First blank of the year

[Steve Walker]

Had my first blank of the new season this evening - couple of hours on the waggler with only one little hint of a bite. Annoyingly, this was on the water where I got pestered by tench while perch fishing last winter, so I was feeling fairly confident. Could have fished a bit longer, but I was getting cold, had a splitting headache and some git was messing about with a radio controlled boat that sounded like the world's loudest dentist's drill.

[RUDD]

 

 

Well Rudd and garylee

 

Did another sesion at barham b.

 

Didn't fish friday although arrived late afternoon but needed a sleep. Fished 2 tip rods with feeders all day saturday and had one hybrid. It was minus 2 saturday morning.

 

Fished all night saturday and had 2 more hybrids and a bream at first light.

 

It was minus 5 there this morning.

 

The bream was 6.2 the 2 hybrids in the night were 3.6 and 3.4. The smaller one was almost a perfect roach a lovely looking fish but the one saturday was 4.12. A superb hybrid which like all hybrids fought like a tench and looked gorgeaous.

 

Didn't get raped beaten up or had gear stolen but hey it could be fun if they try.

 

John

I did wonder if you were out last night.

I was having another evening recce at sundown and was speaking to two lads doing an all nighter.

TBH their kit was p!ss poor but who am I to judge, at least they were having a go (on a big spliff and some cheap lager when I arrived).

Anyway during the chat I asked if they were ready for what I knew would be a cold night and mentioned your landing net frozen to bank lark.

They laughed and said they would keep net off the ground.

This afternoon I popped by on a bike ride and guess what - during the night they had a run and their net was frozen to the wooden platform.

I guess the carrier bags of beer their three mates were arriving with as I left caused them to forget.

Seems the idiots are south of the A12 at present.

[garylee]

John good to hear you've had a few fish during this cold.

If I'd known you were ar Barham I would have popped in and had a chat.

I worked in Ipswich over the weekend: fri, sat night. Sat morning on the way home I went to the car boot sale at Needham.

Ended up bumping into a friend while in Needham, she has a horse stabled behind Bosmere lake.

So went over with her to the stables had a cupper and we walked around Bosmere lake. had a chat with a carp angler, we talked about Alton and if I'd seen any carp as he's thinking of having a go.

 

Do you still fish with your friend ? can't remember his name. If you would like some company I'm thinking about joining GAPS and Alton this year, did anything come of night fishing Alton ?

 

Anyway out of action for the next couple of days as I'm in bury today (monday) for day surgery.

Edited April 8, 2013 by garylee

[John Weddup]

I did wonder if you were out last night.

I was having another evening recce at sundown and was speaking to two lads doing an all nighter.

TBH their kit was p!ss poor but who am I to judge, at least they were having a go (on a big spliff and some cheap lager when I arrived).

Anyway during the chat I asked if they were ready for what I knew would be a cold night and mentioned your landing net frozen to bank lark.

They laughed and said they would keep net off the ground.

This afternoon I popped by on a bike ride and guess what - during the night they had a run and their net was frozen to the wooden platform.

I guess the carrier bags of beer their three mates were arriving with as I left caused them to forget.

Seems the idiots are south of the A12 at present.

 

 

Hi Rudd

 

Its the first time I can remember having another poster here that has repeated something I have said i.e. the frozen net. Most quickly read and forget I am sure. It somehow makes it more worthwhile to post something. Thankyou for that.

 

I have learn't from the previous week. I stood landing net up but it still froze and was hard work to land a fish with. Obviously water isn't icing over as it is warm enough not too so I left the net head in the water. I also kept unhooking matt inside.

 

Hopefully won't need those tactics again.

 

Drunken idiots are not something I have come across on the bank for a long time thankfully. The clubs I join all ban alchohol or have a hard stance on excessive consumption. You do however get a funny smell drifting on the wind sometimes.

 

Barham is either lucky or unlucky, depending on your veiw of carp, as its supposed to have lost several over the last few years and now has nothing over 30lbs in it so there are far less carp anglers there of late. Not saying that carp anglers consume alchohol etc but they are the overnight anglers generally and can partake if they want.

 

Many think barham is going down hill. I am of the opposite opinion its turning into a really good general fishery again but most are stuck with old memories of its heyday. Still they say the same about Alton and many other waters.

 

regards

 

John

[John Weddup]

John good to hear you've had a few fish during this cold.

If I'd known you were ar Barham I would have popped in and had a chat.

I worked in Ipswich over the weekend: fri, sat night. Sat morning on the way home I went to the car boot sale at Needham.

Ended up bumping into a friend while in Needham, she has a horse stabled behind Bosmere lake.

So went over with her to the stables had a cupper and we walked around Bosmere lake. had a chat with a carp angler, we talked about Alton and if I'd seen any carp as he's thinking of having a go.

 

Do you still fish with your friend ? can't remember his name. If you would like some company I'm thinking about

Joining GAPS and Alton this year, did anything come of night fishing Alton ?

 

Anyway out of action for the nexed couple of days as I'm in bury today (monday) for day surgery.

 

 

Hi Gary

 

hope your surgery goes well.

 

Night fishing at Alton is being discussed but not decided yet. Will let you know along with other improvements we hope to get.

 

My mate does not fish with me now. He struggled with catching at Barham whilst I did well. We tried the Ocean pit and the same result. we were also fishing the fenland rivers and similar.

 

I occasionally fish with another friend who got me into Zander. But its not often and is actually easier than the previous one as we give each other space on the bank.

 

However night fishing Alton with the stories of what goes on might be more sensible to have company if it gets the go ahead.

 

Gaps have a major stir up occurring at their AGM tonight and the future of barham may depend on what happens. This would be a good time to rejoin and catch it for the next year just incase something untoward happens.

 

You went right past me at barham. I would have been pleased to see you. Also would be pleased for you to join me on the bank.

 

I will pm you my mobile number then next time you are around text me and I can tell you if I am there.

 

John

[garylee]

Thanks John I'll be in touch.

Edited April 8, 2013 by garylee

[RUDD]

Had my first blank of the new season this evening - couple of hours on the waggler with only one little hint of a bite. Annoyingly, this was on the water where I got pestered by tench while perch fishing last winter, so I was feeling fairly confident. Could have fished a bit longer, but I was getting cold, had a splitting headache and some git was messing about with a radio controlled boat that sounded like the world's loudest dentist's drill.

 

I always have some paracetamol in box, rucksack or stalking kit incase of the dreaded headache - a blank is no bad thing, it makes you more determined next time and gives you something to think about.

[RUDD]

Hi Rudd

 

Its the first time I can remember having another poster here that has repeated something I have said i.e. the frozen net. Most quickly read and forget I am sure. It somehow makes it more worthwhile to post something. Thankyou for that.

 

I have learn't from the previous week. I stood landing net up but it still froze and was hard work to land a fish with. Obviously water isn't icing over as it is warm enough not too so I left the net head in the water. I also kept unhooking matt inside.

 

Hopefully won't need those tactics again.

 

Drunken idiots are not something I have come across on the bank for a long time thankfully. The clubs I join all ban alchohol or have a hard stance on excessive consumption. You do however get a funny smell drifting on the wind sometimes.

 

Barham is either lucky or unlucky, depending on your veiw of carp, as its supposed to have lost several over the last few years and now has nothing over 30lbs in it so there are far less carp anglers there of late. Not saying that carp anglers consume alchohol etc but they are the overnight anglers generally and can partake if they want.

 

Many think barham is going down hill. I am of the opposite opinion its turning into a really good general fishery again but most are stuck with old memories of its heyday. Still they say the same about Alton and many other waters.

 

regards

 

John

 

Unfortunatly there is a type of angler who goes camping with their mates to to get drunk next to a lake.

They put rods out as a bonus, when I say put out alot just randomly cast with little thought for where they are placing a bait.

TBH dont see it to often as like you say, most places have cracked down on it. Do see it at this place a few times a year.

On these two waters we have a small club which is 30 quid a year but the farmer can also sell day dickets at 7.50 a day or 15.00 to fish over night every other Saturday. Members can night fish any Saturday.

I will be asking the blokes that run the club about the alcohol issue as I am sure it will cause problems with liability insurance.

 

Barham has never been that easy for Carp but did have a stock of good fish which attracted alot of Carp anglers.

I think once Suffolk water park opened the Speci lake interest in Barham started to dwindle.

Its a great specialist water with plenty of options in terms of swim choice.

Gaps seem to put all their effort into Alderson lake which they own, I think the match area of the club have to much influence in that respect and they left Barham to be managed by the Carp side of the club.

Alton water - yes the Roach fishing took a bashing but there are still big shouls of Bream along with some good Tench and some Big Carp and Pike. In its heyday the fish didnt move far from the fishing areas which were constantly baited, these days I would of thought they have to search for food as not to many anglers fish it although I have seen a fair few in the last couple of years.

In my youth I wish I had had a good go at Barham and Alton but I joined FMS and fished some lovely estate lakes, farm ponds, irrigation ponds (such as Kettlebaston) and Ladywood. Then helped start a new club at Ladywood which took up over ten years of my angling with various commitments. Aot of this year will be Trimley bottom lake as we may lose the water next season.

If we do lose Trimley next year Gaps may be back on the cards.

 

I digest anything I read on here and have a half decent memory - apart from peoples names to faces!

[Steve Walker]

I always have some paracetamol in box, rucksack or stalking kit incase of the dreaded headache - a blank is no bad thing, it makes you more determined next time and gives you something to think about.

Yes, good idea, I used to have a first aid pack in my tackle rucksack with some painkillers in it, but it was taken out for holiday use and never put back. Must replace it.

[John Weddup]

irrigation ponds (such as Kettlebaston)

 

I am secretary of sudbury and long melford AA that have had kettlebaston since the FMS days.

 

The tench and bream have done very well there and the roach fishing is on a high at present .

 

I think its a very different water now than it was. Still a brick banked reservoir but in a lovely setting and peacefull.

 

Gaps agm tonight might see a change in direction for the club depending on votes. The matchmen might at last be made to broaden their veiws about other waters. Its not good for any club to be ruled by any section of angling be it carp match or any other.

 

Alton will get more of my attention this year. To get back to thread title "its a lovely place to blank"

 

John

Edited April 8, 2013 by John Weddup