06/10/2025 - A Day Of Gale Force Wind

Terry in his swim

Today I had invited my old friend Terry who I hadn't seen for about eight years to join me for a day's fishing on a private Sussex water. We had both in the past fished the River Beult, both of us rating this beautiful river one of our favourite waters. The forecast was for 40 t0 50 mph wind with heavy showers. The target fish were carp, rudd and roach, for the carp it would be bread flake or crust on the surface. For roach and rudd it would be float fishing using bread or worms as bait.

Terry picked me up around 0700 hrs, it was a pleasant drive through mostly country lanes, with hardly any other vehicles on the road. An hour later we arrived at our destination, a gravel pit with lots of trees and shrubs to help shelter us from the wind. With the wind from a south westerly direction, we chose to fish the top end of the pool, at the wind was blowing into this area, I'm a great believer that carp will follow the wind, also there were several areas of water lilies dotted around. Having fished the pool for several years I suggested Terry fish what is my usual swim, he would be sheltered from the wind by some large oak trees, also a dense weed bed

As I watched Terry tackle up with traditional tackle, a cane rod, with a centre pin reel, he then attached a barbless hook to the line, his tackle set was complete, no fancy rigs, or baits, also we both planned to start off with floating crust.

My next job was set up the jet boiler for a fresh brew, as I waited for the water to boil, I handed Terry his lunch box for the day. With in literally minutes we both had a fresh brew, if you're looking to have a fresh brew at the waterside I can recommend the Jet boiler, freshly brewed tea is far better, than the tepid tea from a flask.

Having thrown it some bits of bread on the water, we soon heard the sound of sucking and slurping, as the fish found their morning offerings. which didn't take very long. Soon Terry was into a nice fish. I then chose a swim further along the bank, where I too put together a bamboo rod, with a centre pin reel, again attached a size 4 barbless hook.

Floating bread flake and crust was the answer, as soon as I catapulted some bits of bread alongside some lilies, the fish were on the bread in minutes, first the rudd, but they were soon bullied away by the carp.

For some unknow reason I must have missed half a dozen carp. Before I connected with one, a fish about 8lbs , which was quickly followed by two others of similar size. Meanwhile Terry was happy in his spot, not only with the fishing, but the surroundings. I was around 1500 hrs when we packed up as Terry had to be home early as his wife is part of an NHS team. We both agreed it had been a good session, one we would be doing again in the no to distant future.

Terry with a bar of gold

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