I tried to knock January of the list for the Surface Fishing Challenge today.
The weather was cloudy, with little wind. Water temperature was cold due to it being frozen two days earlier, and an air temperature of 5 degrees. I cycled to the venue and scattered a liberal amount of dog biscuits in each of the four bays of the lake, in the hope of getting the fish feeding, and then leaving them to build confidence whilst I went home to get my gear.
As I left the local EA officer called in
I ventured out to a totally new venue today. Had never before seen, let alone fished the venue in question, Biddulph Grange.
I arranged the session with a mate, and both myself and Steve Baker arrived at the venue by around 9.00am.
Upon arrival we noticed that around three-quarters of the lake was frozen. Fortunately, an area around the inlet was free; and was the area that we wanted to fish. I placed my baits at points in the overhanging trees that came from the island in front of me.
Intended to fish a pit local to my home today, for both Carp and Roach.
Armed with a pair of Carp rods, float rod, and a bag of dog biscuits for the Surface Challenge, plus other tackle, I walked to the venue in question.
The walk is probably just under a mile, although it felt like a hundred miles as my tackle bag dug into my shoulder during the journey!
After anticipating the sport of the day ahead, I was then very dissappointed to see the water, which hardly ever freezes, froze
Boxing Day... Thought I would go and catch myself a Christmas Carp
Arrived at the venue at 2.00pm, knowing that I would have to be off at dusk, around 4.30pm. My plan of attack being a pair of carp rods, and a float rod, in the hope of trying to tempt either a carp, or one of the large roach that reside in the local venue.
I opted for a peg that had a tight group of trees to my left, that were right on the water's edge, providing a slight amount of cover, and with a slightly deeper ar
Went stalking for an hour today after work. Had seen the forecast mild temperatures in the week, and was gagging to get fishing as I neared the end of my day at work.
I arrived at a local pit at 3.15pm, and was packed up by 4.30pm.
Firstly, I walked around and scattered a few dog biscuits in each of the four bays. It took a long time for the fish to come up and feed confidently. I was stood well back from the water’s edge, and groups of fish would come and feed in a “spell” whereby ea
I managed to sneak an hour session in on a local pit on Sunday (December 4th) afternoon.
When I arrived i walked round the lake, which basically consists of the main body of the lake with an island, and then four small bays in each corner.
I walked around and scattered a few freebie dog biscuits in all of the bays and set up ready for action. The fish came up feeding confidently, and I stood for a few minutes and watched a few fish around 5lb pick off my biscuits by some reed stems.
just a short one this time
After doing a workparty last weekend which involved pulling chopped down trees from an island across a frozen lake, we went to a small stream after some grayling. The stream is called wincham brook and is one of the few places i can class as a banker when most other places are frozen over. The set up consisted of 11ft rod with 3lbb line straight thru to the hook, 3AAA stick float with all the shot about 8" from the 16 hook which was dressed with 3bronze maggots.
T
We all cheered as the teacher said we were having to leave school - great shame, not!
One of the many great things about snow is the fact that when we get a flake or two, our school seems to shut, so I thought what I perfect opportunity it would be to catch a fish and have the snow in the backgriound - wishfull thinking.
I got home and grabbed some lunch before stepping into my lockup to grab a rod, bag full of bits n bobs, warm clothes and seat.
I arrived hoping that it wouldn'
Managed to sneak off work early at lunchtime.
Decided not to go straight home but to check out a few local venues to see how they were fairing with the weather.
First venue visited was a particular favourite of mine, a small intimate stillwater pond, well stocked and guaranteed catching water. Not today - the whole surface was frozen.
Although the ice was thin and could easily be broken I decided not to go home and get the rods out. The lack of any other anglers also confirmed my decision
Well after a somwhat "tense" build up to my holiday, I'm off at 3.00am tommorrow morning. I'm going to a different part of the River Ebro, a different section, known as The Top Lake or Upper Lake, where the cats are more in numbers and lesser in weight. However it's a new experience and challenge and with a good bunch of people, it's set to be a good old trip. Adios!
- Blizzards when I get back, what a lovely welcome home!
Well, the plan was to try and sneak either an overnighter or at least a day session this weekend!
But unfortunatly the frosts took over, and unless I went Ice Fishing I would be unable to get on any of my target waters
A frozen local venue means no fishing - thanks to the harsh frosts
Hopefully this snap of clear skies and frosts will subside soon and allow me to maybe sneak a few more kippers before the real "Freeze Up" of winter
On 15th November I had a school trip to London to watch Journey's End, for £30 it seemed like a good scive off school
Two buses set off, and just 45 minutes down the A50, bus number 2 breaks down
Fortunatly they sent another one out to replace it, and off down to the hussle and bussle of London we go, quite a site really. Enjoyed going past the likes of Wembley and Lords, and to be honest the tour around London was better than the actual play at the theatre!
To cut a long stor
After my last episode on the river Dane after falling in the river i thought my luck has got to change sooner rather than later, so with this in mind i ventured down to the river severn last thursday(7th Nov) ignoring the warning of floods. River calll said that Abermule(near welshpool) was only 1.3m up and steady at 00:01 so i thought it would be on its way down after a night of clear skies and no rain. Arriving at the river i found it to be about 2 ft from the top of its banks and like chocola
Last night I stepped outside briefly a cuple of times and saw the clear skies with the bright moon shining. I knew it would be a cold night, and the heavy ground frost this morning as I awoke proved this
...Here we go agian, another harsh few months of rubbish cold windy weather, where fishing seems like a waste of time, aaaaah don't you just love winter sessions, lots of brews, lots of blanks,
-don't you just love the british weather!?
(entry written Friday 11th - must remember to hit the 'Publish' button next time!!)
I had every intention of entering stuff to this blog every day or so, but it's been manic. I promise to try harder next month!
I'm now about to shoot home to prepare some stuff for a grayling trip with some forum members tomorrow. Then it's up at 4am for a 400 mile round trip. Should be worth it, though, as Timsbury is a great place.
Just hope we land some fish! If we do, be sure to check out the g
As you all probably know, Julian has come up with the idea of the Surface Challenge, whereby we aim to catch a carp from the surface in each month of the year.
The day started in quite a comical way, getting to the venue with the rods tied to mountain bikes!
My campaign was kicked off with a lovely 10lb Common taken from the surface on a local pit with the daytime temperature of just 5 Degrees!
After feeding a bay where there was little wind for a couple of hours, the fish steadil
What a week, seems like I’ve not had a minute to myself. I’m in the throws of renovating the bathroom at home and had just five days to get everything done! Spent Monday night ripping out all the old suite and sorting a first plumbing fix for the new one, then spent Tuesday and Wednesday night stripping the old floor back to the joists in order to fit a new oak floor, have a plasterer in there going mental as we speak and then have to get all the sheets up as soon as he’s gone to get a few coats
Its been a while since my first blog as i have been preparing for a new job interview and getting my gear ready to fish the high rivers. Anyway after 2-3days of heavy rain i decided to get down to the River Dane near congleton Cheshire(the stretch near to the M6 if anybody knows the area at all) on sunday 6th Nov. After calling rivercall and finding out that the river, to my suprise was only 0.4M up and steady, i ventured down there. After the 1 mile (ish) walk with my tackle to get to the river
Well, with a day off work I had planned a days fishing with a friend today.
Things were not looking good last night, howling wind, lashing rain. Studying the weather forecast though I was slightly reassured that the worst of the weather would be contained within the hours of darkness. I went to bed last night hopeful that conditions may be better in the morning. I still wasn't feeling 100% in myself, was the streaming cold I had suffered with last week making another appearance?
Woke t
What a day, I’m heady with thoughts of big fish – mainly due to the fact that after two days work I’ve just finished transferring around 165 reviews to the new forum section: Here. I finished by adding some book reviews, and there are some cracking reviews on titles by the likes of BB, Sheringham, and Sharman – well worth a read.
Anyway, after the excitement of my weekend surface captures, I’m back down to earth with a bang this week - house work all the way. I have the plumber starting tod
This carp fishing "lark" in the colder months ain't to bad!
Mananged to squeeze a half-day sesion in between schoolwork, courrsework, work experience, and work!
I woke to hear howlings winds and heavy rain at 6.30am, but when i went outside in just a T-Shirt and discovered how mild it was, I was quietly confident.
The rain subsided for about an hour and a half, between breakfast at home, and arrival to the venue, upon which the heavens opened, and about an hours worth of heavy rai
Picture the scene; yesterday (Saturday) morning and I awake after a nice lie in – well, 9am is a lie in for me! Lisa was going out for the day to meet up with some old work friends and I had an unplanned day ahead of me – a rarity nowadays. As we lay there she asked what I was going to do and at that precise moment I had no idea. That is, until the sun poked through the cloud outside and suddenly lit up the bedroom through the curtains, “Hmmm, well, I might just nip down the road for a few hours
After a week at work, still struggling with the effects of this cursed cold I finished at lunch time.
My plan earlier in the week had been to enjoy an afternoon at a local pond where I could regain confidence in my ability to fish! as the last few non event outings had seriously dented my confidence.
Head bowed I dashed to my car almost bent double against the wind and rain, threw myself into the drivers seat, peered out of the window and cursed my luck silently.
A terrible day.
D
