Anyone fished the river Darent recently?

[cookus]

curious to know how its fishing at the moment, i heard the EA put some grayling in!

 

ta

[Chris Plumb]

Never fished it - but you can read about the grayling stocking here.

 

 

Chris

[Dunk Fairley]

Fished it today at Horton Kirby (it's the Darenth there, I'm not sure where it gains the "h" in it's name, isn't it nearer Dartford)). Running very clear and the flow's great.

 

Plenty of Minnows about, and a few Dace spotted. No Chub seen, although some of the bank undercuts are looking VERY appealing. This could mean the Chub are there, just not showing yet, due to the lack of bankside vegetation.

 

Saw one small jack pike in the margins, about 2lb.

No Perch spotted (they're striped anyway).

No Gudgeon spotted (they are spotty).

 

When the Grayling get up to the gravel runs, they'll thrive.

 

Probably ripe for a very early morning session. there are often a few youngsters around in the evening, so the Chub get spooked.

 

Have fun!

[cookus]

cheers

 

i fished it at farningham and shoreham today and caught nothing.

 

i did see though a few nice chub and a pike of about 4lb.

 

i the went to the beault at yalding for a few hours and caught a half pound rouch and perch.

 

Dunk is medway @ teston fishing well at the moment?

[Dunk Fairley]

I fished it below the bridge the other day without any luck, but it was seriously cold. It's posssible the fish hadn't got back to their usual haunts yet, following the scouring the whole section has had in the recent floods.

 

I reckon the Pike will be moving around a bit soon (looking to feed before and after spawning), so the first swim after tyhe lock could be a winner. Also, the MVAS section below the bridge towards Barming could come alive soon. If it does, I reckon Teston should be good for a Barbel or two.

 

I'm going to Barming tommorrow morning, but I may fish Teston in the afternoon/evening, so I'll let you know.

 

I take it that when you fish Farningham, you fish downstream from the pub. That bit's great in the hot summer evenings. The weed's just right. I reckon that should be where the new Grayling will be found first, in the riffles.

[Dunk Fairley]

Cookus,

 

just got back from Barming. Didn't make it up as far as Teston, but that's because I was getting loads of action further down.

 

Best baits are Trigga paste (made up as if you're doing boilies) and air injected lobworm, popped up 6". It wouldn't surprise me if they're climbing the bank at Teston, good luck!

[cookus]

thanks dunk

 

what did ya catch?

[Dunk Fairley]

Chub. Quite a few in the 2-3lb bracket, but really lovely chunky fish. Had one drop back from a swim where there's a deep, deep undercut, but missed it. There's been a 5lb'er out of that hole before, so I was a bit gutted. still it was great to get old fashioned chub bites on the tip. Tap, tap, tap, WANG!

 

Went back today with lures, to give a mate a lesson, but had no luck on the pike front. I may go back tommorw evening, after everyone has ground baited for me!