Wasn’t It Good - A New Season

It was around 7o’clock on the evening of June 15th when I arrived on the banks of a favourite river, the banks were over grown with cow parsley, nettles, brambles, Hogweed, Dog daisies, and wild rose. Thee riverside willows and alders looked resplendent in their new cloaks of green. Along the waters edge were beds of Watercress, further downstream was a large bed of Bulrush swaying in the fast swirling water, tight to the base of the reeds on the clean gravel I could see a good size brown trout. There were other reeds Common Sedge, Sedge and Reed mace, often wrongly called Bulrushes, in a quiet backwater I spotted a large patch of white Water-lily. Out in the fast swirling water there were long strands of swaying Water crowfoot. In the hedgerow Red Campion and Wild roses, on the edge of the nearby wood I could see Oak, Ash and Sycamore, and a clump of later flowering Cowslip. The air was filled with the hum of insects, pigeons cooed in nearby trees. From across the river I heard the faint call of a cuckoo.

I had come to seek the barbel and chub, but should a perch take one of my lobworm baits I wouldn’t complain. With petrol prices becoming rather prohibitive these days for a near 600 mile round trip, I had to make my two or three day trips last a full week. Walking back to the car I realised how beautiful the English countryside looked on this mid June evening. Leaving the river bank on March 14th everything looked drab; the countryside had a dead look about it. It’s quite amazing how Mother Nature can work wanders in just three short months. Long live the close season. At 71 years and now in my 67th year of angling, I was full of anticipation, excited as a kid on Christmas Eve, my first date or the birth of my children or grandchildren. It was great being alive.

Back in the car park I met Will Carter who like me didn’t go onto a still water or canal in the three months, since we ceased angling on March 14th. Will and I were having a midnight start, we would fish for an hour or so then probably kip on the bank until dawn, though if the fish were grabbing our baits no doubt we could stay awake. We chose to be sociable tonight and fish fairly close to one another. I didn’t expect a lot of excitement from the fish, usually the start of the season never lives up to our hopes and wishes, though occasionally we make a good catch, but more often the fish don’t oblige. It was time to put the kettle on.

For our midnight start we chose to fish a few hundred yards downstream of the car park, the depth of water was around some six feet deep over clean pea size gravel, with some fist size stones and lots of streamer weed. On the opposite bank for some thirty odd yards we had a mass over hanging willows and alders which offered cover and sanctuary for fish and riverside birds Coots, Moorhens and perhaps the secretive Water Rail. Though this area was our planned choice of swim to start the season, we hadn’t done any prebaiting, I reckon it’s a waste of time and money; also you’re not sure if the swim will be available or the fish present.

We would fish our chosen swims for a few hours, then later in the session I reckon we will try lots of likely looking spots that might hold a fish. The only baiting would be a few hook bait samples between now and midnight. As we sat drinking tea, I told Will about a nightmare start to a new carp fishing season in the early 1950’s when instead of carp, we caught loads of skimmer bream, and the best probably weighed three pounds. Another season I planned a midnight start on the River Beault for chub, tench and bream. It didn’t happen, during the previous days the rain sheeted down, come June 15th the river was the colour of pea soup and bank high. I quickly switched to a gravel pit catching three tench one weighing 5lbs 4 ounces a big fish in those days.

After my tea break I set about putting my gear together, two twelve foot rods for lines between 6 and 12lbs matched with centre pin reels, not chosen as a fashion item. I reckon they are better than a fixed spool and I enjoy using them. There isn’t a swim on this river I can’t put a bait. Both reels had fifty yards of 10lb Gamma line in which I have lots of confidence. One rod would have a short link with a Stonze weight with size 10 Pallatrax hook to which I attached a short hair. Bait would be a piece of Jungle stick with moulded paste. On my other rig I used several LG shot about fifteen inches from a size 4 hook which would be baited with sausage meat. Having sorted out landing net and the other bits and pieces I put the kettle on for another brew, and then sat back enjoying the peace of the evening.

Ten minutes too midnight we went to our separate swims, Will a few yards downstream of me. I baited one rod with meat, the other with a couple of small pellets, I also attached a pva bag of small pellets to the Stonze weight. I sat back waiting for the local church clock to chime midnight, it seemed like ages, but was only minutes, before I heard the first chime of the church clock in the distance. I cast the meat baited hook under a far bank over hanging willow bush. The pellet baited rod was dropped a few yards downstream under an over hanging alder tree. An owl called from a nearby oak tree, sitting back I enjoyed the anticipation of what might happen tonight and the next nine months.

It was a very cold night, even though I dressed for a winters day I shivered, I thought how many other pensioners are at the waters edge tonight? After an hour or so I must have dropped off to sleep in my chair, waking up around three o’clock, I shivered as a cold clammy mist enveloped me and the surrounding countryside. It was so quiet; you could hear a pin drop. Slowly the false dawn appeared, and then the soft light of a summer dawn followed. Still no bites and no rolling fish in my swim. As the light got stronger I decided I would go roving in the hope I might catch a few chub. Picking up a loaf of bread, my rod and landing net, I walked upstream about a thousand yards to some fast shallow weedy water where I had seen chub on a previous visit.

Five Chub on Bread
Pinching on two LG shot six inches from a size 4 hook I baited with a chunk of crust then cast upstream, as the bait swirled its way downstream, I watched intently for a take. Suddenly the rod slammed downwards as the bait was savagely taken. No need to strike the fish hooked itself, soon a chub about three pounds was netted, quickly followed by two more roughly the same size. I then pricked a fish, the bites stopped. Moving a hundred yards I anchored a crust under some over hanging willows, within minutes I had a chub probably weighing just over 4lbs followed by another about three pounds. An hour without any more interest I ended my chub fishing session. Back in my night swim I fished hard for about five hours without a fish, it was time to pack up. Having packed away all my gear I headed off to the cabin for a late lunch.

Tench on Paste Baits

Lunch over I drove down to the Wasing fishery on the river Kennet to check permits and helping a few of the new members. Some twenty anglers were spread throughout the Warren, after spending a couple of hours with two newcomers where I showed them various swims, also giving suggestions on how to fish them etc. Back in the car park I had a mug of tea, then picking up my barbel gear and some bait I went off to fish close to the bridge. At eleven o’clock with no bites and the fishery deserted I packed up. As I was driving back to the cabin, I decided to have a few hours on Aquateks fishery just off the Old Bath road near Woolhampton arriving around midnight. On the big lake young Jack was fishing for carp, I chose to fish the top corner of the small lake just inside the gate. I fed in three tennis size balls of brown crumb laced with chopped worms, hemp and corn. Choosing to fish two rods, as I was feeling rather tired I decided on using some new electronic bite indicators from Grauvell. Bait was Pallatrax Jungle paste on one rod, sausage paste on the other. Casting out I sat back and waited for some action.

An hour into the session my right hand indicator was away, the strike connecting with a nice fish. Minutes later I netted a tench around the six pound mark, quickly followed by a second fish about the same size. As I kept nodding off to sleep, I thought it was time for a brew. As I sat cupping my hands around a hot mug of tea, my mind went back over other seasons long gone, thinking how lucky I was to become an angler. Suddenly both indicators were away; I set the hook in a fish on my left hand rod then just as I was going to strike the right hand rod the fish dropped the bait. I soon had another tench in the landing net about 4lbs. After an hour with no more action I went back to my cabin. It was about eleven in the morning when I crawled from my sleeping bag.

Young Anglers Personal Best Common Carp

I spent some years before I had my first double figure carp weighing if I remember correctly weighed 10-6-0, weighed on a brass Salter spring balance. Bait was either brown bread and honey paste or soft boiled potato. A couple of weeks before the start of the season I had promised Sam Probert from East Twickenham a days fishing on a river or stilwater. I chose the latter, it was a good choice. When we arrived several fish were rolling on the surface or jumping clear of the water before crashing back in a shower of spray sending out ever increasing circles across the lakes surface. I thought conditions look good today for a few fish. After putting in half pint of gentles, I sorted out some tackle for young Sam. Choosing a12 foot rod, bait runner reel and 12 lb line. I chose to use a sliding rig with a small swim feeder. Tying on a small swivel I attached a braided hook link with a size 10 hook. Bait was a bunch of gentles tipped with a grain of sweet corn. Sam having filled the feeder with gentles packed some method mix around it and cast out.

For some hours the only action was refilling the feeder and casting out, making tea and enjoying the wildlife. Suddenly Sam shouted “Martin I’ve got a fish” looking up I could see a rod well bent over with line being ripped off the reel. I was on my feet n seconds. Then I spotted the danger as the fish powered away to a post in the water. I shouted “Sam walk up the bank keep the rod high” Thankfully he did as I told him, the fish was pulled away from the immediate danger. For several minutes it was a bit of give and take but slowly Sam started getting line back on the reel. He followed my instructions to the letter. The fish surfaced creating a huge boil in the water. “Keep its head up and walk slowly up the bank” I called. Within seconds I had a good common carp in the net. It weighed 15-8-0 after a couple of quick pictures we watched it swim away. Sam turned and said “Martin, thank you very much for giving up your day to having me and my dad down. Catching that carp meant an awful lot to me – you’re a great teacher with huge patience That’s the best thing that has happened this year” he had a grin a mile wide and two sparkling eyes.See picture

A Trio of good Perch
During the first week of the season the fishing has been on the tough side, yes I have been lucky to catch some nice tench, several carp the best just over 18bs. But I have had to put in the hours. The highlight for me has been catching some good perch on legered worm. I chose to fish with 4lb line with light Avon rods and small fixed spool reels. I used a size 8 barbless hook about fifteen inches from the hook; I lightly pinched on a single LG shot. Bait was two lobworms. On the first occasion Will carter was fishing with me and within minutes of starting I had a 2-10-0 the lost a carp. Later in the evening as the light faded I had a big perch 3-10-0, no doubt a 4lb fish come the winter.

The next day fishing with Jon King I didn’t catch a fish, though Jon did get three good bites. All sadly missed. I suppose we had been fishing about an hour, and while I was helping Jon get sorted out, my buzzer sounded. Making my way to the rod, I heard a crack and fell in a heap the pain was excruciating. It was a painful job to try and move. So it was off to hospital, where I was told I had badly torn the muscles in the back of my leg. Two hours later I am back in my swim with my leg heavily strapped up. I was told to rest so what better than sitting at the waters edge. Thankfully it was my left leg and as I drive an automatic car I could still get around and continue to fish. The next day David Hallett joined me for a days fishing, I had one bite a 2-7-0 perch again double lobworm was the bait. David didn’t get a touch. I decided it was time to drive the 250 odd miles back home. Though the start of the new season was tough fishing, it was great fun.