It,s Cold

Well it's been cold, I think my fishing time has been
short and when I have been out the goings tough.

I managed a trip to the Dee it was a metre up
it was a nice bit of water just a little wild!!!

It gave me a chance to try out my new rod and
reel. I could have made do but it's a nice river
set up. Ideal for a bit of nymphing with heavy
bugs. I did get two small ladys, the better one
for the photo never quite arrived, although I
did have a near miss.
A christmas presant that will get plenty
of work outs I think.

On the subject of presants I treated myself
to a new closed face Abu, a very nice bit of
kit.

The broken ice that had come to rest on
a slow bend made for a nice photo, it also
showed how cold it's been. I can't remember
and niether can anyone else who fishes the
Ribble a freeze like it.

Pete not in the artic but Preston!

We did get a few Roach, Pete is doing the
old rod race so was very happy when his last
fish was a Dace.
Went out on the Dane today "new water"
another fishy looking stretch but the cold
must have put the fish off not a sniff of
a bite. Just makes the next trip more
enticing.

Ribble

River Ribble
Well this is new, a post off my mobile.
The fishing was hard frosty water and
cold feet. The views more than made up
for it.

Fall

About two weeks ago we made a trip out

for some rainbows. Mike and Nick sported

two nice tashes. Mike looked like an extra

for faulty towers and nick like a German tank

commander. We had a nice day, plenty of fish

some good laughs, not many picture as my camera

died but I think I did get the best shot of the day!!

On arriving everyone had an array of big hairy things

I had my little box of river flies. Rather than rely on

any skill, or knowledge of the water, or any stocked

trout lake for that matter. The die was cast small flies

retrieved slowly, luckily it worked and a string of fish

followed.
I love this time of the year and the

American term(I think) describing it as

fall is about spot on.
The river Dane is a river I old in high

regard, not that some of my local streams

don't hold the same if not more amounts

of fish. I will stay clear of my normal preaching

of the reasons why and concentrate on the positives

of being out on the river, Gods good air and all that.
I love watching a float, if anything the last few

months and a touch of night fishing have made my

limited time even more enjoyable. This area of my

angling will continue I guess, even the stocked fishing

has been a nice diversion at times.
Well the Dane, a small river, winding by nature,

fast shallows, deep bends and tree lined banks.

Every new spot you fish seems likely to hold a

good fish and on a new beat of river, the often

long search for that perfect glide keeps you

walking and climbing through the rich under-

growth. Nettle stings and a hundred scratches

later I normally find that spot that looks "fishy"

and begin my way of setting about things.

The first thing before the rods set up is to put a

bit of bait in, this continues and by the time the

float runs down the water for the first time

the swims been fed for twenty minutes or so.

I also like to start upstream and work down,

it may be a false thought to think at least a few

bits have made the way downstream. Hungry

mouths wait around the next corner.

Two fish on the Dane are ready for you

at this time of year Chub and Grayling.

It's always been two althugh the latter

as replaced the Roach of my youth.
This is a water I will return too , it appears little fished,

apart from the Otter tracks that I think I found? The walk

will put most off I guess but I imagine some cracking Grayling

lie in wait, the Chub go three to four pound, I don't think they

get the pellets so are more of a natural size for the river here.

I'm sure Phil and Mike would like it even with the walk it's

worth the trip.

Tale Of Two Rivers

I was late home from work, an all to often

occurrence lately! The sky was already dark,

the end of summer and rain in the air. This

quite miserable portrait of an average day in

the life of me! Well not so bad after all, a text off

Pete and promise of good fish five minutes up the

road on a new bit of river. The little fast flowing

river that appeared before me was a little haven

of life. Set between busy modes of modern commutes.

"If this was half as good as it looked I was onto a winner."

"A chalk steam full of fish on my doorstep!!"

I set the rod up baiting the swim in-between each step

of the process. First run first fish, Brown trout...oh joy!!

The next fish was a cracking Dace, my mind quickly

drifted to the TV programme "catching the impossible"

It was basically as the name suggests, fishing for what

could be described as very special fish of each species.

It was this Dace. The programme had gone to a little

river just like the one before me to catch a decent Dace.

They are still common enough but not as before, often

getting picked off by predators before they reach full

potential, I have fished some good rivers, healthy full

of food and yet here second cast was a decent fish, not a

record but just maybe a very good fish may lie in wait.

It's seems a problem, we travelled to the Severn.....Dace

yes but all small and yet here in this little neglected

river they abound? Just like the programme what

next, well more Trout more Dace, Chub and as the night

fell a warm feeling to end a miserable day.
Weekend came, before it more rain and well rain!!

Now you wait all week for an hour or two on running

water, rain high water and a big fat no to the stick float

float on my favoured water, like I said a few posts back

I would fish the feeder, stick a night light on and I can

extend a short session into a long one "magic"
So me and Phil settled down, we had tried this a

week or so back, again high water, we fished pellet,

cage feeder result one bite and a lost fish to a hook

pull. This time round I managed to land a couple

phil had my problem hooked one and lost it!!

Not many anglers have caught Barbel to double

figures on rivers without the use of a feeder rod,

pellets or meet but as of yet phils took his fish

without any of the above.

The fish are in top condition and it's been

a joy sitting into the quiet of the night with

good company and the odd fish. A few new

things, the rods up in the air so I have

developed a sore neck looking up in the

sky at my night-lighted tip. On a plus

I can now spot the stars and also confirm

the UFO'S must have stealth.
Nipped back t the other river, how different

one was like a flooded Nile, the other a gentle

clear stream.
I have learned a little already and results

are going to be good.
Phil with a quality small river Chub.
The rivers list of fish goes up one with

the Roach again spot on.
I would imagine that Barbel would do great in

this little river. I think it may be better for

all if this never happens, its nice to have two

very different rivers so close to home.

Sweet

It had been on my mind for a while.

I had found a good bit of river, not

overfished, good access, safe parking

and it also has some cracking fish .

Only problem, with a bit of extra water

the swims are hard to fish on the float.

So with this in mind I had thought of

fishing the feeder! I'm not one for sitting

for hours waiting for that one fish. So my

idea was to approach it more like I would

with the stick, a roving method. Some bits

of river would still be waded with me

feeding, as normal from mid river. I was

so confident this would work I have even

been looking for the ideal rod. Not a heavy

Barbel rod but a feeder rod, it has to be

powerful enough for the big fish but also

delicate enough for Chub, Roach, and Dace.

Phil got a Fox specialist which is a lovely

bit of kit and if they still did that model

"0.75tc" it would be top of the list.

So after picking up a few rods and

having a read I have now made my mind

up. What confirmed it was going out with

my old rod and giving it a go.

Jeff rang and after a quick chat we decided

to have a late afternoon /evening on the

piece of water I described I told him of my

thoughts and he quite fancied it although

he was happy to settle on his chair after a few

beers the previous night.

I set up 11ft feeder rod 3oz tip 8lb mainline

6lb Froghair hook length 14's Drennan

specialist hook. Nothing complicated a

running open end feeder two beads to

buffer the knot, which was tied loop to

loop, this acts as a mini boom helping

keep the hook length away from the

feeder. Caster was the bait mixed into

a fish meal based feed.

The first swim is easier to approach off

the bank, in fact its impossible in good

water "bloody dangerous" .

I made one cast, and with the normal

approach in mind, after the short time I

thought it would take the feeder to

empty, I re cast. This would feed the

swim and with an uneven bottom would

always give me a chance that the feeder

was in the best place on occasions.

Not long to wait the tip banged round

and I was into a good fish. Jeff was amazed

at the quick result. I was chuffed it's a

sweet feeling when you think about

something and it works so well.

Moments later a Barbel of just

over 8lb was at the net, prime

condition, I expected more and

soon after I did get one around

a pound. The swim only produced

a few more trout. Jeff sat waiting

and I had a wander only an hour or

so, it gave me chance to try the

"wading feeder" two more Barbel

only small biggest may have pushed

3lb but it was working!!

Just a few adjustments and I think this

will bring me some good days.

Catching Up

The time for catching up is here I think.

This blog has been a very interesting

hobby for me. Around this time of

year it often slips a little. Its a record

of my fishing and on a cold day, the

thoughts of days well spent can be

most welcome.

The top photo was the view from the tent

on a couple of days camping in the Lakes.

Logan with a Perch I could only snatch

an hour or so, but the fishing was good.

I would imagine we may well go back!!

Some more photos of the last few weeks

below.

Even though time as been curtailed the few

trips brought some good fishing.

Me and David have talked over the last couple of

years about a morning fishing...... well it finally

happened! It was a good morning even though the

river was up a little we managed a few fish.

The wading was a bit mad but with the chances of

the next trip being some time we had a go!

Pete with a Grayling, I told Pete he would

Love the Dane and I think I was rite. We have

spent a couple of evenings fishing until we could

not see the float. The method we fish on here has

brought some good fish for us.
We know some good fish live in the river

but getting them out is not easy.
Another thing the blogs given me is

the ability to capture the things we see

when out fishing. A love for nature.

I love taking photos and it's something

that I hope to "develop" pardon the pun!
I have an affinity with Chub I'm

always glad to see them. Maybe

it's because of memory's? Or even just

the fact that it's more or less guaranteed

that I'm by the river when in ones company.
Mike with a nice Dane Chub on the pin of

coarse.
Well my dad loves rivers I'm still looking for

a nice spot with a short walk and good footing.

Until then it's a bit of carp bashing.
An afternoon on the pellet wagler brought

me a sore arm with a fish a chuck!!
We took Logan for another visit but not

so much joy we still managed one or two.
Logan helps his Grandad it's a joy to see.
Logan thinks the fish are daft

"if Grandad can catch them!!"
Well the fish race takes me up one more a Ruffe.
Another blogger spent a little time on the

river with me, again I have been saying

to Kerwin for some time we will get out

but that word "time" just not enough

of it for me!!! Not great, the water was up,

if I had not been promising him the trip

I wouldn't of gone he did manage a nice

Brown trout .

The nights have been getting shorter and the

rain makes the river a little unsure, so a bit of

late evening slider fishing at a local gravel pit.

I have really enjoyed this, it's taken me back to

being a kid, I can set off late and fish until.....

well "late" it's better than the TV.
As the night falls big fish move we are

not certain what they are, some are Tench

the big Bream but I suspect the odd

monster Rudd are also still in the waters.

Even though we did not catch a big one

Phil got to see the kind of fish I kept telling

him about with the one he caught below......

This story is only just starting I imagine.

Finding Time

I have only managed a few short sessions

over the last few weeks.The kids are on the

long summer break, a time I loved all so long

ago.

We had Two weeks off and my amateur attempts

at sea fishing came up short. When I got back

work was more than waiting, and the kids are

ready for me when I get home.

The blogs not been updated, at times you find a

block as to something new to write. I did catch a

few fish in this time however and will get the

pictures up over the next few days.

On a brighter note I fished a old haunt from my

early years the other night with Phil. The challenge

of catching one of the beasts that crashed and rolled

as darkness fell is now very much on my mind.

We had a drive out with our daughters, who are

becoming friends. It kills two birds with one stone,

they are happy to come out for an hour, while we

score some brownie points with the good lady's

and do a bit of scouting and even pre baiting, or

as the girls say feeding the fishees. Pete came down

but he could not see much as it was already dark! I'm

sure Mike will love the place as well. The good thing

is it's quite close, the nights are closing in and to be

able to nip out and fish a little into the night is good

and a nice change.Will report further on the quest

in the next few weeks.