Monday 31 August 2020

Got it all Wrong 30-8-20

With all the rain we had last week the river was up and my only chance was Sunday evening to get out .I decided to go back to a stretch I’d fished earlier in the season where I blanked. The river was low and clear and tactics would be PVA bags again . I took the long walk looking at swims along the way I need to try out at some point . As I came round the bend I noticed a few things that put me of those swims, anglers on opposite bank . I carried on walking and found there was someone in the swim I wanted .I carried on walking and found 4 more anglers , now at this point I should of turned round and walked back .I decided as I was there and not much light left I wasn’t walking back .I decided to drop in between , now this is where I’d got it wrong , 2 anglers above and 2 anglers below and me piggy in the middle . I started off fishing downstream , but as the light faded I decided to upstream one rod and downstream the other rod. I’d fished this swim once before and caught there so I knew I had a slim chance . As darkness fell the temp dropped dramatically , my feet were toast but my hands were like ice. I stayed till 10-45 pm and decided I’d had enough. I should of gone round the bend , but we all make mistakes and l knew my fishing was over for a week.

Tight lines , stay safe x

Friday 21 August 2020

One Bite 20-8-20

With the weather changing to showers over the weekend I decided to go on Thursday evening.I arrived at the river at around 7pm and went on a walk looking for a peg not near anyone as there was a few fishing . After getting down to the river bank I poured a coffee and made some PVA bags with a mix of 6mm halibut and some elepticals.I decided to fish one rod mid river and the other rod downstream. It was a warm evening with a slight breeze .Both rods were out fishing by 7-40 so now to wait and re cast each rod after 30-40 minutes .The River was carrying a couple of extra foot but was dropping throughout the evening.As darkness fell I was wondering when I was gonna get a pull a twitch or a full 3ft twitch , but at this point I’d not even had a knock .The coffee was going down and the evening was wearing away .At around 10pm I decided fresh bags on each rod, I put a smaller bag on the down stream rod which I found in my bag and a larger bag on middle rod. I sat back and poured a coffee. Typical first sip and I get a full on 3 ft twitch on the Boilie rod . This was defo a barbel and was fighting like a double , my clutch was melting a few times and at the second attempt I netted my prize . After resting  the fish for a while I lifted the net and was shocked at the size of it , it wasn’t a double but omg the power.
Kind of says it all the smile, well pleased and time to go.
Tight lines and stay safe

Wednesday 19 August 2020

2 sessions No Barbel August 2020

9th August
What a lovely weekend it was , I arrived to a busy river and walked till I found a peg.I hadn’t fished this area before and was looking to fish just short of some faster water as the river was low.Different tactics this time I’d fish the feeder .The wind picked up maybe 30 minutes in and it now wasn’t warm at all.At around 8-15 I lost a barbel to a hook pull as I was trying to put too much pressure on as it headed for a boulder .The wind got worse and with no indications I left at 10 pm.
16 August

After another nice week I headed to the river with a chance of rain on the cards.I decided to try a peg that was in between two pegs I’d fished before .I tied up PVA bags and the rain came , not for long though.I fished one rod upstream and one down stream . My first bite came to pellet in day light hours, a lovely chub .Into darkness all the action came on my left hand rod , all chub again .My last bite was a Dace on my right hand rod. Plenty of bats out and another slight shower I packed up at 11pm and even though no barbel it was a decent session .
Hope everyone is well,  Stay safe x

Tuesday 4 August 2020

Homemade scoop Feeders 4-8-20

I decided to make a few more 4oz feeders up for the river . I normally use hair curlers but wanted something more robust.I have used just normal waste pipe in 28mm which was less than £5 for a 3 metre length ,the swivels and inline lead inserts I purchased of eBay in bulk .I just use pike wire for the boom section and crimp it.i prefer thicker pike wire as I can’t see the uncoated wire lasting very
Long .My last batch I made had various holes in for slow or faster release .The idea behind these got me thinking of match fishing and pellet feeders .I wanted to be able to come up with a feeder where I could load it quicker and came up with this idea .
All I did was cut them at 45 Degree angle, no Holes and I’ve called them Scoop Feeders.

Tight lines ,will be using them when the river has a bit more water , will post a review .

Stay safe

Sunday 2 August 2020

Friday Barbel Saturday Chub

Last Friday I made it up to the river for a short session .The weather forcast was heavy rain from 10 pm onwards .The River was spot on and had dropped to a perfect level it looked fantastic .Usual tactics bomb and bag, Boilie and pellet.It wasn’t long before my rod went over and a lovely chub hit the net .At around 8ish I had a massive 3 foot twitch and what a fight from a powerful fish taking line and going on good runs in the flow.Once I had her under control I netted her at the second attempt.
Was fluctuating between 10 and 10-2 so settled for 10 lb , What a lovely barbel two tone.I should of packed up and gone home really but sat there in the rain for at least 10 minutes before it cleared .I had one more bite and a lovely chub .I packed up at 9 and by the time I’d walked back to the van and loaded up the heavens open. Turned out a perfect window of opportunity .

1st August 2020
Arrived at around 7-30 pm and found the river to be lower but a nice colour and some flow.It was a lovely evening and actually warm to fish without a jacket on. I started of with a chub followed by 3 more in to dark , Two were good sizes and the other two were small, Boilie 2 pellet 2 . I fished till 11-30 and with no further action packed up.

Tight lines and Stay Safe x