I have had a few session out, but this is the first trip down to the river for about 6 months. Following the heavy rains of winter, the river has been nigh on unfishable and a scouting trip yesterday on the mountain bike suggested it was still a bit iffy. However, with one last chance for this season, it was do or die. A pint of maggots and the hope of one fish - avoid the blank in a few hours and go home happy.
7am and on the bank. A simple float rod, trotting gear (heavy at 4BB) and the hope of finding some fish in a slack or two.
First peg: the bend. The river was tanking through - at least a foot up and the platform was just above the water, although the coating of mud on top was a little less than ideal.
I ran the rig through (minus bait) on the near side to check the shotting and it duly buried. Job done, a suicidal minnow and the blank was avoided. So I packed up and went home.
Well, actually no. I stayed to try and add to the total.
The next 15 mins added two more minnows, but try as I might I couldn't get the rig to run through anywhere but the near side at anything like the right pace. Time to move on.
Disabled swim: a flick to the far side, and the usual problem of holding the line out of the flow. As the rig drifted round to the left it bobbled and submerged. A chunky river roach of 3oz was my reward. And that was that. Try as I might nothing else was playing ball.
The bend (again): I don't usually revisit swims, but I knew that good pegs were limited today. First run down and all went solid and a hulking beast stayed on the bottom and headed across into the flow. It all went solid, and a suspected big barbel was lost. Next put in and a little further down and the float went under and this time a fight ensued that was a little more balanced. Second time round a chub was in the net - 3lb 2oz. Not a barbel, but very welcome.
Next the weir: I thought I might get lucky on the far side. 10 mins later and I gave up on luck. Nadda.
The ski hut: Nothing. But nice trotting conditions on what was still a swollen river.
Peg 12 ish: Lovely trotting conditions, probably the best conditions I've ever seen on this stretch. Shame about the lack of bites though.
Peg 4 (above the weir): This was last chance saloon, could I tempt some silver fish that had drifted in from the canal? Er no. Despite and depth and reasonable pace, the usually reliable roach and perch were AWOL.
But, as the float reached the bottom of the run, it buried. Suspecting the usual snag I struck. It went solid with a healthy kick and my quarry stuck to the river bed like a limpet. Convinced it was a big bream, I took my time worked it slowly upstream and a chub appeared. In the net, job done. 3lb 12oz. Another nice fish.
And that, was that.
It's a long time since i had two nice fish out the river in the single session, so I went home a happy man. Roll on June 16th.
Catch list:
Minnow 3
Roach 1
Chub 2
Total weight 7lb
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