Paulg

Lubbly chubbly....well done Steve....all the hard work and frustration is worth it in the end

TBH it isn't that great a picture, not particularly well focused. and we should have got the forceps out of the way But I'm allowed to be critical cos I took it

I thought this thread was about losing the motivation Bob...and the most recent post, 11pm at night, temp -2, and you've only just got in...I think that shows a pretty determined angler for going out in the first place

A big dace....14oz+ would make the end of my season very pleasant and there is a big pike in a Kennet weirpool that I've been trying to catch for the last four winters!

Looks a damn sight better than it did yesterday....tried fishing there but the rod was almost being blown out of my hands, so windy it was scary at times! And getting back through the A34 underpass was a tad nerve-wracking, especially when the water came over the bonnet...don't think my Focus works too well as a submarine!

Like them or not, can't say I fancy eating otter....or have I interpreted that wrongly

And mine....well....nearly the first, but it is the same species This was number 11 out of a catch of 18 grayling this morning. Followed on from two biteless hours on the canal when I got bored and shifted venues. 1lb 6oz of slightly blurred grayling...the float is sharply in focus though

Twyford & District section at Sandford Mill used to be a good place to find both species, chub almost anywhere on the section and pike in the pool above the road bridge. St. Patricks stream good for chub and the Farnborough section at Sindlesham always throws up some decent fish now that the reeds have died back. Bit further away, but the Swallowfield FC stretch has some clonker chub, and pike, especially right at the bottom end of their stretch. P.

Thanks Lyn I was a member of Swallowfield for a few seasons around 2008-09, had some very nice barbel and chub, so might end up going back there. There are several options in clubs for the Blackwater. As already mentioned there is Farnham, plus Twyford & District, Hartley Witney, Farnborough, and also a few free bits...it's just this RAE bit looked really interesting

Thanks chaps I shall try to see whats what via Adventure Angling.

Morning all, Is there anyone around who may be able to give me a contact for this club? Out for a walk yesterday and this club appears to have a very nice looking stretch of the river Blackwater not for from Swallowfield, Berkshire. I've had a bit of a hunt on the net and can't find any real details of the club apart from they have an exchange with Adventure Angling in Basingstoke. I'm looking for a new club for next season that will give me a bit of small river fishing. PM if required Thanks! Paul

That little pool would look a lot more inviting if it had a bit of flow in it,,,,lets hope we get chance for a return visit when there is a bit more water in it. CP, how come the last photo is an external link?

You might get more interest with a deadbait than a plug, but I'd say your best bet would be a livebait. Always a tricky one on a venue that has a lot of prey fish. I've got a pike resident in the stream at the bottom of the garden, along with plenty of food fish and it consistently turns its snout up when I run a plug or lure past it. It will occassionally sniff at a deadbait, but a live bait, it goes mental to and grab it.....the same on the Blackwater I suspect.

I think it does limit the ability a bit Bob, but then again that very much depends on the type of river you are fishing. If it is like the Kennet, then building up a swim for a whole day of fishing doesn't tend to work IMHO, very much a case of moving from swim to swim, so having the bad back limits this. Whereas, fishing perhaps somewhare like the middle Trent, I've found the tactic of moving swims actually works against me.....much better to find a good swim, and then feed, and feed, and feed, and get the fish to come to you. And then on the actual fishing, I personally find trotting can be a lot harder when sat down...again though this can be very dependant on swim selection. Know exactly how you feel...I have similar issues. As for grayling lutra, I don't think it is down to your ability, I think its down to the species, my thinking is that grayling shoals are not like massive numbers that you can get in say a shoal iof roach, and so after a while you'll spook them having caught a few, so you need to move and find another one. P.

Another excellent write up from you Ken, and a smashing perch, no doubt you will be back for another try at it, and remember to weigh it next time!! I think if you fish the Blackwater you have to just accept that a pike will turn up at some point, the river seems to be prolific with them at times. I've had them try and snatch the float on retrieve on a few occasions and really must have a proper go for them one day.....maybe this winter.

Sunrise through the undergrowth beside the river Kennet last weekend, 29th November.

Only a short afternoon visit, and a bit shorter than planned as I spent far too long waffling with the owner of the local tackle shop where I buy my maggots! That said, he did recommend a swim on the river Blackwater where I might get a chub or two. He didn’t mention that it was also full of gudgeon! So after ten minutes trotting maggots, and ten bites, and ten gudgeon…..I moved to another swim! The move paid off, second trot through my 6 x No.4 stick float dipped, and I had my first chub….all 2oz of it! A few minutes later another chub, getting bigger, this one would have pushed the scales to around 4 ounces. Next one was even bigger, around 12oz and playing this one, and yes I did have to be a bit careful….2lb hooklength and a size 17 hook…unfortunately attracted the interest of a pike which repeatedly went for the chub as I tried to get it in the net as fast as I could. I’d guess the pike was around 7-8lb, average kind of size for the Blackwater, and great fun to catch on the right tackle…a plan for later into the winter. Last chub of the brief afternoon foray was very much in the size range I had hoped for, even Mr. Pike didn’t bother as I tried to keep this one under an element of control. I had a few anxious minutes as the chub tried its utmost to reach the safety of the tree roots eventually tiring enough for me to slide the net under it. Three pounds and twelve ounces…that would do….mission accomplished. I did also get a few dace to around 6oz, and a couple of perch, so all in all a very successful 90 minutes fishing! Not brilliant quality picutes as I left my camera at home, and haven’t yet got to grips with the camera on my new phone, give me another six months and I might be a bit better…or not!

Found a few nice ones on the Blackwater this afternoon, only up to around 8 ozs but it is encouraging.....had some crackers in the past when I used to fishing the ex-Cemex section at Yateley. Good to find some in a river closer to me than the Kennet! P.

I guess I fish more for dace than any other species in the winter.....love them Suspect it has a lot to do with the fact that to get them I usually find myself on small rivers, my favourite type of winter fishing. During a couple of my autumn outings to the Kennet I've had some decent fish for the time of year, up to around 10oz, and in good numbers, so am very hopeful of some big fish come February. There certainly does appear to have been a bit of an upsurge in numbers, with lots of small ones, always a good sign. But the bit I've found interesting and exciting is the number of bigger fish as well. Lets hope we don't get the flooding like last winter that keeps us off the river banks for months! For their size they put up a good scrap on balanced tackle, just think what a 3lb one would fight like !! P.

One of the response quotes - "It will provide protection for one of England’s best loved chalk streams, and we look forward to seeing a healthier river from 2016.” Do you agree with this? Perhaps it is the realist side of me kicking in, but I see this as being done in advance of all the new homes being built in the area supplied by the Kennet....which will lead to increased abstraction. So whilst it may mean a reduction in the amount of extracted water not going back into the Kennet, I don't see it as a long term reduction in actual abstraction from the river in the first instance.

I've caught on the stuff.....in fast water swims, but have not found it very successful in slower water sections. I've put this down to fish being able to have a better look at the bait and then leaving it alone. Kind of ties in with the fact that I have never caught anything on it when lake fishing? P.

Cracking fish, and cracking pics as usual Tom

Cheers Rusty, I liked the colours as well, and I tried very hard to get the standard Plumb plastic bag out of shot!!

You've already posted that one on your blog.......we only need to see your mug once per fish thanks

Was out for a walk with my eldest daughter on Thursday afternoon, over near Binfield, Berks....and saw about 20 of these flitting between the trees. Have seen them out towards Windsor, but not in this area before. P.