Chris Plumb's Blog

River Kennet - Newbury0930 - 1230Showery, 17ºC. River down to 'normal' summer levels - still several inches higher than this time last year!30+Dace, around a dozen Roach, some gudgeon and chublet and a brownie.Pleasant morning's trotting - though I rather hoped I'd connect with something that needed the net (though a couple of the dace...

NAA Stillwater - Widmead0600 - 1000Mainly overcast with some sun breaking through and the odd bit of light drizzle. 15/16ºC2 Carp; 9lb 2oz, 6lb 6oz, 1 rudd, 2 perch.Another blank for my target species (crucians and or tench). Smaller carp on crucian tackle - so took an age to land. Bigger one off the top on bread.

River Kennet - Newbury1945 - 2315Clear and warm evening - lovely night to be out with the bats - absolutely dozens of them flying at dusk.1 Chub 1¼lbFor the 2nd week in a row a fish first cast - followed by not a lot. Did get quite a few knocks and rattles which I took to be tiddlers - as it wasn't crayfish.

Bucklebury Ponds0630 - 0900Clear skies, 16ºC -> 20ºC3 Bream; 2 circa 1½lb and a tiddler, a doz+ perch.Bit of a half-hearted session as I wasn't expecting much action but after a hot, sticky and rather sleepless night it was lovely to be out in the cool(ish) morning air - a few fish were a bonus!

River Kennet - Padworth1945 - 2315Clear and breezy after heavy rain earlier in the day - river rose 4 inches whilst I was there - chair started off on dry gravel - seat was under water by the end (had me chesties on so didn't matter!).1 Barbel 5lb 10oz.Only bite (and fish - clearly) 1st cast. Not a touch afterwards!

Harris Lake, Marsh Farm  - Godalming AS1400 - 0930Hot and sunny. Night was clear and felt quite cool by dawn with a mega heavy dew! Gorgeous night to be out fishing under the Perseids!14 Tench; Biggest 3, 5lb 13oz, 4lb 10oz, 4lb 8oz. All the rest in the '3lb class' save 2 which were smaller. 7 Crucians - all over 1lb (though a couple by no...

River Kennet backstream, Padworth1900 - 2330Warm, yet clear evening. Lovely night to be out - got to see some early Perseids.3 Barbel; 8lb 7oz, 5lb 3oz, 4lb 6oz.Bit of an exploratory session - fished a couple of new swims - and got stung to blazes by the nettles - clearly 2 spots that have not seen an angler this season!! Fished in rotation - plan...

River Kennet - Nr Thatcham.0630 - 0930Overcast and muggy with a little drizzle at times. River down a few inches on a month ago but still in fine nick with little colour.2 Chub; 2lb 2oz, & 1¼lb, 6 Dace - all really chunky specimens, 2 Gudgeon & 4 brownies biggest 1¾lb.Pleasant early trotting session - spent a fascinating 10 minutes watching a barb...

Willows lake, Thatcham0530 - 0930Overcast, clearing to bright sunshine for last hour.5 Carp; 12lb 9oz, 11lb 2oz, 8lb 11oz, 7lb 2oz, 6lb 13oz.Another forlorn crucian hunt - but at least at this venue there are some 'easy' carp (too easy!!   ) to amuse.2 smaller fish on float tackle - bigger 3 on floating crust in the margins (ie within 1m o...

River Kennet - Newbury0630 - 0900Breezy with the odd light shower, river down an inch or two but quite clear.3 Chub; 1¼lb and a couple of chublets, 2 Perch; 1lb 14oz & a tiddler, 30 Dace, 1 Roach, 2 Gudgeon and a brownie of around a pound.Pre-Olympics trotting session - hoping for a barbel but more than happy with nearly a fish a chuck - a couple of t...