tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81563379744835949002024-03-21T15:57:43.990+00:00How to drown maggots The tale of two blokes who decided to have a go at a spot of fishing... Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger219125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-44542515349208845572019-12-03T21:34:00.000+00:002019-12-18T10:40:45.218+00:00Fordwich Lakes and the river<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MTHReOcf8QrVB_ClSPvPBBPSqP3T_6xzYC6JpAofV5D91QlrDgBRxo9VPU64l3CgAFL1WdRxYYYS34JW8OImNOO-uKOAtX_xs6qWe10fG9rnTGir7H73dMNySk-8IrmjonLLpmPmW1w/s1600/main_lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1600" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MTHReOcf8QrVB_ClSPvPBBPSqP3T_6xzYC6JpAofV5D91QlrDgBRxo9VPU64l3CgAFL1WdRxYYYS34JW8OImNOO-uKOAtX_xs6qWe10fG9rnTGir7H73dMNySk-8IrmjonLLpmPmW1w/s640/main_lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fordwich Lake - still has plenty of water!</td></tr>
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Still no fishing, but a chance to have a look at another of C&DAA (Canterbury and District Angling Association) waters. After the recent rain, the rivers are in flood here with very high water levels on the rivers running through the towns where it is most obvious and of greater concern to the public in general. Our trip to the lakes at Fordwich, found the river very high and covering the staging in places. It had obviously been even higher, as some of the visible staging was covered with debris where it had been covered earlier.<br />
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This place is a fantastic venue for me. It is less than six miles, door-to-door, from our new home and it only takes a shad over ten minutes to get there. The more I explore these C&DAA waters the more I am convinced I did the right thing by investing in a ticket. The 'complex' is gated and secure which is always a bonus in my books. If I am paying to fish a water I really want it to feel secure and safe.<br />
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The site is enormous, with three lakes and a good stretch of the Great Stour available to fish. The only drawback I can see is that is is subject to closure during the 'closed season'. This appears to be part of the licence agreement, granted to the C&DAA, to allow its members to fish this SSSI designated site.<br />
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We got there on a very cold and frosty Saturday morning in late November to find a fair few people about. Some had obviously been there overnight, bivvied-up awaiting for that big carp. Personally, that does not interest me that much. I would rather be catching fish than sitting there waiting for a buzzer to go off, but each to their own and I am always amazed at the size of some of those big fish, when they do get caught.<br />
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There are numerous places to fish these waters and a good selection of fish to target. I will probably take advantage of the river first and I am thinking a spot of lure fishing might be my first outing. It looks as if there could easily be pike in the river, which will give me a chance to try out my new spinner/baitcaster set up. I might even try a spot of dropshotting for perch in one or two places.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C2Fjs1RqBwfiOza3JOvtBP69wqznQiTbdg6pN4LO8esFR2uDpAfr9BHecl4eoPR-P4A3NyZEdwa_4oiTXQfN8IWonAWluZQ1rESm0ybQRXm8zKa4zbP6XWo14j_riRE90P2D3bZnJ5w/s1600/staging_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1600" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C2Fjs1RqBwfiOza3JOvtBP69wqznQiTbdg6pN4LO8esFR2uDpAfr9BHecl4eoPR-P4A3NyZEdwa_4oiTXQfN8IWonAWluZQ1rESm0ybQRXm8zKa4zbP6XWo14j_riRE90P2D3bZnJ5w/s640/staging_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By today, the river level had dropped to well below the staging - might need a bit of a scrub though!</td></tr>
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We only had time for a quick sortie on Saturday and did not get around the whole site. Sue and I went back on Today and there was still a lot of water in the main lake, but the river was down a fair bit with all the pegs on the river now above water level, although there is a good deal of mud on and around the platforms. Some are better then others, but I think a deck-scrubber might become an essential piece of kit over the winter! A stroll around with light tackle will be my next trip, just to get the lay of the land, and water, so to speak.<br />
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Ralph. <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-69347626546290997972019-11-21T23:07:00.000+00:002019-12-17T23:54:23.085+00:00I went fishing!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR-HXGfk_IFBVlHbPd1L4LMS8coprT3ljCZrEpY1vwTN8d4iXE8ex3S6vPRfEICAcrsJFz9OGdNo_iLa9XnVBcOk0nRKUBNR_ECHFD9o2mhvZyB4tfMrU_BeNeWbffb2r6ifNM7ebAjo/s1600/the_lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1223" data-original-width="1600" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNR-HXGfk_IFBVlHbPd1L4LMS8coprT3ljCZrEpY1vwTN8d4iXE8ex3S6vPRfEICAcrsJFz9OGdNo_iLa9XnVBcOk0nRKUBNR_ECHFD9o2mhvZyB4tfMrU_BeNeWbffb2r6ifNM7ebAjo/s640/the_lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lake had a few leaves on it...</td></tr>
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Since making the move to Kent, back at the end of June, my fishing activities have been severely curtailed due to life and the universe getting in the way. That all changed this week when I eventually got back to the bank for a long morning session down at the Estate Lake. There is not much time left on the ticket as the venue is close for the winter. This was probably going to be the last session of the year for me.<br />
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It is great not feeling that I have to make the most of the day-ticket by getting there at the crack of dawn and fishing all day. Gone are the hours of driving and early starts to miss the dreaded London South Circular's traffic congestion and chug along the M25. Down here (or should that be across here as we moved more East than South?) fishing can be a a walk away to the beach, no more than two-hundred yards from the front door. A ten to fifteen minute drive will see me fishing the river and a plethora of stillwaters.<br />
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For the past few weeks, the trusty old van has been off the road as it refused to start one morning. In twelve years of ownership my fifteen year old van has never failed me. I guess I can't complain, but that is another story, suffice to say, I couldn't use it this week. Instead, It was time to christen the the replacement Swedish fridge, which as it turns out is now more Chinese with a dollop of Ford thrown in. As you may have gathered, this branch of the Laughton family are not big on changing vehicles, but there comes a time when it just has to be done. The old Volvo had served us well, but after a coming together with another car, the damage was just enough to make it impractical to continue, it was euthanised and sent back to be recycled into a fridge again!<br />
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The new car is a updated version of the old one, but it might just as well be a space ship for all it has in common. Blimey, cars have changed a bit in the past fourteen years! I know I am an old fud but where's the handbrake?<br />
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The replacement car is a three and a half year old Volvo V60 D4. It is a similar size to the old V40 but just a little bit more powerful, okay a lot more powerful. The best bit is the level-load into the back. I can now sit in the back, with the tailgate open, and change my boots. Okay, not everybody's number one consideration, but it does make a change.Who cares about the twin-cam turbo and independent climate control? Another improvement is the rear seat arrangement. The old split back seat has been replaced with a seat that can have just the centre section dropped flat. Some fool specified this feature so the car would be able to carry skies without loosing all the passenger space. Very handy on the north Kent coast! Had they never herd of fishing rods?<br />
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After a few months of major upheaval, the chance to get back on the bank was long overdue. Simple fishing was the order of the day, nothing fancy, just a float rod and a feeder to tempt the odd perch. I needed to go light as this time of year it is not wise to drive down to the lake at my local venue as it is at the bottom of a grassy slope. I would not be flavour of the month with anyone if the new car ended up in the drink! A shoulder bag and a lightweight seat being the order of the day.<br />
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Simple bait that got even simpler when I left the tub of worms basking in the bottom of the fridge, made things easier. A tub of red maggots and a small amount of Bacon Grill soaked in what is definitely incorrectly named 'Yum Yum' predator attractant - it stinks! The plan was to fish a feeder full of dead maggots/hemp/brown crumb and minced Bacon Grill with a lump of Yum Yum infused meat on the hook, while float fishing red maggots on the float rod.<br />
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I arrived at the lake around 09:00 and the place was deserted, not even a dog-walker in sight. To be honest, that is how I like it, just me, my thoughts and the lake. I had pre-rigged the rods and thanks to the fool and his skis, I had a place to carry them in the car with ease. I do like fishing light. A few minutes after arrival I was fishing. The feeder rod was put out first and set on a couple of bank sticks with the baitrunner engaged - or is that disengaged? The plan was to sit there and see what happened on that one. A bit of loose feed was catapulted into the area from time to time but in the end after recasting two or three times during the session, the fish were not interested in my offerings there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHrJYFCdYfvvcW9oFcygnX4RZFCz0ePcEu_XeLKgIyHrbZtcxxmZ1Vzz7E-UURiz4Lm76CoP6qCMi0bRKFV53weeA3vvnshdlIDrKd0tCqkwh4zpfL3Q1WPkWwmO5GZAo5CabnVZun8w/s1600/bigger_roach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeHrJYFCdYfvvcW9oFcygnX4RZFCz0ePcEu_XeLKgIyHrbZtcxxmZ1Vzz7E-UURiz4Lm76CoP6qCMi0bRKFV53weeA3vvnshdlIDrKd0tCqkwh4zpfL3Q1WPkWwmO5GZAo5CabnVZun8w/s640/bigger_roach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice roach. First fish of the day</td></tr>
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The float rod was a different game altogether. I decided to try dead maggots as hook-bait as the bottom of the lake is very silty. I have visions of the live maggots hitting the bottom and wriggling into the silt. Well, my theory seems to have worked, almost every cast to produce a fish. One of the first fish out was a nice roach of about half a pound. That was followed by lots more roach, rudd and the odd skimmer, nothing big, but plenty of fish to keep me busy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0gyxm4eLh-MmGBvULfM6ntrBJU6xcmRUZUjZtjfmz-vf1EuQ5KP7hv37kphEwDncwAd896v3YBsW28W5IY_PuHMYG3Kkc-VmR0b0ywbQDx8xjquSAPyEIJJgrTQ1iRl7rNFglt61Muo/s1600/bream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY0gyxm4eLh-MmGBvULfM6ntrBJU6xcmRUZUjZtjfmz-vf1EuQ5KP7hv37kphEwDncwAd896v3YBsW28W5IY_PuHMYG3Kkc-VmR0b0ywbQDx8xjquSAPyEIJJgrTQ1iRl7rNFglt61Muo/s640/bream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing huge, but a nice looking fish</td></tr>
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My mate John joined me and we stayed until early afternoon. John was fishing for perch and like me had no takers. Fish or no fish, a few hours at the estate lake are always enjoyable.<br />
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That was Tuesday, on Wednesday Sue an I took a ride out and had a look at a couple of places on the Canterbury and District Angling Association waters. I have a ticket, but so far have not had a chance to fish any of the venues. It is all new to me, so a chance to find and explore the venues is useful. A drive through Grove Ferry on the Great Stour, east of the town centre is a popular place to fish and we managed to work out where the parking was for a future visit. My main aim of the excursion was to visit Stonar Lake, over near Sandwich.<br />
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We arrived there just as someone was leaving through the locked gate. On joining the C&DAA a key is issued which gives access to all locked gates and facilities run by the association. We parked the car and locked the gate behind us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPTfNWw7RACIRA0N68srv96hYYBIiU3cAgowLwJ0tfyYXyQUpjs9oNA60bNV-yl__QXXJdMIFwoRTlmHI9B2GGZskb4ieZ50ByRBdZex4Z5uUIPTsB93ocbrChxQ_6O9J6LN0zJdEFew/s1600/stonar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPTfNWw7RACIRA0N68srv96hYYBIiU3cAgowLwJ0tfyYXyQUpjs9oNA60bNV-yl__QXXJdMIFwoRTlmHI9B2GGZskb4ieZ50ByRBdZex4Z5uUIPTsB93ocbrChxQ_6O9J6LN0zJdEFew/s640/stonar.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonar Lake (<i>photo:John Wells</i>)</td></tr>
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Compared to the waters I am used to fishing, this is more akin to an inland sea! It is vast. No way will I ever be able to lose my end tackle in the trees on the opposite bank. It is also very deep, in places I have been told it is fifty to seventy feet deep. The 'shallows' are reported to be in excess of twelve feet deep, and some a lot deeper. This will be a whole new ball-game for me. <br />
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Hopefully it will not be too long before I get the chance to wet a line here.<br />
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Ralph.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-12963099415520287772019-08-07T15:45:00.000+01:002019-08-09T09:12:10.508+01:00Fancey an early session at the lake?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7Nx91l5gwLKm7QaNcK_bWs46u9-xl5-CcvIqidbJWjTjSAdUo6FC3Ek_FefIJ2aoXqkUfHWwGuviwTwjv2S1SWFA5vxKX5Fgfi5crCSN8QclcczgGmYdnGTBDAtDK4GNZ1SIjliU-fY/s1600/me_tench.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7Nx91l5gwLKm7QaNcK_bWs46u9-xl5-CcvIqidbJWjTjSAdUo6FC3Ek_FefIJ2aoXqkUfHWwGuviwTwjv2S1SWFA5vxKX5Fgfi5crCSN8QclcczgGmYdnGTBDAtDK4GNZ1SIjliU-fY/s640/me_tench.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first tench from the estate lake </td></tr>
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One of the best things about moving out of London is that I have so many places to fish now, I am spoilt for choice. The private estate lake that my mate John, got me an introduction to, is a great place to go for that quick session. Not only that, I now have fishing friends close enough to encourage me to actually go for a few hours.<br />
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Last night, John suggested that a few hours at the lake this morning would be a good idea as the weather for the rest of the week was not looking too good, with high winds and storms forecast for the weekend. We arranged to meet at the lake. I had decided to get there a bit earlier than the suggested 09:00 rendezvous, as I really needed to get back home for lunchtime at the latest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6RHccQH2dEMtr2PiD8jsC-FzhTZ4Jc1I2zEFJhYTiZzjN-gTP2iFyurJ-BbaxwUu5ix_DarmHo2UEKKyu8mj67a4zaskrpfYDUtBE8qtqNmEJXvycZGccsH2gb0B_s9rw3R3O4SwbxU/s1600/first_roach.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="1600" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6RHccQH2dEMtr2PiD8jsC-FzhTZ4Jc1I2zEFJhYTiZzjN-gTP2iFyurJ-BbaxwUu5ix_DarmHo2UEKKyu8mj67a4zaskrpfYDUtBE8qtqNmEJXvycZGccsH2gb0B_s9rw3R3O4SwbxU/s640/first_roach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First fish of the sat was a nice roach, enticed by a small cube of on meat </td></tr>
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Today was all about minimum gear, just minimum bait, a float rod, a small amount of tackle, a landing net, an unhooking mat and a lightweight chair. I jumped in the van at about 07:00 and was at the lake and fishing well within half an hour, even though it is nine miles away. Fantastic, I could never do that in London. I had taken meat (Bacon Grill) corn and maggots with me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqG9DdSeF65r2WaDLRYbwoAmXVSWhFuOLzEAijJFj_SBvX-RPGGH9EIf_0X2dfN2HUsCmyXH6bCueE5woH3fOpKoDiU5jxApEXvFceSWfm1klrfeoLAFEFIH790Jn1s8jCeXA2NXn6Gg/s1600/only_rudd.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1600" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqG9DdSeF65r2WaDLRYbwoAmXVSWhFuOLzEAijJFj_SBvX-RPGGH9EIf_0X2dfN2HUsCmyXH6bCueE5woH3fOpKoDiU5jxApEXvFceSWfm1klrfeoLAFEFIH790Jn1s8jCeXA2NXn6Gg/s320/only_rudd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One and only rud today</td></tr>
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To be honest, maggots are not much use on the lake at this time of year as it has a vast population of small fish that all just love them too much. I had tried corn last week and had some success. Today was the first time I had tried the meat here, and it was far more successful than I had expected, attracting some slightly larger roach and a succession of skimmers/bream. Nothing huge, just bigger than the normal pester-fish that just rattle the line get swung to hand.<br />
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I was not getting bothered by the lake's massive population of small rudd, in fact, I only caught one in the three and a half hours I was there. <br />
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However, I was still not connecting with any bigger fish, so I went back to the corn for a while and landed my first estate lake tench. A nice respectable 2-3 lb female that put up a good fight on light float gear. I managed to get it netted after a good few minutes of playing the fish, praying it would not break off or shed the hook. That fish alone made the trip worthwhile for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwV_ffbTSKRRyf3lmmhidRgIXsC68YhXtS21FKj5cq_9tUfafTsafZYM62xloCgtuorDqJ7sguHeglBsCvgPJqViSeYWTxCVFHt6R14pfn0sDuAFJsaey3btyweCL7rTLZLwkIgdpGuI/s1600/tench_net.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1600" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwV_ffbTSKRRyf3lmmhidRgIXsC68YhXtS21FKj5cq_9tUfafTsafZYM62xloCgtuorDqJ7sguHeglBsCvgPJqViSeYWTxCVFHt6R14pfn0sDuAFJsaey3btyweCL7rTLZLwkIgdpGuI/s640/tench_net.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I managed to land one without getting snapped off</td></tr>
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John came over and took the picture at the head of this post of me, pleased as punch with my first tench from this venue. After I left, John also caught a similar fish which cheered him up somewhat. A few more skimmers were landed, and I was back home before midday.<br />
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Ralph.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-57912992143771923762019-07-30T21:22:00.000+01:002019-07-31T11:58:21.445+01:00A few of hours...With all the moving in and the fact that I strained my arm lifting a part of my new-to-me woodturning lathe (but that is a different story), I have not been out fishing for the past few weeks. Today, I got up, grabbed a rod and a few bits. Armed with a box of maggots and a tin of sweetcorn, I took a quick trip to the estate lake. What a difference to living in London. Fifteen minutes later and I was sitting by the water fishing. It was, by now, about 06:15, no one about and the water was flat-calm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EQikp_qtHq3wj5JS5d99PfsuROmjQ-pWmBA2rEDC_kX_1UktSi362G-Px8flis_ypRi3kimWx0W3Uvn6pys58lfB4MO8UVwRdU_BGk-dxG80jSYOPfv-7StLOe16toAKK4hCEHHExlM/s1600/six_am_flat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EQikp_qtHq3wj5JS5d99PfsuROmjQ-pWmBA2rEDC_kX_1UktSi362G-Px8flis_ypRi3kimWx0W3Uvn6pys58lfB4MO8UVwRdU_BGk-dxG80jSYOPfv-7StLOe16toAKK4hCEHHExlM/s640/six_am_flat.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No breeze and flat calm water, first thing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first cast produced a fierce bite that took me by surprise and instantly broke me off. I am sure that was a tench. After re-rigging I was back in the water and guess what? I caught a small bream. This poor guy had had a run-in with something, at some time in the past. It looks like a heron strike, maybe. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJz4kTdbcLuQ8S21KIQFZF9NcYA812iTn4hxLfY2psBTQFy1_AMJ2_zgupgSLB3hANRFOjJiiXxZ2gMSdT33xmT555kqB7sohNhbL_3eX4KWgq4jNUqEvlaqlSX096CYVkHjeE5Fz16s/s1600/first_fish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1600" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJz4kTdbcLuQ8S21KIQFZF9NcYA812iTn4hxLfY2psBTQFy1_AMJ2_zgupgSLB3hANRFOjJiiXxZ2gMSdT33xmT555kqB7sohNhbL_3eX4KWgq4jNUqEvlaqlSX096CYVkHjeE5Fz16s/s640/first_fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To one and only fish of any size caught today</td></tr>
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John arrived a few hours later, and we fished for another hour or so, but although he found a reasonably sized bream to save the blank, that was it as by now, the wind had got up, and the ripples were making it very hard to see the float, even with a big carp float.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaptfAJwTiXq_E6zenR-pdoEcoJF6sXvX5sdlCIjTfZd-aVzQCR8eHTVMS8o_ya5DiW_OkAgAj05hKgH9p1Kc4NtO1CgkV-7OuyGlWd_DQjrudHyH2U8wbyeuNwe_beNLnlCN_azpj_Rw/s1600/spot-the-float.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaptfAJwTiXq_E6zenR-pdoEcoJF6sXvX5sdlCIjTfZd-aVzQCR8eHTVMS8o_ya5DiW_OkAgAj05hKgH9p1Kc4NtO1CgkV-7OuyGlWd_DQjrudHyH2U8wbyeuNwe_beNLnlCN_azpj_Rw/s640/spot-the-float.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a difference a few hours made</td></tr>
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To make it easier to make the decision to leave, there is an event happening in the gardens soon and the riggers were setting up a stage. The clanking of scaffolding, and accompanying loud music was not what I came out for. Just after 10:00, we packed up and called it a day. I had not intended to do a long session today, so it was not a problem for me, I was happy that I had made time for a few hours by the water. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4OaFDUSrnYGFJ89wa_5BhOKHzb_4ml2G2v9v9oIDE_6PceJWYBaf3B5t78l6GwyT6-_mWULkhAM3UbAtQXljb9o-6PoqYmjmtDXEl9R43bUXKYrI_2Jtyw-uuSQ_s-xWmnwrcv_NaP4/s1600/who_put_that_there.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4OaFDUSrnYGFJ89wa_5BhOKHzb_4ml2G2v9v9oIDE_6PceJWYBaf3B5t78l6GwyT6-_mWULkhAM3UbAtQXljb9o-6PoqYmjmtDXEl9R43bUXKYrI_2Jtyw-uuSQ_s-xWmnwrcv_NaP4/s640/who_put_that_there.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who parked that by the lake? </td></tr>
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With the lake out of action for the next week or so, I will have to look into signing up to the local club and getting some river fishing in. This will be a good way to use the maggots I have in stock. next time I visit the lake, I will have meat, corn and maybe bread with me. Maggots just seem to produce too many small fish st this venue.<br />
<br />
Ralph.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-77169783950694852052019-07-08T22:50:00.000+01:002019-07-31T11:14:41.896+01:00At last, a day out by the lake!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXq8LiH5WGSoJCkM8nMKy_v5B5_0QTs19EQQ8W__Adm45eok88LPI5fKgjwuWurPMVJSmWVSHGSROLA2WAtzXzjPnKKeMOq9n4f9GMSODxk9_t5C1ZHHq8tfjD5Zr3GXBIcj0moDqYxc/s1600/first_bream.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXq8LiH5WGSoJCkM8nMKy_v5B5_0QTs19EQQ8W__Adm45eok88LPI5fKgjwuWurPMVJSmWVSHGSROLA2WAtzXzjPnKKeMOq9n4f9GMSODxk9_t5C1ZHHq8tfjD5Zr3GXBIcj0moDqYxc/s640/first_bream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first of many bream...</td></tr>
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Here we are at the end of the first week in July, and I have eventually found a day to go fishing. The house move has happened, we are now living in a seaside town, one road back from the seafront. The house is full of unpacked boxes, and there are a million and one things I should have been doing, but I went fishing!<br />
<br />
The last time I ventured out, it was Easter, and since then all sorts of things have happened to prevent me from getting out. The main reason for the extended break was, of course, the house move. After living in the same house for just a few months under forty years, it takes a bit of packing and moving. That was massively complicated by the new owner of our house offering us the workshop if we wanted to dismantle and remove it. This we did, and the full story can be found on my workshop blog starting <a href="https://ralphsworkshop.blogspot.com/2019/06/a-year-on-and-what-year-it-has-been.html">HERE</a>. Follow the 'Newer Post' links at the bottom of the post to follow the whole story.<br />
<br />
Tim (the other bloke in this story) actually found time to spend a day on the bank, so I got a concession to take him to the Estate Lake where I had fished at Easter. Tim arrived at our house at around 08:00 and transferred his gear into the van so we could take the one vehicle.<br />
<br />
The lake is a short fifteen-minute drive from our new house. What a difference that makes. When we were in London, every trip required a really early start, just to get through the local traffic, then it was always an hour or so each way. Day-ticket costs made me want to get the best out of the day, so that meant a more or less 'enforced' all-day stay. Now with so much more water on my doorstep to fish, and most of it free, syndicated or club waters, I can be far more relaxed about how long I fish for.<br />
<br />
We got to the lake, well before 09:00 to find my mate John fishing the lake already. he had done an early one and had been their three and a half hours by the time we arrived. He had caught a few fish early on, but the bites were now slowing as the sun got up. Not deterred by this, The other bloke and I set up camp for the duration.<br />
<br />
The first cast as often happens here, produced a bite, and the first bream of the day was landed. This was followed by lots more all of the same sort of size. Tim managed to catch a few too. He seems happy to sit there using whatever rod he has to hand. Today he was using a massive carp rod and sturdy line, proving that it really doesn't matter what gear you use, it is still possible to catch fish!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVl5gw8Z_dZWuYxLwM7YBuG3_XdfrEwuHBYhML7NM1UNTikQRnW12m8giUhb7HjKkLLc01muxy8xiecintNiCInjOZx2PfE4bCPXI5OMEBJ0aeIsMRrqrnuUsikDkJnzFTV2iNlRVyqA/s1600/tim_bream.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1600" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVl5gw8Z_dZWuYxLwM7YBuG3_XdfrEwuHBYhML7NM1UNTikQRnW12m8giUhb7HjKkLLc01muxy8xiecintNiCInjOZx2PfE4bCPXI5OMEBJ0aeIsMRrqrnuUsikDkJnzFTV2iNlRVyqA/s640/tim_bream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who needs fancy gear, Tim still manages to catch fish, and he looks happy!</td></tr>
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The best fish of the day for me was the lovely little cursion I managed to catch on a piece of corn. Using maggots on this water is a waste of time as it only produces tiny rudd after tiny rudd, there must be thousands of them in here. Occasionally, the odd small perch or skimmer gets hooked, but that is about it. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYIQugZQ1I16ZR0gqX1sfsD8szgOT46389wZBYkqZjeLxHwKZF9L6uZk6t3CqmMQbz8BJ0XDT0Bdfk8-bMJGrnwlpT1MyHdwMHV1uXrS1jNyMOb4LkFGbV01Gn18iKbQs-LCSYJGYeAo/s1600/cursion.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYIQugZQ1I16ZR0gqX1sfsD8szgOT46389wZBYkqZjeLxHwKZF9L6uZk6t3CqmMQbz8BJ0XDT0Bdfk8-bMJGrnwlpT1MyHdwMHV1uXrS1jNyMOb4LkFGbV01Gn18iKbQs-LCSYJGYeAo/s640/cursion.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice little cursion carp was a welcome change from bream after bream</td></tr>
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By late afternoon, we had had enough. Time to pack up, collect our 92-year old Mum and take her back home for dinner and a chat. All in all a very enjoyable day was had by all.<br />
<br />
Ralph. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-56970770669269978122019-04-22T22:39:00.000+01:002019-04-23T23:09:16.317+01:00Two fishing trips in three days!As I type this, we are sitting here waiting for the final searches to go through on our house sale. Hopefully, that should be the last of it, and moving dates will follow - Fingers crossed! As this was the Easter weekend, and nothing was going to happen for a few days I decided to take advantage of the time and spend a day at the Estate lake I have just managed to get a syndicate membership of. The lake is close to where we are moving to and will be a great place to spend a few hours this year.<br />
<br />
Just as I was planning my day and arranging to meet my mate John there, I received an e-mail from Ian, another mate of mine, who has also featured in my waffle in the past. He was asking if I wanted to fish over the weekend. As the estate lake is a rather exclusive affair, and away from where Ian lives, It was not practical to invite him to join John and me on Friday. After not being able to go fishing, hardly at all, over the past few months, I really fancied going, especially as Ian was suggesting we visit a venue I have not fished before. Could I really go twice in three days?<br />
<br />
I mentioned this to Sue, who without hesitation, almost worryingly so, insisted that I go as I had not had the chance for a while and once we get the moving dates, I will not be able to go for the foreseeable future. No more encouragement was needed. The weather was looking good, and I really fancied spending a couple of days fishing with friends. The itinerary was to fish the Estate Lake on Good Friday and Mousehole Lakes, another new venue to me, on Easter Sunday.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZQPZRMy59PvYLqY5Nsm8EEO93LxBsqRorLgb64u9kjgYaW4zkJNSqkXUJCAqUka4nHtvKU8c8L195gSfEy20Q25N1IP1OCyG8fMJ4Md6-29Eyv7R2ydXfaUHWGC0ucWzgQ3BrYLb44g/s1600/the_lake_mist.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZQPZRMy59PvYLqY5Nsm8EEO93LxBsqRorLgb64u9kjgYaW4zkJNSqkXUJCAqUka4nHtvKU8c8L195gSfEy20Q25N1IP1OCyG8fMJ4Md6-29Eyv7R2ydXfaUHWGC0ucWzgQ3BrYLb44g/s640/the_lake_mist.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mist starts to clear over the estate lake</td></tr>
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<h3>
Estate Lake</h3>
This lake is set in the grounds of an estate that is open to the public at weekends and some days during the week. It is also used as a music venue once a year, and there is the odd wedding held there. As syndicate members, we are allowed access from dawn to dusk from April through to the end of December. With relatively few members it is a very peaceful place to fish. My mate, John, who lives just a few miles from where we are moving to has been a member here for a while and introduced me to the place. This was my first visit as an angler, although I have seen the venue before and been aware of its existence for a long while.<br />
<br />
The journey from here in South East London is about an hour. An early start got me to the estate at around 07:00. The lake is situated at the bottom of a grassy slope that runs down from the car park. Permission is given to drive to the lake, unload and return the car to the car park. As this was my first time, I thought better of running my LWB transit down to the lake, fearing I might get it stuck on the soaking wet grass on the way back up the slope. Making a few deep ruts on the manicured slope might not put me in a good light, especially as this was to be my first visit. I thought better of it and decided to carry the gear to the lake. I was not fishing with that much gear, and I had a backpack tackle bag and a strap on my seat, so it should not be too arduous. Going down the bank was easy enough, getting back up at the end of the day was a different matter, this 63-year-old, bloke suddenly realised he was not as young as he used to be. That on top of nursing a leg injury, after the 'Herne Bay' incident a couple of weeks ago, when I took a tumble and spread myself all over the road, meant I was completely knackered (can I say that?) by the time I got back to the van! Next time I will take the trolley, although that might be hard work to push up the slope... Now I sound like an old man - don't say a word!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwm1lSm_TJ4nwz-s5tg27pHj2GN_wHL4x8j2fPnEQiU4KpKvAb4Q9LkViKrS89YlCChjPysEAC-111sccn599doXPc3bTCYKTR7BtC_9tb1jlkBfUUntUwCOAxcR3XGFHeQ9Yi9nPGNYE/s1600/the_lake_morning.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwm1lSm_TJ4nwz-s5tg27pHj2GN_wHL4x8j2fPnEQiU4KpKvAb4Q9LkViKrS89YlCChjPysEAC-111sccn599doXPc3bTCYKTR7BtC_9tb1jlkBfUUntUwCOAxcR3XGFHeQ9Yi9nPGNYE/s640/the_lake_morning.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The floating seeds and other derbies slowly started to disperse</td></tr>
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I set myself up with a float rod and a box of maggots, made a cast and instantly hooked a small rudd, the first of many. The lake was swathed in mist for the first hour or so until the sun started to burn it off. Lots of floating debris from the trees and dead reeds had collected at the end I was fishing. As the day went on, this started to slowly make its way to the other end of the lake, leaving my end perfectly clear by the time John joined me, a couple of hours later.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdHbDMf-665WNLAh53oHplUYOv50yHPteh-DBKu7wwBerJH7F7RG0vJCtXjsG8X9a-xv4aJAgRrf1s2BWMU2ZXnAGKQ3fIsaG3P9sVIVjECrAR03NQ-T66bkx7b0ofohyeo4R0Os6wP4/s1600/first_rudd.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgdHbDMf-665WNLAh53oHplUYOv50yHPteh-DBKu7wwBerJH7F7RG0vJCtXjsG8X9a-xv4aJAgRrf1s2BWMU2ZXnAGKQ3fIsaG3P9sVIVjECrAR03NQ-T66bkx7b0ofohyeo4R0Os6wP4/s320/first_rudd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First fish out of the lake was a small rudd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The lake was made by damming the stream that runs through the property, making it deeper at one end than the other. I was fishing at the deeper end, and that is only three or four feet deep at best. The other end is significantly shallower. This meant I was fishing from the dam and the bank is edged with stone. I suspect it was a fair bit dipper originally, but it must have silted up over the years.<br />
<br />
I had only taken a float rod and a small tele-pole with me on this first trip just to see what I could catch. It was hard work getting past the small fish, but perseverance paid off eventually, and the fish started to get bigger, not much, but at least they were going in the right direction. First fish worth noting was a nice fin-perfect roach. This was the first of many. Try as I might it was hard to get past the smaller fish at close range, using the short (5m) pole. I decided to have a go with the float rod and cast out to the open water about 20m out. This was more successful in that I was catching some better fish, including some skimmers, but the big fish were hugging the far bank.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4EjLjk-IMh56Nt2zhuiA-L-8YERXtNE-xGBeRwZVvelmb0UMJaybBH_9Dt4Xyy833IK94R_kf6bTaC8I4mQqPTwQZH3YgKQPndjI6gYX84xVBjQFPSE166Tctv3xhJhgBPmdinWHEAE/s1600/nice_roach.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1600" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4EjLjk-IMh56Nt2zhuiA-L-8YERXtNE-xGBeRwZVvelmb0UMJaybBH_9Dt4Xyy833IK94R_kf6bTaC8I4mQqPTwQZH3YgKQPndjI6gYX84xVBjQFPSE166Tctv3xhJhgBPmdinWHEAE/s640/nice_roach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice looking roach - the first of many...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJQsk4lTYfh-p5iqppdbqx7t6ouZBgpOw3STRirMg83g4y6g1Yp-zICaRbkxOtqIDaqojshPLxw63RLk7u5GOdyL0xMxdTB_qri6DiOtz_NB81FLQm6iYiUiytutwGz-UyNSlM-D78wM/s1600/skimmer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1297" data-original-width="1600" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJQsk4lTYfh-p5iqppdbqx7t6ouZBgpOw3STRirMg83g4y6g1Yp-zICaRbkxOtqIDaqojshPLxw63RLk7u5GOdyL0xMxdTB_qri6DiOtz_NB81FLQm6iYiUiytutwGz-UyNSlM-D78wM/s640/skimmer.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and one of the skimmers. All the fish seem to be in perfect condition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Walking around the lake made it evident that ledgering to the far bank would be the way to go. Next time I will bring a selection of bombs and another one of my old rods, passed down to me by a fishing friend from one of the forums. It is a nice looking heavy feeder that will be ideal for the job. The art of this task will be trying to get as close to the far bank as possible, without making tackle donations to the tree-Gods.<br />
<br />
There are some nice tench, including some recently introduced golden tench, in the lake as well as a small number of <span class="st">crucian carp. It is early days yet, this was only my first visit to fish, and I have a whole list of possibilities for the coming year.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwmVrrPXVii1d-VjzC1lzU29KrXYppyTP0kXeKU7U-odg3Qcq5dvNwbn6Cy1NMV0Y-5P7IqjqL5QXMFJ2ffr8hjj3_Fqyzrob7n1v1Mm7t9WcB62i5kRKmG7BCEF-Av7suyMJZ_vwQZI/s1600/john.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwmVrrPXVii1d-VjzC1lzU29KrXYppyTP0kXeKU7U-odg3Qcq5dvNwbn6Cy1NMV0Y-5P7IqjqL5QXMFJ2ffr8hjj3_Fqyzrob7n1v1Mm7t9WcB62i5kRKmG7BCEF-Av7suyMJZ_vwQZI/s640/john.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never mind John, you'll catch something soon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For now, I was happy to spend the day in a lovely place, just relaxing, taking in the sights and chatting with my mate John. After spending a long time not fishing, and when I did, I had fished alone, it made for a very pleasant day. Although it is an hour's drive away, soon it will be my local, and it will be just a short 10-15 minute trip, door-to-lake. Can't wait!<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7UTZztkAyOuhDV6Wxgx7hHxSPm3xBfzM-5UenglcEsY-IrGgPdXwElZQtCiyzTrhOhTPN2yMKQDY3HfAq1YScV7V6a4oyOXpDUUcaAvYnTHn4we-MxcrHJIAOfg2HMpNzCg8bVFl3ms/s1600/swift_lake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7UTZztkAyOuhDV6Wxgx7hHxSPm3xBfzM-5UenglcEsY-IrGgPdXwElZQtCiyzTrhOhTPN2yMKQDY3HfAq1YScV7V6a4oyOXpDUUcaAvYnTHn4we-MxcrHJIAOfg2HMpNzCg8bVFl3ms/s640/swift_lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swift Lake at Mousehole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
Mousehole Lakes</h3>
My second day out over the weekend, lead me to Mousehole Lakes, near Paddock Wood, in Kent. Again, this is a water I have never fished before, and it was suggested by another friend of mine, Ian. He introduced me to Beaver Fishery when he lived up here in London too. I had spent several days fishing there with him a few years ago, but after he moved we did not get to meet for a good while. He suggested that we meet at Mousehole Lakes on Sunday.<br />
<br />
What a great venue. I have to say, the people are very friendly, and they have beautiful, well-kept grounds and swims as well as excellent facilities. The weather also helped, with one of the best Easter weekends I can remember, Sunday was a glorious day. As usual, I got up and out to miss the traffic on the south circular, that can get busy, even on an Easter Sunday. A simple drive from here got me to the lakes by 07:00. I found the guy taking the money and paid over my £10.00 for a two-rod ticket. He even offered to drive me and my gear to the swim. Although appreciated, I declined his kind offer as I had my trolley with me this time (after Fridays experience). A short walk along the path lead me to the lake, and I picked a spot on the near side of the lake that was in the sun. I like to feel the sun on me these days, these old (ish) bones are no fan of chilly, wet fishing trips!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXxnZlu2uZV5pat8pLJz1fUPMlInOs3O4LnzHYfz-iQdHlStKHoelq4ZjLoVzqCmEvJoZxRPX_pJILsjuhaBO8nsahDMCv3j3rkYHl0tQurjyYUYjP42ooMHEsX_DzG1M9UhDmA9vXlE/s1600/first_fish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="1600" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXxnZlu2uZV5pat8pLJz1fUPMlInOs3O4LnzHYfz-iQdHlStKHoelq4ZjLoVzqCmEvJoZxRPX_pJILsjuhaBO8nsahDMCv3j3rkYHl0tQurjyYUYjP42ooMHEsX_DzG1M9UhDmA9vXlE/s640/first_fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small skimmer was the first fish from the first put-in of my cheap tele-pole!</td></tr>
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The pegs are boarded and very well maintained. There is just enough bank in front of the peg to get a bankstick or two in with ease. I set up my chair and laid out my tackle and bait ready for battle. The small tele-pole was the first to see action. I carefully plumbed the depth in a couple of likely places and noted that one was only a couple of inches deeper than the other. After marking the pole with the two depths, I started fishing to the right of the peg, drowning a couple of maggots. The bait had only been in the water a few seconds when I had hooked my first fish; a very lovely looking skimmer. Makes a change from a tiny roach, my usual first fish. I had paid for a two-rod ticket, and I planned to try a swim-feeder stuffed with maggots and maggots on the hook. I am not too experienced with this method, so it was all a bit experimental. After a bit of mucking about trying to get the rig so it would not tangle, I managed to catch a few fish, but nothing of any size and I was getting small fish, reasonably soon after casting. I soon realised that the swim feeder was dispensing maggots at a rate far quicker than made any sense, so I taped up most of the holes with electrical tape and tried again. This slowed down the speed at which the little fellows escaped but did not result in any better fish. It soon became apparent that maggots were going to give me small fish all day.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsPkKAHDRgVxfWe5JtHca7QW-UEwSVJH1xTxDA49Cb1g5VHMIq7hqsklCHMf_RwNQ9KdXJwTX7eJWxRHL5Eos0Q04BjCnxMUdAo57txrERQK4ExkZVAUR7G7iuhToz7ODJeP_qEBU7jk/s1600/roach.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxsPkKAHDRgVxfWe5JtHca7QW-UEwSVJH1xTxDA49Cb1g5VHMIq7hqsklCHMf_RwNQ9KdXJwTX7eJWxRHL5Eos0Q04BjCnxMUdAo57txrERQK4ExkZVAUR7G7iuhToz7ODJeP_qEBU7jk/s640/roach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fish were getting bigger, not vast, but better than the small fish the maggots were attracting</td></tr>
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While I thought about it for a while, I went back to the whip. Instead of impaling maggots on the hook, I tried sweetcorn. This was a great success. Instantly the fish got bigger. I started to land lots of decent sized roach and skimmers. The larger hook-bait was selective. I was also feeding dampened pellets. This attracted the bigger fish including some bigger bream in the 3½ - 4lb range.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRe_wiu-A0scy5uVjdO-6Md6yBjfbh2qvfNNUf6938lcY8LBMG9SEgVjZ8kR3RNWUL19tSzCQTU5Rj1BCpxY3-ralU0oyhsqvCYR4VyaDJc4FQubK96sObHliLnbThLHr5p4E95GvBw4/s1600/4_bream.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1600" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRe_wiu-A0scy5uVjdO-6Md6yBjfbh2qvfNNUf6938lcY8LBMG9SEgVjZ8kR3RNWUL19tSzCQTU5Rj1BCpxY3-ralU0oyhsqvCYR4VyaDJc4FQubK96sObHliLnbThLHr5p4E95GvBw4/s640/4_bream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice 4lb bream caught on the tele-pole. A real handful on light gear! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Spurred on by this success, I continued on with the pole catching all sorts of fish in all shapes an sizes. I did notice that I was missing a lot of bites. I was sure the fish were 'feeling' the resistance of the float, as it would dip and bob straight back up again. It was not like a 'liner' when a fish brushes the line, this was a definite tug and let go. I decided to dot the float down, so it was just breaking the water. This seemed to do the trick, and the tugs were all now becoming bites. Every put-in was producing a fish. Using corn was to be the bait of the day, I even caught a nice looking <i>gonk</i>, or gudgeon, to give it its correct name.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X82_AvtSg00wwMvxNqm0IfczJ4VvPJxgSxDwBAESvG-johDN6e7bk7xe7hXzxPJU6bGbSZwbCKlkbWrXyHGRbBrDhzzDqacLXAZFxAdxmE5_bHbJGfaHmqVGyc7P-lTCy0ZDV-0_Wrs/s1600/gonk.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1600" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9X82_AvtSg00wwMvxNqm0IfczJ4VvPJxgSxDwBAESvG-johDN6e7bk7xe7hXzxPJU6bGbSZwbCKlkbWrXyHGRbBrDhzzDqacLXAZFxAdxmE5_bHbJGfaHmqVGyc7P-lTCy0ZDV-0_Wrs/s640/gonk.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gudgeon. Little fish with a big heart. I do like catching these little fellows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are plenty of carp in the lake, but none of them were keen to come out and play today. I will target some of them next time. My favourite fish of the day has to be a perfect little tench. There are said to be much larger tench in the lake, but this one will do for now.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgV2pQ3OG5CDnRcQK8QoVpcMKfN62cb2srU-E_IUGEzicDmuHcHXMZmx9NcvYdiFsh70DTRd-Homx5bKqv-qVqXMGuWr9fRUaJ3GNguZRUQeOA90vSt7d_llXWVtdB0qSyrexI6g6YXE/s1600/tench.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1600" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNgV2pQ3OG5CDnRcQK8QoVpcMKfN62cb2srU-E_IUGEzicDmuHcHXMZmx9NcvYdiFsh70DTRd-Homx5bKqv-qVqXMGuWr9fRUaJ3GNguZRUQeOA90vSt7d_llXWVtdB0qSyrexI6g6YXE/s640/tench.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tench - it may be small but they fight like a much bigger fish, and they have just as much slime as their bigger relations!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As well as catching fish, the day was made so much better by fishing with my mate Ian. He was having a good day too. He caught lots of fish, and on bait, he was not usually successful on. Ian is a devotee to float fishing with maggots. On Sunday he caught more fish on corn than he has ever done before. I must say, that the fish in this lake do seem to take corn very easily.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmaREdL9iYqvWWhrToftT7hTBBOHXbn4ILXULM4LcArGghxeS43sp8Ia05EjnnR0sG1tPcRBdp_YrltolBCSVodxV8J5R9ZS2ZyOOoXleS6_e49QhohAVOkO8r8EnRjo6UxXK4uiL00U/s1600/Ian.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="1600" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmaREdL9iYqvWWhrToftT7hTBBOHXbn4ILXULM4LcArGghxeS43sp8Ia05EjnnR0sG1tPcRBdp_YrltolBCSVodxV8J5R9ZS2ZyOOoXleS6_e49QhohAVOkO8r8EnRjo6UxXK4uiL00U/s640/Ian.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian baiting up after returning yet another fish caught on corn</td></tr>
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All in all, the trip to Mousehole Lakes was one of the best days out at a commercial fishery I have had in months. It together with my trip to the estate lake a couple of days earlier made for a very enjoyable couple of days and a chance to catch up with good friends. Now with the house move on its last stages, and feeling much better, health-wise, I am really looking forward to my fishing for the rest of the year.<br />
<br />
Ralph. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-49722887410085132732019-04-01T23:44:00.000+01:002019-04-01T23:44:55.161+01:00Walking and fishingLast Saturday was a glorious day. The weather was warm, and the sun was shining, so it was an ideal opportunity to explore some water I have not fished before. I have a Canal & River Trust, Waterway Wanderers ticket that allows me to fish, among other places, most of the canals in London. This can be really handy at this time of the year as most of their waters are still open to fish, while the 'rivers' are closed.<br />
<br />
I have fished The Regent's Canal in the past, but an internet search provided a list of local places I can fish using my permit. This included several stretches of canalised river in East London, specifically the Bow Backwaters and Limehouse Cut. Having never fished any of these places before, Sue and I decided that a stroll around the area, along with a spot of fishing might be a good way to spend a day away from the pressure and stress, filling our life at the moment, caused by our everlasting, and impending, house move.<br />
<br />
Having not moved for forty years, although I had heard people say it is one of the most stressful things you can do, I did not realise just how much aggravation it can be. Now I know!<br />
<br />
We have a card here in London that allows travel on, (DLR) Docklands Light Railway, underground, overground, trams, buses and suburban trains for a maximum daily charge. Once that pay-point is reached (it is a few quid), all additional travel is free. This means we can jump on and off of, and change between, modes of transport all day long for no extra money.<br />
<br />
We decided to make for the Limehouse Cut as a starting point. This is a dead straight stretch of water that leads from Limehouse Basin to join Bow creek, a distance of about a mile and a half. To get there was easy, we just needed to jump on a bus to Lewisham and ride the DLR to Devons Road, from where we walked a few hundred yards down the streets to the point where Violet Road crosses the canal. Here there is access to the towpath. We walked north, towards Bow Lock, along the narrow towpath. The water is a few feet down from the towpath at this point, and the path was busy with walkers and lots of cyclists. It was at this point that reality dawned on me; a beautiful spring Saturday, might not be the best day to try this. The other amusing thing was the sign we found when we got to the lock. You would have thought that someone, with a sense of humour, might have spotted the obvious hilarity in announcing the area as Limehouse Cut, 'Bow Locks'! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgxF1MVgmqzPnOX41I8xSjoaUEFUi0h4G69uTfTKHM0HyIawoiRZ_5V9SsS_2BbeOHlUa5pgRfeHEjcJ3scixZy0CdQR0KakCt7umgLYqhVrMbUWlrYIyWWj-oPv2gmLXClOkNSdJ9iI/s1600/bow_locks_sign.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1551" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgxF1MVgmqzPnOX41I8xSjoaUEFUi0h4G69uTfTKHM0HyIawoiRZ_5V9SsS_2BbeOHlUa5pgRfeHEjcJ3scixZy0CdQR0KakCt7umgLYqhVrMbUWlrYIyWWj-oPv2gmLXClOkNSdJ9iI/s640/bow_locks_sign.jpg" width="620" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign made us smile...</td></tr>
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Although travelling light, I had a bag of tackle as I had taken a dropshot rod as well as my small telescopic rod, rigged for float fishing. The bag was not that heavy, but it was starting to feel that way, after a few miles. Next time I will take one or the other.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOv-5dVwnUJlTesM_PrAUt7vC6UZErzItAdj8y-UflVy4h44s9psFJ0-UNXSsSkXU_PvqTVnquaEkAHrBl-UV6-tKdpjfzFGzwlDTgPl6IA7g233I4vhHbnyP8Q3zJt7PgrE6dHwqUuU/s1600/lee_.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOv-5dVwnUJlTesM_PrAUt7vC6UZErzItAdj8y-UflVy4h44s9psFJ0-UNXSsSkXU_PvqTVnquaEkAHrBl-UV6-tKdpjfzFGzwlDTgPl6IA7g233I4vhHbnyP8Q3zJt7PgrE6dHwqUuU/s640/lee_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the graffiti that adorns most of the surfaces adjacent to the river, here on the river Lee, just north of the locks at Bow</td></tr>
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Limehouse Cut joins the River Lee at Bow. We continued to walk as far as the southern edge of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and decided to make our way over to the Regent's without getting a rod out. Next time I think we will try the other end of the cut. I am sure there are fish in there (I have been told as much), but on Saturday there were far too many people about to be able to fish without constantly dodging cyclists and runners. The photographs were taken between the torrents of cyclists and joggers that were out enjoying the excellent weather. That is not a complaint, everybody is entitled to use the canal as they want, but I prefer it when it is a bit quieter.<br />
<br />
We walked over to Bromley-by-Bow tube station and caught an underground train to Kings Cross. There we made our way to Granary Square, which is a short walk, north of the station. This place has completely changed over the past decade or so. From being a run-down inner London area that you would avoid unless absolutely necessary, it is now trendy and extremely popular. It was stacked out with people, enjoying the ridiculously warm day.<br />
<br />
We made our way west, towards Camden town and eventually found a short stretch of wall where we could sit and set up some gear. I threw a handful of maggots into the margin to get any perch sniffing around while I set up a dropshot rod and selected a small rubbery shad that was impaled on the hook, by its nose. All this was being watched by the passers-by along with a few others who had joined us sitting on the wall. I started to fish a few inches from the wall, right under the rod tip. Lots of the passers-by were asking if I had caught anything or telling me "you'll be lucky mate!"<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1XnC-O_wHyBif9QYmFRtXQbA8tu-3-MsOlObnldNBZK1S_xeeLcvU2ZcmTIvLxbRvZjhYNVn7ULB3h1PKFy3ZPjdf9LTlx3VqVlEaKLnhBpdtDhb7GDfHApUnV2JUmN2QalVSO1Yfrc/s1600/me_regents_drop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1XnC-O_wHyBif9QYmFRtXQbA8tu-3-MsOlObnldNBZK1S_xeeLcvU2ZcmTIvLxbRvZjhYNVn7ULB3h1PKFy3ZPjdf9LTlx3VqVlEaKLnhBpdtDhb7GDfHApUnV2JUmN2QalVSO1Yfrc/s400/me_regents_drop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing close to the edge... and it worked!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Within a few minutes, much to my relief, and the onlooker's amazement, I caught a small perch. Nothing to write home about, but a fish is a fish. I returned it, without photographing it as I was sure I was on a roll and that I would be pulling out one after the other and I would have plenty of opportunities to get some pictures of fish... Wrong.<br />
<br />
That one fish was the total for the day. Although I fished on for an hour or so in different spots, the fish were just not playing ball. If there was one thing to be learned from today, it is not to venture along the narrow towpath of a London canal on a beautiful warm and sunny Saturday.<br />
<br />
We ended up walking as far as Camden Lock and decided to call it a day as far as the fishing was concerned. I had a great day, and we had a good walk. It was a good job I had Sue with me to carry the gear!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEige49GQ8e8nMaVgEh0ziBnLB-VJud8MXoD5g6-OmaL3XUAkqMTDvIudPUZEjfOesM9sLLi1HKNSlN9KoUbjuDva23IVPvf633Q9etfL1HHPYh0Dc1huw88no3akaCbmla5K3XJvj8luIU/s1600/sue_gear.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEige49GQ8e8nMaVgEh0ziBnLB-VJud8MXoD5g6-OmaL3XUAkqMTDvIudPUZEjfOesM9sLLi1HKNSlN9KoUbjuDva23IVPvf633Q9etfL1HHPYh0Dc1huw88no3akaCbmla5K3XJvj8luIU/s400/sue_gear.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks Sue!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ralph. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-30725567596820148642019-03-10T10:40:00.000+00:002019-03-13T15:21:02.671+00:00Really... ...it would have been better to stay at home.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig23eMmbt8djKrIsGpLm8Tbct75SjswBl_zBjGZwyO1bpHbZDFu4yXXa0VqhX2gx7R7tLJVwGzbcuMDGxIQy9dat-kk5-Eo5idiq2KgAK5RA6cANx_0Usv6bnHIFDROYKFfoOS8McBt4s/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1600" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig23eMmbt8djKrIsGpLm8Tbct75SjswBl_zBjGZwyO1bpHbZDFu4yXXa0VqhX2gx7R7tLJVwGzbcuMDGxIQy9dat-kk5-Eo5idiq2KgAK5RA6cANx_0Usv6bnHIFDROYKFfoOS8McBt4s/s640/01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It all looks a bit bleak at this time of year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I
never thought I would be saying this but in this case, it may well be
true. To be, just sitting on the bank, watching the world go by is fun
enough. Catching fish is a bonus. Yes, it is nicer when the sun is out,
but the cold and wet has not bothered me in the past, at least not like
it did on Friday.<br />
<br />
Having got seriously delayed getting
out <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2019/02/yes-i-made-it-to-bank-but-it-nearly.html">last week</a>, I was determined to make an early start, this time. The
weather forecast was showing dry morning with light rain showers moving
in later. Although the temperatures were in single figures, I thought I
would be okay. I try and avoid setting up in the rain, but once I am set
up and wrapped up I am usually perfectly happy to keep going in the
rain.<br />
<br />
I managed to get out and be on the road before
06:00. Sue's trusty 'recycled fridge' (Volvo) was the chosen mode of
transport as my van was half full of stuff to be shipped down to our
storage 'facility' in advance of our impending house move, that seems to
be taking an age, but that is another story!<br />
<br />
Okay, it
does mean that I can travel faster on the arterial roads as there are no
extra speed restrictions placed on the car, as there are on big vans,
but I must remember that my 'intimidation' power is much reduced when it
comes to asserting ones self into the traffic. It is also not as quick
off the mark as the van, especially at speed. That said, I had plenty of
time, and a leisurely drive got me to the fishery in just under an
hour.<br />
<br />
There was a bit of a queue at the gate, but this
soon dissipated as it opened and I found myself alone in the office,
buying a ticket. I assume all the others were already booked in to the
specimen lakes. I bought a two-rod ticket and headed off to Maze Lake.<br />
<br />
The
lake has had a lot of work carried out on it over the past year, with
some major alterations to the layout. It was also netted over the winter
and restocked, recently, with a thousand F1s. The lake has not fished well for me, of late, but with all those new fish, surely I should
have had a more successful day, in terms of numbers of fish caught.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5C95Of6XDl-6Ckq6EvmzKj9ktPcE9AfpZEgLM6yCcTsg3EDDqBOo1W1DpmKRKfjzlr8FhVmTsuNQ5rEKdu7KHa899TCN1xFnzXZ6RWDcBwGszs9AiY3PBhFK5WmXFHpq1ZvnlhjW58I/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5C95Of6XDl-6Ckq6EvmzKj9ktPcE9AfpZEgLM6yCcTsg3EDDqBOo1W1DpmKRKfjzlr8FhVmTsuNQ5rEKdu7KHa899TCN1xFnzXZ6RWDcBwGszs9AiY3PBhFK5WmXFHpq1ZvnlhjW58I/s640/02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flat-calm water did not stay like that for long, once the wind and rain got up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The
guys have been busy this winter on the grounds. The surrounding
vegetation has been trimmed back to reveal a stark looking landscape
that is a bit of a shock at first sight. It amazes me just how different
this will look in a couple of months time when mother nature attempts
to reclaim the lake as her own. <br />
<br />
My plan for later
was to try feeder fishing, one rod at distance and one close in. Before
that I wanted to try my luck with my trusty tele-pole and see what was
hanging around the severely cropped marginal reeds. To my surprise, I
was not getting a sign of anything there big or small, not even a touch.<br />
<br />
After
a couple of hours I was starting to feel the cold. I have fished in
much colder conditions in the past, but this time I was really
suffering. I had warm clothes on, more than usual, but I was still
starting to feel uncomfortable. I added an extra layer in the form of a
hoodie, over my thermal T-shirt, jumper and under my coat. I was wearing
gloves and thermal socks inside my boots, yet still I was not very
warm. I decided I was being a bit soft and carried on.<br />
<br />
I
was fed up with the lack of action on the tele-pole and put out a
second feeder. at least this way, with the bait-runner drags at a
minimum, I could put my gloved hands inside my pockets. Just as I was
thinking this was going to be a blank day, the distance feeder's reel
started to click and then scream as it paid-out line. A fish!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8c0qAg2TvaOFqIKG5xjcVsm21QvdTmuxji-fNlpugKMX-IrInST1s3bTCBMf3y6deK3MFwEB9hZj_tjqfNlnejUDbHY0YedmMOXVXWkEadFPmL6OZ8M909zo-Fh8H4ncusv3-cKpQAfQ/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8c0qAg2TvaOFqIKG5xjcVsm21QvdTmuxji-fNlpugKMX-IrInST1s3bTCBMf3y6deK3MFwEB9hZj_tjqfNlnejUDbHY0YedmMOXVXWkEadFPmL6OZ8M909zo-Fh8H4ncusv3-cKpQAfQ/s640/03.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only fish to make it to the bank </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I
wound into my quarry to realise, by the lack of fighting resistance,
that I had not found one of the new F1s, but a decent sized bream (at
least for me) that just slid into the net and I landed with no problem.
Encouraged by my success I reloaded the feeder with my trusty <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2015/04/two-dog-groundbait.html">Two Dog</a>
groundbait, secured another punch of bacon grill on the hair and recast
to the same spot. Meanwhile, the other rod was doing nothing so I recast
a new feeder full of the groundbait and sat back and watched the lack
of action. I had a couple of takes on the distance feeder over the next
couple of hours but lost both of them at the net. One a fairly decent
common and another bream, this one a bit more feisty than its previous
cousin.<br />
<br />
By now I was really feeling disgruntled and
cold. I had also had a call about the house sale and had to spend some
time trying to sort that out. By now the wind was getting up and it took
my line into the branch of a tree as it passed the end of the island.
that resulted in the feeder being donated to the lake and a huge tangle
of line making friends with the reel. At this point I decided to ditch
the closer of the two feeders and try again with the tele-pole in a new
position.<br />
<br />
Here, I was more successful in as much as I
managed to hook a few more decent sized fish, including a ghost carp
that must have gone a few pounds. I fought it for what seemed to be an
eternity on the light gear, only to lose it at the net to a chorus of
not so tuneful, but heart-felt expletives. Although I hook a few more
fish, I landed nothing more. I was surprised that I did not catch any
small fish at all, not even a small roach on the tele-pole.<br />
<br />
By
now the rain was becoming more persistent and I was not enjoying myself
at all. At around 15:00 I decided that enough was enough and I started
to pack up. I suddenly realised that I had not been out fishing in the
cold, like this, since I have lost weight. I have lost a huge amount of
weight since this time last year, so much so that I had to buy a whole
new wardrobe of clothes, including my fishing gear! I am now convinced
that the several layers of fat I have lost from around my waist (six
inches of it) must have been insulating me from the cold. The strange
thing is, I seem to have lost it from all over, including my head! I put
my favourite fishing hat on the other day, only to find it slipped over
my eyes!<br />
<br />
I was back home by 17:30 and it took me all
day yesterday to warm up again. No more sitting around stillwaters for
me in the colder months, in future I will restrict my fishing on cooler,
sun-less, days to roving the rivers and canals.<br />
<br />
Ralph <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-67765836729986572042019-02-24T11:26:00.000+00:002019-02-25T17:00:29.926+00:00Yes, I made it to the bank...…but it nearly didn’t happen! <br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My fishing adventures have been somewhat curtailed over the past year for all sorts of reasons. Health issues, the hot weather and an ongoing house move, have all contributed individually or in combination to thwart any plans I had of spending a day at the bank. I did make it a couple of times in November, but other than that, the only outings were to mine or the other bloke's local river, since July. As it turned out, I ended up fishing the same water I had <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2018-07-20T18:09:00%2B01:00&max-results=10&start=10&by-date=false">fished in July</a>. This time the conditions were very different. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the past week, the weather down here in London has been balmy. Temperatures have been in the high teens with low, but bright sunshine. The lighter nights and dry (ish) weather have added to the illusion of a spring day in February. All this beautiful weather, combined with a convenient gap in our altogether chock-a-block calendar, gave the perfect opportunity to take a day out fishing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was the middle of the week, and by Friday I had gathered together some tackle, purchased a pint of maggots and was ready for an early start on Saturday. That was until I realised my mobile phone had gone flat. I plugged it in to charge and forgot about it until early evening. As I was gathering my last minute bits together, I noticed a message from the estate agent selling our house. It merely asked me to call him back. The trouble was it was now too late. I thought about calling him from the bank, assuming I could get a signal, but in the end, I decided to put the fishing on hold.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday morning came, and on the dot of 09:00, I called the agent only to discover that the guy who called was not in until Monday! By 10:00 I had managed to get hold of his colleague, who said he just intended to keep me up to date and there was nothing that needed attention urgently. I know if I had just gone fishing, it would have been a different story. Now, somewhat deflated, I pondered what to do. In the end, I decided to go anyway. I loaded the van and was on the road by 10:10.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had pondered where to go, but anywhere is a decent drive from here. I stuck to my original plan and set off for Beaver, yes I know, same old story, but I know I will find some fish there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On leaving the end of my road, I joined a queue of traffic on the South Circular, it was stationary. This part of this very busy road is only two-lane, one in each direction. There is no choice but to sit in the queue and wait. A mile or so further on, the reason for the hold-up was revealed as the police had closed a section of the road (in both directions) diverting the traffic to the left and right, just before the road passes under the railway. It is a fair distance to get to the next crossing point. As these crossing places are a bottleneck, at the best of times, the back-doubles soon became gridlocked. An hour after leaving home I was just about to cross the railway half a mile away from the closure.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I eventually got onto the M25 and sailed the few miles to the A22, the road that winds its way through Surrey and, in due course, past Beaver. Usually, this is not a bad road, except on a Thursday morning when the refuge trucks are out. This particular morning the traffic was thick and more clutch-pumping made for a further tedious delay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Getting on for two hours after leaving home I drove through the fishery gates.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this time of year, the gates close at 18:00, so I had barely five hours to fish, after allowing for time to set and pack away, leaving enough time get out of the gate before it closed - automatically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDE9LILHL6L1PXmjJsN5nFoYb8cF736TjnrSKvtkTze9mgPpzSHbAjSKcwLce8c2oinRU7O5cCn7N6pfXyZm5HjJAVFtiI3dbhmDsgDgHURk0BC0lOj7jlvMyLlr80pAjR8C1B21EpJE/s1600/eden_am.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDE9LILHL6L1PXmjJsN5nFoYb8cF736TjnrSKvtkTze9mgPpzSHbAjSKcwLce8c2oinRU7O5cCn7N6pfXyZm5HjJAVFtiI3dbhmDsgDgHURk0BC0lOj7jlvMyLlr80pAjR8C1B21EpJE/s640/eden_am.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eden Pond - The very sparse vegetation, at this time of year, gives it a very open look</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had thought I would try Maze Lake again, as it has been netted over the winter and a lot of work done on it last summer to fill in some of the redundant water. Talking to Andy, the bailiff, it sounded as that was not a good idea at the moment as no one had been successful on there over the past week or so. Instead, it was suggested that I try Eden Pond, as I was only looking for a few hours of float/short-pole fishing. This I did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On arrival, I found one other person fishing the lake. He had been there all morning and caught nothing… Not what I wanted to hear. Nevertheless, I set up my minimal kit comprising of a chair, small divvy table (for bait), unhooking mat, net etc. and one of my cheap 5m tele-poles. A light rig using 4lb line and a 3lb hook length to a size 18 hook, suspended under a small rugby-ball shaped, 0.1g pole float. I started off at dead depth with a single maggot.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgsdQZL4P-WjR6kt8-uYs6fiNDsTKbaBnOuE_FhElMkxOqMZr4hng_aVVIEQBzxVOI-uMv4Ef_q4HRv3yklljc5AiOh_dZNjsiYzFWrsFk6QQNpnvAD-ZnRHG-sRVBiIfySwbKHxgfbw/s1600/first_fish_19.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgsdQZL4P-WjR6kt8-uYs6fiNDsTKbaBnOuE_FhElMkxOqMZr4hng_aVVIEQBzxVOI-uMv4Ef_q4HRv3yklljc5AiOh_dZNjsiYzFWrsFk6QQNpnvAD-ZnRHG-sRVBiIfySwbKHxgfbw/s640/first_fish_19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first fish of the session, and the year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had been feeding a swim close to an outcrop of reeds while I was tackling up. I put the float in and let the bait settle. A gentle lift every now and then did nothing to encourage a feeling of optimism. It had been months since my last trip out fishing way back in early November. I had blanked that day, other than an unfortunate Signal Crayfish. I added a couple of inches to the depth, so the bait would be sitting on the bottom, and put in again with the same bait. Within seconds it was fish on, and I had caught my first fish of the day, and of this year!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A nice roach. Okay, not the biggest specimen in the lake, but not the smallest either. Feeing a few loose maggots every five minutes or so seemed to keep the swim alive. I was catching a good number of roach, all about the same size. I was happy, and the other guy on the lake was still not catching anything. I asked if he would like some maggot and he said he would. I gave him a couple of handfuls and went back to my fishing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Changing the bait for one red and one white maggot, lead to me landing a nice little perch about the same size as the roach. This little fellow looked as if he had been in the wars, as most of his dorsal fin was missing. I did not photograph him and sent him on his way without putting him through any further stress.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I sat there fishing the small pole for a few hours, soaking up the sunshine that was making for an enjoyable day. Fish were coming at a rate fast enough to make it enjoyable, without being too easy. Subtle changes to depth and bait gave varying results. I was catching, and that was good. At least it was for me. I have learnt that light tackle, at this time of year, seems to be the way to go. Not too light though, as there are a few bigger fish in here.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeTVllN_jieuGTaItig_j-uhF-R8QLfN9RPF9_62xVY2iBzSF3HR-HAYpQ_d7vNKuYZJFsKfCqZmNGCPfNjzQOSY3hxaNhuIFm8PxOxusYpKnco8IsBEQ4Ubk_rVc1Uiv01cx_y1NeOI/s1600/most_fish_19.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1600" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJeTVllN_jieuGTaItig_j-uhF-R8QLfN9RPF9_62xVY2iBzSF3HR-HAYpQ_d7vNKuYZJFsKfCqZmNGCPfNjzQOSY3hxaNhuIFm8PxOxusYpKnco8IsBEQ4Ubk_rVc1Uiv01cx_y1NeOI/s640/most_fish_19.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I caught lots of roach, all about the same size</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The elderly chap (yes he was older than me!) took great pains to tell me how long he had been fishing (all his life) and that there were no fish feeding in the lake (pond?) today. He could not understand it. After I had started catching continuously, he decided to pack up and go. He had been fishing using heavy line and a long waggler float that was sticking out of the water by about eight inches. I am not even sure he had plumbed the depth. His tactic was to throw in handfuls of soggy groundbait, that hit the water like a rock, all over the swim. After he had gone, I rigged a rod and lobbed a float out over where he had been fishing and caught a small bream on the first cast. Maybe I am learning something. I was fun to actually find and catch a few fish.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW-BAlN2zlgCvjuWSWRRJ3dPUR_yxLHx2E47Nm13TBfu9kq8FV1l3ZbvGUnDRp4pm1Gn46OoYtllDaZ6OphZ57FDmij0EvyGfeXB3CCRp_E6Mw0sMiEUv9HCnzMHAVMHtvoIvFSFBRXo/s1600/bream.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1600" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUW-BAlN2zlgCvjuWSWRRJ3dPUR_yxLHx2E47Nm13TBfu9kq8FV1l3ZbvGUnDRp4pm1Gn46OoYtllDaZ6OphZ57FDmij0EvyGfeXB3CCRp_E6Mw0sMiEUv9HCnzMHAVMHtvoIvFSFBRXo/s640/bream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small bream (large skimmer?) 'nicked' from the other guys swim after he left</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Although only a short session, it was fun to get out and as I was so late getting started, I got a half-day ticket which was even better! It was only a few hours, but I enjoyed every moment, and I am so pleased I did not give up the fight to get here, as I was tempted to do when I got caught in all that traffic. The saving grace was the journey home was a good one, and I was home in a fraction of the time it took me to get there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ralph. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-16489183453045663692018-11-15T21:03:00.000+00:002018-11-16T22:41:43.820+00:00A bend in the rodToday, the weather forecast was for good weather with a predicted temperature high of 17°C. This being halfway through November, I decided to try and get a day's fishing in before it really started to get cold. As it turned out, the sun stayed hidden, except for a fleeting glance in the afternoon and temperatures never did get near the forecast high. Even so, it was plenty mild enough to make it comfortable with the standard clobber adorning my now much lighter frame. I have lost over two stone over the summer and now my fishing clothes, which were tight, are now a more than comfortable fit. I used to look like a <i>Teletubby, </i>in my bib and brace<i>, </i>now I am starting to resemble a partially deflated <i>Michelin man.</i> <br />
<br />
As last week's <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/11/finally-day-at-beaver.html">trip to Beaver</a> was a disaster, as far as catching fish was concerned, I made a point of getting there early this week to get the choice of swims. I have not got up this early for a while, but it all went fine. I was feeling good and as I was not taking too much tackle, and the van is half full of boxes and other junk from the packing up of our house, I chose to take the car. The old, recycled, Swedish fridge is getting on a bit these days (it is even older than the van!), but it still does the job with flying colours.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The water today was dead flat at times. Just look at the refection of the rod in the water</td></tr>
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A decent run meant I got to the fishery just as the gates were open and to my surprise, there was no queue. I had expected to be among a whole lot of people who had the same thought as me. After a bit of a catch-up with Andy, I paid my day-ticket money and set off for the back of Jeff's lake. I got there to find just one other person setting up on the far bank. The water was so still, it was like a mirror at times, ideal conditions for seeing the float. That might come in handy later, but for now, it is time to go back to what I know.<br />
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Today, I had made the decision to go back to method feeder fishing, using my tried and tested Two Dog groundbait as a feeder mix and Bacon Grill on the hook. I set up and filled the small 30g, Preston flat back method feeder, burying the hook-bait within the feed. This will generally give almost instant results on this lake, but not today. I persevered with this method for a while and eventually gave up, planning to revisit the spot later in the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jbowp8FoABrayTzGsV9h2pTtGOieTjgZUwRg1bliTMeaXjUmHzYjrGJPsOXnhK_vaI24DSAmRfbwQ7O7sAWyxMen5zIvVs5UPl2vm1nJ8b6ue1rTua8CUFYPEIgn1KK4l57PnjOY6S0/s1600/roach.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1600" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9jbowp8FoABrayTzGsV9h2pTtGOieTjgZUwRg1bliTMeaXjUmHzYjrGJPsOXnhK_vaI24DSAmRfbwQ7O7sAWyxMen5zIvVs5UPl2vm1nJ8b6ue1rTua8CUFYPEIgn1KK4l57PnjOY6S0/s640/roach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah! A nice little roach, for a change</td></tr>
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Meanwhile, I had been feeding a spot a few meters out to my right where I could drop a maggot-baited hook in with my short 5m tele-pole. A size 16 hook on a light rig was decimating the gudgeon population. I must have caught several dozen of them! Then, just for a change, I caught a nice little roach. Although I was catching fish this week, my total catch so far probably did not weigh much more than a pound or two at most. After getting bored with catching lots of tiny fish, I reverted to the feeder.<br />
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I had some Maggots left over from last week. I had bought a pint of mixed (colour) maggots. I have never used these before, and they are interesting to look at, even if the fish were not at all interested last week. Not wanting to change the rig I thought I would make a 'cocktail' bait by securing a punch of Bacon Grill on the hair, and a couple of the brightly coloured maggots on the hook. Having never tried this before, I was impressed when it resulted in a nice, firm take. For the first time in months, I was playing a fish that had some fight. The fact that it played dead after a very short fight confirmed my assumption that I was playing a bream.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jO8iOvJow5W6Rx868qmvrz32cvrJd0AMHp0m22-lNY9e7F36rLm-xpir8kI_x5V-GbRjDouysVSleT7dd66HkLOy8pfa-4G3pRVHtTYD5Yb9V0jbKz9CDFjbMf_7gYWZE0OCW3awbHA/s1600/bream.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="1600" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jO8iOvJow5W6Rx868qmvrz32cvrJd0AMHp0m22-lNY9e7F36rLm-xpir8kI_x5V-GbRjDouysVSleT7dd66HkLOy8pfa-4G3pRVHtTYD5Yb9V0jbKz9CDFjbMf_7gYWZE0OCW3awbHA/s640/bream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's more like it</td></tr>
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Great! First decent fish of the day, I was on my way. I baited the rig again, and cast. Nothing. That was the end of the feeder fishing in that spot. I decided to go back to the pole and try some bigger bait to try and discourage the gudgeon. I tried at dead depth and nothing. After several attempts, using meat, sweetcorn and even bread, I was getting nowhere other than one perch that went for a piece of red (dyed) Bacon Grill. Even that was only a small fish. In desperation, I changed the hook to a size 10 and loaded it with a bunch of various coloured maggots, after buying another pint from the fishery shop. I also moved the float up the line so now I was fishing with an inch or so of line sitting on the bottom. That changed things dramatically.<br />
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The first put-in got a mighty tug. At this point, I realised the line was wrapped around the tip, and the elastic was still in the pole. Snap! The hooklength had broken, and I was left having to re-rig. Next put-in had the same reaction. This time the elastic came out of the pole until it bottomed-out and then snapped. I had brought along a second tele-pole with a stronger elastic fitted. That was rigged with a stronger line and hooklength. I put this in and again I had several strong bites that got away, this time I was just losing the fish. The gear, including the hook, sans bait, was holding up. Then I had another one on. It was playing nicely, and I was as gentle as I could be until it made a bolt for it and bottomed-out the elastic. This time the hooklength broke and the fish was lost.<br />
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By now, I realised that there was not much I could do to stop the fish using the small poles. They are excellent for small fish, but if anything of any size gets a hold of the bait, there is nothing I can do to stop it. By now it is getting on for lunchtime. I pulled the line out of the water and poured myself a cup of coffee to have with a sandwich and consider my options. It has been a while since I last fished this lake with any commitment. I did spend an hour or so on here <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/07/one-rod-and-low-water.html">earlier this year</a> catching F1s on corn, but that was at the height of summer, and I was using heavier gear.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRt_BNsZSMpV7f2iDXH7C0CR4phRC1E0UCcKqte2KZe3WcGsTj5CAIKHuvSsQGk2aP7DBgdtZGsmmFUAhNSURYcByzsoPcMfKjvNQU6V2E8yjzHPYFnVm363hIfShBrDXxt6XkppV1hI/s1600/coloured_maggots.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRt_BNsZSMpV7f2iDXH7C0CR4phRC1E0UCcKqte2KZe3WcGsTj5CAIKHuvSsQGk2aP7DBgdtZGsmmFUAhNSURYcByzsoPcMfKjvNQU6V2E8yjzHPYFnVm363hIfShBrDXxt6XkppV1hI/s640/coloured_maggots.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The multi-coloured maggots worked well with my Two Dog groundbait feeder-mix</td></tr>
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After lunch I hit on the idea of just dropping the feeder in, charged with Two Dog and leaving a bunch of maggots just hanging on a four-inch hooklength. After all, that is not that much different to what I was doing with the pole, once I had started to fish over-depth. That worked! The heavier gear was easily up to the job, and I was landing fish after fish. By now the lake had filled, and I was fishing with seven or eight other anglers. Some were catching, but not at the rate I was. Again, the Two Dog feeder mix was calling in those F1s. I must have had twenty of them over the next few hours, along with the odd bream and a lovely crucian. At least I am reasonably sure it was a crucian. As I understand it, the way to tell the difference is by counting the number lateral line scales. This fish seems to be in the 32-34 bracket which makes it a crucian as F1s usually have more, in the 35-36 range. Please correct me if I am wrong, I am only going by what I have read.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJ9K6JrjFmmVUN2VEjspWmt3z_OlCU89lrzQ_A3CNc1iSTBwrmGn_5faGCiySxFj3JBkiQhL6n34C97h-kK6upBQXfECVU_KRUahHZb4h1k13QEXfqdfhKWel7Ibf_GI9dW2OBIaPWD4/s1600/crucian.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJ9K6JrjFmmVUN2VEjspWmt3z_OlCU89lrzQ_A3CNc1iSTBwrmGn_5faGCiySxFj3JBkiQhL6n34C97h-kK6upBQXfECVU_KRUahHZb4h1k13QEXfqdfhKWel7Ibf_GI9dW2OBIaPWD4/s640/crucian.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice size crucian was my favourite fish of the day</td></tr>
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It starts to get dark very quickly at this time of year, so by 4 o'clock I was beginning to pack up, and by 5 o'clock I was all packed up and well on my way home. A great day fishing and I learnt a lot today.<br />
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Ralph.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-68330556455510597032018-11-13T09:50:00.000+00:002018-11-16T11:59:24.460+00:00John WilsonLong before I was an active angler, I often watched television programmes about fishing. Jack Hargreaves was probably the first 'name' I can remember. His series on the long since defunct 'Southern Television' was called <i>Out of Town</i>, and later, when it was picked up by Channel 4, <i>Old Country</i>. His soft dulcet tone was very easy to listen to, and his whole <span class="ILfuVd">demeanour gave him a grandfatherly appeal to a young lad like myself, even though I was not interested in fishing as a kid. </span><br />
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<span class="ILfuVd">Later in life, as an adult, I would watch fishing programmes with Sue, my wife. Neither of us were anglers, but we enjoyed watching well-presented fishing programmes as entertainment in their own right. John Wilson's <i>Go Fishing</i> was one such programme. Like many others, we were captivated by John Wilson's genuine enthusiasm for the hobby. It mattered not that we were not interested in having a go ourselves, we soaked up the material on offer for the sixteen years that the programme aired on Channel 4 and then again as repeats on the digital channels in recent years. John Wilson's programmes had (and probably still do) an appeal, way beyond the angling community. </span><br />
<span class="ILfuVd"><br /></span> <span class="ILfuVd">Today, 13 November 2018, I learned that John has died, this morning in Thailand, after suffering a stroke on Sunday. He had moved there a few years ago to retire to the sun, but in recent months he had decided to return home to spend more time with family. Sadly this was not to be. Although I have never met him, I felt like I had lost a friend. When I took up fishing late in life, just four years ago, the first book I bought was a copy of his <i>Course Fishing Method Manual. </i>Now long out of print, being first published over twenty years ago, I managed to secure a second-hand copy.</span><br />
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<span class="ILfuVd">The book was obviously well loved before I became the custodian of the volume. The original owner had scribed a declaration on the inside of the cover, stating that the book belonged to him. He had also added his undying love for his girlfriend! Even now, the book is full of the basic information a novice like me needs to further my fishing adventures. I am sure there is many an angler out there today who has learned a lot, and like me, are still learning from the words of John Wilson. </span><br />
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<span class="ILfuVd">John Wilson was voted the 'greatest angler of all time' by the Angling Times readers and was awarded an MBE in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours, </span><span class="ILfuVd"> For services to Angling. </span><br />
<span class="ILfuVd"><br /></span> <span class="ILfuVd">R.I.P John Dennis Wilson, MBE.</span><br />
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<span class="ILfuVd">Ralph. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-11480016178339544672018-11-08T22:53:00.000+00:002018-11-09T17:46:27.135+00:00Finally, a day at Beaver...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your days are numbered...</td></tr>
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Today has been a good day. My first visit to Beaver Fishery <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/07/one-rod-and-low-water.html">since July</a>. I missed most of the summer fishing due to one thing or another, although I did manage the odd trip to our local river and Tim's stretch of The Medway, as regular readers of my waffle will know.<br />
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The cold and dark of this time of the year did not inspire me to plan an early start, so a leisurely plod was in order. The van is full of boxes as we are in the process of packing up the house, so rather than mess about, I decided to go light and take the car. A float rod and a tele-pole, my comfy seat and a small bag of tackle was the order of the day that all fit nicely into the back.<br />
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I left just before 09:00, and to my surprise, the traffic was fairly light. Less than an hour later, I was driving into the fishery. By this time the office was locked, and the guys were out and about tending to the grounds. I could hear the sound of the fishery's Kubota pick-up and headed for the noise. On the bank of Jeff's lake, I found Adam trimming the margins. After a brief chat, we headed back to the office where I paid my day ticket and bought a pint of multicoloured maggots and a tin of hemp.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maze Lake. The area inside the red box has now been in-filled</td></tr>
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Last time I was here, the silted up arm of Maze Lake was being filled in and now completed, access to the 'fingers' is easier from the back of the lake. I decided to have a go at fishing from there. It always seemed a lot of messing about to get there before. I set up in a swim at the end of the 'finger' in a place I could not reach from where I have fished in the past. The spot looked good with open water in front of me and a patch of lily pads to my left at the closed end. The section of the map is taken from the complex map on the fishery's website, showing the layout of Maze Lake as it was before the infill.<br />
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The greyed out area inside the red box indicates where the lake has been filled and the red arrow shows where I was fishing for the day. I say fishing, I think in four years, this was the first time here that I blanked, not a sniff all day. The only thing to get dragged out of the lake was a signal crayfish laden with eggs. Even that was foul hooked! Needless to say, it did not make it back to the lake.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my peg, looking out over the swim to the new grassed area of infill. </td></tr>
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The spot looked idyllic. Nice stretch of water in front of me, looking over to the bank that surrounds this side of The Major's Lake. My favourite place to fish is just the other side of that bank. However, the water level is still low in The Major's Lake and is continually being topped up from Maze via a diesel pump that can be heard in the distance. After a while, I forgot the noise was there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoydY0aH5vX3R0-9AyN0_qcRgnXz56Ipq5w-0WQqcz0p50L6OzR72OzbOl-litjlk8-V04YmKrwAqlCx6ivwqfozpPwxX_4nVN3hfTCBchflSYWsX12uDPsdhgkc3wdfXPwxUITieD4U/s1600/pads.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoydY0aH5vX3R0-9AyN0_qcRgnXz56Ipq5w-0WQqcz0p50L6OzR72OzbOl-litjlk8-V04YmKrwAqlCx6ivwqfozpPwxX_4nVN3hfTCBchflSYWsX12uDPsdhgkc3wdfXPwxUITieD4U/s640/pads.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You would think there would be a few fish around those lily pads, wouldn't you?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was too busy trying to catch fish - unsuccessfully. I started off by cupping in a small cup of maggots and hemp while I was rigging my short, 5m pole. I plumbed the depth to set the bait right on the bottom and impaled one of the colourful maggots. Nothing. I fed a few grains of hemp over the float. Still nothing. After an hour or so, I gave up on the pole and decided to rig my float rod with a long waggler and see what was hanging around further out. Nothing. In short, I tried changing bait to corn, bread and even meat but it all gave the same result, absolutely nothing. I did not get a bite all day until the last few minutes when it was getting dark, and I was about to pack up. Both fish came off the hook and my total catch for the day was one, now deceased, signal crayfish.<br />
<br />
This is very similar to a trip we made to our<a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/08/not-sausage.html"> local river back in the summer</a>. It had been raining all day yesterday, and I guess the rain has cooled the water down sufficiently to cause the fish to stop feeding for a while as they acclimatise to their changed environment. Mistakenly, I chose today to go fishing as it looked like the weather was going to be good, not thinking about the fact that it had been raining all day yesterday.<br />
<br />
Yes, it would have been nice to catch the odd fish, but never mind, I had a day out in some nice weather getting some fresh air and was able to spend a good few hours without worrying about life in general, moving house and being ill. I think if the weather is not too bad, I might go and say hello to the fish in the weir pool on our local river over the weekend. I wonder if they like multi-coloured maggots!<br />
<br />
Ralph. <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-48564863993050167152018-11-07T20:54:00.000+00:002018-11-07T23:16:19.083+00:00Goodbye London and fishing on Thursday - Maybe.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi45cM62hAb4QaZ4RqPzmuSlzDuqCCdyD-37Dsz-xzQixTXqbVmgWoywry0eJRHlcpYwPCZYmRFQQQGDr46Z8FgsaaZXi8CILlm6pebIPdFZg9hYKx55mCa4ZaP_sPK6OhOY9zlluoUA/s1600/goodbye_london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1600" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqi45cM62hAb4QaZ4RqPzmuSlzDuqCCdyD-37Dsz-xzQixTXqbVmgWoywry0eJRHlcpYwPCZYmRFQQQGDr46Z8FgsaaZXi8CILlm6pebIPdFZg9hYKx55mCa4ZaP_sPK6OhOY9zlluoUA/s640/goodbye_london.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
39 years and 19 days after moving into our Victorian terraced house (that we bought as a first time buy back in the days when nobody wanted to live here) we have just put it on the market. Since we moved here the area has steadily become more desirable as the infrastructure has been improved and the surrounding areas have become far too expensive for anybody but the elite.<br />
<br />
Now the multi-coloured, ten-year old Ford Cortinias and rusty Morris Marinas that used to adorn the curb have been replaced with Range Rovers, Porsches and Mercedes. Every road has houses being refurbished to high standards and usually with the addition of loft conversions, extensions and even basements excavated. Who would have thought, when we bought a house that had been converted into two flats, for no money at all, that four decades on it would be one of the most desirable locations in the road? Not us, that is for sure. Originally, we had only intended to stay here for three years.<br />
<br />
Now after a lifetime of living in the smoke it will be a big wrench to drag ourselves away from all the advantages living in London can offer. This has been made a lot easier in recent years by the growing list of disadvantages for us. There is no doubt that a younger person making his way in life, the modern fast, twenty-four hour vibe of the metropolis can be the perfect place to live.<br />
<br />
For me, all that is behind me. At 62 years of age, I have no intention of landing myself with a whole lot of stress I don't need. The thought of moving out to a place where I can just be, has become more and more appealing as the years chug by. Making the move now, before I get too old to enjoy the things I love, makes perfect sense.<br />
<br />
<h3>
So What has this got to do with fishing? </h3>
<br />
Lots. For a start I will not be able to do much fishing over the next few months while we pack up and sort out the best part of forty years of accumulated stuff. You know, there is furniture, clothes and kitchen utensils and all the rest is 'stuff'. We seem to have far more than our fair share of stuff, in fact I had no idea just how much stuff we actually had tucked away in this house!<br />
<br />
Fishing gear comes under the 'stuff' category and again, it mounts up. My intention is to keep some to hand, but the rest will have to be packed up ready to move and put into storage for a while, along with a lot of other stuff. Now I have to decide what to keep to hand.<br />
<br />
I could base it on what I take when going 'light'. See <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2017/05/do-i-really-need.html">HERE</a>. That covers float fishing, but I will add a couple of my short tele-poles and pole-rigs. I will also keep to hand my little telescopic rod that I use on the tiny rivers we have locally. That should do for the foreseeable future. All the rest will go into storage and will still be accessible if I do need it.<br />
<br />
The weather looks good for tomorrow and that will give me a good excuse to try out the minimum gear approach. I have not been to Beaver for months, partly due to the moving 'distractions' but mainly due to not feeling well enough. I am really looking forward to a day by a familiar lake just gently fishing for whatever comes along. <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-good-day-on-eden-pond.html">The last time I was there</a>, the weather was baking hot. I think it will be a bit different tomorrow. Time to dig out some warm clothing and something hot for breakfast on the bank...<br />
<br />
...Happy to be going fishing, but even happier now we have just had an offer accepted on a house we want to buy - all we have to do now is sell this one! <br />
<br />
Ralph.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-67293249934620909252018-10-11T22:43:00.003+01:002018-10-11T22:43:59.027+01:00And then there were perch!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i7T5Q-3wHlGYOpo6F6ix9A9FfL5Z57AP9ADDCPUNnhYDloM1Q6xyJEuTW8v-icEeDHi_WlPygqiuStidoxh2RYnktJNWWTKlD6EexUUSXODwdnQ969GkyWS9kno9ynrO9ZQ1icAvP7o/s1600/punching_meat.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i7T5Q-3wHlGYOpo6F6ix9A9FfL5Z57AP9ADDCPUNnhYDloM1Q6xyJEuTW8v-icEeDHi_WlPygqiuStidoxh2RYnktJNWWTKlD6EexUUSXODwdnQ969GkyWS9kno9ynrO9ZQ1icAvP7o/s320/punching_meat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We save all the trimmings from Bacon Grill punching</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/09/rain.html">last time</a> we were down by our local river, here in Catford, it had just been raining, and it was running a torrent over the shallow weir and into the pool we have been fishing lately. Today, normality has been restored, the water was crystal clear, and the chub are cursing around looking for anything that might constitute food. We had no maggots in stock, so we took some Bacon Grill trimmings (the bits left behind after first slicing and then punching a whole can into hook-bait) that had been chopped up ready to use as feed on my next outing.<br />
<br />
Having never fed these fish with meat before, I had no idea how they would react. It turned out they are partial to cured, processed pig fat and meat! I might try them of meat next time instead of/as well as Maggots.<br />
<br />
As we were watching the chub, I caught a flash of stripes. Yes, the perch from downstream have also arrived in the pool along with the chub. Although not as bold as the chub, they were definitely interested and were patrolling the far bank, close to the pilings. Although they did make the odd excursion our direction, they would not move that far away from the far bank. I should have brought the small pole catapult as although the river is not that wide, it is impossible to get the feed over to the far bank without spooking the fish with my flailing arm.<br />
<br />
Next time we get the chance, I will take willies with me and paddle over to the other bank, across the weir. The water passing over it is only a few inches deep, most of the time. Once there I can have a go at fishing from the far bank. With that in mind, I have some Bacon Grill punch that has been dyed red - it might just tempt a passing perch. I might even try dropshotting for them with a small plastic fish! <br />
<br />
I would never have thought there could be so much fun to be had just a short mile and a half walk from my front door here in South East London. The more I study this small river, the more I like it and the more interesting it becomes. I really enjoy my short sessions actually fishing, but I am getting just as much fun out of trying to learn where the fish are, as there is no one to tell me. I guess this is what they call watercraft, or at least the learning of it.<br />
<br />
Ralph. <br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-49320876638873709802018-10-09T13:55:00.002+01:002018-10-09T14:00:31.985+01:00No fish, but I got my spanner back!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ArSJsj8kU9vS5zFplNcZJpVIp5BtSf_583B3eC00fqVtshyphenhyphenPyCK5wUjEjQ2Ur-jJuRGazOyYoIKpp-6mNu1EEc3F8LN4OiE6Mj6c5yfFxoGxT3QxgSVaIDP46360opovUK_KZxwt7ew/s1600/trimmed_trees.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ArSJsj8kU9vS5zFplNcZJpVIp5BtSf_583B3eC00fqVtshyphenhyphenPyCK5wUjEjQ2Ur-jJuRGazOyYoIKpp-6mNu1EEc3F8LN4OiE6Mj6c5yfFxoGxT3QxgSVaIDP46360opovUK_KZxwt7ew/s640/trimmed_trees.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trees have been trimmed - time (and room) to fish</td></tr>
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Yesterday, I got back down to Kent to fish with Tim. Having been stuck indoors for the past few weeks, I was really looking forward to a day fishing with the other bloke on The Medway, upstream of Maidstone town centre, attempting to catch a fish! Neither of us did. Since we <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/06/maggots-corn-little-plastic-fishes.html">first fished here</a>, the trees have been trimmed, and the place looks completely different. At last, we will be able to cast with ease. We started off having a go at dead-baiting for pike, as Tim had bought a few frozen roach and skimmers. This was a big learning curve as neither of us had tried this before. Just trying to get the single circle hook through the body of the fish (now unfrozen!) was a bit of a palaver - it would have made a poor comedy sketch. None of what you see on YouTube is as easy as it looks, and this is no different.<br />
<br />
Armed with a good few hours of experience, we need to go back to the virtual classroom and see if we can move on a stage. The bait was getting attacked, we were just not feeling a bite, or when we did, we were not connecting with the fish. Hey Ho. After a few hours of 'feeding' the fish we decided to pack it in and go back to float fishing and chatting - sort of what we do best, the chatting that is!<br />
<br />
We still blanked, not even a twitch. I guess Saturday's heavy rain had changed the river, that was the clearest I have seen it since we first fished here, back at the beginning of the summer. This part of the river is above the first lock, so the flow is governed by when the lock is opened or the rate water that is allowed to pass. Now, call me thick, but I have just realised that maybe we should be fishing this stretch of the river more like a canal than a river...<br />
<br />
Although the fishing was not great, I did come home with a catch, not mine but one of Tim's. When the guys were trimming the trees, he borrowed their magnet-on-a-string and managed to recover the spanner I dropped into the river when we were removing the ladders. That was back on the 4th of August. The spanner had been in the river for a good couple of months. When Tim got it out, it looked in excellent condition apart from what looked like some light surface rust. When I got it home, I gave it a quick wash in warm soapy water and the 'rust' dissipated. It was just a build up of reddy-orange sediment that had deposited itself in the lettering and the jaws of the ring-end. If this is not a good endorsement of quality, I don't know what is. The picture below shows a brand new spanner that I bought to replace the lost item and the recovered spanner. Can you tell which is which?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSjI3B6GWr-d86pT1RZ-G2_qxLpjSjfRM1IFa7lnsmme-9FFTpj0OhxXlSkTY7eZIEQfZTx2mYq4QYKISJbtTygo7_wPS0HhVbs8BmBQwKqz9PITt6OcIOMG0B7ROIirwIqNcN5pHDTc/s1600/spanners.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSjI3B6GWr-d86pT1RZ-G2_qxLpjSjfRM1IFa7lnsmme-9FFTpj0OhxXlSkTY7eZIEQfZTx2mYq4QYKISJbtTygo7_wPS0HhVbs8BmBQwKqz9PITt6OcIOMG0B7ROIirwIqNcN5pHDTc/s640/spanners.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lower one has spent the past couple of months at the bottom of the river!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next time we fish from here, I will be using a slider float and having a go with a long pole. As far as the pike fishing is concerned, I have discovered what we were doing wrong with the rig, I just need to go and find out how to use it! I will let you know how that goes in due course. All in all, it was a great day, with good company and fun fishing, even if we did not land a single fish. <br />
<br />
Ralph. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-68997377127827128852018-09-23T21:57:00.000+01:002018-10-11T21:41:18.013+01:00Rain!It has been raining all morning here in London. By about 15:00 it had stopped, and the sun came out. Itching to get out of the house, we went for a walk along the river and were surprised just how much water was flowing and how high it must have been a few hours earlier. Our usually tame trickle of a river was in full flow. At the confluence of the two rivers, the water was hammering down the shallow weirs with speed not seen all summer, at least not by us.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTrdkzjjOMIOCJ0D_moRsZFE_JWA2QVjJEdJpLsUhQstG3BtHp_5MkxyvrPfMSZ-hgbdhrKr7idnY4fAX2YvnpXF4e8BmV581_8cbQ49qKRW1K3jqGHTbwqoh8Zi1Pq2WUaL_Q3xlRj8/s1600/confluence_rav_pol.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTrdkzjjOMIOCJ0D_moRsZFE_JWA2QVjJEdJpLsUhQstG3BtHp_5MkxyvrPfMSZ-hgbdhrKr7idnY4fAX2YvnpXF4e8BmV581_8cbQ49qKRW1K3jqGHTbwqoh8Zi1Pq2WUaL_Q3xlRj8/s640/confluence_rav_pol.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the confluence of the River Ravensbourne and the Pool River, The water is flowing over the weirs with force.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From this point, the river flows down through Catford and Ladywell on its way to Lewisham and onward to Deptford Creek and into the River Thames, as the River Ravensbourne. Following our little river upstream to our favourite places, the river was very much higher than usual and carrying a lot of colour.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySL_1tfjiYYm71BPaR6NAZeLBhyqEYs9MQSIuqzXmEfN-FJCXDXAWIZ7NkHanREIZMi7ptNvpbnZouU2xyQxUkzS42XctJHMJxCGv5XMd4Ky-pe2BvL0ePUHMk5TwFG3LtWmktr24BLc/s1600/normal_spot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySL_1tfjiYYm71BPaR6NAZeLBhyqEYs9MQSIuqzXmEfN-FJCXDXAWIZ7NkHanREIZMi7ptNvpbnZouU2xyQxUkzS42XctJHMJxCGv5XMd4Ky-pe2BvL0ePUHMk5TwFG3LtWmktr24BLc/s640/normal_spot.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The camera has frozen the action, and the river looks almost flat calm - it wasn't!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our little spot where we <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2017/07/urban-fishing.html">first caught a few fish</a> last summer was almost unrecognisable as all the bank-side features were submerged and the water was flowing with some speed. In the picture above, you can see, on the opposite bank, where the vegetation has been flattened by water that must have been at least a couple of feet higher, a few hours earlier today.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqkxo_qMfEnt1uj7FlS-kx9rSrC0L56SDGtiH4VuLJ21lo7WSrJgEPhSGRhH0tmKamSUNmr5PQ-nSTeXIxoi5TSos3O_kr-mlDL2FcqNqG9YZv91NklDTaMsQiCGIu8ukXcUTfuRjZps/s1600/weir_pool.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqkxo_qMfEnt1uj7FlS-kx9rSrC0L56SDGtiH4VuLJ21lo7WSrJgEPhSGRhH0tmKamSUNmr5PQ-nSTeXIxoi5TSos3O_kr-mlDL2FcqNqG9YZv91NklDTaMsQiCGIu8ukXcUTfuRjZps/s640/weir_pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again the camera has taken the speed out of the shot, but as you can see, it looked a lot different today!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We continued upstream to the next weir, where we have caught a couple of <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/09/september-already-and-another-chub.html">decently sized chub</a> this summer. Here the water was again barrelling over the weir, turning our usually calm spot into a raging torrent.<br />
<br />
By this time we were a couple of miles away from home, and it was time to be getting back. It is Sunday today, and tonight roast pork is on the menu for this evening! There was not much point in trying to fish the river when it is this state as the rain will have changed the water temperature and upset the calm of the river, as we have discovered in the past. I will wait until it calms down a bit before I have another dangle in the river. In the meantime, I will investigate the commercials. I was planning on going to Beaver tomorrow, but with all the rain we have had today I think the fishing there will be harder than I would like, for a day pleasure fishing. It looks as though the weather will be a bit better later in the week, so I may well give it a go on Thursday - we will see.<br />
<br />
Ralph.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-58965334658596776042018-09-21T21:22:00.000+01:002018-09-21T21:22:17.425+01:00Well, I tried...After being stuck in doors for the last couple of weeks due to not feeling too good, I decided that I would at least have a go on our local river. Sue and I had found a good sheltered spot where we had seen lots of chublet and perch patrolling, a few week ago.<br />
<br />
As the area is very overgrown in places and surrounded with trees, the visit was in some doubt, due to the prospect of high winds causing trees to be in danger of falling or at the very least, dropping the odd branch. As it turned out, at first, the wind was not as bad as it had been forecast. We had some work to do this morning, so an afternoon session seemed to be the most convenient. It nearly didn't happen at all, as just as we were about to leave the heavens opened. I am not that bothered about rain, but it would have made it less pleasurable, especially for Sue, who is just a spectator (and maggot thrower!) in all this. Luckily the downpour only lasted a few minutes and the sun came out again.<br />
<br />
Fishing the river is all about going light, super light. This particular spot is really close to us, less than a mile walk from our front door, through the streets of South East London. I don't like attracting attention by carrying obvious fishing gear around, so we have developed a compact and stealthy kit for such excursions. This comprises of a shoulder bag that contains everything we need including the rod, reel and even a rolled up unhooking mat. The only additional item is a small landing net, borrowed from our light lure fishing tackle.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynG8yEp_m4vQW_hwI6xxQcI3-A90yrd0J9lbp6Hsht86-1mV9pdZHi5sRWARK5WrBxKyaaYLtpkF3xZOAnvnMwGfm6l882kCiPmK-cLbsyk3GHrqjTPUzx_jhWb20iz1Ge5U2XCIMRLw/s1600/open_bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1600" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynG8yEp_m4vQW_hwI6xxQcI3-A90yrd0J9lbp6Hsht86-1mV9pdZHi5sRWARK5WrBxKyaaYLtpkF3xZOAnvnMwGfm6l882kCiPmK-cLbsyk3GHrqjTPUzx_jhWb20iz1Ge5U2XCIMRLw/s640/open_bag.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going light. Even the rod goes in the bag</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_s7NoLiKeqTd2ZTDyw7g4hr3UrmnHLY6bJugCsW8Xn0htijIgb_CxrE_zKiRYyg2RpXycL-HrteBsV7HYm3lirh4GQ6pSlyQTNYrQzwxxTkG4Qmi9ZE_q0qjQhezta2DBqSeXkY_NXU/s1600/ready_to_go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1600" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_s7NoLiKeqTd2ZTDyw7g4hr3UrmnHLY6bJugCsW8Xn0htijIgb_CxrE_zKiRYyg2RpXycL-HrteBsV7HYm3lirh4GQ6pSlyQTNYrQzwxxTkG4Qmi9ZE_q0qjQhezta2DBqSeXkY_NXU/s640/ready_to_go.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When we got to the river, it was fairly obvious that the fishing was not going to be good. The wind had brought a few small branches down into the river and these were drifting down stream and collecting in various locations along the bank. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCm7uOdniEIBSli2lHrJNNqDC0ivXzKoEAsDtgxpldsECMg3JKa6IACoN34rdhvvZ2uW0j5ifkk0L3cXiNTkcWv6rVAn7dvn26KIx3oWYv1XoD2Y8TXfSXYveKCFYkTSd6xAYdKHe5BfA/s1600/rat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCm7uOdniEIBSli2lHrJNNqDC0ivXzKoEAsDtgxpldsECMg3JKa6IACoN34rdhvvZ2uW0j5ifkk0L3cXiNTkcWv6rVAn7dvn26KIx3oWYv1XoD2Y8TXfSXYveKCFYkTSd6xAYdKHe5BfA/s320/rat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Fuzzy rat!</td></tr>
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The rats were in evidence, inspecting all these free offerings. I managed to get a shot, albeit a bit fuzzy, of one of the little beggars scurrying around as bold as you like.<br />
<br />
Rats are not uncommon along the river, but today there were plenty of them to see. We continued on to our chosen location and had a walk along the bank, as far as is possible without getting involved in a jungle clearance scheme, and chose a swim that looked the best of what was a very poor bunch.<br />
<br />
I had pre-rigged my little telescopic rod with a small float and a size 16 hook, baited with a single white maggot. Sue had been baiting upstream from the chosen start of my attempted trot down the river. I had plumbed the depth in a few places and it ranged from almost zero to 15-18 inches at best. There was a narrow channel about a foot from the far bank that was the deepest point, almost everywhere else the water was only about 6 inches deep.<br />
<br />
The river was littered with small twigs and leaves. I was not feeling very confident about this. To add insult to injury, we had not seen a single fish or even any evidence of them. Although I knew in my heart I was on a hiding to nothing, I made a few casts. If I wasn't getting snagged on floating debris, my nine-inch deep rig was getting hung up on the bottom.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL-S4DYUsu1USFvdAVeedOx9b8AqmxaxMoRZTVbZiWAKwnEIQkPylojFkdlYvlj7YjUyMDN0Rt3VYYMUqFIUaJQymg5fyAVTsUBHx-mxBr7Y8mlQL9YSUHAizFYTkK4ZIBXmTFCcqlbg/s1600/fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL-S4DYUsu1USFvdAVeedOx9b8AqmxaxMoRZTVbZiWAKwnEIQkPylojFkdlYvlj7YjUyMDN0Rt3VYYMUqFIUaJQymg5fyAVTsUBHx-mxBr7Y8mlQL9YSUHAizFYTkK4ZIBXmTFCcqlbg/s640/fishing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much point really, but I had to give it a go!</td></tr>
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After half an hour or so, we decided that standing under a lot of trees that were swaying around in the now increasing wind, catching leaves was not as much fun as it would seem. Time to call it a day and maybe come back when the conditions are a bit more favourable. Still, we gave it a go and I did get on the bank for the first time in a couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
Ralph. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-19258965737865663042018-09-04T06:52:00.000+01:002018-09-05T10:38:08.986+01:00Deep river, short rod...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOaUjefowAY8B22W8xphKZqP5mdu8HNKdFbG1D-zyzKsb6Np1LUkpEyd_q1KOwGb8kXLfLyC6gwcH3A6pUg5g7E0Puct06UWoPs9AXUlX0TAEgkE2lsSHXZbOeshjiF5pk9fNQZloV9I/s1600/skimmer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOaUjefowAY8B22W8xphKZqP5mdu8HNKdFbG1D-zyzKsb6Np1LUkpEyd_q1KOwGb8kXLfLyC6gwcH3A6pUg5g7E0Puct06UWoPs9AXUlX0TAEgkE2lsSHXZbOeshjiF5pk9fNQZloV9I/s640/skimmer.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim's personal best skimmer bream out of the river to date - made his day! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, what a daft day yesterday was. The plan was to visit my brother and repair the jetty that had become rotten where the ladders had been. We decided to remove the ladders a few weeks ago as nobody was using them and, from our point of view, they were in the way. I had recovered what was left of the end support timbers and replaced/refurbished them here in the workshop. Refitting them was much easier than I had expected, as these things usually throw up the odd unexpected problem, but for once, the job went exactly as planned. Now for some fishing.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEHH6teqvv8f4h4euSD1csY7qFbwjGJaEnmEKiZY-unlL2YYmD0rblaRQfBC_onRXAEYMIrlbAP9aJHBLJUtest-kHZrWayZbKmx6cJ2WApN1Xtu0RdMDfrJm0PA5SCKHD0JzQjMtydI/s1600/roach.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="1600" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEHH6teqvv8f4h4euSD1csY7qFbwjGJaEnmEKiZY-unlL2YYmD0rblaRQfBC_onRXAEYMIrlbAP9aJHBLJUtest-kHZrWayZbKmx6cJ2WApN1Xtu0RdMDfrJm0PA5SCKHD0JzQjMtydI/s640/roach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Tim's roach was not that small</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It was at this point it all started to go wrong, at least for me. Tim has his rods hanging on the wall, made up and ready to go. All he has to do is pick them up and walk the few yards to the jetty, and he is fishing. Me, on the other hand, more intent on filling the van with the gear to repair the jetty, had just thrown a couple or three rods, along with a good selection of tackle in the van and left all my floats behind. Oh dear! (or words to that effect) That's a shame, I will have to borrow one of Tim's. This was a real pain as I had intended to have another go with the Polaris, slider floats. Undeterred I decided to have a go at straight ledgering, using a hair-rigged pellet.<br />
<br />
After an hour or so, this was not showing any signs of success. I retrieved the lead and hook-bait after a bit of a tug. It was buried in the silt. I need to seriously rethink this approach. Maybe some kind of buoyant bait and a longer hook length... More pondering for next time.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJKp6MaHPoehyhBgFsSz_GyabFpKmeF11J9zmJ64Hl50t3aiOTiwqbZAvzQWcEqQOMsXKPIZVe1Je75M6L7iEZYYR42QKyQg04MsGTvZzI7qrN3BVA1HfbShM4d4WLF2XDlIKx-35rCk/s1600/ffirst_fish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJKp6MaHPoehyhBgFsSz_GyabFpKmeF11J9zmJ64Hl50t3aiOTiwqbZAvzQWcEqQOMsXKPIZVe1Je75M6L7iEZYYR42QKyQg04MsGTvZzI7qrN3BVA1HfbShM4d4WLF2XDlIKx-35rCk/s640/ffirst_fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a nice looking perch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Meanwhile, the other bloke has hooked a pretty decent perch. To say he was feeling a bit smug was an understatement. "Wow! That is a nice looking fish" I said. Have you noticed how hard it is to speak, smile and look happy for someone while clenching one's teeth?<br />
<br />
I had given up on the ledgering and thought it might be fun to try out my new little telescopic rod, I had brought down to show the other bloke. It didn't take me long to realise that a rod that is only five feet long is not very useful when fishing a twelve feet deep swim. After agreeing that it was not a good idea, 'Little Brother' had another good sized perch on the hook and was now becoming just a tad irritating.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLyag7f2WyoeLaO9BVtSHDmhmODTCKgnnMLoQuHx_650GIme8zaxazU5ifTri8ISMVzoMB4NLLa5EkUVYW1Uys98JqcEorLBrAYSowdrN9vexHiiE67iKgs0O3DoPjm1Zz_SjdNlXnvg/s1600/first_fish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1600" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLyag7f2WyoeLaO9BVtSHDmhmODTCKgnnMLoQuHx_650GIme8zaxazU5ifTri8ISMVzoMB4NLLa5EkUVYW1Uys98JqcEorLBrAYSowdrN9vexHiiE67iKgs0O3DoPjm1Zz_SjdNlXnvg/s640/first_fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, you have made your point...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Time to do some proper fishing, no more messing about, I rigged a float rod and proceeded to plumb the depth - twelve feet deep, give or take a bit. It was at this stage I started to have problems. It is still impossible to cast a long length of line from the jetty at the moment. Even though a lot of the overhanging trees have been trimmed, there are still some branches left. This will be rectified by the end of the month as tree surgeons have been booked to pollard the remaining trees that are in danger of collapsing into the river.<br />
<br />
I realised that my four years of fishing experience had not included any deep (relatively) water fishing. I had either been fishing shallow commercial lakes or small rivers. The river here was going to take a bit of experimentation and a considerable learning curve.<br />
<br />
Tim was happily fishing away, and although it was not easy, he was catching fish and managing to land them. Me, on the other hand, I was having a nightmare day. I was using Tim's floats, none of which I was happy with, and no matter what I did, I could not avoid getting in a mess. Moreover, I was having trouble getting the line out of the water. I did catch one tiny perch, but it was caught on the drop, almost by accident. Furthermore, its size would have been a poor candidate for inclusion in a can of sardines!<br />
<br />
Now, call me a bit thick, but last night I woke up and realised what had gone wrong. The rod was too short. For some reason, passing on this information at 03:00 AM, to the missus, did not go down too well...<br />
<br />
It just had not occurred to me, I know, obvious, but I have never been in this position before, and I was thinking of all the other reasons I was having trouble. I had packed a 'Carp Waggler' rod as I was planning to use heavier gear and a slider float, but as I said above, I had left all the floats sitting in there tubes, displayed nicely on the work surface in the fishing room - Grrr! This rod is only ten feet long. With a depth of twelve feet, even if the fixed float is against the tip ring, the bait is still a couple of feet below the butt even when the rod is held vertical, risking getting the tip caught in the trees.<br />
<br />
Standing up helped but I was still getting in a mess. Frustrating it was, but also got me thinking and planning how I was going to sort this out. For a start, I will be using a slider float next time I use this rod. I must look into how to use an 'ordinary' float and stop knots to make the fishing easier. I do enjoy a challenge. Next time...<br />
<br />
The day was different, not much in the way of fish on the bank for me, but Tim had a good day, landing some nice looking perch and a PB skimmer bream. He also discovered how slimy bream can be and why you need to wash your landing net out. As he said, "My net looks like it is full of wallpaper paste!"<br />
<br />
We finished the session with a hook-tying session ready for next time. Tim had not tied any of his own before, so I had made him a length gauge from an off-cut of walnut and some modified panel pins, looked a bit posh, but it does the job. After that, it was a quick change and off to town for a meal to celebrate his birthday! All in all, although my fishing did not exactly go to plan, I had a perfect day discovering my shortcomings and opening up another opportunity to experiment with my technique.<br />
<br />
Ralph. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-38685154516277689952018-09-03T06:52:00.000+01:002018-09-06T13:48:22.662+01:00Four years today!This day, four years ago, (maybe not this early!) I scribed my <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2014/09/whats-plummet.html">first post of this blog</a>. I had not even held a rod at that point, let alone handled a live fish. I was 58 years old and was looking for something to do jointly with my brother, who is the best part of ten years younger than me. At the time, we lived fifty miles apart and only saw each other at family get-togethers, weddings and funerals.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6Vm874X0r6EY_utfUBV9-WE3OlbEWc7AmGeb35N8rkeJ6ZNQoPEH-_k9pDcBVjY-kZXwKcxL03GDD5Wugske_QB0n7BfoNKpIZOzVeICMq2oAvHaZWafPMo_qekm9jvL-guzcGr71qs/s1600/me+and+tim.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="714" height="584" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6Vm874X0r6EY_utfUBV9-WE3OlbEWc7AmGeb35N8rkeJ6ZNQoPEH-_k9pDcBVjY-kZXwKcxL03GDD5Wugske_QB0n7BfoNKpIZOzVeICMq2oAvHaZWafPMo_qekm9jvL-guzcGr71qs/s640/me+and+tim.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the other bloke, ten years ago at a family do. We have both slimmed down a bit since then, and Tim still gets that excited every time he catches a fish. Now, I can't remember what we were doing that day... I should have written it down</td></tr>
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As kids, the age difference was a problem, what eighteen year old has that much in common with an eight-year-old sibling. As we got older, and the age gap became less critical, but the physical distance became greater, and we were back to 'visits' or the odd emergency call-out - "...the wheel bearing nut won't come off", "...my power has gone off!" or even "Can you help me change the inner back wheel on the 7½ tonner?"<br />
<br />
Fishing was seen as a way of getting together 'outside' the formal family setting. As you will have noticed, if you have been following the blog from the beginning, that dream did not go exactly as I had imagined. I ended up having the time and the interest to pursue the hobby in full while the other bloke was having a nightmare of a time trying to get his work-life balance on track. Although it is all sorted out now, he went through a couple of years of hell, where fishing was just not a priority.<br />
<br />
Thankfully all that has changed now, and he has sorted his life out. He and his wife now live a fair bit closer to us, and he now has a river at the bottom of the garden. There have been several recent posts about <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/06/maggots-corn-little-plastic-fishes.html">Tim and his stretch river</a>. In fact today, I am off to his place, along with Sue to do a spot of fishing, and a spot of jetty repair - another 'call-out', nothing changes!<br />
<br />
I have no idea where that four years have gone, but what I do know is that every trip has been recorded in this blog, as well as any other fishing related stuff, like recipes, repairs, new tackle and techniques. I am so pleased I started this blog as I read parts of it from time to time and I realise just how much I would have forgotten if I had not recorded it here.<br />
<br />
I am off to fill the van and head off to Tim's place. I will let you know how I get on!<br />
<br />
Ralph.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-561582712061998192018-09-01T23:39:00.001+01:002018-09-02T11:48:36.867+01:00September already and another chub!Today is the first day of meteorological autumn. Where did summer go, and what a summer we have had, scorching temperatures and next to no rain. Great for us but not so good for the fish in some areas. Today is also the other bloke's birthday, and we are going to celebrate it on Monday with a session on the river at the bottom of his garden. In preparation for another session on The Medway, we (me and 'er-in-doors) decided to go an have a look at what was in one of our local rivers here in deepest South East London.<br />
<br />
For the past week or so, we have been watching and feeding the fish as they patrol the far bank. There were shoals of chublet and a few perch in evidence. Today, as we walked upstream towards the weir, where we caught <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/08/gotcha.html">that chub</a> a week or so back, we were feeding and looking for fish. Plenty of fry and a few sardine-sized fish but nothing worth throwing a baited hook at.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZoR4bsouebeF9pEKf17WpKgRU3tVrKfp17OpjxgXtqQBbucIK_JX1r6MkQ_uRDa3eg-F11w8iP_aps37MEPpSEisT1zhzY3Pe1Ajf2yVkPI0gBS_MAN6ygQuOkRkNSEMcq8Q5PJRt44/s1600/sue_feeding_fish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZoR4bsouebeF9pEKf17WpKgRU3tVrKfp17OpjxgXtqQBbucIK_JX1r6MkQ_uRDa3eg-F11w8iP_aps37MEPpSEisT1zhzY3Pe1Ajf2yVkPI0gBS_MAN6ygQuOkRkNSEMcq8Q5PJRt44/s640/sue_feeding_fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was Sue a few days ago feeding the fish in our favourite spot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We eventually found all the fish gathered together in the pool just below the shallow weir, a mile or so upstream. The fish came to us, as we were standing there throwing in a few maggots. Although the water is crystal clear. The fish seemed entirely at ease with our presence.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb5GLliUT5o5_N_tuGsw0-SCb5eCWDkkWu7n5IjS_lNjx8TeX4U4AwVbh5Tqr3WCieRv1S2Fpb6_o99_qQQujBugkZ3Nqgi_6y8BaoSXNALt5a-qmfsU6ORmyMkAdaY1yzjj7KmFHYfI/s1600/fish-02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCb5GLliUT5o5_N_tuGsw0-SCb5eCWDkkWu7n5IjS_lNjx8TeX4U4AwVbh5Tqr3WCieRv1S2Fpb6_o99_qQQujBugkZ3Nqgi_6y8BaoSXNALt5a-qmfsU6ORmyMkAdaY1yzjj7KmFHYfI/s640/fish-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fish were coming in really close and did not seem to be put off by us</td></tr>
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We sat down on the concrete that is here to prevent the banks getting washed away in flood conditions as the weir also restricts the width of the river, speeding its flow. In normal conditions as it is now, that slight restriction just helps to increase the flow slightly and preventing any excess build up of debris.<br />
<br />
Using my telescopic rod rigged with a small float, 4lb line and a short 3lb hook length sporting a size 16 hook, impaling one very agitated white maggot, I cast over to the far bank that is lined with pilings. Plop! just a foot or so short of the bank. I hardly had time to congratulate myself on, what for me was a perfect cast, when the reel started screaming, and I had a fish on.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-6W5qGESlvjB7DGwTQ5AyQmOy45E3VJanrv6tX52ZNJBT9WGn2RygrTKCnyjLX6UsEHn7pbQgF_gOe0vawyiETVsylmx_QZtRNMC4bEj8zEiFsvkQZG_0HOQMD1aCMafXIudcFBQ_Hk/s1600/big_fish_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-6W5qGESlvjB7DGwTQ5AyQmOy45E3VJanrv6tX52ZNJBT9WGn2RygrTKCnyjLX6UsEHn7pbQgF_gOe0vawyiETVsylmx_QZtRNMC4bEj8zEiFsvkQZG_0HOQMD1aCMafXIudcFBQ_Hk/s640/big_fish_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this one is even bigger than the one we caught a few weeks ago</td></tr>
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I had hooked another decent sized chub. Not overly happy about being tethered to a human on the bank, the fish was testing my cheap rod and reel to its limit. I gently played the fish for a while to tire it and eventually had it in the net. It was indeed one of the bigger fish. In fact, I think it was even bigger than the last one we caught here a couple of weeks ago! <br />
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A lady walking her colossal dog was interested to know if we were planning on eating it (the fish that is!) I explained that we were just pleasure fishing and in any case, it is not allowed to take course fish for the pot. Meanwhile, her dog, a St. Bernard, had taken a liking to Sue and her maggots! Luckily both the dog and the owner were pleasant, and she apologised for her dog, who was just a big mass of fur. Dogs often crash through the swim, but the fish seem oblivious to it and just move away, before returning to their former location.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGSWkTjXuAOBykS7tETjceqf0YHTfF4o29MGRAbRUtZCGM5uALn5-hTRWCHdi28DavZVKaxip55_RYxHpGFn3JcLbLWPKqTeGLbvYygBEpH3q2b9MdQKZ-J2p6HALcDT2W8nfisRfhAQ/s1600/small_fish_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGSWkTjXuAOBykS7tETjceqf0YHTfF4o29MGRAbRUtZCGM5uALn5-hTRWCHdi28DavZVKaxip55_RYxHpGFn3JcLbLWPKqTeGLbvYygBEpH3q2b9MdQKZ-J2p6HALcDT2W8nfisRfhAQ/s640/small_fish_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I caught a couple of smaller fish. Both were about this size and put up a good fight on the cheap gear </td></tr>
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We fished for an hour or so and caught another couple of smaller chub. Each time we put a fish back, the swim went quiet for about five minutes while the fish all scattered and had a chat about these funny maggots with hooks in them. Soon all was forgotten, and the fish were back, feeding on our free offerings.<br />
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The interesting thing for me was the time. This was not early morning or late evening. We had initially intended to go out for a walk. Sue had suggested that we go and feed the fish and I said, at the last minute, that I would take a rod and see if we could catch anything, not expecting to get the line wet. It was lunchtime when we had arrived at the river, a time I would have expected the fish to be less likely to play.<br />
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We had debated taking a bite to eat with us, but as it was so late, we thought we would probably not have much luck and be home in plenty of time to eat. As it turned out, we could have stayed there all afternoon. The fish were feeding, and the weather was perfect, not too hot and just sunny enough to be pleasant. It never fails to amaze me just how much fun we can have on our own doorstep here in a very urban setting.<br />
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Ralph. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-20619071543054170662018-08-18T22:37:00.000+01:002018-09-02T11:49:33.073+01:00Supplies!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UPR0n2bSu8oxXA4wGF9TIKPmMmpIfDoiyrnqWWLq5Ol36ell9QJGiYgLyXi9_RJsKg5WD20w2m4aGL2x7T6mT8Sg9SC5LEsIVlfjQJM8YP5anxKOCSOnlSrOiZdIIBsCFap2V1mnVoM/s1600/food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="1600" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5UPR0n2bSu8oxXA4wGF9TIKPmMmpIfDoiyrnqWWLq5Ol36ell9QJGiYgLyXi9_RJsKg5WD20w2m4aGL2x7T6mT8Sg9SC5LEsIVlfjQJM8YP5anxKOCSOnlSrOiZdIIBsCFap2V1mnVoM/s320/food.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish food!</td></tr>
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Back in May, the doctor suddenly announced that I am a type 2 diabetic. Thanks! I won't go into all the happenings since then as they are not relevant to this blog, except to say that finally, I had an appointment with another doctor who answered a lot of my questions regarding diet. This resulted in a clear out of the food cupboards - long overdue anyway, as we found some stuff lurking at the back that was years out of date.<br />
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I now have a pile of things I can use, along with stock ingredients that I have by me, to make groundbait, feeder mix, boilies, custards and even some paste. My first plan was to just grind it all up and feed the river down at the other bloke's place, but then it occurred to me I could, with a bit of thought and note-taking, make some effective bait that, if it proves to be good, I can repeat. Apart from a whole lot of breakfast cereal, there is rice, nuts pasta and even a block of fondant icing. Just what I am going to do with that, I have no idea - yet!<br />
<br />
I have been aware that I need some boilies, as I seem to have used all the ones I had in the freezer. I am thinking corn boilies, using the cornflakes and some whizzed up frozen corn as the main flavour ingredients. Maybe I will do a batch with hemp seed added to compliment my <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2015/09/do-you-want-custard-with-it.html">corn custard</a>. I will have to have a think about it, but in the meantime I need to find somewhere to store it where the mice can't get at it...<br />
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Ralph. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-66884158462280291672018-08-17T21:17:00.000+01:002018-08-18T15:34:36.148+01:00Another day, another fish...Fishing our local river is a bit of a challenge, to say the least. I have been fishing it using a whip and more recently an elasticated pole. This has paid off but is still restrictive. The problem is, there are not many open places where the fish hold up. Many lengths of the river are very shallow, and shallow weirs have been constructed to manage the flow and prevent it just draining out, at its confluence, into the Ravensbourne River as it nears Catford.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rxHEpuoPYEZzmbHTceKzub8tWLSuW4A9yqiKbCU0ltMCIjJy2obWESAxtN47Ae4AklD3-tlNlWi4d_pAx0QgPTSS3JmlAFfm4aH9Zc7ZIXRqYfeOc53VM81R6sjr3zm2VbD3Xa_xato/s1600/pool_ravensbourne.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rxHEpuoPYEZzmbHTceKzub8tWLSuW4A9yqiKbCU0ltMCIjJy2obWESAxtN47Ae4AklD3-tlNlWi4d_pAx0QgPTSS3JmlAFfm4aH9Zc7ZIXRqYfeOc53VM81R6sjr3zm2VbD3Xa_xato/s640/pool_ravensbourne.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Pool (right) meets the Ravensbourne River, at Catford</td></tr>
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The pool formed on the downstream side of the shallow weir, where we <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/08/gotcha.html">caught the chub</a> a couple of days ago, is one of the more open places to fish. Down stream from there, the banks of the river are almost completely overgrown and fishing with conventional gear is almost impossible. Scanning the eBay listings, I spotted what might be the answer to fishing in those hard to get to places. A small telescopic rod, complete with a reel for just a shade over £16.00 delivered. Click, bought it!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvc0QhG2Ya7d6O8Mzz3Rco2RzOJY6ewe4lMC6ADIFSpytiate3JvacFR6HMccWMtTgrSxWSHTzaz-oBH4EyQF4nLt9tk5nqb3fiHroZS-PggSXjKDefuzCD_54fYbsPoMqOCSiD4SPSI/s1600/telescopic_rod.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1017" data-original-width="1600" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvc0QhG2Ya7d6O8Mzz3Rco2RzOJY6ewe4lMC6ADIFSpytiate3JvacFR6HMccWMtTgrSxWSHTzaz-oBH4EyQF4nLt9tk5nqb3fiHroZS-PggSXjKDefuzCD_54fYbsPoMqOCSiD4SPSI/s640/telescopic_rod.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The telescopic rod combo - cheap and cheerful, but it did the job</td></tr>
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I was pleasantly surprised when it arrived yesterday. Okay, it is no Drennan Acolyte, but I did not expect it to be as good as it looked. I stripped off the heavy line that was supplied with the reel and replaced it with some 4lb line and a small float. It takes about 3g to cock this little float. Discussing it on the forums, it seems that opinion is divided as to if this is too heavy or not. As I had no real alternative other than a really light pole float, I decided to use what I had.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEppxR1cI8TN_wpjMeZcIhEpHLGA92YS8i6fuJCOGWcK1BFzgfFs7eOZSWDt1screAdFPs_5VdTCbu1jy4mSEFzfJs0eymJGfL557smnDmkzk5lCb-ZafWXnNqrfVh5f-4brD7RHaNvp0/s1600/float_rigged.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEppxR1cI8TN_wpjMeZcIhEpHLGA92YS8i6fuJCOGWcK1BFzgfFs7eOZSWDt1screAdFPs_5VdTCbu1jy4mSEFzfJs0eymJGfL557smnDmkzk5lCb-ZafWXnNqrfVh5f-4brD7RHaNvp0/s640/float_rigged.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The float shotting seemed a bit heavy, but as it turned out, it seemed to work well.</td></tr>
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It did work reasonably well, but I think if I had more time at the bank, I might have refined the shotting a little. The small pole floats might have worked, but with little or no weight, they may have been hard to cast with this little rod.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr1uWcrpqEJ6hhPAh2KmnfbgJPUIVDUeTUpr73WB9dMt6bcLO6epob1TwjfjQ86UeOKoDn8dWJbQ0YkZbrk1cqezZmKbYYCGlIodmPMUUpl38wrLJSrhqVlfex9BGXxT375aBaLrRicY/s1600/pole_floats.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpr1uWcrpqEJ6hhPAh2KmnfbgJPUIVDUeTUpr73WB9dMt6bcLO6epob1TwjfjQ86UeOKoDn8dWJbQ0YkZbrk1cqezZmKbYYCGlIodmPMUUpl38wrLJSrhqVlfex9BGXxT375aBaLrRicY/s320/pole_floats.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pole floats might have been too light to cast</td></tr>
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Although the rod seems to perform reasonably well, the reel is a bit cheap and cheerful. The line-lay is not good at all, and the drag is as rough as a bag of grit. It does work, after a fashion, but you could not describe it as smooth. Having said that, I am not complaining, it did the job, and for the money, it is a lot better than I had expected.<br />
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The great thing about this telescopic rod is the ease of carrying it and the speed of set up. I was fishing within a couple of minutes of arriving at the bank. All I had to do was extend the rod and add my chosen hook length. I chose a 12 inch length and fitted a small No.12 dropper about 4 inches above the hook. I was only using 2½lb line for the hooklength as the target today was small perch. After trying several spots along the river, I was beginning to think I was going to blank. We eventually ended up at the weir, where I had caught the Chub a couple of days ago.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta_GvzqKCihM_stpc1lx0hH_LBi6NGWgGmSqe4GOTTnSYI-yfoVLn4JRa9J0yPm87Ldr0yFp73uyQa8kSkz3ZblFVqASse2fp9PPnw6uk05SuKCPtsVzYF6RjGrqyM3XafLcTorBlj-Q/s1600/shallow_weir.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta_GvzqKCihM_stpc1lx0hH_LBi6NGWgGmSqe4GOTTnSYI-yfoVLn4JRa9J0yPm87Ldr0yFp73uyQa8kSkz3ZblFVqASse2fp9PPnw6uk05SuKCPtsVzYF6RjGrqyM3XafLcTorBlj-Q/s640/shallow_weir.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pool just under the shallow concrete weir</td></tr>
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This pool is reasonably deep in places by this river's standards. There is a shoal of chub that are often seen here, and today was no exception. I decided to have a go and see what I could catch, as the perch did not seem to want to come out and play. There is not much river to fish here as the water shallows up very quickly as it flows downstream.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz9H8d64iOLByXdxwClcW0ZEcn-OKCMSehXSqb5M5ZfRNfS5ONFLLCXoqkKw_k-gd8bs8zybuW85dXQmuvIhrtEPtMx2zB19ytDCdO1TAyPWvTFoJ0H-epufMOpOR4EZY6oUu1pmb2zE/s1600/downstream.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1600" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBz9H8d64iOLByXdxwClcW0ZEcn-OKCMSehXSqb5M5ZfRNfS5ONFLLCXoqkKw_k-gd8bs8zybuW85dXQmuvIhrtEPtMx2zB19ytDCdO1TAyPWvTFoJ0H-epufMOpOR4EZY6oUu1pmb2zE/s640/downstream.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing in the same place as the picture above was taken, this is the view looking downstream</td></tr>
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I tried casting my new rod and to my surprise, although the reel is a bit rough it worked reasonably well. A couple of casts with no bait, just to see if it was working and to see if the depth was about right, proved that this little rod was going to do the job, albeit a bit rough. I put a single white maggot on the hook and cast watched the float trot (if that is the correct word) downstream and disappear. Fish! I had caught a tiny chublet. Sue was feeding the swim every fifteen seconds or so with three or four maggots.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4S9HC48nlsRyAiGAXiVoWOymEHgy_WESNuHXfjbbrH9D8-3Ma4jGWwU5NyPUeGVB5xnVbh6SqqioQ9LICDUkmuTitsGmEHj8IzwfTn_hVe29gmNkkKAGZX5cfPWgi4kD_rKEzfEEoWw/s1600/chublet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4S9HC48nlsRyAiGAXiVoWOymEHgy_WESNuHXfjbbrH9D8-3Ma4jGWwU5NyPUeGVB5xnVbh6SqqioQ9LICDUkmuTitsGmEHj8IzwfTn_hVe29gmNkkKAGZX5cfPWgi4kD_rKEzfEEoWw/s640/chublet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the average size of the fish we caught in ore short session today</td></tr>
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The next cast turned up a slightly bigger fish. I was sort of hoping that I would not catch a big one just yet until I had a bit more experience with the rod and especially the reel. As it happened, although we could see the bigger fish, and they were going for the free offerings, none of them took the bait.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrgJrzqpYnrp6pmQU84CGXntDUAxulYPM9IuHm5_jDozUorD7nBgHXjxCd0TeV_c0saQNMvSI0S4ZFKBFIE9IIpj7_1CeloGarrYKsrTYl5s-knRTGERy272lUbqO3ID3nOjZqUXfY6E/s1600/fox_ultron_1500.jpg" style="margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1600" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrgJrzqpYnrp6pmQU84CGXntDUAxulYPM9IuHm5_jDozUorD7nBgHXjxCd0TeV_c0saQNMvSI0S4ZFKBFIE9IIpj7_1CeloGarrYKsrTYl5s-knRTGERy272lUbqO3ID3nOjZqUXfY6E/s640/fox_ultron_1500.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7DT57kfzUf2X2a6BqWDfdNrRWZT5G5r7j8fWx8x90Bo6YHAAIaVwJeVh2z3fpkV9hlIQuzNNfwCWN-MEGCWwcpzSlZc_HF-wxyz3gAH0mK_P-w-4EeaDMew8oHBqX2p8GalhyphenhyphensNoW5I/s1600/1500_pro_spool.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="1000" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7DT57kfzUf2X2a6BqWDfdNrRWZT5G5r7j8fWx8x90Bo6YHAAIaVwJeVh2z3fpkV9hlIQuzNNfwCWN-MEGCWwcpzSlZc_HF-wxyz3gAH0mK_P-w-4EeaDMew8oHBqX2p8GalhyphenhyphensNoW5I/s640/1500_pro_spool.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny spool for my dropshot reels</td></tr>
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I caught several fish, none of which required the landing net. The new rod was a complete success, and the reel will do the job, but I might have to change it for one of my 1500 Fox Ultron Rage reels that I use for dropshotting. I will have to buy another tiny spool and fill it with monofilament line as they are both filled with braid.<br />
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I did not end up catching, or seeing, any perch today, but I did catch a lot of fish, so today was another successful session, even if it was only for an hour or so. I need to refine my technique over the next few weeks and months, but one thing I am sure of, I love this river fishing!<br />
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Ralph. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-87283758547969340742018-08-15T22:21:00.000+01:002018-09-29T13:02:12.375+01:00Gotcha!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLLjmUg0DMuL9h4zqasn19Fj3JhZxtPs8EriuOaZUQ4vrL_KeNuM6ivdKIp0qhjzdrZB7YO6AGyBq1kyzRRWgQ0ryqkeMxpx6c9YJvWNTkk21WqFVBGQXTAOtYvN4yoDMSbS4vb5hJGQ/s1600/me-fish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLLjmUg0DMuL9h4zqasn19Fj3JhZxtPs8EriuOaZUQ4vrL_KeNuM6ivdKIp0qhjzdrZB7YO6AGyBq1kyzRRWgQ0ryqkeMxpx6c9YJvWNTkk21WqFVBGQXTAOtYvN4yoDMSbS4vb5hJGQ/s640/me-fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done it! I have now caught one of the biggest fish in this little river, and it was all planned!</td></tr>
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Today's blog is all about the fish. For the past week or so, Sue and I have been watching a section of our river were we have found a small shoal of chublet. Last time we went 'equipped' we had no luck whatsoever. We could not even find the fish in the murky water. Even the odd dangled maggot didn't even get 'chewed'.<br />
<br />
This time it was a different matter. We set off late morning and found the fish where we had seen them a few days ago, at the bottom of a shallow weir. The water is a bit deeper here, in fact, it is deeper than it looks, as when a labrador decided to jump in it was way out of its depth and found itself having to swim.<br />
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One of the problems with fishing here is the number of dogs that make use of the easy access to the water. We had several dogs in the water during our hour and a half session. Surprisingly, this did not seem to bother the fish too much. Once the water cleared again, we could see the fish swimming around looking for the free offerings we had been feeding.<br />
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There is no point in plumbing the depth here as the bottom goes from nothing to two or three feet deep, and back again in all directions. Using my 5m tele-pole which is fitted with No.6 elastic through the top two sections, and a light line and hooklength I was just letting the maggot drift through the water with only the size 18 hook as weight. The only indicator was a small bright yellow float bead set about a foot from the hook. Within seconds a small chublet had grabbed the maggot, and it was away. Easily swung to hand it was the first of many.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_B5cBBkO_JWr25WmeIYGP8jBtPKPnD6yjeLgX5VSr4xPbNuX1MtcK00mOTAx1xBYxed1zglOBVPbkWpzFy_iB-_KDYzKaZcnKyPhejdlYkj7tyAK8jy_vvOUbON8VRd3Q-FhDHuL-P8/s1600/IMG_0640.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_B5cBBkO_JWr25WmeIYGP8jBtPKPnD6yjeLgX5VSr4xPbNuX1MtcK00mOTAx1xBYxed1zglOBVPbkWpzFy_iB-_KDYzKaZcnKyPhejdlYkj7tyAK8jy_vvOUbON8VRd3Q-FhDHuL-P8/s640/IMG_0640.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First, chuck and we had our first fish of the session</td></tr>
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Slowly the fish were getting bigger as they grew in confidence. I was concerned that the commotion would spook the fish, but that did not seam to be the case as I was catching one after the other. The session came to an abrupt pause (paws?) as the section of river was invaded by a pack of dogs. Well, 'pack' might be a bit strong but there were five or six of them. The owner was profusely apologetic, and I don't suppose she expected to see anyone fishing there, besides it is not our river. I was fearful that all this further commotion will have scared the fish off, but as I said above, it didn't.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharv0S10U-lJTdA9SA9wIw3qrJTTnGTGn1dDN6eZWfbv2HmyRcn4w3e-tG-caKv-5cRgn65zz1aXlQN_ylt3uOCvG4Lvea9033mISl1E4fU91wo1WdvogbYxjttRHnq3oqOsyZLtR16Y8/s1600/IMG_0649.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharv0S10U-lJTdA9SA9wIw3qrJTTnGTGn1dDN6eZWfbv2HmyRcn4w3e-tG-caKv-5cRgn65zz1aXlQN_ylt3uOCvG4Lvea9033mISl1E4fU91wo1WdvogbYxjttRHnq3oqOsyZLtR16Y8/s640/IMG_0649.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They were getting bigger...</td></tr>
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I started fishing again after a few minutes as I could see the fish were still taking our loose feed. All of a sudden the line went tight and promptly snapped. One of the bigger fish had decided to take my hook-bait in a mad rush. The elastic did not even come out of the pole. I had been fishing light, trying not to spook the fish too much. Time to tackle up a bit heavier. I re-rigged the pole with heavier line and hooklength and this time used one of those nice little Drennan crystal dibbers. A few shot to cock it and a string of droppers ensured that this time I was going to be fishing static on the bottom.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2DLwlQguNO9po0frHy_sYWGurwQOmffcnOnZn2TEokxjTnztld_QVZghYd1AsuOpr_4ydY31EF032MK4licJzbsfeTbchaMPxO9rOg-i6zFhqE8w7ZaNgu1nk9bgc3k6qQsrHQ51_Mk/s1600/fis_net.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2DLwlQguNO9po0frHy_sYWGurwQOmffcnOnZn2TEokxjTnztld_QVZghYd1AsuOpr_4ydY31EF032MK4licJzbsfeTbchaMPxO9rOg-i6zFhqE8w7ZaNgu1nk9bgc3k6qQsrHQ51_Mk/s640/fis_net.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The prize fish of the day - this is the same fish I am holding in the header shot</td></tr>
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A few put-ins produced nothing, so I shallowed up slightly and had another go. Sue was feeding two or three maggots over the float every 15-20 seconds. It worked. The elastic berried itself in the river, and I had one of the bigger fish on. It was a bit frisky at first, but it soon quietened down and was making it's way closer to the bank when it spotted the net and made another break for freedom. Luckily, this time the tackle was up to the job and eventually the fish was in the net.<br />
<br />
After weeks of watching these fish, I finally had one in the net. What a great feeling. My first river chub and caught on our local urban river right here in the heart of South East London. Although I don't think this fish has been caught by an angler before, the scar on its side looks as if it has been attacked by one of the many herons or egrets that we often see on our walks along this stretch of the river.<br />
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A great day, possibly one of the best so far. I know it is not the biggest chub around, but at 16½ inches long, it is one of the biggest fish in this river.<br />
<br />
Ralph. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-65804631739100662772018-08-10T23:10:00.002+01:002018-10-11T21:53:32.463+01:00Not a sausage... ...or a fish! Following on from <a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/08/walking-our-section-of-pool-river.html">yesterday's post</a>, Sue and I went back to the river with the intention of catching a few fish. It was raining as we stood and watched the fish taking the feed yesterday. It then
continued to rain all afternoon and, on and off through the night. Today
when we went back to have a go at catching a fish, the water was
slightly higher, only by a few inches, and it had coloured up slightly. I
could still make out the bottom in places, but the weeds and some
deeper parts were now out of sight.<br />
<br />
We tried feeding some maggots but there was no interest. It seemed like
all the fish had gone. We walked down stream, for a couple of miles, and
did not see a fish anywhere. We even stopped at our favoured fishing
spot to dangle a line into the opaque water for a while, only to find
that the maggot had not even been sucked by the small roach.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjOa__g5LSQoXclcijRzjVhR9Gd-HKY944cRjyaWcCP532RwfanpsKDx5IG5eV1_xE9HlDKayIv0bJDJ-K1J-HLCojJPB8SniZrUlEiFwYD3uhJpTV-YPFsqquE80TktaJo5bBjZAy3I/s1600/nothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjOa__g5LSQoXclcijRzjVhR9Gd-HKY944cRjyaWcCP532RwfanpsKDx5IG5eV1_xE9HlDKayIv0bJDJ-K1J-HLCojJPB8SniZrUlEiFwYD3uhJpTV-YPFsqquE80TktaJo5bBjZAy3I/s640/nothing.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like Goldilocks (sans bears) when we got there, the river was bare! </td></tr>
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I posted a question on one of fishing forums for some advice, and had lots of useful suggestions as to why we could find no fish. You can read the thread <a href="https://www.fishingmagic.com/forums/coarse-fishing/363854-river-fishing-help-please.html">HERE</a>. It appears there could have been several reasons why our fish were not playing ball today. From the advice given, I tend to think it could have been a combination of factors. Firstly, not only would the water temperature have been lowered by the rainwater but, secondly, the ambient air temperature has dropped dramatically over the past few days. From daytime near record highs at the beginning of the week, to today's well under the average for this time of year - mad isn't it? This can stop the fish from feeding until they have a chance to get used to their new, cooler environment.<br />
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We can't get back there tomorrow, but we plan to have another go on Sunday when we will try some of the tactics gleaned from the afore mentioned forum thread.<br />
<br />
Ralph. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/08/gotcha.html"><b><i>Five days latter >>> </i></b></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8156337974483594900.post-3785315388961454492018-08-09T16:39:00.000+01:002018-08-11T09:39:43.113+01:00Our urban fish are getting bigger...<div class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy65VWEv3Q7vigIA6cIiGCQOXY0W-9OsvwPDAkvapgqmO6zCyQgDa4kAEtD8uFs9YToLwZalDhl9A0tKXnHpCn1Z0v54E_JgcoTggKnW7WgkzAWqC647BTTA8nWs4T5Dm-mFzTJmUT35o/s1600/feeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy65VWEv3Q7vigIA6cIiGCQOXY0W-9OsvwPDAkvapgqmO6zCyQgDa4kAEtD8uFs9YToLwZalDhl9A0tKXnHpCn1Z0v54E_JgcoTggKnW7WgkzAWqC647BTTA8nWs4T5Dm-mFzTJmUT35o/s640/feeding.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding fish - Look in the bottom left hand corner, you can just see the fish!</td></tr>
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Here in Catford, The River Ravensbourne runs under the South Circular road between Catford and Catford Bridge railway stations. Before the bridge was built the river was forded at this point, said to be favoured by cats, which is how the area got its name. </div>
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<div class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en">
South of the road, the river runs under the car parks of Halfords and Wickes retail sheds, where it emerges and passes under the railway through one of the arches of the viaduct. In recent years a suspended pathway has been added to allow pedestrian access under the railway and into the area beyond. A few hundred yards further on, the river is joined by The Pool River and the River Ravensbourne crosses back under the railway on its way to Bromley and eventually Keston. </div>
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<div class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en">
This area of wasteland was once just that, an area of land behind the houses defined by the river on one side and the railway on the other. In recent years it has been opened up as a park and cycle route running south from Catford to lower Sydenham. Much of this is thanks to the old gasworks site having been decontaminated and landscaped as part of a planning permission deal, when it was developed into a retail super-store and retail park.</div>
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Most of the park follows the course of The Pool River on its way to Lower Sydenham. At the the confluence of the rivers there is a footbridge over The Pool where the park opens up out of the heavily overgrown section
into a more open stretch of path. To the right there are several well trodden access points to the river, where there is a well defined path that runs for several hundred yards giving good access to the river. It is along this path that Sue and I have <a href="https://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2017/07/urban-fishing.html">fished in the past</a>. Well, that is me fishing and Sue watching, as she does not have (or want) a licence. She has no desire to catch the anything, but is happy to just help carry the gear and feed the fish.<br />
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There is lots of wildlife to be found here, and especially birds. Herons, egrets, and even the rare appearance of a kingfisher can be seen moping up the smaller fish. The river has recovered well after a serious toxic spillage, that killed the entire stock of fish and other wildlife, in 2009.<br />
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Now we are seeing much larger fish than we have seen for years. Over the past few weeks we have seen several small shoals of chublet and perch, along with other small silvers such as roach and dace. It is the larger chublets that interest us. Some of these fish are now over a foot long. Okay, I know that is not very big in the great scheme of things, but here in our little shallow river, that is big.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17GNyvCVCcFIpSPbiggPdOoEoOhTperykOBh1-ZetOX976eVTdsmUeQ7MSn-S0MvdvLWzAJNmBgW3dFmyeWemjaqiXB7KeISV145lD7u0IfHW1o7eRSNlUTbFch0_RYle5TKlQpQmaEE/s1600/big_fish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17GNyvCVCcFIpSPbiggPdOoEoOhTperykOBh1-ZetOX976eVTdsmUeQ7MSn-S0MvdvLWzAJNmBgW3dFmyeWemjaqiXB7KeISV145lD7u0IfHW1o7eRSNlUTbFch0_RYle5TKlQpQmaEE/s640/big_fish.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big fish!</td></tr>
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Yesterday we found a section of the river, just below a shallow weir, where the fish had congregated and we could see them with the naked eye. The smaller ones were holding station just where the water runs off the concrete and even venturing over the concrete in what can only be a couple of inches of water at the most. As we stood and watched them, we noticed a couple of much larger fish skulking around a clump of weed. These fish were very gently moving around looking for scraps of food caught in the gentle current. They would only move at any speed if they were spooked by our shadow or silhouette against the sky. We stood back at the top of the bank and watched for a good while as they just cruised around.<br />
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In the margins were hundreds, if not thousands, of fry basking in the warm shallow water. These would scatter if spooked and then reform fairly quickly, if the disturbance ceased. As we were watching, something dropped off a tree, into the river, and the fish immediately went to investigate. We had no food with us so we could not see if they were feeding. In the past, small pieces of bread have not interested these larger fish and more often than not, the bread going in has spooked them.<br />
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Today it has been raining all morning, not torrential, but enough to make everything wet and disturb the surface of the water. We had decided to go back to the weir and see if the fish would take any loose feed. Armed with a pot of maggots and a few slices of bread, we braved the rain and had a go at feeding the fish. Maggots seemed to do the trick. A few showers of a dozen or so maggots got them interested. <br />
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As we continued to feed the fish, more and more joined in. We used up the hand-full of maggots we had with us and then decided to give the bread another go. This time, although not as enthusiastic as they were for the maggots, they were taking it. Although the fish were a way out, as we fed them, they would come in close and take the bait we had dropped in the margin.<br />
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Tomorrow, time and weather permitting, we are going to try and catch one of these bigger fish. Tactics will involve an elasticated tele-pole and a dibber float on light line and a smallish hook baited with one maggot. We will let you know how we get on.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://notinmyfridge.blogspot.com/2018/08/not-sausage.html"><i><b>The next day >>> </b></i></a></div>
<br />
Ralph. <br />
<br />
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com