Highs and Low's of Fishing

This season I haven't done as much fishing as I would have liked, I got laid up with a lung infection, then five days after getting over that problem, I was struck down with a kidney infection, only having one kidney it’s always worry for me when this happen. At the same time for some unknown reason I was in pain with a trapped nerve in my back. After a few days of antibiotics for the kidney problem, I asked my doctor if it would be ok for me to go off for a few days fishing. The answer was yes, if I took things easy. Dave Foster and I went down south to fish the Kennet and Loddon with a day on a small private lake. On the Loddon we found the fishing hard, in two days all I caught was a pike of 15-8-0 on a float fished dead roach. Apart from the pike we didn't have a bite over two days in our search for the elusive Loddon barbel; we couldn't even get a chub.



Back on the River Kennet we had a short evening session catching a few barbel averaging about 6lbs all caught on sausage meat paste, The next day David and I hosted Tony Bedford over from Australia and young 13 year old Matthew, both caught plenty of small roach dace gudgeon and perch, to make things more exciting for Matthew I put together a pike fishing outfit so he could try and catch a pike that was snapping at the fish Tony was catching. Matthew quickly hooked up to a pike, at first it comes in quietly then suddenly it went off very fast making the centre pin scream. Young Matthew was taken completely by surprise, as the reel handles rattled his knuckles the rim of the spinning reel burning his finger. After a spirited fight young Matthew had his first ever pike in the net weighing about 5lbs.He certainly had a pair of sparkling eyes.



Eyeball to Eyeball with Carp



The next day David and me made our way home, stopping off on the way to fish a small lake probably about an acre and a half, The carp were not big average about 8lbs, but exciting fishing. Some were caught by stalking fish in the margins other on floating crust, David couldn't stop talking about the excitement of catching carp off the top on crust. He will certainly be doing a lot more of this fishing. In fact on the journey home all we talked about were bubblers and smoke screeners, and how exciting it was watching fish take the crust right under the rod tip. This was eyeball to eyeball fishing in the true sense of the word; I even used a Wallis Wizard rod and centre pin reel from the early 1950's. Tackle I will be using at Redmire in August.



During that days fishing my mate Will Carter turned up to shoot some pictures for a feature, I was lucky within fifteen minutes of casting out a chunk of crust a carp appeared further along the bank making its way fast towards my bait, within fifteen feet it stopped then after a few seconds it moved slowly towards the crust, then nudged the bait before moving away. I sat there willing the fish to come back. A minute later the fish slowly turned then approached the bait I could clearly see its open cavernous mouth, then it quietly sucked in the bait. As the line snaked across the surface I set the hook. Will got some excellent shots of the fish taking the crust and the strike. It could not have happened better. After a few minutes the fish was safely in the net. Having taken a couple of fish pictures we watched it swim off. It was time for Tea. I made two mugs for David and myself, a coffee for Will.



A Pleasant Surprise



Coffee and tea break over Will walked across to his vehicle returning with a bundle. Inside were two landing nets with cane arms, plus a 7 foot two piece cane handle. They were made by Dave Austin from Maidstone in Kent. It was craftsmanship at its best. I was well pleased. One net had 36 inch arms, the other 30 inch arms. They were perfect for all my fishing, but I reckon they looked far too good to use. Back in the 1950's I purchased a Richard Walker laminated cane arm landing net from B James & Son Northfield Avenue Ealing London, which was taken when I was burgled in the middle 1960's. These nets were the perfect replacement. I then got another surprise, a few days previously I had said to Will "I wish I'd ordered some of those cane rod rests like you ordered, I could have take them to Redmire". He answered "I will loan you my pair" I thought no more of it. Then Will presented me with a set of cane rod rests. Unbeknown to me Will had ordered a set at the same time as he ordered his set. He said "These are a present for all the help you have given me over the years". I didn't know what to say just murmuring "Thank you" and giving him a hug. They will be used at Redmire next month, then probably put away for my grandson Samuel James



Back home I attended the Great Eccelston Show with a big thank you to Andy Bleasedale for his support in getting me there, I was booked to speak in the BBC Radio Lancashire marquee, thankfully the audience didn't leave and neither did they go to sleep, I must have made my talk interesting, I also sold a few of my books At The Water's Edge with Martin James. Over that weekend we had a lot of rain which gave the rivers in Lancashire a good lift and flush through which encouraged the salmon and sea trout to move up river. The coarse fishing especially for barbel was good during this period with John Monaghan taking his first double of the season from the bottom end of the river. Dave Whyte of Southport called me to see if I wanted to fish the Ribble for barbel. The answer was an immediate yes. I reckon the river was spot on with a good height with a nice flow and colour, probably as perfect conditions as I could have wished for.



Catching Chub Barbel and Quality Roach



David was new to the stretch of river we chosen, so I put him in a swim I thought he would catch from. Suggesting cheese paste on one rod, then if he chose to fish with a second rod to use meat. I went off upstream to find a small swim at the bottom of a high bank where the river flowed under a large willow tree with many of its branches trailing in the water, ideal I though for barbel. I had just enough room to push a rod through the gap in the reeds. I had planned to use some Multiworm bait from Pallatrax, but found the freezer empty, I chose to use sausage meat putting in half a dozen bait size pieces, then I went off downstream to watch David. Within a couple of minutes his rod tip pulled round, the strike meeting resistance. The fish tried to get out in the full flow of the river but David was master of the situation. I sat on the grass watching events; I could tell it was a decent fish. A few minutes later there was a boil on the surface a good fish swirled. Another couple of minutes passed before David had the barbel in the net. A fish of 8lbs plus, as Dave said "That's my second best from the Ribble." After chatting for a while and knowing I had put him in a fish catching swim I moved on downstream. After chatting with another angler I made my way back to the car to put together some tackle.

After getting everything sorted out I made my way upstream. Baiting with a pigeon egg size piece of sausage meat I dropped the bait out about ten feet from the bank then allowed it to roll downstream. Within minutes barbel number one was hooked. A fish about 6lbs. This was quickly followed by another one about the same size. I then had two good eels estimated at 2lbs plus, which was encouraging to see with the eels in decline, hopefully the action taken by the EA will allow numbers too increase. I would like to see all commercial netting of eels stopped immediately. Come on EA bite the bullet and stop the process of taking eels until the numbers increase. I had another couple of barbel averaging 6lbs, and then lost a fish in a snag, probably the size of the other fish. This was followed by a quiet half an hour before I got three chub averaging 3lbs. It was now time for a brew and sandwich. Winding in I put the bait out of the way of four legged creatures. After a tough struggle to get up a wet slippery bank, I made my way downstream to David where I was told he hadn't any more fish; just a few plucks on meat which he thought were eels.



After a fresh brew it was back to fishing the same swim using the same bait, I quickly had two more barbel and three chub. The swim then went all quiet apart from tiny pulls on the rod tip. After about twenty minutes, I changed down to a size 12 hook then pinched just 2 LG shot about 12" from the hook and baited with flake. After casting out I attached a dough bobbin, soon it was sliding up to the butt ring. The perfect bite in my book and missed. This happened several time before I connected, it turned out to be a pound plus roach. I was more than pleased. Sadly caught on barbel gear. Not having one of my light Chevin rods I had to use what was available. I soon had another roach, this time a big fish, don't get me wrong in my book a pound plus roach is a big fish. This one looked as if it might go 2lbs. It didn't it was 1-14-0 but I was very happy. After a couple more nice roach, I had a serious of bites all missed. Dave not getting any action decided to join me and watch the action. He wasn't disappointed as he watched a series of good bite with the dough bobbin sailing up smoothly to the butt ring. Sadly all missed. Then all went quiet and thirty minutes later with a big bank of black clouds building up in the west we decided to call it a day.



Many people e-mail me about sausage meat paste and how to make it. I buy the meat from Roy Porter butcher in Chatburn Lancashire Tel 01200-441392. Roy and I got together some years ago, after some experimenting he got the mix right. I first used a similar mix back in the 1950's for carp and tench, finding it excellent for most coarse fish. Chub just love the stuff in both clear and coloured water. The sausage meat available from supermarkets is useless, it doesn't matter what you add, you want really get the consistency or flavour right.



As I write the River Ribble has a foot and half of extra water, I get a bit fed up with people complaining about our summer, let’s be honest what makes our countryside look so wonderful. It’s the rainfall and remember we are a temperate climate. There are many places in the world at the current time who would like to have our current weather system including the United States. I don't have a problem when it rains; I just put on some water proof clothing then continue my outdoor activities. Remember despite all the rain fall we are having there are some places in the country especially East Anglia where they have drought conditions.



No doubt like me you have noticed stone weights in the angling press, please don't get confused into thinking you are buying stone weights, all those I have seen that advertised stone weights are in fact camouflaged lead weight. The only true stone weights are those sold by Pallatrax under the trade name Stonze so beware. Pallatrax detail are Pallatrax Higher Ashmansworthy,Woolsery Bideford, Devon. EX39 5RE Tel:01409 240042 Mobile: 07887 840507 or email: [email protected]