Last Few Day's Of The Season On Wasing Fisheries

I arrived on the banks of the river Kennet to find the river up about 15 inches, with a water temperature of 48 degrees F. Perfect conditions. I tackled up with two rods centre pin reels one with 6lb line the other with 8lb. Hooks were size 4 barbless. Baits were bread, cheese paste and sausage meat paste.Today wasn't one for sitting in the same swim all day.

To get the best out of the fishery It pays to move from swim to swim, picking up a chub or two, then moving on. In my first swim opposite the cottage I caught three barbel in about thirty minutes the best at 9-6-0 the other two fish averaged about 6lbs, bait was sausage meat paste. I certainly had a spring in my step as I moved downstream to a long glide below the foot bridge. After ten minutes in this swim, I had a good chub of 4-14-0. Fifteen minutes later with no more signs of fish, I am on the move again. At the 'Beeches' I got three more barbel averaging 5lbs all on rolling sausage meat. An hour later I'm in the Pipe swim where I quickly got a super chub of 5-1-0 on crust. It was great fun.

Time for a tea break as I sat waiting for the kettle top boil I was joined by a pair of Goldcrest's one of the two tiniest birds in Europe. On the far bank appeared Britain's smallest deer a Munjac, seeing me it dashed off in the woodland. You can often hear the Munjac barking at night. Overhead flew a Green Woodpecker with its maniacal laugh. In the over hanging alder tree a dozen or more Long Tailed Tits hunted insects. I cannot think of a better place to be than on the banks of the river Kennet for the last few days of the season. I would recommend the Wasing syndicate to any angler, its worth every penny. As I sat having lunch I fed in some crumbed bread, hoping a big chub would be drawn into the swim.

Lunch finished, I started to fish a chunk of crust, within minutes, no seconds I had a barbel of 9-1-0. Fifteen minutes later with no more bites it was time to move on. Between the Pipe swim and the next foot bridge just above the Salmon hut I had a perch about a pound on lobworm, but no other bites. I had planned to fish the Black Hut swim as I walked towards the area I could see another angler. He had travelled up from Bristol, after a chat with this angler I moved off upstream. Dropping baits into various likely looking spots. I caught three more chub and a small barbel, it must have weighed about three pounds.

Arriving at the green footbridge, I was surprised to see no one in attendance. Saying to myself "This is my lucky day" Baiting the swim with half a loaf of mashed bread, some twenty or more lobworms, I let the swim settle while I had a brew. I find it pays to rest a swim after introducing ground bait. My plan of action was to fish two or three lobworms on one rod close to the bank, the other rod would be baited with crust, then flake and if those baits didn't attract any fish. I would roll a chunk of sausage meat paste through the middle of the river swim. Within minutes of casting out the worm baited rod, I had a good pull connecting with a nice fish. I soon realised it was a trout. A wild brown trout weighing about two and a half pounds. Slipping it back I said to myself "I would like to catch that on a dry fly"

In the next three hours I caught several chub on crust averaging 3lbs and four barbel all these fish were caught on lobworms. I then had a quiet spell for half an hour then decided to move. I chose to fish the weir pool, a swim that has been kind to me in the past. Another angler had beaten me to it. Making my way downstream I fished the swim next to the car park downstream of the road bridge. First chuck with a bit of crust, I hooked a good fish. After a brief struggle I netted a chub of 5-4-0. In the fading light I fished one of my banker barbel swims for an hour. I didn't have a touch. It was time to go home.

Day Two

Arriving at the Warren I met Jon King, after the usual introductions I checked the water temperature it was down to 46 degrees F. The river had dropped some six inches over night. I was going to show Jon some of my swims and help him catch a barbel. The previous day Jon had fished the Aldermaston beat which is one of the toughest beats on the Wasing Estate. Yes, you have the chance of a seven pound chub or 15lb barbel. As we wandered down river I pointed out various swims and described why and how I fished each one. My plan was to put Jon in the Pipe swim where he had three swims to fish, with a good chance of catching a big chub, perch and barbel. I find it most important that we help the newcomers catch fish, if it means putting them in our winning swim we should do so.

Arriving at the chosen swim conditions looked good, I showed Jon how to fish the tree swim, and how to get the bait under the over hanging branches. I showed him where to fish his bait above and below the pipe swim. I suggested the simple rig to use, and the baits. After making sure Jon was happy, I moved off upstream. Fifteen minutes later I had a call from Jon saying "I've caught a barbel on bread flake". I then walked back downstream then shot a couple of pictures of him with his barbel.(see pictures) I spent the day roving taking some nice chub, the best at 5-7-0 John Culley a Newbury member kindly took a picture of that fish for me. I decided to have a session in the weir pool where I had three nice barbel, bait 4 big lobworms on a size 2 barbless hook. What I cannot make out is why I don't catch more chub from this pool, but as I get plenty of barbel I have no complaints. I then called it a day. Both Jon and myself were happy anglers as we drove away from the fishery

On The Enborne

Stephen Collins a solicitor of Hungerford joined me for a morning session on the Enborne, He was going to be my model for a magazine feature on 'Small stream Fishing'. The water temperature was a low 40 degrees F, Not the best of conditions, though I felt I could catch a few chub. Crust would be my first choice bait today. In clear water and low temperatures, I cannot think of a better bait. I would fish a short hook link about three inches. While Stephen started at the top of the beat I walked downstream to the bottom at Aldermaston, then fished my way back upstream. By the time I had joined Stephen I had caught about a dozen chub. Nothing big. The average about two and a half pounds, but most welcome on a very cold day with a horrid easterly wind. Catching a chub in my last swim I got Stephen to shoot a few pictures. Then it was off for lunch. Stephen went off home, I was going to guide John Bodsworth from Sussex on the Enborne for the afternoon session.

I advised John to make up leger rig with a three inch link, again crust would be the bait. In the first swim I told John to put the bait next to a big raft. He had problems reaching the swim. I dropped the crust for John on the edge of the raft where it got pushed under the raft by the flow of water. Five minutes later John had a good pull connecting with a nice fish of 4-14-0 a P B. Walking down stream I put John into another spot that looked as if it would hold a chub. I rolled the bait downstream then handed John the rod. Putting the rod in the rest he sat back watching the rod tip. Fifteen minutes later the rod pulled over. John connected with a good fish. After a brief struggle I netted a chub which weighed 5-8-0 another personal best chub for John. We fished on for forty five minutes then I said "Lets go home, that's our lot for today" Over dinner and a few mugs of tea we discussed various fishing and duck hunting days from the past and our hopes for the next couple of days.

Our Second Day On The Enborne

It was about 11am when we got back on the river, again we moved from swim to swim. I picked up a few chub on legered crust, but sadly John didn't get a single fish. Around 2 o'clock we met up in the shelter of some bushes for a brew and a sandwich. An hour later we started our second session of the day. It was just as hard, I had one chub, while John remained fishless. With a cold wind blowing in our faces we made our way back upstream. At the car park we stowed our gear then we went off for a hot meal.

On The Warren Roving For Chub

I suppose it was about 11 o'clock in the morning when John and me pulled into the car park, Paul Klinkenborg editor of Specialist Anglers Alliance was going to be my guest today when hopefully I could help him catch a 6lb chub. After I interviewed Paul for my At The Waters Edge programme on BBC Radio Lancashire, then Paul interviewed me. Interviews over it was off down river. As with John King, I showed Paul various swims then left him to his fishing. I walked upstream twenty yards, within ten seconds of casting out a chunk of crust I had a savage take hooking a chub which weighed 4-8-0 which I showed Paul saying "They are prepared to chase a bait today". This surprised me as the water temperature was 41 degrees F. I then chose to fish the Cottage swim where I picked up another chub and a trout both caught on three lobworms.

An hour later John appeared saying "Do you want some lunch" I said "Yes please" I walked upstream to the car park and soon I had a hot mug of tea. This was followed by beans on toast topped off with an egg. I suppose lunch lasted an hour then it was back on the river. I chose to fish the Brimpton beat where I had a super chub of 5-10-0 on crust . Fishing on for an hour or more I didn't get another touch. Even the weir pool proved fishless. I moved off downstream for the last hour and a half which included fishing a short session in the dark I chose to fish the 'Beeches' Just on dusk I had a good pull and connected with a chub of 4-15-0 an ounce off the magic 5lb. After the first fish of the day I thought we would all catch a lot of chub but it didn't happen.

It Was A Tough Last Day

John and I arrived on the Kennet about 10 o'clock on the last day of the season to find several cars in the car park. Swims would be at a premium and with the extra disturbance on the bank and clear cold water fish would be hard to catch. After checking permits I decided to fish a couple of swims near the black hut but I didn't get a single bite. I then walked back upstream to the Brimpton Beat still no bites. By now the time was 2 o'clock, time for lunch. As John and I sat having lunch we discussed the fishing. John said "I am going upstream to fish the Brimpton beat" I decided to fish the car park swim. It was a good choice. I fished two rods, one baited with three lobworms close to the over hanging bank, while the second rod with crust was fished mid river. I suppose I had been fishing about twenty minutes when I had a tap tap tap on the worm baited rod. Suddenly the tip pulled over the strike connected with a fish. Immediately I recognised it as a trout. Thirty minutes later I had a good pull on crust taking a nice chub. Then just before darkness I had two more chub and at 7-20pm I packed up. Ten minutes later I pulled out of the car park and headed north to Lancashire and home.Another season of coarse fishing over until June 16th Then I will start the new season fishing for tench on the Pallatrax Lake with Simon Pomeroy of Stonze fame.