| Where You Fished Today |
| MALC | Hows about letting us all know where you fished today and how you got on. I'm off to Drayton Reservoir in a min i'll let you know how it went when i get back. Malc |
| MALC | Looks like the same response to this post as from the fish at Drayton today. Not a single bite. 20 peg match on the dam wall only 1 fish was caught. Roll on the summer. |
| Dave | Well when you lot were out and I was in, Stu went for a piking session at Castle Howard and had six runs plus this 8lb'er [img]/myphoto/Datafile2.asp?FileID=447[/img] Looks like I've got to catch tomorrow now [:P] Dave |
| Geoff P | No fishing for rasons explained in other threads. But then with 60 mph gusts of winds could hardly stnad up let alone fish. Geoff If it swims, catch it. |
| bart4real | I fished the Garbolino silver fish league at Woodland View and finished about 6th or 7th. I won the section with 10lb 14oz but I failed to catch over the joker I fed so I chucked the waggler to the island.I caught mostly roach on caster but as carp do not count, I was chucking them back. I let 10 little ones go only to find out that Mark Pollard weighed three in and won the match with 14lb. DOH!!!!Everything is going in the net next time! |
| peter | Bart, Why was he allowed to weigh them in? Happiness is a rod in your hand. |
| Ziptrev | Malc, Thanks I'll use your good idea for a report on today, A new venue report and a mini-fish in meet lol. Sorry Im so late, but I have been asleep for 4 hours since returning home, probably worn out by watching our pro-active fuehrer! The venue.- Cromwell Lakes, Cromwell , Nr Newark. Notts. Easy to find, (follow sign to Cromwell off A1,just a few miles N. of Newark) Lane next to farm shop in centre of Village. Sapphire lakes 1/2 mile round corner by the way, another 3 lake comm.fishery. Cromwell is an extremely well managed £5 per 12 hour day(7-7) with night fishing allowed fri sat sun again £5 7-7. A 17 acre Lake, with 60 good pegs and space between to share many others if you go as a group. Contains Carp 30lb + Bream, Tench,Roach, Perch and our quarry today Pike , best this year 33lbs! Spring fed , the water amazed us in the highest gales of the year, by retaining crystal clarity, despite waves reaching sea like proportions, smashing against the north bank. Innovative ideas at Cromwell:- pegs can be pre-booked by phone, map in Bailiffs hut showing lake contours,toilets,Free barrows for kit transport!(no need to pack a trolley, just take a good barrow man!! Well, today was again a great day and I had arranged to meet our leader, big Dave Webbo at 7.30. Amazingly (twice John) I was early and Dave arrived spot on time. We had planned a Trent visit, but with the extreme weather,the Trent was running over the banks in places and not only ruined our river fishing, but the fall back lake on that stretch became inaccessible as the track flooded. So desperate for a venue,on sunday I drove 80 miles and researched Cromwell! On arriving we made our way from the Car Park (on hands and knees through the wind) to the Bailiffs hut. There, 1 other hardy soul, quickly made his exit claiming he was going to the only sheltered peg before we had a chance! We checked the map and decided on the top left corner (a longish walk, before we even knew about free barrows! lol, (but Dave doesnt let things like that put him off!) Loading up we set off (well! loaded up! Dave had the barrow, all our kit and I carried his ginormous landing net!) Arriving at pegs 42-39, we decided to fish between 40 (claimed to have been pre-booked) and 39, round the corner,as this gave us ample space to fish in comfort, close enough to chat. Sea baits only are allowed and Dave had Herring, I a 1/3rd mackerel and a spratt that was slightly carp shaped! Casting out, we were amazed that the water within a few feet shelved dramatically to 20 feet beneath our feet and the line angle from the rod tip was acute. We set to talking and , like all my experiences with meeting mds,soon were chatting away as though we had known each other for years. I believe that nearly every fishing story you hear ,you can relate to. If you havent had a similar experience, you can imagine it, or see how it could happen and the funniness of the disasters, or downsides (The Zippy specialities) only serve to accentuate the good side. And Learn!, Dave in a short space of time increased my fishing knowledge (PVA Tape,interesting as a string user, cork pop ups on the large herring, hhhmm!,and the injection of fish oil as opposed to my spray on). Then I had a captive audience for my computer questions! and when he wasnt talking alphabet,http,url,asp,mysql!in a Yorkie accent, I was able to pose 'and now for an idiots explanation' questions that he patiently explained. All this while, above our heads, an Unbelieveably strong wind howled, moaned and drove huge waves crashing across the far bank! Whilst we sat on a promontory haven, snug, warm and without even a brolly (let alone a bivvy) taken out of the bags! In fact Dave had even undone his jacket, after barrow duty brought a rosy glow yo his features!(and his net hadn't even got heavy!) Dave is very pro-active, and after 2 hours and no runs,searched round the corner and discovered 2 20lb+ carp lieing doggo in about 3ft of water near a sunken branch. So rod 1 removed, freelined piece of a conveniant sandwich and for 1/2 an hour I watched him dapping for carp, on Jan 28th , middle of winter, in a storm force 10 gale!! Sadly, they did not respond and as the day wore on neither the wind, or the fish relented and despite moving to the unclaimed, pre-booked? no.40 peg and attempting to float fish a herring, neither Dave or I had as much as a run. Incidentally, Peg40 is the extreme point of a promontory, and when Dave put the float into the main lake, we witnessed the undertow,against the wind direction,pull his 1lb herring along,at a speed equal to normal stick float trotting!! Such were the conditions that only hardy anglers such as Dave and I enjoyed! I believe we can put down his Izaak bivvy to the ale lol! At 4.00 pm we pulled the plug,talked to to other Anglers in the car park swims(no walking for them!) and discovered that all 5 Anglers present had not 1 run between them. Stopping at the nearest pub, Dave further ruined his reputation by buying my Guinness! and after a pleasant warm by a roaring fire, we both set of, Fishless, but content with the shared experience and looking forward to better days. Thanks a million , Dave, and I look forward to exploring the Wharfe with you 1 day and getting the conditions right to show you that Trent perform! If too , I bombard you with pictures, Well you showed me that miraculous little digi camera! Thanks Again, Trev Ziptrev your resident |
| Dave | Hey Trev, An excellent write up to an excellent day. Who needs fish with company like yours? I'll have the photo's zipped over to you shortly and if you don't mind I'll copy your report into the 'Been Fishing' section of the site. That gives me an idea  Dave Edited by - Dave on 29 January 2002 2:48:11 PM |
| bart4real | Peter, I think there is a little confusion over what are carp, brown goldfish and carassio. Nobody is sure but instead of putting them in my net, I chucked them back. Some anglers did the same, others didn't and having watched the weigh in, I am still none the wiser. I am just going to put everything in the net from now on. The thing that confuses me is the fact that these fish were all stocked recently because they are winter feeding fish. Why not let anglers weigh them and just discount carp as everyone can tell the difference between them. I don't agree with banning carp but I accept that anglers tend to go all out for them so I can see why they do not count. Nevertheless, last year in this league I finished third in one match, having thrown back four carp from 5oz up to about a pound and a half, only to be beaten by an angler who weighed in a 6lb barbel! |
| Ziptrev | Thanks Dave, for Company, kind remarks and photo's! If you are thinking on same lines as me?, I reckon Malc made a good post here and we could all report back each venue, every time we fish, good or bad , and perhaps in the modern education system of multiple choice questions, ie wind/temp/rain etc (tick box style) and build up a comprehensive coverage of venues! Complete with method/bait (and in my case disasters lol) and we may all chose better in future! Cheers Trev Ziptrev your resident |
| MALC | Just got back from Stockton Reservoir nr Rugby. It was blowing a gale all day and rained on and off. Did not think much would come out due to the weather, but i was glad to be proved wrong. Fished feeder with double red floating maggot and got 3 Chub between 12oz & lb and 7 Carp with the best one just over 8lb. An enjoyable day after last weekends blank. So Keith it looks like Stockton on Wednesday i'll e-mail you after some food. Malc |
| Ziptrev | Went to Hardwick Hall off Junc29 M1. Went to try a deadbait at same time as waggler! Water milk chocolate colored! and swim only 2 feet deep (sheltered bank) Tried it for an hour then packed and moved to Press Manor, set up by 12. Waggler fished to try new rod, double red maggs over disco pinkies and hemp. Caught about 30 bits, gudgeon,roach ,rudd,perch, 1 small koi1 1/2 lb roach. Downpour at 4.00, packed up, car got stuck in mud AGAIN £40 call out.Shouldnt happen to a dog!  Trev Ziptrev your resident |
| MALC | TREV, Life will never be dull with you and your disasters around. You've got to be due a day soon with out any problems !!!!!  Hopefully you wont have to many more problems. Malc |
| Ziptrev | Thanks Malc, Well last week set me back £67, for a new 3 section, a new 4 section and a sleeve for old 3 section repair!( I ordered the spares in case it happens again at a more critical time) So , with only £40 going out this week, Could you say I'm improving? When I get around to doing my profile, you'll see why I have the Luck I do!  Cheers Trev Ziptrev your resident Edited by - Ziptrev on 02 February 2002 8:17:05 PM |
| peter | Oh Trev, What are we going to do with you. Peter. Happiness is a rod in your hand. |
| Cyprinid_boy | Malc, are my platforms still standing at stockton res? Problems with poles eh trev. i remember when i lost three sections to the top flight of a double decker bus. Two shatered by the big red monster and the other breaking in my hand leaving me nice carbon fingers - it bloody hurt. So they laughed all day at me (evening open on the river lea at rifles section). The ironic thing is it happened 45 mins into the match and i packed up - would have won the section if tony marti had brought his pet tench!! Cyp |
| MALC | Matt, their still as strong and good as they were when put up, just a bit slippy now adays.But solid as a rock. Malc |
| Dave | 3/02/2002 - This could be a regular thread Stu, Danny and I have got back from what you might call our most hectic day's Piking ever. We got to Castle Howard for about 8.30am, set-up by 9.00am, Stu's first Pike (a large double) on and nearly landed by 9.15am followed by what can only be described as chaos. The wind was howling across the lake straight at us and in the next three hours we had the following: Stu - 12 runs/takes and one more pike on the bank - 14.5lb Me - 16 runs/takes and five pike landed - 4lb, 7.5lb, 10.5lb, 6lb, 7.5lb Several of the runs resulted in lost fish, and some of them we think were small, over ambitious jacks. Strangely tho' after 1.00pm we didn't even get a sniff. I've got some pics and I'll put them together in the 'Been Fishing' section of the site sometime tomorrow.  Dave |
| peter |  Five hours sitting in a peg that was so muddy that it resembled the Somme.Howling wind from right to left vereing occaisionaly to head on,while the rain went straight under the brolly and the bait tried its best to restage the great escape. All this for 1lb 14ozs of micro roach,skimmers & a couple of pongos,the best of which may have weighed 8drms.With any luck the kit may dry out for next weekend so i can do it all over again! Dont you just love it! Peter. Happiness is a rod in your hand. |
| MALC | Fished Grand Union Canal @ Welton nr Daventry in a match. After a nightmare start fished the corn for 1 Bream and 2 Gudgeon for 2lb 1oz and second in section, match was won with over 8lb from the other end of the stretch. But the weather was good and i enjoyed it in the end. Malc |
| Geoff P | I did post this under Outlook but it is more appropiate here. Awake at 7.30, out of bed quickly, look out of the window with bated breath. No wind, no rain. Fishing is definitely on today. Flask made and car loaded. It was a 10 minute drive to Mainwarings Tackle shop to buy 1 pint of maggots and half a pint of casters. Then another 10 minute drive to Gowerton Course Fishery, adjacent to a 9 hole golf course and driving range. Only a small lake with 30 pegs, containing carp to 21lb, bream to 5lb, roach to a pound with a lot of gudgeon and perch. I set up the pole, 10 elastic and a 1gramme float to fish on the bottom at about 8 metres. The lake is deeper than usual, after the heavy rain, now about 10 feet deep. I had a quick cup of tea before settling down for an enjoyable first outing of the year. I loose fed about 10 maggots and 10 casters over the float and settled down to wait for the first ominous sign of a bite. Things were very slow, after an hour I had a few signs of line bites so I fished a bit shallower. Still no takers. I varied my book baits between red and white maggots and casters. Changed hook to a size 20. Then I tried sweet corn but to no avail. Nobody else on the lake was catching either so I knew it wasn’t me. I had arranged to be home before the rugby started at 2 so I was looking at a blank for my first trip of the year. Sod it, back on to the bottom, with a single caster on size 22 hook. The float settled, and after a couple of minutes slowly sunk out of sight. A quick raise of the pole and a fish was on. I gently guided it to the bank and landed the fish. The scales were shimmering in the watery sun, and the fins ruffled in the gentle breeze. Was I chuffed? It was 1.20 and time to pack up to get home. Still I hadn’t blanked, and I had thoroughly enjoyed the day. I am looking forward to my next outing, possibly next Sunday. Only I hope the fish I catch then is bigger than a fingerling roach. Geoff If it swims, catch it. |
| MALC |  Report on yesterday 10/2/02 Fished Stockton Reservoir. Fancied a day on the chub so went to Stockton armed with 2pint of maggot and fished the wagg n magg. Fished peg 34 into open water at about 25yds and feed about 10 maggs every couple of mins for the first hour which resulted in 2 chub around the lb mark, then doubled the feed and the chub switched on ended with 13 chub upto 1lb 8oz and lost a couple of carp. Malc  ZIPPY CURSE CLUB MEMBER 001 |
| Dave | Stu went and bagged up at Raker Lakes. For his report and others follow this link (get a cuppa and a comfy chair first ) http://www.maggotdrowning.com/beenfishing/venues.htm If anyone wants to do a report to include, anytime, write it up with a few details and email it to me, we'll do the rest. Dave |
| Ziptrev | LOL David Thank you very Much! OK Now for a little brag! Heres the Picture of the Pike that made my weekend! [img]/myphoto/Datafile2.asp?FileID=448[/img] Sorry all and Wendy! I know you think the monkeys prettier Cya Trev Ziptrev your resident[img]/smilies/alcoholic2.gif[/img] Edited by - Ziptrev on 11 February 2002 10:32:52 PM |
| MALC | Cracking fish Trev and a great picture. Well done mate. Malc ZIPPY CURSE CLUB MEMBER 001 |
| peter | Super photo Trev, The look on your face says it all mate, a new PB if i'm not mistaken? Peter. Happiness is a rod in your hand. |
| Ziptrev | Thx Malc and Peter, Yeah, new PB, Hell that was easy ! only caught my very 1st 1 Jan 18th thanks to Esox! Wait til thursday!! Trev Ziptrev your resident |
| waxlion1 | Hey Trev, It's an ugly bugger, and the fish aint no better... Waxlion1 |
| Dave | Hi all, Just reporting on yesterday's session at Castle Howard with ZipTrev and Stu. Talk about good weather, at one point we were down to T Shirts and jeans (not the MD ones they're now in the development stage) with the sun blazing down and no wind - for a February day it was more like early summer, brilliant for us but not for the piking. Trev managed to show us both how to do it with an early run which resulted in his new personal best of 15lb 12oz. This was weighed before it added 1/2oz by eating Trevs thumb [:D] but this wasn't enough to wipe the big grin off his face. Just goes to show though that the pike 'oop norf' are bigger that those 'darn sarf' [:)] - go on someone proove us wrong. Anyway as I said the wether was better for us then the pike and only three other runs were had, one to me, one to Stu and another one to Trev but none resulted in a fish. Here's a pic of the Pike: [img]/myphoto/Datafile2.asp?FileID=449[/img] And if you look closely at his left hand you'll see the third pint of Trev's blood draining away [:D] A good time was had by all and we even had a chance to sample the wares of Elvington's local pub - purely for research purposes tho' [;)] Dave |
| fishingmad1 | My local pond was absoulutely rubbish with 6 on the pond and only 3 little roach coming out of it all day. I fished everything just werent taking float under just nibbling. |
| waxlion1 | Trev Nice fish, but still nothing but trouble when your around... Waxlion1 |
| peter | Dave, You had better take a pair of water ski's to Elvington,cause you just know who's going to hook that 100lb cat if it exists,and don't forget the camera,the sight of Trev skiing across the lake attached to a cat shouldn't be missed.  Peter. Happiness is a rod in your hand. |
| wendy | wow some lovely fish there guys WELL DONE !! will someone tell me where i can get those graphics from coz there excellent |
| Dave | Hi Wendy, If you right click over the image, select 'Properties', you will see the Address/URL of the images. Most sites provide the images 'free' to link to, but copying them can infringe on copyrights should they exist Enjoy, Dave |
| toma |  Been nowhere i went to work.Fishing 2morrow yahoooooooo I LUV FISHING ME toma |
| mookie | Afternoon guys and gals just thought l would tell you bout my chubbin session at the free stretch at Croft on Tees today well thought it was gonna be one of them days as l set the alarm for 6.45pm instead of am..woken up by the taxi driver banging on the door....cancelled that and went at 8am...the river had been about 8ft above normal level, but it had gone back to its normal level and had a bit of colour, l fish where the River Skerne meets the Tees...so it made a two tone effect on the river, the coloured water is where the chub sit waiting for food to come to them...so as its been near 5 weeks since l wet a line l was gagging to fish....so as l set up my gear 12ft Pro Performance power feeder with a medium tip 4lb mainline with a 8lb braid hooklength kindly donated by GB... Soon as my groundbait feeder with liquildised bread and size 6 hook with a lump of flake hit the water l waited.....but not for long the tip bounced and missed it....took me bout 20mins to hit my first fish a nice chub of about a pound and a half..that was after 20mins fishing then at 9am my rod wrapped round and all l did was hang on the fish went in every reedbed possible untill 10mins later l looked and thought l had a new personal best...luckily for me a match was on the other side and a angler who had caught nowt came to me and weighed the chub for me yes it was a PB 4lb 2oz...marvellous..between 9am and 12 midday l had a few more bites but as the wind got up l thought home time....at 1pm l caught another chub 2lb this time...then packed up due to no more bites and waited for a taxi...got home contented at around 2.30pm... Work from tomorrow so will have to wait till weekends and maybe get another bash at those chub before the river season runs out and the magic of June 16th awaits.... Cheers everybody and tight lines to all maggotdrowners worldwide MOOK |
| Geoff P | It was nice to get out fishing today. Met Daifish at junction 47 of the M4 and showed him the way to White Springs Fishery, Pontardulais, near Swansea. All I can say is I am glad we both caught fish cos i would have felt guilty getting Dai to come all that way for a blank. Will write a better report in my firms time tomorrow, but I have to say, thank you for your company Dai, I had a smashing day, and hope to do it again soon. cheers mate, Geoff |
| Ziptrev | Great stuff mookie , well done, You too Geoff and Dai, look forward to report! For the Record Dave , It was my Right hand this time!!! Can't wait 'til Tues for a crack at the Fen Pike and Weds for a go at the Zander with Martin! I'll let you know on thursday. Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| mookie | Cheers Trev-- That chub really made my day, now l cant wait till the next time...love chub love fishin....full stop...... MOOK |
| Dai Fish | Thanks Geoff I had the best days fishing for quite some time the company was good the fishing was good and the fishary itself was good what more can one ask for. Not only did Geoff show me the way to the fishary he also showed me how to catch fish and didnot laugh to loud at my early attempts at useing the pole and feeding with the pole cup (not so much maggot drowning more like maggot flying) but after watching how it should be done I managed to tame the beast and catch a few fish. I will write more tomorrow when I can think straight, just wanted to say a public thank you to Geoff for a fab day. Dai Fish |
| Geoff P | Date: Sunday 17th February 2002. Location: White Springs Fishery Mission: To catch fish (pleeeeese) Combatants: Geoff Palmer and David Thomas My apologies to any budding John Grishams but here is my little tome on yesterdays outing. I awoke to the sound of the cat meowing, an awful din, at 6.30am. I thought I might as well get up even though I wasn’t meeting Dai until 8.45. Breakfast and coffee was the first order of the day, then the ulcer tablets. Before leaving the house a quick check on Maggot Drowning to see what was happening. We were meeting at Junction 47 on the M4, the Penllergaer junction. It was only a ten-minute drive from here to the fishery. I thought I would get to the meeting place early so left the house at twenty past eight and arrived at half past to find Dai already waiting for me. A quick hand shake, a short chat and I led the way to White Springs Fishery, which is just outside Pontardulais, near Swansea. After paying for the days fishing we went down to the lakes. I decided we should fish the Horseshoe pleasure lake, as I knew there would be a good chance of catching. From my previous trips to the fishery I knew of two good spots to fish. One was on the far side of the lake, fishing into brambles and trees tight to the margins, but only one swim there, so decided to fish a channel which would give us both an equal chance of catching. I set up a pole with 10 or 12 elastic (I forget which now) to fish at 9 metres, while Dai set his up with I believe 8 elastic. He said he hadn’t used a pole very much, and not being cruel, it is fair to say that for the first hour it did seem clumsy in his hands. As the day progressed he got really proficient. “Practice Makes Perfect”. He really showed me up in the last hours fishing though taking small carp at will. It seems my threat that out fishing me meant an early bath held no fears for him. But I digress. I tend not to use ground bait here during the winter, usually relying on loose fed maggots fishing caster over the top. Today caster had no effect. Single red maggot fished tight to the bottom soon had Gudgeon biting. The Gudgeon were a nice size too, some of the fish running to 3 – 3½ ounces. I had several of these then a couple of small Rudd, held in the maggot death grip. Finally the small Carp starting feeding and I took a couple to 4 – 6 ounces. It must be said that Dai had the biggest fish of the day a Carp of about half a pound. Dai meanwhile was having trouble hooking the fish, then losing them near the bank. I think this came about as he put the pole onto the roller. But you can’t keep a good man down and before long he also started reeling in Gudgeon and small Rudd. He also got the carp going and although the sport wasn’t as frantic as it can get at White Springs we caught plenty of fish. The rain came and went during the day, and it wasn’t that warm but the fish were biting. I had lots of line bites and I tried fishing up in the water to no effect, so back down to the bottom. I then started fishing at 11 metres tight to some weed. In the past I have hooked some good fish at this swim but if they get into the weeds its goodbye and try again. This time I was just catching Gudgeon and small Carp consistently. I had one good take but lost it as it got into weed. Never mind. Dai meanwhile was quietly bagging up. My line went fairly quiet during the last hour, just catching the occasional fish, but Dai had used a couple of balls of ground bait, and with regularly feeding through his pole cup started putting together a good little bag of carp. We didn’t count the fish we caught but I should think that in the last half hour of fishing Dai had 10 Carp of about 4 – 6 ounces. It must be said that we didn’t chat all day, just two guys enjoying the fishing. We had spells of chat, interspersed with a few laughs, and periods of quiet concentration, thinking how to catch more and bigger fish. In the end at about 4.20, the weather settled in to a stiff drizzle, I got snagged and my rig tangled, so we packed up. We packed the cars and made our way back to Junction 47 to see Dai on his way back to Rhondda. Dai, I had a really enjoyable day, made better by your company. I am glad you caught fish, (I didn’t throw you in for catching better than me because you were already a bit wet from the rain) I do hope we can meet up on a regular basis, and you never know get young Rob from Neath along. Next time it is my turn to travel. As I final thought, there must be more people in the Swansea, Bridgend area on Maggot Drowning, or staying in the shadows just lurking. Come and join in the fun, and go fishing with us. We really are nice guys you know. PS (for our Welsh readers)– I hardly mentioned the Rugby at all. Well not much. Geoff |
| Ziptrev | Nice one Geoff and Dai, but what happened to young Rob? Is this a suspense story, a cliff hanger? Will young Rob escape the Weir, Tune in next Episode lol. I have caught only 4 small carp this year. Elvington saturday and Les and I are goiung to crack some dercent ones. Glad you both enjoyed and we/ll have some craic on 30th. Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| waxlion1 | Hey Geoff & Dai Great to hear that you had a good days fishing and had a giggle to boot, thanks for not mentioning the rugby!.. Waxlion1 |
| rob27 | Hi everybody, Young Rob from neath was down the boozer watching the footie and getting sozzled!!!!!!! lol Glad you had a good day geoff and dai i would definetly like to come next time ......... as long as theres no football on!!!!!!! Thanks for inviting me - appreciated cheers |
| Ziptrev | Football!!!! Drinking!!!! Getting in the way of fishing? Ever heard of floodlight football and pubs staying open after dark! Geoff, they don't make 'em like they used too! Cya TREV DOH! Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| Newt | Well - after reading the various threads on fishing with the pole, I have it figured out and am confident I could catch a zillion fish - as follows: Newt tries pole. Fish begin to laugh. Newt tries pole again. Fish now laughing so hard they are begining to cry. Impossible to cry while under the water so fish poke heads up to make laughing/crying easier. Newt drops the blasted pole and nets fish. Think that would work? And congratulations Dai on doing it in a more standard way then I ever could. LOL Newt Vail |
| peter | Here you go Newt, 16mtrs of Diawa's finest carbon  might have a problem fitting it in the boat though! Peter. Happiness is a rod in your hand. |
| MALC | Date 20/02/02 Fished today at Gils lake @ Holly Farm situated between Rugby & leicester. It's a canal shaped snake lake with a maximum width of 14mtr and it's full of just about every species of fish with nothing over lb. Due to the strong wind and heavy rain could not fish further than 9mtr which puts you into the deeper water at the base of the far shelf with a depth of about 41/2ft. Fished double pinkie on a size 20 hook to 0.08 line straight through to a number 4 elastic for 20 small carp and a total weight of 6lb. Which considering the weather i was well happy with. But THE ZIPPY CURSE struck when a gust of wind caught the brolly and that twisted and knocked my landing net which inturn knocked 2 bait boxes off my bait table and they blew straight across the lake into the reeds on the central island and there they stayed. Malc ZIPPY CURSE CLUB MEMBER 001 |
| Newt | Peter - thanks for the pole pic. Egad, those things are truly awesome. I could use it from my boat as long as the boat never left the trailer. On the water though and with that length, every time my boat rocked from the wake of a passing other boat, I think the tip would go WAY up in the air and then WAY down into the water. At which point, the fish would again start laughing, come to the surface, and I could net em. Assuming, of course, that I was able to remain in the boat with the pole swinging around like that. Newt Vail |
| MALC | Date 3/3/02 Fished a small pool near Rugby called Franks Pool it contains Carp to mid doubles, Tench to 3lb Skimmers to 11/2lb,Roach,Perch & Gudgeon. It's got 25 pegs and a little stream running in one end and out the other. The colour was dark muddy brown due to the inlet and the water was very cold. Weather was bloddy cold with a strong wind. Fished corn over groundbait on the pole at 11mtr into 4ft of water with single corn on an 18 hook to some new Trabucco T1 line in .10 dia with stated breaking strain of 4.95lb. Tied to no 6 lacy. Caught 3 fish as follows: 1 Roach about 2oz. 1 Tench about 1lb 12oz. 1 Carp at 9lb 10oz. Very impressed with the new line it's very thin for it's BS. MalcZIPPY CURSE CLUB MEMBER 001 |
| Ziptrev | 08/03/02 Well, I got back home yesterday evening, so by 2.00 today I was in need of fishing! Drove 35 miles to the Dove, as I need an English Barbel! River almost down to normal, got down bank out of wind and feedered liquidised hemp and caster, with worm on hook about 1/3 across in crease. Experimented with meat on hook (Garam Masala and Turmeric flavour) fed small quantities of each in open block end, with liqui hemp still. 4.00 1st bite,Nice Trout, about 1 amd 1/2 lbs. On Garam Masala meat??? Switched to bomb, 5.05 2nd Trout,same bait! .This 1 was exactly 1 and 1'2 lbs ,as (letting 1st free, following my German experience,not reported)I weakened at such a handsome dinner fish and I weighed this 2nd on Kitchen scales! Fished through dusk to 7.30, missed 1 similar bite about 6.00pm and nearly lost rod to 4th bite, shortly afterwards!. Meat was intact, but convinced this was a Barbel bite. Learning about this River all the time and must try again before Close Season Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| Geoff P | fishing today!!!!! Absolutely b***** nowhere. Set my alarm for 6am, thought I would get an early start. What a waste of time. Blowing a gale, winds of up to 60mph and do not tike fishing in high wind. Now got to suffer daughter, son in law and grandchildren cos they are coming down to visit for a thing called Mothers Day. Think I will sit in the corner with a couple of tinnies. Geoff |
| jel | Hi everyone Unlucky Geoff,same thing here high winds and mothers day .I can imagine quite i few anglers up and the land having a day off work next week !! I managed to get out yesterday,it was nice early morning,but the wind got up early PM not very good news when your "tipping for chub".Still had a days best and a new PB 3lb 8oz chub, now looking forward to next"season". Off now to go get some beers!! cheers Jel.. j white |
| MALC | Date 10/03/02 Guested on a club match today with a club i'm about to join. Match was fished on their own pools at Sheepy Magna not far from Tamworth. 2 of the 3 pools on the site were used and i was lucky to draw on the Long pool which was sheltered from the wind and managed to get 1 carp and 10 small perch and roach for a weight of 3lb 2oz and 3rd overall with the winner weighing in 6lb. MalcZIPPY CURSE CLUB MEMBER 001 |
| Dai Fish | Hi all today I fished from 12-4pm on one of our club waters at Trose Bridgend, the weather could not have been beter, it was real nice to be able to fish without a coat, the fishing was very hard as the small (or large) carp did not want to play and it was thanks to the 9 small rudd (for a total of about half pound) that saved my blushes, the lake has been ravaged by the cormorants all winter and this has totaly killed the fishing for all but the large carp etc, my membership runs out at the end of march and I am thinking very carefuly before I part with the cash to continue my membership I think I will have to look around for some day ticket waters. Dai Fish |
| MALC | With today being the last chance i'd get to run a stick float down the river (till next season) i thought i'd fish a club run stretch of the upper Warks Avon today. As i pulled into the car park i could see half a dozen cars and as the stretch has only got about 10 pegs on it i did not bother, instead i went to a local carp pool. Result after 6hrs fishing was 1 skimmer of about 12oz on exspander pellet and 1 lost flask cup blown in by the wind. When Will This Wind Stop. MalcZIPPY CURSE CLUB MEMBER 001 |
| Ziptrev | Desperate to get my English barbal before close season I arriveds at East Stoke section of River Trent and was able to drive right up behind Peg 12, which was the hot peg where i caught 3 good chub in January. Water is a match stretch , privately owned , £4 per day ticket. !st arrival, I fished feeder and meat on 2 seperate rods. Worm over hemp and caster on size 10 hook, meat on size 6 hair rigged! Guy moved into Peg 11 after 2 biteless hours for me and immediately caught a 3lb chub. I enquired as to method. Maggot! ON FEEDER 4LB BOTTOM 20 HOOK!!!, evidently pressure has made em shy! Went down to 8lb braid, 20 hook on maggot. Immediate bite, snapped 8 lb braid like cotton! Worm bite on 2nd rod 10 mins later, struck in and shed within 4 secs! Guy then caught a further chub, barbel and at about 4.00 another barbel, this time 8 lbs. However he was also snapped 3 more times!which in my opinion is from fishing too light with the fish in there!Cant do them any good to keep recieving hooks! I carried on until 7.00 when after 13 hours of trying, I finally allowed that B-----d cold East wind to defeat me, barbelless, but a damn good try and I didnt succumb to smaller line strengths to buy the bites! Also tried red sweetcorn a la MALC, Pellets, Boilies, but no they wanted small bait only today. Now next season lol!!! Cheers Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| Dave | 4lb line with a feeder for Barbel  I'd have said he was fishing a tad light let alone irresponsible. It's okay getting bites but if you're not going to land them, what's the point in fishing that light. The only time I would consider that BS is if trotting a stick because the float rod apart from the softness there is a bit more control immediately following a bite. Loos like you'll have to come and spend a day on the Swale or Wharfe with us Trev, next season Dave |
| toma | The river Swale Dave not for from me mate. Thats the style Trev don"t let be"ing barbless get you down. Andy  |
| MalcB | Hello MALC. You mention a lot of waters VERY close to where I live - where you from? If you don't mind me asking? |
| MALC | Firstly hello and welcome to the MD forums. If your the MalcB i think you are your from N/hampton ? I live in Rugby. MalcZIPPY CURSE CLUB MEMBER 001 |
| Ziptrev | Fished today, Friday 15th March, back with John ESOX at Rudyard. Despite the forecast, today was even colder than yesterday and the wind incessant. The water level in the reservoir was well up and wet hands combined with the icy winds made our hands agonies of numbness. It is times like these that even the most hardened of us (as John and I !!! LOL) question or own sanity, and the less mental, like Geoff, report a disappointing, but sensible decision and return to bed! I arrived at the agreed top end Peg at 7.15 am, a quarter hour late as the fog over the Pennines was dense! John was already set up , with 2 forward and 2 rear Banksticks pointing parallel to each other out into the vast featureless waters! Having only a rod pod!, with the water high, I was forced to set the pod practically square along the bank as the water was so high only a narrow strip if the lower bank remained and placing it on top of the bank would have been impractical in the winds! We chatted until approx 9.30 am when, following my some 16 + efforts got to me and in the comfort of my car for 2 hours I fell asleep!. (To the banners!!! John was overseeing our kit) We talked again and also with two friends of Johns, fishing just down from us and then retired to my car (which overlooked all the rods, to get a bit of relief from the cold) Around 12.40, my nearest rod came completely of the pod and went into the water! Due to the awkwardness of not being able to have the space to align the pod out at 90 degs to the bank, I had staggered the rods to ensure the best clearance of 3 lines being fished out leftwards at again approx 90 degs! The line being pulled by the take (for that’s what it was!) had fouled the rear of the spool, and locked causing the rod to fall off the pod. John reached for the fallen rod fractionally in front of me, thinking it was a wind problem, but as the rod inched forward a bit more! I grabbed it and struck with a satisfying curve appearing in the rod. This rod (by sods law ) was the experiment rod! Loaded with 14lb mono (the others with PowerPro braid), the bait was a tiny 4” smelt, dyed Orange, and popped up with a single cork. The trace was hand tied , using 2 small No. 10 trebles, which I had prepared with zander in mind on my visit with Martin. The conventional mackerel was baited on the other 2 rods. John helped by removing the other rods to clear the swim and then landed for me my 6th fish since my request for help to catch an English Pike. Satisfyingly, She proved to weigh in at 10lbs 12 ozs, giving me my 3rd double, and with a total weight exceeding 60 lbs, I retain the average of over 10 lbs per fish. In the afternoon ,if anything the weather got worse! Rain set in and the wind stayed and it truly was a hard , cold environment. At last about 4.20, John had a run!!! Striking, he hit a nice bend into his rod and I reached for the camera again. Sadly, that mode lasted just a few seconds as the fish shed the hook and John gave the trees his description of his luck! There are no leaves left in that area now, including those on an Evergreen! I decided with John to try again until dusk and recast the rods at about 5.15pm bringing everything in closer , on the theory that at this time, discarded bait is thrown into the margin and the fish learn where easy feed is! Sadly fish don’t read theory and I had done too much yesterday! Lapsing into a semi-coma again , I was awakened by John at 6.00 pm to pack away. Thus, another great Piking day ended for me and all I can ask for , is that the Guy who has helped me so much, is rewarded with his own fish soon! PLEASE and here she is  CHEERS Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it Edited by - Ziptrev on 16 March 2002 01:16:36 AM |
| esox.20 | I will catch a pike I will I will oh please god let me catch a pike. Got to go there are two men in white coats walking up the path carrying a strange looking item. There coming to take me away HAHA there coming to take me awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. chill out go fishing |
| martin. | hi report on my last day of river season up at 5-30 woke phil (lad from next door who fishes with me) 6-00 start getting bait ready phil sorts maggots, pinkies, squatt, castors ,lobworms,redworms and hemp . i sorted liquidised bread, feeder g/bait & balling in g/bait 8-15 load trailer 7set off pick up another friend sell some day tickets & check some books along river arrive at swan bridge 8-45 set up for 9-00 draw 9-15 arrive at peg 15 a peg that has framed in 4 of last 6 matches 10-00 start 10-03 first fish on punch roach 2ozs next 10mins 5 more roach 5 more in next 25 mins then big swirl in swim and looks like a big double pike chasing my fish see it 4 more times during rest of 6hr match 4-00pm match finishes i only have probally 3lb of fish in my net so dont bother wieghing. peg 7 won with 10-15 peg 2 2nd 10-13 peg 5 3rd 10-7 all fish had moved to opp end of stretch. 4-45 after dropping mate off got home unloaded trailer reloaded car with feeder gear & lights set off to peterborough embankment stretch of river nene with phil arrive 5-30 set up rods & lights start fishing just before dark wind gets up rain starts 7-15 phil had skimmer 12ozs 10mins later i had tommy rough (sometimes called pope in some areas) about 1oz 7-40 phil had t.r. & i lost a bream around 3lb mark 9-15 wind causing foot high waves & rain coming in buckets so we decide to say farewell to rivers for 3 months & retire for a few pints tight lines. martin. |
| Ziptrev | Martin, Glad to read that last post! There IS someone dafter than me! But at least you caught and at least we tried!! Wont it be warmer in June? PLEASE tell me it will! Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| martin. | hi trev it cant be any colder in june but cant wait till then just let me know first dates available after easter apart from 14th & 28th april & ill be up for a day or so sod what weather is like & sod the curse tight lines. martin. |
| Ziptrev | Right Mate, I get back from Cavan on the 13th, so I'll be in touch on 15th and we'll suss some venues! Cheers Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| MalcB | quote:
If your the MalcB i think you are your from N/hampton ? I live in Rugby.
<~~~~~~ From Daventry actually MALC, get a few bits from Banks and Burr occasionally - we may even met without realising - obviously I'm the bloke in the carp section LOL |
| MalcB | You little  you! |
| Stu | All reet Last night i went Carping not a thing.. I was asleep so i ......OOOPs wrong thread LOL Stu  |
| MALC | Thats better light hearted not bickering . MalcB, I go in Burr's at least once a week and you'll find me all over the shop seeing if he's got anything new in to try. MalcZIPPY CURSE CLUB MEMBER 001 |
| mookie | Date 17.3.02....Parklands fishery Northallerton N.Yorks.... Went to above fishery today weather was cloudy morning but a nice spring like afternoon...started on the feeder with a swingtip, didnt have much success as the wind kept getting up so l decided to try the quiver..and with a maggot feeder started to get the odd knock ...but as the day progressed a got a good wrap round from a 5oz roach...after a good 3 hrs without a decent bite...and my mate had already 3 lumps about 3lb each in his net...took me till my last cast of the day at 3pm when l had my only mirror carp bout 3lb...altogether l had 8 bites hit 6 got 2 in 4 got off..and missed 2 bites....but thats fishing for you at least l didnt blank and thats my first target when l go fishing anything else is a bonus...just being there was enough for me....oh and GB arrived bout 11am...so l hope he posts his days exploits...... Cheers everyone.........MOOK |
| toma | Well then mookie Parklands eh, we were going to,but we went to the new Stoney Lane pond, no keepnets mate. Arrived at about 9.00am fed a few maggots, set up pole, 9mtrs or so, bagged all day mate, got at least 50 roach,12 chub. Roach average size6-7oz, biggest chub 2.5lb. My mate had 3 good lumps biggest around 5lb, smallest 3lb6oz,our new member Norm bagged on lumps and chub Toma |
| norm | thats right mate i had 11 carp to 3lb, 9 chub to 3lb, and loads of roach to 10 oz  it isint the size of the tiddle that counts |
| Ziptrev | Fished Press Manor, Yesterday a match was on and all fish feeding well! Overnight rain put them straight down, not 1 carp reported from 15/20 Anglers today Pole fished 12 metre line over cup fed chop/caster and few offerings of red sweetcorn. 5 metre line loose fed pinkies. Caught 15-20 roach, 4 from long line , better stamp (2ozs) on worm and single pinky, rest on short line, small, in 2s and 3s and then resxt swim.Also 4/5 rudd and 1 gudgeon. Had carp rod/buzzer out with boilies/red corn/cage feeder/free running. 1 early run on corn, missed. I would easily have won a match, IF i had decided to stay with the bits, but would I have been tempted to sit it out for the 1 big 1 , which would have been King on the day? Fair day, ruined by 4.00 pm rainstorm AND a split developing in my No 5 section!!! Damn Pole! Cheers Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| keith | 18/03/2002 club lake new. The weather looked good as i looked out of the window.optimism was high as i was to fish a new club water to me.feeder at 40 yards for dog roach.nothing special for bait just plain maggot.tackled up and set about fishing nice and tidy.all the feed in a nice tight area.then it happens a few drops of rain the the heavens opened up.still not perturbed up goes the brolly and back to comfort.no i do not mind fishing in the rain its the wind that gets me.the wind was nice and gentle but within about 1/2 hour that got really up and blew the brolly inside out even though it was pegged down.it was still raining and was getting harder.brolly was turned back the right way and attached to box for extra security.Then you need a call of nature,get up and brolly and box go in.get it out and bits everywhere.What do i get for this 4 roach about 12oz each.Still worth it.the roach go to about 2 1/2lb and bream to 12lb so i will be back.now wheres my weather forecast. |
| Ziptrev | 21/3/2002 Rudyard again, on the Equinox with Esox (been dieing to type that!) Bright clear warm day, but wind crashing waves against the bank causing strong colouration of the water. Both sunlight and colour against Pike feeding and so it proved!! About 8 Anglers on the water, 1 reported a missed run and the rest zilch! Are they spawning? have they moved to the shallows? Nothing else to do but try again on monday. Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| keith | stockton reservoir.24/03/02. Lovely day shame the fish did not respond.fished peg 9 on the boards and could not buy a bite on the pole lines.cat meat on one corn and l/meat on the other.fished the gb feeder past the islands for 4 carp 4-8lb and 4 chub.my mate had 7 carp and 1 chub also on the feeder.Only bait that was working was maggot either floating or std. |
| MalcB | Fished at my usual lake again Friday night/Saturday morning - and for the third week in a row I caught! Still only the one carp, and still only a mid double - 15lb 6oz to be precise. But that equals my total catch on this particular lake for the whole of last year - and that was done during a 36 hr carp match - which I won incidentally! |
| Dave | Hi All, Spent the day at Castle Howard Lake with Ziptrev chasing ol' essox. A freezing wind was blowing down the length of the lake, the sky was cloudy and the day was dry but alas the Pike didn't show. Neither of us had a run nor did three other anglers. One angler about fifty yards away hooked and lost a decent fish also had two runs that were missed. Another angler near the start of the length reportedly had a pike. Don't think it was the curse this time tho' Dave |
| Ziptrev | Following my Sundays blank with Dave, It was back to Rudyard with these two heroes!  Well Alan doesn't get let out a lot know!, so decided to break the curse (for himself or John) John was pressed into searching the water to find Alans Pike, as our Troggy decided to float fish and show us all the way!  Certainly, the weather was not sunglasses temperature!,as my new digital thermometer displayed!!! So pleased was I with this new toy,that Alan offered to throw me in the Reservoir,after I had told him the temperature for the 115th time! However, I solved everything, by taking this picture for Dave. As you can see, Troggy actually has a fish on a hook!  It really was awful weather,wind and temperature altering every half hour and ESOX getting more and more frustrated as he waited for that 1st elusive fish since 1st coming in contact with the curse! Here he is trying to remember whether he had a whole bait at the start!  I had a couple of runs and the curse even affected me today, as I missed the 1st and then reeled in a stolen bait on the 2nd! Although we caught nothing again, the Craic was good, the dinner was Eggscellent! (2 Eggs, 2 sausages and Bacon!!!) and we had chance to discuss 1001 things to do with MD's, Fishing and the world at large!! Better luck next time chaps! Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| waxlion1 | Nice pic's Trev! Looks like you all had a good day, if not a good days fishing. Waxlion1  |
| Newt | Trev - if you can bring the camera and leave the curse to roam the UK countryside while you visit, we can hopefully get lots of great pics for you to take back with you. Or even to post a few while you are here. The pics may look a bit odd though since I don't have any of those great, long rods you folks favor. 6-7ft will be about the longest unless you want to take a try at using bait with my 8½ foot very limber rod. Not sure what you folks would call it. Here, it is a "noodle" rod. Do you fly fish at all? In may, the sunfish are lots of fun on a light fly rod and I just happen to have a couple laying around. 3 wt. Newt Vail |
| Ziptrev | Newt, Sure I'll bring the Camera, but can't promise about the 'Curse' Been trying to shift the damn thing for years! I'm deliberately attempting a bit of Spinning and lure fishing before I come, new to me that! As for Fly Fishing, never tried that either, but I'm happily in your hands! I'm definitely NOT into body piercing! , but attempting to learn the 'Fly' , could leave me with an Ornamental hook in the ear! (Or you lol) Put a rod in my hand, 6ft (or shall I bring my 20ft Stick Float Special), point me at water, show me how to fish and I will be happy. Have no fears, We'll fish for whatevers fishable at the time, if we blank we blank, but as a bonus to the Craic and Companionship, I might even be WARM!!! (That'll be a 1st this year lol.) Sunfish Hey!, What a warm sounding name! Lovely. Yes Newt,Can't wait to try these new methods. Got a week in Ireland coming to practice what I know on the lakes and Rivers, Got time to spin and lure fish with my new Trout Ticket and a bit of Pole work on the local Lakes, so by May, I'll be ready for anything. Cheers Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| Ziptrev | 28th March and another new experience! I have just joined the Derby Railway club as they have several stretches of the Dove, Trent, and my local Derwent as well as several Lakes. I decided to take out the Trout ticket as well , as this allows me to fish for Trout, during the close Season. It will also allow me to fish instead of just walking the banks to discover the Barbel and Chub areas for the forthcoming season. Today I went to my nearest water, The Derwent at Darley Dale, just North of Matlock. The methods allowed are Fly, Spinning and ledgered or freelined worm. I am not a fly fisherman, so armed with a small tub of worms and a 9 ft 2 piece Daiwa Sensor 'winkler' rod, plus a 7ft telescopic (kindly loaned by ESOX) and a new set of Mepps, I set off to discover the water at about 12.00 in glorious sunshine. It felt strange to be travelling so light, with just a landing net, a bankstick , the 2 rods and a small holdall, in which the flask took up most of the space! The map for the some 2 mile stretch, left a lot to be desired, but I eventually found the Parking area, cut across a field which had an open gate, climbed down 2 steep embankments, crossed a railway and eventually found the river!!! Thankfully , coming back, I followed the footpath and found I was some 50 yds short of the official footpath!, but I'll know next time! The River was delightful! A fast flooding deep cut river, fed from the Pennine heights, it is extremely picturesque, although difficult to fish as the banks are very steep and there are no natural flat pegs. Trees line much of the bank and casting is extremely difficult. I choose a fairly open swim, set up the ledger rod with a 12 hook running link of 4lb hooklength to 8lb braid and a 6" 4lbbs bomb link. Casting out into a fairly stiff current, I used a 1/2 oz bomb allowing it to roll down searching the swim. It came in to the edge and slowed, then settled in the slower water close to the bank. I started to set up the spinning rod and had almost finished when the end of the rod signalled an unmistakeable bite! I struck and was pleased to see the rod plunge and bend as I hooked my 1st purposely fished for Trout of 2002. She came to the net and I was delighted to see that at around 1lb, the fish was as clean and healthy as you could wish for. after a wait of some 45 minutes, I had a 2nd and 1/2 an hour later, I decided to try the spinner. Some 40 minutes of spinning and I was vastly improving my technique, but had no sign of even a bite! Deciding to act like a true Trout man, I moved back down the river to learn more swims! The second swim produced a small trout, about 8ozs, again to the bomb. The 3rd and 4th swims were not good choices and I fouled trees, bushes and generally spent more time retieing and setting up than fishing. I also suffered my only loss of the day! 1 snapped off Mepps spinner (cheap day for the curse!) At 6.15, I settled into my 5th and final swim, in a glorious evening sunset and reflected that for the 1st time this year, I had not been cold all day and I had not even put a Jacket on! (only a Xmas Jumper Norm) In the next 30 mins, I had 3 more trout, 4 and 6 being good 14 oz fish and 5 being a harder fighting than his brothers, 8 oz It was nearly dusk when I found my way to the track that led home, a full moon awesomely shone down from a cloudless sky and the lack of a Jacket suddenly reminded me of how early in the year it still is! I reached the car at 7.00 , by which time night had fully fallen and mentally blessed another memorable day. Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| Del-J | Trev yet another smashing post. I used to deliver all round that area and often spent more time parked up watching the river and the countryside than doing my job. Reading your post bought it all back and I must admit I was very envious, curse or no curse.  Be lucky, Del. |
| esox.20 | At last I have something to report. Venue Ryleys Pools Hodnet Shrops. After 40/45 of loose feeding maggots every 10 mins I had a bite. Whats this I said the floats not there oh yes dreging the dark and deep depths of my memory its a bite. To my eternal suprise I hooked and landed yes thats right landed my first fish since that fatefull day January 18th when I met the cursed one (zip). A pristine gudgeon all of 1.5oz. What is even more suprising I was using a 5 meter whip for the first time kindly given to me by that very kind mod. Trogg. ( ty Trogg) I then went on from there to catch a succes'sion of gudgeon and small roach at the rate of a bite every 2/3 casts. I then managed to hook a bigger fish which turned out to be an approx 2.5lb female tench followed shortly by a pastie of a common carp. To the tune of happy birthday to me there sat a very happy angler. As the time approached miday the bites started to dry up. All this time I had been legering dyed and flavoured sweetcorn over hemp with out a touch. Still cant win them all. At 1.00pm I packed up with a big smile on my face. John chill out go fishing |
| norm | ziptrev i have just spotted the bit about the jumper(nice one) good post mate----you could write a book with posts like that, it must have took you ages if you like pikeing and are going to go to semmer with tomma take your pike gear .just before chrismas i went to semmer with tomma and caught a few pike 6lb +17lb +18lb+ 24lb (24lb is now my pb) i went on goodfriday and only had 1 pike of about 4 or 5 lb, fishing shallows it isint the size of the tiddler that counts |
| mookie | Hi folks -- Date 30.3.02 venue Croft Pool North Yorks...Got picked up at 5.20am for the short 15min drive to our destination a very unfished pool by the name of Croft Pool...which contains roach, rudd, tench b????y carp as usual, very cool start ground frost last night...didnt help matters but my companion got off to a good start a plump tench about a 1lb...followed by a large carp which snagged him in the weed as usual....l by this time had nowt and after only one bite on pole fished caster decided to move < 3hrs in> moved to a open area which had roach on the surface so might have a chance of catching something on my new pole....and bingo a few roach came to my net only small but at least l didnt blank...then about 1pm changed to sweetcorn had a imediate bite struck and hung on ol humumgous lumpous had decided to have a bash at my bait...but with a 22 hook on didnt stand much of a chance of landing it...and it shed the hook....but throughout the day had 16 roach and rudd biggest a mere 4oz but l didnt care....tried hair rigged sweetcorn with a bomb and quiver but not a touch on that.....fished till 3pm then called it a day....my mate had about 20lb of carp tench and bream with a sprinkling of rudd and roach...one carp was 8lb.....me thinks l shouldnt have moved pegs...as l was next peg to him fishing either side of a over hanging tree........well folks that was my day out... Oh by the way....thought you would be interested on the way home past the River Tees there were 3 anglers fishing with liquildised bread and maggots trout l doubt it....where was the NRA ??????....got back to my house to see 3 anglers packing up from fishing the River Skerne and not with trout in mind again....NRA ?????? Makes you sick some people flouting the laws...... Tight lines to every decent law abiding angler in MD..... MOOK |
| Adam S | Hello good friday ,march 29(i think) 2002 venue:royal canal,enfield,ireland. baits:caster and maggot over ground bait,crushed casters amd hemp. catch:just over 50lbs,inc. 7 bream to 4lbs,2 tench and 35 or so roach and hybrids to 1lbs 4ozs (most about 6oz) the canal has begun to fish really well in the last week,friday was a lovely day with warm sunshine and slackening winds. i prebaited on thur ,which would explain the number of bream and hybrids.groundbait was a high food mix with liquidised bread,hemp and crushed casters in.first two tench of the year for me.most fish came in the evening when the light levels fell. adam |
| Geoff P | Sunday 31st March 2002. Clocks forward one hour but I still got up at the ungodly hour of half five. Flask made, rolls left from yesterday back into my bag and off to Hazel Court Fishery, Llandow, Near Cowbridge. For those not good at Geography that is in South Wales. Feeling lazy, as always so just set up the pole, 14 elastic because there are some 15 lb carp in the pool I was fishing. Had good sport on lovely rudd for a couple of hours then I lost a good carp, cos the hook straightened. New hook length, back to catching small rudd and then I lost another carp. Hook straightened!! I thought third time lucky but no, it happened again. Mustad hooks to nylon size 18 to 3.8lb line are not very good (and that is putting it politely). Changed to Drennan 18 to 1.7 and carried on where I left off with catching more Rudd. Hooked a tench of about 2 lb but lost it at the net. (Are you reading this Trev.) Finally caught my carp, a nice mirror of 7 and a half pounds. Had to play it gingerly cos of the 1.7 bottom but got it in the net safely. Another hour of catching rudd, then thought I had better go and speak to her indoors cos I have hardly seen her since Friday night. At least today I got some fishing in, and wasn't talking. Look forward to next Sunday now. Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| Ziptrev | Geoff, Of course I read it! I look forward to the reports more than most! Firstly Sir, Can I say as a much younger man (4 months is a lot!!!!) That I think you are a man of iron! After yesterday, I might not even have the strength to go tomorrow!!! Secondly (and I can feel Martin sharpening his finger tips to type) Hooks to Nylon!!! Deserve all you get!! Next time we're together (Soon God willing) We'll have an hour on hand tying Spade Ends! No finer part of tackle satisfaction than a well tied hook, even allowing for Larry's hook tyer and loop tyer at the other end! So that would definitely not be allowable as a curse induced fault! Nice day though Geoff, Nice fish, nice report and nice bloody effort after the day and drive before! Cheers Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| Geoff P | quote:
After yesterday, I might not even have the strength to go tomorrow!!! Secondly (and I can feel Martin sharpening his finger tips to type) Hooks to Nylon!!! Deserve all you get!! Next time we're together (Soon God willing) We'll have an hour on hand tying Spade Ends! No finer part of tackle satisfaction than a well tied hook, even allowing for Larry's hook tyer and loop tyer at the other end! So that would definitely not be allowable as a curse induced fault! Trev
Trev, Not being, or even claiming to be, anything like an expert, I go fishing just for the pure pleasure of catching fish and meeting people like you. I have fairly nimble fingers, (I can type up to 60 words a minute) but I am also a tad lazy. I normally buy made up pole rigs, cos it saves me the bother of doing it. The same with hook lengths. I even told Ray yesterday that I can't remember when I least sorted out by tackle box. It just doesn't seem as important as catching a gudgeon, or carp or roach or whatever. You and Martin can have your go but I will still be buying hooks to nylon, and if a few hooks straighten, then a quick swear word, new one on and back to fishing. Catch you later mate. Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| martin. | hi trev you are starting to read my finger READY TIED HOOKS i wont comment geoff if you are going to use ready tied try mustad wide gape power barbless or the animal range these have a better holding power & i think take more pressure than the carp hooks. also if you are using 14 lacy if its set too tight then you will staighten hooks . with the hook size & line you mention it would be better to use a 10 lacy set fairly soft you can always double the 12ins at the bung end to stop lacy bottoming out . but as long as you enjoyed yourself that is all that matters that s what true fishing is about tight lines. martin. |
| toma | 29/03/02 Friday my favourite venue Semmer Water, as usual checked my gear the night before. Got picked up at about 7.30am Friday morning,arrived at Semmer at about 8.45 gear out of the car, my mate a i were loaded up like 2 mules. Got to our chosen pegs, lo and behold who was there but Norm from MD forum,with his mate, after unloading our kit we had a chat with Norm,Norm was piking BTW, he told us that he had a small jack of about 9lb. Full of excitement i got tackled up, got myself comfy and then i was fishing, i put out 6-8 big feeders full of groundbait out first then i settled down. Cuppa and some eats {i posted on eats when fishing if you want to see what i had LoL}. As the day drew on i became more disheartened, why you ask because i BLANKED,not even a bite,the first time i have blanked there{and the last i hope}.Norm was the only one with a fish a 9lb pike. I was hoping to meet up with Trev at Semmer Water that day, but as you all know he was at Izaak Walton"s on the 30th, so he could not make it to Semmer,in a way i was glad that Trev was not able to make it{in a nice way} because as you all know there is nothing worse than going to a new venue only to blank. I am hoping to meet up with Trev at Semmer Water in the near future, sometime in April i hope, and hopefully the fishing is better 100lb of bream on a good day is nothing unusual, pike up to 30lb+ raoch to 2lb. Could Semmer Water be the next fishin venue? Has any of our members from Yorkshire fished at Semmer Water?  Toma |
| Ziptrev | Great Andy, sorry the day was bad, but these reports are as valuable as the bagging ones! Semmer for the next fish in, sounds a damn good idea! Handy for Stu and Dave too (They'll probably come on bikes LOL) Norm , mookie, Les,and others I'm sure i've forgotten to mention up in the frozen north! Yea, serious consideration when I get back from Ireland after 13th April. I've also got to make dates with Martin, Waxi, Peter and Nick from yesterday and not forgetting a week out in May with Newt Exciting times! Geoff , my old Buddy, LOL I understand completely!"! and you know me!, the only thing I can't tolerate is intolerance! So you keep using those hooks, but bear in mind that the curse accepts no liability whatsoever for this subject lol. I thoroughly agree with Martin,If you enjoy it , then that's what it's all about! Cheers Trev, PS if we fish at Semmer, do we get blood pudding, stotty cakes etc.??? LOL Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| toma | Thanks Trev, i was wondering if the Zippy curse was present even tho you were not there mate{LoL}after all we have shaken hands{LoL}. A big yes on the eats Trev Andy |
| martin. | hi trev semmer water sounds good to me if im coming up your way it may as well be for a fish in and it would be nice to meet a few more of the MDs. but i cant make it on 14th or 28th april as i am booked in to matches. by the way where is semmer water whats it like. tight lines. martin. |
| Ziptrev | Firstly can I congratulate Malc on this post! Over 100 replys now and the fishing reports must be the most read topic on MDs (although hi jacked for chat like now lol) Semmers up near Catterick, top end of Yorks Martin, so its 100 miles above me even!!!but you and I can work something out , for here, there and /or an Eastern/Midlands meet, where Nick from Bedford and Sean from Norwich might wnna join us nutters! Then Peter is getting lonely down South and with my new club, I promised Waxi a Trent Day, got several venues in mind for the Lower tidal, middle Newark/Nottingham and Upper Nottingham/Burton in mind! Plus there is a host of lake jobbies around Newark and several I can combine Lakes and River stretch adjacents, to suit all! Gotta get Ireland done 1st to concentrate on May June days lol Cheers Trev Ziptrev I do NOT BELIEVE it |
| toma | Hi Martin how are you? Semmer Water is lacated at Wensleydale, in the middle of Ripon and Richmond,easily reached by the A1, would you like a foto of it? Its a big natural lake fed by a couple of rivers,i"ll check on what rivers but i think one of them is the River Ure, not sure on that. The surrounding country side is worth a visit in its beauty, stunning Martin, if vyou look on a map look for LEYBURN, look a bit to the west and find HAWES, its not for from Hawes, there is a legend connected with the lake, it has supposed to have a sunken city beneath it, King Arthur is said to have been there, but thats another story Martin. Let me know if you want a foto Martin and i will send you one Andy |
| martin. | hi andy would love photo & any info on it you can email or post im in club directory -cambridgeshire -tydd gote ac- anyone interested in all the waters in my area there is a web site www.fenswaterways.com (sorry dont know how to put link in) tight lines. martin. |
| Geoff P | Martin. Link works perfectly. If her indoors lets me away you could be getting a visitor come June time. Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| toma | Martin no problem mate, when i can see what i"m doing i will mail you i"ve been on the tipple, fall down water, {LoL}, if i ask Dave nicely he might put the foto on the thread, what do you think? then everyone can see what it looks like. Andy |
| steve wilson | hi malc ive got your abacus working finally |
| toma | [img]/myphoto/Datafile2.asp?FileID=450[/img] (fixed it for you toma [:)]) Dave Edited by - Dave on 01 April 2002 9:15:59 PM |
| toma | Dave you are a gentleman sir what can i say but a big thank you, ps Dave you got mail. On the foto, to the left is the match area,peg one to the top left,down to peg 50{Norm how many pegs on the point}. To the front of the foto that is a wildlife sanctuary, strictly no fishing. To the right of the foto that is the wooded area{be warned its a hard walk}but worth it. Where the foto was taken from that is the car park and picnic area. What about the fish stock? Pike to 30lb plus,bream to 5lb, rumoured to be larger ones present, roach and perch. Norm shall we tell where the best PIKE pegs are {LoL} Toma |
| norm | toma there is a few on the point but only the lads or lasses that turn up will find out the best pegs (i promise i won`t go on the best ones)lol thats if we go there but at the end of day we are going for the crack not the fishing it isint the size of the tiddler that counts |
| Ziptrev | Nice one Toma!! Lads I'm sold! Bit more awesome than Izaaks LOL, John can wet a line after the old ESOX there! Count me in , but Andy! Get the Dates right this time LOL Cya all there Trev Ziptrev Shouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| ferret | Where did I fish today? On the River Lot in the French Pyrenees, missed one bite on worm and then packed up and came home! Might go back again later after the footy if I havn't cut my throat, this time after the big catfish! It was on Fish Simulator though. Mike Ah! Not Fishing again. Edited by - ferret on 02 April 2002 6:49:51 PM Edited by - ferret on 02 April 2002 6:52:20 PM |
| Ziptrev | Many of you will today have returned to work after the short break! Some of you with memories of Izaak Waltons and others of not being there but feeling part of it through the forums! Some of you with thoughts of other places you fished, good days and bad days! I , fortunately (and unfortunately!) am not at work and so let me talk you through my day, hope to share some of it with you and perhaps make the week-ends fishing come closer. Last thursday, I told of my visit to my new waters on the Derbyshire Derwent. I forgot my camera and didnt feel that I did it or you Justice, so I returned today, even though I have 2 more miles of this stretch to discover and 9 more waters!!! Even the walk to the Derwent is filled with magic! Passing through an ancient gateway formed of 2 leaning stones, barely 8" apart at the base, you walk down a track, with an open field on your left and a Derbyshire Dry Stone wall on your right, which is the Garden wall of the last visible vestige of human habitation. At the end of the path is a footbridge that you climb and then descend onto the railway track! Mindfull of the Look Listen and Cross Quickly sign, you cross the railway track, descend to a meadow, with the railway fence now way above you and a narrow path winding against a hedge in front! Suddenly you come across a bridge over a feeder brook of the river! Formed from an old railway sleeper and with a handrail on the right side only, you gingerly cross, feeling as though you may be entering a children's book, or a fairy story. Keeping the brook to your left, you go onward with increasing anticipation towards the rising sound of tumbling water, caused by the convergance of the brook and the River Derwent. Recrossing the brook, you enter a forest trail, more than once ducking low under ivy clad arches of old bent and broken trees , along a narrow , but well-trodden path and the 1st sight of the River glistens at you through tree-lined banks! And what a River!, relatively narrow, fed by the cold high rainfall of the Pennines! Rising Nr Buxton, the U.K.s highest Town, the crystal clear waters rush down in search of the Trent, the Humber and their eventual destination, the North Sea! The purity of the River is legendary, Grayling , Trout , and even the humble ,but fastidious Bullhead, thrive in the gin clear waters.As changeable as any woman, the Derwent can rise into a raging torrent in moments, and her steep sided banks show evidence of recent floods! Walking along the left river bank you search for a suitable swim, bearing in mind that today is the Trout season time, but ever mindful of fish holding features for the morrow! And there she is!  Note the steep banks, but there is a small flat beach like ledge beneath our feet. See the debris 8 to 10 feet high trapped in the tree branches! The flood level reached here recently! See the fallen tree near bank, behind him a trout may be sheltering from the main current! That has a nice steady glide, pity we cant float fish out of season and note the crease of water far side bank, past the bush on the other side! Today, perhaps a trout, come winter a Perch or Chub? Make a note of the sunken bushes and tree roots! You won't see those after the winter influx of water. We set up a 9ft 2 piece leger rod, 4lb mainline 3lb hooklength (about 18"). A totally free running John Roberts ring clipped to just a 1/4 oz bomb and look for the rodrest top! Well this is a Zippy story! I had to forget something! We flick the bomb, loaded with 2 small red worms into the centre of the current and allow the bomb to trundle along the gravel bottom in an arc as it searches for the slack water to rest in. The tip moves rythmically, with the occassional flick as it encounters a stone , or a dull bend if weed hits the line, but with none of the unmistakeable urgency , signalled by an avid Trout take. We set up the spinning rod and then discover the Mepps Spoons are still with the rod rest head. I told you this is a true Zippy Story! We are feeling relaxed despite everything as we wasted an hour this morning, by discovering that , despite all forecasts, it was raining when we did intend to set off, but no sign of rain now! Then, less than 10 minutes in the water, the tip Dances in frenzied fashion! We strike and yes!!!!! the light rod forms a huge curve and the head shaking rythmn of a fighting trout courses up the rod! Happily , we play the fish to the waiting net and a liquid flash of pure yellow flank bursts to the surface A BROWN TROUT  Perhaps close to a pound weight, hard fighting , fresh and clean and healthy. We rebait and check the time! 10 minutes to 9.00, this could be a good day! By 9.00 exactly a second comes to the net and by 9.25 a 3rd. The water temperature (Well Alan will want to know!) is 47.3 degs F a full 3 degrees below Izaaks on saturday, so we are a long way from summer! As seems to happen with Trout, the bites dry up, even though we continue to explore the whole area of the swim. Does releasing them back to their pals cause them to leave , we wonder? Do Trout stay on the move in these low water conditions? 11 O'clock comes and goes and then as usual!! 2 in 5 minutes! We.d been searching further down the swim and both came from the same area, but these are different!!! Rainbows and only about 1/2 a lb each! Still they fight nearly as well as their Big Cousins. Gone Again!! searching the same area for nearly an hour, but no more bites. Still! We owe it to ourselves to move anyway, so much more to see and so many swims to discover! As we start to take down the useless Meppless Spinning rod!, we are joined by an excitable Dog!. For a while there, we had forgotten any other human existed, but obviously the dog has an owner as we can hear some aggrieved calling. As we are ready to pick -up our rod , the dog disappears and of course a fish rattles the rod tip! This is better!! and so it duly proves! Clean and Beautifully Marked  Why in Nature, like the Jay, Magpie etc. and in Fish, The Pike, Perch, Trout ie the Scavengers and Predators always so much more colourful , we muse. Love Roach, Chub and Bream, but can they compare with these markings? And so on to the next swim. We cheat a bit as we've fished this before on thursday, so It's not new, but we caught last time! Again, a holding tangle of bushes to our left,and across , but a shallower , faster stretch, where Trout should lay in wait at the end of the run.  We find a conveniant branch, form a make-shift rod rest and sit back to relax, so immediately catch 2 more in 10 minutes! The Countryside is never quiet! Birds recognised and birdsongs (some unrecognised) fill the air! Ducks, Moorhens and Coots, fly and walk in and out of the River, the Trains pass and Cattle low close by! Nearly 3.00 , must be late Milking? In the top of a tree just across the River, A Crow bombards us with insults! He's not happy we are here! Has he a nest nearby? a piece of Carrion We can't see, but he dare not approach? , or is he just aggressive? We love the other birds, but this continuous Cawing is annoying, I guess We and the Crow will never be friends Grumpy  At 3.15 Another bite and another handsome fish to make 9! Shall we reach double figures?, or will this, the biggest be the last, as the car needs to be looked at in Chesterfield in preparation for Ireland on Saturday! The Biggest Yet!  Sods law, We wait and hope and pray and go overtime LOL, but we do not catch the tenth. Packing up in 5 minutes, We retrace our magical journey with lighthearted steps, Over Styles, Walls, Bridges ,Railways, Brooks,Tracks and footpaths, until reaching the car, we are jerked back into the 21st Century! Well that was April 2nd for me and I hope in part for us! nearly 8 hours Fishing, only 9 fish, 7 Brown and 2 small Rainbow Trout, only about 5lb of Fish, but I shared it with the magic River, the Birds, the Dog, of course the Fish and I hope in part with You! I thoroughly enjoyed it I hope you will too! Cheers Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 02 April 2002 9:52:08 PM |
| norm | trev. your stories bring a tear to my eye/ so much detail. my wife asked me to go to bed but i said no, i am reading trevs story, so that was the end of my promise(lol) 9 fish is still a good day mate, (better than being at work) see ya norm it isint the size of the tiddler that counts |
| Del-J | Sheer magic Trev no other way to describe it. Reading though it was almost like being there with you, and sick as a parrot becouse I wasn't. Be lucky, Del. |
| Larry | Trev that was, Like the other posts sheer magic ,poetry, it was almost as though i was there with you after seE if i can get out soon makes me want to go fishing have to wait till though i wont spoil your moment & sour it with my own trouble's. Cheer's Larry |
| peter | Trev,superb as usual. I suppose i could edit it down a bit................. "Went fishing today.....caught 9 fish." No don't seem right,You just carry on Trev,drifted off reading it mate,could have sworn that i was there with you. Peter. Make Friends,Go Maggotdrowning. |
| MALC | Trev as normal your wright up is first class Keep it up Malc Fish with Friends @ MaggotDrowning.com |
| martin. | hi all what is every one trying to creep up to the curse it wont do any good it will still find you Trev. i can only agree with them but in 1 word BRILLIANT tight lines. martin. |
| Ziptrev | Thanks Lads, I Do enjoy trying to put into words what I have felt and I love reading the ones others have written! It takes me ages however!!! Not the writing, but getting those photos altered and set up in cyber-space!! no computer man!, but I think it adds to the piece. It is very nice to see that you post that you enjoy the crap!, so thanks for saying so. Like everyhing else. a little reward goes a long way and the moans if I stop would probably come from the ones who never reply LOL Well! that,s life! Cheers Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Ziptrev | Wednesday 3rd April Press Manor started late fished 3 til 8.00 Pole at 12 metres and 4 metre margin, Carp rod to method feeder (free running) Pole fed pinkie/caster/ few corn loose, fished maggot, caster, corn. zilch on corn! roach,rudd ,perch , gudgeon and tiny skimmers.about 25 on rest. Carp rod, used up method feed from Izaaks (saved my leaders special for special day lol) fed corn/turmeric meat, fished both ! not a touch. Only 3 carp caught whilst there, 2 to bread , 1 foulhooked! Water temp 52 degrees (well Alan will want to know!) Sorry for brief report! No magic today on a carp puddle! Give me a River! Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Dai Fish | Hi all Today I fished at Seven Oaks fishery which is situated in Pontyclun, it is not the best looking fishery that I have been to not much more than a hole in the ground really, no island or any other feature to cast to or to hold the fish, I fished for the most part with a groundbait feeder fished about half way across the pond and had about 8-10 carp of between 1lb and 11lb and a bream of around 6lb I also lost 3-4 large fish. My son also tried a wagler set at around 2 feet deep and although he hooked 4-5 decent sized fish he failed to land any of them which was a shame as one of the carp was very big, he did however land a carp of around 1lb with the last cast of the day, these fish were all hooked in the margines. Most of the fish were taken on sweetcorn only 2 were taken on maggot. Dai Fish |
| esox.20 | Trev, brownies are territorial so if ones caught from a spot there will be no more there. Thats not to say there wont be one 5-10 yards down stream though. BUT remember where you caught it as the position could be filled by another brownie by the next visit. John chill out go fishing |
| Ziptrev | Thursday 4th April, Today I went back to the Darley Dale stretch of the River Derwent, to find out what the lower section was like. The whole stretch covers nearly two miles and apart from the Trout that I am allowed to fish for during the Close Season, I want to establish the swims that will hold Grayling, Perch, Chub and the other species this contains. The Railway Bridge  This is the start of the stretch (the lower end and it is very shallow underneath here!) I wish we had the next pegs down, as here is good holding water. I went upstream and found this peg to try, as it forms a point into a slacker swim, with a nice crease to the right!  On the first cast, with the same light ledger set up as described Tuesday, I was into a fish! Fighting hard, brought upstream slowly. I expected to see another brown Trout, but the back as it came to the surface was too dark! However! The Dorsal Sail quickly gave her away and at around 12 oz’s I had started the day with a personal best Grayling! New PB for me, No accurate Scales, So I’ll call it 10 ozs!  As so often, no bites followed for ½ an hour, so I moved, as I was keen to research the water. Then I met this poor fellow and it ruined my day!  A Crow, possibly even the one that annoyed me on Tuesday, was frantically trying to get away from me as I approached the thick bush he was hiding behind, on the corner of a bend in the river. So desperate was he to get away that he leapt into the River!  I backed off and he flapped back to land, whereupon I could see that he had a broken left wing. Now I left him there. Would it have been kinder to break through the bush and try to end his pain? (I’m not sure if I could have even got to him and if I had would he have taken to the water again?) Should I have contacted the RSPCA (for a Crow?)? Either way, feeling like Pontius Pilate, I abandoned him, in the faint hope his wing would recover! Finding a 3rd swim, I was quickly into another fish, which turned out to be a small Rainbow. This was when I discovered that I had lost my disgorger, after using on the Grayling! Although I fish with barbless hooks, these fast water fish invariably snatch the worms deep! Quickly, improvising with a twig, I returned the fish and decided to have a coffee! The curse was now so strong that my flask cup decided to roll down the bank and I had to retrieve it from a really difficult bank with the landing net! Luckily the Current is on the other bank! I realised that today was not going to be my day, so at 7.30, with light still available, I packed my gear up and called it a day. The water in the River had risen to 52 degrees, a rise of 5 degrees Fahrenheit in two days, which shows the milder weather we have been having! (Well Alan will want to know) That’s it folks, next report in a fortnight, when I return from Ireland! CYA Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Ziptrev | Thanks for letting me know John (twice lol) I returned them all! so perhaps they'll be back! I was also told that they were only stocked last week, so perhaps they're still sorting out territories! Nice 1 Dai, glad your son got that last one in! 8 to 10 carp hey! Can't even remember! Getting blase LOL ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 05 April 2002 01:51:25 AM |
| Dave | From Fishingmad1 Hi i thought id right a report on how well i did today at fishing. I decided to visit a pond on the outskirts of west lancashire in a place called Rufford if anyones ever heard of it (its opposite the train station). I went along with my dad at 2pm which is very late for me to start. I knew from my last weeks visit that the carp had an addiction to sweetcorn so me and me dad set up both on sweetcorn at abt 7ft on the bottom coz the pond is very deep. And after a couple of mins the fish were goin on a frenzy and the wind was picking up (a very cold one). I was feeding maggots over the sweetcorn and when it got to abt 5pm we had had abt 15 small 7oz carp between us which werent bad. and then when swapped to meat (small cubes) because the biting on sweetcorn was dying down. I was right the meat was workin just as well as the sweetcorn but the fish wwere bigger and instead of catching small carp ui was catching tench and chub. After another ten mins we had caught quite alot about 25 btween us. Then when my dad went tothe car i got a bite and it was a decent chub over a 1lb which was my biggest coz i hardly ever fish rivers. then near the end we were both shakin with coldness the wind was freezin. Then when the night was drawing in i got another stormin bite and it was like i had a brick on it was one heavy fish and it knew al;l the hidin places after 5 mins fightin it come off . Arghhhh, i cant explain the amount of times i coyuld of punched myself. Anyway at the end i had abt 26 fish and my dad had had abt12 it was the end to my great days fishing. Best in ages. Anyway mine was v good how was urs? What beats FISHING, ....... er NOTHING |
| martin. | hi trev got this to top ready for when you get back i know its your fav topic & i cant wait to read your report(S) ive got a couple of days booked ready tight lines. martin. |
| Geoff P | quote:
hi trev got this to top ready for when you get back i know its your fav topic & i cant wait to read your report(S) ive got a couple of days booked ready tight lines. martin.
Martin I find it easier to cut and paste Trevs posts to a word document, print them off and then you have something to read on a long, long journey. Cheaper than buying a book. But I am looking forward to reading about his exploits in the land of Guiness. Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| peter | Right,just off down the road to get a couple of cases of beer,fill up the fridge,so that i'm ready for Trev's return. PS.Hurry back Trev i need my fix. Peter. Make Friends,Go Maggotdrowning. |
| norm | WHEN IS TREV GETTING BACK? i also will need to book a couple of days off work to read his posts it isint the size of the tiddler that counts  |
| martin. | h norm trev should be back early tommorow(sun) but he may be knackerd & may go to drayton mon . but i hope he will do at least 1 write up tommorow. tight lines. martin. |
| Dave | I've just oiled the database, increased the bandwidth and added some more memory to the server in anticipation Dave |
| martin. | hi ive got a match on in morning with the ZIP back on mainland in morning is it worth me going? trev im out sun morning welcome back tight lines. martin. |
| Geoff P | Went to White Springs, Pontardulais. Swansea today. Paid my money and drove down to my chosen swim. Daifish will know it. Spent the first 5 minutes clearing up all the rubbish left there by morons who are too idle to take their rubbish 5 yards to a bin. Set up a float rod and a feeder rod. No pole 'cos i broke my no 4 section on Monday and I am waiting for a replacement from Shakespeare. Not used to this float and feeder rod fishing. From half eight til 4 in the afternoon had 2 small crucians, a couple of gudgeon and a rudd on the float rod. Not a good day. It wasn't helped by a couple of young gentlemen (now i am being diplomatic) who spent the previous night fishing swims on one part of the lake, then when they saw a couple of us were catching fish moved opposite and made so much noise, and moved about so much I thought a disco had moved to the lake. A few choice words after a couple of hours and they moved away. But too late, had killed the fishing. Only had one fish on the feeder. 8lb leather carp, caught on sweetcorn on size 16 hook. (One I actually tied myself Trev and Martin) Altogether not a great day success wise, but a thoroughly enjoyable day anyway. Met a chap from Bridgeend with a couple of young lads with him. He is not on the net, but I hope James will soon be joining us on MD. We need more voices from South Wales on here. Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| martin. | hi fished a match at virginia lake nr wisbech that id been invited to i had heard during week that bob nudd had been practicing for a match but as i found out today he had been doing a feature for AT. any way arrived at draw 08-30 i drew my peg & knew for definate trev was back i drew peg 19 to my left (peg 20)is a corner peg with reedbed in his left hand corner to my right (peg 18) had the end of an island @ 14.5m me i had grass down to edge both sides & 20m of waer in front decided on 2 lines 6m with maggot & 13m with meat over pellet ended up 5 1/2 hrs later with about 10lbs of roach, rudd &golden rudd on maggot &1 tench about 2-08 on meat. my sect was won on peg 18 36lb of carp off the end of island on meat over pellet the match was won with 55lb from peg 4 tight lines. martin. |
| Ziptrev | The Irish Early Saga! Well, you asked for it lads! And I guess the new guys don’t have to read it! So if I bore you, please switch off LOL, It’s easier than the telly with a mouse. I sometimes wonder, as I am sure we all must do, what motivates the other guy? What’s different about the way he feels about fishing? How does he view what I do? With contempt? ‘cos I’m not a big fish man and not dedicated enough to target 30lb carp, or sit for hours freezing after dark for a Specimen rarity? Does the pure matchman understand my loss of speed, dexterity and sheer fear of drawing a remote inaccessible peg, that would kill me to get to it, cause me to leave the vital bit of extra kit behind (you always need it!) and be set up 1hour behind the whistle. Or does everyone understand my sheer pleasure in fishing and the total package that comes with it? The luck I have, when someone like Esox teaches me a new skill. And it works? The pleasure I have in setting up pure, dedicated Carp Pod special rods, even though I may only be in with the chance of a fish that most guys would catch on the Pole? The Pleasure I have in sharing days, watching others catch and seeing their satisfaction. The deftness with which they set up rigs, their knowledge of what to do and their shared laughter and craic, when it goes wrong! As around me it invariably does. The joy that you all express in the Nature, open air venues and learning, witnessing, feeling more alive and living deeper, stronger, truer, happier lives, even if it is for short periods of time before the daily routine rears its ugly head again and forces us from the waterside. Therefore, I cannot help feel truly fortunate, that circumstances have forced me into doing something I really feel at ease with and the opportunity to truly live has allowed me to experience things I could only have imagined and peace and contentment that I could never before have aspired to. It’s the whole Package for me and nowhere more so than in Ireland. Not for Ireland the Wraysbury Tales of stolen kit whilst taking bait out in a boat! No “Fish in pairs” to avoid Canal muggers! No Bivvy alarm salesmen, No Syndicate barred waters and a People that wave at every car, say “How’re you doing” as they pass in the road and welcome you with a greeting, a smile and a conversation in every walk of life. Yes, in England we enjoy the nature, but over there, the people are also part of that nature. It makes it all so much more complete. So, It was with great excitement that I set off on April 6th at 3.00 am, with my son Simon in convoy, fresh over from Germany where he lives and loaded with both new kit and a new 23 year old German girlfriend, who must have wondered at these mad Englishmen going on a 250 mile drive to a foreign country, to fish! The curse stayed unusually quiet during the 175-mile drive to Holyhead, but on arrival, decided to have a go and brought up a wind from the East, that surprisingly caused the Skipper of Irish Ferries Dublin Swift (The new Fast crosser of their fleet at 99 mins.) to forgo his sailing! There we were at 8.30 am, faced with waiting ‘til 3.30 pm for the floating Giant, “Ulysees” And then the curse relented. Stena line, sailing to Dun Loaghaire, again a high speed 90 minute crossing, was going to risk it, offered Irish Ferries the spare spaces and we only had about 10 extra road miles added to the journey. So, amazingly, we made the crossing and arrived in good time, safe and with vouchers for £100 off the next trip, plus 4 complimentary meals!! Now you see why I love Ireland, even the curse has problems fighting the Leprechauns! How can I describe Eonish Lodge in County Cavan? Firstly Geraldine and Sean O’Reilly cannot do enough for you! Sean had collected our bait (8 gallons red and white maggots, 4 of casters, 2 sacks Brown Ground bait and a ½ mixture for prebaiting!) This ½ mixture (1/2 sack groundbait,1/2 gallon maggots,1/2 gallon casters) He had mixed and then rowed out to 4 swims on Friday night and fed them accurately! Geraldine, just having gone through the trauma of chemo/radio and surgery, prior to our last visit in August last year, greeted us with open arms, hair grown back! And thankfully, the all clear from her latest tests. Her experiences have taught her even more to care and live for today. My son Greg from Northern Ireland had already arrived, with his friend Dean and they had sorted out our accommodation. Sadly, Chris, his wife, was tied up at the News shop she owns, 120 miles away in Derry and could only join us for 1 night. So the 5 bedrooms House that was for the 6 of us now, was welcoming, comfortable, functional (with 3 bait fridges in the Garage, a Drying room and everything bar a dishwasher, which I’d brought myself!) And the price! For that early week was 318 Euro, or well less than £200! Geraldine and Sean can be contacted by E-Mail, eonishlodge@eircom.net or phone (00353)49-4334487  Here’s the House, looking back from the Swims! Fall out of bed, down the path and pick up your kit, ready made up from where you abandoned it last night! After visiting our old friends the Hayes brothers in Killashandra on the Saturday night, testing Guinness for Martin, It was a lonely walk for me at 6.00 am as 1st light broke on Sunday morning! However, the other 3 made it by 9.30, by which time I’d had over a dozen fish! I, in 1985, spent 17 days in August in Eire and it rained every day! Here on 7th April, I was faced with a totally flat Lake, the sun clearing away a little mist and a Brand New Polaris Sidewinder to beat difficult wind conditions! I’d bought the damn thing, so perversely, I’d set it up, just on a bomb, with 8lb braid, a15ft 5lb shock leader and 2lb, 4ft hook length, with an 18 hook. Second cast and an 8oz Roach gave me the excuse to set up my keep net! Clean, fit and sparkling in the sun, the Roach was an indication of what we all would find every day! As the boys shook off their hangovers they arrived and dropped into the nearest pegs. Me, being 1st was on the left, followed by Greg, Simon and finally Dean. Perhaps I was up 1st as subconsciously I was worried about the car! Seeing as how on arrival home, I failed to spot that Sean had dug out a garden below the House Drive and I had driven over the edge, leaving the car resting on the wheel arches, with the front drive wheels suspended helplessly over a 3ft drop. “Nothing a tractor bucket can’t lift out”, the boys assured me, and so that evening it proved, as Sean quickly lifted and then lowered me back level and made a joke of the 6ft semicircle I’d smashed out of his new asphalt drive! Love the laid back Irish, but I must remember even Leprechauns sleep at times and the Curse was waiting! Lough Oughter is part of the Erne system and covers 3000 acres! It is water that you would think would be hard to find fish in, but, probably because of the pre-baiting, we were to find fish ever present. Here’s the view from our swims  Left  Front  Right The Herons were ever present, soaring and gliding up and down the Lake, Grebes were in evidence, but only once, briefly did we spot the dreaded Cormorant! Chaffinches in particular begged maggots, a hare came running by on the bank, but didn’t stay long when he spotted Danny the resident dog, but the most unusual visitor was a jet black mink that suddenly turned up 10 ft behind my peg, lifted his front up for a quick look round, and then looped off back from whence he came! Here’s a poor picture of the Heron who kept me company!  We fished the bomb on Polaris and Quiver, Float fished heavy wagglers at the 30 to 40 metres and Greg tried a Slide Lock float ledger at 50 metres, in 16 ft of water. We caught on every method and the only disappointment was that the Roach best were just around the 1lb mark and the Bream, which were scarce in my peg! Between 1 and 2lb. Perch to ½ a lb kept us occupied as well, and we resolved, because o the quantity, to empty the keep nets every 5 hours.  Here’s a typical net with Greg and Dean,Simon and Greg caught well, Dean and I were not as fruitful on the end pegs! Being on the outside swims, both Dean and I set up a Pike rod, without too much expectation, as the water was Crystal clear and we couldn’t cast to the baitfish zone. At about 3.00, some real excitement came from my right! Whilst reeling in a small Roach, Dean had found his fish snatched by a Pike! 3lb bottom and 16 hook! That caused some anxious moments, but after about 10 minutes, he landed this cracking fish, which weighed 9 lbs. By 3.15, on the 1st day, Dean had made his week and we were all pleased for him  We enjoyed the fishing so much that we stayed on those pegs for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday! The lads’ fished night floats until 10.30, but it was too cold for me, so I went into Killashandra for a warm! On the 2nd day, we discovered that after pre-baiting from the boat again, the fish didn’t scare off by the use of the feeder, so we all changed from bombs to feeders and improved the catch rate! The damn place is an Aquarium! We caught in slight breezes, absolute flat calm and the air temperature got as high as 80degs F, In April in Ireland! Unbelieveable! It was hard to decide to desert those swims, because they were prolific, fun and so convenient! We deserted our kit every night when we finished, got down at 1st light (the mornings were cold) and picked it up ready just by filling a feeder and baiting the hook! Lovely! However, I had been given several areas to fish on MDs, so we decided to try Wednesday and Thursday in different places. I’ll write those up tomorrow Cheers Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 16 April 2002 11:07:25 AM |
| ray | excellent report trev, cant wait for the next episode. clean banks campaign 2002 still has a few vacancies.....are you a member? original "clean banks campaign" slogan. |
| Stevep | Hello all, As promised here is my report(not as good as Trevs though!!!) I went to Oast Farm in Buxted and i must say that it is a lovely lake... Smallish, only 20 swims but beautiful. Got there at 8, all set up with a cup of tea by 8.30. By 9 i had my first fish, ledgering with a bit of luncheon, 1.5lb mirror, very nice. Day continued like that and in the end i had 15 fish ranging between 1lb and the best of the bunch a 4lb common. All in all a very good day. Steve |
| toma | Trev what can i say,i'm speechless, your report made me feel as tho i was with you,a staggering report Trev. Dean looks a VERY pleased chap with the pike. Cya later Trev Andy  |
| peter | Steve, Glad to hear that you enjoyed your day,hope this means that you will be getting back on the bank more regularly from now on. Trev, Now come on ,Don't tease i was just getting into that report,How long you going to make us wait for the rest of it???????? Not Fair i had just got myself comfy,Don't keep us in suspense. Peter. Make Friends,Go Maggotdrowning. |
| Del-J | quote:
Trev what can i say,i'm speechless, Andy
We should be so lucky Brilliant Trev. no other words for it. Be lucky, Del. |
| martin. | hi trev whatcan i say trev im dissapionted i thought you WERE a friend how could you make me wait another day for the next instalment ive got to keep the rest of my cans cold now till tommorow how could you do this to the rest of us (it is brilliant so far best one so far) tight lines. martin. |
| Dai Fish | Nice one Trev the best yet keep them comeing. Today I fished at Seven Oaks at Pontyclun, I fished from aprox 12.30 to 7.15pm the weather was fine, part cloudy with sunny spells in betwen the cloud there was a chilly wind blowing for most of the time, there were a lot of fish caught all around the lake in short bursts the biggest I saw today was a carp of over 15lb not taken by me mores the pitty and one young lad of around 9-10 hooked in to a carp of 12lb+ and his father was hanging on to the back of the lads trousers through most of the fight and the look on the lads face when he landed it was unforgetable, for my part I caught 7 carp from .5lb to 9.2lb and a bream of 3.2lb all the fish bar one were caught on a ground bait feeder the only one not caught on feeder was the biggest carp which was taken on a waggler fished not two feet from the bank right under the rod tip the fight was quite something on the light match rod to say it took me all over the lake would not be exagarating my arms are still aching, as well as the 9.2lb carp (mirror) I had three over 8lb, I think without question this is the biggest waight of fish I have taken in one day. now I can not wait for my next trip later in the week Dai Fish |
| Ziptrev | Stevep, Dai, Thanks for your comments, but if you only knew how much I enjoy reading your reports, you wouldn't knock your own! It seems to me you both had better days than I did, but I hope you enjoy the total package I try and give, because I believe catching is some of it, not all, but please , please keep letting me see the good and bad days! OK part 2 , sorry lads, but it does take time! The Erin Saga Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th. For 3 days, we had had the most comfortable of fishing, rolling down to the pegs at 1st light, baiting and casting and watching the quiver, whilst rubbing sleep from our eyes! However, New swims lured us and with only a week, we were all keen to try to fish for large Tench, that local legend AND foretold by Dave Scouse, well before our holiday, held out the hope of more excitement! I was reminded of the Post on MDs about the pleasure of anticipation, as on Tuesday evening, having broken down and stowed our gear back in the cars for the 1st time since arriving, we gathered in the cold room. At about 10.00 pm, the 4 of us were eagerly mixing dry crumb with Sweetcorn, Sensas 3000, (Greg’s particular favourite) Archie Braddock’s additive flavouring and the hemp was boiling away. Maggots, Casters, Meat and Sweetcorn were all being flavoured and prepared, whilst Roach and Bream deadbait, along with Mackerel, were being checked and separated into 4 equal parts. The Guinness at 2.90 Euros (£1.81) per pint, compared highly favourably with the Wisbech Arms that night, both in price, but more exceptionally so in quality! As we ran over our preparations. I also reflected, that with our first real drive (all of 10 miles) since arriving, I would need fuel, but with diesel at 70.9 euros per litre (less than 50p!) I wasn’t too concerned and wished again that with the miles I do in England, meeting Maggot Drowners, that we could all share those waters and prices. Wednesday dawned bright and clear and our convoy arrived at 1st light at the entrance to the Lake. Parking up top, you descend a very, very steep slope, to arrive at the waterside, in the back of nowhere, after a 3-mile drive down a single way track that follows the course of the R.Erne There are 4 platforms, built out into the lake, all rickety and in need of repair and waterproof boots are a must, as walking across the planks causes them to dip below the water! [img]/trev/platform.jpg[/img] This is mine! [img]/trev/putlake.jpg[/img] And Greg and Simon shared this one! The lake is shallow close in, only 3 to 4 ft, and even when casting feeders out a distance, we could not find more than 5 feet. A boat complete with oars was moored to 1 of the platforms and we could have freely used it to reach the other 3 or 4 platforms visible across the lake, or even fished from it. The Lake bottom was black, silty and water cabbages grew in profusion, all around the platforms. This was why we were here! The Lake was ideal for Tench and holds Specimens in excess of 10 lbs! Pike to 30 lbs plus are also yielded by it and we had approached it with high hopes of seeing some Big Fish! Sadly, we needed much more preparation! We all fished a close in lift rig on the waggler, over a bed of hemp and samples of worm, caster and meat. Not 1 bite on this line was forthcoming during the period from Dawn to 12.00, which time is legendary for this Lake to switch off. On the longer line, we feeder fed Hemp and Caster with Sweetcorn and all caught the occasional Rudd on maggot. We all failed to get a bite with any other hookbait and the 3 of us (Dean didn’t set one up) who fished for Pike, failed to get a run! By 2.00 pm, Greg (who had taken the Girls up to his house in the North on Monday evening) decided to pack up and collect them early, so as to be ready for a different water on Thursday and duly left with Dean riding Shotgun. Simon and I fished until 6.00 pm, but then called it a day, as we also knew tomorrow would be different. Why did the Tench not move! Well, in our debriefing, we decided that we were too early in the season for the Fish that are definitely there! We should have raked some swims and cleared patches of those cabbages, pre-baited and left alone for a day or two, well before fishing it. A German lad, living in the house at the top of the lane, where his parents moved 2 years ago, told us we were the 1st people he had seen, not spinning for Pike, this year. Incidentally, he arrived with a bucket containing 6 small and one 2lb Bream!! He has made it his mission to stock the water with Bream that he catches from the adjacent Erne! Almost like having your own Lake in the Garden! The Curse reminded me that it still was able to strike unexpectedly and decided to put me in my place! As I ferried kit across the rickety plank of my platform, I heard a slight plop!!! It transpired that my glasses had fallen out of my top pocket and despite several attempts to retrieve them with various landing nets (shades of Wendy) there they remained. If anyone catches a Tench wearing Brown Spectacles from the Lake, could you please E-Mail me!! Packing and getting that kit up the hill, just about killed me, but as I left, I resolved that with what I had now learned of the Lake, I would be back in June and then we’ll see!! . Thursday it RAINED!!! We arrived on an amazing stretch of the River Erne at 1st light, with a dull grey day (not too cold) and a persistent drizzle that, whilst not heavy, quickly permeated every crack in your clothing, leaving everyone damp! The Erne, on a long sweeping bend at this point (Martin will recognise this area) has eroded a great Oxbow type Lough. Close in are reeds and Lilies, a great Tench holding area. Small bushes and sunken trees giving Pike cover and at varying distances out, the fresh invigorating River current, holding Roach, Perch and Bream, all in layered distances. The River was so low, that the current actually backed up at times and could even change direction! Again, a well known area, we were the 1st UK Anglers this year to fish it, according to an Englishman who settled in the area some 25 years ago and called in after seeing our cars by the roadside. I again, chose the far left swim, as it smelled of a Pike patrol to me, whilst the other 3 were happy to fall straight off the road onto the pegs (Well they had my gear to carry as well as their own!!) Pippi had decided to join us and try for her 1st ever fish and Greg set her up a light feeder rod. [img]/myphoto/Datafile2.asp?FileID=451[/img] Look at those Reeds for Pike Patrol! [img]/myphoto/Datafile2.asp?FileID=452[/img] And straight ahead [img]/myphoto/Datafile2.asp?FileID=453[/img] And looking Right Setting up exactly as yesterday, A Pike rod out left, light waggler close in and the feeder on a medium quiver tip, I opted for the feeder 1st and in 3 successive casts landed 3 prime roach between 8 and 12 ounces! A perch followed and then another roach and the drizzle didn’t seem as bad as it had when we arrived! A squeal of delight from my right indicated that Pippi had caught her 1st fish and it seemed fair recompense for the barbel I caught in Germany whilst visiting her last month! Dean was talking 19 to the dozen in his totally incomprehensible Northern Irish Brogue, so he was catching! And Greg and Simon were a picture of concentration as they regularly caught on the tip! Yesterday was a memory and we were back in the happy land of success! I now digress, for a brief tale of the total Irish package! My flask was empty! so I decided to pop 3 miles into Belturbet for a refill and a welcome break. I took my flask and Simons and parked outside ‘The Widows Bar’ Entering, I was 1 of just 3 customers and ordered from the barmaid, 1 Coffee, 1 Brandy, 1 pint of Guinness and can you refill these two flasks please love? ‘Sure’ she replied, and I received in order, the brandy, then the coffee, (in which I tipped 2/3rds of the very large measure of Brandy) and finally the Guinness. Meanwhile I was deep in conversation with the other 2 inhabitants of the bar. One turned out to be a Cavan man, but living in Finchley, the 2nd a Londoner working in Cavan? They could see I was fishing, and when I replied ‘Tench’ to the question ‘What would you most like to catch’, both referred me immediately to the lake we were unsuccessful at yesterday!!! When my 2 flasks, each containing 5 cups of coffee finally appeared, they also came with a query! ‘And what would I be charging you for these? ‘ Asked the barmaid! ‘” I don’t know, love” I replied, “It’s up to you, you’re serving” “ Ah well” she said,” I’ll do them as minerals” 1 Brandy, 1 Coffee, Pint Guinness, 2 Flasks full of hot coffee 10.60 Euros! (£6.55) Value or what? Returning to the river, I happily caught on the feeder, without hitting a run and with each fish varying between Roach, Perch and Bream, although my Bream were smaller than the other 4 were hitting. At about 4.00, Greg wandered down to have a chat and see my intentions for finishing, as he was happily switching between waggler and feeder, dependent on current and catching continuously and hoping to stay late. I was happy to agree, although my feelings were to give myself more time to tackle down at dusk, as although catching, I was not enjoying their quality Just then the buzzer on my Pike rod burst into life! The drop back indicator fell off and line hissed out from my bait runner Dynadrag. The run stopped as I reached the rod! I picked it up, counted to 5 and slowly wound down after manually flicking the bait runner lever closed. A small tug was enough! I struck and had the sheer joy of feeling the rod meet resistance, tighten and bend into a River Erne Pike. Well, He was only 4 to 5 lbs as you can see! But! Importantly, he fought well, gave me a couple of runs, even on 14 lbs line and more importantly was witnessed from start to finish by my son Greg! More on that later. So, my swim choice was justified, I caught my River Pike, using a 6 oz Bream that I had caught earlier in the week and a hand prepared, popped up small double treble size 10 barbless zander rig, that I had made especially for my visit to Martin in the Fens! I was content. [img]/trev/ernepike.jpg[/img] We fished until well after dusk, as these pictures show! [img]/trev/greg2ern.jpg[/img] Here’s Greg with a nice brace of Bream [img]/trev/pip.jpg[/img] Pippi’s Bag, A great effort for the 1st time out. She doesn’t know much and was instructed to hit every movement of the tip. Greg swears blind that she hit more than he did as, with ‘experience’ he often left the bites to develop (and they often didn’t) [img]/trev/gregerne.jpg[/img] Late on (as usual) Greg caught this Bream, which turned out to be best of the day! And so, in the dark, we set off home, pleasantly weary, satisfied each with our own highlights and resolved to finish our week on Friday back at Eonish Lodge for comfort, quality Bream and reminiscing. I’ll try and tell you of those highlights soon. Cheers Trev Ziptrev[img]http://animatedgif.net/animals/dogs/pug_e0.gif[/img]Shouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Ziptrev | Hell! I've just tried to catch up on the other reports here! Dai at 9+ lbs, Geoff at 8 and Steves bag!!! Perhaps I should start a small fish forum! Well done lads can see I've got some more driving to do! One Question for Geoff? Did the self -tied hook add to your satisfaction at all , as my self-made zander rig added to my Pike catch? Cheers lads Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 16 April 2002 03:12:01 AM |
| Ziptrev | The Final Hours My Cavan Girl As I walk the streets of Killashandra, weary I sit down, For it’s 12 long miles around the Loughs, to get to Cavan town. This is the title and opening lines of a song immortalising the girls and attractions of Cavan Town and the small centre of Killashandra. A young American, lived in Sligo for 2 years, but on visiting Co. Cavan, wrote this song that you can hear on most nights, sung in the pubs and bars of Killashandra. The village consists of 2 streets, one leading to Cavan Town and one to Ballyshannon and Belturbet. Every other building seems to be a pub, none of them ever empty and populated with the friendliest welcoming people in the world. Coupled with the fact that it IS surrounded by beautiful Loughs and River stretches, it is my idea of heaven! The Craic in every pub is Mighty and none more so than in Hayes bar. Run by Jim and Joe, It is not a noisy bar, as both brothers are in their 60s or 70s, but it is so friendly and unwittingly funny, with a cleanliness the brothers continuously work at and nothing is ever too much trouble! My last visit this trip was on Saturday afternoon, prior to heading home and just to say farewell, hopefully au revoir. A little lady entered with her son? And daughter –in law? And announced to us “Good day, I don’t know you, but I’ll talk to you anyway” She then proceeded to order a bottle of stout, a brandy and 4 more stouts “in case he forgets”! She must have been 80+ “And did you hear Sean Boyle’s Father’s died” she demanded of old Jim as he served her drinks. “Indeed is that so” said Jim calmly, “And I was hearing it was his mother” “Ah Whisht” she said, “That’s not important, but will you be going to the Chapel as well as the wake?” It would appear that the Community is still so close that the whole village attends the passing of each inhabitant. How I wish I belonged to such a Community. Just over a day prior to this incident, I had made my way at dawn to the lakeside peg that I had occupied at the start of our holiday, for my last full days fishing of this week. Anticipation was there, coupled with a regret that the day would go only too quickly. Simon was late and Dean scuttled into his peg in the hope that the 2 middle pegs were again going to be the Bream pegs. I commenced by massacring a mackerel, mounting it on a larger trace than yesterday and cast out, further this time, to the depth that the baitfish seemed to occupy. Setting up both Sidewinder and Quiver on feeder rigs, I started with the Quiver, as the water was again flat calm, the wind non-existent and the sun rising in a cloudless sky! On April 12th in Ireland! When I choose this week, before Xmas, The anti-curse must have guided my choice! My feeder efforts produced immediate response from the Roach, with unmissable quick bites, producing a jerky action on the tip. As pleased as I was with these, Greg, in the next peg was experiencing the slower knock, knock, followed by a short wait and then the deliberate pull round, so typical of the Bream bites. The Bream were again from what must be a massive shoal of 1 to 2 and ½ lb fish. Simon joined us about 8.30 and the banter with Dean (Also steadily catching Bream from Simon’s ‘stolen’ peg was fierce. I think Simon was secretly pleased, as he could set up a Pike rod easier at the extreme right swim. Talking of Pike! At 11.30, I experienced an unusual take and drop run! 1 blip from the buzzer and then the line inched the drop off indicator up. AND STOPPED. Moving quickly to the rod, I unclipped the drop-off and watched as Greg scrambled across to join me. Thankfully, the loose line, hanging almost to the floor, suddenly moved again and as soon as the run stopped, I tightened down and struck into my searched for Lake Pike. He, (Here, I am not sure) gave a fair account of himself, but soon was in the net. Weighed at 7 lbs, I got Greg to hold him in the way John had shown me, to display his Blind Eye!  This caused many comments that a Pike would have to be Blind to take my butchered Mackerel, but I noticed Simon quickly set up a second rod, with similar bait! We carried on happily catching on the feeders and Greg again experimented with his Slide lock float ledger system, pleased to be able to catch on the float at 40+ yards and over 15 feet of water. Dean was nearly matching Greg’s Bream catch on his feeder and Simon was catching a bigger stamp of Bream, although less often! As for my swim, I was Roach King and as some ran to nearly a pound, was not unhappy! However, the 1 Bream in 8 fish I was experiencing was very welcome. And then my day was made! A second run on the Pike rod and this time a screamer! Classically she stopped, I wound down, felt her, struck and because of the buzzers scream was joined by the lads and Pippi, who had just arrived from the final big house hoover! Thus it was that we all witnessed for the first time, a classic tail walking display across the surface of the Lough, by an angry female pike! I only wish I could have brought you a picture of that moment at 3.30 pm on that beautiful venue! Although subsequently found to be just 9lbs 12 ozs, this lady fought long and hard for freedom. She only exploded from the depths twice, but made several runs before she succumbed to the net. This time I’ll hold my fish!  Recently, we have been discussing spawning, so I took this close up of her heavily marked with white spawning nodules and then returned her quickly and I’m pleased to say safely, as she swam straight off.  Had she spawned and was subsequently hungry? Or do the spawn nodules indicate she was ready to spawn? Certainly none of the Bream carried these expected marks! Incidentally, many of the fish we caught from the Lough, although in fine condition, bore old and fresh scars, indicating a high level of Pike activity! My wife Elaine had elected to stay in the North with Greg’s Christine whilst Greg had returned on Wednesday to allow Pippi to fish and at 6.00 O’clock, Christine arrived with Elaine, pale and shaken from the longest drive (120 miles) she had ever undertaken! Driving for several years, she is a worse navigator than Les or John! So, we decided to fish until 8 and then the Company would separate as Greg led his lady home in Convoy for safety. The match! Was just declared in Greg’s favour with this lovely last days bag and the gang gathered round!  Simon had produced brilliantly from his end peg and scored with the biggest fish of the day, whilst I had to rest on my combined weight of nearly 17 lb of Pike and 30 lb of mixed Bream and Roach (not forgetting the occasional Perch) to creep in 3rd! Dean had certainly out fished me on Silvers.  And so to the highlight of my week! Greg is a really accomplished Angler and for next season has been invited to join Team Erne Sensas at Enniskillen by Jack Tisdale (Well if you don’t know him, Northern Irish match men will put you right) The teams (and Greg can only hope for B or C initially) are sponsored by Sensas of course and Garbolino. During our week, I learnt much of new match methods and the loop-sliding feeder on braid proved a tangle free innovation to me. BUT Greg is no Pike man, and had listened avidly to my stories of Rudyard and what John has taught me. To see his face on the River Erne, when as he said, “Everything worked Perfectly” as I caught the 1st and smallest Pike and to witness the expression and excitement caused by the Tail-walker, did my heart good. I have a shopping list of Pike gear for him and such was the impression created, that I received a phone call on Sunday evening. Far from Dean and him having enough fishing, after getting home late Friday, they prepared Saturday and on Sunday, Pike fished Lough Enogh in Londonderry! The result, 2 pike to Greg, 3lbs and 5 lbs! (What is it Norm? It isn’t the size?) Thus, I leave that holiday, knowing that what John taught me in January, has been successfully handed on to my son and will continue to provide him with pleasure. Could I have asked for a better result? So sadly at 9.00 we waved goodbye to Greg, Dean and Christine as they set off Northwards to that other Ireland. Simon packed his kit away and I abandoned mine under the pretence that I needed it to dry thoroughly in the morning. (I had already learned from Geraldine that the new arrivals were not expected until 6.00 pm tomorrow and she was happy for me to fish well into Saturday afternoon if I liked) Simon was only too keen to join me in a last fish-in and it was arranged that Pippi would take Elaine into the village at about 11.30, whereupon Simon and I would slowly and neatly pack the gear away and join them at Hayes Bar for a farewell drink at about 12.00. I arrived at the peg for the last dawn raid alone as usual! To discover that, far from dry, everything was covered with ice!  The Lake was clear, calmer than ever before, with a millpond impression for as far as you could see, which wasn’t far as the Lough was covered with mist! Even in those conditions, the minute I fired out my bomb (no ground bait left for the feeder) I caught a beautiful shiny Roach. I also put out my Pike Rod and sat back, gently catching on the bomb, in a totally placid sun warming solitude that made me glad to be alive. Simon arrived at the peg about 8.30, and we shared alternate casts, usually alternate catches and reminisced over all things, but particularly our enjoyment of the week. Probably, with the distances involved, work etc., this would be our last group fish-in. At 9.30, I returned to the house for a bath, shave etc., saw Geraldine and arranged a revisit for Greg and I in June and having cleared the house, waved a brief farewell to the Girls and returned to the peg. I would like to say I made it by 12.00, but Simon and I found it difficult to pack up quickly!!! And so it was 1.30 before we arrived to say goodbye to Jim and Joe! Well the Bream came on again! As I caught the 1st fish, perhaps it only fitting that I caught the last, so here he is!  Alright, there was 1 more, because I couldn't resist that last cast!  A meal in Cavan, Arrival at Dublin Docks (Where the tickets included vouchers for £100.00 off my next trip) a pleasant journey on the massive 3/4s empty Ulysses and arrival back at Holyhead at 1.15 am Sunday. So that’s all folks! I hope you enjoyed the story just 1 tenth as much as I did and if you EVER get a half chance to go to that wonderful Country, I hope I have made it sound interesting enough, but I fear I will never do it Justice! Cheers Ireland and now I can look forward to the U.S of A.! Trev [url][/url] ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Geoff P | Excellent Trev. A wonderful read. Your fishing sagas have now made me late for work. LOL Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| peter | MAGIC !!!!! Trev you have truly excelled yourself with this one. The only problem is the time delay,so it looks as if you'll have to go out and get yourself a laptop so we can have a few on the spot reports from the "Fishing Zone". Just makes us realise how much we miss you and your reports when you're abroard. Peter. Make Friends,Go Maggotdrowning. |
| norm | spot on trev. and what you said about the size of the fish you were catching,your right- my signature says it all, it has brought all the memories of ireland back it isn`t the size of the tiddler that counts  |
| Polepot | Trev, Great report enjoyed the great read. But it has been suggested your reports are abscent when you are abroad. I hope when in the States we will get daily updates from Newts PC at least. What do you say Guys? Poles |
| MALC | Trev as always your reporting is almost as good as being there. It's great to be back and get the MD fix Malc Fish with Friends @ MaggotDrowning.com |
| Del-J | Trev, a smashing report as usaal. you realy are the man. Malc, great to have you back.  Be lucky, Del. |
| martin. | hi all first trev what can i say the rest have allready said it & i have to aggree i went back to button hole lake today which is a typical carp pit i startedon pole @ 10m in 9ft of water with worm over chopped worm & caster in 2hrs i had 1 bream 5-08, 1 carp 1lb &3tench to 4-06lb whilst i had been loosefeediding casters i noticed roach coming up in water to take them so set a 5m elasticated whip up at 12ins it was a 2BB float 3lb mainline & 2.6bottom with a 18 hook baited with double maggot four hrs later i had added 20lb of roach & rudd to my days total and just for trev called in wisbech arms for a couple of pints of the blackstuff to round off a perfect day found out price had gone up to £2-10 a pint but it still went down ok tight lines. martin. |
| MALC | Date: 16/04/02. Venue: Snake Lake @ Kilworth Sticks nr Rugby. Time: 4pm till 8pm. Kilworth Sticks is a commercial fishery with 5 pools of which 3 are open for fishing. Today i fished the Snake pool which contains 15 platformed pegs and carries a stock of mainly carp from 2lb to 10lb with the average size being 4lb. The Snake varies in width from peg 1 at about 7mtrs to the widest part at pegs 13 to 15 which is about 16mtrs across. I sat on peg 4 and fished at about 6.5mtrs into 3ft of water at the base of the far shelf which reaches out from the far bank by about 1mtr. Only took riddled meat coated in Sillybait. Used a 4x10 pole float to 0.10 line to a size 16 animal hook straight through to a slack number 14 lacy. Fished with both punched and riddled meat, hooked 21 Carp but pulled out of 6 and ended up with 15 Carp from 2lb to 6lb and 1 Tench about 1lb. So it was a very enjoyable evennings fishing. I love the long evennings Malc Fish with Friends @ MaggotDrowning.com |
| Dai Fish | Wonderful read as ever Trev I now almost feel as if I have fished in Irland with you lol, just one question though how do you put the pics in your reports Dai Fish |
| Ziptrev | Geoff, Peter,Norm, Pole, Andy, MALC, Del, Martin,Dai,Ray, Stevep, Thanks for your comments and for bothering to post them, As you know, it aint easy and is time consuming to post reports, particularly with pics.! I do it , because I believe it adds to the report and it adds to the enjoyment of the forum for everyone! I like reading your reports and the venues and methods are always described well. I am going to fish some of them in the future and I can visualise the ones I know so much better from your reports. Sadly , there are not enough people who bother to even comment on the reports, you see they read them, cos the numbers click up, but they cant even comment, although if the givers stopped, the takers would be the first to complain So well done lads and keep them coming. Dai, I am E-Mailing you as the explanation would take too long on here, but if I can do it you know it's simple LOL. MALC agasin, lovely to see you back and what about the nearest campsite for May 20th (We've even got the Colwyn clown coming again!) Mind you, he doesn't need a Bivvy, just a warm Sheep! Cheers Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 17 April 2002 12:35:33 AM |
| MALC | Date: 17/04/02 Venue: Borough Hill Farm nr Daventry Time: 10am till 2pm After spending half the night catching up on what i'd missed on the forums i planned to fish Riddings Fishery on the A5 nr Atherstone after some stillwater barbel. But that plan fell apart as i tried to get on the A5 at Rugby (it was bumper to bumper) so a quick change of venue was called for. Settled for Borough Hill Farm top pool which is a typical hole in the ground puddle but it's always worth a few fish as it's heavily stocked with Carp from 1lb with the odd double but average 2lb, small Roach/Rudd and loads of Gudgeon. The only hook bait i used was riddled and punched meat (original plan was the barbel elsewhere) with a liquidised meat based feed and fishmeal which was fed as a soup. The pool is about 3ft deep all over from about 2ft out so i settled at a nice easy distance of 5mtrs. Started off with 2 pots of feed then fished with riddled and punched meat at dead depth fished on a 2x10 pole float to 0.10 line and a 16 hook,but changed to a 4x14 after 10 mins (same hook & line size) as the rudd were taking the meat on the drop and bulked 3 no 8's 10" from the hook with a no 10 half way between bulk and hook. First put in on the heavy float resulted in a Carp around 3lb which was followed by 26 others between 11/2lb and 4lb along with the odd Rudd and Gudgeon. Total weight after 4 hours was 51lb 12oz (and got to start on my tan as well). A very enjoyable day on the bank just wish the fish would feed as well every time i had a match. Malc Fish with Friends @ MaggotDrowning.com |
| toma | Trev,if we ever have a fishing report poster of the year we all know who will be the winner hand's down. A stunning report as ever Trev,spellbinding. PS when i have returned from the Emerald Isle people i hope that i/m not expected to write reports like The Master reporter. Brilliant Trev Andy |
| toma | Malc 51lb 12oz in 4hrs sounds like a good day to me mate. Sounds as tho you had a nice sunny day for it, you lucky man,51lb 12oz of fish and sunshine,what more can anyone ask for. Looking forward to meeting you on the 20th Malc Andy |
| Dai Fish | Nice one Malc 50+ in four hours its a wonder you were still long enough for the sun to catch you LOL Dai Fish |
| Ziptrev | Great Report MALC! Thanks for describing the method and baits, I just got to work out how to practice that! When you do make Riddings, I hope you're just as successful and I can copy that one LOL, Well, I didn't do anywhere near as well , but I enjoyed myself too! AND yes Toma, we must have a report! particularly on the venues, because there's a lot of MD's over there this year.(Me again for one) and it's time I reported a big bag LOL Anyway, Here's Today! Another Day, Another Time, Almost another World! Returning from Ireland Sunday Morning, I took Monday and Tuesday to report and recover, so was desperate today to get back to the water! I wonder if sometimes you think that the places I write about are imagination! Or over-embellished, or perhaps downright lies LOL, I also thought, that although I had described the magic journey to the Derwent, I had not shown you the way and as I still had a good 3rd of the Darley Dale stretch to visit, I thought I’d take you pictorially with me! How life and times change! Firstly, just a short time ago, I was looking for extra waters and now I am visiting for the 3rd time just one stretch out of 20 plus covered by my new card and am spoilt for choice! Secondly, in just a few hours, I have changed from the vast sweeping still Loughs of Ireland, to the swift narrow, shallow and mysterious, deep banked, shrouded, Derwent! This is the narrow gateway that leads you to the pathway!  Here’s the magical path that leads to this exciting water!  And the railway crossing to negotiate!  and at the end the single plank bridge! But No, we are turning right this time, so that must wait for another day! I had decided to walk right and continue until I reached the end of the stretch! Looking for likely looking swims on the way. In everything I decided to do today, I failed miserably! I was late arriving (gone 2.O’clock as I overslept and did not feel well on awaking!) There were so many good –looking swims that I stopped before the end of the section, as I succumbed to the desire to set up and start fishing! I set up an over complicated, too light tackle, end rig! And I fished terribly clumsily! Here’s the swim I was seduced by, See those overhanging trees on the far bank?  Well I managed to cast into them and smash my end tackle off, for the 1st 3 consecutive casts! For anyone less incompetent, let me hasten to add that the swim reeks of good holding water. Finally, I changed up to an 8lb braid, with a 1 oz bomb, as I decided that the 4lb line to 2lb hook length and ½ oz bomb, was too light to give any control in the fast current and after 3 successive snaps, I needed the confidence to bully the bomb away from the weeds and bushes. It worked immediately! And as I allowed the bomb to swing in with the current, I was rewarded with a fierce snatch on the rod tip. A super fighting, clean, Brown trout of 1and ½ lbs, pulled the little 9ft rod into a right angle bend, but had no chance of escape, even with the currents help, against my 3 and1/2 lb hook length. Here is my 1st of the day, at 4.00 pm, after I had truly been fishing for less than 5 minutes, due to my cack-handedness!  I still fished badly, and lost several hooks on snags, but, I still managed to catch every so often and each fish fought hard and long. Emulating the Pike in Ireland, most leapt clear of the water if the rod was lifted. The clarity and shallowness of the river added to the enjoyment of playing the fish, as you could clearly see the effort to escape and the energy put into each run! I have tried to capture here the explosive leap above the surface that they all tried!  The weather was again amazingly good for April, and although the sun was hidden by clouds, only twice did a few spots of rainfall and they were warm and totally ignorable. The take limit on the Derby Railway card is two fish per day, which, as I had promised a friend fresh trout, I completed with the second fish! I was then able to relax and happier returning the 3rd and 4th that came in quick succession as I still feel queasy about killing any fish! Even small roach for dead bait! I discovered that in these snaggy swims, the method was Not! To allow the bomb to roll with the current, but to actively cast a much longer distance downstream and then inch the bomb and worm, back up the swim, which invariably produced a quick take. However, for the first time on the Derwent, when I was into my 5th fish, I had played him gently for some 3 minutes and brought him 2/3rds of the way to the net, when I lost him! The hook was OK, the worm understandably gone, but no fish! Now I know it was a barbless hook, bur out of 5 today, only 1 was not deep hooked as Trout do take extremely fiercely, so I was somewhat surprised. Still, to lose 1 out of 17 so far, I do not feel unhappy about! My mobile phone, (kept well back from the water Wendy!) had been reacting as though IU were at my old office! First my wife had let me know where she would be! both my oldest 2 lads had phoned and then I received the welcome news that my ticket was ready for the PAD club stretch of the Trent! This is the Practical Angling for the Disabled Club, which has a marvellous stretch of 20 Platforms on the Trent, plus a 20 match series at top venues, with the disabled access a priority. Just fantastic! But even more water to investigate! With these interruptions, I was not fishing 100%, but just as the village clock in Darley Dale struck 8.00 pm and the wonderful Bell notes rolled across the fields, I struck into this beautifully marked fish.  So I ended the foreshortened day with 5 lovely trout, all in excess of 1lb weight and happily walked back to the car, feeling that although I fished poorly, was late and was interrupted, my sense of looking forward to returning and fishing all the swims I had passed by, for trout in summer, Grayling, Chub and Perch in winter, made the day memorable. Some of you may know that the A6 in this area has houses built up the steep banks beside it and as I walked in the gloom, the lights on the hillside came twinkling on from the narrow windows, making the area seem even more mystical! I was strongly reminded of Tolkiens Bilbo, seeing the lights appear in Hobbiton, as he returned home in the ‘Hobbit’ Reaching the car and setting off at 8.40 pm, I silently agreed with MALC’s comment on his report yesterday! ‘I love these late evenings’ Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| MALC | Trev as is always the case another great pictorial report on your watery travels. Long may they continue. Malc Fish with Friends @ MaggotDrowning.com |
| peter | Trev, Marvelous as usual,After a hard day in the lunatic asylum that is Central London,to sit down at the computer with a large mug of coffee and read one of your reports transports me to another world. I can almost see myself strolling down the path to the river to seek you out and see how your day has gone. I'm sure i get as much enjoyment out of reading your posts as you do writing them. Keep up the great reports. Peter. Make Friends,Go Maggotdrowning. |
| Adam S | Hello all firstly trev well done on your catches and reports. also would it be possible for me to get a copy of that e-mail on how to post pics? report : venue:royal canal,kildare,ireland. date:wed 17th april 2002 I had prebaited my chosen swim in 4 and a half feet of water beside a bed of reeds for two days with my usual prebait mix of two loaves of liquidised bread,one and a half kilos of crumb,pint of hemp, pint of mags,half pint of casters and a can of corn (basically a big bucket load of stuff). weather was awful,rained heavily all day, but was quite mild and the water held a nice colour. At the start of play i balled in eight orange sized balls of ground bait (5o:50) mix of sensas cloud 3000 and brown crumb with a small amount of liquidised bread to up the food value.Over the top of this i put in three pult fulls of casters,five of hemp and two of mags and topped up regularly. gave the swim a while to rest as i set up a pike rod. fished from 11 am to 6pm, the fishing remained steady all day, with just the odd slow spell that balling in again soon rectified. most fish came to double or triple red mag , although single white on the drop brought good numbers of roach when the bottom fishing slowed. speaking of which my bottom rig was a 2AA crystal,4lbs main line to 2.4lbs hooklenght and size 18 hook,3inches overdepth. Shallow rig was 3BB crystal with 2lbs mainline to 1.5lbs hooklenght and size 20 hook. fished the waggler all day,i brought a pole but never felt the need to set it up as the canal was not towing and there was little or no wind. final catch was about 60lbs inc. 8bream to 3lbs and lots of hybrids to 1.5lbs as well as roach,rudd and one 12oz tench (destined to end up in my friends garden pond).no pike, i suspect they may be spawning as i spotted a 10lbs female with two smaller males (i presume) in close attendance. the water temp in the canal remians just slightly too low for the tench to feed with any gusto, due mainly to the cold rain and frosty nights over the last two weeks,i pray it warms soon. good luck everyone Adam |
| Ziptrev | Adam, Thanks for comments and thanks for Great Report Your attetion to method detail is far more interestig to me, as my stuff is so simple Also, the reults are far better lol With regard to the pics. i'm going to plead with Dave to set up the formula and send it to you and anyone else, as I'm not even sure how to advise people as my AOL is so different from most! Still I had a better day today, in less than 3 hours,I caught 11 fish and here's how it happened! One More Cast! I don’t know if you are like me, but I always feel the next 1 will be the one that produces! It rarely does, but I still regret that finality of breaking down the tackle! Particularly when I have started late, because today was even worse than yesterday and I didn’t reach the river until nearly 5.00 pm I had reasons of course, Firstly, I had an appointment in the morning and then Elaine was on late shift (starting at 1.00 pm) and so I took her into work (well one of us has got to work!) Then I went to see Used Tackle of Hucknall! I had 2 items of tackle go wrong in Ireland and wanted their help! Incidentally I have posted in Your Awards the Result! They may sell cheap, but they are a splendid firm to deal with. So, it was relatively very late, when I arrived at the new stretch of River, I had resolved to explore! South of Derby, you could be forgiven for thinking yourself in a new Country, rather than in the same County! Gone are the hills and Peaks of the Pennines, when you visit the lower River Dove. Although rising in the same Peak District as the Derwent, Both Rivers meander through agricultural meadowland, south of Derby City and just prior to their confluence with the mighty Trent! Gone are the steep, narrow banks, the tree lined depths of the fast rising streams and here we have more placid slower streams, with wider stretches surrounded by fields and verdant meadowland. The only incongruity is mans ability to despoil the scene with poles and pylons carrying the Nations insatiable desire for fuel, in this case electricity!  Here was my chosen swim, after I had walked some ½ mile along this beautiful scenic river. I intended to walk the whole of the stretch, but reasoned that as it was late and as this swim screamed out to me, via the calm far distant bank, the ripple of faster water along the central crease and the near side reeds, that I could always fish for a while and move on back down towards the car park, testing other areas later.; And still return at a more appropriate time another day. The wind was fiercely blowing from the North and straight down the river. It was overcast and seemed so different from yesterday and my hands grew numb as I set up my light feeder rod, exactly the same as for the Derwent, again in search of Trout. Putting the obligatory worm on a 16 Kamasan 611 hook I cast out downstream into the current. Almost immediately the tip received a fierce knock, but as I struck, the reel on backwind gave line freely and I missed a decent strike! Cursing my incompetence at missing my Trout, I rebaited as the worm was well won by the fish, I cast out to roughly within 10 yards of the same spot, which I considered fair as I could hardly now feel my fingers in the icy breeze! Tightening the slack to the bomb, I could feel on the braid, every knock on stone as the bomb slowly jogged down the swim. Another vicious tug!!! And this time I was in to my Trout! Funny, although I had previously had Rainbows of up to a Pound and a half, this fish felt bigger! Was it a record for me? On the light rod, I couldn’t bully it to much, but I was secure with 8lb Braid to a 3and ½ lb Drennan Super Strong hook length. Then all was revealed as the fish came to the net! What a calamity, Oh Dearie Dearie Me Mr EA man, I am fishing for Trout with my worm Honest! I don’t expect to catch these ‘Nuisance’ 3 to 4 lb Chub very often!  But tell the Chub that! Don’t they realise it’s the Close Season? I fished incompetently again! Tangled an overfilled spool of Braid, cast into snags and therefore lost much fishing time. The Chub made it worse, every one fought as though it was a practising Trout! Look how this wide gaped creature finally broke the surface! What a Nuisance!  If it hadn’t have been for those Horrible Chub, I may have caught my little Trout! Certainly, as the rain came down in a steady drizzle, the temperature rose. At last I could feel my hands and I could start to feel well enough to appreciate the swim and the fantastic view of the Emerald Green Meadow opposite, leading to the picturesque sight of the old ruined church. If only those damned chub would stop pinching my worms!  I thought of Jel and hoped he would read this post as I know how he shares my distaste for these beautiful Sporting creatures! The Golden Chain Mail they wear and the plumpness of each one gave me a tremendous feeling that this shoal was content in the Dove. (Don’t let Splodge know, he’ll tell you the Rivers are Cormorant dead LOL) I even had a 1st! When the tip went round again, I struck and after an initial really powerful run, I found I had almost a dead weight to heave in against the current. Fearing a nuisance (Geoff!) Bream in my trout fishing, I looked on eagerly as I brought the sack nearer. No Bream, It was another Chub, but this time foul hooked in the Tail Fin, just at the join on the back! A foul hooked Chub? Just how many damn fish of this size are rolling around in that swim! Here he is , What a Nuisance!  The rain relented and my heart lifted as, another 1st! A house or sand Martin swooped over the fields, !I can never tell those apart, but he didn’t have the tail feathers of a swallow, so I gloried in what for me is the 1st sign of returning Spring. I pondered that , by today, April 18th, over 1 month of the close season has already gone by and I had found a magic swim to stay away from, thus avoiding these awful chub! With the time at 8.25, I reluctantly thought that the one last cast was some 7 overdue, so simply folding my rod, inserting everything into a new quiver and my small carry all, (this fishing light can become addictive), I set off back the 3 fields to the car park. Leaving the sensuous River Dove at 8.40, I vowed to return and thought again of MALC I love these late evenings! Cheers Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Ziptrev | Peter, I do sympathise, but I am sure you don't quite get the same enjoyment lol, It's almost as though this is my work to me now! As events happen by the waterside, I plan the report and I try to plan various change venues and species , methods to try. Jack of all trades and master of none, that's me! Tomorrow, its my local little carp puddle and I'm planning a Tench visit! Next week the Dove again (Different stretch!) and a trip to the in-season Trent and Mersey Canal. I hope Martin has a day spare soon as I'm planning another visit East to see my son, and would love to fish with him again. I drove home tonight, mentally preparing the report and co-incidentally passed through Alfreton, by my old Dingy 2nd floor office, where for many years I laboured under inadequete lighting and in gloomy conditions, to run my Company! As I passed and for all the trauma that has befallen since i was forced to give up work nearly 3 years ago, for all the loss of earnings, all the now not-acheiveable goals, all the failed retirement plans, I would not go back and lose this current life-style! No-one can tell me how long it will last, but while it does, I intend to enjoy it to the full and the plans I make seem all to be acheiveable and keep me going! So, If I alleviate a little of your stress, Make you smile, or laugh, or even envious, well perhaps that heightens your anticipation of your next spell of freedom! So, tomorrow, I'll look over my shoulder, whilst using MALC's meat bait! targetting the Carp for a change, hoping I do one tenth as well as him and I'll see you watching and take a photo of the carp to prove you saw me catch it! Toma and Waxi will send us a congratulatory text message and Dave an E-Mail LOL and perhaps for a few minutes Londons streets will seem truly paved in Gold from the Reflection of a Mirror Carp's scales. Thank God we all can dream! Thank God also, that there are not just Rats in the Rat Race. See you tomorow Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 19 April 2002 05:56:12 AM |
| Geoff P | quote:
With regard to the pics. i'm going to plead with Dave to set up the formula and send it to you and anyone else, as I'm not even sure how to advise people as my AOL is so different from most! Cheers Trev
Good idea Trev. I have a couple of photos to put up but can't fathom out how. Another wonderful report, I am glad nobody else writes such long ones or I would never get to work. (I got up half an hour earlier today to read this one). Just a warning, come June 16th, or any time soon after you may be getting company on one of your sojourns. Until then keep up the writing, and for goodness sake save all of your memoires to hard drive/CD. Publish a book "Confessions of a trout (that looks like a chub) angler". Geoff RSSG member - are you? Edited by - Geoff P on 19 April 2002 06:28:56 AM |
| MALC | Trev what can i say that we all have not said already about your reporting. I've just got in after my 10hr night shift stuck in a warehouse sat on a fork truck moving pallets around all night. It's a great way to unwind sitting here reading your report and feeling as if i were there with you. A BIG THANK YOU Malc Fish with Friends @ MaggotDrowning.com |
| Ziptrev | Thanks Malc, hope you enjoy this one, as it gets harder when there's no disasters! or nothing dramatically new happens! Geoff,had to do it, 'cos technically, I'm Britains answer to Fred Flintstone! I post the damn pics., but I'm never quite sure they,re gonna work LOL! April 19th Today I am meeting Peter at Press Manor Fishery! No! Not literally, but if you have followed the recent posts, mentally! Peter is joining me as he is trapped in a London Environment and uses these stories as a catharsis from the everyday pressures. I have promised to catch a carp as he arrives! How can I ensure I don’t let him down! I am not quite so eager today, as for a change, I am returning to my local 'Carp Puddle’ after the sheer pleasure of the Derwents Trout and the Doves (out of Season, nobody told ‘em Chub!) I fish Press, a) because it’s local b) Because it got me back in to fishing c) Because here I learnt the Pole d) Because I have had some nice Carp here, Bream to 3lbs and lots of fish e) Because I do relatively well, when I watch the other Angler’s catch rates and it gives me confidence. BUT I feel vaguely uneasy! It has not fished well of late and confidence is a fragile thing AND it is a commercial fishery, stocked with species like barbel, which I do not believe should inhabit unnatural environments. However, It is only 8 minutes for me and I must balance my sport. At least I have the pleasure of a nice drive to the lake. The entrance is up a single-track lane, through woodland and is always good for wildlife.  I am determined to hit the Carp, because I read with envy MALC’s seeming ease of emptying a Carp Puddle, fishing baits that appear to me too early! And with consummate ease whatever method or equipment he chooses. Adam S and Dai Fish have reported summer like bags too, so today I am going to hit it! I arrive and as the first, (dawn less than 15 minutes over) quickly settle into my peg. I am going to fish an 18ft rod, with a light waggler, Pole style in the margin to my left, feeding the ready made meat ground bait and hooking ‘Meaty Bites' again ready made and glugged in a strong smelling oil. I will also loose feed a very small amount of corn and try this on the hook occasionally, to see if the carp prefer this! As an alternative I am fishing and feeding by pole cup, an 11 metre line, feeding liquidised hemp, chopped worm and a few mixed colour flavoured maggots, with double red on an 18 hook to 2lb bottom in 8ft water. . I plumb my swims really accurately and elect to fish both swims 3 inches over depth. Completing the set up of the 18 footer, I slowly prepare the Pole, as my hopes on being ready for Peter’s arrival are resting mainly here for his carp. Surely I can copy MALC, if not in quantity, the method MUST work for me! I have placed my thermometer in the water and am not pleased to find that the water at 51.2 degs, is the coldest all week! At 900 ft above sea level, my local is a damn high lake! The forecast for Friday was warm! But a North wind, not strong, but icy, is making me feel very cold! Also, the wind is very variable, swinging around 180 degrees at times! Because of the nature of the banks, you only ever feel a North or a Southerly wind and usually it’s a Northern one! The Pole brings me almost instant success, a perch follows a Gudgeon into the net, relievingly quickly, but both together weigh about a Swan shot! At least, no blank. TheWaggler has to go back to the shop! It doesn’t know how to sink! At about 10.00 , 3 more Anglers arrive. Setting up quickly, across the lake from me and well spread out, by 11.15 the nearest to me is complaining loudly! He appears to have decided that today is a ‘Dirge’ and lets his mates Know every few minutes. He precedes his buzz word with and adjective close to one I have seen our Trogg use and which comes over (with the lads accent ) as “fecking”. Every 5 minutes , he calls to one or the other of his friends ‘Feckin’ Dirge this is ,Feckin Dirge!’ The guy directly across from me also catches a Gudgeon, but this doesn’t seem to cheer my newfound fellow piscatorial comrade. On enquiring what he had caught and receiving the answer, he simply muttered (but an audible mutter) ‘Feckin Gobi? Feckin Dirge’ and seemed to sink halfway into his seat box! Brian arrived! Brian is the Bailiff (if such a title is not too grand! He would be an intellectual Giant, if he had been born a frog!, but being humanoid, must be put in the category of ‘Late in the Queue’ His main claim to fame is reciting the exact weight of the best fish ever to have come out of this lake, and without seeing him (concentrating on my 978th glance at that damn immobile waggler float) I knew he had arrived when I heard ‘8lb 4 oz Bream, Peg15, 2lb 2oz Roach, Peg 8’ echo across the lake! This is the starting point of the litany and when, with just the 4 of us fishing, I heard for the 4th time ‘8lb 4oz Bream’ start up I spun round and distracted him! Happily , he had my season ticket with him, but insisted on checking my name and squintingly comparing me to the photo from last year’s ticket before grudgingly handing it over! At £30 p.a. concession, I knew there was another reason to fish here! ‘How’s it going’ Brian I asked ‘Poor’ he replied ‘Match last night, It were bloody cold, 3 lb won it and I needed another 6 like that (as I swung in another Pole caught Gudgeon} to come 3rd’ ‘No Carp?’ I enquired, ‘No not for a few days’ he said and my heart sank. ‘Mind you ‘ he said, ‘Not that long ago in the match there was a 2lb 2 oz Roach Peg 8’ and off he went again. I couldn’t help but agree with the ‘Feckin Dirge’ that came floating across the water just then. After Brian left, it came to me why I had so much enjoyed my river fishing! It was so still here! I could hear every mutter of my disconsolate companion! No continual chuckle of water rushing down to the sea, No splash of weir pool, no drop as splashed up water found its way back,no gurgling, slurping, tinkling,slushing, hissing seething,spitting animated LIVING river sound! AND I had fished solitarily for days, no companions to describe the state of play. I love Company, but of my Choice! What commercial water is ever empty if it is any good? By 3.00 O’clock I had had enough, I had caught nearly 20 small fish, The ‘Dirge’ had long since accepted a blank and was sitting by one of his friends, who between them have caught some 5 to 6 fish and I was prepared to accept Peters sad smile when he arrived. But I turned it into a Joke in Zippy style and as I loaded the car, I saw him arrive and (A promise is a promise after all!) was able to offer him this!  What! I hear you say! 2 Goldfish!!! They’re not true Carp! OK well if your being Pedantic, ‘cos I always thought they were at least relatives of the carp! Then I had saved these for him!  The thought of Peter’s smile was the warmest thing of that day, so I quickly got in my car and longingly remembered those greedy out –of season chub of yesterday. Peter returned to London, with a lighter step and relief from the daily grind clear to see! Just before starting the car, I opened the window and KNEW it! One last plaintiful ‘Feckin Dirge’ whispered across the Lake as I resolved mentally, Dove, 2 new sections next week, walk the new Trent stretch, Have a look at the Trent and Mersey canal; and smilingly I drove away! Oh! Here was my total bag for the day! 6 Bream, so small as to be almost translucent!, 6 Gudgeon , 2 Perch and the 4 you’ve seen.  I arrived home, sat and thought about the day AND said to my wife, ‘See you later Darling’ (Must have been depressed!) and hit the car again. By 4.45 I was back on the Derwent , trundling a worm down a rushing, lower than ever RIVER despite yesterday’s rain, with a smile that threatened to split my ears! Was I as successful as previously? No, but I did catch 3 splendid 6 to 8 oz Rainbows and whilst hoping to treat Elaine to a nice cooked Brownie, failed happily and fished until after dark, arriving home at 9.20 absolutely shattered, but content. One last mystery? Did Peter take the Photo’s? No ! That was my brother LOL  CYA Trev PS, I’ve just read Keith’s post about failing to get a bite and Dave’s comments over the Super Venue etc. SO IT’s not just me then! Thanks lads and I love to read success stories, but it is nice to find that I’m not the only one struggling on Carp Lakes. That’s relieved the pressure and I can try again soon! When It’s WARMER Cheers Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a Dog! Edited by - Ziptrev on 20 April 2002 05:23:01 AM |
| Geoff P | My apologies if this isn't up to Ziptrevs fine standard. There was I quite happily playing on my computer and she said, don’t you want to go fishing? Stupid question. Sorry I cut you short in our chat Andy. But it is not often she lets me out to play on a Saturday To Mainwarings to get some bait, half pint red maggots, half pint white, tub of worms and half a pint of casters. At the same time I paid my £25.00 to join Skewen Angling Club. They have about 10 miles of the Neath and Port Tennant canals. Drove to the Neath Canal at Briton Ferry and set up so I was fishing with lily pads to the left, right and straight in front of me. Decided on two swims, one at 7 metres by the lily pads to the left and one at about 5 metres, where it was slightly deeper than the rest of the area. (Apparently some kids drove a car in to the canal and it gouged a hole in the canal bed) Decided against groundbait, just baited up with maggot, hemp and caster. I set up a .5gram float, with 4lb line to a size 18 to 1.7BS hooklength, to be fished at 7 metres. For the other line I chose a .5 gm float 4lb line straight through to a size 16 hook. First fish was a perch of about 6ounces, at 7 metres caught on half a worm. Then had a couple more. I swapped swims and straight away hooked into a good fish, but it pulled out in the lillies. Back to the 7metre swim, and had a couple of small rudd. Decided to give the 5 metre swim another go and this time managed to hold on to a fierce bite and landed a tench of about one and half pound. Spot wasn’t frantic but as I caught a couple of fish from one swim I changed immediately to the other. Swapped between half worm and caster, but took the best fish on caster. Tactics seemed to work because after 5 hours I had 6 tench, the largest about three and a half pound, 20 or so rudd, largest over the half pound and a shed load of good perch between 6 – 8 ounces, and one of over a pound. As I was packing up, a long standing member of the fishing club wandered along for a chat. He told me I was fishing in the wrong swim cos it doesn’t produce the goods. Well if 20 plus pound of fish in 5 hours isn’t producing I give up. But I listened to his advice so at 6 tomorrow morning I will be setting up in one of the hot swims. I will have to get some photos on here. Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| peter | Trev, I knew that you wouldn't let me down. quote:
I'll see you watching and take a photo of the carp to prove you saw me catch it!
Goldfish/carp? all the same mate.As Geoff says "If it swims,catch it" Geoff, Sounds like lovely session,all the sweeter for being a spur of the moment trip,Let's hope that tomorrow is just as productive,i would be tempted to try the same swim though as it's had a bit of bait today. Peter. Make Friends,Go Maggotdrowning. |
| ray |  fir tree fishery, appley bridge. arrived (with missus) at about 3:30 on arrival found the car park full of match men, they had just finished, asked about and found that match was won with 10lb 5oz. i set myself up in a corner swim with an overhanging tree in the water, only one line picked out, 4mtrs to my left just infront of the tree, got a depth of 1 ft, yes only 12 inch's, set up pole with tiny dibber with no dropper shot just 1 no8 to set float, size 16 kammasan animal hook to 3lb 8oz line, 3lb btm. in went half pole pot of tnt porridge with about 12 casters, got myself a brew and a fag then baited up with double caster. 1st cast resulted in a 5lb mirror after about 2 minutes, i rebaited, fed 6 casters and dropped in again, 5 mins later a 4lb mirror was in the net, same again, 6 casters double on hook, this time a roach of about 10 oz then followed a blue orf of half lb, a few more roach to a lb followed, i was still chucking in 6 casters every 2/3 mins, then a nice slow sail away bite, 15 mins later a common carp of 9lb 4oz was on the unhooking mat and wife was ordered to get camera, picture taken, fish put back, 20 casters chucked in with another half pot of porridge, settled down again with a brew and fag, left the swim alone for 10 mins then in again went 6 casters followed by my hook, next fish to come out was a beutiful koi of about 1.5lb, all white with 2 big red splodges in fantastic condition, more roach to a lb followed then another mirror carp about 4lb, a couple more roach including one of 1.5lb then on the last cast another mirror of about 3lb. all in all i am pleased with the session and ended up with about 40lb fish. clean banks campaign 2002 still has a few vacancies.....are you a member? original "clean banks campaign" slogan. |
| Ziptrev | Glad you liked it Peter, wish I could have got them earlier and got home to the River LOL,My brother sends his regrds,still wearing that 20+ year old hat and still got the jumper Norm) Geoff, Ray, I'm giving up now, until I get a 50lb plus photo to display! 2 good sessions lads, I bet the matchmen would have been sick Ray! So, Hope Geoffs report tomorrow is just as good a result! CYA Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 21 April 2002 01:45:59 AM |
| Geoff P | Nice one ray. That is why I am going to fish near you at Bolingey. I want to watch a good angler at work and learn some tips. well it is 5.45 off to make my flask and then, as Chris Rea would sing "Gone fishing". Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| toma | Sunday 21/04/02 Brancepeth,County Durham Got out of my comfy bed at 4.15am,what an ungody time to get out of bed,happy enough tho cos i was going fishing. Turned the telly on to check the weather forecast, sunny and warm,turning overcast later in the day. Made a cuppa while checking my tackle again, decided take my pole only,tackled down because of the walk to the water from the parking area, about 1/2 mile or so.Made myself a flask of soup, just put hot water in my other flask to make my cuppa fresh,hate tea made in a flask yuk horrible. My mate arrived at 5.15am gear loaded away we go. Totally knackered after walk, i took peg 6, Richie had peg 5 Peter had peg 7, Bushy went on the opposite bank. Set up pole to 11mtrs, plumbed depth, loose fed hemp red maggot. I chose a 0.50gram float 4lb hi tek M/L 2.5 hitek H/L with size 18 hook, first put in a roach and so it went on from there a roach a drop,no sign of the bream,tench and carp. Then i heard Richie utter some unsavoury words, he pulled out of a bream,just about to land it then it came off, looked to be about 6lb or thereabout,i continued to get roach, altogether 30odd, Peter to my Left got smashed by a large fish, he got roach, then i heard Richie saying some nice words he got a bream, great i thought the bream are feeding, about 30or so minutes later Bushy landed a bream, then it happened IT STARTED TO RAIN!then the swims went dead for all of us, we decided to call it a day at1.45pm, cleaned tackle packed our rubbish in our carryalls, tins teabags etc then away home. Got home at 2.45, had some lasagne for dinner a nice hot cuppa then i went to bed for a kip. All in all an enjoyable day pity about the rain,which was not forecast, but it did not dampen our spirit, after all we were fishing,looking forward to our next outing, maybe next time the weather forecast might be correct[LoL] Andy  |
| Geoff P | Well had another go at the Neath canal today. Couldn't get the same swim cos I was late at the water. Not to go into too much detail not as good as yesterday. Plenty of rudd and perch and one small tench. The canal is choked with rudd and perch, the rudd average 8 ounces with some well over the pound mark while the perch are all sizes with some monsters amongst em. The young chap who fished my rubbish swim from yesterday had 4 tench of about 2 pound and a 7lb carp. Not a lot else though. It went really quiet at about 1 o clock, then a hord of unsupervised kids turned up and used the whole 200 metre length as their swim. I dont mind kids fishing sensibly but this rabble were the pits. Running about shouting and throwing stuff in the water and then one complained he was bored cos he hadn't caught a fish. Every two minutes "what you caught mister", "What are you catching them on", "I haven't got that can I have some please mister",and to cap it all "excuse me mister but I can't set up cos I haven't got any hooks". I gave him one, no not a left hook, but a size 18, even had to tie it on for him and then politely asked them to p*** off and leave me alone. Rob came down for a chat and then went to fish somewhere else on the canal. Mind you I think these kids had been there first. I know I am being a Victor Meldrew but the club I have just joined does state no unaccompanied children under the age of 12. Having just joined it I didn't want to throw my light weight around, then if the kids asked me sensible and behaved themselves they would get help. As it is they ruined my afternoon. In future I will only fish the canal from 6 - 1 on sundays. Enough of my wingeing, hope everybody else had more luck. Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| Ziptrev | Hey Andy od mate , Well done LOL! Its been sunshine all day down here! At least you went today, even if you packed up at 1.45! I did 7.30 til 8.20 on friday and spent most of saturday in bed! How big was Richies Bream in the end? Be lucky Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Ziptrev | Geoff! What can I say! I feel for you, but its often the way, an unexpected day like yesterday can become magic and a prepared and looked forward too day becomes dross! Unfortunately it is now politically correct to continually talk about 'the future of fishing' and teaching young anglers. When it's done properly, like Martin and Adam S organise proper fishing tuition, its great! However there are too many kids expect as a right that you drop everything and give them kit, set up their rigs and ensure that they have a good time! They will never buy a book and put study time in, always wanting instant answers! Would only be happy to learn if they got multi-choice answer questions! I had no-one to teach me at that age, Father not a fisherman, so learnt by trial and error and asking politely, for information! Not for gifts! Had Books on Coarse Fishing for Xmas and Birthday presents! As for Victor Meldrew, I've only just changed the signature LOL I'm overjoyed when I can help and teach a young enthusiast, but I despair at some of the yob gangs I see running loose Lets hope your £25 covers some remoter waters! PS I see Danzante is a 47 class! Damn good vintage year LOL CYA Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| toma | Thanks Trev, Richie's bream was 5lb give or take Bushman's bream was 4lb give or take, my roach were ranging from 2oz to about 10oz, still enjoyed catching them tho, no better excitement than watching your float go under, ps after my checks on my tackle flask's i done forgot my caster,s,doh silly me[LoL] Andy |
| peter | Well off we went to a new water for us Elphicks Fisheries. My mate Malcolm had picked me up at 6.30am and we arrived just after 7.30. We had been warned that it could get quite busy as there was a match booked on one of the lakes,but with five lakes to choose from didn't think that it would be a problem........WRONG!!!!!! Entering the fishing lodge to get our day tickets we were informed that over 100 had been sold already,but that if we hurried there should be some swims left on the Plantation Lake. On arriving at the lake,over half the lake was solid,not a swim to be had,so loading up the tackle off we set to the far corner where there were some vacant swims. Plantation Lake.  On arriving in the swims i discovered a "1st" .Astroturf in all the swims!!(looks like green rugs in the above photo) Seems like a good idea,as it saves wear & tear on the bankside. On tackling up,Me with a 3aaa crystal waggler on one rod and the Method set up on the feeder rod and Malcolm on the pole,the maximum depth we could find was 2ft 6ins and not a single feature to fish too. I must admit at this point to casting envious glances over my shoulder at the North Lake that was just behind us.More established than Plantation it is a specimen lake,with a good head of Carp to high twenties and cats to mid thirties,but it is run on a membership basis so unfortunatly was off limits to us. North Lake.  Anyway first put in Malcolm gets a tench of about a pound,and a big grin on his face,and i started to get amongst some roach of about 8ozs.Then at about 11am it was as if someone had thrown a switch,and bites dried up.Not just for us but the whole lake. We went through everything we had but just couldn't buy a bite!!! We decided to sit out the last hour on the method,and with just 5mins to go round went my tip. Never has a small carp been more carefully played,certainly not the largest i've caught but very welcome none the less. A VERY welcome fish.  And so we called it a day,but not before a visit from a friend who had visited Trev at Issack Walton's.He was more than happy to relieve me of the remainder of my sweetcorn. A Friendly Visitor.  Not the greatest days fishing,but still better than a day with no fishing. Further details of Elphicks fisheries can be found [url="http://www.elphicks-fisheries.co.uk/"]HERE[/url] Peter. Make Friends,Go Maggotdrowning. |
| fishingmad1 | i had a day at charity farm in wrightington, i never succeded in catching my big carp i just ended up catchin a 1lb perch on ? PRAWN ? weird i thought. You really need a pole if ya going to fish that water because they all stay by island in middle. But it can be good in margins. Still i never had a good day but im gonna keep fishin the water till i catch a double figure carp ive had 7lb carp out of there but i want bigger. Has anyone else fished this water? What beats FISHING, ....... er NOTHING |
| Ziptrev | Nice one Peter, looks a 'nice' venue!!! Astroturf! My God!, Come North youg man and try my River Astromud lol Still, well done on our Reciprocal Carp, shades of Wendys photo of my last gasp effort at Izaaks LOL. BUT No thanks, its the Tench punt for me or nothing! Just too artificial that one! Garry, Well done! and congratulations on your resolve to persevere. Still another bonus Perch would be enough for me at 1lb!(on prawn, cockle or mussel ) lol YOU WILL catch those carp mate , as long as you keep the same positive frame of mind! God Luck Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| MALC | Trev,Geoff,Andy,Ray,Peter & Garry Great to read your reports seeing as my fishing was not to good today (see match results) although the day was. Great to see that more of you are now getting out on the bank and doing a bit. If the post's keep coming in like this i think this will turn out to be the biggest database of fisheries anywhere online or else where. Keep em coming. Malc Fish with Friends @ MaggotDrowning.com |
| Ziptrev | Aprll 2nd, Ca I pinch the last post of page 6 to say HAPPY BIRTDHDAY to my son Simon, 3 of em in their 30s DOH! Well I should worry! It's me who's now off to the River Dove! Keep up the good work peoples! Cya Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| ray | excellent stuff gentlemen (who needs angling papers) keep em comming jon, havent fished charity for 12 months but last time i did i loose fed a few micro pellets every couple of minutes and fished a small worm (with the tail nipped off) about an inch on the bottom in the margin, if i remember right, i caught quite a few (mixed bag) nothing big but quite a few. clean banks campaign 2002 still has a few vacancies.....are you a member? original "clean banks campaign" slogan. |
| cpk1979 | Hi, I have just come back from agreatt weekends fishing at a place called Woodhall just outside of Ripon. The lake is a private lake fishable for only to the visitors to the campsite. Apparenlty it was heavily stocked with Carp about 15 years ago and has since been left. So these fish are more or less wild! My friends parents invited us down for the weekend so we set off on Friday after work and arrived late Friday night. First thing Saturday we set up three rods each and never got a touch at all (my mates Dad had put us onto a duff peg because he is sick of us out catching him!!!) After a mighty BBq and a few Beers in the afternoon we went for it again this time with his dad. All we took was a rod each a controller float and some bread. This is the irst time I have ever fished for carp this way and I must say its amazing. We had 7 carp between us in a hour and I have never felt carp fight so strong. They ranged from 6.5lb to 15lb One problem I had was I seemed to missing the majority of bites have any of you got any tips on how to bait the hooks and when to strike??? Anyway I highly recommend this camp site / lake to anyone the people are great the pub is nicer and the lake is something else!!! The campsite is situated about 3miles from Ripon at a place called Woodhall Chris. |
| cpk1979 | I'll jusy get my coat....  Chris. |
| Ziptrev | Nice one Chris, Sounds like a good day! Hell, You're getting them off the top already and on my local lake. we cant eemn get em to feed off the bottom! Still it's warmer today! Here's hoping Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 23 April 2002 1:09:27 PM |
| Dai Fish | Hi all sorry I am a bit late with this report but my son was taken in to hospital last night with severe stomach pains and the report went out the window, thankfuly he seems to be on the mend and should be home tomorrow. Monday 22/4/02 Seven Oaks Pontyclun after haveing to cancel both Sat and Sun fishing due to a problem which was not of my making I was determind to fish on Monday even though the weather was awful a heavy drizel and a very cold wind made for not the most comfortable of sesions I had to fish under my brolly until 4.30pm which is something that I do not like to do, I was not expecting the fish to play ball as the weather had got so bad after a good spell of nice weather but I was very wrong and had a very good day I fished from 12.30 - 7.30pm and landed 9 carp ranging from a half pound up to six pound one ounce and lost a few nice fish which I never get upset about as I think that is all part of fishing but I did get upset with my self after playing a large fish for aprox 20mins on light match gear my mobile rang and although I said I would call back it was enough to brake my consentration and the fish did something I have never seen a hooked fish do it was about 20 feet from the bank and it came straight up out of the water to about a third of its lengh and the hook pulled almost as if it had spit it out, I was realy gutted to have lost it after all that time, and the phone call was only Ray Owen to say he hoped I would fall in because I was on the bank and he was not thanks Ray LOL , and so on a day when I was expecting to struggle I had real good sport as the fish in this lake realy do fight hard, all the fish I landed were caught on a ground bait feeder set up fished just short of half way across the lake, most of the fish I lost were on the waggler rod fished three feet from the bank at about two rod lenghths to my right all fish were taken on sweetcorn I did not get a touch on any thing else all day, but 9 fish for a total of just a shade over 37lbs I cant wait for the next trip. Dai Fish |
| Ziptrev | Thanks Dai, EvenI could put up with the weather for that sort of fishing! Interestingly, I guess it was the few better days lead up to monday that brought them on. Wish I knew when to fish, my monday was poor, despite water temp of 56, highest yet! That Welsh trip is getting closer every time you post lately! Hope your son's nws is good! Keep us in touch YA Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Geoff P | Tuesay 23 April. There i was happily sitting at work when I received an E-Mail. "Would you like to go fishing this evening?" I don't know what you said to her when you were chatting on MSN, Zippy but it worked. Home at 4-15, changed and car packed, she had made flask for me and off to the Neath canal. Fished from 5-15 until 8-15. It was not a very nice evening weatherwise. Overcast with the occassional drizzle. Set up the pole with my normal rig, half gram float, five pound line straight through to a size 16 animal hook. (I am getting good I even know what rigs I am using now) Using half worm and caster placed the rig carefully near some lillies, depth and 3 and half feet, and lo and behold plan A worked as within two minutes I had a nice tench of 3 lb in the landing net. I love it when a plan comes together. To summarise quickly, (work calls) 22 perch from 4 ounces to over a pound), 18 rudd all over the 6 ounce mark (good old caster) and 7 tench, two small and the other five all between 2 and 3 1/2 lb. A lovely 3 hour session. I look forward to Thursday evening. Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| Del-J | Hello Dai, just to say that I'm sure Trev speaks for us all when he says he hopes you get good news on your son. They can all make you tear your hair out at times but when they are poorly it ties your stomach in knots. Anyway mate the very best of luck. Del. Edited by - Del-J on 24 April 2002 11:28:31 AM |
| Dai Fish | Hi all thanks for the concern for my son, the news I am pleased to say is good and he was discharged from hospital this morning, thay think it is his appendix but as the pain has eased off thay decided not to opperate to remove it but if it starts up again then we have to take him straight back in. Nice one Geoff I will have to come and have a look at this canal very soon I think Dai Fish |
| Polepot | Hi , Today I spent the day at Browning Tingrith. The morning started with a heavy mist, but it was still warm. I chose to fish the pole at 9 meters using corn on the hook and ground baiting with pellet and corn. I had no bites and the usual Tingrith lull came at miday although it had been there all day for me. It was now very hot and I was not . I had been lightly feeding a line under this bush to my left with loose corn. So I swithched to this line a nice roach cam to hand soon after. Then disaster struck (no trev was no where near I cannot blame him – or phaps I should). The float slid away and the elastic flew from my tip. Yes Wayne I hav upgraded to a 10. I decided to put in an extra section to help me keep the fish at bay. Silly me did not get the sections together well enough and the section broke. Ah well I’ll just have to use a rod for a while. Poles Edited by - Polepot on 24 April 2002 11:29:39 PM |
| MALC | Dai, Hope everything goes ok with your lad Gemma my daughter had her's out in a panick last year and it's bit of a worry ain't it. Poles, Unlucky on with the breakage if you get no joy with the numbers on the other post let me know by 8.30am Saturday and i can have a look at Stonleigh for you and get the section if they got one there. Malc Fish with Friends @ MaggotDrowning.com |
| Ziptrev | If it hadn’t happened to me, I wouldn’t have believed it either! I missed posting Mondays fishing yesterday, so I’ll make up for that today, with 2 days fishing and a really weird turnout to a disaster of Curse proportions. Why does it happen? Monday I was full of anticipation, just like Geoff on Sunday! I had planned a full day on a new stretch of the River Dove that I shall call the Middle Dove, as, although not the middle one of my 3 stretches, as it is below Ashbourne, it cannot be classed as an upper reach of this river Just like Geoff, I should have realised that planned and anticipated pleasure, does not always turn out as well as off the cuff surprise trips! I arrived at 8.00 am on the stretch that my card told me was 2940 yards long! I intended to walk from the Car park, situated at one end right to the far boundary and only then unpack my rods and fish all the likely swims on the way back.  This is the view from the bridge that marks the start of the middle Dove stretch I succeeded in my task and reached the far end by 9.15 as I had not hurried, but stopped to assess several swims on the way! The water was warm at 59 degs and very low, ideal for locating features and swims for the future. This is a typical ,shallow ,fast running swim that I found and liked the look of. I started to fish my way back, using a medium feeder rod, bomb and worm on a 16-spade end barbless kamasan animal, hoping to find the chub that so made my day last Wednesday!  Alas, it was not to be, the 1st seven or eight swims, whilst looking the part, producing absolutely nothing! Now when I foul hooked the chub last Wednesday, the pressure on the rod tip, split my light Daiwa,which I have just returned to them as it is less than 5 months old. Thus it was no surprise to me to discover at about 12.30, that the handle retaining screw had fallen off my reel (Browning 720) as the Zippy curse, usually means 1 piece of kit gets broken, lost or becomes defective every trip! The reel still functioned OK (although the handle dropped out a couple of times) so I persevered., and at about 1.00 was rewarded by a quiver quiver (that’s all) reeled in and found this!  Well at least I was not “Water-Licked” Ahem! 3 swims later, and a better indication produced this chap, although as I posted under another topic, his tail fin caused me to return him as at that stage I was unsure if he were healthy! My son and John’s confirmation, have reassured me that this is normal in stocked fish..  2940 yds x2 = 5880 yds or more than 3 and 1/3rd miles! In a straight line! Taking many detours ,as I did, found me approaching the ½ way point of return in a very tired state. Watching the river as I walked, I failed to spot a low wire fence and proceeded to scrape all down my left shin, fall and to save myself drop everything and extend my hands! Straight into a nettle bed! Thus, (as I still fished every swim) by 7.00 pm , when I finally reached the car, I was sore, weary, disappointed in only 2 fish and culminating in what I found on the forum on my return, now you know why this report is overdue! In a nutshell, just as Geoff found Sunday, results do not always live up to expectations! However, the river is extremely low, the swims are now better known and I have high hopes for this for the future, time permitting! And so on to my amazing Wednesday 24th! BUT before I continue, let me lay down some facts that are to play a huge role in the peculiar events! Firstly, as I posted to Danzalio, I have just obtained from Askari, a telescopic 10ft spinning rod (Silverman Red River) a Reel (Silverman 520 % ball bearing spinner) and a Carry all for 3 made up rods, for the princely total of £21.85. The carry all contained the rod and reel as well as my feeder rod and reel and a bank stick and landing net handle. I did not use the spinner on Monday, as I have only ever caught 1 fish (a 1lb Pike in Ireland, 1985) and have no real faith in spinning, although John ESOX has shown me how, lent me a rod and assures me it works!. Secondly, I have unashamedly E-Mailed a very nice chap, who’s name I will reveal when it happens, for help and advice on Barbel catching. He it was who put me on to my new club ticket and he has E-mailed me again to say that he hopes to meet me mid week to show me the barbel swims on the centre section of the Dove., so I hope to see him today. Thirdly, I have always posted that I am an all round Angler, but John ESOX again has introduced me to the web-site of a truly fascinating Specialist Angler and Bait Flavour manufacturer called Archie Braddock. I find this mans single minded pursuit of quality fish incredibly interesting and his theories sound, So much so that I introduced Dave, Wayne and others to his website. Dave was so impressed that he awarded him the Maggot Drowners Top Site award and Archie was proud enough of this fact to incorporate it in his March 2002 Diary and put the award on his home page for all to see. On our home page, you will find a link to his site under the latest winner of the Maggotdrowners Top site award! If you can’t be bothered to go and look, this link will take you there too! http://www.braddocksbaits.co.uk/index.html Please look at his Diary Section , If you are interested in the bait flavours he sells, fine, I have certainly bought some, but if I tell you that , as a Specimen Angler, he has taken 34 perch of over 3lbs weight last season, on stretches of the river I fish! Then you will understand my enthusiasm. Fourth and lastly LOL (I promise I will get on soon) On E-Mailing Archie for advice, It was he as President that recommended me for the 24th place out of 25 in the PAD club, which is the Practical Angling for the Disabled. Club. In his Diaries, Little Lake and Upper Trent are the waters of the PAD and friend Mark, is Mark Alderson the PAD Head Bailiff. To get into the PAD, you have to be voted in by the members, and my 1st meeting with them is on the 7th May for a match. You can imagine I am keen to impress! Wednesday 24th April, 8.00 am, I arrive at the lower Dove, with high hopes of emulating last Wednesdays Chub day. But this time, copying Monday, I am to walk the whole of the stretch and fish back! About 1 mile, it is not as daunting a task as Mondays and the first nice feature I pass is a weir  I reach the far end and start to fish back. On the way to the end of the stretch, I see for the 1st time in over 25 years from memory, a snipe rise and dart away This Swan also proves of interest as the Pen must have pinched a haystack to nest on  No bites for the 1st few swims do not worry me as surely the weir will always produce? Looking across the fields at the weir, (the river bends sharply back on itself here) I see that Wayne, Dai , Nick and PJ, not to forget Ray and his son, have all sent their families to say hello!  I eventually reach the weir, and despite trying three swims, fail to get a bite here. Moving on into the swim that was so successful last week, I notice that the water is much lower, the swim smoother, the fast water further away and even here I cannot buy a bite! Incidentally, I pictured the old ruined church on that post! I have since found out it is MUCH grander and is the Ruin of a Castle, twice the prison of Mary Queen of Scots! By 2.00 O’clock I pack up, facing being Water Licked Ahem, for the 1st time since Piking! Not having heard yet of my intended tour of the Centre section, I decided to go and suss out a small section of the Derby Railways club that borders the PAD waters! I can also look at theirs and kill 2 birds with one stone and be back in 20 minutes, if the call arrives! I reach Barrow, the village in question, quite quickly and try and find the way to the Derby’s river! The lane is closed by a locked gate and my club key doesn’t fit! I go back to the road and further down see a PAD sign, quite clearly marked, at another lane, which I turn down. At the bottom, I pull into a meadow, having just passed two old guys, who look searchingly at me. As I pull up, one of them with a dog, follows me into the meadow. I have all the PAD correspondence with me, so I briefly explain why I’m there and ask his assistance. “Oh” I used to fish this, before PAD bought it ! he said !But I don’t fish any more, Keep up my associate membership, so as I can walk the dog here” On asking how to get to the pegs, he said “Just drive round the edge of the meadow and you come to the 1st at the toilet” pointing to the only building to be seen! Thinking to myself that in winter rains, I would have some fun with my car in a meadow! I did as he instructed and arrived soon at the river! Parking behind peg 6 I was delighted to find Strong wooden platforms built out into the Trent, even with 3 Octoplus brackets fitted to every peg, plus corner rod rest posts! Parking is literally behind every peg apart from 1,2 and 3, which are a very short walk!  Fascinated I visited a few and then arrived at the far right peg, No.20 To the right of this peg is a small fence and behind that is the start of Derby Railways stretch. Whilst I’m here I thought, I’d hop over the fence and see what that’s like. This I did and because the Trent also is extremely low, spent nearly an hour happily wandering the bank of an exciting stretch of river! Returning to the car, I drove around the margin of the other side of the meadow, with the intention of returning to the planned section of the Dove. I would walk it alone if I got no call and at least have some idea of the geography. The Curse, not content with the blank it had handed me after my excited anticipation this morning, PUT the boot in! When I reached the top of the Meadow I was faced with a Gate, chained, bolted and LOCKED!!! I was stuck in a meadow, way down from the road, in a club area that I was hoping to impress and be allowed to join by majority vote of the members and the only phone contacts I had were all disabled and were all living in Derby or Shardlow, facing a 20 mile round trip to release a Plonker!!!!! I had visions of not being allowed to join this Anglers paradise, of never being able to ask Archie for his tips on the swims that produced for him! And of course missing all the planned matches and exciting new venues! All I needed now, was the other helpful friend to ring and say he was on his way! Now do you believe in the Zip Curse. Do you know anyone else this could happen to! Well read on and then say “You lucky B----d”, ‘cos that’s how the curse works, for and against! On a brainwave, I went to the gate and YES, a small notice board, with club rules, Committee members names and addresses AND the name and phone No. of a local village Bailiff! At least the journey wouldn’t be far! Perhaps I could buy him a pint, explain about the Curse, KISS HIM anything!!! I dialled up, the curse turned the screw, “ This is a BT announcement 1571, the person you are calling is on the phone! 7 tries 15 agonising minutes and then! “Hello” I stutteringly explained (as best I could, even I didn’t believe it) I’ll come down he said, curtly I thought. In less than 4 minutes he was there, parked at the top of the road and came down the lane, Limping badly! My heart sank, as I stood, with the PAD letters, The Derby Railway ticket, and my heart in my mouth and my stomach in my boots! There was no need at all, but I didn’t know that then, Chris turned out to be able to exceed my wildest imaginings! He brushed aside my explanations and said, “Well what do you think” “Fantastic” I replied, “I would love to join” He then spent half an hour describing every peg, depths methods and finally at my growing excitement he said, “And of course there is the Lake” Well as we stood beside it, I couldn’t help but agree. “2 platforms here” he said “But I usually fish from that flat bit over there” “Isn’t this the small Lake Archie Braddock describes “ I said  “Yes” but he doesn’t spin for Pike Like I do “ he said “Catch any? “ I said “Loads “ he said” They get in with the floods and as the Lake is stuffed with Fish, I catch them and chuck them back in the river” “I’ve only ever caught 1 Pike on the spinner ! I said “And that was in Ireland” His next reply nearly made me have an orgasm! “Got any kit with you ?” he said! As I stutteringly explained about my new rod and Trout spinning, “Go and get it” he said “I’ll leave the outer gate on the latch, lock it when you go and if you don’t catch a pike within 4 casts, I’ll eat my hat” He then proceeded to show me where to stand at each area, where to aim for and left with “Look forward to seeing you on May 7th” ringing in my ears. Driving out onto the lane, I could not believe my luck and grabbing my kit, I quickly pulled out my new telescopic, ready reeled and simply needing the Mepps spinner. Clipping it on, I cast out where he said and as mentioned before, with very little faith in catching, but relieved to have got out of a really crappy situation as well as I did! He was wrong about the 4th cast though! To my utter amazement, on the second, exactly where he advised, a huge swirl showed in the water and my rod appeared to be yanked round by a train! I’d loaded the new reel with 14lb fireline, direct to the Mepps and the backwind nearly broke my hand as the fish powered off. With no real weight in the end tackle, the fish was almost in direct contact and fought with no weight restriction, not even a bomb. After a few runs however, it was under control, when the curse had its final, goof the day! I only had the trout spoon landing net with me! The bloody fish, better than 10lbs was too damn big! Twice I tried to lift the net up and twice the fish straddled it! On a stupid inspiration, I lassoed its head! That’s all it needed! Transferring the treble to the net, it jerked its head and there I was with a hooked landing net! I could have cried, I have never caught an English Pike on a spinner and now surely that would frighten them all off. Also, I had to CUT the landing net to free the Mepps treble, as the fish had made such a good job of it! Disconsolately, I moved round to 1 of the platforms and started casting again. I did not believe I would catch as my chance seemed gone Therefore, I was really pleased that despite only being ½ the size, this 5lbr took the spinner almost as quickly as the 1st one had!  As promised to Chris, (how could I let him down now?) I returned the fish to the river and not back to the lake, where he happily swam away.  This 3lbr went in exactly the same river swim, as he came to the net shortly afterwards! Then it must have been ½ an hour, before the smallest yet, this must be just about a pound, took the same spinner as the bigger ones  Having never had faith and having never caught a Pike on a spinner, I had now caught 4 and all within about 80 minutes. John ESOX had taught me to “work the lure right out”, which means keeping it in the water to the very rod tip, because John claimed that some fish get desperate when they think the prey escaping and almost follow it out of the water! Experience has taught me that John doesn’t lie, but again I did not have much faith, so was somewhat startled when the 5th fish did exactly that! Just as I was about to lift and recast, a swirl, a thonk! And this head came up to the top and grabbed the Mepps! Last chance for the curse! Late and tired and with the same problem of netting, this fish I tried to bring in to the shallows and hand lift out. Wading in over my boots, I reached for her, but she was having none of it! A mighty shake of her head to avoid my hand caused the Mepps to part from the line! I tied a Palomar honestly NEWT! With a 2nd lost fish, wet feet and 15 hours since I awoke, I decided that the day had turned out far better than I could have hoped for, packed and left. On the way home I phoned Chris to report and thank him and was pleased to hear that he was overjoyed for me! As I arrived home at 9.30 pm, I thought to myself of the new friend I had made, of the exciting new club I was joining, of the wonderful new 1st experience I had just undergone, how disaster turned into excitement and how the Curse moves in mysterious ways! I hope I haven’t bored you too much, BUT can anyone tell me! Why do these things happen to me! Cheers Trev Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| goin_fishin | I enjoyed reading that i like the pic of the trout and pikes did you catch those trout on Worm???????? Thanx alot and hope every one enjoys reading that article im at skool now so i beta hurry up. Regards Gf |
| MALC | Trev, As is always the case your reporting of your adventures at the waterside are The Best. Can't wait to hear how your first match day goes with The PAD lads and hopefully the day will pass without the slightest hitch for you. Keep it up Malc Fish with Friends @ MaggotDrowning.com |
| toma | Trev purely engrossing report, a nice Jack bet it could take a finger or two, the Trout yum yum [LoL]Keep up your excelent roving reporting Trev. Re The Curse Lets all stick together and we will beat it, Trev what peg are you on at Drayton, cos i'm going as far away as possible Big LoL, just in case, sit next to you any time to fish Trev Andy  |
| peter | Trev, What can i say,The Highs & Lows,life is never dull with you around. At least you didn't have to get the car towed out of the field. I can see that you and Newt are going to have a blast,and so from a distance are we  And best of all,no need to wait for your return as we can have daily updates from our roving reporter Peter. Make Friends,Go Maggotdrowning. |
| Ziptrev | Hell! Peter, Even that Mepps spinning knocked me out! How heavy are Lures? Newt will keep you in touch, I'm going for a learning holiday! Another co-incidence! I learnt about Mary Q o'Scots imprisonment from a map book whllst looking up the Dove and this Castle was highlighted. On the same page was the Walsall birthplace of J.K.Jerome! our topic of 2 days ago! Isnt it amazing how you learn? Cya Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Geoff P | quote:
Isnt it amazing how you learn? Cya Trev
Not how, Trev, but when. You are never too old to learn. If you want to know about Mary Queen of Scots, next time you talk to Margaret on MSN ask her. (Margaret lived in Dunbar for a long time and any body who knows about Mary Queen of Scots will know significance of that) Geoff RSSG member - are you? |
| Dai Fish | Hi all, another very well writen report Trev with some stunning photos, those swims on the Trent look and sound wonderful. Today (Thursday) I fished a new water for me,Ty Nant Fishery, it is a very pretty fishery with a figure of eight shape with an island in the middle which has two long casts to the island and two very short ones easaly reached by pole, the lake has only been open for aprox 7 months and is stocked with all the usual spicies but as per normal Carp are the main ones with the biggest carp in the lake weighing 9.5lbs but the majority that I saw today were between one and five pounds. I started fishing at around 11.30 this morning and around mid day I landed my first fish which was a Roach of around 6-8oz I then had quite a wait before my next fish, in this time I tried every trick I knew but could not buy a bite my second fish did not come along until 4.15pm which was a very welcome carp of about 3lbs very shortly after I had a Tench of about half pound I had nothing then until just after five pm when the Carp seemed to have found my feed at last and from then until I packed up just after seven I was catching a carp almost every cast mainly in the one to two pound bracket which were very sporting in thier quest to be free of my hook, my biggest fish of the day was my first Carp, I do not know what my final weight was but I caught quite a number of fish in the last two hours which I was very pleased about especialy as it was my first visit to the fishery and certainly not my last Dai Fish |
| Newt | Trev - ROFLMAO - glad you now have faith in lures. Mepps is a great little lure too. Most species will hit it. As I mentioned on the chub thread though, you gotta get used to the idea of tossing TOWARD the bank. Real close to it is good. On it is bad. LOL Lure sizes - I use everything from 1/32oz to 1½oz or larger depending on what I am targeting and how far I need to cast. The most fun you can have with a lure IMO is a surface lure. The sight/sound of a fish smashing into the lure (and often into the air as well) still gives me an adrenalin rush. Conditions when you get here should be just about perfect for them too. Buzzbaits are great. Huge, clanking spinner on them and they stay on the surface easily. Great for pulling over weed beds (although this early we won't have huge amounts of weed yet) and other sorts of heavy cover. The blade kicks up so much froth that I doubt the fish really sees what it is striking at but largemouth bass, like pike, will strike if annoyed as well as when hungry. And a buzzbait does annoy them no end. Crank baits are fun as well. I try to match the lure to the water depth so it will bounce off the bottom regularly and kick up lots of mud and such when the lip digs in a little. Then sometimes it will just stop. The only way to tell if you have a nice fish or a log is to set the hook and see what happens. Nice thing about fishing from a boat is when (not if) you get hung, you can usually go to the lure and get it loose. And I have some topwater ones made for use in horrible cover. Shape is either a mouse or a frog (have both). Body is air filled and easy to compress. Hooks (two) wrap around the butt end from the bottom and are against the body so nothing to catch on logs/weeds/whatever but when a fish crunches, the body collapses and the hooks do their thing. BTW - I have a couple for you to take back to John (esox). They should be ideal for some of your really weedy venues where it is nearly impossible to fish - and trust me, fish know that and hang around in there. My considered opinion is that us pair of old farts are gonna have a blast for a week. Newt Vail |
| Ziptrev | Firstly,Well done Dai! It looks like you are on roll down there! With regards to those Trent pega, I must admit Ive not see better disabled facilities in a non-commercial water! 20 river and 2 Lake pegs! £10.00 p.a. If I get in, I get Guest tickets, so you'll be O.K. Newt. ROFLMAO Couldnt post here earlier, Road works I guess. Really enjoyed my Mepps session and cant wait to try out all these new things you are talking about! However, I was tired out by the long day and the ACTIVE fishing! AND would you look at these Guys demanding daily reports? Hey, I'm Learning and I'm on holiday! My ideal Itinerary! Early start fishing Finish , have few beers, swap lies,(more beer , more outrageous lies!) Zip passes out, Newt switches on Puter and posts "Hi Guys, We been fishing today" Newt switches light off In morning throws bucket of water over Zip, wakes him to go fishing! Hey, how about that Newt, anticipation will sharpen their reading and we'l have time for fun! LOL Anyway, less than 2 weeks now for the longest journey of my life and looking forward to a Great Experience ! and I can sit at a puter on my return!!! Cheers Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Newt | Trev - I do lazy man fishing. Hook up boat to truck. Drive to lake and launch. Get in boat and motor to chosen fishing spot. Move from driving seat to trolling-fishing seat (around 10ft for the trolling motor operator and around 3 feet for the back-seater). Sit and troll along and fish. Occasionally I will pull up to the shore and get out to have lunch. Usually not. Just stand up and let her rip when bodily functions require. Then sit and fish some more. Occasionally if one of us gets a really large fish on and can't also manage the landing net, move to the end of the boat for netting duties but the thing is only 17ft long total and from fishing seat to fishing seat is maybe 12ft. And there will be the strain of moving from fishing seat to running seat if we want to change locations. Could be moving up to 10 miles and way too far to troll. End of the day, motor back to launch area, boat back on trailer, and motor home. Gear mostly stays in the boat if I will be fishing again soon. Otherwise, carry gear 10 feet into garage. And then into the house for a much needed libation and some supper. Later onto the back porch for chat and more libation until bed time. BTW - we will for sure be moving around some since I want to try catfish in the dam tailrace area, a couple of the feeder creeks (about the size of some of the UK river pics you sent), and a variety of places on the main lake. Newt Vail |
| Ziptrev | Hi all, its been Another Zippy Red Letter Day I sat outside the Pub on the Village Green and watched the Blue Rover pull in. It was 12.30 today, April 26th and it was a moment I had been looking forward to with pleasure and anticipation! The Car bore the Christian motif of a fish and in the case of the occupant; the motif had a double meaning. Firstly, he was an extremely keen and competent Angler and fishing was a major part of his life, Secondly he was the Reverend Stewart Bloor, a practising Minister. I first became aware of The Rev. Bloor through an exciting article I read on the Internet, detailing the capture of a 10lb plus barbell from the River Dove. Writing a weekly column for Fishing magic, Stewart is known throughout the forums under his pen name ‘Sedge’ and the articles he writes are published every Thursday under the heading ‘Pilgrims Progress’ Here’s the one that so caught my attention. http://www.fishingmagic.com/news/article.asp?SP=&v=1&UAN=1680 He also writes and posts on other forums as well as for the hard press such as Midland Angler, Sheffield Angling Star etc. Therefore, as you can well imagine, he is a very busy man. Thus, I was pleased and privileged to be there, as Stewart had arrived for the express purpose of walking me along the River Dove banks, showing me the swims where he had obtained his successes! On his advice, I had already obtained the club book for this stretch and others that we discussed, as, since reading the aforementioned article, I had written to Stewart requesting information and help. To my surprise, he had found the time to reply almost immediately, offered help, advice and encouragement, and we had conversed by E-mail regularly since! This meeting was the fulfilment of an early promise (who could ask for more?) and only one goal now remains. Stewart has made it his resolution that I shall succeed in landing an 8lb Barbel this season! I promise him that I will make every effort to do so! The weather had dramatically altered and rain had been sweeping down! I fully expected Stewart to decline the proposed walk, pop into the warmth of the pub and at best, mark the areas on my club map! However, the car door opened and out got a big man, with a big smile and a very big heart. He would not hear of not completing our walk, (Unless I was not well enough to cope with it) so 5 minutes later we arrived at the Car Park by the middle section of my River Dove book. We dressed for the weather, but it eased and the rain stopped (although the wind never relented) Then to the first swim and a thoroughly enjoyable 2 hours! Many swims had names! every swim was covered, either he had fished it, a friend had, or he had seen someone fishing it! Tactics for near or far side were explained, bait and presentation discussed, Snaggy and dense fish holding features highlighted and depths and flows provided! If I do not succeed, it is not due to Stewart’s attention to detail. Even stick float swims, fished by others, as Stewart does not himself seek fish in that method here, were highlighted! He is an innovative and experimental Angler. Of the 7 10lb plus barbel he recorded last season, 6 were caught on different baits? Only twice did he use the same bait to catch a big fish, when many other Anglers would have stayed with the ‘proven’ bait for many years after their initial success. Am I dreaming all this? No! Here’s Stewart, back in the Car Park  All to soon it was time for Stewart to go as he was fishing all night for large Bream in a Gravel Pit in preparation for the next ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ article, which, due to publishing deadlines etc., has to be presented a fortnight in advance. I look forward to seeing whether he is successful. He deserves to be, if only for the kindness and time he has freely given me. By the way, No, not once did Stewart mention, or ever has mentioned his religion, except in anecdotes and amusing stories concerning braggart posters, or envious ‘barbel policemen’, jealous of his successes. To accuse a Minister of catching the same fish 7 times, when many of his reports are of poor or blank days, fills Stewart with amusement! I decided to search a few of the swims (Yes Garry) with the bomb and worm permissible on my Club Trout ticket and warmly thanked Stewart, shook hands and was offered even more help, in the shape of a summer days fishing with Stewart and Graham Marsden, editor of Fishing magic. As he left, I decided that it was back to the fleece again. (Not worn for several days now, as the wind if anything had intensified. I started fishing in the nearest car park swim, by the bridge. The Bridge Swim.  However, the swim opposite and downstream looked so attractive with a cattle drink, fast water middle and a crease, plus overhanging protective willows, that within half an hour, I decided to try there. The Other side  The water temperature had fallen from 60 to 55.2 today, due to the cold wind and the rain and I was not anticipating much sport under these conditions! However, I was here, it was only 4 O’clock. And I felt I owed it to my mentor to persevere a little! The wind was a real pain, and so instead of working the worm, again with a light bomb and a 14 hook, only instead of free running, paternostered simplicity this time, I cast, allowed to swing in to the cover and sat on the tip. Perhaps Stewarts boss approved and only needed one more thing to reward his efforts! Well, it came! The tip jerked, not viciously, but animatedly enough to only mean a fish! I struck and was rewarded with a larger than expected bow in the rod. Fearing all the nearside snags, I bullied the fish as much as I dared and luckily, she remained out in the clear. With a 4lb hook length (well you can hardly justify 10 for trout!) it was some 4 or 5 minutes before she rolled over the net!  Certainly the biggest chub I had taken from the Dove, but a lousy picture, so out of the shadow!!  And my usual hand comparison!  A good 4 lbs, I can’t wait to get accurate scales on my visit to Newt. I continued fishing, too cold to face moving, but for only 1 more tentative bite! I phoned Stewart on the mobile straight after my success and he could not have sounded more pleased. Only 1 fish? Yes, but I would not swap that day, even if I had caught nothing. That to me was another Red Letter day, I shall use the knowledge and venue to ensure super sport in the summer and I can’t thank enough the man who made it possible Tight Lines Stewart and once again my appreciation, I’LL say a Prayer today that you succeed (but I hope I don’t give you the Zippy curse! Cheers Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 26 April 2002 11:45:57 PM |
| Ziptrev | Newt, Sounds as if we'll be too busy enjoying it to report it aywy, and you notice nobodybut you and me have posted here for a day!!! Well ,It'll be quieter in 2 weeks lol. As I said before, I'm in your hands!youre the expert! Just make sure we don't go up S-t Creek without a paddle LOL Cya soon Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! Edited by - Ziptrev on 26 April 2002 11:58:18 PM |
| Adam S | Hello all ziptrev great reports as usual. i was wondering if (not meaning to be cheeky to y`all ,coz im new here,) it might be possible to continue this subject as a new thread, its just that its gotten so big, and my com is so slow, that it takes ages to load when i try to post.i thought maybe malc might do it as he started the first one.feel free to tell me to shut my yap if its a bad idea. anyway here are a few snippets of reports that are from the last few days. 25th april 2002 royal canal,kildare,ireland the weather was drizzly and breezy, temp was about 14 degrees. the bream and hybrids were spawning , all the smaller fish (up to a pound) i caught were covered in tubercules and some vented milt , this and the lack of big fish showing led me to suspect that the biggies were spawning.this was confirmed when a 3lbs bream was shoved side on out of the water by an onrushing male,this activity continued most of the day. looking back on my records i noted that the fish were spawning on the 28th of april in 2000,biological clocks eh. i dont know when they went last year coz i had my college finals to distract me damn them. after trying for bigger fish for 2 hours i gave up and concentrated on the whip,i finished with about 5lbs of bits and one decent hybrid on the drop with single maggot.everybody else fishing (6 people) also struggled along the stretch, with two blanks. 26th april 2002 stocked rainbow trout lake,aughrim,co.wicklow. i fly fished for two hours using a buzzer emerger and a gold head hares ear (sorry i know this isnt coarse fishing) for three ugly ugly rainbows ,no fins,slimey big fangs in their greedy mouths.several of their friends made good their escape but i wasnt too bothered, it was a good way to spend a couple of hours after working as angling tutor to part of a group of 70 swedish anglers here as part of a corporate tour. they barely spoke any english and when i asked which one of them spoke the best english one replied "ah you speak english" , great. they blanked, doh. oh i have a question: my girlfriend has a pond in her back garden, 16 feet by 5 feet wide by 3-4deep. we put 20 minnow , 10 sticleback, 2 roach ,3 perch,8 small goldfish and one tench in it . yesterday we found a big clump of spawn, a big string of it about a foot long and two inches wide. im wondering which fish was the culprit? the lone tench is female (im working on getting here a mate) so i was thinking it might be aborted eggs from her due to the lack of a male suitor and the new surroundings (she went in two weeks ago), but its a bit early for tench and im not sure if her eggs should be developed yet? the amount of spawn looks too big to be from anything else as the biggest perch is only 10 oz, roach 4oz and goldfish tiny,the tench is only 1lbs 4oz.any ideas. lastly i thought i would put a few pics in to brighten up my post. this is the canal near my home in co.kildare. [img]http://communities.msn.com/_Secure/0MgAAAEQQSZc2TM6aSeu!CEMiPh679jR4!kaojnout5ngz8Nd9QlZM20uOS*fhEkCALgQImuTdfbP5F02U5U6Kw/Untitled6.jpg[/img] this is the river liffey also in kildare [img]/myphoto/Datafile2.asp?FileID=454[/img] and this is my friend andy with a 15lbs pike from the canal last july. [img]http://communities.msn.com/_Secure/0MAAAAFcPW2p6KRVudoNosKe3*fPrlmrr3Tkn061Txdi*rvdgAhByuOlBJs!D2WbqFR7KOql1KbwAAAAAaAB0AA/Andrew1.jpg[/img] hope the pics show. good luck all ADAM Edited by - Adam S on 27 April 2002 01:42:45 AM |
| Ziptrev | Nice stuff Adam, very interesting You are right about the download time,but I'm pretty sure Dave,got smething in hand. Sorry but the pics don't work for me! Have you bracketed them (with NO spaces in [img][/[mg]? Can't begin to help with the spawn thing? perhaps a seperate post under species will get mat to look for you. Cheers Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Ziptrev | Relax Adam, The Pics are great, Must be the slow download Sorry Trev ZiptrevShouldn't happen to a DOG! |
| Adam S | hello the pic should be ok it was just a problem with my site that was stopping them,sorry if they are a bit big ,i couldnt compress them any more. good luck ADAM |
| Dave | Good idea that Adam and one that will please Ziptrev I had an email off him saying that he was having problems posting new reports and I couldn't despite everything work out where the problem was. I've just found out, talk about overlooking the obvious, everytime someone replies to a post the page loads all the previous posts of that topic as a 'Review'. Well 200+ posts takes a helluva long time to load doesn't it So without further a do I have started a new thread - Where you fished today (Part 2) [url="http://www.maggotdrowning.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1013"]Click Here to go to it[/url]Regards, Dave |