On the river with the st helens crew 19-1-14

Last weeks  pike session saw a return to my  no1 choice water,i blanked again.........................
This week i decided to look into going somewhere else,i made 2 choices,the canal or the river.I was at home on saturday and the phone rang,it was kieth,you fancy the river mate,didnt need asking twice.
We arrived at the river just after 6-30,myself,kieth,bernie,sefo and young mike who is having a cracking season.The stretch of the river had roughly 5 swims,we all dropped into our chosen swims,mine needed a bit of gardening to get it fishable,bernie dropped in 50 yards to my left and kieth,sefo and mike headed to the swims further down river.

I fished both rods on pat rigs as the river can be really snaggy,better to lose your lead  rather than your trace.
My baits were smelt and lamprey,both fished close in one a rod length out,the other on the edge of a crease
next to a bush.

The morning was going fast till bernie cracked the sausages open,time for a butty,thanks bernie,better than wyreside..............................

I moved my baits about a few times in the morning ,we had a late sausage butty again.
kieth text me to say he lost one.I changed over one rod to a free roving livey,then kieth text me to say mike had a jack.

I had to leave at about 4-30 to be home to visit my mum who,s in hospital again,had a great day out with the lads as usual,great company,good crack and belting buttys......................................

As i was leaving kieth text me to say he had a double,so even though i blanked at least fish were  banked today................................................................

Two of my favourite cloud shots today..............................................