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Chocks Away!


Rusty

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River Kennet, Thatcham, Wednesday 16th June 2010

 

Well here we are, first day of the 2010/11 season and I have to start with an admission. I did fish a stillwater a couple of weeks ago to test the rod that I refurbished during the close season so strictly speaking I didn’t quite make it. I can, however, categorically state that I haven’t used a centrepin for 3 months and so it was with some anticipation that I left home at 3:30 this morning and headed for the Kennet. This was a stretch I hadn’t fished before but I’d walked it last weekend and identified a couple of good starting swims.

 

Typically both of those swims were taken when I arrived, a couple of people had pitched up last night (and I’m sure waited until midnight before fishing ;) ) so I had to look elsewhere, not a big problem I was spoilt for choice really so decided to kick off the season here;

 

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The plan was to trot under the near bank tree, hoping for a Barbel but I would’ve been happy with anything. I trickled in maggots for half an hour before fishing and then battle commenced…..and lasted about two fishless hours before I decided to move on. The river was looking beautiful with most swims having some sort of feature or overhanging vegetation, next swim was here;

 

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I fished it from above the slack in the centre picture casting into the hole and inching the float back into the current. The idea was to trot the far bank in amongst the bushes and branches, the idea worked with the first fish of the season and the first fish to be caught with the Witcher being……..a Trout.

 

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I persevered with that plan for another couple of hours with no more joy and so moved on to a faster shallower section of the river. There was a fair bit of weed in the shallows and the best way to fish would have been from the water but my waders were in the car a long way away. It was getting a bit warm by this time and I didn’t fancy the walk back (the return journey being neoprene clad) so I indulged in a bit of gardening to get to the chosen swim. Once there it looked promising, a fast, shallow weedy section with a deeper, slower near bank glide which ran for about 40 yards along the tree lined bank.

 

The pre baiting ritual was undertaken while brunch was on the go, this eventually turned out to be a rather nice cheeseburger laden with American burger mustard;

 

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Followed by a freshly brewed cup of tea (you can tell I didn’t catch much);

 

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Fortified I trotted the slow glide for a good couple of hours, all the time trickling in freebies. It looked a real banker but it flattered to deceive, not so much as a sniff of anything with fins. By this time I was running out of maggots, I’d taken two pints which is usually enough for a decent session but I hadn’t factored in the 4:00am start. I had a reserve stock in the car, only ½ a pint but it would help so I wandered back. One of the swims which was occupied first thing was now vacant so after enlisting the wriggling volunteers I gave it a try.

 

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Pellets and hemp on the ground suggested a Barbel hunter so with luck all that groundbaiting would attract one for me. It was about 2:00pm by this time so I was optimistic rather than confident but it was such a perfect trotting swim, a real pleasure to fish there.

 

My tally amounted to just one fish and I’m embarrassed to say that I’m not totally sure what it is, a Dace I think.

 

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At about 4:00pm I packed up having had a brilliant day out and I’ll be doing it all again tomorrow, yippee!

 

Before I sign off this blog entry a word about the Witcher centrepin. Perfection is the only word I can think of, it cost me a lot and I’m sure that some thought I was mad but all I can say is that you need to use one to see what all the fuss is about. The dimensions are just right, it starts in next to no flow, retrieves quickly enough, casts brilliantly and just goes about the job silently with no fuss or foibles. Even the bloody ratchet has a sound of quality about it. A truly magnificent reel.

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