleye turned up..............................................

And another on the Mark Houghton wake bait........................................

We turned around the back off the island and i had another walleye,Total for that session was 5 pike and 3 walleye.

Another walleye on a lucky 13.............................

Another pike for Andrew..................................

My last walleye of the evening,time to head back before it becomes dark...................

Just a few shots before we headed back to the launch................................

i visited another lake called switzer lake with jim,we spent the best part of the afternoon and early

evening and it was a struggle,jim caught a few pike and a bass and i had 4 pike.I have no pictures as the memory card crashed.lovely lake with loads of bays,you have to be careful as theres lots of tree stumps sticking up and beneath the water.A nice day out but bright conditions didnt help the fishing,i lost a couple

of fish under the boat and the lures varied,Big s,lucky 13 and mepps were the lures of the day.

Well remember in part 1 i said we would get the boat on the part off Deer lake close to the road.We carried andrews light ali boat 200 yards,passed it over the guard rail and we were fishing.
The only problem we had andrews boat wasnt registered,so we had to use oars,not what i wanted and as he,d been away we didnt get time and this was my last chance.

A small northern on a mepps.........................

My biggest pike off the trip 28 inches,on a Original Big s.we were struggling due to the wind and decided as we had forgot the anchor,to go and have a drink,we headed to an area that was easy to get the boat out.
As andrew went back to his truck to turn it round i got every thing out off the boat to the roadside.As andrew came down the bank he said ill get the pop bottles,he stood in the boat ,did the splits and was now 25 yards from the bank and drifting,i through him the oars he didnt catch any,i was laughing so much i decided to cast a lure over the boat,he tied it and i reeled him in.

If you look close you can see my braid,we retrieved the oars,went home and went out on the town and got drunk.
We had another session on the bank i lost 3 pike and caught one,we also fished at cedar beach for blue gill and sunfish and bass,i caught a few blue gill and sunfish on worm,very enjoable on light rods.I would like to thank Andrew for taking me fishing and also Jim,it was a blast,Tight lines

Total pike i caught was 27,lost quite a few too,and 7 walleye,really enjoyed it,cant wait to go again,so many lakes to fish ,its surrounded by them ,Lake Superior isnt far away,an awesome lake.