1500 Mile Trip for a Handful of Fish

My last three trips to the Wasing Fishery on the River Kennet have clocked up over 1500 miles since Christmas Day, but the fishing has been rather tough, In fact there were two day's when I didn’t even catch. Though I still enjoyed the experience and meeting some of my River Kennet friends. Though it was hard fishing, I still managed a chub of 5-11-0 on crust, and then on my latest trip I had a chub of 5-7-0 on sausage paste so I cannot complain. On this latest trip on Tuesday 8th January Howard Mortimer and I left home around 9-30am arriving in Thatham about 1-0pm. having sorted out accommodation, we had lunch then it was off to the river.

Trio of Barbel for Will Carter

The first job was to clear away rubbish left by a member of the general public outside the gate to the Warren beat, in the car park a member had left some rubbish, if he is reading this perhaps next time he will take it home. The rubbish included a receipt from Thatcham Angling Centre for £10-98 issued 4th January 08. Downstream near the Salmon Hut another member had left a meat can. I was surprised to find we had the choice of swims, first job was to check the water temperature which was 44 degrees F with some extra water colour I thought conditions would be good. I suggested to Howard that he fish the ‘Pool Swim’ where a few weeks ago I had a brace of 3b perch. I also told him to fish double lobworms on one rod, with sausage meat or crust on the other rod. I baited the ‘Car Park’ swim for later in the evening but decided to start off fishing the ‘Straight Run’ situated well downstream. As I was getting my gear together Will Carter turned up, he decided to fish the swim below me.

An hour into the darkness without a bite Will said “I am going up to fish the car park swim” I didn’t move thinking the fish would switch on, they didn’t. I got a call from Will to say he had a barbel about 7lbs, half an hour later he had another fish about 6lbs then a fish about 8lbs. All on sausage paste. A well deserved trio of barbel for one of the nicest and keenest anglers I have met in many years.

At about seven o’clock it started to rain, by 9 o’clock the wind was shrieking through the trees which at times were swaying in a very dangerous manner. I sat there feeling a bit uneasy, when a big branch crashed into the water missing my rods by about three feet I decided to move upstream. Then the rain sheeted down, it was more like a monsoon, passing Howard I said are you catching? Just one barbel on lobworm. Arriving at my next swim feeling cold and rather damp, I thought this is a waste of time and walked downstream to Howard as I did so he arrived carrying his gear. I said “let’s call it a day” he agreed. We then went off to get some food and a mug of tea. As we sat by the fire feeling better by the minute we discussed the fishing prospect for the next day. Thankfully Howard had caught which is always nice when you have a guest, after another mug of tea it was off to bed.

Sunshine and Blue Sky

After a good nights sleep I got up just after 8 o’clock, breakfast was porridge tea and toast, loading the car with all our tackle and headed off to Tadley Angling where I had an interesting chat with Eric (known as Gill by some customers) While I chatted Howard let the plastic card do some talking, treating himself to a bigger landing net, buzzers bar, rod rest and some red gentles. Then it was off to the river. The weather was better than the previous day with a light wind, blue sky and sunshine. Checking the water temperature I got a reading of 44 degrees F MY plan was to fish float paternoster dead bait for pike, chub and barbel with my second rod. As the light faded I would then switch both rods for barbel and chub. On the way upstream to my chosen pike swim I cast out a piece of sausage meat into a small backwater immediately hooking up to a small barbel. I fished the swim for another fifteen minutes then moved on.

I chose a small bay with an over hanging willow tree where I thought I might catch a pike, Checking the depth I found about five feet of water. After setting the stop knot on the line I baited with a sardine then cast out so the bait fished over the ledge just on the crease. Fifteen minutes later the float bobbed I picked up the rod then waited for some movement, I felt the line tighten as the float slowly submerged I set the hook. After a brief struggle I netted a jack about six pounds. Quickly releasing the fish I baited with another sardine casting into the same area. Two hours later with no more interest I moved swims. An hour later without any more bites I decided it was time for lunch. I walked downstream to Howard’s swim and said ”Have you caught Howard” the answer was ”No, not even a bite” we went off to search for some food.

A Good Chub on Sausage Paste

Lunch was Cottage pie followed by a mug of tea, and then it was back on the river. I decided to go roving and concentrate on the chub and barbel. In the next couple of hours I had two small barbel and one of about 8lbs. As I walked further downstream I spotted a quiet area of water behind a fallen tree, no bigger than two square feet which I though might hold a chub. Dropping in a bit of sausage paste I soon had a slow pull on the rod tip. The strike connected with a heavy fish. I immediately realised it was a good chub; I let it slog away under the rod tip. When I felt the fish tire I wound down to the water surface then slowly lifted. As I did so I slipped the net into the water. Soon I had a good chub on the surface which I quickly netted. “That’s a five” I said to myself. On the scales it went 5-7-0 I then moved upstream to the car for a fresh brew. I fished two other swims, nothing in the first one, but I got a barbel about five pound in the second swim. With a light rain falling I called it a day. The drive home went smoothly, but around Stoke the heavens opened up, rain sheeted down. Arriving close to home I could see the River Ribble was bank high. No fishing on that river tomorrow I said to Howard.