Too hot to trott...

[Tigger]

I knew it was gonn'a be warm today but jeeez it was just too hot to trott .

I set off mid afternoon thinking I could cope with the heat but I wish i'd stayed at home. It was a walk of about 3/4 of a mile to the swim and my thigh waders weren't the best of footwear to negotiate steep uneven bankings coverd in undergrowth, especially not in this weather. By the time I got to the swim i'd been bitten by bugs and stung by nettles and I was pretty much wet through with sweat !

When I started fishing (after emptying out all the bugs and plants in my waders) I did ok catching a chub after a few trotts through. After a few more trotts through I hooked into a barbel but I could tell it was foul hooked by the way it moved about the swim so I put enough pressure on to pull the hook which came back with a scale impaled on it. The next time the float dipped under the fish was hooked fair and square in it's mouth and it put up a good account of itself before running out of steam and coming to the net. The heat was already getting to me but it was the sun that was just too much and even though i'd only been there a half hour I'd had enough ! Another foul hooked barbel was enough to make me wrap up and make the treck back to the car and had a repeat bought of bites and stings. Another mistake I made was to wear a sleevless t-shirt, even though my mrs had put sun screen on my arms and face I still got burned...I can't belive I was so stupid.

Anyhow here's the only two fish I caught......

 

 

 

According to the car thermometer it was 30 degrees !

[Vagabond]

LOL Good description of a hot day's steaming with bugs and nettle accompaniment . Well earned fish !

 

I sweat very easily - always have done. When I was a Bluebell volunteer, firing a steam loco on a hot day was as good as a trip to the Turkish baths.

 

Also remember fishing the Ord River in temperatures up to 45 C, but no doubt Bobj can top that.

[lutra]

Nice one mad dog.

 

Its great on the river in summer when its hot like this, but you need to get out your pit a lot earlier. About 4.30 am is a good time.

 

 

[Newt]

We've been having afternoon temps in the 37-38ºC range for the past few weeks. I've been staying inside with air conditioning. Just too hot to enjoy a day on the water unless, as suggested, you start around daylight and give it up before mid-day.

[chesters1]

Cant stand much over 20c being obese doesnt help .

Sat in the garden having a cold cider and was pounced on by mozzies no doubt from a nearby water tank (those things that collect rainwater).

Went for a pleasant stroll down the field to see how long the grass was at 9.45 pm and it was still hot ,distant rumbles then spots of rain ,i love dusk best time of day

Bumped into the housekeeper from the new house (pretty ,slim with perfect hooters ,south african accent spoils anotherwise perfect scene) which topped of an otherwise plain day

Couldnt see any fish the horse has an electric fence to stop it going swimming which stops the grass being cut so the nettles are waist high until it moves up the field ,could do with some cows and sheep in there to clean it up ,its appalling how land is ruined just keeping horses on it as is the norm around bere

Edited July 1, 2015 by chesters1

[OTIB]

Had a few Barbel off the Wye in a early evening session yesterday, river is low and clear, but the one that have spawned are hungry horses. But always aware that with the low oxygen levels correct handling them is of primary importance.

[Tigger]

Nice one mad dog.

 

Its great on the river in summer when its hot like this, but you need to get out your pit a lot earlier. About 4.30 am is a good time.

 

 

LOL Brian, I actually thought about that "mad dogs and Englishmen" song myself when I was stood in the river.

I think you right about the early mornings when the temp's are up like this, if they stay up then i'll have to do an early session as i've no intension of fishing in conditions like yesterday again.

I did see a dead barbel laying on the gravel with it's eyes, gills and throat pulled out. People would instantly blame otters but I could tell it had died of something, maybe after being caught or after spawning and then the crows had pecked out all the soft bits.

It's funny how barbel caught on leger gear often need nursing before release in this weather and yet all the ones i've caught on the float are still fll of life and leave a bow wave as they bolt off.

[Anderoo]

Funnily enough, fly fishing at Farmoor reservoir a few weeks ago I saw a rainbow trout washed up on the shore - within an hour its eyes, gills and throat had all been eaten away. The culprit? Seagulls and crows...

[Phone]

Vagabond,

 

45 C is HOT !!

 

Missouri record is 112F

 

OTOH 30C and 95% humidity is a common night time temp. Your TX relatives can tell you about nights of 90/90. It's very difficult to breath even if you are "normal".

 

Phone

[Ken L]

It was a walk of about 3/4 of a mile to the swim and my thigh waders weren't the best of footwear to negotiate steep uneven bankings coverd in undergrowth, especially not in this weather.

 

You must be bonkers!

 

Shorts and a pair of Keen sandals are the way to go. If you are a wimp about a few stings and scratches, get a pair of zip off trousers.

Apparently, a swim and a paddle when you get to the peg disturbs the bottom and attracts the fish.