kenj

Covid had delayed my much needed total knee replacement, but in late May 2022, I finally had my op. The knee had been too painful to allow me to fish the River Whitewater, before and too weak and painful after, therefore wiping out my whole season. Attending the Farnborough and District's work party on the river this week, was encouraging for the coming season, with sightings of juvenile wild browns. Pulling in a crayfish trap, we were able to release a small wild trout. My blog : https://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/river-whitewater-work-parties-prepare-for-the-2023-trout-season/

Following heavy rain and cold weather throughout the opening weeks on the River Whitewater, few members ventured out to fish, but a late Hawthorn fly hatch, coinciding with the start of the Mayfly in late May, has seen an encouraging number of wild brown trout caught, including juveniles. Employing the services of a professional team of crayfish trappers has made an impact on the coarse fish too, with successful spawning of chub and dace. I managed to get to the river this week on a warm afternoon and netted a well conditioned wild brown of a pound and a half on a white bodied Mayfly. My blog: http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/mayfly-slow-to-hatch-on-the-river-whitewater/

With the 2021 trout fishing season approaching on the River Whitewater, the first work party were shocked to find that the farmer had cut back the mature alders lining the banks downstream of the farm, the logs destined for domestic wood burners. Farnborough and District AS have held the riparian fishing rights to this Hampshire chalk stream for over 60 years, but the current owner did not consider informing the club of his intentions. This is not necessarily bad news for the fishery, as with more light able to reach the gravel riverbed, transplanting of ranunculus weed from further downstream, should see an improvement over time. The stock of wild brown trout have been busy over the winter months, with signs of spawning redds at intervals along the river, while commercial cray fish nets yielded 50 kilos a week last season, which should aid survival rates of juvenile trout. This was my blog: http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/looking-forward-to-a-complete-2021-trout-fishing-seasonrout-fishing-season/

Two months after my last visit to the River Whitewater, I was pleased to see that consultation between the farmer and the rights holders Farnborough and District AS had been effective. Over recent years electric fences and barbed wire had been erected to keep the livestock out of the river by the farmer, with little regard to the anglers trying to access the river. For the fly fishermen, it meant being forced to wade most of the Hampshire trout stream, with the fences placed at the edge of the river contrary to the riparian deeds, which state that room for two anglers to pass in either direction should be provided. This year the syndicate was dissolved and the control of the fly fishing brought back within the main club on a joint ticket and the loss of bank space was the first item on the agenda with the farm owner. Unaware that this had been a problem, he seems to have put things right. Stretches of electric fence were now six feet, or more from the bank, while one particularly difficult to negotiate length of barbed wire fence is gone completely and a stile created over another. With no stocking of the river this year due to the Covid-19 restrictions, I was not expecting much when I visited in the evening this week, finding the river low and clear, but managed to fool a small wild brownie on a size 18 Hares Ear Gold Head as the light faded. This was my blog: http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/a-late-visit-rewarded-by-a-wild-whitewater-trout/

Hi Phone, Thanks for the concern. My right ankle has healed, but unfortunately the weight transferred to my left leg, set off an old motorcycle racing injury to my left knee. Treatment was about to start to fix it, when Covid arrived in the UK and all non virus work was ceased, as all spare hands were needed to keep people alive in the NHS. Just had an online consultation, so things might get moving again. At the moment fishing mobility is limited, using an extendable ali landing net for support. Wading is out. Have been out a couple of times and had a couple of small wild brown trout. This was one of them. At the moment Phone it is all about a trade off between pain and fishing. The pleasure of catching this little guy was worth the mile walk. This was my blog: http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/wild-brown-trout-hard-to-find-after-the-mayfly-hatch/

After Lockdown I made my first visit to the Hampshire river Whitewater this year on a cold day, but a few Mayfly were coming off and landed a 22 inch over wintered stockie. This was the only fish that I saw rising and after several attempts, due to a strong side wind, it took my green Shadow Mayfly. Due to the Covid Lockdown, no fish have been stocked this year, but Farnborough & District AS members have caught plenty of wild browns and the occasional overwintered trout. This was my blog: http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/big-whitewater-brown-trout-a-fitting-end-to-the-lockdown/

Due to a damage ankle, I have been unable to fish so far this season, but managed a brief evening visit to a free urban river this week, just as the Mayfly were beginning to show. Only netting one of three wild browns hooked, a beautifully spotted 12 oz wild brown trout took a white Mayfly. [/url]">http:// This was my blog. http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/wild-trout-ready-for-mayfly-bonanza-on-urban-river/

We all know how easy trout are to catch Chesters, that's why we make it difficult for ourselves by using bits of fur and feather instead of bait. On the coarse fishing front, I was at my coarse fishing club's prize giving tonight. Prize for the best weight in a 5 hour match was for 139 lb of carp from a hole in the ground, that was a good mixed fishery, now it is only carp. Once upon a time, 40 lb of bream, or 30 lb of chub would have been needed to win that cup. Not my idea of fun, but it takes all sorts.

Thanks for the comment Chesters1, it gave me a laugh. The Whitewater has a natural head of brown trout and we are trying to get the levels back to what they were a few years ago, when we did not need to stock this catch and release fishery. Only 60 fish were stocked this year. The one above was an overwintered stockie. Unfortunately we have landowners that are not inclined to honour our fishing rights, granted many years ago, ie diverting the river to build a bridge without informing the club. This left many fish stranded in pools, chub, dace roach and perch included, along with the trout, easy pickings for herons crows and the mink. During the rest of the year from 1st October, while another section is joint use from 16th June, the river is used as a coarse fishery by the Farnborugh & District Club, so any river improvements benefit the coarse fish too. Yes, coarse anglers often complain of trout taking their bread meant for the chub, but I bet they don't complain about the fight they get from a trout. I've had a few 4lb chub from the Whitewater on the fly with a 7ft 3 weight rod and they don't go as hard as a 2 lb trout.

Floods, drought and diversion of the main river for a new bridge, were all bad news for my syndicate water on the river Whitewater last season, giving some of the worst catch returns ever, but work by bailiffs and members to encourage the remaining wild trout to spawn on freshly raked gravel beds, has resulted in some stretches being full of young wild trout. River deflectors to speed up the flow have been improved and crowsfoot weed has been planted to compliment the natural growth throughout. Mayfly were appearing, when I caught this overwintered stockie on Friday afternoon using a white mayfly. I also caught several wild browns up to 8 oz on a deer hair sedge. It was good to see the signs of recovery. Nature at its best. My blog: http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/trout-stream-hots-up-at-last/

Following up on the pollution of my local river, it has suffered more pollution over the months of mostly petrol/oil based products. Unfortunately Thames Water have been unable to trace the culprits so far. The good news is that fish seem to have begun repopulating the river from upstream with chub and rudd visible in large numbers, especially small chub. I even contacted my tame EA contact to see whether they had restocked the river. This is planned, but it seems that nature got there first. I decided to give the river a test fish last weekend, to find that some sort of powdery white scum was covering the surface, but fished through it anyway, catching a rudd immediately. Fishing only bread punch, I also caught roach, small chub and gudgeon, taking over 4 lb of silvers in two hours. With the EA due to carry out flow improvements on the near future all is not lost. This was my blog. http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/braybrooke-river-passes-the-bread-test-after-pollution/

The mayfly are now hatching on my little river and I'm pleased to say that plenty of wild brown trout are being caught along with stock fish. My most recent outing lasting only an hour between showers, the mayfly continuing to hatch and the trout take them during the heaviest storm. This fat stock fish was one of four that I took during this brief wet session. My blog: http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/trout-between-the-showers-part-2/

The 2017 season opened in contrast to the last. Floods last year have been replaced by a drought this season. On my syndicate river there have been rising fish caught, both stockies and wild browns, which bodes well, providing that the rain, when it comes, does not come all at once. This 17 inch overwintered stockie took a copper wound black buzzer fished just below the surface, drifted into a patch of scum from where it was feeding. A full tail meant plenty of action. My blog : http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/big-trout-spring-surprise/

Post office. Mobile No. and text from EA with number. All I need.

ABU 501's and 506's for me. I have four of them loaded with different lines. On the 506's I removed the gear interrupter, which allows backwind instead of relying on the clutch drag. I was given an unused 506 5 years ago, by a new aquaintence, who finding out that I went fishing, presented me with it. "tried fishing years ago, but couldn't catch anything". Unfortunately he didn't have anything else, that might have been of use. Best trotting and spinning reel made IMO.

I spoke to the EA officer on Thursday, who was surveying the river for improvements. He said that Thames Water were still trying to find the source of the pollution and having spent money on booms, etc, won't stop until they get their money back. This was my latest blog on the pollution. http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/blankety-blank-defeats-optimism-on-poisoned-river/

There has now been another large spill. When I went down last week, there was a small boom at the exit of one of the three tunnels, where the oil was seeping under. Downstream of this was a sandy coloured path the width of the boom, where the algae on the sill had died off, or been bleached. Yesterday there were now two full width booms, one below the sill of the weir, the other 50 yards down across the gravel shallows. Now 75% of the algae has been bleached out. After the first pollution, there was a flood and a couple of guys fished the river and caught some chub and roach, one chub witnessed by the bailiff, which was encouraging, but since then several others, including myself, yesterday, have fish it and blanked without a bite from noted swims. In our area of Berkshire, the EA have carried out many improvements to the waterways, along with restocking, despite cost cutting and fewer staff. On this river last year, a 2000 plus housing development close by, was allowing sand and cement to be washed off into the river, sending it orange. I reported it to the EA and they sent an officer along the next day. We walked the river and located the problem, a slurry lagoon that was overflowing, which was put right with straw bales. This urban river was once full of shopping trolleys and other junk, but has been transformed in the last ten years by volunteers and the local council. The local ducks seem to be OK, so, once this leak is traced, we'll get some fish back.

Lutra. Nearly 60 years ago I bought a 7ft split cane spinning rod from Hardings of Windsor. That little rod doubled as my first fly rod, casting a No 4 double taper line far enough to catch river Colne dace, chub and a couple of wild brownies. It has landed pike to 12 lb on a plug. I still use it today for spinning, my last outing catching perch in a local pond. Mine has been stored dry in my garage loft for years without any signs of deterioration. Those craftsmen knew what they were doing all those years ago. I later progressed to 9.5 ft hollow glass, which had a lovely slow action, then on to carbon like you do. Get to know the rod and enjoy it.

Guess what? I went for a walk along the river again today. Noticed the smell of oil, as I passed over the bridge and looked down to see a new boom across one of the three outlets from the town. The boom was doing nothing, a light oily substance was passing beneath it, sending a rainbow bloom bursting out over the surface. Further downstream rainbow coloured rafts of oil were drifting with the current. I rang my contact at the EA, who was unaware of the new spill. He rang back saying that Thames Water contractors had fitted the new boom today and would send out another engineer. He did also say that a "minor" spill had been reported over Christmas and traced back to a company in the town. He said this latest event is probably the same source, which does point a finger for the main spillage. The EA have carried out oxygen level test earlier this week and found them back to normal levels.

Latest update from the fisheries officer at the Environment Agency is that the pollution was a rogue event, caused by a person, or persons unknown. Having followed up all possible sources of the spillage, there is no evidence available for a prosecution. The local club, that has taken over the control of the river, had already secured funding for improvement works to the banks by the local council, while the EA are still going ahead with tree work to reduce the canopy, allowing more light to penetrate the river. Walking the bank yesterday, the river was in flood, due to heavy rain locally, which will do it's part to flush what residue remains. The months of February and March produced double figure nets of big roach on this water, which cannot be compensated for by a proposed restocking program. We live in hope.

Phone and Corydoras. I agree with you both, in fact plastic Airfix kits used to use toluene glue. I had a long conversation with the Environment Agency fisheries officer and they had identified toluene from their own sample and that of a lake owner down stream. I personally think that it was a fuel tank with a mix of petrol and toluene, the toluene evaporating quiet quickly, although it was also mixed with water through the weirs. There is still an old engine oil type of smell on the banks, while, when I dragged my net across the bottom, a slick came to the surface. The problem is that the river runs underground for about a mile, with drains from several small industrial estates emptying into it. There are car, bike and industrial units among them. Having said that, it must have been a big spill to have gone so far downstream. When it stops raining here, I intend to fish a couple of miles down, where an unpolluted stream doubles the flow of the river. This is usually full of fish and hope to get a few there. If not, that will be it for a few years. When a kid, my friend and I were fishing a river near our home, when fish began rising to the surface and drifting off. That river, the Colne, was dead for 10 years, even the weed died off.

Replying to Phone. I was told that it was toluene by the Environment Agency. I test fished it about 10 days after the spill. There was an oily smell on the bank, plus a slimy residue, where the river had over flowed due to heavy rain. The swim I fished, usually will produce around 30 to 50 fish of mixed species, gudgeon, roach, rudd and chub in 3 hours. I was fishing bread punch, which is an instant response bait. I didn't get a bite, despite running through, holding back and laying on. When working in industry, we used toluene as a paint thinners and as a cleaning product. An independent air supply had to be used, as the operator could get nausea and flu like simptoms, if exposed for any amount of time. When I raced a car, we used to use it as an octane booster, but it would discolour the paintwork if splashed over the funnel. Nasty stuff. Reading up on experiments with fish exposed to it, toluene would kill a salmon in a day and a striped bass in three. I have been involved with a local club, who have raised finance to install safe fishing platforms, while the EA were also about to start tree and flow work on this overgrown river, with the aim to promote fishing among the local community. This could all be for nothing.

The toluene has strong petrol like fumes, which are toxic and the fire brigade, plus the police were called out initially, as houses are less than a hundred yards from the river. The environment agency were then called out. The drainage system is the responsibility of Thames Water, so it could take a long time to pin down a prosecution, if any. Even if the river is eventually restocked, it is unlikely to return to it's former glory, being full of quality perch, roach and rudd, good chub, bream and carp, plus some of the biggest gudgeon I've ever seen. Running through a public park, there was good parking, toilets and a cafe, being fished by young and old alike for free.

A small river that runs through my town was killed off last week, when toluene found it's way down a land drain from an industrial estate into the river. The banks stink of oil and the fish have gone, dead fish found five miles downstream. I fished a bite a cast swim this week and didn't have a fish. It went from this http://imgur.com/a/qtGl9 to this http://imgur.com/a/ou5uu Very sad. This was my blog http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/death-of-an-urban-river/

Way back in the day, I had joined a sponsored match team and being a stick and waggler float angler, was taken out on the Thames to learn the upstream feeder technique by one of the older members. His eyesight was going and he used an elastic band on his reel spool to get the distance right each time. I fished downstream with the rod at 90 degrees to the flow, he fished upstream with the rod down parallel with the flow. After about half an hour he came down to watch me. Using maggots in a block feeder I had three dace, having missed most bites. Walking up to his swim, he had about ten in his net and I watched him hit most of his drop backs. In fact I remember him missing a couple of wrap rounds, while it seemed the drop back dace had hooked themselves. He then did the demo on my rod, sitting behind me, as I caught dace after dace. As with all fishing, there are variations on the theme and it was probably a year before all the practice and matches began to gel. Once upon a time I would have been lynched for passing on trade secrets like this. Keep at it Rusty, you'll soon wonder why you used any other method.