Can't Catch Wont Catch...

I'm struggling.

It's not helped by time restrictions, but none the less I'm crap at the moment.

Yesterday was my first session in over a fortnight, I've spent the past couple of weeks sorting out the NAC club magazine AnguillA. it's now with Nick for printing, but I'm not happy with it. I can't put my finger on why I'm not happy with it but for some reason I'm not... we'll have to wait for the feedback from the members to see what they think.

Anyway, yesterday I fished the river. I'd spent days looking at google earth searching for a likely looking spot to try,  I found an area that took my fancy but it was a good walk from the car park. Now if your anything like me I have trouble travelling light, everything has got to go with me. but this was never going to work for this session as pushing a barrow 3/4 of a mile through very thick mud is no fun, I'd already decided that I need to review my tackle carrying habits and unless there's a nice easy track to push the barrow over everything is going to be cut back to a minimum. I always take an unhooking mat for me it's an essential piece of equipment, my usual mat is huge, far to huge, but recently I purchased something a little smaller in the shape of a Korum unhooking mat. Now I like Korum gear, it took me a while to switch on to it, but I'm a convert, I like the way everything fits together. so why can't you attach the unhooking mat to the rucksack? never mind a length of para-cord sorted this out and the mat was tied to the rucksack. my next problem is holdall. I've got a trakker rod hod quiver, it's very old and very large, great for long sessions but a bit of a pain to carry... it's big so I can fit more "stuff" into it! I'd been thinking of buying something smaller for a while when a chance post on one of the forums alerted me to a titan rod sling, it's essentially a length of material with two Velcro strips at either end. strap your rods, landing net and bank-sticks together and Bob's your uncle... have a look at one at http://www.titanproducts.co.uk/

I thought very hard about taking a chair, I did in the end but hardly used it! After dropping Lin off at work I headed river bound arriving just after 08:00.  It was the first time I'd seen the river let alone fish her so I wasn't really sure what to expect, rivercall had her about a foot up and falling, ideal conditions? I thought so. getting the gear out of the van I started walking, it wasn't a bad walk but Christ it was muddy in places. 20 minutes later I arrive at the chosen area only to be greeted by the bailiff. on finding I was fishing for Pike he pointed me a little further down stream, "there's some big slacks and they're deep...." Just what I was looking for! so off I trotted down to the promised areas. he was right there where some big slacks but at only 3 foot or so deep there where by no means deep.

TIP: Take everything a bailiff tells you with a whole load of salt!

I persevered with the slacks until mid day, but my confidence wasn't high, so I upped sticks and moved back to the original area, now here there was a decent slack and some deeper water. so baits back out, tea poured and the wait continued... and then the snow came! it would have been brilliant catching a good Pike in the snow, but it was not to be, and at 14:15 I had little choice but to pack up and head home for the kids...

Another blank, and now I'm getting desperate!

I have made a decision though, from now until the end of the season I'm going to do one day on a pit and one day on the river, if I manage any extra time then I'll let the conditions dictate where I'll go. no more flitting about from water to water, we'll stick to two venues... apart from the odd social that is!

A Lesson Learnt (The Blank Continues)

When the e-mail came through from John about the location of Monday's Piking Adventure I was a little bit concerned.

I've always looked to gravel pits and the occasional river for Pike, or rather the larger Pike. but the quick snoop at google earth pointed to a park pond, not a bad looking park pond, but a park pond none the less.

An accident on the motorway delayed my arrival a little and I dosn't pull onto the car park until 08:30. Not to worry though as John reminded me that the Pike tend to come on the feed later in the day.

Have you ever found that? on certain waters Pike tend to switch on at a particular time of the day, it's strange but it happens, there's been a few times in the past that I've been able to fish a "morning water" then pack up at noon and move on to an "afternoon water". it's certainly put a few bonus fish on the bank for me.

Setting up in the end bay I was quite hopeful of a fish or two on the bank, John told me of the waters Pike fishing history, which while not producing "massive" fish certainly had a reputation of producing twenties and a good average weight.

I was surprised by the depth at 10-12 feet, most park ponds I've fished in the past have only been but a few feet deep and often featureless. Four rods cast out, baited with Herrings and Mackerel. two ledgered at 40 odd yards the others float fished just beyond the drop off...

Stand back, wait.

Sometimes time goes really slowly when you're stood fish-less in the cold, but John's a top bloke and it was good to share the craic with him, but the wait contiuned, with the alarms silent we packed up at 16:00 the blank continues!

But a lesson learnt, actually heres two lessons.

• Never underestimate anywhere, granted most waters wont produce the goods, but big Pike can come from the most unusual of places. pay attention and check them out.
• They come back; many times waters have produced decent Pike only for the water to stop producing. keep a not of the water and give it a rest it will come back, I'm not talking a couple of weeks either, leave it a few years there's plenty of other waters to fish. but never forget what a water has produced in the past.

Rubber Hooks

The Pike are doing something wrong... or I'm doing something wrong. I think I know the answer to that but I can't fathom how to correct it at the moment.

Last night Eddie Turner did a talk for the Birmingham PAC, brilliant. even the computer glitch didn't take the shine off it! Maybe I'm a bit of a sad bugger but I do like listening to other anglers talk about their fishing. Last nights talk really got me thinking about how I approach my Piking. will it pay off? Well after today's efforts I really don't know.

One of the pits I'm fishing fished really well last year, producing a good number of twenties. So I looked forward to giving it a good crack this year. I've done a few session on there so far, for one fish (a short fat Pike) of 9.13. not too bad but not what I'm looking for. The concerning thing is the number of fish I'm losing. Not being snapped but bumping the hooks. Now I always hit Pike straight away, no leaving runs to develop - the last thing I want is a deep hooked Pike, so I do all I can to avoid it. I could leave the runs a little longer but that's quite simply not going to happen, an indication is met by winding down and a swift pull over the shoulder. so why am I dropping so many fish (think it's about 8 in total). I've not changed anything from last season when most takes resulted in fish on the bank. I need to give it some thought, but listening to what's happening on the pit I'm beginning to think that the Pike are picking the bait up at the end of the jaws and moving off with it. could be right could be wrong. I was hoping that using livies would help in getting some more positive/aggressive takes, but the two livies I had out where completely ignored. only the solitary deadbait was taken and dropped very quickly! thankfully the fish didn't feel very heavy.

I'm out again tomorrow, but not sure where yet. I'll give rivercall a ring in the morning before making a firm decision.

I mentioned in an earlier post that my Dad passed away back in April. By his own admission he wasn't the best angler in the world, but he loved to get out fishing. and anything caught was appreciated. Daft as it might sound the hardest part is not being able to talk to him about what I'm up to. I'm sure he never had the slightest idea what I was talking about most of the time, but it was good just to talk rubbish to him and listen about the couple of Perch he'd caught on his last travel up the local cut! My friend Paul Ikin sent me an article that he'd wrote for the CCG mag "Whiskers" entitled "Thanks Dad". Paul if you read this, thank you. it was a great article and I'm really chuffed that you shared it with me (It hit the spot mate).

Mixed Feelings

Do you ever drive home after a days fishing with mixed feelings?

It was one of those days for me, I don't usually name venues but after two years thinking should I, shouldn't I, I fished Gailey Reservoir in Staffordshire.
not the prettiest of places, or quietest being next to the M6 and A5. but there's the potential to do a decent Pike.

A quick scan of the web-page http://www.gaileytrout.co.uk/pikefishing.htm told of a 28lber visiting the banks in the last month, so with bit between teeth I took the short journey up the M6. I got to Gailey Reservoir just after 07:00, and sat waiting for the gates to open, which they did finally at 08:00. I'd heard that one of the productive areas is next to the trout pen. but as this was surrounded by boats I walked a few metres to the right of the stages and the first piece of real bank. two 'purchased on site' rainbow trout where attached to size 4 trebles on a Sunk Float Paternoster rig (SFP) one cast left towards the stagging hopefully getting in the way of any pike visiting the "pens" the other cast right obstructing Pike travelling along the margins to the trout pens.

Tea poured I sat back waiting, any moment now the drop arm will fall and I'll be tussling with a huge trout guzzling Esox! yeah right!

The drop arm did fall, it fell twice through the day both times when the trout livies got a little excited and managed to pull the line from the clip. I saw a pike just underneath a platform to my left, it was only small (6/7lbs) but I offered it a bait anyway, it wasn't interested, neither was it interested in all the small fish that where easily within striking distance around the legs of the platform. maybe these Pike where just not hungry today?

Either way I blanked as did everyone else fishing.

I left thinking I'm not going back, but there's definitely some big fish in there, they just need finding.... maybe a day in a boat is on the cards?


A little health and safety...

They might look as hard as nails but most of the predatory fish we have swimming in our waters are very delicate creatures, and they need treating correctly. five guys on the banks today one unhooking mat, mine. it's great that you can see your float from 100 yards away, but that doesn't mean you can be 100yards down the bank away from your rods. it's a recipe for disaster, if you want to throw some lures great wind in the float rods and throw a few lures. don't leave the float rods out and go wandering hopping that they'll look after themselves. the same with ledger set ups I've got an ATTx system too, yes it means I can be 150 yards down the bank and it will bleep to tell me I've got a run. but I'm sure that's not what they're for, I use mine so I can turn the volume right down on my alarms, and even when the wind is blowing really hard I can still hear a take developing, should it happen while I'm pouring a brew.

Basic stuff you should have no matter where you're fishing if your after predators...

• Landing net - get it set up, there are occasions when chinning is better but if you can't see the hooks it's got to go in the net.
• Unhooking mat - whether it's a great big catfish mat or a small roll up one use it, I know the grass might be soft, but what's it hiding even a daft little twig can cause substantial damage to that Pike, Zander, Catfish, Eel or perch you've put in many hours to catch.
• Tools - you need forceps, and a pair of wire cutters, it's better to snip the hooks and tie a new trace than faff about trying to remove awkward placed hooks. a set of long needle nose pliers come in handy too.

Get out there enjoy your fishing but use your brain.

Getting Back Into The Swing...

It's been almost a year since I took the website down.

I'd like to say it's been a really good year, but I'd be lieing through my teeth.

My Father Passed away on the 21st April 2009. I thought I'd bounce back quickly, but I'm not as "hard" as I'd like to believe and it knocked me for six. after all this blog wouldn't be here if he hadn't introduced me to the wonderful world of fishing 30 years ago.

I didn't fish for ages, I didn't want to fish. but slowly the fishing bug returns and I'm back wanting to get out on the bank again.

so we shall resume, the writings the tales of woe, the blanking, more blanking and maybe the odd tale of the one that didn't get away!

11th February 2009

Not quite what I had in mind

Half Term means that I get to take Caleb fishing during the week, it's not the easiest of things with me working shifts, as he can't fish for 4 weeks while I'm on weekends.

Like most young lads, fishing means the chance of adventure, and he seems to particularly enjoy fishing the rivers. So with this in mind we made our way done to my usual place this winter the lower Avon. Leaving the gear in the car we trudged across the field, which only days before had been under a couple of feet of water, the river had dropped to 0.6m above usual winter levels, but it was a horrible colour. I can't explain why but I just didn;t like the look of it. So back across the field to the car we went, and then on to the river Severn.

The Severn looked good, but the banks where very slippery, before we'd even chosen where to fish I'd ended up on my back twice.... much to Caleb's amusement. When you've got a ten year old with you you can't take risks, we probably shouldn't take risks at any time truth be told, but how many of us do? the Banks of the lower Severn are difficult at best and down right dangerous at worst, luckily this stretch of the river has a section of grass bank, of course it's the least productive bit of the river, but it's safe.

27th January 2009

Fenland Zander

I've been trying to get my hands on the elusive Fenland Zander book by Steve Younger for some time, on the rare occasion it comes up for sale on ebay I always get out bid in the dying seconds.

Luckily Steve, was at my local PAC region last night to give a talk on his legendry Zander fishing exploits! It was a very laid back affair but Steve's point came across very clearly, keep things simple and fish as often as you can. Steve has a couple of businesses but fishes three nights a week religiously. whatever the weather, moon phase or tide... and he's been rewarded for his efforts with many double figure fenland Zander to 17lb 4oz.

It really makes you think get up off your backside and go fishing if you want to experience success, you're not going to catch from your sofa (unless of course your sofa overlooks a lake river etc!) anyway Steve still has copies of his book available, I managed to get one on the night. and if you don't already have a copy then buy one it's a damn good read.

If Steve comes to a PAC region near you then go see him, you wont be disappointed.

23rd January 2009

Just after the Shakespeare region fish-in at Earlswood, my Dad had a heart attack, he's not been well for some years so it shouldn't have come as any great shock, but this latest episode wasn't dealt with very well by yours truly. He is still with us, but for how long is anyone's guess.

Angling has always been my escape but I turned my back on fishing and haven't been since Earlswood, I needed to sort my head out. and have a good look at my life. have I changed anything? Well I quit smoking on the 28th December but that's about it, I'm quite content with me to be honest.. of cause more money would be nice to buy more fishing gear, more tickets, more fuel... but everything else I'm either happy with or don't really care about.

One thing that I have learned though is fishing is more than just something we do when we're not at work. fishing brings with it some great mates. and even the most battle hardened of them are more than happy to listen will you talk rubbish down the telephone.... appreciate what you've got, what you haven't isn't worth worrying about.

So I suppose I'd better get out and do a little fishing! Weather permitting I'm out with Caleb on Sunday looking at a stretch of canal which may produce a decent Zander, and then straight from work on Monday I'm off to Birmingham region of the PAC to listen to a talk by Steve Younger about Zander, something that I'm really looking forward to. if your midlands based or don't mind the traveling more details can be found on the website of the Shakespeare region.

14th December 2008

To sleep, perchance to dream

We all dream of that big fish that one day will grace our landing net, the fish of a life time, maybe the fish of many lifetimes.

Angling can be a very solitary pursuit, sitting by the side of a river, lake, stream or canal for many hours, often alone, but rarely could we say lonely as we have the blowing of the wind and the song of the birds to keep us company.

Most of my fishing is done alone or with my son, occasionally I fish with a good friend Nick, when our work patterns allow, and very occasionally I'll fish with other members of the National Anguilla Club.

Today was a little different, an invite to fish with the members of the Shakespeare region of the PAC, saw Caleb and I take the short journey down to Earlswood lakes, to fish for Pike. I've done very little Pike fishing this winter, as my thus far fruitless pursuit of a double figure Zander has taken up a great deal of my fishing time. So it was nice to get out in pursuit of old esox once more. It was also good to meet Steve and the crew, They all made Caleb and I feel very welcome. Unfortunately the recent rain which had caused the venue to be changed from the Avon to Earlswood, didn't do us any favour's. cold rain reduces the water temperature rapidly, and until the water stabilizes the fishing is usually poor, and that was exactly the case today. despite a dozen or more rods being cast out, they where all wound in at the end of the day fishless. Now I could say that there was much disappointment but this is not the case, whoever said there's more to fishing than catching fish, certainly knew what he was talking about!

I took the opportunity to try out a new rig, maybe not "new" but new to me, instead of the usual free running lead I went back to my carp days and on two rods put the lead in a lead clip. I'm using it to try and asses what type if run it will give, and will it make a difference to the aborted take syndrome occasionally suffered? one things for sure though I'm no the wiser today than I was yesterday.

9th December 2008

Christ this is frustrating.

The chest infection that I thought I'd got rid of last week... came back, and typically the conditions for the planned Sunday trip where spot on, if a little on the cold side. but the older I get I try to remind myself to be semi-sensible so I stayed in, in front of the fire, only dreaming of big Pike!

All being well a trip to the gravel pit will be on for this coming Sunday and maybe If I get a move on and put AnguillA 46.2 (the magazine of the National Anguilla Club) together in double quick time I might just get an evening session on the Avon next Monday/Tuesday.

On the subject of AnguillA it's turning out to be a pretty good read, I had worried for a short while about the lack of material, but when I looked it had seemingly grown in to something of much greater substance. one of our members offering three new articles, (and at least a couple have been banked for the next issue). It's fun putting the mag together, and it's great to get the feedback from the members, whether good or bad (goods better than bad mind). but it does eat into your fishing time, not so bad when you've got all the material there in front of you for stitching together, but time becomes very short in supply when your waiting for a particular piece that is central to the bulletins' foundation. still what we lose in fishing time now we have to make up later! (just don't tell the wife).

I've been waiting for a call since September. not a life or death call just one to say "Dave, all sorted the first meeting of the Birmingham region of the PAC for the 2008/9 season will be at such and such a place, at such a nd such a time, on such and such a date..." I called the RO late September. "I'll have it all sorted for next month Dave", October came and went. so I posted on the PAC message boards, hoping Steve Bown or John Cahill would pick up my message and find out what was going on, Steve got back to me (top bloke is Steve). only for him to say that talks where ongoing with the current regional organiser (RO) to get a meeting set up. There's nothing for The Pike Anglers in the North of Brum. Walsall, Wolverhampton, Tamworth, Lichfield, Sutton Coldfield, Cannock, Stafford etc. apart from Dudley PAC and the Staffs Predator group, there's a huge gap to be filled. but the gap is currently being bunged up rather than filled by a guy who really needs to step aside and let someone else take over, he's worked bloody hard for the club over the years, but now it's time for him to retire. You've done your share Bob, you deserve a break mate. Somebody needs to take this by the horns, there's potentially a great South Staffs region in there somewhere....

28th November 2008

Think... learning experiences.

It's been a funny old week, feeling "out of sorts" put paid to my fishing this week, went out last Saturday but only for a couple of hours, just couldn't get into it.... I was going to fish the Avon today, but to be honest all week I've not really been interested. Nick was going to fish this afternoon but has wimped off because its too cold! It's not bloody cold... there's hardly any frost on the ground. I've fished in much, much colder conditions than this.

I'm just sorting through my gear and deciding what I'm going to buy from Fosters before hitting the M5 for the journey south, when the phone rings. Mark should have been writing an article for the National Anguilla Club bulletin, but has decided to go Pike fishing instead (can't really blame him!), "it's turned out to be a good day Dave" says Mark before the alarm ringing in the background signals another run. "I'll call you back I've got another take" a few minutes later and Mark calls back, "how big was that one?" I ask, "only a baby, I've had a 28.01 this morning, and a 15"!

This was Mark's first '20', he's always been the one to miss out, having fished Abberton and other waters that have produced big pike, it's always been the angler in the next peg who's caught the big girls. So well done mate, very well deserved!

Anyway, now fired up by Mark's call, gear is chucked in the car and I'm off to Fosters, I want to try and hold a bait where it's cast without it moving off so some big grippers are on the 'to buy' list, there's a feature on the far bank so I need to try and hold the bait there. Big leads turn in to 9 big leads and a pack of lamprey, some buffer beads, and some helinoster beads... £25 later and I'm back in the car and heading towards the motorway.

Less haste more speed!

The Avon is deserted, just the way I like it, so I set up opposite the feature and get a pair of rods kitted up and cast out. time to make a cup of tea...... now there's a problem, I've got stove, and kettle, and tea bags, and sugar, and I've even got milk, which makes a change as I always forget the milk.... but I've got no Mug or spoon! and where are my sandwiches? They must still be in the fridge then!

Well I can't do anything about the sandwiches or lack of, I've got an old pack of haribo somewhere in the depths of the rucksack so they'll have to do. I keep my traces in a gardener rig bin, now they're not ideal mugs but it'll have to do, and I've got loads of things to use as substitute spoons, forceps, pliers, twiddling sticks, knives etc, etc. so I'm not going to miss out on a cup of tea!

You hear of people who are having really bad days, going and catching something special don't you? Maybe that's what will happen to me? Well it didn;t quite work out that way, After leaving the baits out of half an hour I picked up the right hand rod, a couple of turns on the handle and the left hand rod indicates a take. so right hand rod back on the rests and baitrunner clicked on (just in case) and the left hand rod is lifted from its' rest wound down and strike! nothing, the line has parted, nowhere near the hooks, it looks like the line has caught a muscle bed or something. whatever it is it's cut through 16lb mono like butter, I check my line for nick's etc, every session, there was no damage to the line, I checked 30 odd metres of line after the breakage, but again no other damage. We can feel shit about things like this but it's not going to change anything, but even so I tackle back up cursing myself.

It's a very slow day and all the takes I'm having I'm missing, not that I'm having many takes. Time tick ever onwards, and I start to think about packing up and heading off home, just half an hour more, just another 10 minutes.... at a little after 9pm I sit looking out over the river, I can just make out the top of my rod against the reflection of the river, A small fish breaks surface in the margin's, wait... did the top of my rod move then, or are tired eyes deceiving me? No I'm sure that rod tip is moving, I move over towards the rod just as the alarm lets out a burst of bleeps. no messing this time, I wind down quickly and set the hooks... or rather don't set the hooks, another missed take... but rather than cursing I cast the half roach back out and sit back down. are the Zander going to come onto the feed now? Another 30 minutes pass, and I finally decide to call it a day, I turn and start packing the stove and other odds and ends into the rucksack.. A single bleep from the left hand rod is ignored, but then seconds later and the same rod signals another bleep then another, and another. I lift the rod and, there's definitely some movement at the other end. winding down I sweep the rod over my shoulder to set the hooks..... nothing, missed another.

Too pissed off for words I finish packing the gear had make yet another walk of shame across the field to the car and make the long journey home....

But what can we learn from this? Well I'm going to try a couple of things I've used most of my preferred sized dead baits so I need to get back out and sort that problem. I'm also going to stop using a sliding second treble and fix the treble in place. at the time of making. rather than just wrapping the trace around the hook. it might not make any difference but I'll have better piece of mind. and the most important lesson to learn is not to give up. I've been packing up too early, The next few trips will not end until midnight at the earliest, there's a double figure Zander out there somewhere with my name on it..... watch this space!

19th November 2008

My usual call to the EA's rivercall brought news that the Warks Avon was 0.26m above her usual level and steady, but I could hear Sabrina calling... Loading the car I hit the motorway at a little after 1pm still undecided whether to hit the Avon or answer Sabrina's beckoning.

Finally pulling off the motorway I decided to give the Avon another try, though the little voice was telling me it was a mistake, but we'll see. As I pulled onto the car park, there was a maroon Mercedes estate already there (there's a reason for mentioning this...). What's the betting he's in the swim I wanted? a trudge across the water logged fields proved me right, the person in the merc was in the spot I wanted, no major problems though he was throwing a feeder about so I guessed he'd be gone before dark. I settled into a temporary swim a little downstream. by 3pm he was packing up to leave, so I readied myself to move up. As he loaded his car I picked up the gear to make the move, but noticed a white plastic bag where he'd been fishing. When I reached the swim there was more than a white plastic bag, bits of catapult elastic and a empty bag of carp pellets left lying on the ground....

Now of course the first thing I did was pick them up and put them in my rucksack but lets face it how difficult would it have been for him to do that? I know it's unlikely but if you read this your a disgrace mate. I wont refer to you as an angler because your not one. How difficult is it to clean up after yourself?

Anyway rant over, swim cleaned up and two Roach deadbaits cast into the river one nearside shelf the other far side shelf, and the wait began. The river looked almost still yet it was carrying a fair amount of colour. I'd prefer more of a ripple but I was confident that the Zander would put in an appearance. (How wrong I was!)

The hours ticked by without so much of a bleep, Then at a little after 6pm the left hand indicator let out a few bleeps, and stopped, no movement to the rod or line followed so I left the rod, semi-expecting it to come to life again in a few minutes. It didn't happen so another cup of tea was poured from the flask and the waiting resumed. 18:50 and the middle rod's indicator came to life with line steadily being taken, I wound down and set the hooks. Whatever had taken the bait had some weight, but there was no fight, the fish was just hauled in like a plastic bag washed in during the recent floods. "Must be a big Zed", "got to be a big Zed"... a few short bursts at the net and she rolls into the folds. Quickly onto the scales and she went 13.13, not Zed though Pike!

A few odd bleeps followed during the last couple of hours but no more fish, where are these Zander?

Maybe I should have allowed myself to be lured by Sabrina?

16th November 2008

The last meeting of the SAA

The drive up to North Leicester brought mixed feelings, the last meeting of the Specialist Anglers Alliance. Mixed because this meeting really closed a large chapter on the specialist movement in the UK, but also because this heralds a new chapter for angling, The formation of a unified representation for angling "The Angling Trust".

I've been an individual member of the SAA for 5 years or so, but was attending the meeting as a representative of the National Anguilla Club. I wont go into much detail about what went on as the the main part was taken up with financial talk about winding up the SAA, and how specialist anglers will be represented within the new body.

The SAA have done a huge amount of work on behalf of us specialist anglers, most of which is unseen, unreported and without thanks. The time donated by the SAA committee and those associated is nothing short of remarkable. I know some will read this and think that fishing shouldn't be involved with politics but lets face facts if angling isn't involved in politics, it wont be too long before angling gets banned or probably more likely restricted out of existence. Please support your single species groups and lobby the committee's of your group to support the Angling Trust... Angling needs YOU.

12th November 2008

A glorious waste of time, the title of Jim Gibbinson's book certainly summed up today's fishing!



I didn't see the point of getting out of bed driving down to the Avon only to drown baits all day waiting for dusk and the Zander to come on the feed. So I spent the morning answering a few e-mails and sorting kit out. but by noon my feet where itching so quick call to the EA's rivercall to see what the levels where and the car was packed and I left the house at about 12:30.



An hour later and the 2.4metres and falling had put the river well into the fields. not worth getting out of the car, but I didn't fancy the hour long drive back home to fish one of the local pits. There was no point either the pits gates close at 16:30 which would have given me only 2 hours fishing time. I rang Nick to have a moan but he told me that Sabrina might be fishable a little further upstream, with nothing to lose the car was promptly turned around and just 15 minutes later I was looking at a very swollen River Severn.



For me fishing is all about confidence and I had none, I've only ever played at fishing the rivers before and never in flood. not knowing this stretch of the Severn didn't help matters, but I was here now and I had no intention of going home without first casting a line.



Swim was chosen to the right of the lump where I'd parked the car, more out of convenience than anything else, though the area had a nice slack caused by the now well underwater car park. Two Roach where cast towards a just visible tree and after a small amount of bumping around the 4oz leads settled. Kettle on and wait... and wait... and wait. no sign of any fish, but as the sky was almost cloudless and the sun falling on the other side of the river, it was nice just to sit there quietly.



As the Sun fell behind a far bank tree a few small Roach jumped in front of the submerged tree that I'd cast to, where we to see some action now? No was the answer, though half an hour later the right hand optonic gave out a short burst then stopped. maybe a line bite or debris had drifted into the line I'm not sure but one thing I did know was that nothing had taken the bait!



Some time later a splash from upstream gained my attention, after a few minutes another, closer this time. I stood by my right hand rod scanning the water easy enough to do as the river was bathed in light from the full moon. I could see nothing for a few minutes but then close to the bank I could see something move, then a head popped up it saw me and with a bigger splash it was gone. too big for a mink, so my guessing was that it was an otter. A first for me. and the signal to pack up and head towards the nearest chip shop! And the long drive home. think I'll cancel the tip planned for tomorrow!

11th November 2008

The problem with work... is that it gets in the way of going fishing. My last trip to the Avon was almost two weeks ago now, and I'm having withdrawal symptoms! Hopefully I can sort that out tomorrow and get two sessions in before the end of the week. but before the fuel is wasted I need to give river line a call and find out what the state of the river is, all the rain we've had over the past few days surely must have the the rivers up, and maybe over their banks.

Nick, Caleb and I, drove up to Kegworth on Sunday for the National Anguilla Club winter social. it was nice to meet the lads again and put a few faces to names, that I'd only previously spoken to on the telephone. the social is in two halves, an update of club business, and the presentation of trophies and certificates. a break for lunch (read: Beer) and then a couple of talks. this year we where treated to the NAC roadshow by Mark Salt, a presentation that we've been putting together over the past few months to show at various functions up and down the country, the Cheshire Branch of the PAC where the first victims, a few short weeks ago. It appeared to go down well so if any other club would like to book the Roadshow contact Mark Salt via the National Anguilla Club website. and Barry McConnell's latest scottish video. now if you like fishing videos with a difference pop over to Zandavan Productions and buy one of Barry's DVD's they're "entertaining" to say the least, and if you can see the TV through the tears of laughter you'll see some awesome fish being caught by a very individual angler... well worth the money.

There's been a few very big eels caught this year, by National Anguilla Club members so a big well done to the following National Anguilla Club 2008 Trophy winners;

The trophy for the best Eel of the season went to Steve Pitts for his monstrous 7.09 Eel, and because the Eel was over 6lb Steve was also awarded the John Sidley memorial trophy.
The Best Eel on a club trip trophy was awarded to Steve Gardner for his Yorkshire Fish-In Eel of 6.04 and because Steve's Eel was over 4lb Steve was also awarded the Denys Lawrence memorial trophy.

Every year the bulletin team chooses an article from the club magazine 'AnguillA' which they believe is the best of that year, The author of the article is awarded the Steve Mahoney Memorial Trophy. this year the winner is Rod Hillyer for his article "Odds and Ends". Rod's article is online on the National Anguilla Club website.

The Nigel Jeyes Memorial Trophy is - awarded to a member judged to have given merit worthy service to the club. I was very proud to have been awarded this trophy, it makes all the effort and disagreements not to mention the falling out with the good lady, worthwhile. thank you!


No I can't close this entry without giving special mention to my mate Nick, after a disastrous fish-in he was the only one to catch an Eel.... and though it weighed only a few ounces he's not let us forget that he was the only one to catch. so it's fitting that Nick was given a special Tin certificate, to mark his prestigious capture....

1st November 2008

The first frosts herald the start of my Pike fishing season, usually this means sitting at the side of a gravel pit for hours on end for little reward. the pit I've been fishing isn't the easiest of waters and as it's situated on a council run country park, the rules go far beyond those of common sense!

It's not a water I'd usually choose to fish preferring somewhere a little quieter and without so many restrictions, but the water is or maybe was the home of a 30lb plus Pike. compromises are sometimes necessary in order to catch the fish we dream about, but two things have happened this year that have, had me questioning my future on the water.

The construction of an outdoor activity centre and subsequent letter from the parks office advising that from the centre would be the launch of several small dinghy's. My initial reaction was to drop the water like a hot stone and search out another water, but thinking that dinghy's wouldn't cause too much disruption I renewed my ticket. Unfortunately it wasn't just dinghy's that are now circling the water but wind surfers and canoes. A rectangular lake of 14 acres with a dozen young wind surfers who inevitably get bored and start doing back flips from their boards (right over the top of your baits) is not my idea of a good fishing situation.

Having spent £140 on my season ticket the floating idiots where a little hard to stomach but to top it off rumours began to surface that the big girl had actually been moved after her last capture some three years before. Fishing time is precious to us all, so I wont be fishing the water for the rest of the year and definitely wont be taking up a new ticket next April.

So where do we go from here? Well, I'm not a ticket hoarder, If I join two or three waters or clubs a year that's my lot, money plays a part but it's mainly because I like to get to know a water, and don't feel I can do that when I'm spreading my time very thinly. I fish with fellow National Anguilla Club member Nick Duffy as often as I can but differing work patterns and other commitments mean that fishing together is not a regular thing. Nick has been talking about big Zander all year, and a chance remark turned into a bet 'the biggest double figure Zander by the the end of the season! pounds and ounces equals pounds and pence... Nothing unusual about a little wager with a mate, but neither of us have caught double figure Zander. we do have a rather special resource though in our good friend Barry McConnell, now Barry's caught around 70 double figure Zander (actually it's 68 but he'll catch the other two this winter) All of Barry's Zander have been caught on the fens. so to stop either of us cheating and getting a trip to on of Barry's favourite swims... we set a rule that the fish must come from the Severn or Warks Avon... one thing is for sure, who ever catches the double will get a firm handshake from the other...

So that's the winter project sorted Pike will for the first time over the past few years take a back seat to Zander, and many 100mile round trips down to the lower reaches of both rivers will begin.

Welcome to PredatorAngling.co.uk

July 23rd 1979. the day it all began, my Dad had been given instruction to buy my sister her first birthday present on his way back from work…”no soft toys” my mother shouted as he left for work that morning. Of course my sister got a huge old English sheep dog (soft toy), but he also had something for me. I was just five at the time, and ripping the package open on my Woollies fishing kit I couldn’t wait to get out and use it. “3lb line, size 20 hook-to-nylon and a quarter pint of mixed maggots” that was my shopping list to collect from the local hardware store, to collect before the cake was cut. Like many others before and since my first fishing session was on the local canal, and to fit with tradition my first fish was a Perch. It’s funny how almost thirty years on and I still remember it as though it was yesterday. Over the coming years I progressed on to larger fish, mostly Carp then Pike, with a few decent Tench and Bream along the way.

And then I quit…. the early 90’s saw the introduction of the commercial fishery, and I hated them with a passion. I was probably blinkered in that I expected all fisheries to end up the same. So I gave the gear away, gave all the books away (would be worth thousands now!) binned the photos and vowed never to fish again How wrong I was! 2002 saw me back on the bank , by myself initially and then shortly after with my young son. I fished for carp a little and tench and bream a little and Pike a lot. So much so that at the beginning of 2007 I decided to concentrate on angling for Predators.

PredatorAngling is a diary of my successes and failures. nothing left out, when I fish like a fool it'll be here, when my testicles have a golden glow, it'll be here too... not that it happens much! I'll also include my thoughts on how I'm going to tackle certain waters, plans A,B C and when it all goes tits up Plan Z version 23. I'll also explain about the rigs I'm using and why, though be warned I do try and keep things simple unless there's a particular problem I'm trying to get around.

I'm involved with a national single species group at committee level (www.nationalanguillaclub.co.uk) and as of this year I'm going to be joining in with Birmingham region of the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain. so my thoughts on PredatorAngling clubs and angling politics will no doubt find there way onto the site too.

Hope you enjoy the site
Tight lines

Dave Smith