Rewind

Completeley out of the blue I received a call from the balif at my local carp water, my nam.e had finally come to the top of the list for the the night syndicate and did I still want it? To say I grabbed it with both hands is an understatement. So last Wednesday saw me hauling a mountain of kit into my swim for my first 24hour session on the place in years. Since all the weed has been killed off the only real and easy to find feature is the marginal slope so 2 rods were measured out and clipped up and cast into the middle while the third was dropped to my right at the bottom of the slope. An old friend from my original days on the water stopped by for a chat and as we caught up and discussed known fish from the early days and how 2 or 3 fish around the same weight were assumed to be the same fish off rattled my left hand rod. After a good scrap my mate slipped the net under a 13lb mirror. Strange how as time goes by and all things change they also stay exactly the same, the scene could easily have been one from 25 years ago except for the water that has surged under the bridge. As the next morning wore on, more and more anglers arrived and I thanked my lucky stars for the choice of days I'd made. My indicators had remained motionless since the previous evening but lessons had been learnt and I'd thoroughly enjoyed it. My old optonics are finally playing up so I reckon its about time to replace them, also after doing an impression of a pack horse maybe its also time for a barrow if only to save some time. And the lesson learnt? Fish tighter in to the margin. We'll see.

When Will I Ever Learn

Tuesdays! Remind me its Tuesdays. Any day but bloody Tuesday. I fished the steps on the Trent at Trent Bridge on.... yep Tuesday. Tuesday is training night for the biggest bunch of arrogant tossers also known as the local kayak club. I was fishing a stick float so only around 2 rod lengths out at most and every single one came in a space between me and my float. I tried to fish on but even had to lift my rod tip to avoid one of them hitting it. Anyway, I did really badly and had 2 small roach on the float and a perch about 12oz on worm and maggot feeder. I dont know if it was me, the high water, the canoes or its just really crap but I used to love fishing down there and I can feel it getting to be a drag. Ah well onwards and upstream.

Things I've Seen

Well I may not have done a lot of fishing this year but being around and about rivers I have managed to spot a couple of things. A few weeks ago I was in Lincoln town centre looking at a job next to the student Union building. I believe its the river Wensum and it 'flows in to Brayford pool. I happened to notice large shoals of small roach with the odd one going to maybe 8oz. On looking closer I spotted a couple of Pike sitting almost right under my feet, they were only jacks but still fascinating to watch. A week or 2 latter I found myself in Suffolk waiting for the tide ready to dive on yet another bridge. The bridge Stands at the head of a tidal creek and as the water level rose I noticed swirls and bow waves getting closer untilla shoal of Mullet reached the bridge. I've never caught a mullet or even fished for them but I would guess the biggest of these fish would be easily over 6lb and were cruising around right below my feet.I know theyre very difficult to catch but they'd surely put up an amazing fight on freshwater tackle. Anyway, if youre ever crossing Wolseys Creek on your way into Rayndon stop and have a look.

May

Well its getting well into the year and I've got as far as renewing my tickets and getting my Pride of Derby seaon ticket sorted. Lets hope I can at least wet a line in the next few months.

New Year

Well its been a while since I managed to wet a line but I'm looking forward to getting some time to get out and errrr not blank again.
I've got my eyes on Pride lakes near Nottingham for the season and I'll let you know how I get on.