A Big Surprise

Last weekend October 16th I had to attend the Tackle and Guns show to record some interviews for my programme At The Water's Edge, having got all the material needed, I left Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire around 2 o'clock in the afternoon for the River Kennet where I planned to fish until Saturday or Sunday. After sorting out accommodation for the week we had some tea, a hotpot made by Kate which we always enjoy. After washing up, then putting together all the tea making gear with some biscuits we headed off to the river. I was truly shocked at the low water level, the EA have a lot to answer for in allowing so much abstraction to take place. Then we keep getting told we must build more houses. Let’s sort out the sewage and water systems before we build the houses. What I didn't like was the full moon, but thankfully within thirty minutes, we had a lot of cloud build up. It turned out to be a rather dark night. Just how I like it.

I should have had a sackful

Once on the River my mate Dave Foster went down one bank while I crossed the bridge then chose several swims I would fish. I started off by putting half a dozen droppers of hemp in the swims along with a dozen marble size pieces of very soft cheese paste in each spot. Twenty minutes later I'm back at the car sorting out some tackle. 12 foot soft action rod, centre pin reel, 6lb line with a size 4 barbless hook, weight would be 1 or 2 LG shot, though in one swim I would use just the weight of the bait. An hour later I'm at my first fishing spot, it was on the inside of a bend where I had about 4 feet of water underneath some roots of an alder tree. I could get away with 1 LG shot which was pinched lightly on the line 15 inches from the hook. Baiting with soft cheese paste, so soft the fish would probably drink it. Within two, no one minute I felt a pluck on the line then set the hook in the first fish. A chub of about 3lbs which was taken well upstream before being released.

In the next two hours I had 7 good pulls I missed them all. I didn't strike at 4 of the bites but left them alone to see if the bait was taken. On retrieving the bait I could see where the fish had taken off a piece of the paste tight to the bend of the hook. I've always said that I reckon the chub can be the most difficult of all fish to catch at times, and then they can also be the easiest. I then baited the hook so the point of the hook was exposed. Still nothing. I then pinched a size BB shot on the like next to the hook, and then moulded the cheese around this leaving most of the hook exposed. Still somehow the fish would take a piece of cheese from the outside edge of the bait. At about midnight I gave up completely frustrated. David had one barbel about 6lbs fishing from Bodsworth named after one of my buddies who spent a lot of time with me in Ireland and Colombia. A great guy. I felt very privileged when I was asked to give the eulogy at his wake. I then went and fished the Kennet to remember my friend in peace and the swim has since been known by that name.

Next day we are both on the river around lunchtime where we done some work to combat poaching, and they will have a shock next time they try to get on the water. It was about 4 o'clock when we arrived to fish a late evening session. Once again Dave chose Bosworth while I chose the chub swim of yesterday. I was determined to try and get the better of these fish. After baiting with 4 pints of hempseed and two dozen marble size bits of cheese paste I went off to see an old friend for an hour. On the way I disturbed 2 Munjac deer which really are becoming a nuisance, but I can say they make great eating we should see more venison on sale in our shops and its far more healthy than much of the meat on sale. After a good chin wag and a brew I made my way back to the river.

No Chub but a Couple of Barbel

Today the chub were not at home it was at least two hours before I got a pluck, then a steady pull. Striking I connected with a nice fish; this one could pull the string and bend my stick. It was good fun. But the well balanced gear had the better of the fish and soon I netted a barbel about 7lbs. About hour later I had another fish around 5lbs. That was my lot at midnight I called David to suggest we call it a day. He agreed having caught just one fish a barbel about 6lbs. After putting all the gear away we went for a walk to see if we had any poachers but all was quiet.

Hooked up to a Big One

Tuesday we are on the river mid morning, it was bright and sunny, not the best of conditions but we had to make the most of the conditions, David again chose to fish Bodsworth, I reckon it was a good choice as it offered lots of overhead cover and was well sheltered from the bright light. I chose to bait two swims, the one I had been fishing the past couple of days, and one about a hundred yards further downstream. I baited both with hemp and cheese paste. Then went off upstream to set up my gear and read the paper. I never like to fish directly I have baited a spot, its far better to give the fish chance to find the bait and feed undisturbed for a whole to gain their confidence.

An hour later I'm back in my swim, after quietly moving into position I baited the size 4 hook with a large chunk of cheese paste which I cast upstream to land with a plop alongside a 12 foot length of swaying water crowfoot. I sat holding the rod full of expectation, I then got a call from David saying he had got a barbel about 7lbs, ten minutes later he had another fish. Just as I was thinking of retrieving the bait, I felt a slight pluck then a savage pull. Striking I connected with a good fish. Ten minutes later I netted a barbel about 8lbs perhaps pushing 9lbs. I was well pleased. In the next hours I had three more barbel averaging around 6lbs. About 3 o'clock as I was rolling a ball of cheese paste down the swim, I felt a light pluck, then as I lifted the rod to allow the bait to go further downstream I felt a resistance. Straight away I new it couldn't be a snag as it was a clear gravel run. Striking I set the hook into something heavy that started off plodding slowly upstream. Yes I though it’s a big very big barbel. For ten minutes perhaps fifteen I thought I was a fish of 16lbs plus. To say I was on a high would be an understatement. How I wish I had someone within calling distance to take the net. I made the decision that I would go in the water to net the fish if needed. Two or three minutes later I got my first glimpse of the fish. It was a carp. Another five minutes and it was in the net. Dropping the rods I leaned down and grab the arms of the landing net then heaved the fish up on the grassy bank then took it along to my swim where I could lay it on a some soft sponge mat. It was a fine looking mirror carp estimated at about 18lbs. Though I was disappointed in the fish not being my dream barbel. When I looked back on the event I realised it was a good fish which had given me a lot of fun. We fished on until 10 o'clock then called it a day as the frost settled on the grass. The next morning we decided to head for home. I reckon we made the right call.