tiddlertamer
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Posts posted by tiddlertamer
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I support the idea that rivers and surrounding vegetation are rested and of course the fish get a chance to breed unmolested.
No bad thing for us anglers to have a break too - I'm exhausted after nine months of fishing hard and it'll be good to spend more time with my loved ones!
But... I would like to see some scientific evidence that the closure is effective between the dates currently set.
As one earlier poster also said, why these particular dates of March 15 to June 15 - tradition alone is not a good enough reason.
Interesting that at the recent Anglers net fish-in, people reported that the dace were spawning.
Other parts of the country such as Yorkshire have traditionally had different close seasons too.
Recently the Anglers Times called for the close season to be extended by a month as the winter has been so terrible and the angling tackle trade faced poor trading conditions during the recession.
I'm not sure if I agree with this angling newspaper’s proposals although there was a certain irony in the fact that many rivers were incredibly difficult to fish for months and were not visited by many, but as soon as the weather picks up, the chance to fish vanishes.
Is there room for flexibility around the country based on the scientific evidence showing us the optimum time to give the fish a break. Obviously, it could be confusing for anglers, but it would give fish the break they really need at the right time.
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I had caught both my target fish in one day! i was so pleased with myself i decided to pack up as i was quite tired, running out of bait and wanting to listen to the Leicester v Millwall match (which we won 1-0
).Talking of footballing and fishing tales, I’m sure I read somewhere about an angler fishing the Trent river close to the Nottingham Forest football ground one Saturday.
As three o’clock approached, football fans began to approach the City Ground, no doubt fired up by a pint or two of the local ale, to cheer on their team.
Then, the angler struck, and a weighty roach began a zig zagging fight in a bid to throw the hook.
A crowd of football fans gathered around the angler. Perhaps fired on by those pints of Burton ale, or whatever was on offer in their local pubs, about 50 football fans began to cheer on the angler.
Warming up to the chants they would later be shouting out for their team, the Nottingham Forest fans cheered on their local man as he landed his prize fish.
Not quite the bucolic country experience that many of us enjoy about fishing but it must of have been pleasant to land a decent fish in front of a supportive audience!
Well done by the way on a splendid day’s catch.
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Great report Androo as always.
Well i ended the season with 2 perch on worms, 1lb 6oz and 1lb 2oz
Had to put up with a short evening session today as i was working this morning. still i just want to say that this winter i have learned so much about winter river fishing. i have not been near a lake or pond since september and have been concentrating on a short stretch of the river stort near harlow in essex. when things got tough i drew inspiration from you lot on here and went back again and again. i had perch, chub and jack pike. There are no trout, grayling or barbel in this stretch so my options where limited compared to many of you. still i have loved reading about all your exploits. thanks to all of you
Ps having some social fishing in April on a couple of commercials with brother and friends, (who are a bit fair weather fishermen to be honest), and will be exploring a different river in the summer as well as doing some sea fishing from boats with my angling club. I will be doing a bit of carp fishing for the first time in two years but come october its back to the river stort/
After a change to my weekend plans, I managed to get away for the last couple of hours of daylight to visit the old River Lea.
And blanked.
Interesting you mentioned the Stort though. My club (London Anglers Association) has a stretch just outsie of Harlow and I'd been thinking of visiting today. Always been put off because I had the impression it was canalised and I'm a fan of stick/Avon float fishing on free flowing rivers rather than waggler based float fishing on waters with little flow.
I obviously don't want you to give too much away about your favorite stretch of river but can you characterize generally about what type of river the Stort is?
I know it has natural and reed lined banks which already make it more pleasant than canal fishing where you're more likely to encounter a carbon blank crushing mountain biker on steroids…
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PS did tiddlertamer turn up - sorry I missed you if you did?
C.
A big thank you to Chris Plumb for organising a great day out. And, although I didn’t get to speak to everyone as I threw myself into my fishing at a fabulous venue, those I did meet were extremely welcoming.
I’m afraid I was either fashionably late or just plain lazy this morning. The thought of travelling by tube across London with my fishing gear during rush hour, along with cheaper ticket prices after 9.30 meant a late train and the rather tardy arrival time of 11.30.
It was a bit surreal at first, wandering around saying hello to the other participants. What seemed like a good idea at the time when I joined Anglers Net– to label myself Tiddler Tamer, a self deprecating name reflecting my normal stamp of fish – was a bit strange when used to introduce myself in person.
There I was a six foot four bloke in black army fatigues, who during the week has an enjoyable but at times high pressured job, wandering around saying “Hi, I’m Tiddler Tamer.” All rather odd…
Not helped by my waterproof trousers slowly shredding as the day wore on. What had started as a small tear earlier in the week after losing an argument with a barbed wire fence on the Suffolk Stour became a jagged rip starting just under the waistband and stretching down to a point just above my ankle. So no points there for sartorial elegance…
The venue itself is special though. I believe it is the next beat upstream from the ‘Wilderness’ stretch of the Kennett where the winter episode of A Passion for Angling was filmed. So hopefully Bartons Court would throw up similar offerings – large grayling, roach and pike…
I started off at the bottom upstream end of the fishery on what I believe is known as the Yellow or Willow Stream. Third or fourth trot down, a trout just under 2lb took the bait, putting up a great fight. Not the species of fish I was hoping for but, after blanking elsewhere on the majority of occasions in January and February, not unwelcome. Followed fairly quickly by another trout, which somehow managed to throw the hook but inches from the net.
I moved on in search of other species. Three or four other swims followed but nothing stirred.
A switch to the Middle Cut paid off. A grayling! Not the nearly three quarters of a pound that I claimed to Steve Walker. (Sorry, a fisherman’s tale!) I failed to balance my digital scales and later reading showed my new weighing sling reading at least a few ounces when wet, but a good half pounder and a plucky fighter nonetheless.
And then… more trout… three in all but one fought like stink, hurling itself spectacularly out of the river. The biggest over two and a half pounds.
And then my fixed spool reel started to misbehave. A minor fault at first. I struck, I hooked but also got the line caught behind the bail arm. Lost fish.
Then I struck, I hooked but this time, it wasn’t a minor fault – turning the handle failed to engage the bale arm. Lost fish. One retired reel too. My reserve reel came out and I pledged to switch to a centrepin next season.
A change of tactics saw me switch from maggot to lob worm and a search for perch…
Twilight arrived and the fish stirred but nothing took my bait.
I wandered up to the fishing hut to say my goodbyes.
I couldn’t resist a last cast or two. Andrew (Anderoo) wandered up after a last minute bit of piking had come to nothing. We chatted about our respective days and I shared the news that with family business to see to on the 14th, this would be my last cast of the season.
Twilight had now turned nearly to darkness. I managed to undo the tangle in my line and send the float down the river on my last cast of the season. We both watched its progress as it bobbed down the river… into shade and darkness… on a whim I struck as the float disappeared….but sadly it had disappeared into shadows rather than below the surface and no fish had become my prize.
I took the tackle out of the water and cut the line as I started to pack my fishing gear away. It can only have been five seconds, perhaps ten, but a large fish then rolled on the surface where my float would have been had I had one more trot down the river. Andrew pointed out, and we laughed, that it might well have been the 2lb roach of my dreams…
But it won’t be this season that sees me fulfil that dream. Next season though?
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Bringing along both my centrepin loaded with 4lb line (which I can't cast!) and two fixed spool reels with 3.4lb, 4lb, 4.12lb and 6lb line on four different spools.
Will be long trotting a float with size 18 hook with two maggots with a steady flow of maggot and hemp going in.
What breaking strain line fits the bill for a fishery like Barton's Court?
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Glad I read from the start of here. Probably would have forgotten corn.
No need to bring spare stuff for me, Leon. Just bring yourself a spare change of clothing in case I catch a pike
Is there a list of attendees? I know that Chris and his hat are going, along with me and Big Gay Nic (3DoorsDown). Leon makes five, so who are the other three?
Tiddler Tamer made it in as a reserve when someone dropped out. (Chris - the cheque is in the post!)
Tiddler Tamer will undoubtedly be late and can be identified by his habit of wearing a bandana.
His normal habits include blanking or catching very small fish...
Normally to be seen long trotting an avon float on a fixed spool reel. Anyone up for giving me some tips on how to cast with my centrepin will be rewarded by a pint if we go to a pub afterwards.
Tiddler Tamer answers to the name of Mike.
See you on the banks of the Kennet...
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I was taught to fish with 3lb line, bulk shot, on a size 18 hook.
A bit of a shock to the system but, thanks to all the greatly appreciated advice, I will tomorrow fish 6lb line on a size 14 hook.
I definitely going to give it a go.
I don't suppose I should be shotting shirt button style too?
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It seems fairly sensible to me 6lb is what I use when trotting for barbel. Lets face it there is nothing clever about loosing fish.
Just try to use a rod with decently wide rings on it to make for an easy trot. If it's of any use to you the hooks I tend to use are eyed size 14 Kamsan animals tied on using a knotless knot they have never let me down.
Enjoy your day.
N.B. Why are you using a fixed spool reel to trot the far bank it can be reached easily enough with a pin if you are struggling to cast that distance come up North to see me and I will put you on the right track
Hi Alan
I appreciate the offer of help with my centrepin casting... currently my casting is comical and barely gets another half rod length out before collapsing in a heap...
One day I'll take you up on the offer.
In the meantime, how many maggots would you recommend on a size 14?
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I’m fishing a tributary of the Thames tomorrow.
Tactics will probably be to long trot an avon float downstream either on a centrepin or fixed spool reel if I am casting to far bank cover.
I normally fish on 3lb or 4lb line straight through to a size 18 hook.
My contact on this stretch of the river says that in winter, the young fish seem to disappear, shoaling up elsewhere.
However, winter sees barbel and big chub still present so he recommended ensuring I had strong enough tackle.
Would 6lb line be overkill and see no bites occurring or is it sensible tactics that will actually help land one of the monsters?
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Thanks to everydody who replied with information. All really interesting stuff.
One query remains unanswered though. Have any of the users of this forum ever seen other rivers fall victim to pollution, how bad was it and how long did it take to recover?
I know there are a few (ahem) veterans
on this forum so you must have seen some things in your time... what stands out in your memory whether it be the impact of the pollution or the way in which the river bounced back? -
I don't know if you're aware, but unfortunately some 'well meaning individuals' (not my first choice of words, but I'm being charitable) transferred some fish from Mitcham common to the Wandle when one of the ponds was being worked on. Whether that will have a negative impact on the Wandle is as yet to be seen.
Worryingly, the Morden hall club seems to support the 'stocking' and I've seen statements on their forum suggesting they wouldn't report anyone illegally stocking sections of the Wandle. Doesn't it make you heart glow that we are surrounded by such an upstanding group of anglers with the the welfare of angling foremost in their minds?
I enclose a link to the debate on the forum discussing this issue. I'm sure people here will have a view which they wish to share...
http://www.mhpac.freeforums.org/membership...ickets-t62.html
I actually took a wander down the Wandle today and wetted a line. Trotted a float down a couple of fishy looking glides. Only for the last hour and a half before darkness, but, much as I love trawling this forum, probably a better way to find out about the impact of the pollution.
And I caught a couple of fish so it's not all doom and gloom on the Wandle.
Sent a float down the second spot I was fishing and it disappeared. Slowly, oh so slowly, my brain registered that this indicated a bite. (I've blanked the last four times out fishing including rivers such as the Great Ouse) And lo and behold did I strike and lo and behold did I catch a chub.
3oz, not the 3lb I hoped for, but a fin perfect chub.
A couple of missed bites followed (I'm sure they were much bigger fish
) and then a roach. Only a small roach but fin perfect too.I was fishing right on the borders of the Morden Hall Park club - quite where the free stretch and free fishing stretch is I am am genuinely not too sure though I'm sure members well be keen to let me know...
The good news is that this was but a couple of miles downstream from the Beddington treatment works where the pollution incident happened...
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Some links for you:
Thanks Angly. Very helpful links.
The Morden Hall Park angling club website throws up the following helpful bit of info on restocking.
......................... Chub Dace Barbel Roach
Poulters Park .........200 .150 .. 400......600
Ravensbury Park......800 .250...100......900
Mordern Hall Park.....100 .. 50 ....500 ....500
Hackbridge.............100 ..50.....0 .......300
Wimbledon .............50 ......0......0........200
Totals...................1,250...500 ...1,000..2,500
http://www.mhpac.freeforums.org/re-stocking-list-t17.html
Elsewhere, fishing forums indicate that some lumps including both barbel and carp are coming out of the river.
So although the pollution incident was clearly a disaster, there is still a lot of hope for this gem of an inner city river.
I just wish I was a good enough fisherman to catch some of the better fish! I live in hope though...
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Many of you will have seen the shocking reports and photos of the fish kill and pollution incident in the river Wandle caused by Thames Water scewing up.
This lovely little urban river, which had made such great strides in recent years was hit badly...
http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/News/river-wandle-fish-kill.html
I myself have fished a few miles north of Beddington sewage works, since the incident happened in September 2007, and caught a few small perch, dace and chub, but nothing nearing even half a pound.
How long does it normally take for a river to recover from this type of incident? (Feel free to refer to other pollution incidents elewhere in the UK.)
How far north did the pollution stretch?
I heard a radio report of Thames Water funding a restocking of parts of the river. To what extent and where?
Is any more restocking planned and with what species and where and when?
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According to the Book 'The London Anglers Book' - 1834 you used to have to shout “LAW!” each time you wanted a pee, otherwise you chanced getting your throat cut & being robbed. It's not quite as bad as that nowerdays is it?
This is a rule or law practiced by the London Anglers, particularly those who fish in the Lea.
Depends if you fish the Hertfordshire section or the inner city north London stretch... The latter stretch is full of Tottenham fans.
If you want real tranquility, head on down to East London. Come on you Orient!
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I'm looking forward to fishing near bank swims and an end to my near compulsive quest of trotting along far bank cover during 2008 and the consequent loss of many a fine traditional stick float to willows and bushes across swathes of southern England... not many fish in the trees!
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OK - I'll have a stab at this as you will be fishing very similar/same venues as me. Whilst it is very hard to generalise I use about twice the amount of bait in summer as winter. When I'm trotting in high summer I usually reckon to get through around about ½pint per hour so 2 pints is enough for a typical 4 hour session. I've sometimes got through more than that if they're realy having it. Recently - on my latest chub-fest on the Kennet (see blog for 29Dec) 2 pints lasted me all day - around 8 hours. I take great store in keeping the bait constantly trickling in - and in especially in Summer with a swim I have a lot of confidence in will often bait the swim for some time (upto ½-¾hr) before starting to fish. A bait smock is essential - one hand constantly trickling in bait while the other controls the centrepin. It even pays to keep baiting while you're playing a fish. If bites stop then it sometimes pays to rest the swim for a few minutes and stop feeding then run a float through BEFORE restarting your feeding - I've often had my biggest fish of the session like this.
C.
That's really helpful. I've been feeding too heavily in winter methinks.
I also get through a pint of hemp in any one day.
Good idea or simply not necessary?
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Of course feeding maggots when trotting will depend on many things including the season, the temperature and the species of fish one is trying to attract.
Nonetheless, how many maggots do you chuck in and how frequently? For both winter and summer month conditions.
In winter is it two/three maggots per cast, 8/10, 10/15 or more... Or do you only feed every other cast etc
How many in summer too. I've heard some people will throw many pints of maggots in summer conditons in just a few hours, to tempt chub into a feeding frenzy...
Views please...
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A roach, though possibly with a bit of rudd thrown in according to another angler. (I thought rudd mainly hung out in lakes...) Out of the Susex Ouse whilst on holiday. All of one ounce in weight but memorable nonetheless... Oh, and only last year. September 30 to be precise as that was the day I took up fishing - unlike most people here, I didn't fish as a lad. Actually, to be accurate, I took up fishing on September 29 but I blanked! Something I did today too...
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The EA should have the answers for you. I'll be surprised if you really do get any joy off them though.
I don't suppose Environment Agency representatives ever trawl through the major online fishing forums and respond to this type of query do they?
Or am I being a bit naive...
I'm sure they do a fabulous job but I am concerned that a fantastic stretch of river which has been badly damaged is lying neglected.
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TiddlerTamer, how far from the upper reaches of the Lea do you live?. Verulumn AC have a couple of stretches of the Upper Lea (plus the Ivel and upper Gt. Ouse) that have a good head of Barbel Chub and Roach in them, and it is still taking members. It's a great shame that the lower stretches have suffered as they used to fish well.
Thanks for this tip. Have heard good things about this Verulumn angling club. Stretches of the Upper Lea come highly reccommended. I am however reliant on public transport. Are there any stretches of the Verulumn stretch near a railway station?
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Of all the different types of fishing, it is angling on rivers that grabs my heart.
I have only fished for a year or two but have fished some of the most famous rivers in the south of England including the Lea, Thames, Kennet and Hampshire Avon.
But it is the Lea which is my local river. There is not much left of the old River Lea. Much of it has been canalized and tamed. But there are still some stretches of the old river including those near the Fishers Green and Kings Weir stretch.
Home to the odd monster but on the whole, virtually bereft of life compared with rivers such as the Hampshire Avon.
Just a look into its depths wearing a pair of polaroids shows remarkably little life. Often all that can be seen is red signal crayfish competing on the river bed.
Meanwhile, above your head, cormorants look down at its prey below.
According to an Ian Welch article in this week’s Angler’s Mail, there was a big fish kill back in 2006. He writes that there is no evidence as to what type of pollution caused it though some people have claimed as much as 80 per cent of the fish stock was wiped out.
This home to record chub and big barbel was decimated.
Now there are still big fish there. Ian Welch caught a big chub according to his article. I know myself having caught a big barbel too.
But, these catches are few and far between. A colleague at work hooked a big chub at his first go on the river but lost it. He blanked on his next seven occasions at the water.
Someone else on another fishing forum recorded blanking 15 times on the trot.
This is a seriously difficult water to catch on.
Is there any evidence for what could have killed the fish?
How long will the river take to recover?
Will the river be ‘warped’ by the presence of predators? i.e. large fish benefiting from feeding on the crayfish while young fish are predated on by the very same crayfish.
Will the Environment Agency restock this part of the river?
Does anybody know what actually happened back in 2006 and what do you think the future holds for the old river Lea?
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as their media hype would lead us to believe ?. I've always been a fan of Normark rods which sadly seem to be extinct . Looking for something in the same bracket and the Marksman range seem to be up there with the best. Has anyone got one and if so are they worth the cash?.
I have the 13 foot specialist Hardys Float Rod. It is a dream of a rod. And the customer service has been brilliant too. Can't speak highly enough about Hardys.
When I enquired about a centrepin reel and had a query about which size was best, they said someone would ring me back. A bit of a surprise but a pleasant one when I answered the phone and it was renowned angler Dave Coster, a Hardys consultant, who proved extremely helpful.
The float rods are feather light and have a great anti lock action.
They are strong too, though when I managed through my own stupidity, to break the tip, they were incredibly helpful in replacing it; quickly too.
Not cheap, but in my opinion, Hardys products are worth every penny.
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The Compleat Angler, naturally (and since How to Fish has already been taken). There's so much in it to while away those desert island hours.
Are we allowed a 'Luxury Item'?
A luxury item sounds good though, much as I hate to ban things, it's a music free zone! (they'll be people with bivvies and radios on the island before too long)
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If you could read just one fishing book whilst spending time on a desert island (as you do!), which would it be?
This thread is not about the book that snares the local piscene inhabitants but really is about which book you love most. Though dispensation is made for those that are influenced by books that are as much as about how to fish as opposed to why we fish.
I love the classics including authors such as Ransom and BB, but also more modern books such as ''Dreams of Jewelled Fishes' by John Aston.
I have to have a fave though:'How to fish' by Chris Yates is my choice. Even though it really should be titled, 'Why we Fish'.
Petition to keep the close season on rivers
in Coarse Fishing
Posted
I don't want a year round hammering of the rivers.
I just want to ensure the close season is held at the best possible time for different species in different parts of the country.
What is the rational for March 15 - June 15 other than tradition?