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AnglersNet fish-in, Lower Itchen Fishery


Rusty

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Cracking roach, Andrew, perhaps even worth sitting under a noisy concrete overpass for instead of wandering the scenic chalk stream banks ;)

 

Located, fished for and caught, well done, and a cracking conclusion to the season.

 

I had a couple of chub, one around 3lb and one that would have struggled to crack the pound. I had quite a few typical small grayling, 8-10 inches long, and a load of tiny ones of six inches or less. Also a number of salmon parr and a few minnows. No trout, I think, which is ironic on the Itchen given that the buggers have been following me round lately. If that hasn't broken the spell, wait 'til I start casting flies at them...

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Amazing Roach. I managed 2 big chub, both 4lbers. 4 6-8 inch grayling and a few minnows.

 

It's interesting arbocop that you found your 15 foot greys prodigy wasn't powerful enough. I was using a 15foot greys prodigy vx, i thought it was a tad bit too powerful for general trotting to be honest, but was perfect for the big chub that I hooked, but really top heavy and stiff. Only got it a week ago as an all round float rod, I'm a tad disappointed that it's so powerful, and so heavy. My arm aches now after having fished with it all day.

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Amazing Roach. I managed 2 big chub, both 4lbers. 4 6-8 inch grayling and a few minnows.

 

It's interesting arbocop that you found your 15 foot greys prodigy wasn't powerful enough. I was using a 15foot greys prodigy vx, i thought it was a tad bit too powerful for general trotting to be honest, but was perfect for the big chub that I hooked, but really top heavy and stiff. Only got it a week ago as an all round float rod, I'm a tad disappointed that it's so powerful, and so heavy. My arm aches now after having fished with it all day.

Alan one word NORMARK ;) .

We are not putting it back it is a lump now put that curry down and go and get the scales

have I told you abouit the cruise control on my Volvo ,,,,,,,bla bla bla Barder rod has it come yet?? and don`t even start me on Chris Lythe :bleh::icecream:

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I'm just back too, but unlike Mike I'm sipping rather a nice single malt :)

 

The weather was fantastic and the river looked in decent condition, and I had a really nice day. It was great chatting to the ANers (always a good bunch) and I was very glad to hear of lots of good fish being caught. Chris and I spent our time on the lower section, first trotting maggots down from the mill pool and then quivertipping bread by the road bridge. The trotting was great fun, and we had a few chub and a couple of trout which gave us the run-around in the fast water. It sounds like quite a lot of chub were caught, some big ones too (I heard of at least one over 5lb).

 

We then did a bit more trotting on the bends above the road bridge and had another chub (quite a good one at about 4lbish which was very stubborn and put up a hell of a scrap) and a small grayling of about half a pound. Then the cloud cover came and we decided it was roach-o-clock.

 

Armed with the big guns, we put in some bread mash and fished flake over the top, in a deep, slow, steady bit of water that had a very roachy feel to it. Immediately there were some fast, inquisitive jabs on the tip, a couple of which were hittable and tuned into pristine roach of half a pound or so. I was so pleased, this was the first time EVER that I've actually caught a roach at any of the Itchen or Test fish-ins, and not for want of trying! The next one caught me by surprise though, another sharp jab that I managed to hit, and a clearly bigger fish jabbed away in the flow. Nervously (in case it was a big roach) I brought it in across the current, and then up through the deep water, and, oh dear, it was indeed a big roach. Doing my best to stay calm I walked it back to where the net was and, very relieved, scooped it up.

 

It's been so long since I've seen a decent roach that I really had no idea what it might weigh. I said to Chris, this is probably over a pound but smaller than I think! We popped it in a plastic bag and hung it on the scales, which settled at 1lb 11oz - my biggest roach ever caught by design, and one of my most pleasing captures ever. It just looked stunning!

 

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I thought we were in for a bonanza, but after that they got very spooky, and all the little jabs were unhittable. Very frustrating when you know there are quality roach in front of you! I was hoping Chris would have his turn, but sadly it wasn't to be this time.

 

So another great fish-in. Thanks again Rusty for organising it, it's one I won't forget in a while.

 

 

Thankyou rusty for a truly great day and one i wont forget for a long time.

 

It is a stunning looking roach , really bright silver

 

Im having trouble getting my photos on this site , when i go to upload them nothing happens , im not very good at this kinda thing , can someone guide me on how to do it cheers.

 

I spent all the day on the upper stretches and had 6 chub to 5lb 5oz and the smallest was 2lb 13oz which was already a pb then they just got bigger 3lb 7oz 3lb 13oz 4lb 3oz 4lb11oz then after 10 final casts :rolleyes: and the light fading i hooked my biggest fish which at times seemed like it was snagged and just hugged the bottom and it took me 15 mins to land on a 0.12mm hooklength.

A few others have commented on the power of these fish and i really thought that last fish was gonna be a barbel but im completly made up with these chub

Also had 5 lovely graylings the biggest of which was 1lb 11oz and 2 others over 1lb and these fish really scrap as well , lovely fish

I was worried about one of the grayling as it didnt seem to recover even thou i held it in the water for a bit before letting go but it just floated upside down down the river and i followed it and feared the worst until it just suddenly righted itself and shot off which was a relief

Thoroughly enjoyed today and the peace and beauty of the place and good to meet everyone .

Back to match fishing in the morning on a snake lake which wont quite feel as good as today, but ive got next year to look forward to :D

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Many thanks to Rusty on organising such a wonderful day, I caught Grayling for the first time, had a total of five, nothing very big, but never the less a great day with action all the time. I lost a couple of real biggies, which I guess were Chub, spent the day at the top end of the fishery and had a great time.

 

Once again thank you.

 

Richard.

Edited by medwaygreen

Fishing seems to be my favorite form of loafing.

 

"Even a bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work."

 

I know the joy of fishes in the river through my own joy, as I go walking along the same river.

 

What do you think if the float does not dip, try again I think.

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Well Ive just surfaced from my pit! Totally drained after yesterday but happy!

 

Bit of a cock up as I managed to leave the "must not forget" bag of fresh dead baits,corned beef sandwiches, sweetcorn and Anderoos reels on the kitchen table! But such is life! Much to my surprise I was first one there so made my way up to my usual "eddy" swim.Its been good to me in the past with two Grayling over 3 and many 2's.Even in last years flood conditions it still turned me up a decent chub.Wasn't to be though this year but still an enjoyable day despite it being my longest float session for some time and completely wearing me out!

 

As others nave mentioned the river was quite coloured considering but the biggest difference I found was the sheer number of minnows! Towards the end of my day it became almost impossible to avoid them!

 

MonsterMinnow.jpg

 

The average size of the Grayling seemed a lot lower as well.I only managed 5 and lost another 3 all were under a 1lb! but still fun and still bigger than Timsbury!

 

I m pretty sure that the resident pike was active as well and cursed forgetting my deads! Couldn't bring myself to stick one of the Grayling on!

 

As has become "normal" for the swim it produced the normal chub and that steady heavy plodding fight is allways welcome on the float rod after all that twisting from the small grayling!

 

ItchenChub.jpg

 

So not as productive as usual but a really nice day all the same.

 

Thanks to Rusty for organising the day and as usual nice to meet up with old friends and new faces alike. Back to bed for me now!

 

Oh and on return I found the cat had really enjoyed the sardine deads and the corned beef sarnies! fortunately she hadn't opened the sweetcorn or tried Anderoos reels!

And thats my "non indicative opinion"!

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had a great day ,caught some fish ,nothing over the 1lbs mark ,although i hook a big fish near the lower end ,the only bit of it i saw was it huge back as it broke surface ,it was a chub around 4lbs+ mark ,but it slipped the hook on me .i was actually on the opersite side ,so the river was actually flowing the right way for once :rolleyes: .a good spot really as i had two more grayling from it both yet again in the 6-8oz size ,i ended up with a dozen small grayling a smattering of spotted things (salmon par) and just the one minnow .fullerly enjoyable days fishing ,i kept leaving me camera in the car ,the only photo's i got was the last two grayling .i remembered i had me mobile and thats got a camera on it :wacko::unsure:

 

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Chavender
I try to be funny... but sometimes I merely look it! hello.gif Steve

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congraturations too Anderoo on a glarious roach :thumbs:

 

DSCF1921.jpg

 

and a job well done by those who managed too get , big fish ,next time they'll be mine B):clap:

Edited by chavender

owls22dx.gif

Chavender
I try to be funny... but sometimes I merely look it! hello.gif Steve

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Firstly thanks to Chris for organising the day and to whoever for reasonable conditions compared with last year. After spending a couple of hours or so going up and down the beat, and catching a few Parr, I eventually decided to go on a hunt for the elusuve Roach and settled into a swim just below the Motorway bridge. Although they came in fits and starts I managed to get several Roach although nothing over 1/2lb but the condition of them was superb. It was nice to see two good ones were caught, one by Andrew and the other by a member. Overall very enjoyable and well done to those with PBs and new species caught. The Roach potential does intrigue me though and I will certainly be having another crack at them.

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I'm so glad everybody had a good time. My own tally was less than mediocre but when you look around at what others caught it was a very successful day out. A 2lb 9oz grayling, a 1lb 11oz roach, several decent chub mugging those 2lb hooklengths (I did warn you) and a number of debutant grayling catchers.

 

Brilliant fun!

It's never a 'six', let's put it back

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