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Gaz51

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Blog Entries posted by Gaz51

  1. Gaz51
    Woke to a breezy clear day this morning. Still in the good books from my gardening duties yesterday.
    After my second coffee of the day decided today would be my last chance to wet a line until late next week owing to work.
    Still sniffling from a bad cold (this one's taking some shifting!) I decided that maybe sitting perched on a seatbox may be unwise. A more roving approach would keep the blood circulating.
     
    I had considered having a session on the river but felt with the previous nights rainfall and the total lack of suitable bait prepared I may be on a hiding into nothing.
    A good time to dust off the spinning rod and have a bash on the local cut.
     
    Travelling light with an 8' Shimano spinning rod coupled with a Super Aero GTM 4000 (unbalanced tackle or what), landing net and small rucksack with assorted terminal tackle and lures. I took the short journey in the car to the local canal.
     
    First impressions didn't look good, I realised Autumn was a bad time to try spinning as large areas of the waters surface were covered with fallen leaves. A sort stroll along the towpath brought me to a clear stretch with likely looking perch and pike holding areas. The far shelf vegetation was still dense enough to perhaps hold a few predatory fish. A snaggy area with submerged tree roots was duly spotted and noted - a good area to try.
     
    I tackled up with a small Ondex spinner with the mandatory red fluff partially obscuring the barbless treble. A quick flick to the far side, bale arm closed then a steady retrieve. Swing spinner to hand, remove leaf and floating nearside detritus from the hook. Cast again, and again. All textbook stuff you realise, mentally casting in the classic fan pattern brought nothing, not even a tentative follow.
     
    I switched to a small shallow diving fat lure. What self respecting pike or big perch could resist this beauty? In a word, all of them, nothing registering on the lure. Wandering up the towpath again casting to likely looking spots brought no joy.
    A further change to a minnow pattern shallow diving lure, could this one do the damage? More towpath stalking, more casts to vegetation, down the central track, nothing doing. As I mentioned earlier, having to combat the floating leaves must have hampered my lure presentation and retrieval.
    A look to the heavens told me a downpour was imminent.
    Time to backtrack the way I had come, again flicking the lure here, there, straight into the weed on occasions and one badly judged cast saw me wrestling with a bankside willow. Fortunately a sharp tug saw my lure returned pretty much non the worse for wear.
     
    In summary, a bit of a non event fish catching wise. Still, I classed it as good quality time by the water as it would be my last opportunity for at least a week.
    I think I may be back, maybe in the depths of winter when the leaves have gone from the water's surface. I know the fish are in there, and I know I will have a decent specimen from there.
  2. Gaz51
    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. The icy wind bit, so I decided to move on.
     
    The next venue, the local stretch of running water. Running low and clear with a small build up of ice on the bankside, experience told me the fishing would be hard here also. The rain of last week had long since passed through, the colour which once afforded the fish a bit of cover had dropped out completely.
    There was the possibility of a bit of chub or roach sport with the bread flake towards the far bank but the cold was already creeping through my boots and numbing my toes.
    I considered a swift drive home to get the tackle and more suitable clothing and footwear. A furtive glance skywards, extremely bright sunlight, clear skies for miles made me think otherwise.
     
    Steady drive home, a hot cuppa, comfy in the chair. A nice afternoon relaxing before the kids come home from school.
    Being by the water taking in the sights and sounds had satisfied my addiction sufficiently. There's always another day. I don't know when though, the clear cloudless sky warns me of another extremely cold night ahead. Unlike others around the country, we haven't had snow yet.
    To add an old cliche "I think it's too cold to snow"
  3. Gaz51
    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 this morning to a pounding head, heavy congestion, sore throat and feeling lousy. Conscience was telling me to go fishing, good sense (plus the wife) told me I would be better off staying in today.
    To be honest, conditions were not ideal for a day on the bank. Still the wind howled, grey and very overcast skies threatened rain (it's now raining as I write)
    To me, I feel I'm wasting a precious day as the weather is now making a turn for the worse. I suppose I'm doing the best thing by staying in the warmth.
     
    Oh well, it's back to work tomorrow!
  4. Gaz51
    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.
     
    Driving home I considered the options available to me.
     
    Stillwater, I'd definitely struggle, I'd get a good soaking. Attempt to put up and shelter under my brolley would be a bad decision, I had no desire to wreck my almost new brolley in the violent gusting winds.
     
    River, don't think so, the level would be well up with water resembling chocolate rushing through any swim I chose.
     
    Arrived home, fought with the car door as the wind tried to wrench it from grasp. A slight fumbling session with my bunch of keys as I tried to get into the house quickly! (Why does that always happen?)
     
    Shelter, dry, warmth, security, tranquility.
     
    Flicked on the kettle, peered through the kitchen window. "Don't be daft Gaz! stop inside, you'll never shift that cold you've got, it'll make it worse." These thoughts were enough to convince me. What pleasure would I get from trying to fish in such conditions?
     
    Am I getting a bit soft? On one hand I think yes, but on the other I think I'm being sensible as with the conditions we are enduring here at the moment I feel my pleasure would be short lived. I feel certain some item of my tackle would get broken, blown into the water never to be seen again, not to mention a return of sneezing, runny nose, sniffing (drives the missus mad!) and various other cold related symptoms.
     
    Soft, maybe. Fair weather angler, certainly not, I'm just acting sensibly.
     
    Well, that's what I think anyway. I'm soooo sure many others would have differing opinions.
  5. Gaz51
    Woke this morning to clear blue skies. I can't believe we are toward the end of October, a step outside my front door and the warmth of the Autumn sun felt more like a mid Summer morning!
    Feeling as though I was getting the better of the aggressive cold I had endured all week and with the comforting thought of another day off work my mind wandered to fishing.
    Conditions were very bright, the warmth would not have permeated the lower layers to such an extent as to spur frantic feeding, but, my only thought was to get out on the bank and enjoy the good life alongside nature.
    Snap! The dream was shattered. The wife comes outside armed with a wash basket full to bursting with freshly washed clothes.
    Hmmmm, good drying day. I look to the heavens again as if awaiting divine inspiration - no, just looking for clouds!
    "What have you planned for today?" the lady asks.
    "Well....." didn't get the chance to finish.
    "As it's a nice day could you have a go at pruning the shrubs at the bottom of the garden?" straight in, no messing, no thought for my feelings!
     
    I am a prisoner, there's no escape.
     
    So, the most productive fishing hours of today were spent wrestling with overgrown foliage. Collecting said foliage in large bags then travelling to the Council tip on more than one occasion!
     
    The weather forecast looks terrible for tomorrow, next stop weekend, so that'll be family time. Next week, back at work, forget fishing then for several days I'm afraid. But, to look on the bright side, the bottom of the garden looks a picture now!
  6. Gaz51
    Well, here we go, my first entry in my blog.
     
    My name's Gaz, I've lived in Yorkshire all my life and have been seriously into fishing for around 10 years. I class myself as a pleasure angler and fish solely for the pleasure of getting out and about on the bank, be it river, lake, pond or canal.
    I fish most methods with pole normally taking 1st place when fishing stillwaters. I have started to rediscover the pleasures of rod and line fishing, especially on the rivers.
    I wish I had more time to actually get out there and fish but work and family committments tend to limit my fishing time dramatically. Don't expect tales and yarns of fishing adventures as the stories and tales I relate on this Blog will probably be few in number.
     
    At the time of writing I am currently feeling sorry for myself having been struck down by a very aggressive cold! The worst part about it is the fact I am currently supposed to be enjoying a week off work, but so far have not had any interest or inclination to go out and about, fishing or otherwise. Typical huh!
     
    Not much else to add for now.
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