I Never Stop Enjoying My Time at the Waterside

Since the start of August its been a busy time, starting with ‘Get Kids Into Fishing’ a scheme which is being run during the long summer holidays where boys and girls of east Lancashire are given the chance to go fishing through a partnership between the Lancashire Constabulary PC Mark Hyde and PCSO Sean Goddard based at Barnoldswick and the British Army Major Heaton and Sgt Tam Miller of the Burnley Careers Information Office. The first of the 3 coaching days were at Newrad Fisheries Darwen Lancashire 11.00am to 4.30pm where apart from two still waters which contain lots of small fish, Newrad also have a classroom with many teaching aids.

All the instructors are qualified Andy Billington, Brian Walsh and Russ Taylor. On the first course Daren Wilson of the Environment Agency was on hand to help. Each participant will receive 15 hours instruction leading to the award of a 'Kingfisher' certificate. They will also receive further instructions on fishing for chub on the Edisford Hall water an exclusive stretch of the river Ribble above Mitton, they will also visit Tewitfield fishery at Carnforth as the guest of Les Bratby where they will get the chance to catch tench and carp.

I have enjoyed some short session on the Edisford Hall water on the River Ribble fly fishing for brown and sea trout, my best brown trout weighed an estimated 2-8-0 with the best sea trout fifteen inches. Another member Dominic Blanc of Clitheroe had a cracking sea trout of five pounds. This syndicate fly fishing only water has certainly offered its members some challenging fishing, two new members were accepted this month, and they are experiencing some great days at the waterside. Clive Mansfield of Leyland a new member caught his first sea trout on his second visit. It’s been nice to see Damian Linney an EA bailiff on the river checking rod licences and watching for any poaching activity. There has certainly been an increase of Kingfishers on the river this year. I reckon all the mink trapping that is taking place has helped these beautiful birds, also song birds and ground nesting birds are having a better breeding season.

I had a short session on the River Aire near Keighley where I managed to get a brace of five pound plus chub on free lined black slugs. I also had a short session on the Ribble at Dinkley catching roach and dace on float fished punched bread and corn. Some of the roach were pushing the pound mark. I suppose I had fifty to sixty fish during the session which was thoroughly enjoyable. I’ve made two trips to Tewitfields to fish the ten acre lime stone lake in search of a big tench, the best weighed in at 6-8-0 For a minute or so I thought I had hooked up to the tench of my dreams, sadly it was a common carp of about 12lbs. What has surprised me on this very challenging water is the quality of the rudd fishing; apart from not catching a rudd less that 1-6-0 I have had them to 2-4-0 all on small pieces of floating crust. It’s been some of the best rudd fishing I have experienced in the past twenty years. I was lucky as a youngster; I could fish a clay pit about ten miles from home, just a simple bike ride to reach some good fishing. Where we caught many two pound plus rudd that were accurately weighed as they were often taken during matches. This week I made the front cover of Anglers Mail, also inside this top class weekly angling magazine Bolton photographer Ian Chapman has a feature on Tewitfield Lake near Carnforth.

I’ve also recorded a programme on sea trout fishing with Fred Higham of Clitheroe and Clive Mansfield of Leyland, the programme included all of us having our permits and rod licences checked by the EA bailiff. Sadly the weather wasn’t good for sea trout fishing; turning very cold at dusk, as the light faded the mist started rolling across the river.

Will Carter of Burghfield Common, Berkshire had a barbel yesterday evening weighing 11-8-0 from the Wasing syndicate water on the River Kennet, the fish was caught using 10lb bs Gamma line, 12lb hook link to a size 10 S3 with double Blake baits Ellipse pellets. Between June 16th and the end of July Will caught 49 barbel which included several double figure fish. What I like about this keen and caring specialist angler is how he is prepared to offer help to others. Well done Will I am certain you will get that fifteen pounder before the end of the season. If you don’t, I know you will enjoy the challenge and of course your time spent at the waterside trying to outwit the big one.

On the River Ribble at Grindleton two poachers netted Whitaker’s Pool, not under cover of darkness but in the daylight. A lady walking in the area asked them what they were doing. They answered we are checking the depth of water. Sadly the lady didn’t call the police. If you see anything suspicious then call the police and the EA, the number for the EA hotline is 0800 807060. I spent two nights on the river this week writing a magazine feature about the work of bailiffs and their anti poaching work. It’s surprising how quickly the time goes during the hours of darkness, its surprising what you see through a night vision scope, which were originally designed for military use.