End of Season Round-up.

So endeth another season – quantity not quality rather sums it up. Best ever season for fish over lb, yet few ‘stand-out’ captures and no PBs. Summer and autumn was a real grueller on the barbel front and I had my worst return (5 fish) since the 78/79 season despite putting in quite a few rod hours. The news that there’s been a modest barbel stocking into one of my club’s section of the Kennet was thus very welcome. Summer was punctuated with monthly trips over to Godalming for tench and crucians though the need for this may diminish in future seasons with the development of a crucian only water by one of my clubs. The winter was mainly benign and for the 3rd year running I had over 100, lb+ chub.

 

Best Carp, 9lb 7oz. 15 August. NAA Still water, Widmead. Method feeder, Snailz Boilie (no picture).

I do very little deliberate carp fishing – and usually try and avoid them in the summer in favour of other species. The ploy worked rather too well this season – my first for 5 years without a double.

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1221-1516-august/

 

Best Barbel, 8lb 14oz. 1 October. River Kennet, Nr Thatcham. Ledgered 14mm Halibuts.

At last! Biggest of 3 that evening (60% of my season’s total) from a swim I last fished in 2010.

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1237-1-october/

 

Best Pike, 6lb 13oz. 26 January. River Kennet, Nr Newbury (no picture).

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1275-26-january/

 

Best Tench, 5lb 14oz. 4 August. Johnson’s Lake, Godalming. Ledgered Cockle.

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1215-45-august/

 

Best Chub, 5lb 11oz. 12 March. K&A Canal(flowing), Thatcham. Trotted Maggot.

Probably my most ‘satisfying’ fish of the entire season. New swim on a rarely fished venue and just after I’d scaled down to a size 18 (I was expecting to catch dace!)

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1285-12-march/

 

Best Perch, 3lb 10oz. 1 November. River Kennet, Thatcham. Trotted Maggot.

In 13/14 season this swim produced a string of good chub and perch (chub to nearly 6lb and perch over 4lb). Last November when I caught this fantastic stripey it looked like producing the goods again. Alas, this was the last decent fish I had from it (apart from a rather bizarre 1lb 10oz grayling) until a 4lb 14oz chub in the last week of the season.

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1245-1-november/

 

Best Crucian, 2lb 15oz. 28 July. Harris Lake, Godalming. Float fished chopped prawn.

 

Last summer Paul and I decided we’d target Johnson’s a bit more for a really big crucian and whilst it paid off for Paul with a number of 3lbers my best from there was ‘only’ 2lb 13oz – bettered by 2oz with this Harris fish.

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1213-2728-july/

 

Best Grayling, 2lb 6oz. 10 October. Southern Chalkstream . Trotted red maggot.

Whilst the Dorset Frome was fishable most of the winter – for the first time in 3 seasons, it didn’t produce any really impressive lady’s (to me at least – the beat did do a couple of 3lbers). I did have a smattering of low 2lbers from the Frome but my best of the season was this fish – from a venue that has to remain anonymous!http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1240-10-october/

 

Best Roach, 1lb 2oz. 11 March. River Kennet, Nr Newbury. Trotted maggot.

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1284-11-march/

 

Best Rudd, 1lb 1oz. 4 August. Johnson’s Lake, Godalming. Ledgered Cockle. (Biggest Rudd in 18 years and I don’t take its portrait – doh!)

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1215-45-august/

 

Best Dace, 14oz. 18 January. Kennet Carrier, Nr Kintbury. Trotted maggot.

http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/index.php?/blog/82/entry-1273-18-january/