It’s been a Mixed Week of Fishing and Weather

My week started with the long drive south to fish the Kennet and a nearby gravel pit with Mark Hyde of Barrowford, Mark picked me up about 11 o’clock in his Jaguar so all I had to do was sit back and give directions, and no I didn’t fall asleep. At least I don’t think I did. We arrived in Brimpton about 3 o’clock; by 5 o’clock we were on the banks of the delightful River Kennet trying to catch a chub or barbel. As darkness enveloped us we got colder and colder, despite wearing several layers of clothing. Soon the rods were frost covered, in three hours we didn’t see a movement on our rod tops and as we were both feeling rather cold, hungry and thirsty we called it a day and headed off to our accommodation. After a few mugs of tea and several slices of buttered toast we went off to bed.

Berkshires Tadley Angling Centre for Top Bait and Tackle

Next morning the temperature was minus 5 degrees F after breakfast we went off to Tadley Angling Centre. The first thing you notice as you walk through the door of this very popular tackle shop, are the number of anglers who are always present in the shop, I have never there without finding half a dozen people waiting to be served. The first question you get asked is “Tea or coffee”? As we waited to be served Mark had a look at some new Wellington boots, also the new Grauvelle rod. He ended up purchasing both items. After collecting 200 lobworms and 6 pints of red gentles we went off to fish a nearby gravel pit. Where our target fish were perch, not those small bait stealers we caught as small boys, but fish over 3lbs, perhaps if we are lucky one of us might catch a four pounder.

With ice in the margins conditions looked hard, but having fished in similar conditions I realised that we stood a good chance of getting a few bites and hopefully a few hook ups. We are told you need low light levels when perch fishing, we had the opposite, with a clear blue sky and bright sunshine. Still the fish don’t read the magazines, so I reckon we had a chance despite a water temperature of 41 degrees F. We both tackle up with léger rigs baited with one or two lobworms on a barbless hook with a small square of elastic band to keep the worms in place. About 11o’clock I had flurry of bites, missing several, hooking three perch landing just one at 2-7-0 the other two were lost, one at the net the other a few feet away on the surface. About 2 o’clock I had several more good takes in quick succession, hooking two and losing both. I was quite gutted as both felt good fish. Knowing I had to give a presentation to the Reading PAC branch that evening we packed up about 5 o’clock and headed back to our accommodation for some dinner. 8 o’clock we are in a pub situated in the Reading city centre ready to do my presentation on Fly Fishing for Pike After giving my talk and answering various questions Mark and I headed off to our accommodation where after a quick mug of tea I crawled into bed.

I suppose it was about 9 o’clock when we arrived back on the gravel pit where we were greeted by even more ice on the lake surface. But we were both in a buoyant mood as we expected to catch. Choosing to fish the same swims as fished on the previous day, we soon had the hooks baited cast out and our rods in position. At lunchtime we were both fishless, we carried on feeling very optimistic. At dusk we thought now is our best chance. It never happened our dough bobbin bite indicators never moved neither did my float. In the darkness we called it a day and packed up. I suppose it was 7-30pm when we left Thatcham arriving back home at 11 o’clock. I must admit I did sleep most of the way.

Lots of work on the Edisford Hall Fishery

Wednesday was spent doing some bank clearance and fencing repairs before heading for home about 4 o’clock. Thursday I am back on the river repairing some fencing checking my mink traps and clearing away rubbish where it had been caught up in the riverside bushes and trees during the recent floods. Friday as the rain sheeted down, I spent the morning putting chicken wire on several stiles, as I worked away I watched the river rise a couple of feet. Then having finished off the stiles I headed off to the cabin for a brew and some toast, as I sat watching the river, I was privileged to see a chrome bright salmon about ten pounds rise from the dark coloured water then crash back. Several sea trout have been seen going over the weir and the extra water in the river has certainly helped. Let’s hope we have a wet summer to keep our rivers flowing. The last thing we need is a hot dry summer.

I have done some chub fishing taking a few averaging about 4lbs on legered crust, flake and sausage meat. Comedian Phil Cool joined me on the River Ribble and despite the horrid conditions heavy rain and gale force wind, Phil caught a chub just over 3lbs on bread flake. Just as I was going take a picture of Phil with his chub it flipped back into the water. With a new brown trout fishing season starting on our rivers on March 15th I have been making sure my gear is in top condition and checking my waders don’t leak. I have also made sure all my club book subscriptions are paid up, and don’t forget your new rod licence which needs to be renewed on April 1st.

Today Tuesday writer and big fish hunter Will Carter of Burfield Common near Reading lost a big chub as Will said when he called me from the windswept bank of the River Kennet. “Martin it was huge the biggest chub I have ever seen” Though he lost that fish he did catch a chub of 5-1-0. Later as he carried on fishing, the rod tip pulled round. Soon our Will had hooked up to some loose line a hook plus a John Wilson float. We his friends have always realised that Will liked the bearded TV angler, and to get one of his stars float must have been like winning the pools, which would have taken away the disappointment of losing that huge chub. I’m off to try and catch my 20th 3lb plus perch of the season fishing with some great guys including artist David Miller big fish angler and journalist on the Anglers Mail Gary Newman pike angler Chris Leibbrandt and author writer and big fish angler Len Arbery and others. Hopefully catch a big barbel or chub. I certainly don’t need any John Wilson floats.
Pete King 47 years old race team technician for Honda who lives in Leighton Buzzard caught a personal best Perch of 3lb 10 oz from River Kennet on the Wasing fishery. The water temperature was 49F, the weather cloudy with a south westerly wind. Peter caught his fish at approximately 11.30am on ledgered lob worm on a size 8 hook. With just over two weeks of the coarse fishing season on rivers and stream left make sure you get out on the river bank and try to catch that dream fish.