End of the year 2017

I've enjoyed my fishing this year it's been frustrating at times due to weather and work.As you have probably read over the years I like to fish for various species,My Favourites Are Perch,Pike ,Bream,Tench and carp.I also like to fish the odd match aswell and I don't normally plan out the year ahead but 2018 I might just try it out.I haven't fished for pike now for over 3 years ,basically I lost enthusiasm and turned to perch of which I've thoroughly enjoyed and now have four 2 plussers under my belt.For me fishing isn't a planed out event for me,I go when I can even if the weather isn't on my side,I'm  not lucky enough to go with work commitments when conditions are bang on.So next year I hope to split my sessions up and fish some different waters.Ive got my eye on a Big Res for my love of feeder fishing,A new water to try For Carp.Maybe a Return to a Tench/Bream water if I can get on again.

An Old Picture,Chris said I should do a Rod Pod Blog,Maybe.

Anyway Tight Lines for 2018 and what remains of 2017 Stay safe....

A Real Hard Frost 28-12-17

Well the dream team were back together today for a Roach Perch Session .The frost was real heavy the night before ,would it prove to be a bite less day.We arrived at the lake,Chris set up in his usual swim fishing his helicopter and maggot feeder ,Me I set up further down fishing Lobworm close in feeding maggots.The wind was cold and the ground pretty frozen from the overnight frost.

View from my swim until the cold wind picked up and was making it difficult to watch the float,Chris had a few small roach under his belt until the hail stones came down real heavy.Chris must have moved his brolly 3 times during the hail periods we had during the morning,Me I had no brolly .

Around lunchtime after another heavy hailstone period again I decided enough was enough and decided to move further up past Chris into a more sheltered corner.As morning became afternoon Chris had caught a few skimmers and two Lovely roach,biggest 1lb 8 Oz.

Lovely conditioned roach .At around 2-30pm Chris suggested why don't we move lakes,of which probably suited me more than him.So we rounded up all the gear and moved.No more hailstones but the temperature had dropped and it was last chance saloon for me or a blank.Fresh lobworm,chopped up some lobs and fed a few maggots and sat back.There were plenty of swirls and perch chasing fry I was hoping they'd discover my Lobworm .Chris was casting around looking for a bite .Anorher coffee was poured trying to keep warm and occasionally topping the swim up with a few reds.

The moon in the distance was looking splendid in the sky ,but time was running out as we approached Dusk.

I just needed my float to sail away but as darkness was coming in thick and fast I admitted defeat as I could no longer see my float.A great day out catching up with Chris and an enjoyable day seeing Chris catching two lovely Roach.

Till the next time or Next year...................

Perch Perch Perch 23 December 2017

Well I've not been out since my last perch session due to a bad cold and I also have had an abscess in my mouth ,so more dental work in January.I decided to fish a different lake since my last session in a peg I've fished before .Tactics feeding red mags and lobs on the hook.I arrived at the lake to heavy mist,visibility was poor but as I was fishing close in I could see my float.Temps today were supposed to be 10 degrees,but felt like 4 with the north westerly that was blowing on my back.It would take about 2 hours before I had a small perch.I trimmed down my lob as the float would sail away and there was nothing on,just small perch grabbing the lob.I carried on feeding a few chopped lobs and 5/6 Mags as I was building the swim.Around lunchtime the mist seemed to be clearing,but it wasn't that long before it came back.My next bite produced a better perch ,so at least they were getting bigger.As the day wore on I was cold and believe me I was wrapped up ,as the coffee got lower and the food was gone I was wondering now if anything was goin to come from this swim.It was due to go dark at 4 pm so I decided 3-45 would be pack up time as I had to be home to sort something out.At around 3-25 my float went ,rod bent,pin clicking and I really thought I had a decent perch.As I netted my prize,I smiled it wasn't a monster but well worth the wait.

Went 1lb 4 ounces,was really pleased.Any way till the next time and Merry XMas Bloggers.

A Brace Of 2,S 18 November 2017

Well I was really looking forward to my first proper perch session of the winter but first I needed some Lobworms.My usual place I was getting them from you can get them once a fortnight but the last lot I had were Rubbish.So I went online to Willys Worms and ordered them before lunchtime Wednesday and they arrived Thursday afternoon,well packaged and looked top drawer.I decided to take my float rod and pin and ledger rods if the weather was rainy and I'd fish static with alarms.I arrived at the lake and the weather was predicting 7 degrees,North westerly wind and higher air pressure than last Saturday.I opted to float fish and headed to a peg I fancied where there is a slight drop off in the margins.I fed little and often and with little happening apart from the slight drizzle I headed back to the van for a butty and a brew.i went back to the peg and had another 30 minutes.I decided to move and fish another spot.Another nice deep margin spot that in an hour all it produced was a small perch.I decided at 1pm to go back to the morning peg and stick it out till dark or when I couldn't see my float.

I carried on where I left off feeding little and often and a few chopped lobs went in aswell.As the afternoon wore on my float was lifeless,it was cloudy,overcast it looked pretty perfect but seemed I would have to wait and be patient and hope the perch would feed.Good signs were fry jumping to my left and plenty of fish topping.As I sat there mid afternoon I topped up with a few more bits of Lobworms and within a few seconds my float sank I counted to 3 and struck,Fish on ,centrepin clicking,rod bending as it put up a good scrap.It went over the net,it looked good too I was happy my patience had payed off.

2.7 and a new PB by 3 ounces,well chuffed.I could of gone home and settled for this but onwards and upwards let's see if there was going to be more to come.I re baited my hook,fed the swim,swung the float out on the spot and poured my last coffee and kicked back knowing mission completed and was just trickling some maggots in aswell .It was probably a good 30 minutes before my next bite,a dip on the float and moved to the left and I struck,this felt better as it was heading for a snag.I got it under control and a few lunges and the stripy was in the net.Looking at the fish in the net I was thinking it was off similar size.Back out with the camera.

And it was bigger,And another PB 2.15.......

It was a wide fish,look at its belly.Time for one more I thought,wishful thinking on my part,as the light faded and I was struggling to see my float,I packed up very happy and headed off home.

Till the next time bloggers,Tight Lines .

No Lobs Just Maggots.11-11-17

Today would of been a Perch fishing day but no Lobs meant I would have to target something else on the lake.Now before I go on and no doubt Chris will be reading this at some point and throwing is turmeric outta the pram,The fish I would be goin for would be ROACH (Sorry Chris ).Anyway let's get down to what was happening and where.Well did you really think I was going to say where I was fishing HAHa...........LOL....So I would be fishing two rods,both on maggot feeders and maggot hookbaits .Id be fishing the deeper water in someone's favourite peg Shhhhhh He he.Upon arrival it was misty and low pressure,quite warm too.By mid morning all I had to show for my fishing would be two drop backs and no fish caught.The mist was still quite thick and I could still see my far bank markers I re casted my right hand rod,sat back and poured a coffee,then just as I was relaxing the bobbin dropped back ,rose and hit the rod blank.Fish on,felt breamy with a couple of jagged knocks until it kited under my other line.I guided it safely away and now I'm thinking Big Roach.As I slipped the net under my prize I realised now that my roach dream was a .........................

Tench,you wouldn't believe it would ya,it's November aswell.As the morning wore on I managed 4 Roach in lovely condition a Skimmer and plenty of drop backs then nothing.The sky had cleared,the sun was out but the temp had dropped from the morning.The fishing now was non existant has I paced my drink and cigarettes out of boredom waiting for my next bite,and yes it was another small roach followed by a skimmer.Before the witching hour approached I had a nice perch.As darkness approached nothing was happening,no Ciggarettes or coffee left and time to pack up and head to the Chippy to warm up.I learned some things today,1 I got the hook pattern wrong ,a lot of drop backs caused lost fish .And No 2 don't fish ya mates swim.........

Cold maggots "................

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

November 5 2017 Dream Team on the River

It's been a long time since the dream team fished together.Yes Chris is back out for our winter campaign,glad he's covered the motorbike up and is always a pleasure to fish with him,by the way it was his idea of dubbing us the Dream Team.Anyway let's get on with the blog and I'll tell you all about it.We had discussed midweek the plan was to fish a stretch of the ribble if the levels permitted and we had a stretch in mind,well I thought so till Chris said fancy going to a different stretch,so me being so kind we headed to the different stretch.When we arrived it was blue sky's,no cloud cover and full sunshine.You can't order the weather you won't so make the most of it and let's go for a long long walk .I had two tactics today,tip rod,maggot feeder and maggot on the hook and then switch to liquidised bread and bread on the hook for some chub .Chris would be on the pin fishing maggot trotting.

Chris getting prepared to wade out.

Float on its way through on first trot.

Chris casting out.3 Trout and a grayling and then Chris came back for a brew.I was still waiting for my first bite and as Chris sat down ,2 Taps I'm in.Grayling on for me .

After the grayling this was followed up by two trout.Chris was back trotting and was into more trout.After lunch we moved into another swim.Chris swapped to feeder now .Wasnt long before I was catching dace one a chick,only small.Chris had a few too.As the day wore on we moved again ,time for some bread I thought and Chris wanted to trot a swim he'd had success in before.We settled in to our different swims.The conditions were still bright and I was convinced I might get some chub action .

Chris running his float through his new swim .Id  managed a couple of minnows on maggot before I'd gone in with the bread.Chris could only manage another minnow whilst he was trotting.The bread wasn't working.The sun was dropping slowly,temps dropping so one more move.

 The last trot for Chris but it wasn't happening.

My new companion,I'm sure he wanted me bread........"......................

A lovely day,not great for fishing.Enjoyed being out with Chris again.

Tight lines,Till the next time.

Its Been Too Long 23-9-17

Well it seems like ages since I last fished the river,I've been very busy at work and other stuff has got in the way of me getting on the bank.I finally arrived at the river at 6pm giving me plenty of time to get a peg and set up for the evening .The river was looking good and a nice level,no crap coming down so I decided to bang a float stop on each rod to catch any debris just in case the river started rising.5 Oz leads and pva bags would be my chosen tactic tonite.As usual pellet on one rod and boilie on the other rod were the bait choice,with 4 mm pellets in the Pva bags.It was a lovely evening,plenty of cloud cover and very warm.The peg I chose was about 60 yards down from where I last fished,one rod mid river the other slightly upstream.As I settled down for a coffee a few twitches started so a nice early indication fish were in the swim.It would be just before darkness and my first pull was a good one,Barbel on and a good fight in the flow as it tried to head for a snag ,thankfully I guided him away and over the net.

A nice barbel,fell to a Pellet,Game on.....................

As darkness fell it seemed to get warmer ,the bats were out in force tonite one flew into my rod.An hour went by and a double twitch I struck and fish no 2 was a lovely chub which came to the net.

A Lovely chub,Another pellet casualty.

As the night went by with no further knocks or twitches I decided to re position my rods to search out the barbel.More coffee,more cigarettes and nothing to show .Then a twitch and I'm in again,nothing big but a first on a pellet.

Fish no 3 ,A Dace to a 14 mm pellet..................

I packed up at 11pm it was dead and nothing happening.Nice to get out and chuffed with the catches

All the damage done by pellet.................

Till I'm out next Bloggers ,Tight Lines.