18/08/2024 - It Was Tough On The Soar
Paul pole fishing on the Soar
Saturday10th of August was one of the toughest days fishing I have experienced on the river Soar. After a two hour drive from Ware in Hertfordshire to the, the Butter market Café Market Place, Mountsorrel, Loughborough for breakfast where Paul and myself, were joined by Mark Sarul. The service and food were excellent, nothing is to much trouble, I’d taken to the café a quality whole meal loaf, from a small bakers in a nearby village to Paul, in the café they willingly cut two slices, for Mark and myself, we had them toasted and buttered with two fried eggs with beans, while Paul chose two bacon rolls.
After a slow leisurely breakfast, we made our way to the river, the forecast was overcast with a breeze. Arriving in the car park we found it empty, just as l liked it. Off To The River Once we were all loaded up, we made the long trek to our swim, Paul with his Bankers Throne which he was using for the first time, weighed a ton, in fact I could hardly lift it, no way could I carry it. Apart from that he had a big rod holdall, two other bags with tackle and bait, he would have been better to hire a mule for the day. When Mark and myself arrived at our swims, Paul was still in the car park, I then realised I hadn’t got my landing net, so had another long trudge back to the car. Thankfully Paul had noticed I’d left it behind. I picked up one of Pauls bag though heavy, I was able to carry it for him. Mark was already to go when I got back, I chose to start of legering, using my soft action Avon rod, matched with a small fixed spool reel with ten pound braid, I then adding a size 4 barbless hook with 2 LG about four inches from the hook. I chose to bait with crust, in the hope of a chub, sadly it didn’t happen, as a multitude of roach descended on the bait.
Half an hour later with no sign of a bite, I noticed small fish jumping out of the water, saying to myself “That’s Perch in the swim”. Taking off an LG shot, I soon had a lobworm on the hook, with a red plastic gentle keeping it in place. Within five minutes I had my first fish about 12 ounces, followed by five more in consecutive casts all of similar size. Rebaiting with two lobs, I soon hooked a better fish, this one was able to take a foot or so of line off the spool, After a few short head shake runs, I started drawing the fish towards the net, I thought ”That a 2lb plus perch” suddenly it dived into some thick swaying aquatic weeds, as I pulled hard I felt the fish coming through the weed, then suddenly it shed the hook and was off. I had a few more perch around 12 ounces, then nothing. I really covered the area in the hope of finding more perch, but the bites had stopped. I switched to a prawn, apart from two light plucks there was nothing. Again I thoroughly searched the swim, even dropping the prawn into the bulrushes, but nothing happened.
Switch to Float Fishing
During my session fishing baits on the bottom, I noticed the hook, the bait along with a few inches of line, often had a covering of black slime, I could only think of sewage, the fish no doubt were not happy grubbing about on the bottom. I’d noticed my bites happened immediately I’d cast in. It was then I decided to float fish, to see if a bait fished well off the bottom made a difference. Taking off the hook and shot, I added a float fishing bead, then one of Micky Errends big quill sliding floats, painted orange, I find this colour ideal these days, most time I lose sight of a red painted float. I then pinched on an LG shot four feet from the hook, then, AAA a foot and three feet from the hook, then chose to use a size 6 barbless hook. Using a light plummet, I checked the depth getting a reading of around seven feet, even tight to the bulrushes I had six feet of water. I set the float to fish the bait two foot off the bottom. On my first cast, the float disappeared, striking I got another perch. I had several more perch nothing bigger than a pound, but a good sign for the future.
After a brew around 1300 hrs for all three of us, I moved to another swim down river, Mark joined me shortly after for a chat, it was pleasant sitting there two as friends do, but I got no action from the fish. Around1600 hrs Mark called it a day. Half an hour later back in the first swim, I caught two small chub no bigger than about a pound. After making a brew for Paul, I walked up river to his swim, he was catching plenty of small roach, also perch to 12 ounces fishing the pole while sat on his throne. See picture, I’m pleased to say I now have a bankers throne, which I hope to use in conjunction with my pole, it will be like going back to the late 1949 50’s time. Back in my swim I chose to call it a day, by the time I got back to the car park, I feeling the worse for wear, , eventually we got home, where I was soon in bed shivering. But it was a day I want forget, as nothing beats being a good venue with two very good friends.
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