Flanesford Priory

I reached the half century last week,and normally we go somewhere for Julie's birthday,I decided to go somewhere.I chose flanesford as it is situated at the side of the river Wye ,and I've also fancied fishing it for a few years now.Im never really bothered about going anywhere in February but Julie said your only 50 once,so here goes.

We arrived late Friday as the traffic was bad on the way down,don't you just hate travelling through brum,I do.we settled in to the castle apartment and then went out for a meal at the inn on the Wye ,it was raining pretty hard,and I didn't know what to expect for my morning session.

I arrived at the river just after dawn,a short walk from the property.I spent the first 30 minutes walking and looking at swims,the river was coming through at a fair pace,coloured as well.Tactics would be liquidised bread,flake or crust on the hook,straight lead,running ,2 foot hook length size 4 hook.

As I made my way down the bank side it was slippy and muddy.I fished two swims,with one rod in the first swim,and two rods in swim 2. I had decided to fish till around 12, so I could spend the rest of the day with Julie ,I moved to the last choice swim,the muddiest of all,I got down to the waters edge,saw a nice crease coming off a fallen branch,trouble was casting to the spot,due to trees and over hanging branches,a nice side cast saw me high the spot and 5 minutes later,a lovely chubby.

Was well pleased,a tough morning in deed.

Sunday saw me venture further down river,I fished 4 swims and caught two more chub,one to flake the other to crust.im having problems with my lap top so I can't post the pics.

Flanesford priory.

Very high ceiling in our apartment .

The White House above the river,an enjoyable two mornings fishing,not easy by any means.very good rates to stay at flanesford,fishing is extra,with 4 sections of the Wye to fish,downside,poor mobile signal.

Tight lines bloggers,hope to get a new lap top,till the next time .

British Lure Angling Championship 1-2-15

 Today would see me enter my first lure competition .This was the 2 nd qualifier held at salford quays
An urban location with plenty of water to go at.The draw took place at 8-30, my partner was jarek dabrowski,a polish angler.

we headed over to the basins first,my set up was drop shot and lures.The water was gin clear,the weather was very cold ,not great conditions at all.The fishing was going to be a difficult day,I had an idea the pike wouldn't play today with lures,so perch was my main attack and throwing lures were going to be small working up to bigger stuff .

During the morning word was goin round that nobody was catching,maybe one fish could win ,well that's what I was thinking.Myself an jarek moved about and ended up on the canal section,it looked better,I spent a lot of time around the bridges and other structures ,still nothing.

We headed up the canal and fished the bigger basin,by now I was throwing bigger lures,just hoping for a jack ,nothing.So back on the drop shot,word had gone round,one perch had come out.I was so determined now to carry on drop shotting .

we moved to an area we hadn't tried yet,time was running out,10 mins left,I was just chucking lures now,anything will do at the point,just hoping for a bite.

3pm had arrived,all out..........26 anglers took part,25 blanked.........that was solid fishing today.

1st place Steve Collett ,1 perch 13 cm.
Thank you to Jarek,good company ,enjoyed it .


A dissapointing day all round,1 fish would of got me to CHEW, never mind.......

First blog of 2015

Todays session would see me meet up with an old mate of mine called chris.My day didnt start so good as i set off i realised i hadnt put my rods in the van,quick u turn and now i was going to be late,fortunately chris arrived just after me.I said to chris i have an area in mind and we set off.Chris hadnt fished here before so i was hoping i would put him on some fish.

Chris was fishing the feeder for silvers and me perch.We got set up and it wasnt long before chris had his first bite a skimmer.Not long after i was into my first perch,not massive but most welcome,then chris had a perch .The wind was howling today and fishing on the back of the wind made it comfortable fishing.I was into my next perch,exactly 1 lb.By now chris was doin well tempting a nice roach and more skimmers.

My right hand rod seemed to be the busy rod today,all indications were happening on this rod,as my left hand rod fell silent for most off the day.Chris had finally found that bread punch was the winner today and caught a lovely bream,even though the bites were tricky........................................

I finished the day with another small perch...........................................................

My first perch of the day............................................

My biggest 1 lb.........................................................

Stunning roach,made his day...........................................................

Chris with a great January Bream,well done........................................

A great day in great company,cheers chris.Tight Lines Bloggers

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