Week of 3rd Oct
Obviously on a high and full of confidence l was back on the Kennet the following evening and once again the tip flew round. Picking up the rod l instantly knew that what l was attached to was something special as the fight was slow and deep. After the initial run the fish hugged the far bank and started coming upstream however whilst in complete control the rod sprung back and the hook pulled. Absolutely gutted, as l know the stretch is capable of producing barbel in excess of seventeen-pounds!
Since that disaster the river rose a few inches and started to carry some colour from a couple of days of rain and although l thought it would stir the fish into feeding it seemed to have the opposite effect and apart from a couple of bream the river died.
The following week was one when getting out would prove difficult, mainly due to work commitments and a press day a Docklow Pools for Korum. Teaming up with Ade Kiddell us a couple of fairly new, younger blood we spent a few enjoyable hours testing out some new kit and luckily found the fish in an obliging mood all catching, carp and chub with Ade proving he’s the barbel master with his first from Stillwater.
My next session was on Friday evening and my aim was to sit in a swim for longer, however after three hours in which l kept nodding of moved downstream on the Kennet to an area ld baited on arrival. A sharp knock within seconds showed that a few fish were around, chub l suspected and l was proved right as after around twenty minutes a modest chum came to the net. Moving back into my original position, now in darkness saw the tip wrap round and after a spirited fight, in which l prayed l was attached to a big chub another small barbel hit the mesh, all four pound of it.
The pest controller will be back next week on the Kennet, however lm looking forward to a roach session down on the south coast.
Week of 17th Oct
What a week, where do l start! The fishing’s been excellent however what’s going on with the weather? All week I’ve been expecting heavy rain but l think after such a prolonged dry period the words ‘heavy-rain’ has been reinvented to mean the odd patch of drizzle. Luckily its been mild all week that’s at least given us a fighting start on the rivers that are now in need of a good flush through. Tuesday we headed down south to a small day ticket lake in Hampshire. The weather was expected to come in bad so my father and l set up with the wind behind us. Casting maggot feeders to the back of the wind we soon started catching roach, dad small ones and myself quality. That’s how it goes sometimes and soon l had around twelve roach over the pound to a best of 1lb 11oz. Things went quiet and l latched into one of the lakes carp, all 21lb 10oz of it. Not bad for a size 16 hook and a 3-75lb bottom. I decided to set up the long rod and sit on the far bank with the wind in my face, just to see if the roach were here and just seconds after lowering a single maggot hooked something quite special. After a thirty-minute fight on a tiny size 18 and 2-64 bottom managed to bundle a 24lb 2oz common into it. A couple of quality roach fell as well before we decided to call it a day at 4pm. All the fish came to red maggots with a sprinkling of Sonubaits hemp added to the feeder.
Thursday it was back to Burghfield with the intension of concentrating on my two going swims. The first soon responded as the tip flew round and another big barbel headed of downstream, however once again when the fish was completely in control the hook pulled, yes l have changed the pattern of my hook, this time it was a barbed size 8 S3! Completely gutted once more l moved downstream and soon began to get chub knocks. Holding the rod soon had me striking and a slow but different fight commenced. Soon l had a long lean chub in the net and at 6lb 2oz gave me some comfort after loosing the barbel. Dad was sitting with me and watching, lm sure he’s learning loads and cant wait to wet a line. The following evening l was back with the same tactics in my head however the first swim, after an hour and a half failed to deliver so l dropped into my chub swim. It must have been no more than five minutes when a bite that was definitely not from a chub occurred. After a spirited fight a barbel of 7lb 8oz lay in the net. Moving back to my original swim l thought I’d give it another hour and forty minutes in once again became attached to a big fish. This time the S3 stayed put and my Kennet best of 12lb 15oz awaited my father to arrive to witness its weight and take the pictures. Who said my Loddon roving tactics wouldn’t work? All my fish are coming to Sonubaits 12mm Halibut Pellet O’s with Crushed halibut pellets pressed around the lead. Stop over complicating things, forget the leadcore, backleads and boilies, move around and give them the method lead!
Week of 24th Oct
I’ve just tried to remember what l did on Thursday, it’s an age thing, so took a look at my Cemex Diary and just realised that l must have hit the wrong button when writing up the introduction as its all disappeared, oh bother!
The Indian summer continues and my week started by taking a couple of youngster down to Mill Farm Fishery in West Sussex. Being half term and unseasonably warm the lakes were quite busy however we secured our swims on the specimen lake and cast out maggot feeders in the hope one may catch a British record silver bream. Unfortunately the bream stayed away but James recorded four personal bests in the form of a 1lb15oz perch, 3lb 11oz tench a roach around the pound mark and a tiny silver after moving later in the day. Thomas wasn’t having such a good day although he did manage a good roach, his first ever perch and a silver bream on the middle lake of a pound. The lads left happy and amazingly kept their concentration for all eight hours!
Thursday l had to complete a feature for TCF and with autumn perch the target headed for my favourite venue, Frensham Great Pond. The first two hours saw numerous perch caught of all sizes and with around 15lb in the net decided to go and stalk the larger ones seen under the tree. Watching quality perch in clear water is fascinating and my lobworm tail tempted around half a dozen up to 1lb 12oz.
Having set my sights on concentrating on the Kennet during October it seemed right to return although both my target weights for chub and barbel had been achieved. As with my first visit the tip finally flew round and the pest controller was in once again with a barbel around 3lb.
Next week we’ve been promised rain and with the temperature dropping as the week goes on lm hoping to get out with Alan Stagg and target the Zander at Old Bury Hill.
Week of 31st Oct
Monday came the long awaited Zander trip to Old Bury Hill Lakes in Dorking. Unfortunately the weather had bought far from ideal conditions with bright blue skies, high pressure and little if any wind. Teaming up with Alan Stagg we delayed our arrival till mid afternoon with the aim of spending a couple of hours after dark in the hope that they would switch on. As expected nothing happened until dusk when we both started to receive the odd audible indication on our sprat offerings. I was away first with a zander of 5lb 2oz followed by two rods going at once. The outcome was a 4lb 10 zander and a bream!
An hour later two quick runs to Alan produced fish of 6lb 15oz and 7lb 8oz a new personal best, with myself managing a best as well of 7lb 6oz just before our 9pm departure. Wednesday we once again headed to the roach lake and although it proved tough, with once again far from ideal conditions my feeder tactics proved best on the day with at least a dozen quality roach falling the best exactly 2lb. Friday morning l headed to Teddington, arriving just before daybreak and a short two-hour spell saw numerous small perch grab my small livebaits. Unfortunately reports are that it’s a numbers game trying to get a reasonable fish this year.
Friday night was spent on Cemex K1 in the hope of a big roach as well as a pike. A pike around 10lb started the session with another lost however it was at 5-45pm that my roach rig screamed off, definitely not from what l hoped for, however as soon as l lifted the rod it was obvious an eel was the culprit. On a tiny size 18 hook and delicate 3lb hooklink l prayed the eel would stay on. Luckily it was hooked in the bottom lip and at 4lb 8oz easily replaced the hope of the roach that stayed away. Three runs in the morning on the deadbaits produced two pike, the best 11lb 4oz.
Another productive week, l wish they were all like this.
Week of 7th Nov
The week started cold with a few of those raw days where it’s difficult to get any enthusiasm for fishing. I wanted to keep plugging away at Kingsmead in the hope that a good pike would show up whilst at the same time keeping my eye out for any shows from other species such as carp, roach and perch.
Luck was almost on my side as on Tuesday afternoon l managed to find just a couple of hours in the afternoon for fishing so headed back to Kingsmead. Having to retreat from the water before the best time of the day dusk in order to miss the M25 traffic is hard but my two-hour session produced three runs and three modest pike, however it was whilst looking into the deep, clear water that l knew I was in the right spot as a big pike, around twenty pound drifted past. It’s only a matter of time. Lots of carp were showing out in the centre of the lake but just two, what looked like roach showed which is telling me I’m in the wrong area for these.
Thursday couldn’t come quickly enough as after my first feel for Zander fishing the previous week had me buzzing for more. The weather was on the change and with Alan Stagg picking me up early afternoon we were rubbing our hands in anticipation. Arriving at the superbly run, Old Bury Hill Fishery once more Russell in reception pointed us in the direction of the shallower water, an area where a recent match was won. Thanks Russ, you’re advise was sound as over a four-hour period our rods constantly leapt into action with around thirty Zander coming including new personal best for both of us, Alan 10lb 6oz and myself 10lb 14oz! To be honest anyone in their right mind would have stayed at home as the wind gained force, trashing my tripod set-up on numerous occasions and the rain, well it was relentless, however when your experiencing a red letter session it all becomes bearable.
Next week should be packed with plenty of fishing as on Monday l need to get some photography sorted for Coarse Fisherman. Tuesday sees a feature needed for Anglers Mail and you will find me on the banks of Old Father Thames, if the rain doesn’t spoil things, then on Thursday it’s back to Old Bury as it’s my dad’s birthday, so as he’s never caught a Zander it should be a pleasant surprise for him. I’m going to target the zeds by using a loaded waggler, that’s if the weather allows such a fine approach. Friday, if l haven’t over done things and work allows l will be heading of to Cemex Boat Pool in search of perch but before doing so need to buy a 50’ landing net and 6ft matt just in case l hook a catfish!
Week of 14th Nov
Unfortunately the rain made the session on the Thames at Teddington a non starter so l decided to go to Cemex K1 in the hope of roach, however l forgot to look at the weather and come 1-30am found myself holding onto my oval, touching cloth and not enjoying things due to the high winds. Fearing for my safety l somehow packed up and headed for a warm, comfortable bed. I did thou catch a couple of pike and an eel of around 2lb 8oz but constant bite-offs didn’t make things easy.
Thursday it was back to Old Bury Hill, this time to celebrate my father’s birthday. Dad’s never caught a zander so with a few after dark hours allowed things were looking good but the overcast weather decided to clear as we arrived making conditions far from ideal. First cast, just like last week my rod was away after just a couple of minutes and a small zed came to the net. Dad missed a run on my rods whilst l made him a couple of rigs then landed his first fish, a two pounder. Dad then missed a couple and lost a good fish, manly due to a few technical problems so it was time to make up a couple of indicators for him, which finally sorted him out. Dusk came and the indicators started moving but only from small zander and an hour into dark all was quiet. I decided it was time to move, back to the area where Alan and myself scored in last week and within minutes took my best of the session, 7lb 15oz. A few more came before dad hooked a better fish, which on the scales weighed 10lb 10oz, need l say more. We finally ended the session with eleven zander.
Friday afternoon it was back to Cemex K1 and a few hours after pike produced four fish, all singles. A quick look under the tree reveals the big girl, still sitting away from danger; she has to be a twenty. Once darkness fell it was time to cast out the maggot feeders, this time with short braided hooklinks in the hope that if any eels are hooked then they will find themselves in my net. Although lots of indications were received and chances missed, two, two-pound eels did come to net, which just goes to show that they can be targeted during the winter.