I'm hoping you guys still enjoy reading about all the latest angling news, catch reports, tackle, and of course, my blog!
Well, the Sunday People website has now moved to here. So update your bookmarks and favourites!
You might also like to know I've know started my own site, why not take a look? It's full of all things fishing... which I think you like! Click here.
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Longstanding RSPB member and wildlife film maker Hugh Miles, star of 'Passion for Angling', has hit back at an inflammatory article in a recent edition of the RSPB member's magazine 'Birds' which accuses anglers of being motivated solely by hate in our attempts to control excessive cormorant predation. The author, Simon Barnes, says that anglers exaggerate the amount of fish that cormorants consume and the damage they do to fisheries and other wildlife.
In response, Hugh Miles who ran the RSPB's film unit for over five years says: "I am an angler and proud of the contribution I make to the conservation of all British wildlife and that includes fish. So Mr.Barnes, please don't think for a minute that you speak for all the RSPB membership, or say that anglers hate cormorants and by doing so, incite a hatred of anglers. We are all together in this battle to save our precious wetlands and it would pay us all to remember that and work together."
Angling Trust National Campaigns Coordinator Martin Salter commented: "It's always a shame to see groups with whom we share so much in common when it comes to standing up for the environment, applying double standards and using inflammatory language that only causes unnecessary divisions. Many anglers are bird lovers and a good proportion of RSPB members are, like Hugh Miles, passionate anglers who want to see our vulnerable fish stocks given the same protection from unsustainable predation as that which is afforded to birds and other wildlife."
Hugh Miles' letter appears below.
The article by Simon Barnes from the recent issue of RSPB's Birds magazine can be found online by searching for "It's Hard to Deal With Hate by Simon Barnes".
Having been a member of the RSPB since childhood, over fifty years in fact, having volunteered to help at many reserves since school days, having run their film unit for five years, having made over sixty films around the world stressing the need to conserve our wildlife, I'd like to express my dismay at the inflammatory language used by Simon Barnes in his article about cormorants/anglers.
Our rivers and their wildlife are in trouble and the RSPB could contribute to the solutions instead of encouraging divisions among those who care. There are many thousands of anglers who support the RSPB's wonderful work and who care passionately about all wildlife, so Mr.Barnes' incorrect assertion that anglers 'hate' cormorants is way off the mark.
Two thirds of our rivers are failing the EU's Water Framework Directive that measures 'good ecological status' and most of these rivers are failing due to lack of fish life. Scientists have counted at least 20,000 cormorants visiting our inland waters every winter, largely from Denmark and the Netherlands, and if scientists are correct, each one needs a pound of fish a day to survive. That means that at least 20,000lbs of our native wildlife is eaten EVERY day. Government surveys have shown that this is threatening the survival of several species on some rivers, including the endangered freshwater eel, which in recent years has suffered a decline of 95%. Eels are an important food for herons, let alone our beloved otters.
Mr. Barnes suggests that fish refuges could be built. These can help a little on some still waters, and there is more that should be done to restore natural refuge habitat on rivers, but these measures alone will not solve the problem affecting rivers and lakes right now. Unsustainable cormorant predation is only one of many problems for our rivers - abstraction, pollution, low flows, siltation, extreme weather patterns and global warming are just a few of the others. We need urgent action on these issues and anglers are pressing for this, often in partnership with the RSPB. However, this will take many years, and fish stocks are suffering today from cormorant predation.
Through their purchase of Environment Agency licences, anglers contribute over twenty four million pounds towards the health and protection of the wildlife of our freshwater rivers and lakes and that includes bird-life. No other recreational water users contribute a penny. Many others support the Angling Trust and Fish Legal, which campaign and take legal action against polluters who damage our rivers and lakes. I am an angler and proud of the contribution I make to the conservation of all British wildlife and that includes fish.
So Mr.Barnes, please don't think for a minute that you speak for all the RSPB membership, or say that anglers hate cormorants and by doing so, incite a hatred of anglers. We are all together in this battle to save our precious wetlands and it would pay us all to remember that and work together.
Hugh Miles
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The double swim, nice and sociable... we might even catch a fish!
It was interesting reading John Bailey's thoughts about this season's tench fishing in the Angler's Mail the other week.
He was basically saying how dire the fishing had been for the species.. and I think I'd add to that, and say for most species? Saying that, I think the rivers have been in better form lately than stillwaters... how have you guys found it?
John then ran through some of the unseasonal statistics for earlier this year, with some months being the wettest, or the coldest, for quite a while... and as most of us who've been on the bank regularly, don't we know just how unsettled it's been out there!
Am I looking for excuses... no, but it has been bloomin' frustrating! Gary and me can catch fish, and I know we've picked a hard water or two for this years tench/carp campaign, but boy we've struggled.
With regular trips to our chosen lake in Bedfordshire, and even swapping for a couple of sessions on another club water close by, hasn't helped us much. Well Gary did hook one reasonable cat, that as he steered into the net, his hooklink snapped, only for me to have the net caught in weed and not be able to lift it as the cat turned tail and made its escape... sorry mate!
But that's how it's been going, and when we got out the following week, it was just as crazy.
Heading for this same lake again, with thoughts of getting amongst the cats again, it was only as we got to the end of the road near the lake that we could see the place was rammed!
Now one of the main reasons Gary and myself pick these waters is obviously for the fish, but also for the solitude, with just one or two other anglers usually sharing the water, as after a hard week at work, we want a venue with some peace and quiet.
So, we didn't really have a choice, it was back to our original lake. And even then, on arrival we realised that they'd closed off one side of it for other activities, so we were forced along the bank where we'd tried before, and not had much luck, and it was also quite heavily weeded.
Oh well, thinking our options were becoming limited, we picked a double swim, might as well have a social, put the world to rights, and get the kettle working overtime.
The gear is unpacked, the rods broken out. Gary sets up the marker rod and has a cast, then another, and another, 'Do you know what, there's no weed, it's clear out there!'
'Hmmm, looks like we could be bream fishing then?' is my reply. Gary positions the marker at a reasonable distance, in the centre of the swim, and it's not long after that we lay down a loose bed of pellet with the catapults. The plan is for us to fish a couple of rods each, on either side of the marker, with hope that the bream will graze across this patch of gravel/silt in front of us.
We don't stop there, as it's a four rod limit here, and as I'd brought a large carton of lobworms, originally for the cats, we both chuck out a bunch of worm into the margins, as this water must have eels in it, as the river Ouse runs round the back of the venue.
As evening sets in our hunch is soon proved right, as there's a tug on Gary's worm rod, that carries on with intermittent beeps, and an indicator that bobs up and down, he holds the rod until he's sure there's a visitor, then strikes.
A dogged fight ensues, but Gary's in charge, and we soon have this one in the net. It's nearly dark now, and after weighing we sack our lengthy friend for a mornings photo call. The eel goes 4lb 3ozs.
A nice 'slab' at 11lb 9ozs, perhaps the first of many?
I'm then on ghillying duty through the night as one of Gary's pellet rods seems to attract most of the fish in the area... or so it feels at the time!!!
Around 11pm his alarm gives a short burst of activity, and he's in again, a short fight and we're looking in the net at a fair size 'slab'. The scales register 11lb 9ozs... and his net is well slimed!
Within a couple of hours it's a repeat story, on the same rod, only as Gary steers bream number two towards the net it slips the hook, and all we're left with is an excuse to make some more tea!
When we want to catch tench they're nowhere to be seen, but now...
During all this time the other rods are giving out the occasional beep, and the odd liner, but only one rod is doing the business, and in the early hours it's off once more, with this run producing a reasonable tench of 6lb 4ozs.
The kettle is working hard this trip, and as we glug down a warming cuppa, I'm joking that after an eel, a bream, then a tench, all he needs now is a carp... Gary smiles, and mutters that we're just coming into the best time for carp. I then mention that if catches a blooming carp next, he's going in after it! And then head for my bag, laughing.
The carp doesn't appear, but there's one more fish to be had. Our worm rods have been getting little taps and knocks all morning, and we put this down to small stuff nipping at the worm tails, and after one big tug Gary pulls in to find his worms well chewed. Fed up with the constant little beeps, he decides to try a couple of maggots on the hook, and plops it back in to the same spot.
With the Ouse nearby, it was a good bet this lake had some snakes in it!
It lasts about half an hour, before ripping off, and soon another tench is laying on the mat.
There's only one thing to do, and as the old saying goes, 'If you can't beat them, join them', I put out my own maggot rod... it sits there for the rest of the morning... and I don't get a touch, oh, how I love fishing!
At least we caught two of the targeted species we went for... even if they did both come out to Gary's rods!
Talking about John Bailey at the start of this story, I was lucky enough to get an invite to a filming session for the Fishing in the footsteps of Mr Crabtree series, which I'll be writing about soon, so keep an eye out for it.
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Matt wanted to capture the isolation of the angler.. on Argentina's Rio Grande
I've had a copy of Matt Hayes Fisheye for a few months now, and as it points out on the cover, this isn't your normal fishing read.
Matt's endeavoured to give us a deeper insight into a part of angling that for most of us is over in a flash.. quite literally! And when the adrenalin is pumping through the veins, and a personal best is lying on the mat, it's very easy to just want a quick snap to show your mates before returning your catch to the water.
Using the strong reflection of the mirror carp to enhance this picture
So it's here, in his guide to angling photography, that Matt tries to explain to us that there's so much more than the traditional 'trophy shot' to be had when we're out enjoying our hobby.
The book breaks down many of the different aspects of angling photography with chapters relating to the kit, lenses, framing, the composition, and takes it on even further with underwater, at the limits, and night/low light photography... and yes, there is a chapter on improving those trophy pictures.
On a river Lea weir pool, no flash, a 16 second exposure, and Matt not moving!
Matt writes about his feelings on how, as anglers, we're usually sitting right in the middle of fantastic natural surroundings, close to wildlife, and with sunsets, morning mists, and hopefully beautiful views, it's all there for us to capture.
The 'bloke with fish' shot has its place, but Matt tells of his quest over the last ten years or so, to convey more of the essence of fishing, the magic of being out there, to put over the feeling of why we love to spend our time around the waters edge.
Underwater shot of an Atlantic salmon being released on the Gaula river, Norway
As he notes, with the help of modern digital cameras, we all have the ability to get some really awesome pictures, and he's happy to pass on tips and ideas that could get you snapping away at more than just the odd fish!
With detailed captions explaining the reasons behind each of the stunning pictures, and the technical info that helped create them, it all makes for a great read, and you might just learn something too!
Priced at £29.99, this quality publication will grace any coffee table, let alone enhance your angling book collection. It's available from Calm Productions, for more info click here.
Caught something nice? Just landed a personal best? Or is it just a belting fish?
Then why not send me a few details? It could win you a super prize!
Each week we have an angler who's done just that, and they get a goody bag full of terminal tackle... hooklinks, leads, swivels, beads, hooks, and it's matched to their type of fishing, whether that's coarse, sea, or fly.
All you have to do is send me the details of your latest memorable catch, with as much info as poss, as we all like to hear about.. the bait, the rig, how long before that bite came along, did your mate land it, how was the weather... we want to hear your story!
Of course a nice picture of yourself with that big 'un, is a must too.
It's so easy, either post me the details with a photo to: The People/Davies Angling Fishing Competition, PO Box 4024, E14 5BZ. Or, email it, attaching your pic to: fishingcomp@people.co.uk
Now for a recap on the rules!
All fish must be caught from UK waters only. Winners qualify by scoring against official UK records, excluding coarse fish of 1lb or less, and sea fish in mini-lists. Contestants are judged in four main catergories: sea angling (boat), sea angling (shore), coarse angling, and coarse angling (runner-up). There will be the odd discretionary winner, in exceptional cases (including junior anglers).
This highlight in the Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA) calendar launches on 20th August and, thanks to its enhanced online bidding facility, promises to be the best yet. The bar is set high: last year it raised over £40,000 to support the S&TA's charitable work. This year the organisers are confident even more will be generated. Why?
Well, first, there's the quality of the lots - over 40 truly mouth-watering items that range from fishing on "money can't buy" stretches to highly desirable angling memorabilia. For example, there are two copies of "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" - first editions in immaculate condition, signed by the author Paul Torday. And by Ewan McGregor, the star of the film. And by Emily Blunt, who played the love interest. Truly unique! (Lots 8 and 21, guide £200 each).
It is really invidious to highlight just a few when there is so much, but we would like to draw your attention to two days at the award-winning Arundell Arms Hotel in Devon for two (Lot 28). To be taken at any time, the successful bidder (with friend) will enjoy two days fishing plus two nightsb&b. Guide price £500. Or there's the tour of the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team Headquarters at Brackley and lunch with Ross Brawn for six people. This is a "money-can't-buy " item normally reserved for partners and sponsors of the team. You are guaranteed to be deeply impressed with the behind the scenes workings of the 450 strong Formula One Team and the opportunity to talk to Ross about his Formula One career and/or his fishing..!! (Lot 4, guide price £2,000).
The much expanded online commission bidding feature includes an automatic updating facility that instantly registers the bid. Bidders receive an email advising them of their status, so they can stay in the bidding right to the end. All the top online bids are then entered as commission bids in the live auction; top bidders will be emailed before the live auction (which takes place during the Annual Dinner on 3rd October) and asked if they wish to place a maximum bid to keep their bids alive.
Paul Knight, S&TA CEO declares, "Online or in person, every bidder in the S&TA auction stands an equal chance of securing the lot of his dreams. It could not be easier to enter, and ALL the money raised supports the S&TA's work in protecting our precious aquatic environment. What could be a better cause for the committed angler?"
How to bid: The online bidding facility opens at 12 noon on Monday 20th August and closes after the live auction takes place during the S&TA Annual Dinner on Wednesday 3rd October. To register, click here, and follow the Auction link on the Home page. Please read the bidding instructions and Terms & Conditions carefully before completing your registration. Any queries regarding the bidding process or any lot should be sent to hq@salmon-trout.org.
Issued on behalf of the Salmon & Trout Association
www.salmon-trout.org
Angling's representative body, the Angling Trust, has secured anglers a voice at a national and local level in the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which is the new name for British Waterways since it became a charity on 1 July. The Trust warmly welcomes this new opportunity for one of the largest waterway user groups to have a say in the management of the canal and river network.
At a national level, Angling Trust Board Member David Kent has been nominated by the Trust to serve on the CRT's 30-strong Members Council, with representatives from most waterway-related activities, local government and a selection of NGOs.
The Trust has also encouraged anglers to put their names forward to serve on the thirteen Partnership Boards. So far, five of these have been successful, and there will be opportunities for new applicants to put themselves forward in the coming months and years.
Angling is represented in the following regions:
These appointments, alongside David Kent's national seat on the Members Council, will ensure that angling has a strong presence within the charity from the outset.
This is the most high profile example of the Government's push towards the Big Society. Therefore, one of the cornerstones of CRT's strategy is to encourage greater involvement from the wider community in the management and well-being of our waterways.
David Kent said: "I am delighted to be able to represent anglers on this new charity's Members Council. The canal and river network controlled by the charity extends to more than a thousand miles of bank and towpath, and our aim is to improve the opportunities for anglers to enjoy this fantastic resource to the full. Anglers and their clubs should contact me via the Angling Trust to let me know of any problems or suggestions they have to improve fishing on the canals. We will be working with our member clubs and consultatives to encourage knowledgeable anglers to volunteer to serve on the remaining local partnerships when vacancies arise."
Angling Trust News
BBC Midlands Today broadcast a news item about swans being poisoned by lead on the River Severn today, which included an interview with Jan Harrigan, who is a well-known campaigner against angling. The piece included reference to lead poisoning from split shot.
The Angling Trust found out about this story third hand at 10pm last night and we immediately sent a statement to the programme informing them that there is no evidence linking alleged lead poisoning of swans with lead shot, which was banned more than 20 years ago. A far more likely culprit is the lead flashing on the bridges on the Severn which has been found in large quantities on the riverbed in this area. The BBC had arranged to speak to a local angler, but he wisely withdrew from the interview this morning. The Angling Trust statement was only partially referred to on the programme.
We have spoken to the programme producers today to express our dismay at the misrepresentation of angling. They have agreed to edit the evening programme to ensure that our statement is included along with a statement from the Environment Agency confirming our position. We offered a spokesman this afternoon, but no BBC cameramen were available to interview us.
The implications of this broadcast are potentially very serious for angling and it is very frustrating that this story has been shown, given that there is no scientific data to back up the claims being made by the anti-angling campaigners. The Angling Trust has made great progress in the past year working closely with the National Swan Convention and the RSPCA to tackle issues of angling litter (line and hooks) affecting swans.
Anyone who wishes to contact the programme to let them know that anglers are not the cause of this alleged problem, and that we are in fact responsible for reporting the vast majority of pollution incidents and carrying out hundreds of thousands of volunteer-hours of environmental improvement work each year, should e-mail midlandstoday@bbc.co.uk
Issues such as this demonstrate the importance of having a strong voice for angling. Please spread the word.
CONTACT:
Midlands Today
midlandstoday@bbc.co.uk
Angling Trust News - please complete this important surveyThe 10 minute online survey at www.anglingtrust.net/nationalanglingsurvey was launched today and will be live until Friday 31st August. It aims to find out the issues that are important to anglers so that more can be done to increase angling participation and improve the quality of fishing available. It will be promoted to anglers through thousands of fisheries, angling clubs, tackle shops and via the Environment Agency's database of anglers. All anglers, from novices to experts, are encouraged to take part.
The survey is part of a National Angling Participation Plan which aims to introduce more people to fishing and to help existing anglers fish more often through improving access, providing information and improving fish stocks. The Plan is being co-ordinated by the Angling Trust, which is the representative body for angling in England, but it will involve scores of other organisations who are dedicated to improving angling and increasing participation. A series of meetings will be held throughout the summer with these organisations and the Plan will be launched in the autumn at an Angling Summit with Environment and Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon MP.
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: "As anglers we are great at coming up with excuses for bad days and poor catches but we are less active in pressing the powers that be for solutions. This survey is an opportunity for anglers to tell us and the Environment Agency about the things that are important to them. They might be issues with access, poaching, predation, pollution or a lack of affordable local places to take youngsters fishing. Whatever matters to anglers matters to us. The survey will help us prioritise our campaigns and programmes of work to improve fisheries, increase fish stocks and deliver more angling participation. It only takes ten minutes to complete, but its results will benefit angling for many years to come."
Geoff Bateman, Head of Fisheries and Biodiversity at the Environment Agency said: "I am delighted to be supporting the National Angling Survey being carried out by the Angling Trust. This is the first step towards a new National Angling Participation Plan which will play a major role in shaping the future of angling, including how the Environment Agency will deliver its responsibilities toward angling. I encourage everyone to get involved in the online survey - it's quick, easy and your views really will count".
]]>The Angling Trust's 2012 Talent Pathway programme will be open for applications from the 2nd to the 20th of July, providing a chance for talented young anglers to trial for the national junior angling teams in all three disciplines: coarse, sea and game.The Talent Pathway is supported by Sport England and was successfully piloted during 2011 in the North East, North West and West Midlands regions. A total of 162 anglers entered the programme of which 62 anglers were chosen to represent their respective region in a series of coaching sessions and matches. In June 2012 one coarse angler and 6 game anglers were invited into the national selection qualifiers, from which one game angler Thomas Adamson was selected to fish for England in the 2013 Home Internationals.
The success of the new programme is evident and the 2012 Talent Pathway has been expanded to run in eight regions throughout England, in coarse, game and sea angling. The Talent Pathway events start in August 2012 and a team of 28 talented coaches has been recruited to select and develop youngsters with talent.
Jackie Sheldon, Head of Participation and Performance said " the 2011 pilot programme highlighted the high standard of talented young anglers involved in the sport. We are delighted with the success of the pilot programmes and commend all those involved in the Talent Pathway".
Ben Thompson Angling Trust Lead Officer for Talent commented " the 2012 Talent Pathway provides exciting opportunities for more young anglers to develop their skills further and to have a chance to be selected into the England Youth teams. The pilot programme demonstrated that with the right support and guidance, anglers with the desire and commitment can achieve their goals, and now the programme has been expanded to all regions, lots more youngsters can get involved and benefit from expert coaching."
The Angling Trust is inviting applications from anglers from the 2nd July and the closing date for the receipt of completed application forms is 20 July 2012.
There is a small entry fee of £10 for each event and all participants must be individual members of Angling Trust at the time of taking part in the events. Angling Trust membership is FREE for anyone under 18 years of age. Angling Trust membership is available online at www.anglingtrust.net.
Further details of these programmes and entry forms can be found at www.anglingtrust.net and visit the Development page.
]]>We're fishing a lake in Bedfordshire, which Gary and myself had a go at for the pike a couple of seasons ago, and said then that we'd return to target the carp.
So with us thinking about a venue to target tench, this club water started to climb the list. With double figure bream and tench, plus some good sized carp, this seemed just what we were after.
Our first trip was a couple of weeks back, and we arrived mid-afternoon, heading for the more open side of the lake. I say that, as there's a long island that runs down the lake, more over to one side than the other, leaving a narrower channel around the back of the lake, and a big expanse of water on this side, which we thought would more likely hold the bream.
With a four rod limit on this water, it's a busy bank
This venue is a large water, and so has a four rod limit, something which I've not had a go at before. I've obviously used three rods for carp, and again on certain pike waters, but that was single species fishing, and we were going to try to cover a few options, as this was our first exploratory session here.
Both of us were using two rods for the tench, with Gary trying a maggot feeder and a cage feeder on his two, whereas I'd be ledgering artificial sweetcorn on one, and a pellet on the other. All these baits were fished over a bed of groundbait that was spread across an area at the bottom of a deep trench that ran in front of our two adjacent swims.
Next two rods were going out long distance. Gary fished a pellet with a small stick, while I tried a boilie and a bag of chops, both placed on clear spots out of the weed. Hopefully the bream would move through the area, or at worst, the carp or tench.
That left our last couple of rods, and as I said we were covering all bases... so with a river running around the back of the lake, and with the weather starting out quite muggy... it was a couple of big popped-up lobs that also ended up in the trench, that we hoped might give us an outside chance of an eel!
So, we were going for just about everything that swims! And with all the different set-ups, rigs, baits, it took a fair while getting all those rods out. But once sorted, the kettle was fired up, and with a hot cuppa in hand we enjoy a quiet evening chatting, and watching the water.
After all this you're probably waiting for the big payoff, and so were we, but as dusk fell, we heard the first few spots of rain tap on our brollies.
And as we both nodded off the rain was getting heavier. In fact it didn't stop all night, it was just a question of what level it was at... downpour, bucketing... or flipping monsoon!
It was still coming down when we woke, but not as heavy, even though everything was sodden, and the worse thing was we hadn't had a touch. So all that effort and nothing to show for it... actually I did catch, a jack, that picked up my lobworm! Not that it made the walk back to the car any drier...
A welcome sight, not that he looks that happy.. that's the tench, not Gary!
We returned last week for our second session. This time we moved to the far end of the lake, on a little out cropping of bank, opposite the end of the island. Our thoughts being it would be a good place to possibly ambush the fish as they moved round the lake in the narrower channel between us and the island.
We'd also become a bit more focused on what we were after, setting up just for the tench and carp. Gary was going maggot feeder on both his tench rods, and I did the same on one of mine, but decided to try the other fishing a strawberry mini-boilie. These rods were put out either side of our respective swims, which then left room for our carp rods to go up the middle towards the island.
It seemed like the rain wasn't going to leave us alone this week either, but we were hoping it wouldn't put the fish down as it seemed to last week.
Anyway we were dodging the showers as we set up, and things were looking good when Gary's alarm started screaming, as one of his carp rods ripped off. But it stopped just as suddenly, and we could only think that it had slipped the hook... but it was a run. And with fish topping in front of us, our hopes were high.
A grey start, but with regularly baiting the fish are definitely in the area
Gary sets his alarm for 4am, to get us up to rebait, and with that we go for some shut-eye.
There's heavy showers during the night, and when we rise to refill the feeders it's still drizzling. But the rods are reset and within the hour Gary's away again. This time it stays on, and I'm ready with the net.
It's our first tench from the water, well done mate! It's not huge, a male, about 5-6lbs, but it's what we're after, and with a few liners before we leave, we know that the fish are in this area. With the weed coming up in big clumps through the channel we're planning on doing a bit of 'raking' next visit, which should give us some good areas to attract more tench.
The weed is getting thicker as the weather improves
As it happens I can't make it out this week, as I'm doing my bit with the kids, but Gary gets back to the lake, and sets up in the same spot.
I'm kept up to date with regular texts, of fish moving, raking, a lost carp, and then one of them turns out to be a picture... he's had an eel! It goes 4lb 4ozs, caught on maggot... well, they had to be there, perhaps there's a monster to be caught?
He always catches when I'm not around! Gary's 4lb eel
Like a lot of us Paul has to juggle family and work commitments before getting out on the bank, so most of his outings are overnighters. He's a top carper who's always thinking of the best ways to catch.. as well as just enjoying being out there!
As I'm sure you'll enjoy his tales. Take it away Paul..
Finally summer is with us, and not a moment to soon. The weed on my syndicate is growing strong and this will bring new challenges to my fishing, which I will have to adapt to. The spawning seems to have started all over the country, which has given me the opportunity to get up close with the carp in another venue that I plan to target later on in the year. Watching those fish up close has already lit the flame for me and I'm looking forward to the new challenges that it holds.
My mobile approach has definitely paid of this spring catching me some good fish, which, if I hadn't put the effort in, I have no doubt I wouldn't have caught.
One such session saw me turning up to a busy lake. After a few laps around I settled in a nice swim where I had seen a couple of fish cruising just below the surface. The carp were moving off the shallows, down a marginal slope, and into some deeper water. It seemed to me that they where leaving the shallow water after a warm day of probably sunning themselves, and I was hoping for a bite from the slightly deeper water which had some nice silty spots to fish too.
Knowing the area pretty well and spotting a few more carp leaving by the same route, I decided not to use the marker float and to be as quiet as I possibly could. With two hookbaits positioned and a kilo of Fishing Wizards Kudos boilies scattered around the area, I sat back just as the sun was setting feeling very confident - surely it was just a matter of time!
The kettle was in full flow and as the moon rose into the night sky I heard the first fish crash out from the water not too far away. A few good fish had been caught over the past week or two from this section of the lake, and going on recent seasons, some of the bigger fish seemed to like this area more than others at this time of the year.
Full of caffeine from all my tea drinking I couldn't rest so spent much of the night sitting at the front of the swim observing the water. If the carp where going to feed in the silty spots during the night they would be rolling over it, cleaning their gills as they feed. Over the course of the night, apart from the one fish crashing out at the beginning of the night the only activity I had witnessed was from a big set of lily pads to my right, where there seemed to be a few fish moving through them.
These where only very subtle, as I watched the pads getting knocked about a bit. Tiredness caught up with me and I got my head down for a couple of hours before first light and my alarm. Come morning I was shattered, I had a long day ahead of me and could have done with a lay-in. Did I? - Hell no. Kettle was on and a very strong coffee was in order to kick start the day.
It wasn't long until I again saw the lilly pads being knocked as the carp where milling around in them. Most of the activity was on the opposite side of the pads too me, in a little swim where the carp confidently swim right under your rod tips. I had been trickling a mixture of Kudos and Yellow Peril boilies into this swim all spring and had caught a few nice fish from it already.
I soon realised that some of the carp must have drifted off the shallows, over where I had set my traps for the night and headed straight for the safety of the pads and had probably spent the whole night in them.
A big plume of bubbles hit the surface in the little swim and that was it - I was soon winding the rods in and on the move around to it.
With re-tied bottom bait rigs, and chopped down Yellow Peril hookbaits, I added a small bag of chops to help keep the rig from tangling and also to add a little extra attraction around the hookbaits. The two underarm flicks were perfect and went down with a nice clean 'donk' - on the money, as a dear friend would say.
Both lines were slackened off to allow the line to naturally sink to the contours and the clutches were set tight, as letting the carp gain sanctuary in the pads would normally result in a lost fish.
Once the rods were out, the tea kit was on once more for a refreshing brew, the effort for the quick move had made me thirsty. I sat by the rods with my tea as the next set of bubbles began to break the surface just behind where I had positioned my hookbaits. As the minutes went by, more bubbles fizzed up from the bottom, slowly getting closer and closer to my traps.
The time was now about 5.30am and a coot had decided that it was time for his breakfast too. Guess where? - Yes that's right, over my spots!
I couldn't believe it, I definitely had a couple of fish feeding down there and a coot starts dive-bombing the bottom of the lake for his own food. I tried everything to stop the coot from feeding off the spot, waving my arms around like a lunatic, swinging my spod in the air from side to side as well as my landing net. All this had to be done very quietly and also slowly, as I wanted to scare the coot away, but not the fish. It must have looked really funny for anybody opposite me that morning.
Through no scaring of my own, the coot charged off back to his nest, a grebe had closed in on his nest and his mate was calling for back-up!
I sat back down, hoping my chance hadn't been blown. It hadn't. Another big set of bubbles broke the surface right over the right hand rod, and as they continued to hit the surface the alarm let out a single bleep, something had knocked the line.
As I waited patiently, the inevitable happened and the bobbin rose with such force, I heard it hit the rod before the alarm let out its war cry - I was in!
I grabbed for the rod and pulled into the fish. It boiled straightaway on the surface by the edge of the pads, but didn't gain the safety of the pads on its bid for freedom. I held firm and didn't give the carp an inch knowing that if it did get into the lilies I might loose it. As the fish turned I reached for my landing net, dropping it into the waters edge ready to be used.
Once the carp neared the net I scooped up my prize and let out a shout - YES!
Sitting up most of the night, watching for signs of fish. Making sure I was still up at first light, I was shattered, but had seen the activity to make the move I needed to do - and now it was all worth it for in the folds of my landing net I had a good fish!
I readied the mat and zeroed the scales, then hoisted my prize from out of the lake to see her in all her glory. As she lay there on my unhooking mat, I could see it was a carp called Popeye, one of the old originals from the lake. On the scales the weight read 37lb 6oz and I placed her into the retaining sling while I got my camera equipment ready.
Shots were taken and Popeye was returned back to her home not knowing how happy she had made me that morning. I was tired from lack of sleep, but with such a great capture the day drifted by effortlessly.
Well as you can see from this tale, my mobile approach has been working well for me. If I can, I will sleep under the stars, all my unnecessary tackle which I don't really use has been removed from my carryall and I try as always to travel as light as I possibly can.
Until next time,
Paul Moulder
Getting his bobbin just right for slack lining.. very precise is our Gary!
The news of the other 'forty' coming out was a bit of a downer, but even if we were there, who says we'd have caught it anyway!
That meant both the big girls had made an appearance now in the last couple of weeks, and a good mid-thirty had also been banked, we were hoping that the fish were finally starting to get their heads down.
This week instead of trying out more new swims, we opted for dropping back into last weeks ones. Now knowing a few of the features in this area, we felt that if the fish were indeed feeding we could target these spots and get amongst them. That, and the wind blowing directly into this corner of the lake made it a simple choice!
So Gary sets up in the corner swim, with some inviting overhanging trees to one side, I'm sure one of his baits will end up under them somewhere. The other will probably go out to a gravel bar that runs parallel to our bank about twenty five yards out, in fact it runs across both our swims, so I'll be putting one of my baits on it as well.
My other bait will go into my nearside margin, as the lake has a very steep drop away, it goes to about 7 or 8ft deep within a foot or two of the bank, then gently slopes away to depths of 14ft or so in places.
So the brolly's are put up, pod's out, and rod's sorted. But before any bait goes out it's time for the most important bit of tackle to come out.. the kettle! I boil up some water and wander down to Gary's swim and fill up his mug, he's fiddling with a bait box to rest his bobbin on, as he's using a slack line to his margin bait.
At last, Gary with his first catch, caught in the margins, it went 23lb 5ozs.
'So where have you put it then?' Gary then hands me his polaroids and tells me to look almost straight down from the bank, off to one side of his swim. Down through the clear water I can see a small patch of lilys starting to sprout upward, and just beyond them an area of clear gravel. As I look more closely, there's his bait sitting on the bottom, with a few freebies scattered around nearby.
'You've got to be kidding, that's only a few feet from your platform!' I'm looking unconvinced, but Gary smiles, 'The depth is there, and they cruise around really close in the margins here'. Well, we all know carp love the margins, but lets wait and see, I'm still thinking about it as I stroll back to have my cuppa.
I finally find my own margin gravel patch, and literally drop my bait on it.. well if it's good enough for him..! My other bait doesn't actually end up on the bar, as I've found another gravel patch slightly nearer in, and when a passing bailif mentions it being a good spot as well, out goes my bait.
After more tea, we're getting into early evening and starting to relax, I think I had my nose in a paperback when a beep sounds, then another, before an alarm screams! It's not mine, and a quick look down the path sees Gary now playing a fish.
I quickly secure my rods, then make my way over, grabbing his net I lay it gently in the water and wait. I then realise the run came on Gary's margin rod, and the fish has shot off under the trees. But he keeps the pressure on, luckily there's hardly any snags in there, and slowly he makes line and finally steers it into the waiting net.
Usual performance ensues, scales, sling, camera.. then it's weighed, pictures taken, and returned as soon as possible to its watery home. It registers 23lb 5ozs, a lovely common, and our first 'twenty' from the water. (Well for this campaign anyway, as Gary had fished this water a few years back, and caught a fair number of the 20lb'ers that are now the resident 30's).
Two things happened next, Gary gets his bait back out on the same spot.. and I get the kettle fired up again!
It's getting dark now and time to grab some zzz's, the wind has dropped to the odd gust, but there's fish topping, and we've seen some fizzing up along the bar, it all feels pretty good, now where's my pillow..
You don't mind being woken up when there's a 'twenty' to be weighed.. 21lb 10ozs.
Zipped up tight in my bag and out cold, there's a ringing sound disturbing the stillness, or is it more of a beeping..?
A beeping.. blimey, it's an alarm! I poke my head out of my brolly, damn, it's not one of mine.. but as I look along the bank, I see a shadowy figure moving about, I think Gary's in again!
Slipping on my shoes and headtorch, I turn up and offer my services as gillie, while Gary re-runs his earlier performance with fish number two. Again it's not long before I'm scooping up another good fish, and we then repeat the weigh, pic, and return ritual.
This time though, it's a mirror, hitting the scales at 21lb 10ozs. I've noticed it's come from the margin rod again, the carp must be queueing up under those trees!
We celebrate in our usual fashion, with a hot cuppa, before it's lights out once again. I believe my parting comment as I strolled away, was along the lines of 'And if you could leave one for me mate...'
It doesn't take long to doze off again, and not much disturbs us for the rest of the night. I did have a couple of beeps from one of the alarms, and look out to see one of my indicators has been blown off the line.. I must have adjusted that really well then! After getting up to help Gary earlier, I'm seriously tired and leave it, and am soon off counting sheep again.
The sun rises over the trees and around 6.30am I hear a beep, then another, but then it goes quiet. It's enough for me to poke my head out for a look, but nothings moving. Then as I stare out, my rod tip twitches.. or did it? Yes, it does it again, I'm sitting up now trying to find the zip as suddenly my alarm screams out a beautiful one-toner!
And to finish a memorable session, a twenty pound 'torpedo', at 20lb 3ozs.
Out in seconds, I stand there in my socks (it's alright, I am wearing trousers and a sweatshirt too!) playing what seems to be a high powered 'torpedo', that's intent on reaching Gary's swim and beyond!
I'm thinking it didn't immediately know it was hooked, and without my indicator to register a drop-back, it had plodded about until it felt the lead, then.. whoosh!
I get it's head turned eventually, and enjoy the fight in the deep water in front of me, strangely enough there's no help from my wonderful fishing buddy.. must be getting as much beauty sleep as he can! But it's soon in the net, which I then secure to the bank with a bankstick, before marching along to wake up Rip Van Winkle!
So for the third time this outing, we're weighing another good fish, and it's another common, that just makes the 'twenty' at 20lb 3ozs.
Well tea is brewed, and we chat about what has been a cracking session.. and after half a dozen blanks.. it's about time!
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A good looking swim, plenty of features, and the odd fish jumping in the margins...
Well to say it's been a hard slog recently, would be putting it mildly!
I'm trying to remember if its five or six weeks now, without a touch... in fact, I think I'm really trying to forget as many as I can!
But that's fishing.
So after spending last summer on a club water with a reasonable head of 20's and a few 30's, with Gary and myself landing a fair number of the 'twenty plus' fish, we decided to push it a little bit further this season.
This latest club water also boasts a good stock of 20's, but has a number of 30's, plus the added attraction of a couple of 40lb'ers. The latter two, a mirror and a common, being known to make an appearance fairly regularly at the start of the season.
But besides a small common on our first visit it's been very quiet for us both.. in fact, most of the lads fishing here have had an uneventful Spring so far. What with the early season weather being bright and clear, with high pressure dominating, keeping it pretty cool, then more recently frequent deluges of cold rain, it's only lately that the temperature has started to inch nearer the seasonal average.
So the lake definitely hasn't switched on yet.. but we all turn up each week hoping this will be the time when it does!
Not that we've sat there without giving the situation some thought, having varied our set-ups, and our hookbaits.. like different shaped boilies, to pop-ups, pellets, wafters, and even tried naturals, like maggots, worms, and even mussels!
We've tweaked our rigs, from long hooklinks, to short, the bait tight to the hook, to extra long hairs, slack lined, it's made no difference.. you can have the most perfect presentation, but when they ain't eating, it doesn't matter how pretty it looks!
Our basic set-up for bottom bait presentation is a sort of 'claw' rig, with the hair being held tight to the bend of the hook by a short length of tubing. Being lucky enough to have made friends with a couple of top lads from Gardner tackle over the years, they've pointed out the virtues of some of their great terminal gear, so I've been using Disruption covered braid for my hooklinks, teamed up with a curved hook pattern, Gardner's Mugga.
Actually pop a shot on the hooklink, just under the hook, and it works fine as a pop-up rig, or if you want a critically balanced set-up, put a small shot straight on the hair, just below your pop-up, so that it sinks very slowly in the water.. it fools a lot of fish when they're wafting your freebies around to see what moves naturally, and what doesn't! Gary passed that on to me a while back, and it's a great tip.
Well, it's sod's law, while writing this I've just heard the 40lb mirror has come out, and now everyone is hoping they'll be in with a chance of the big common.. and of course, so will Gary and myself.. actually I think we'll be happy if we land anything!
...but wherever we try the bites aren't coming, and the blanks are!
Yes, we're back with top publishers, Mpress Ltd, and distributors Calm Productions, to bring you another contest that's so easy to enter.. and could get you a great prize.
This month I have a copy of Matt Hayes stunning new publication Fisheye. It's full of incredible photo's, and packed with top tips on how to turn your next bankside 'snap' into an amazing picture!
HERE'S HOW TO ENTER
As usual I've put up a fishing related question with a choice of answers, and all you have to do is pick the one you think is correct, then email, or post your answer to me, with your name and address. It's that simple!
Then at the end of this month the winner will be picked at random from the entrants with the correct answer. The prize will be posted directly to the winners address.
Send your answer to: The People/Mpress competition, PO Box 4024, E14 5BZ, or email me at fishingcomp@people.co.uk
THIS MONTH'S CONTEST
Just answer this question:
Who was Matt's angling partner in the well-known 'Rod Race' television series?
a) Jan Porter
b) Alex Bones
c) Mick Brown
Our sponsors Mpress/Calm Productions
This top company publishes, and distributes, a wonderful selection of angling books by authors such as Martin Bowler, Jim Shelley, John Wilson, Terry Hearn, and of course, Matt Hayes.
Covering most aspects of our sport from roach to carp, and from fishing tips to fishing tackle, there's plenty to keep you interested when you're not out on the bank.. or perhaps when you are!
Then there's the DVDs, and if I mention Catching the Impossible, Lampard's Way With Chub, In Pursuit of the Largest, you might end up glued to the TV for days.
Calm Productions also have a great selection of Crime, Royal, and Sports books, let alone their posters and calendars.
With good pricing and a fast turnaround on orders, it's well worth a browse through their stock. For more information on Calm Productions products click here.
RULES
Usual Trinity Mirror rules apply.
This month's competition will finish on 31st May 2012, so all postal entries must reach me by that date to be included.