15/08/2024 - More Interesting Days

This really did take line at speed, making my centre pin scream

  After my days fishing in the rain, which I covered in Another Day - Another Place, I have been fortunate to enjoy several good days of angling. I have been able to get out every day, some days were better than others. On Friday I targeted some good size rudd I’d found at the top end of the pool, though it did entail pushing through lots of brambles, nettles and Himalayan balsam invasive plant, it’s a major weed problem, especially along riverbanks, pools big and small; also waste land, it can also invade your garden.I chose to float fish, using my Sealey Rover cane rod matched with a Richards Carter Avon Classic centre pin with 3lb bs line, I attached a small quill float made for me by Micky Erends from Sussex, not only a very good float maker, but also a very good angler, recently catching a 7lb plus tench from what can be best described as a wild water. I wrapped some fine lead wire around the base of the float, as I only wanted a BB shot on the line, then attached a size 12 barbless hook.

Floating Crust

My plan was to keep putting in bits of floating crust, in the past when I have been using crust for carp, it was often attacked by numerous rudd and roach, occasionally, I would see a big rudd a few inches below the crust, In fact I recently lost a good fish, estimated at two pounds, just as I was about to net this rudd. During the day I caught numerous ten to twelve ounce rudd with an occasional pound fish, such beautiful looking creatures. Though I fished until late I never caught a bigger rudd, though I did spot one or two, also a big crucian which I didn’t know where present in the venue. Back to the 1950’sOn my next visit I chose to concentrate on catching carp by slowly moving from one likely looking spot to the next, in my small bag I had some drinking water, a box of lobs, some sweetcorn along with a small uncut white loaf, also small selection of hooks, was all I needed. In the first thirty minutes I checked out the first three spots, I was in luck in the third spot, a carp was rooting in the silt creating a big are of cloudy water, what was described as “Smoke screening” In Dick Walkers book Still Water Angling published in 1953 one of the great books on coarse angling in my opinion.

I could see the faint outline of a common, rooting in the silt, on hands and knees I carefully moved into position, where I could gently lower a lobworm several inches in front of my target. In my book this is heart stopping angling, slowly revolve the centre pin releasing the baited hook lower and lower to the target zone, eventually, it was lost from sight. I waited with baited breath for the fish to hopefully take the bait. Suddenly the fish come to the surface, then went round in a circle, before slowly submerging again, strange behaviour indeed. I spotted the line gently move an inch, then again before the line was being pulled. Time to strike, as the hook went home, the water boiled, the reel screamed, line was quickly taken, soon I was standing up, as the fish powered away heading for a big tree that had been in the water for many years. As the sun shone down, everything seemed quiet, even the ducks also the Grebe had disappeared. My Sharpes 14 foot salmon rod from the 1950’s, that David Crain from Yorkshire had converted for me, I could feel the power of the rod, reel and line knowing they were capable of handling any fish I would hook in UK waters, it was pure pleasure feeling the thumps on the rod, as the fish tried its best to get free, after some minutes I had the fish coming towards the net. A good common, it made one more determined try for freedom, my perfectly balanced tackle was the master, soon the fish was coming towards the sunken net. “Yes your mine” I said to myself, as the carp was enveloped in the soft green mesh. I reckon it was a double. This was the type of carp fishing I enjoyed back in the 1950’s. I ended up with nine carp, the others probably averaged around seven to eight pounds. I doubt if it gets any better than days like this. No electric trolleys, cars behind swims, radios, sometimes tv’s, then bait boats, under water cameras, what has happened to water craft. I reckon I had the best in the old days, but thankfully I can still relive those days.

Another Session For Carp

Today I was dropped off at the water about 0900 hrs, my first job was to clear two footpaths of brambles, nettles and balsam, it was hard work, but better for members in getting to a swim, without falling over, or getting scratched and covered in nettle stings, I then had to cut up a large branch that had fallen down during the winter, work finished I had a brew then went off looking for a spot to fish. I chose a swim in the wood, one for the shade, it would give me from the heat of the sun, also cover for the fish from the overhanging branches. My plan today was to sit quietly a few feet back from the bank, then drop pieces of crust or flake on the surface to encourage the carp to come in close, in fact within inches of the water’s edge. My tackle was my Sharpes rod with a centre pin reel 12lb line with a size 4 barbless hook. I reckon it was an hour later when the first carp appeared, soon followed by another fish The sound of clooping, sucking and swirls, soon attracted other fish, within ten minutes all the bread was gone, I added more, then baited with a big chunk of flake, setting the rod in the rest with the bait a foot above the water, I waited for a fish to get interested in the free offerings again. As they did so, I slowly lowered the bait towards of surface of the pool letting it hang some two inches above the water. When I spot a fish, I would gently lower the crust onto the water, this way the small fish left my bait alone. It worked just as it had done when first used in 1952 in my five hour session I had eleven carp best at 12lbs, the icing on the cake was getting a wildie.

Today Didn’t Go To Plan

My latest trip didn’t start well as we got lost, eventually after some two hours we arrived at our venue, with the forecast of a very warm day, I left the brewing gear at home, voting for cold drinks in the form of Robinsons fruit and barley orange, I made it up the night before, then stored in the fridge, so it would be cold when I put it in my cool bag with some ice packs. In the hot weather I don’t take sandwiches, I take a Tuna Salad Mediterranean style meal in a sealed container, I use this for my lunch break. Its also less than two hundred fifty calories.Arriving at my swim I realised I didn’t have my landing net, I made the long trek back to the car, it wasn’t there, sadly back home in the garage. There wasn’t anything I could do, so I said to myself “I will get to know more about the water, also take a bin liner for litter” then take some photographs. I spent about two hours covering some twenty acres, I was impressed with what I found, I also spotted plenty of fish, perch attacking the small rudd and roach, occasionally a good prickly dorsal fin would appear. Carp cruising, others rooting in the silt. The water was calm, fish could easily be seen, there were several sightings of a kingfisher, though it might be the same one. I heard the greenwood pecker on several occasions, also the rare sound of a that rare bird these days, the cuckoo. The great crested grebe with its juvenile in tow, was diving often coming up with a silver fish to feed its hungry youngster. Though I couldn’t fish I really enjoyed myself, learning so much more of another fishery. I was also able to stop a group from camping and swimming in the pool, which earnt me some brownie points from the landowner, who invited me stop off for a drink, which I declined but I thanked him for the invitation. Back home after a shower I sat down to a well marinated sirloin steak and chips, until air friers were invented, I couldn’t have chips as they are unhealthy being  cooked in fat according to my kidney specialist, who keeps me alive with just one kidney. Long may it continue.

carp taking crust

A young crested grebe

Richard Walker reading Still Water Angling

Another heron on the prowl no doubt for fish or frogs, perhaps if it lucky an eel

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