tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14980486072225537782023-11-19T07:29:01.930+00:00A Fishermans JourneyBy Leo HeathcoteLeo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-61839623835075204872017-06-20T20:08:00.001+01:002017-06-20T20:09:48.309+01:00The new season arrives!<p>I'll start this update by saying that an awful lot has happened in my angling and personal life since my last entry, way too much to remember even if I wanted to so I'll start with the now, my most recent trips out, which also happen to coincide with the start of the 2017/18 season!</p><p>I had originally planned to start the season with an opening night session in my favourite Barbel swim on the Trent but when the time came to pack the car I really wasn't feeling it at all. Instead I opted for an early morning Lure session with a couple of mates, Pip and Jacob. It was their first time fishing on my local bit of Trent and I was looking forward to putting them on a few nice spots. They were looking for some topwater Pike action and I was confident of finding them some.</p><p>When they said they wanted to go early they weren't wrong and it was 4am when they turned up at mine! Soon enough we were on the river and the lads were chucking some pretty hefty pieces of wood and plastic around. I decided to stick with a lighter jighead setup in the hope of a nice Perch or Chub.</p><p>There was plenty of fish moving all over the river but the first few swims proved fruitless catchwise. To be fair we were fishing pretty deep water but I was confident the shallows further up would produce something. Once we got there Jacob had the first fish of the day, a small pike which wasn't much bigger than the lure he was using! Within a minute or so I also had my first of the season, a small Perch.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPZ_XmUP3Yq-QDHM2cSOUvKMAjHhP7sl3PokkEfu-fnT4PsPIMS-og8M8V7tj-RNqNvxnboEn7Q4IjwjXnuWAm8mnyppkoaMdURX_IOVCrFsV3FX9Cas4axnaLIfjOxv8oOwYkCGAAA/s874/Photo+20170620200740145" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPZ_XmUP3Yq-QDHM2cSOUvKMAjHhP7sl3PokkEfu-fnT4PsPIMS-og8M8V7tj-RNqNvxnboEn7Q4IjwjXnuWAm8mnyppkoaMdURX_IOVCrFsV3FX9Cas4axnaLIfjOxv8oOwYkCGAAA/s500/Photo+20170620200740145" id="blogsy-1497985697831.4766" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="388"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>Jacob started casting a large rat imitation around and the action of the lure really was something to behold, I had a feeling it wouldn't be long before something nailed it. Sure enough, in the next swim along, the rat disappeared in a big vortex and another slightly larger pike came splashing angrily into the net.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIwyQJqFSsUF6dWEYr_796N-EBmRIC0Vkyn8LaIWk1OkXlW3ASscDus_FqRWnmJt59SoRIbnMyP4NL-Zx6Gvi-wQ8ElruDhTLqj5jioL4xu8eMSdTW8JcZeWmBfB10d4XnC4uRcwfKQ/s1136/Photo+20170620200740191" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnIwyQJqFSsUF6dWEYr_796N-EBmRIC0Vkyn8LaIWk1OkXlW3ASscDus_FqRWnmJt59SoRIbnMyP4NL-Zx6Gvi-wQ8ElruDhTLqj5jioL4xu8eMSdTW8JcZeWmBfB10d4XnC4uRcwfKQ/s500/Photo+20170620200740191" id="blogsy-1497985697808.1924" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> </p><p>Over the next half hour I maintained a steady stream of small Perch and Pip finally got off the mark with what was to be the biggest pike of the day on a Mark Houghton topwater lure. Pip was just commenting on the lures 'walk the dog' action when a Pike launched itself vertically like a missile, clearing the water by a good 2feet with pips lure in its mouth! Truly one of the most spectacular surface hits I've ever seen.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N0SC8_VaKnc/WUlyify-3CI/AAAAAAAACrs/strf97C60LsVXRzrY3wgn9XT66MBFubxACHMYCw/s1136/Photo%2B20170620200740240" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N0SC8_VaKnc/WUlyify-3CI/AAAAAAAACrs/strf97C60LsVXRzrY3wgn9XT66MBFubxACHMYCw/s500/Photo%2B20170620200740240" id="blogsy-1497985697765.131" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>As the sun began to gather strength towards mid morning the action was decidedly stale, I lost a really nice Perch to a hookpull and Pip lost another Pike but at around 10.30 we decided to leave the Trent, get some breakfast and make a plan for the afternoon.</p><p>The afternoon plan was to head to a lake I knew which has completely unknown potential other than that it contained predators. On the way however we got distracted by a small river we passed which looked like it had some fish moving. After rapidly scaling things down as best as we could it didn't take long before pip nailed a tidy little Trout and I managed some more small (very small) Perch.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n-RUHdbRmjE/WUlyjtw-OAI/AAAAAAAACrw/FsipY4p1c0g7AEk69teSB99f8vBjjsZSgCHMYCw/s1136/Photo%2B20170620200740283" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n-RUHdbRmjE/WUlyjtw-OAI/AAAAAAAACrw/FsipY4p1c0g7AEk69teSB99f8vBjjsZSgCHMYCw/s500/Photo%2B20170620200740283" id="blogsy-1497985697769.5046" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>Onto the lake and the lads were soon chucking their big surface lures about and it didn't take long to get some interest as Pips lure was hit 3-4 times by the same fish and he still didn't hook up! I found Wasp heaven on the light tackle as every cast was a coconut! A seemingly unending string of tiny Perch fell foul of my dropshot setup and after around 3meters of them I got a bit fed up at which point we decided to call it a day.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NC3oAu1mpgz6EoJQ6JqMDJ8o8nQDObu_oddm8QdCYIk7qWqb-TqaUQhMYLNZbg-_ttQNKbKlvpXFL5D7aHsr4-IRnzZqzmE9mDjDznIUJD29nDp127_4SND4Vd221gB5sB2O2KeugQ/s1136/Photo+20170620200740320" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NC3oAu1mpgz6EoJQ6JqMDJ8o8nQDObu_oddm8QdCYIk7qWqb-TqaUQhMYLNZbg-_ttQNKbKlvpXFL5D7aHsr4-IRnzZqzmE9mDjDznIUJD29nDp127_4SND4Vd221gB5sB2O2KeugQ/s500/Photo+20170620200740320" id="blogsy-1497985697809.9148" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>The following day I took my lad Lewis back over to the Perch lake has he had been badgering me to take him fishing all week. Considering it's the first time he's ever shown a real interest in going fishing I wanted to take him somewhere he would definately get a few and the recent find fitted the bill nicely. After a few initial tangles he was soon casting confidently, getting bites and even catching a few! </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDvkM1dFNq2p77XkcIAx45FVId2XBkEGsGl5QRnL1GDNVP_ZBCJTqBIsy9FOHAiTjLlweTyumXFKXoStpwrC-VhvIy7zGek05iDb8FT0omrSuvmE4CaFoXktDMr7wbRErPpCMrd1Q2A/s1136/Photo+20170620200740359" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtDvkM1dFNq2p77XkcIAx45FVId2XBkEGsGl5QRnL1GDNVP_ZBCJTqBIsy9FOHAiTjLlweTyumXFKXoStpwrC-VhvIy7zGek05iDb8FT0omrSuvmE4CaFoXktDMr7wbRErPpCMrd1Q2A/s500/Photo+20170620200740359" id="blogsy-1497985697844.7092" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVweDi6I0rX7qFNmGJSvMlof8_NJ14IonYWuxOxuXl0ub9yjY5fur7KAJhyphenhyphengSlbBxr5hyphenhyphenoc2k5mK-0G2kLkaUKWa5Fw7P29F5HfgZNQbsOvtHndm-wnSRrCyV22sY1Dj1yTpyF_lMwg/s1136/Photo+20170620200740398" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVweDi6I0rX7qFNmGJSvMlof8_NJ14IonYWuxOxuXl0ub9yjY5fur7KAJhyphenhyphengSlbBxr5hyphenhyphenoc2k5mK-0G2kLkaUKWa5Fw7P29F5HfgZNQbsOvtHndm-wnSRrCyV22sY1Dj1yTpyF_lMwg/s500/Photo+20170620200740398" id="blogsy-1497985697842.9097" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> </p><p>The sun was out in force and the heat really was starting to get a bit savage, I kept asking Lewis if he'd had enough yet but there no stopping him! In the end I literally had to drag him away from the pool before we got too burnt. Thankfully he loved our little trip and is pestering me to take again as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRa065xr8PxzkO33AYWKsT_Odoj6w5p-zkHj-Aom7pmLhvJMYeo6G66VK4XO4U8ERK6of4RHwVExclKH2NhFSB6j373E0WB0wdq69_cjD8E2KBzEconPDE2Oy8LRBxnBIl8p5n1XhBDg/s888/Photo+20170620200740433" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRa065xr8PxzkO33AYWKsT_Odoj6w5p-zkHj-Aom7pmLhvJMYeo6G66VK4XO4U8ERK6of4RHwVExclKH2NhFSB6j373E0WB0wdq69_cjD8E2KBzEconPDE2Oy8LRBxnBIl8p5n1XhBDg/s500/Photo+20170620200740433" id="blogsy-1497985697783.3691" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="665" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-7128665617916342812017-01-22T21:51:00.001+00:002017-01-22T21:52:27.958+00:00December Predators<p> So December started with my now annual pairs lure match which I organise on the Trent and Mersey canal each year. This year it was kindly sponsored by ecogear and they sent an enormous box of prize goodies especially for the occasion. 18 teams turned up on the day and it was clear from the outset that the fishing was going to be tough. An overnight frost had put cat-ice on the water in some parts and the canal bottom was clearly visible along most of its length.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDgpfTuit41u8n3214RJSJ6jrxZYGjS8DCNt5VpWGtNxS87rJbvNHkrZehYGJk3A_8FW9caHQglwih3Y1Ehl1hC0a4VOch-RaSjPBtsVSx_rpbfVhAccoNxd-nzp0kVNM6dpswKdVAw/s2048/Photo%25252020170122214904471.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIDgpfTuit41u8n3214RJSJ6jrxZYGjS8DCNt5VpWGtNxS87rJbvNHkrZehYGJk3A_8FW9caHQglwih3Y1Ehl1hC0a4VOch-RaSjPBtsVSx_rpbfVhAccoNxd-nzp0kVNM6dpswKdVAw/s500/Photo%25252020170122214904471.jpg" id="blogsy-1485121894650.4304" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>With the extremely clear conditions I said beforehand it would be pike that made all the difference and so it proved with several being landed throughout the course of the match. The perch were being difficult to tempt and overall lengths remained low for the first half of the match. A couple of boats came through late on and people began to catch a few at last knockings. In the end it was won by Vidar Thomassen and Alan Brown with a fantastic 2.7m which was a great result in the conditions.</p><p>Next session of note was a trip to Rutland just before Christmas with Potto, Andy and Dave. Conditions were chilly with no wind which meant for a flat calm lake with no drift, casting it was then! We landed on fish straight away and everybody caught within the first 20mins of fishing so we were confident of a good day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT6pr7oNIr-viQ5Ym1nSletQpuCcHHmDksksoITx5iecuEgVGW0le2zNcfL9sZHcic8tdnDKC60GaEUxmi-ZjVZ_sv5yZ5VQz5BkLoaFTDy8q5hX_QCfxRyAej2Q_k8lfG2a6Be2Mmg/s1136/Photo%25252020170122214904553.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqT6pr7oNIr-viQ5Ym1nSletQpuCcHHmDksksoITx5iecuEgVGW0le2zNcfL9sZHcic8tdnDKC60GaEUxmi-ZjVZ_sv5yZ5VQz5BkLoaFTDy8q5hX_QCfxRyAej2Q_k8lfG2a6Be2Mmg/s500/Photo%25252020170122214904553.jpg" id="blogsy-1485121894710.133" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Andy managed a couple of lovely 60cm plus Zander both consecutive PBs but as ever these things don't last and the bites tailed off considerably. I had a run of missed bites and lost a couple mid morning but a change of retrieve style finally managed to snare a few small consolation prizes late on. It was Dave and Andys first time out on the ressies and to say they are now hooked is an understatement!</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUe1xceB16NOfddtGoUDvpGSGzi2yujkyoPHkzv7wbRx0bGFXqf58NpAWMmEisdtZO4_GSHUp1URaLd9FzlamOIoLICpA30wS94fYA838_HETs_J2QIj1ILLjT0Zg9Qx2rQLu15_hCQ/s2048/Photo%25252020170122214904712.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUe1xceB16NOfddtGoUDvpGSGzi2yujkyoPHkzv7wbRx0bGFXqf58NpAWMmEisdtZO4_GSHUp1URaLd9FzlamOIoLICpA30wS94fYA838_HETs_J2QIj1ILLjT0Zg9Qx2rQLu15_hCQ/s500/Photo%25252020170122214904712.jpg" id="blogsy-1485121894744.2415" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="389"></a></div><p> </p><p>A few days later I had a window for quick two hour session into dark on a local river which gave me a couple of Perch with shoulders! About time too as it seemed like ages since I last bagged some decent ones! It was tough going and I only had three bites but I made them count at least.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEB52MMkSAzk8bECwyHhcYNkCt3cnYdyCWZTrq5k7wxi_Sv4gFN5oCus3iPXAIE2QLppi0eI2AfIhIWqtilbCGVxBdc-CWSMDvTo2qqqhqiVOpzdkEyGN-3CyogVaRPnpEfTqlrdi-Q/s2048/Photo%25252020170122214904922.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGEB52MMkSAzk8bECwyHhcYNkCt3cnYdyCWZTrq5k7wxi_Sv4gFN5oCus3iPXAIE2QLppi0eI2AfIhIWqtilbCGVxBdc-CWSMDvTo2qqqhqiVOpzdkEyGN-3CyogVaRPnpEfTqlrdi-Q/s500/Photo%25252020170122214904922.jpg" id="blogsy-1485121894695.1587" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiWSzpJEX3GdRTWt6ndWBfplYWHoytg_W4xnus_3ND9v_kdk4RgEyw6t8Lo5h635oNL97bxeJTp66UPA5dsK9QW5UvaQE3vNfJEiv7SPmJeZ1GGK1H4KgJwh22QbFGLltQ_Klske_ow/s2048/Photo%25252020170122214905067.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiWSzpJEX3GdRTWt6ndWBfplYWHoytg_W4xnus_3ND9v_kdk4RgEyw6t8Lo5h635oNL97bxeJTp66UPA5dsK9QW5UvaQE3vNfJEiv7SPmJeZ1GGK1H4KgJwh22QbFGLltQ_Klske_ow/s500/Photo%25252020170122214905067.jpg" id="blogsy-1485121894672.6199" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="417"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p> Soon enough Christmas was upon us and due to family commitments I was struggling to get out although I did manage a trip to the Severn with Potto where I bagged a fine conditioned Pike from my only bite of a very tough day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqd8k_RTqTP9Y7Xa-D5Fw781Y8UCI2YzS1NfuBPbJm0s7M2PdJi4XzVnHsMiNcHTMBb27KwiJ1thOvhmYur_Pb0BVVHOJ4xgW4oWWITsM5C8h6i4wlIcAzx1424JiYCKPBR8WIlOR1Hg/s960/Photo%25252020170122214905125.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqd8k_RTqTP9Y7Xa-D5Fw781Y8UCI2YzS1NfuBPbJm0s7M2PdJi4XzVnHsMiNcHTMBb27KwiJ1thOvhmYur_Pb0BVVHOJ4xgW4oWWITsM5C8h6i4wlIcAzx1424JiYCKPBR8WIlOR1Hg/s500/Photo%25252020170122214905125.jpg" id="blogsy-1485121894656.1946" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="384" alt=""></a></div><p> So that rounds off 2016 then! Not a great year for big fish, I've certainly had many better years, but I've broadened my horizons a great deal by trying lots of new tactics and fishing a good selection of different waters at home and abroad . I've fished with old friends and met many new ones in my travels and I feel my fishing has been enormously enriched as a result.</p><p>I'm very positive going into 2017 as I have big plans, with various matches and a couple of European trips hopefully on the cards. Outside fishing I have settled into my new job and am looking forward to a house move and a fresh start which I'm certain will carry through into my fishing and help me bank some kippers!</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-73425756014345175612016-11-13T12:41:00.001+00:002016-11-13T20:26:52.678+00:00Mega update! I'm back!<p> Crikey, it's been a while!! A few months back my blog kind of fell by the wayside it appears and it's been one of those things where the longer you leave it, the harder it is to get back into it! I've had one or two ideas to completely change the direction of this blog anyway but until I come up with a format I'm happy with then I shall just update it normally as and when.</p><p>A lot has taken place in my fishing and personal life since my last update so rather than giving a blow by blow account which would take forever to write and somewhat bore the reader I shall just put a few pics on with a bit of background info so you can flick through to anything of interest more quickly. </p><p> Ok, starting from early summer which is where my last entry kind of finished I enjoyed a couple of cracking days on Pitsford reservoir with the SHUK (specimen hunting UK) lads in pursuit of its predators and it didn't disappoint. Pikewise I never managed anything decent but there was plenty of them to keep a bend in the rod . I did catch some nice perch however and was most privileged to be on hand to photograph a cracking 4lb pb for my buddy Carl and witness another PB in the form of a 24lb pike to another friend steve. The other SHUK lads fared well also with numerous big perch landed on the other boats.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg2wqsn-20gxSKshZ8oyqc1TRdWU_qbv0CRdHfIwS501y8J8BDy0D0_Szfa8HNC1PQP9pubwg5DVJTLJYceNSEGq2Wn8EKUR1ap9T8Gh72WFBOS4paSpIGaoLpCCCZqVOWBEHNhF38g/s1024/Photo%25252020161113123455504.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGg2wqsn-20gxSKshZ8oyqc1TRdWU_qbv0CRdHfIwS501y8J8BDy0D0_Szfa8HNC1PQP9pubwg5DVJTLJYceNSEGq2Wn8EKUR1ap9T8Gh72WFBOS4paSpIGaoLpCCCZqVOWBEHNhF38g/s500/Photo%25252020161113123455504.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580051.6514" class="alignnone" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpvBlMF9GvspF_0uHeEqQay8yBMB5nAARBO10SyqEafVU3hx3mjY1mMWnIr9FEKKRg_aqwGNjIY48r2qPi7eH-7GdyOCym0QOlznd3a5q4lv2F9ag7Q1KIJGNgE1R6wXtjLsBb5rQWQ/s1024/Photo%25252020161113123455540.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpvBlMF9GvspF_0uHeEqQay8yBMB5nAARBO10SyqEafVU3hx3mjY1mMWnIr9FEKKRg_aqwGNjIY48r2qPi7eH-7GdyOCym0QOlznd3a5q4lv2F9ag7Q1KIJGNgE1R6wXtjLsBb5rQWQ/s500/Photo%25252020161113123455540.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580086.142" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYcm-usl0bbyHGA1J0fnd-EsxQuWzfQxk-wArPta_aPvpyCVdWa07jf10ohqetlK8a_SEuDCK-v7-H8zuIApJQjUjsUEb_qBy1lu3RKu2Z7ByHphS6X-5bJft8w6H87JLVvWpe1QlyQ/s960/Photo%25252020161113123455580.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYcm-usl0bbyHGA1J0fnd-EsxQuWzfQxk-wArPta_aPvpyCVdWa07jf10ohqetlK8a_SEuDCK-v7-H8zuIApJQjUjsUEb_qBy1lu3RKu2Z7ByHphS6X-5bJft8w6H87JLVvWpe1QlyQ/s500/Photo%25252020161113123455580.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580095.4143" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="400" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMxArDgviWL8i3xbMLTDOivIXBwuAytlU-9TBjdlla5xOyIA-pxaYfCbBJAtXGxhsAm_Kskoshr5tZp_vMV1NkoOF0OTgQjIUFp4Hz2c6O3bpeLgBymWhPtE5dp5qvaTSpg0QyiWJ_Q/s2048/Photo%25252020161113123455712.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMxArDgviWL8i3xbMLTDOivIXBwuAytlU-9TBjdlla5xOyIA-pxaYfCbBJAtXGxhsAm_Kskoshr5tZp_vMV1NkoOF0OTgQjIUFp4Hz2c6O3bpeLgBymWhPtE5dp5qvaTSpg0QyiWJ_Q/s500/Photo%25252020161113123455712.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580067.8247" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">A trip up to the Lake District to fish an event organised by the Lure anglers society on esthwaite water proved interesting. We camped on the shoreline and got eaten alive by midges but after Potto managed a lovely double figure fish just casting from the bank upon our arrival we were hopeful of a good session the following day. Unfortunately it wasn't to be and we managed just one fish each between us. It turned out it fished pretty hard for everybody and our two modest Pike were enough for third place which was a result considering neither of us had even seen the Lake before! A truly stunning place to wet a line though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9YCiE56g9FbtT1ZzB5lQ_18mZLHOBufijv3JtFe8dlgK-zaGbFLWx0AeEufWOSC7cQF9SFg1XQOpu6MPcZ_uDMJIQv4WUdhR7fZu-9OwvVyBZfv0J2dHGC2KgIqHHlnK0FuZ9EBdoQ/s960/Photo%25252020161113123455743.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9YCiE56g9FbtT1ZzB5lQ_18mZLHOBufijv3JtFe8dlgK-zaGbFLWx0AeEufWOSC7cQF9SFg1XQOpu6MPcZ_uDMJIQv4WUdhR7fZu-9OwvVyBZfv0J2dHGC2KgIqHHlnK0FuZ9EBdoQ/s500/Photo%25252020161113123455743.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580066.5366" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I also joined a little carp syndicate this year with the intention of getting to grips with the lakes bream population, however, my burgeoning lure fishing obsession got in the way of those plans for the most part. I did mange a couple of trips though and had some nice doubles, no PBs but I have little doubt that I've found the right water to nail my biggest bream at some point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8yplzeCu8ADo00KvLqkVsTNcCwIntgV3lnrfwGR2rSENHE_550ch6umqnvNtDwSo6UYCyEgmoHzsheQeYCaq11dvCGye4WKofBloI9e4aKXRkO-WZtukblJAG2cYPwVNvyG4JOsVjw/s2048/Photo%25252020161113123455876.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8yplzeCu8ADo00KvLqkVsTNcCwIntgV3lnrfwGR2rSENHE_550ch6umqnvNtDwSo6UYCyEgmoHzsheQeYCaq11dvCGye4WKofBloI9e4aKXRkO-WZtukblJAG2cYPwVNvyG4JOsVjw/s500/Photo%25252020161113123455876.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580084.743" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="410" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><p> Around this time I got notice that my unit at work was to be closed down as the powers that be decided a move to Scotland with its cheap labour would be more profitable. This threw all my plans into disarray as I had only recently put my house on the market with a view to upsizing. After the initial panic I decided to continue with the house sale and forsake any meagre redundancy payout in favour of getting a new job as quickly as possible so I could get enough time in my new job behind me to enable a smooth transfer into a new mortgage when I needed to. Trouble is the house wasn't selling and finding the right job wasn't easy!</p><p>In the meantime on The fishing front it was early July and the Cornish lure festival was beckoning so myself and Carl headed to Cornwall for a long weekend of camping and fishing. Registration at the art of fishing tackle shop in wadebridge was quite surreal, I was five hours from home and it was like being in the local tackle shop, everybody that walked through the door was a familiar face from the midlands!</p><p>Our target for the weekend was to catch as many different species as possible and From our base in fowey we covered a lot of spots all around the area from Looe to Mevagissey. The main problem for us was lack of local knowledge, we knew where we wanted to fish but really struggled to get to most of the marks and not being sea anglers whatsoever we knew nothing of how the tides affected the different species. We did manage a few fish though and it was a real eye opener catching fish on lures in tiny rockpools that you wouldn't normally give a second glance to!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz09ybAn4AqnRnB9rgepxRtrf3AzNXQObZ7hc4dWoMvamBEhW5I1e1QMk9mxcoabHdA_MfGiO-rN-BkxU1FpFadStB_Mpc3eKQAGbo_OGIiKQ0bUb0lOMqwvMMOVlROq5agHcuqz1iuQ/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123455924.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz09ybAn4AqnRnB9rgepxRtrf3AzNXQObZ7hc4dWoMvamBEhW5I1e1QMk9mxcoabHdA_MfGiO-rN-BkxU1FpFadStB_Mpc3eKQAGbo_OGIiKQ0bUb0lOMqwvMMOVlROq5agHcuqz1iuQ/s500/Photo%25252020161113123455924.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580058.359" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="390" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY-pNaEFShjOsYhyphenhyphennboU-xZ0iWRDyNYZawwKmOXe6xEkLFBMkCjvcZ-nBKJ9UfXcIfN45H8rpOZfqBQpOlgi915jP7Cjc0mhg2428JfosO_eoQqEEVyM5MTpZSbg1QVYB_Ym_6rtOyQ/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123455968.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY-pNaEFShjOsYhyphenhyphennboU-xZ0iWRDyNYZawwKmOXe6xEkLFBMkCjvcZ-nBKJ9UfXcIfN45H8rpOZfqBQpOlgi915jP7Cjc0mhg2428JfosO_eoQqEEVyM5MTpZSbg1QVYB_Ym_6rtOyQ/s500/Photo%25252020161113123455968.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580096.1978" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9UEuXFNOAOctzOkQPMdWZo3YU9MOLy2on1T752z_e5MSVCR43SUKtpl7Axh_BGpge1rXZDZPag2aqACNjod-W7KrH4K33e61kT2JPCPDS_mV_rM5PHjdLzS5kzF2Gbb67xvb7lWBQw/s960/Photo%25252020161113123456001.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9UEuXFNOAOctzOkQPMdWZo3YU9MOLy2on1T752z_e5MSVCR43SUKtpl7Axh_BGpge1rXZDZPag2aqACNjod-W7KrH4K33e61kT2JPCPDS_mV_rM5PHjdLzS5kzF2Gbb67xvb7lWBQw/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456001.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580079.128" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXbqq55m0EugQbvzRNoZYOkcQ2GgovTEsTq9UR4khLBDYrVYnyK0ZVi7-QbcY5mt8Wx5TjcX9MGTq4sSm0y3YtYDcYLU_-b4RzCnrk4NjBnlFgUvUKUuHXMaNU7W1Q8Basln1AQIybw/s960/Photo%25252020161113123456032.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXbqq55m0EugQbvzRNoZYOkcQ2GgovTEsTq9UR4khLBDYrVYnyK0ZVi7-QbcY5mt8Wx5TjcX9MGTq4sSm0y3YtYDcYLU_-b4RzCnrk4NjBnlFgUvUKUuHXMaNU7W1Q8Basln1AQIybw/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456032.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580090.358" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> A couple of weeks later I was in Cornwall again on a family holiday so I got chance to revisit some spots with my daughter charlotte. We had a great time and the mackerel fishing was mental!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjq2a6P7XHe3fQii2Tw9DQO0cwIT3VyYkodnxaFm-DK06UyWjomYhNMXuz7ArlSyXckEuCBovSm3-FvsKRiKnY7bvPNaa5mwlFtg5Y06Q9sgTl2O45Xdxh_sbBzCSXd2AUR8ejsGgag/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123456069.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjq2a6P7XHe3fQii2Tw9DQO0cwIT3VyYkodnxaFm-DK06UyWjomYhNMXuz7ArlSyXckEuCBovSm3-FvsKRiKnY7bvPNaa5mwlFtg5Y06Q9sgTl2O45Xdxh_sbBzCSXd2AUR8ejsGgag/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456069.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580107.1501" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3WEtaAlYRJYfGFQTHkBiKnXOHBiTrHbUSDd5IK-NnLXosj-gXT9RVtbDFTPDscVMKL-eK6GQTSuig7285rB0JWzxRNFZjljaXE6hZwfXd1XavqsEYnY3fc0ruxM4N1SAL5YbM5lV9A/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123456116.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3WEtaAlYRJYfGFQTHkBiKnXOHBiTrHbUSDd5IK-NnLXosj-gXT9RVtbDFTPDscVMKL-eK6GQTSuig7285rB0JWzxRNFZjljaXE6hZwfXd1XavqsEYnY3fc0ruxM4N1SAL5YbM5lV9A/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456116.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580048.0894" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJUO00vUgePusmqz3wifrEISUewOdcV_HDv23sxG8gHtj9FxvJvJeNGfGxXp5foNq2nP6CHs7RhMtRNlJdjZOLfEvku2oS_t7vqE-r-ym8nrKw9bWEWIsKChK70cy6du-yEZO7NosIw/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123456152.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJUO00vUgePusmqz3wifrEISUewOdcV_HDv23sxG8gHtj9FxvJvJeNGfGxXp5foNq2nP6CHs7RhMtRNlJdjZOLfEvku2oS_t7vqE-r-ym8nrKw9bWEWIsKChK70cy6du-yEZO7NosIw/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456152.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580102.2646" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJFR0KJwEGDMFPrfHwASHk8lueDv2oqNFe6UgIrnGt6OEDXj8YUK1NdwT7DNyOYu9Dneoge6pl3dM_6cZJCIzPmpumEe7CLjR65ksuvdQCWbnT47URmOgaksiFVzUvz2AjAxUcGrmUA/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123456186.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJFR0KJwEGDMFPrfHwASHk8lueDv2oqNFe6UgIrnGt6OEDXj8YUK1NdwT7DNyOYu9Dneoge6pl3dM_6cZJCIzPmpumEe7CLjR65ksuvdQCWbnT47URmOgaksiFVzUvz2AjAxUcGrmUA/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456186.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580067.24" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p>Within a week of returning home I had a couple of successful job interviews and accepted a new role with a company that designs and builds industrial machines for the food industry, I started there in August, things were looking up hopefully!</p><p>Soon enough it was time for the opening of two big boys of the UK reservoir fishing scene, namely Rutland and Grafham. I was booked to fish the Zandermasters competition on Rutland to kick things off and I came a very respectable 6th place out of a large field of very good anglers. My target had been to beat last years 11th place and I had blown that out of the water, really pleased.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyavV_9MEWLaK8mAodx2jzMkayor5PkK00Dc_8vt5vv2EnwcGSzaVEXNIRmGIH6lDhTlvRBU2LpQJVAf_5KkeymmqcY2lXLxcYOgLiZ_QOfcr-93IFsRzy9o69QWry-aKz3E84U6c7g/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123456220.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHyavV_9MEWLaK8mAodx2jzMkayor5PkK00Dc_8vt5vv2EnwcGSzaVEXNIRmGIH6lDhTlvRBU2LpQJVAf_5KkeymmqcY2lXLxcYOgLiZ_QOfcr-93IFsRzy9o69QWry-aKz3E84U6c7g/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456220.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580023.1985" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>A couple of days on Grafham again with the SHUK and perch hunters lads was next on the list and what a trip that turned out to be! Carl and I really got stuck into the perch and we lost count of how many we caught over the two days, it was ridiculous! Most averaged around the pound mark with numerous twos and whilst the real monsters eluded us I still managed fish to mid three. Carl found some small 3-4lb Zander and seemed to be catching them for fun whereas I couldn't get one to save my life! I even resorted to the same lure and fished right next to his yet still no joy. Some of the other lads in our party got amongst some monster Zander with one boat landing six doubles on one day! Fantastic fishing, no wonder they call it the theatre of dreams.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP55kUxQ4peiaFVBuY3xmEtMXmyrHKdos2x_c6vrURWH2wAJh1u9hKWhuTUngl2YVYDdEvcbnLCGNAFBJ8VrrUZRGC_eK6kDfxqGYzKXUP9DMjz4O-uzfNdbyNG3toCruCh7vP2YxmNg/s2048/Photo%25252020161113123456296.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP55kUxQ4peiaFVBuY3xmEtMXmyrHKdos2x_c6vrURWH2wAJh1u9hKWhuTUngl2YVYDdEvcbnLCGNAFBJ8VrrUZRGC_eK6kDfxqGYzKXUP9DMjz4O-uzfNdbyNG3toCruCh7vP2YxmNg/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456296.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580104.867" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkOJ5muKxWvvY3v61_OvAWUa7eutAqkJWmTYT8RHSyiCZpJhlmug2AY3ooCPKgZsia0oj1LlT_2n4AL9d7-ib6sUKlymwE-i7ymOCvDdfoHcvCM7hqxLcWkO46huA8nE4Pjcneattdw/s2048/Photo%25252020161113123456364.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvkOJ5muKxWvvY3v61_OvAWUa7eutAqkJWmTYT8RHSyiCZpJhlmug2AY3ooCPKgZsia0oj1LlT_2n4AL9d7-ib6sUKlymwE-i7ymOCvDdfoHcvCM7hqxLcWkO46huA8nE4Pjcneattdw/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456364.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580073.651" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODTiIsnWUv_SrTn5fDQKfF1eNeVed652dO3B0QAs8FA0HbOjlr3Ux6MvB4-jLvbYTEzHgvEpq6fdXiJWWM2L72qpisFZF5vO_hcPYLPRtjB-O4i4iQoghzvHZNDCMrj7BlZ0BFWow1A/s2048/Photo%25252020161113123456432.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODTiIsnWUv_SrTn5fDQKfF1eNeVed652dO3B0QAs8FA0HbOjlr3Ux6MvB4-jLvbYTEzHgvEpq6fdXiJWWM2L72qpisFZF5vO_hcPYLPRtjB-O4i4iQoghzvHZNDCMrj7BlZ0BFWow1A/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456432.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580114.1587" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxW9XyFhBEBGxFvCvS7xHKK7jB4DLOsinGyF8jMPhFFTomV8nxYI6xeNPgth5fUNpWi4Xp0dwEjAo1EwpThgrmhlpIEFv-pCXQy1OWvXU6PeByf0NEda3f0SIQNN075IRd2Zl9N1MQQ/s1906/Photo%25252020161113123456543.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxW9XyFhBEBGxFvCvS7xHKK7jB4DLOsinGyF8jMPhFFTomV8nxYI6xeNPgth5fUNpWi4Xp0dwEjAo1EwpThgrmhlpIEFv-pCXQy1OWvXU6PeByf0NEda3f0SIQNN075IRd2Zl9N1MQQ/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456543.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580114.9954" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="413" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0j-ZRXonP1c9Y_eL0m002eoYpRsk7Izd-fDi9Z3qNZ9g4JMiJJ2nkdqzg9wdLb0KEoqe5OIHbWC1zABbIB337s3bNcaIZcUm8P_njHOcmiCinfugKQS9sbt5GS9HL4TDqIz_IXWbgQ/s2048/Photo%25252020161113123456624.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM0j-ZRXonP1c9Y_eL0m002eoYpRsk7Izd-fDi9Z3qNZ9g4JMiJJ2nkdqzg9wdLb0KEoqe5OIHbWC1zABbIB337s3bNcaIZcUm8P_njHOcmiCinfugKQS9sbt5GS9HL4TDqIz_IXWbgQ/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456624.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580059.982" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrthOpmCFAMO7cSyIhsfvR3Ep2fLI6M4xkGSE6TMgj6MwPpYaKRELAe_pFSvOl1MXYlla-3ry2FwN8otxQlbRmsPq9ubFRBhyuiPv5P0cEJH5enj5meHYCqmmrktDsBkZfBf64I1UA6w/s2048/Photo%25252020161113123456770.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrthOpmCFAMO7cSyIhsfvR3Ep2fLI6M4xkGSE6TMgj6MwPpYaKRELAe_pFSvOl1MXYlla-3ry2FwN8otxQlbRmsPq9ubFRBhyuiPv5P0cEJH5enj5meHYCqmmrktDsBkZfBf64I1UA6w/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456770.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580072.6128" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> Much canal and river lure fishing filled in the gaps between the ressy trips and September also saw my appointment as an ambassador for Japanese lure company Ecogear. They manufacture some great lures and no doubt you will be seeing a lot more of them on here in the coming months. They sent me a few bits to play with and I have to say they certainly catch a few!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM4G5Sv7P89mp0CCU1jsE_iQkjb33X8FGe5fZZvOSU73dxyyhH-lV4yMd7DScWX4rorNZDsKiSRJurRCo4MfQq6ED0w9Fg6KekR8GK6qx3pV2KH1MSbKPQ4lmUWwrcwGsL73WkChy4Q/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123456845.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFM4G5Sv7P89mp0CCU1jsE_iQkjb33X8FGe5fZZvOSU73dxyyhH-lV4yMd7DScWX4rorNZDsKiSRJurRCo4MfQq6ED0w9Fg6KekR8GK6qx3pV2KH1MSbKPQ4lmUWwrcwGsL73WkChy4Q/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456845.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580115.5833" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_Pm734cIf5FMwbsPagVgzSCzPJT5YYTVLMeQJog29pgYM5EZ-DvfgLzzSflSJE_Lb67Ek1MZ2Wa76-WXUCwOe0yQTjfHUYg-nl4ROJ2kHLU2SeM2jhiiWmR7DvFmHWz4Q_5h6HMn-Q/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123456903.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_Pm734cIf5FMwbsPagVgzSCzPJT5YYTVLMeQJog29pgYM5EZ-DvfgLzzSflSJE_Lb67Ek1MZ2Wa76-WXUCwOe0yQTjfHUYg-nl4ROJ2kHLU2SeM2jhiiWmR7DvFmHWz4Q_5h6HMn-Q/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456903.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580043.4243" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUhVQbXkrer3Y4XB8OL5B0isPGK5V57fap61V7yKUAYWNNN4g8AyheZK_3dy5UNZTkoQhbAJYCr0xNJeO6i6fFwLRSRx18kTjxSiHVj_xszhVNuJNq32DXiR0PfaIRXAR93MWdFlKcQ/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123456999.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUhVQbXkrer3Y4XB8OL5B0isPGK5V57fap61V7yKUAYWNNN4g8AyheZK_3dy5UNZTkoQhbAJYCr0xNJeO6i6fFwLRSRx18kTjxSiHVj_xszhVNuJNq32DXiR0PfaIRXAR93MWdFlKcQ/s500/Photo%25252020161113123456999.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580118.3865" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="364" alt=""></a></div><p> Backend of September and early October saw me back in a boat again with my old mate Potto. Firstly a trip to Rutland to celebrate my 40th which turned out to be much tougher than I'd expected. We'd spent a good portion of the day drifting over fairly deep water for very little action indeed, all the usual spots seemed devoid of fish and we were scratching our heads a bit. On one drift we overran into shallower water around 35ft deep and immediately started getting pulls and catching. After this we concentrated on the 25-35ft depth band and caught well for the rest of the day, the consistent warm weather had obviously moved the fish into the shallower areas.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOuz5O4nlaZKItEIzyyH7Evka0M1bbcw6ZcTlsNK7oLMDXI73xOoB5oU8_9HzwbcvGaJSkUS0uU8QHJ3R69nDPbcdb50f4c93oJBtXWhb5sEMM4Hm2m7LQFKGrFy-uuCJHSbX9tltZA/s940/Photo%25252020161113123457045.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOuz5O4nlaZKItEIzyyH7Evka0M1bbcw6ZcTlsNK7oLMDXI73xOoB5oU8_9HzwbcvGaJSkUS0uU8QHJ3R69nDPbcdb50f4c93oJBtXWhb5sEMM4Hm2m7LQFKGrFy-uuCJHSbX9tltZA/s500/Photo%25252020161113123457045.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580051.5771" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="330" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p> The next trip out with Potto was a couple of firsts for me, it was my first trip to the river Severn and my first time fishing a river from a boat, I had no idea what to expect but Potto assured me of a good day and he didn't disappoint! My second cast produced a Zander and from then on we caught consistently throughout the day. Several Pike and Zeds plus a ruck of Perch made for some great fishing and I was amazed to catch fish below the boat in less than 10ft of water. I was previously convinced they would've been spooked straight away but the reality was far from it. Another thing I learned was the need for good boat control, pottos skills on the leccy motor worked wonders and certainly kept us on the fish. The ability to tackle snags from different angles was also a massive bonus and saved us loads of lost gear. After that trip I'm now determined to get a boat of my own now to tackle my local bits of soar and Trent.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhjRNIHy79QEze-l50URdCBvOTjTYIWyRsSKrYDa4IShiQxligzAE8nVhLnkz_IjQpFxr8tjO0G8b7qetMHGz-EbW_gBlRPO4VfbUDthVuihY6q5iyA0y2r8_SWiz9Za3I_I6R_M-dA/s1136/Photo%25252020161113123457085.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhjRNIHy79QEze-l50URdCBvOTjTYIWyRsSKrYDa4IShiQxligzAE8nVhLnkz_IjQpFxr8tjO0G8b7qetMHGz-EbW_gBlRPO4VfbUDthVuihY6q5iyA0y2r8_SWiz9Za3I_I6R_M-dA/s500/Photo%25252020161113123457085.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580106.1194" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4JuWjDNE4IctPj4dEQS1RitLYp4nJ-Za-MnzycHmX7fS7Gca_81L0igHvUpCYHrMwNfdIpCYYulXgBB34ZpiEPo5zRIWtMi-REQa9ypg4XR2-Hn6yGcYeyIKK2_tSZB48N6qCw4Vpg/s764/Photo%25252020161113123457120.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4JuWjDNE4IctPj4dEQS1RitLYp4nJ-Za-MnzycHmX7fS7Gca_81L0igHvUpCYHrMwNfdIpCYYulXgBB34ZpiEPo5zRIWtMi-REQa9ypg4XR2-Hn6yGcYeyIKK2_tSZB48N6qCw4Vpg/s500/Photo%25252020161113123457120.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580096.8965" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="394" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutj_AOx6fL1t0WiX38WypM7XkDKGcXP2jcIulk7r3X_Id_1cIzJrNmlGAbldtXzPmLelo9SWheemJWxrFCOrNbx4EI5A2lO59sAMPLVc6TGSvz8Gi22uTvmfLyHArGSHdBxbzck8HcQ/s960/Photo%25252020161113123457160.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutj_AOx6fL1t0WiX38WypM7XkDKGcXP2jcIulk7r3X_Id_1cIzJrNmlGAbldtXzPmLelo9SWheemJWxrFCOrNbx4EI5A2lO59sAMPLVc6TGSvz8Gi22uTvmfLyHArGSHdBxbzck8HcQ/s500/Photo%25252020161113123457160.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580114.861" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>Since then I've had a bit of a grueller on the fishing front, yes I've caught a few littleuns but it's been hard work. The weather has cooled dramatically and all the leaves seem to have come off the trees at once filling up my local waterways with crap.</p><p>I did have a fairly impromptu grafham trip last weekend but the wind was horrendous and for the first time since I've fished the ressies I actually got a bit seasick. I don't think anchoring up in the waves helped the situation because I was fine once we started fish the drift again. I lost a good Zander just beneath the surface and managed a couple of decent brown trout but bites were very hard to come by.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuowyXUJdo3IL7Zch4eXA5fdJHpdXiBLk3h29lwMufLsNv9IuHCmMvyjZjjl6OKTPadd4hKYQcJ9odqG8sBJXDLqM_I8Ro9ABbewJ7hqo00uMvARkpZa9mkpyXBujf81gX8kRv2kAw6A/s960/Photo%25252020161113123457205.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuowyXUJdo3IL7Zch4eXA5fdJHpdXiBLk3h29lwMufLsNv9IuHCmMvyjZjjl6OKTPadd4hKYQcJ9odqG8sBJXDLqM_I8Ro9ABbewJ7hqo00uMvARkpZa9mkpyXBujf81gX8kRv2kAw6A/s500/Photo%25252020161113123457205.jpg" id="blogsy-1479068580079.03" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="388" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>Going forward, I have my own DRAC match to look forward to in December, the LACC predator pairs next week and a whole load of ideas for new waters to try. Oh and my house is finally sold and I'm looking forward to a January move to my new house which just happens to have a fish filled stream at the end of the garden! Tight lines all :-)</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-92082977748168157932016-05-11T21:58:00.001+01:002016-05-11T21:58:41.449+01:00Seasons merge<p>As I write this is now the middle of May and I'm wondering where the rivers closed season has gone! It doesn't seem like five minutes since I was chub fishing on the dove but I realise now it's been nearly two months! Winter has given away firmly to spring and now daytime temperatures are right up we find ourselves on the cusp of summer and the angling delights it brings.</p><p>Since my last post lure fishing has absolutely dominated my time on the bank culminating in a pretty significant event in my angling career, more of which I will come onto later. </p><p>In these days of being able to fish lakes and canals in the closed season it doesn't seem quite so 'closed ' anymore and, although I long to fish running water, there are still opportunities to be had all over the place.</p><p>Towards the end of March I started doing the odd evening session after work on a local canal and it quickly became apparent that the perch were still well grouped up for spawning. There would be long stretches seemingly devoid of anything until suddenly a pocket of fish would be found and several would be caught in quick succession. More often than not these fish would be fit to burst with eggs which was the obvious clue as to why they were shoaling. One memorable evening gave me several half decent fish up to a very creditable 3lb2oz which, for the canal in question, was a true specimen!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgGhpWeuLWd1EitAeL55TnvN8we2de-5HqKFJfLWzv6HZuABdWHwyVosbXJG-HPPLzZOiCbfj4KZzejPAhycr4W7MXMrDyEFSUTN4hG6yYW77xpHizcXY4mjiXipSIg00pyjkloDMVA/s2048/Photo%25252020160511215636671.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgGhpWeuLWd1EitAeL55TnvN8we2de-5HqKFJfLWzv6HZuABdWHwyVosbXJG-HPPLzZOiCbfj4KZzejPAhycr4W7MXMrDyEFSUTN4hG6yYW77xpHizcXY4mjiXipSIg00pyjkloDMVA/s500/Photo%25252020160511215636671.jpg" id="blogsy-1463000318798.681" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="431"></a></div><p> I also dabbled in a little bait fishing in an attempt to catch a big perch from a commercial I'd been told about. Sadly, although I caught several small(and spawnbound) perch, the big ones weren't forthcoming and I had to make do with several nice carp and Tench instead. They really pulled the string so I wasn't complaining.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncIdeW9xIS1dWNGaHs6zobVdKE5IkFJ8l_kEuFH0f7R_dgfxiSD0P6JxLiVXbd7H5upf6T_ZOdxaw0TRBkcQoHOvGDGAEqC0gliCvQsBoFoS_2WLZKpUzX0n1IPRT0Bn3nUOCOXO0MA/s460/Photo%25252020160511215636703.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncIdeW9xIS1dWNGaHs6zobVdKE5IkFJ8l_kEuFH0f7R_dgfxiSD0P6JxLiVXbd7H5upf6T_ZOdxaw0TRBkcQoHOvGDGAEqC0gliCvQsBoFoS_2WLZKpUzX0n1IPRT0Bn3nUOCOXO0MA/s460/Photo%25252020160511215636703.jpg" id="blogsy-1463000318857.819" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="408"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXYxbTH_Hb5kYurX1JNuYZVAT3sRfLaca0iRZsX3hwfxfgg4iDXPGRydjKXmalx7VZ5VO3EPsMwetJJJAb2a1TX5Oh_fr5XDebfjcksskg0XZv08BcFBFoH8bTSq1FKGTgHjQRRibFw/s464/Photo%25252020160511215636727.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXYxbTH_Hb5kYurX1JNuYZVAT3sRfLaca0iRZsX3hwfxfgg4iDXPGRydjKXmalx7VZ5VO3EPsMwetJJJAb2a1TX5Oh_fr5XDebfjcksskg0XZv08BcFBFoH8bTSq1FKGTgHjQRRibFw/s464/Photo%25252020160511215636727.jpg" id="blogsy-1463000318813.5383" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="401"></a></div><p> As the weather warmed slightly through April I noticed a lot of nice Trout suddenly appearing on the timelines of some of my lure fishing Facebook friends so naturally I wanted a piece of the action. I wasn't at all sure about the legalities of it all and after a few enquiries I managed to get permission to fish a small stretch of Derbyshire Dove. </p><p>If your reading this and fancy some trout action yourself, please note that all angling clubs are different in their rules regarding trout fishing during the closed season with most either being fly only or not allowing it whatsoever so it's worth asking the question before rocking up to the river and starting to chuck lures everywhere. You could save yourself from being banned or ending up in court!</p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was an overcast day with a biting wind and the river was carrying slightly but it was good to be back fishing running water again albeit in a somewhat limited way.</span> I started the day fishing tiny jigheads with creature type lures such as micro shrimps and crayfish with little success other than a few gentle taps. As lunchtime approached I switched to a dropshot setup and caught a small browny straight away and I really thought I'd found the method of the day, how wrong I was!</p><p>Nothing else happened for an hour or so so I decided to change to a tiny crankbait I had in my bag. It was a mega cheap thing I'd ordered on eBay for about £1.50 and to be honest I'd only brought it along to see what action, if any, it had. As you can imagine I was somewhat shocked when my first cast resulted in a savage thump and a lost fish!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu9PLkOKjMaMiYZzlqB6trAe9M-1N0FGbPYVytmxAd_UPg5V_VMPkdHUWe6M3OpbA_oOnWXTaUpvqbLe5N02-WDp8w826e_X2QxRTbfqAyQjg7PWfxLMcCugFiG-rYYmpLsdynFbcQQ/s2048/Photo%25252020160511215636835.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixu9PLkOKjMaMiYZzlqB6trAe9M-1N0FGbPYVytmxAd_UPg5V_VMPkdHUWe6M3OpbA_oOnWXTaUpvqbLe5N02-WDp8w826e_X2QxRTbfqAyQjg7PWfxLMcCugFiG-rYYmpLsdynFbcQQ/s500/Photo%25252020160511215636835.jpg" id="blogsy-1463000318836.689" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="408"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Over the next hour I hooked several Trout and the takes were properly violent. I missed several good thumps in various swims but still ended up landing five fish so the day turned out to be a good one after all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW_41YMzmjXQRm5qmNuAyxGzRIpUoLDfvAVF3sVc3relojhoHRkRoRYdqdaZ_r5mETMJfSWEVFrgqD7LSJEU0rcI-9-rkZfsBrHmIZnrjfSSthx0WdpTo16U2l9i7-UZAi9ikfkY5HA/s1600/Photo%25252020160511215636898.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW_41YMzmjXQRm5qmNuAyxGzRIpUoLDfvAVF3sVc3relojhoHRkRoRYdqdaZ_r5mETMJfSWEVFrgqD7LSJEU0rcI-9-rkZfsBrHmIZnrjfSSthx0WdpTo16U2l9i7-UZAi9ikfkY5HA/s500/Photo%25252020160511215636898.jpg" id="blogsy-1463000318861.1853" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> Since the back end of April the lure match calendar has really begun to kick in and my first one for a while was the 1st round of the LACC pairs league which was held at knowle locks on the GUC. </p><p>After an initial gamble didn't pay off, myself and partner in crime Carl had to think on our feet as we were seriously trailing behind the leaders at the halfway point. Eventually we managed to find a few tiny Perch to amass a total length of 2.38m for a hard earned 4th place overall which gives us some decent points to build on throughout the rest of the series. 11 points puts us in 5th place leaguewise at the moment but it's tight so still all to play for!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOxUevZlEseMBA8WjPgRepJ2TKx8dIwW-UXUKXHiySjMVBWzLpvlhXN-Gc1Y8_hFz3QzG8eLRDcQ7skOyGnQ543EkJq2pdO7fI9GZ3eKRuTnPpsQtpDs_oJA7QpKQI78E_4d0y3XKCQ/s631/Photo%25252020160511215636919.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOxUevZlEseMBA8WjPgRepJ2TKx8dIwW-UXUKXHiySjMVBWzLpvlhXN-Gc1Y8_hFz3QzG8eLRDcQ7skOyGnQ543EkJq2pdO7fI9GZ3eKRuTnPpsQtpDs_oJA7QpKQI78E_4d0y3XKCQ/s500/Photo%25252020160511215636919.jpg" id="blogsy-1463000318843.4155" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="460" height="631"></a></div><p> My most recent match was the International lure challenge run by the CRT and angling trust building bridges initiative. Teams from England, Poland, Romania and Lithuania were to battle it out on the GUC at leamington with prizes for both team and individual glory.</p><p>To be honest I wasn't sure about this one as my only previous dealings with Eastern European anglers was from a bailiffs point of view if you know what I mean! The point of the match was integration with a competitive edge and Each competitor had to team up with a member of one of the opposing teams and in my case I drew a Polish guy called Robert who turned out to be a really nice chap as it happened. There was over 70 anglers on an 8mile stretch of canal, the weather was set to be a sunny scorcher and the boats were out in force before the match even started,this was going to be tough! To add to the difficulty there was minimum size limits on qualifying fish, 20cm for Perch, 25cm for Zander and 45cm for Pike, anything under these sizes wouldn't count.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxV42h22zeZ9JnZzSUbJPlceo5rdpS_6bP0pyWtudt3C0qcotC13_poyKO6X5XF2tPus8X-ZVqoVf9DAnR19VvrMM1TGHpUR45RD_Ndn_x-1FqDDMpx5FHe_xFsXAiHj1YjPrjHFA6og/s1276/Photo%25252020160511215636959.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxV42h22zeZ9JnZzSUbJPlceo5rdpS_6bP0pyWtudt3C0qcotC13_poyKO6X5XF2tPus8X-ZVqoVf9DAnR19VvrMM1TGHpUR45RD_Ndn_x-1FqDDMpx5FHe_xFsXAiHj1YjPrjHFA6og/s500/Photo%25252020160511215636959.jpg" id="blogsy-1463000318806.266" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="225"></a></div><p> </p><p>Fortunately we were drawn 4th or 5th out of the bag and got an early start. Seeing as the stretch was so long the organisers allowed driving so I persuaded Robert to head straight to the car and we headed straight to a spot I knew would hold a few. Great minds think alike because my SHUK teammate Carl and his Romanian partner were already at the spot when we arrived!</p><p>The size limits meant that wasp fishing was out of the question so my opening gambit was to be dropshotting 3inch plus lures in an attempt to find some Zander. 90% of the opposition seemed to be using 2-5inch shads on jigheads so I figured the different presentation of a dropshot approach might make the difference especially with the bright sunshine. The lure up off the bottom creates more of a profile in the murk for the fish to see, that was my thinking anyway.</p><p>I hooked on my lure as I approached the canal, dropped it in and had a sharp pluck within seconds which resulted in a 22cm Perch, a great start I couldn't believe it! Next spot I tried was a similar story and 37cm Zander was hurriedly netted and quickly followed by a 25cm fish! 30mins into the match and my length was up to 84cm already. Our team was keeping in touch via Facebook and it was quickly apparent that very little else was being caught.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tEaeuZPlZ3fxQudtIXZ6YaM4WzFdkOZ-WyQ4I7htVFUlJmB6wt9SJbQCdnHQ0zrZX3_rDDcYbj2vn5sTySJtXoFL7bDgKNuME-7BTBatUFWjIRtgDNBcHKdH1uuUccldyaxeeWpYRA/s2048/Photo%25252020160511215637050.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tEaeuZPlZ3fxQudtIXZ6YaM4WzFdkOZ-WyQ4I7htVFUlJmB6wt9SJbQCdnHQ0zrZX3_rDDcYbj2vn5sTySJtXoFL7bDgKNuME-7BTBatUFWjIRtgDNBcHKdH1uuUccldyaxeeWpYRA/s500/Photo%25252020160511215637050.jpg" id="blogsy-1463000318783.1367" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="340"></a></div><p> </p><p>As I expected with the boat traffic the canal got very coloured very quickly and the fishing became mega tough all round. I was keen to build on my early good start however and kept plugging away at it. Over the next four hours I had just 4 bites which, fortunately resulted in 3 more qualifying Perch included 2 over 30cm. </p><p>At 7hours the match was a long one and with 2 hours to go I was on 1.74m total length. The towpath was exceptionally busy with walkers and cyclists and by mid afternoon the fish had all but switched off, I really couldn't buy a bite and dispondancy was setting in a little. I knew I had a good total as the information which was creeping in was telling me that most were struggling badly. A Romanian guy had found some Zander though apparently as had a polish chap who had jumped in my original spot and camped there. I was kicking myself for leaving it but I had found fish elsewhere so couldn't be too upset about it, a look at his total gave him 1.63m so I was just in front! A 69cm Zander was reported as I headed back to base but I was quietly confident of a top 10 result.</p><p>As people rolled in it turned out that one or two people had a few fish but many more had really struggled and even blanked. I started to get twitchy as several people reported multiple Zander catches. I tried to sit back and relax with a beer as we all waited for the results to be announced but it was no good, people kept telling me I was in the lead and the tension was killing me!</p><p>Finally, after a few group photos, the individual results were announced. Third place with 1.63m is ............... Blimey! I was Second! .........second place with 1.66m is ........ Bloody hell! Bloody hell!!! ..... First place with 1.74m is ........ I was already in a daze and My teammates were already shaking my hand as they announced my name, I don't even remember walking up to accept my prize I just remember standing there grinning like a moron with a certificate and the best part of £300 in my hand, speechless was an understatement!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkLXwUOX1lukckzZmwZ3UOMtBBEXjW9k36gRaiYH9lyEv7Np8Ezx8gOv-KdZGihuiZhIDzqWZMWko7wwxIvpaHar5V_8k9YFeqrgo8Ztmber6bsZmuOgFU48Q5tgkydm8zfxuFNGZJw/s557/Photo%25252020160511215637073.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkLXwUOX1lukckzZmwZ3UOMtBBEXjW9k36gRaiYH9lyEv7Np8Ezx8gOv-KdZGihuiZhIDzqWZMWko7wwxIvpaHar5V_8k9YFeqrgo8Ztmber6bsZmuOgFU48Q5tgkydm8zfxuFNGZJw/s500/Photo%25252020160511215637073.jpg" id="blogsy-1463000318868.1038" class="aligncenter" width="396" height="557" alt=""></a></div><p>So there it was, my first ever match win! The only comparable feelings I've had before in my fishing was when I caught my first 30lb carp and my first 4lb Perch!</p><p>Despite my win and Carl managing a fantastic 4th place overall the English team was beaten back to third place behind Poland and Romania in the team event. Everybody had a laugh and an enjoyable day out of it however and I would certainly attend next years event if given the opportunity again. In the meantime I have new rods to buy .......... :-D</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-42360529413182290592016-04-09T08:19:00.001+01:002016-04-09T08:19:00.955+01:00Streetfishing - Amsterdam style<p>I have been fishing a fair bit since my last post on here and to be honest its been much of a muchness, lots of canal fishing and not enough river action due to some pretty evil conditions. Rather than boring you with the mundane details of that instead I will tell you a bit about a recent trip to holland. </p><p>Back in the autumn I was offered the chance to go and fish the open street event on the canals of Amsterdam at the back end of February. I didn't need asking twice and travel and hotel arrangements were quickly made. After that I pretty much forgot about it until the week before when the realisation that I might need to get some stuff ready finally hit me<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxUcL_qfeSLdYqnK9ZgUwHTdxZV_8gTgcpGkTla1IndwrdFD0-h4Cum9eCKHMT6KruRLYJJn6xDtXQISRzWOPAeS7qNLCOROcpKD2iJh7ueoTtUOnKYS-4QTFHAl9X_YxVxOxuhyg9g/s1463/Photo%25252020160409081202710.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxUcL_qfeSLdYqnK9ZgUwHTdxZV_8gTgcpGkTla1IndwrdFD0-h4Cum9eCKHMT6KruRLYJJn6xDtXQISRzWOPAeS7qNLCOROcpKD2iJh7ueoTtUOnKYS-4QTFHAl9X_YxVxOxuhyg9g/s500/Photo%25252020160409081202710.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339259.154" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="428"></a></div><p>Not knowing exactly what to expect saw me pack two rods, a light dropshot and a medium jigging setup as I had been advised it was fishing very hard and even the locals were struggling. Seeing as we were flying out there I was limited due to weight restrictions so I had to scale things back as much as I could. A small bag, my rods/reels and landing net was all I took tacklewise and my partner in crime,Potto, took the same. We manage to shoehorn both lots of gear into one suitcase and a flight tube which was pretty good going I thought!</p><p>Eventually the big day arrived and, after an infeasibly early start, myself and travelling companions Potto, Steve and Nick all found ourselves stood outside schiphol airport awaiting our pickup. Local angler And event organiser Frans soon arrived with his van and we all piled in and headed to his tackle shop. There we met other locals Gab, Richard and Leo and, after a quick coffee and sorting out some licenses we wasted no time getting tackled up and heading out onto the streets for some practice!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDjoYhmB1PsgBf54dZKo5qt-kQKXpYfN4vdfDC42ghfOGqXfnb0jqDdhUkY-leunlYgfjKAd8l1gCrH4dGilEOCjTbIfxz6E9aIlTqtePsRzHdC4712R1o5pa0xbFoz1p33Inl_Yq5A/s1136/Photo%25252020160409081202744.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDjoYhmB1PsgBf54dZKo5qt-kQKXpYfN4vdfDC42ghfOGqXfnb0jqDdhUkY-leunlYgfjKAd8l1gCrH4dGilEOCjTbIfxz6E9aIlTqtePsRzHdC4712R1o5pa0xbFoz1p33Inl_Yq5A/s500/Photo%25252020160409081202744.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339320.8335" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5ComI2O7yGUuKa4atKKu1Ah-0YtgLPUjUkWGiS_bU80k9yIuVitbry8pcTQJmDTRMlgJ9gD_CM_Wyl6tJPkvjuGp2BhOHgjGxEomPxw1HWAMn44yoqy0wgFKW09-xDQRtg6eKnWd0Q/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081202873.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5ComI2O7yGUuKa4atKKu1Ah-0YtgLPUjUkWGiS_bU80k9yIuVitbry8pcTQJmDTRMlgJ9gD_CM_Wyl6tJPkvjuGp2BhOHgjGxEomPxw1HWAMn44yoqy0wgFKW09-xDQRtg6eKnWd0Q/s500/Photo%25252020160409081202873.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339306.0168" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>Although I have carp fished in holland before I was still struck by the sheer amount of water to go at out there, every corner turned presented us with a new canal and some were truly huge. The size of the boats motoring up and down them put our poxy little narrow boats to shame!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m5GucSpqnThcst-G2-B_Ib6dL3rl53HaBc09-aC9JpU34FSYnhz7spS34OTP4TSOmBtAjeffqTtO4x_4UO_i0u6yPG3Nhw9wqHIreQNq-Tsq6a2fOuVsFRGagv21cgtOUCGr3vwuMQ/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081202983.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2m5GucSpqnThcst-G2-B_Ib6dL3rl53HaBc09-aC9JpU34FSYnhz7spS34OTP4TSOmBtAjeffqTtO4x_4UO_i0u6yPG3Nhw9wqHIreQNq-Tsq6a2fOuVsFRGagv21cgtOUCGr3vwuMQ/s500/Photo%25252020160409081202983.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339321.8647" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> </p><p>We started in an area on the northern bank of the river Amstel and the fishing proved to be very tough as we expected. Steve had a tiny perch first cast and Gab managed to nail a jack but the rest of us remained biteless despite our best efforts. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MlZ8-SEzglKu9KjAX821MWy21dphXBkUJuOVdGXKUC8XwDCV8CgCe-Z9SQQvg6Ljm0nMJNYDhOzGcMd6uZGZwarHLoxRGrll1VxLoS-Febo-GGVv6kaVxHVqA5BEM9qFOReYBiwaOw/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081203067.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MlZ8-SEzglKu9KjAX821MWy21dphXBkUJuOVdGXKUC8XwDCV8CgCe-Z9SQQvg6Ljm0nMJNYDhOzGcMd6uZGZwarHLoxRGrll1VxLoS-Febo-GGVv6kaVxHVqA5BEM9qFOReYBiwaOw/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203067.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339315.8965" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>There was so much structure to fish to it was difficult to pick out fish holding areas. It all looked good but due, I think, to the size of the venue, the fish were massively spread out and only a few of these spots actually contained fish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8W5fDoaPedDrcvyaBXVFT20q0B81Zgmm2PMxS6TAu6Hmni8kf-aGTRCPafVx1XzvDBLfH062cXHY9TR8twuOn77V1CHmFh2dfdSfBy4uSM3U3_lUOO7_lto3EGpxVxuF0b6JinnAlg/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081203148.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8W5fDoaPedDrcvyaBXVFT20q0B81Zgmm2PMxS6TAu6Hmni8kf-aGTRCPafVx1XzvDBLfH062cXHY9TR8twuOn77V1CHmFh2dfdSfBy4uSM3U3_lUOO7_lto3EGpxVxuF0b6JinnAlg/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203148.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339233.79" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're not the only ones with cormorant issues!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>After the early start I was feeling somewhat jaded and struggling to concentrate and I think that feeling was shared with the others so we decided to have breakfast at a local cafe before continuing our quest on the much busier south side of the river.</p><p>It certainly was much busier too and as we disembarked from the ferry outside Amsterdam Central station and nearly got wiped out by several mopeds and pushbikes I knew to keep my wits about me!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZPeANefbx9wmJUXK1ZeYsNE9G128Dt4kgUAWsvndSFEFI03ghVDK3RCcHBU8Ui1HxMr5BdwnvSAcHwyZoQKnYGBQ4ZF3JoFKpbqGwMsQrH4ya2_zKnhRKrqCFRywFOvMUHQ2t0vM-Q/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081203244.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZPeANefbx9wmJUXK1ZeYsNE9G128Dt4kgUAWsvndSFEFI03ghVDK3RCcHBU8Ui1HxMr5BdwnvSAcHwyZoQKnYGBQ4ZF3JoFKpbqGwMsQrH4ya2_zKnhRKrqCFRywFOvMUHQ2t0vM-Q/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203244.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339274.7568" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>We started around the boats outside the station and the sheer depth was the defining feature here, it must have been 30ft at least under the rod tip! After an hour or so with no bites between us we decided to head through the station and into the streets beyond.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD_V7xfL7bbGdOvY5puP87Of2WC9Ju_y9kRjnnyRYB-WWSF-UaeEJb5T6dkwjxIqEnOrDy8yZ_tp06qFI3W0BIBYBIyaaLTKU8xlMVKnb1FnnukL-KVZDRVBOadu6GJRLWSzLb7Rkng/s1334/Photo%25252020160409081203299.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD_V7xfL7bbGdOvY5puP87Of2WC9Ju_y9kRjnnyRYB-WWSF-UaeEJb5T6dkwjxIqEnOrDy8yZ_tp06qFI3W0BIBYBIyaaLTKU8xlMVKnb1FnnukL-KVZDRVBOadu6GJRLWSzLb7Rkng/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203299.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339318.732" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPyhZTt2QqbH4i99V52ITy00Q6V0gjH8PjqsWtMJzspVWh2JAp2HPy9yODhvFOjri0QPLQzuS1wcugpF1dzIMBWtIUiFhunYUhWOUH5W9K5g1GhVW9JRwOVXVovU7zsRTW_oej0Mpyg/s1280/Photo%25252020160409081203360.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPyhZTt2QqbH4i99V52ITy00Q6V0gjH8PjqsWtMJzspVWh2JAp2HPy9yODhvFOjri0QPLQzuS1wcugpF1dzIMBWtIUiFhunYUhWOUH5W9K5g1GhVW9JRwOVXVovU7zsRTW_oej0Mpyg/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203360.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339326.9739" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>Moving through the crowds was impossible with the rods made up so breaking them down was the only option. Nobody seemed to bat an eyelid at these weirdos walking amongst them with fishing tackle, it was certainly not like the UK where people look at you like you've got two heads!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK61GCLxKurBsTERE8-Z-WLcyj-2URI3jbYWem4QqE6JZ2BK7mkjcEsWwh_ZnHc6-T2mkY0OAudbkhB8qWHhOvpT3UhM4mdcFhUU-NjHQLFIth6x5-nwg1kDFlJC1oTQy60jhwTcBXg/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081203435.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK61GCLxKurBsTERE8-Z-WLcyj-2URI3jbYWem4QqE6JZ2BK7mkjcEsWwh_ZnHc6-T2mkY0OAudbkhB8qWHhOvpT3UhM4mdcFhUU-NjHQLFIth6x5-nwg1kDFlJC1oTQy60jhwTcBXg/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203435.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339266.976" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> </p><p>Dropping in off the first bridge we came to yielded a nice perch and zander to our group which lifted our spirits and we thought we'd found a few fish but after another fishless half hour we moved on into the red light district.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeOwscdMhjkG_hApmLHrpO3XKzUUC5bXwXLz6oNAtjITn-TZxePLgjC8n8sKjjok__yG4UjO1Yqokpv2kUftT7RY70ZJTDpKUFKml-nn-3O0Ip5Q48dNEKKTU4Pgy6jPAMAaAQ6Yr4Q/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081203515.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqeOwscdMhjkG_hApmLHrpO3XKzUUC5bXwXLz6oNAtjITn-TZxePLgjC8n8sKjjok__yG4UjO1Yqokpv2kUftT7RY70ZJTDpKUFKml-nn-3O0Ip5Q48dNEKKTU4Pgy6jPAMAaAQ6Yr4Q/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203515.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339253.2727" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> </p><p>Here the canals were a lot smaller, shallow and more intimate and although I missed a couple of plucks I still never caught a thing. We didn't give it much longer after that before heading to another tackle shop to get some lures and then onwards to the hotel.</p><p>The following day after a good nights sleep, our group split up and did our thing. There was a canal Imediately behind the hotel which potto and I decided to try for a bit but the sun was very bright and not surprisingly we blanked.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rnfmOODTJN4Oew-T0frAJpYa_aDf74sEKcrT6lZcsKGhbRvZMrKXyi1dNSeuT3eVapHCeKAy8mr_AcEuQqtCE5TglMEGKupYp26TPimkU1qcCiNc4v3VMDGvV-yDI0JzoPWkR9ihQA/s1136/Photo%25252020160409081203565.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rnfmOODTJN4Oew-T0frAJpYa_aDf74sEKcrT6lZcsKGhbRvZMrKXyi1dNSeuT3eVapHCeKAy8mr_AcEuQqtCE5TglMEGKupYp26TPimkU1qcCiNc4v3VMDGvV-yDI0JzoPWkR9ihQA/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203565.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339308.9482" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>From there we walked into Amsterdam town which was much further than we anticipated but there was plenty of water to try on the way, all of it barren it seemed! We wanted to concentrate on the area where the match was going to be and seeing as it was so tough the object was to just find some fish!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowVuO8zh7hAx66XrY7djo_iyfufBvm1VhKIE0FebkdtgJcaPRBOfH4WtmJaldRajq5nESQGxwy1a6CPS37R5G2SWQpAHqdMri6LgfhEsoCc8IbsMVMXE_sVHybZhLXvL069qcKcQ-dg/s1334/Photo%25252020160409081203604.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowVuO8zh7hAx66XrY7djo_iyfufBvm1VhKIE0FebkdtgJcaPRBOfH4WtmJaldRajq5nESQGxwy1a6CPS37R5G2SWQpAHqdMri6LgfhEsoCc8IbsMVMXE_sVHybZhLXvL069qcKcQ-dg/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203604.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339298.9995" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-saZEOkb3FJ12hMxbPkxHqtw0igPM6s7aZtD7Z-iFVF4zQasaMMZ0F2-iqsB3KhSTnhaGceC-5ggOifzMcNDdqAo9ESc3cM7K-6LnsW86gzZrsfC5FxxS94Qjy7yK6Tg7JkTUJufMQ/s1334/Photo%25252020160409081203651.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-saZEOkb3FJ12hMxbPkxHqtw0igPM6s7aZtD7Z-iFVF4zQasaMMZ0F2-iqsB3KhSTnhaGceC-5ggOifzMcNDdqAo9ESc3cM7K-6LnsW86gzZrsfC5FxxS94Qjy7yK6Tg7JkTUJufMQ/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203651.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339262.5808" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> </p><p>We found some cracking looking spots but with it being Saturday everywhere was crazy busy with boat traffic and people. I got run over twice by people on pushbikes so we decided to head to a quieter area in the suburbs. On the map there appeared to be a nice looking loop around the back of the cities zoo so we headed over there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA5JUxoj4KkDCGlA9DAt0pOsfbQl7IWspYqEwwZtvFXZ8MbtNwJCNoU-pmmP4wwqNtlcfclDEYQQk733ZdBsR453Buzx-XSiHDceoErBJmdbPl-c5RVkEC1WAd7XMnLTj1YySnpi_rA/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081203823.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnA5JUxoj4KkDCGlA9DAt0pOsfbQl7IWspYqEwwZtvFXZ8MbtNwJCNoU-pmmP4wwqNtlcfclDEYQQk733ZdBsR453Buzx-XSiHDceoErBJmdbPl-c5RVkEC1WAd7XMnLTj1YySnpi_rA/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203823.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339319.701" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>It was indeed a lot quieter and the water was much less coloured too, for the first time since the morning I was actually quite confident. By now it was late afternoon and we didn't have long before darkness fell. I changed my lure to a little reins number remarking to potto that it was my top zander catcher and within a couple of casts I hit a pluck which turned out to be my first and very welcome Dutch zander!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrHz_sMZIrK487w2WBvZuuMYTSMqflMJ2H642CzBryt5hwunzFpJPlA8Uam422Kcg2GYa1S0p_8ughzfIUi_eXbrLbYYVn8KnMbXhLfW4KMRpQ-I10gOIdRfXYRhIZqkfVT3nAOYXLQ/s1136/Photo%25252020160409081203865.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrHz_sMZIrK487w2WBvZuuMYTSMqflMJ2H642CzBryt5hwunzFpJPlA8Uam422Kcg2GYa1S0p_8ughzfIUi_eXbrLbYYVn8KnMbXhLfW4KMRpQ-I10gOIdRfXYRhIZqkfVT3nAOYXLQ/s500/Photo%25252020160409081203865.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339236.0125" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>We fished on for a short while afterwards before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the evenings shenannigans. Four other lads from the UK had come over for the match and we were already overdue to meet up with them in town.</p><p>Ahem, Fast forward to the following morning and everybody was late getting up, in fact by the time we assembled in the hotel lobby there was only around 30minutes of registration time left before the match started and we still had to get halfway across the city! Despite certain members of our party being somewhat worse for wear and dealing with a stroppy taxi driver we made it by the skin of our teeth and registered with less than five minutes to spare.</p><p>After the group photo the shout went up and everybody set forth across the city. Potto was still a bit worse for wear from the previous evening so we headed the opposite direction to the bulk of the crowds and after a ten minute walk we found our bearings and came upon a spot we had fished a day previously. </p><p>I was surprised to get a tap first put in and I reeled in a tiny perch which dropped off as I lifted it out of the water, I wasn't too worried though as it was way undersize for the match and it was a good sign. A couple of casts later and I hooked another tiddler which proved to be an unexpected oddity in the form of a Goby!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-kNVRm2d-2c3SfQUgowFWZKJUqpNW9omABw4EaAOalp8D32YEfdpdQMTqLCFHv1tUATauYLfwUe12XZoSXcFic6QNOTA_jGNAVPKxLzf14M-dmKUTJ_PAS1G8qgi_rvuRCmUbn1Waw/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081204016.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-kNVRm2d-2c3SfQUgowFWZKJUqpNW9omABw4EaAOalp8D32YEfdpdQMTqLCFHv1tUATauYLfwUe12XZoSXcFic6QNOTA_jGNAVPKxLzf14M-dmKUTJ_PAS1G8qgi_rvuRCmUbn1Waw/s500/Photo%25252020160409081204016.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339290.7817" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> One of the Dutch lads informed me that these are quite common around Amsterdam as are other saltwater fish such as flounder and mullet as the water has a quite a brackish content in it.</p><p>I fished on in the spot for another 45mins, losing another fish and missing a couple of bites before we decided to move on to pastures new. Ideally we would've liked to fish back on the loop behind the zoo where I caught the Zander the previous day but we weren't 100percent sure how far away it was from where we were or how to get there.</p><p>As we fished I made a note of the nearest ferry movements and they all seemed to converge on Amsterdam central so we headed across the river. A few other lads were already working the whole area around there and , unsurprisingly, potto and I failed to trouble the scoresheet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqBF4HINoHjxnLccP6AKSaQxoo_Mof6znPaUsNpnyO40ihT5wubeHRGFttFPB6iQrLZ0Vpr9J0e67LLPsCwocqYHbO41_151Q9oHNBNLVNfc1gCkUpsw5RLwcuFoIia20SXqnWKKmpw/s2048/Photo%25252020160409081204159.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqBF4HINoHjxnLccP6AKSaQxoo_Mof6znPaUsNpnyO40ihT5wubeHRGFttFPB6iQrLZ0Vpr9J0e67LLPsCwocqYHbO41_151Q9oHNBNLVNfc1gCkUpsw5RLwcuFoIia20SXqnWKKmpw/s500/Photo%25252020160409081204159.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339313.2734" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> </p><p>Back over the river and we continued to blank, the icy cold wind was picking up and to be honest I'd kind of lost interest in the fishing. The previous couple of days exertions had finally caught up with me and I was pretty fed up with dropping into superb looking spots and getting no reward whatsoever. Upon our return to the cafe noorderlicht a few other anglers had already returned with nothing to report. In fact by the time everybody returned it was apparent that 90percent of the field had blanked! The lads that won and placed all did so with a handful of Zander between them so it was certainly a tough one!</p><p>We departed from the venue and went straight to the airport and I eventually walked through my front door six long hours later. I was knackered but despite the hard fishing I had really enjoyed myself, potto was great company and it was interesting doing something outside my normal fishing boundaries. Would I do it again? Maybe if the fishing was slightly better next time!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWmssUYmnlCEQHZsoJvsOc3MhVJRmkGQ2CfH31P6SUqrvTZJ2OM25cb2VVxP4jQ_qb5e_OOzzHOb7NzdFWJ67-y49LpD_dys1DYUq3jdeiInYwpZr4I1Ibiza4DSspMpIt-uvzx0FfQ/s1136/Photo%25252020160409081204196.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWmssUYmnlCEQHZsoJvsOc3MhVJRmkGQ2CfH31P6SUqrvTZJ2OM25cb2VVxP4jQ_qb5e_OOzzHOb7NzdFWJ67-y49LpD_dys1DYUq3jdeiInYwpZr4I1Ibiza4DSspMpIt-uvzx0FfQ/s500/Photo%25252020160409081204196.jpg" id="blogsy-1460186339261.4226" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-91598765544313567692016-01-06T19:56:00.001+00:002016-01-06T19:56:45.626+00:00Canals, some observations
<p> Aside from my dalliances with the competition side of things I also managed to get in plenty of other trips during the latter weeks of 2015. As is now usual for me these days it was all lure orientated and involved walking many many miles of the midland canal network. I'm in it for bites these days, the fun aspect far outweighs the pursuit of specimens for me at the moment which is why I've been scouring as many stretches of canal as possible, searching out those elusive hotspots.</p>
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<p>Until the last few months I never realised just how interesting and diverse canals are for angling opportunities. On the face of it they are much of a muchness, very samey, often quite bleak looking and it can be difficult to know where to start. I don't profess to be an expert myself but not a single session has passed where I haven't taken something at least from it and learnt something new.</p>
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<p>So far for me, bridges have been far and away the most consistent spots in terms of fish attracting features. Most offer slightly deeper water in the margins which, on shallow canals, can make a huge difference. Small perch abound tight to the concrete and brick walls whilst the middle track beneath bridges often throws up some better quality fish. The width of the bridge can be a crucial factor too, the small brick built types often found on rural stretches are usually home to perch and maybe the odd small zander whereas the wider, darker concrete ones spanning main roads in towns for example are more reliable for better zander and bigger perch. Tunnels and railway bridges are zander hotspots and most rarely fail to produce an enquiry or two.</p>
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<p>Locks and lock pounds, whilst very attractive to anglers, can be very hit and miss from what I've found, a prime example being flights of locks where you have several sets over a very short distance. Some pounds in these flights are invariably barren of fish life whilst the next pound along may be stuffed to the gunnels. This is mostly,I feel, down to inconsiderate or inexperienced boaters draining the pounds down to nothing by leaving sluices open or gates slightly ajar. As an example, There's a 13 lock flight just outside Northampton and after fishing it several times now I can confirm that at least nine of the pounds are pretty much devoid of fish, in fact last time out, 2 pounds were almost empty of water. I've seen similar things at Stockton and Hatton aswell in recent weeks so in 2016 I will be avoiding such areas like the plague!</p>
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<p>Single locks with long stretches of canal either side can be good for a few bites but they are absolute magnets for other lure anglers and it's very easy to tell if somebody has been through prior to ones visit because the fish can be very cagey and hard to tempt. I find the fish often move away from them once the first boat of the day has been through too, often moving back in just before dark after the last boat.</p>
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<p>Moored boats are always worth a cast or two with permanently moored ones worthy of extra attention for sure. Areas with reeds in the margins are generally quite silted up and shallow and have not been good areas for me so far so I tend to avoid unless I find at least 2ft+ of water next to them. Rural tree lined areas are also often very shallow beneath the trees and in these spots I find the middle track to be most productive . These swims are often quite snaggy too with loads of twigs and branches scattered around on the bottom. </p>
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<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Stretches with metal shuttering or concrete banks are usually deeper than natural banks and I spend a lot of time working the margins in such spots. Bends and junctions again are good areas to head for as the flow and the the boat traffic tend to scour the bottom out that little bit more. One thing I do look for on any canal is the deeper areas because in fish holding terms the difference between 2ft deep and 3ft deep can make a massive difference.</span></p>
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<p>I find it amazing how long, straight and boring looking stretches seemingly hold next to nothing as you work along them then suddenly you'll hit the jackpot and catch several from a particular spot even though it looks no different from the rest of the area. A return to the same swim the following week often turns up nothing as the fish have obviously moved on.</p>
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<p>As I've often mentioned in previous posts, the colour of the water has always been a major thing for me as I've really struggled to get my head around how the fish can find the lure in heavily coloured conditions. Thankfully my recent trips to the grand union in particular are really helping my confidence on this front and I've found that by spending more time in each spot and slowing things down bites will come. Don't ask me how they locate the lure but they certainly manage somehow and the takes can often be really violent.</p>
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<p> To the uninitiated, canals with their muddy water, rubbish, boats, dog muck, chavs and cyclists may seem a nightmare place to wet a line. To the enlightened however they offer some very interesting sport and you never quite know what your going to catch next. For me, I have a long long way to go before I truly understand such venues and how to get the most from them but it will be an enjoyable journey that's for sure!</p>
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<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-25482248546229604502016-01-02T00:01:00.001+00:002016-01-02T00:01:22.773+00:00Match time!<p>Seeing as it's been a while since my last post and we are now into 2016 I think I need to start bringing this blog up to date a little!</p><p>Carrying on from where my last entry left off, my next trip out after grafham was the Lure Anglers Canal Club pairs match in Warwick. This was to be my first ever canal match and it was on a stretch I'd only fished once before so I was somewhat nervous as I entered the carpark and saw all the other competitors getting their kit sorted. There was 28 pairs fishing but I soon spotted a couple of familiar faces including my partner in crime Carl so It wasn't long before I managed to settle into game mode.</p><p>Carl and I drew number 17 out of the bag which meant seeing as Teams were to be set off at 10 second intervals we would be 17th in the que. Not a great start as it meant there was 16 teams in front of us to get to the hotspots first! </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYL88ZgcQ2oDxEwquEX9tKKs_J_eOToP-cJqwXA55pKyol4bY06JgzqSxYfKMYpmTVuQaOe3ULOLta24Chuo_Iu6qJBxvA0lZVUTmQ3p61GSHFr1BbGMOlVuJfR_XQlbhNUzBXRdQRQ/s630/Photo%25252020160101235906922.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYL88ZgcQ2oDxEwquEX9tKKs_J_eOToP-cJqwXA55pKyol4bY06JgzqSxYfKMYpmTVuQaOe3ULOLta24Chuo_Iu6qJBxvA0lZVUTmQ3p61GSHFr1BbGMOlVuJfR_XQlbhNUzBXRdQRQ/s500/Photo%25252020160101235906922.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881110.2554" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="424"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> The teams set forth.......</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Our plan was to try and slot in somewhere around the hire boatyard as this was a known hotspot and hopefully snag a couple of fish before moving on. By the time we got there two teams were already in residence and there was at least three further along the moored boats nearby. We managed to squeeze in further along but it was a less than explosive start for us as we both struggled to get a bite. Teams either side of us had landed fish but more teams were incoming along the canal too so we moved on slightly further to some fresh water.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCga5NLGsj89c8CjGE6BPujsOfNJDWkbZVEalpuv4EsCAWps3FHrXZj20ui3f-J8A4j6QdP9uoSsdzXoZXeG2vwHSBV-sLrL43X76VSAaQGM8Cfg011rxArlmVksNGGp-Q8xLY9BlGg/s960/Photo%25252020160101235906947.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCga5NLGsj89c8CjGE6BPujsOfNJDWkbZVEalpuv4EsCAWps3FHrXZj20ui3f-J8A4j6QdP9uoSsdzXoZXeG2vwHSBV-sLrL43X76VSAaQGM8Cfg011rxArlmVksNGGp-Q8xLY9BlGg/s500/Photo%25252020160101235906947.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881086.5486" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="393"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> Carl having a stare down with a cat </p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Within minutes Carl had a decent 30cm+ perch and we were off the mark! Buoyed by the success we fished on through the area but no more bites were forthcoming, damn this was tough! I spotted another competitor catch one and a real sense of pressure began to set in. We walked further along to a spot near a bridge which two other anglers had just vacated. Second cast I felt a very slight tap which seemed fishy and this was confirmed on my next cast when I landed my first of the match, another half decent perch.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNDy4TDvZ1hLL5A7FTt23UDtdq6kCIHpv7pUKx9Jp2OXLwqcEzNaU7cPjd3S_4CPiMu6RM2RqxkH94iXFP36tMVfgWjs9894DwqXTp49YKTOtisiVoCnySNEe1EJx_uRdpk9K3yR0TA/s960/Photo%25252020160101235906971.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNDy4TDvZ1hLL5A7FTt23UDtdq6kCIHpv7pUKx9Jp2OXLwqcEzNaU7cPjd3S_4CPiMu6RM2RqxkH94iXFP36tMVfgWjs9894DwqXTp49YKTOtisiVoCnySNEe1EJx_uRdpk9K3yR0TA/s500/Photo%25252020160101235906971.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881065.673" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> Every little helps!</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">By this point we realised that we needed to find fresh unfished water as we felt a lot of the fish were being spooked by the sheer amount of rubber being thrown past them. Fortunately by now there was only a couple of teams in front of us and, knowing there was at least three bridges beyond them we resolved to get to them first as bridges are like fish magnets on every canal we've ever fished so hopefully we'd get a chance or two.</p><p style="text-align: left;">We soon overtook the last team and ten minutes of walking later everybody else was out of sight. Unfortunately the first bridge wasn't what we'd hoped for and was fairly small but high, not offering much cover for any lurking predators. Neither of us had a bite there so off we went to the next which looked way more appealing. It was quite a long bridge and pretty dark under there, perfect!</p><p style="text-align: left;">We setup either side of it and fished intensively. Half a dozen casts in I had a couple of taps which I missed before getting a proper thump on my next cast. The rod hooped over and I knew I'd hooked the zander we so badly needed. A decent looking fish flashed just below the surface just before disaster struck and the hook pulled! Talk about gutted, what a time to lose one! Minutes later however Carl landed the biggest perch so far which softened the blow a little! We fished on for no more bites and another team overtook us so off we went again.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Fortunately the other team got waylaid by some moored boats and we headed on to the next bridge which turned out to be a monster with a main road going over it and pigeons roosting beneath it right in the town center. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I went straight in with my heavier setup in case the zander were about. A sharp tug on my third cast told me they were and a couple of casts later I struck into and landed our first zed of the match, what a relief that was I tell you!</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1TcXrXuqvbOQ2z91JuYgtMubBq7zC2w-3CJJFMM2Jl-Sax2K-i6pnsiG1NDmRV3oNPc47me3I1QrRXhRX80O6GTxASEII6-vTP_ByLIhxYAOiX9hRi1whstI7zJMxwNrOgZqEBGrpQ/s960/Photo%25252020160101235906992.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1TcXrXuqvbOQ2z91JuYgtMubBq7zC2w-3CJJFMM2Jl-Sax2K-i6pnsiG1NDmRV3oNPc47me3I1QrRXhRX80O6GTxASEII6-vTP_ByLIhxYAOiX9hRi1whstI7zJMxwNrOgZqEBGrpQ/s500/Photo%25252020160101235906992.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881110.103" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> Never before has a small zander meant so much!</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Carl too had a couple of pulls before netting another decent Perch, things were looking up! We gave it another 20 mins or so before deciding to head back. We had to be back at the start point by 3pm otherwise we would be disqualified so time management was paramount. We were at least 45mins away so we only had chance to put some time into probably another two spots at most.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Passing a few other teams on the way back it became apparent that most were struggling, either that or they were playing their best poker faces! We stopped at a viaduct which seemed to be twice as deep as the area around it so it had to be worth a look. After around 20mins I recieved a tiny tiny tap which was barely noticeable but instinct told me to strike and I soon had another chunky perch on the mat.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHG09kmV2jokrsojeuVnFWPmcwXQpEY7ZJvxXwIBrAUQ2mAbSUTNkZrEr7E0eY12RjSznABJN95DhKUP0MUqHs3hfGIayja3SOWpRfbdHxNF_2uFFdMU_VD7l73vKr4OzZqzEuo4aNcw/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907014.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHG09kmV2jokrsojeuVnFWPmcwXQpEY7ZJvxXwIBrAUQ2mAbSUTNkZrEr7E0eY12RjSznABJN95DhKUP0MUqHs3hfGIayja3SOWpRfbdHxNF_2uFFdMU_VD7l73vKr4OzZqzEuo4aNcw/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907014.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881109.5522" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"> It's girth was bigger than it length!</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">We dropped in a couple of other spots with no more fish to show for it and soon enough the finish was in sight. A couple of other teams had reported catching a few but we were pleased with what we'd caught as we had fished hard and fished well. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Our five perch and solitary zander totalled 239cm with species bonuses added and we were hoping to scrape into a top ten finish. Considering the quality of the anglers in some of the other teams and the fact we were unfamiliar with the stretch compared to some of these guys we were over the moon when our meagre catch put us in 6th place overall. As you can see, 1st place aside, it was pretty tight at the top so we didn't do too badly at all for our first match.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis420V5Mnz3ychgAU05Y3ZVAYoVO3L-x4ZTaToHRXbi1QxQvm10dn708PYWmC4dRNDNarFreTJCmBHEQKTBeD4UTv2Wg8dYatMNbvRI_C7F8DD5am3GI53S5lWu_61t-Pn8oaJNQaSzg/s1194/Photo%25252020160101235907046.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis420V5Mnz3ychgAU05Y3ZVAYoVO3L-x4ZTaToHRXbi1QxQvm10dn708PYWmC4dRNDNarFreTJCmBHEQKTBeD4UTv2Wg8dYatMNbvRI_C7F8DD5am3GI53S5lWu_61t-Pn8oaJNQaSzg/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907046.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881095.1008" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="394"></a></div><p> </p><p> </p><p>A couple of weeks later It was time for our inaugural Facebook group lure match entitled " Annual Novelty Altogether Length championship" or A.N.A.L championship 2015 as it was so called! Ten of us descended upon a stretch of the grand union near Milton Keynes to thrash it out to see who was the best lure angler amongst our number (or something like that). Obviously it wasn't taken too seriously and much banter ensued, the fishing itself wasn't great but we all caught a few . In the event Jamie (potto) absolutely smashed the competition with over 4m of fish, I came second with 2.3m narrowly beating Carls 2.2m, my 10cm micro zed making all the difference :-)</p><p>As with all of our group jollies to date it proved to be a great day out and a proper laugh, hopefully we can sort out plenty more for 2016! Here's some pics from the day........</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNh795Oo6x9oMY_Rf8vXXLgPPHivSJAP2j6g-uD9i2pntm1wkfM0g-uiSz6i5ZGhQMrCuIPwoe4lC4KEbE83UddysgnZDp78Zn2Ml-SY9hH0SGiTdZthadX6lxFG8DQldkciETBJLGg/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907069.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNh795Oo6x9oMY_Rf8vXXLgPPHivSJAP2j6g-uD9i2pntm1wkfM0g-uiSz6i5ZGhQMrCuIPwoe4lC4KEbE83UddysgnZDp78Zn2Ml-SY9hH0SGiTdZthadX6lxFG8DQldkciETBJLGg/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907069.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881127.2134" class="alignnone" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;">Phil started off seriously.....</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jz1Vi6K5z1-2IO1meS66qN2ELKxFNPgozoX-pLLUobDvHgN75Y33zm_fib_tukdADKP3H5R2kIcVdmQl86Ly7imQGxdM-T5TUN0Hcahvh7MofD1MmSyYqo2u1vPAjrOCj5A6GEtdIw/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907089.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jz1Vi6K5z1-2IO1meS66qN2ELKxFNPgozoX-pLLUobDvHgN75Y33zm_fib_tukdADKP3H5R2kIcVdmQl86Ly7imQGxdM-T5TUN0Hcahvh7MofD1MmSyYqo2u1vPAjrOCj5A6GEtdIw/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907089.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881046.5508" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As did Carl.......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGG7THhoHj9AKgfaa51XEs68pohwWUNhtLE517L4yplAglDYgyBQ5GGK-GFqjxbONJwUakOAjdxyMNRqM-hmwHSiXxpKkEu1qSBNy-2mXASotD6KPvKBf4EqawM-QC_Qr14zZSfQmYQ/s2048/Photo%25252020160101235907141.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGG7THhoHj9AKgfaa51XEs68pohwWUNhtLE517L4yplAglDYgyBQ5GGK-GFqjxbONJwUakOAjdxyMNRqM-hmwHSiXxpKkEu1qSBNy-2mXASotD6KPvKBf4EqawM-QC_Qr14zZSfQmYQ/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907141.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881058.9106" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="300"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mike no so but Baz did for a little while at least!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwa6-JxtIVEfExFompFNQGBv2EPeOPL1Sbqvuu3MrXfX28eVEuVAflTtw7pZbbM5OwC8NCoo0sHnKDJuP57_lJ5GCpTl3lCqNSp4ewG2gInLhnXgE7UQVQR_MbPwPDcn8R0MezC3SYg/s2048/Photo%25252020160101235907180.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwa6-JxtIVEfExFompFNQGBv2EPeOPL1Sbqvuu3MrXfX28eVEuVAflTtw7pZbbM5OwC8NCoo0sHnKDJuP57_lJ5GCpTl3lCqNSp4ewG2gInLhnXgE7UQVQR_MbPwPDcn8R0MezC3SYg/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907180.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881066.6677" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="300"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mike trying Nate for size</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5cmhxHjlO6lSeHD6PJ6nUoqgiMVqgqmXMS5OYHReJTITsAXDmYtKLcKbi-UGKzNON_ilu5C91TmZ8x27encXdGEJ_GsYgvmptN6L09WYoZx2PquuFcC1tJs0GyOsQtS6DX6Z3-rqQg/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907199.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5cmhxHjlO6lSeHD6PJ6nUoqgiMVqgqmXMS5OYHReJTITsAXDmYtKLcKbi-UGKzNON_ilu5C91TmZ8x27encXdGEJ_GsYgvmptN6L09WYoZx2PquuFcC1tJs0GyOsQtS6DX6Z3-rqQg/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907199.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881057.05" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Even at lunchtime Potto was on it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kOJ-QZqw3EKIiiSypOrSt5VBItap2tjEH-ogiJIdRHuF4K6naLc_9W69yBZY5YcaEM6rRDkFeeSgiZL-nbOP_N0ejHBawWHoYZ02K_uDuTPJtocL2rvuFMySn9Ky_34v192tdqXRRQ/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907222.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kOJ-QZqw3EKIiiSypOrSt5VBItap2tjEH-ogiJIdRHuF4K6naLc_9W69yBZY5YcaEM6rRDkFeeSgiZL-nbOP_N0ejHBawWHoYZ02K_uDuTPJtocL2rvuFMySn9Ky_34v192tdqXRRQ/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907222.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881092.9272" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="300"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Perch w**kers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0UonjPd_Gzv_v_W3AXNeX-6BeATDapNix_uI6QlU8z8jiC4CUON3kRuqpmOVX5xzoSBvcYUW739mI91bgbFpFAfTRrPNKSU1TGjM-z9dE29m8bUkgqSC2akpb26F4f_aiH24dA9npA/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907244.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0UonjPd_Gzv_v_W3AXNeX-6BeATDapNix_uI6QlU8z8jiC4CUON3kRuqpmOVX5xzoSBvcYUW739mI91bgbFpFAfTRrPNKSU1TGjM-z9dE29m8bUkgqSC2akpb26F4f_aiH24dA9npA/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907244.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881057.134" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The only snag on the stretch!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL-aTFXjbDZAOAywOn-QWBP5yQxBgyDDJhSkwt7Sk1NHJc7UjZRRbPbehyphenhyphen7BlmhNvr7mtDRBIu3xEo44bnpqW_yykJ8lD3Y56M0Vy2_dsxWIJ82nTdFDjrr3A843PAdKkTStUkbfZUA/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907264.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL-aTFXjbDZAOAywOn-QWBP5yQxBgyDDJhSkwt7Sk1NHJc7UjZRRbPbehyphenhyphen7BlmhNvr7mtDRBIu3xEo44bnpqW_yykJ8lD3Y56M0Vy2_dsxWIJ82nTdFDjrr3A843PAdKkTStUkbfZUA/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907264.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881036.3203" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="325"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> A popular swim for sure!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_DAY8XejzOPtzaMEu7ungr4NBCK6KoXZOYJ5t_V8jwGw-dAiFCcD6KzokYuq0EtHTEskpLS5yoQ-oeb80Bd1W-BzgGLxqmoMrGcpawID0-MpxWsR-noiprymSD_-2dwaAbAFhTSv6w/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907279.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_DAY8XejzOPtzaMEu7ungr4NBCK6KoXZOYJ5t_V8jwGw-dAiFCcD6KzokYuq0EtHTEskpLS5yoQ-oeb80Bd1W-BzgGLxqmoMrGcpawID0-MpxWsR-noiprymSD_-2dwaAbAFhTSv6w/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907279.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881082.0742" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbh_oQRe_yqceENfuVSCDtw4G6SxWkt3liRqT5yRl-QDWDZ7BytPo77vtNcjVBlc_BkJXTZYZ8fgOZMOLg4qX3K_9QOU62Qd3-_SQv3ZWY1p5KiGXak8iAiMzTc1wKTJ0A84XU1YJHQ/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907294.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbh_oQRe_yqceENfuVSCDtw4G6SxWkt3liRqT5yRl-QDWDZ7BytPo77vtNcjVBlc_BkJXTZYZ8fgOZMOLg4qX3K_9QOU62Qd3-_SQv3ZWY1p5KiGXak8iAiMzTc1wKTJ0A84XU1YJHQ/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907294.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881129.9985" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They came in all sizes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEges2lzVURsA44-Gr7DCVQSFtt11YEeVvJrV8ussdHGS_YhFxcR0ZJqwOQZc3KtSTjvxRc5Glm4AcI5mQSEB3I8UcA0Al_hkBnuXjLUq9qDmcUcbp_dpZdZ-S8Ia2v7h6vKkXRptKCRSA/s670/Photo%25252020160101235907306.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEges2lzVURsA44-Gr7DCVQSFtt11YEeVvJrV8ussdHGS_YhFxcR0ZJqwOQZc3KtSTjvxRc5Glm4AcI5mQSEB3I8UcA0Al_hkBnuXjLUq9qDmcUcbp_dpZdZ-S8Ia2v7h6vKkXRptKCRSA/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907306.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881093.2637" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="634"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yeah cheers Nate :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXT_MDnIHjMkKFMU3k8rko3BXZe4ntGcPHeM5-CefC7cYpMgEUYecefjI_WJeqBKPraHAfEFNzy1Oa-yrR-S946oe1_UFQXL5WQVwYLOt5mu7GS_QAdWIFKeeYOMDp404586l_VXMB9g/s960/Photo%25252020160101235907322.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXT_MDnIHjMkKFMU3k8rko3BXZe4ntGcPHeM5-CefC7cYpMgEUYecefjI_WJeqBKPraHAfEFNzy1Oa-yrR-S946oe1_UFQXL5WQVwYLOt5mu7GS_QAdWIFKeeYOMDp404586l_VXMB9g/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907322.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881093.2275" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="596"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My score card, nice name change on there (mike) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR_BRl7rO7cPgUAJRwmMTXsHpZGMEhEl3CytnjJfsYli0TVinwit6w2fKboZANUY5N4jt4UIbZyLUj9gsxtGD8WCVgYcjUoqWlWDRfKiptmUYqwNPbJdTPySSyxbnlsycwQoqSVDreg/s2048/Photo%25252020160101235907371.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR_BRl7rO7cPgUAJRwmMTXsHpZGMEhEl3CytnjJfsYli0TVinwit6w2fKboZANUY5N4jt4UIbZyLUj9gsxtGD8WCVgYcjUoqWlWDRfKiptmUYqwNPbJdTPySSyxbnlsycwQoqSVDreg/s500/Photo%25252020160101235907371.jpg" id="blogsy-1451692881048.1995" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="357" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> In the end there could only be one winner, well done Potto!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-83619836071780424182015-11-08T18:21:00.001+00:002015-11-08T18:27:43.579+00:00Canals, rivers and the big G<p>This is going to be a busy update as I've been covering a lot of water in recent weeks! The canal lure fishing has continued unabated as have my quick 1-2hr trips to the local river. I did break the habit one Saturday with a bait fishing trip chasing chub before embarking upon my first ever trip to the theatre of dreams, or Grafham water as it is better known.</p><p>I recently joined the lure anglers canal club (LACC) and have been down Warwick way sampling some of their Zander and Perch sport. The grand union there is deeper and wider than the canals I'm used to and although the sport wasn't hectic we still caught a few. Dropshot tactics with micro lures seemed to be most effective although we did bump into another angler on one occasion who had caught a few on much bigger 4inch lures and jigheads.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichNlSlBTZj3JKAsdekDxf1mWg10wIBUj1Yz0uKUJ7GQJIbtDxCScXRjMY7iWOHqirudT_jDIDXUBzWc7vT_hPrDNoKJ-ZP2vUUxsndWH5RBp19yUdGMa0AUcSudlHmQiY4I1M51u5SQ/s2048/Photo%25252020151108181729573.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichNlSlBTZj3JKAsdekDxf1mWg10wIBUj1Yz0uKUJ7GQJIbtDxCScXRjMY7iWOHqirudT_jDIDXUBzWc7vT_hPrDNoKJ-ZP2vUUxsndWH5RBp19yUdGMa0AUcSudlHmQiY4I1M51u5SQ/s500/Photo%25252020151108181729573.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006891015.719" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="368"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Urban angling</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_CFuA_xceBN3b4PxlapXDwxJLfYekkXpq8P_iBa2Yqnep_ojaldtwlloJ3G92sbfKOX00ibSMjzusbJIZeCl1koA7WRuMHSVjkOBfDT1s-cw6SgDMYYyy8AbFFbtP70OuEZ2hxKMxQ/s2048/Photo%25252020151108181729658.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_CFuA_xceBN3b4PxlapXDwxJLfYekkXpq8P_iBa2Yqnep_ojaldtwlloJ3G92sbfKOX00ibSMjzusbJIZeCl1koA7WRuMHSVjkOBfDT1s-cw6SgDMYYyy8AbFFbtP70OuEZ2hxKMxQ/s500/Photo%25252020151108181729658.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006891002.2493" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="404"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The average Warwick stamp </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl9f2DMqA2mf7lSYOLp329XP2squN1v1R703mkqXCv5cImMqBQej5c1_xXnndR9s9fFlygbitrHXCH9fne4Kf_M96z06w0EQSo9WJmagPFE5leWwaHi0Aj3-DaGkogg6SL9B61LH1vA/s852/Photo%25252020151108181729680.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZl9f2DMqA2mf7lSYOLp329XP2squN1v1R703mkqXCv5cImMqBQej5c1_xXnndR9s9fFlygbitrHXCH9fne4Kf_M96z06w0EQSo9WJmagPFE5leWwaHi0Aj3-DaGkogg6SL9B61LH1vA/s500/Photo%25252020151108181729680.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006891016.8845" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="376"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The perch seemed bigger than the usual 'wasps' too</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmg75f852C0REBTSL4ska-WgVhoAMITJ5jUx9h-RbiiRzoEJ6dCWyq03U8jJlK-oalUUWTb87_x4k3d84yShUAP5BFr2dLKwvuISFwqhJDwUNwVqfYpewutY4L5LwMLnyJ26gcRWQ-4w/s852/Photo%25252020151108181729699.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmg75f852C0REBTSL4ska-WgVhoAMITJ5jUx9h-RbiiRzoEJ6dCWyq03U8jJlK-oalUUWTb87_x4k3d84yShUAP5BFr2dLKwvuISFwqhJDwUNwVqfYpewutY4L5LwMLnyJ26gcRWQ-4w/s500/Photo%25252020151108181729699.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006890985.189" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="376"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unlike those at the other end of the LACC stretch!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Another area of grand union canal I visited recently was out towards Northampton. I had attended the annual Milton Keynes Specimen Group shindig in Newport Pagnell the previous evening where we were treated to a fantastic talk by well known big fish man Terry 'Theo' Theobold. Having booked into a local hotel I had taken my lure gear with the idea of exploring some waters in that area the following day. The locals directed me and Phil towards a couple of promising areas. </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Although We awoke to the first decent frost of the autumn and had to scrape the ice off the car, the fishing didn't disappoint and plenty of bites were forthcoming despite several other lure anglers also working the stretch.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">At one point Phil caught a perch which was followed right up to the bank by another of a similar size, I dropped in next to Phils fish and caught the other Imediately! </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qcd_EZ3bHe6WKS17Xcc0dxDWuNz7NyZO2k7ZVeOEzNZD96-lhPoj9_-YmsIrZBKjK9RXPPLtEuD8YHy-KADp1H7lE-s-jZg9nJeacEnsOagKVHy1-Qe1HwrHk9RHuR2g0oj2IJtwlg/s960/Photo%25252020151108181729721.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qcd_EZ3bHe6WKS17Xcc0dxDWuNz7NyZO2k7ZVeOEzNZD96-lhPoj9_-YmsIrZBKjK9RXPPLtEuD8YHy-KADp1H7lE-s-jZg9nJeacEnsOagKVHy1-Qe1HwrHk9RHuR2g0oj2IJtwlg/s500/Photo%25252020151108181729721.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006890940.32" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Double trouble!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa2GyA8vHEqxCoUQ1qTeuvYyDCk4hxL39FSC2zkix1CXGcEwhVi9KxatYMCeUoa1COK0TkmLuVH-e-ct0F6Rorl_Iv5vHJC4cWzo3y3p13BVTAbsAlm0cg9a60w84_1kzg9ogFx44Bw/s960/Photo%25252020151108181729746.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGa2GyA8vHEqxCoUQ1qTeuvYyDCk4hxL39FSC2zkix1CXGcEwhVi9KxatYMCeUoa1COK0TkmLuVH-e-ct0F6Rorl_Iv5vHJC4cWzo3y3p13BVTAbsAlm0cg9a60w84_1kzg9ogFx44Bw/s500/Photo%25252020151108181729746.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006891016.197" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lovely stretch indeed</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lNk7TmqWaLPvDvYkIQXMY6odBPCW6rECbIAmaIrSYsSUJwIp3WPlqSjOU33Lg1eTmSQygmXxP1GYC_ZSzoX8TCFzE3yF1YA7yuqYE7ABrc9ikd29HWrKMCSQHStpsvF3AymI-0g_rA/s709/Photo%25252020151108181729773.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lNk7TmqWaLPvDvYkIQXMY6odBPCW6rECbIAmaIrSYsSUJwIp3WPlqSjOU33Lg1eTmSQygmXxP1GYC_ZSzoX8TCFzE3yF1YA7yuqYE7ABrc9ikd29HWrKMCSQHStpsvF3AymI-0g_rA/s500/Photo%25252020151108181729773.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006891027.3345" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="369"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was even some zander to be found</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">The following weekend I had a massive urge to go chubbing on the Trent so I packed my feeder rod, liquidised some bread and got myself down there! It was absolutely chucking it down which made for some uncomfortable fishing and bites were Initially hard to come by. After dropping in a couple of different swims though I managed to locate a few fish and even caught some before the rain finally beat me back to the car and home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oMW9NUVoUOKvO0KbcVCD7q9S1Tt79sZyd2ECOyLLu_Vg8yAlVp1COzvXmkOtydJ8fCZEWqsD4u1yR_7nu3ziUtJqJcwL1xVcvnNv4OLBYqm6Arn1eSVn8qccSKPmEFOo35yU9ZlHKw/s2048/Photo%25252020151108181729873.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oMW9NUVoUOKvO0KbcVCD7q9S1Tt79sZyd2ECOyLLu_Vg8yAlVp1COzvXmkOtydJ8fCZEWqsD4u1yR_7nu3ziUtJqJcwL1xVcvnNv4OLBYqm6Arn1eSVn8qccSKPmEFOo35yU9ZlHKw/s500/Photo%25252020151108181729873.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006891006.295" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="378"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">4lber, nice to watch a quivertip for a change!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3STPzEqiREKHtYgKQPVCBS8leaUyJ3y6mBeKS1HW0UeZQ9kotEr6D5Nxuan_OCmnt1lO0B08fBuPQNbyJgVWhMoz55CQQh3NeK2BPfRM4TiD72TA09Jroh0HZ2DGB-EuSLJtEX3GEg/s2048/Photo%25252020151108181730002.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3STPzEqiREKHtYgKQPVCBS8leaUyJ3y6mBeKS1HW0UeZQ9kotEr6D5Nxuan_OCmnt1lO0B08fBuPQNbyJgVWhMoz55CQQh3NeK2BPfRM4TiD72TA09Jroh0HZ2DGB-EuSLJtEX3GEg/s500/Photo%25252020151108181730002.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006890990.1008" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="401"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bread caught Bream</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6ptAirNNzT1WYKtmtlK7CvzQE18vai0mL3yTtu312yjsL9mQv9TR5_dNLwfH8zUArwLzfReePVy9OzNNQQr9AeKjbgHDvEZfFbdHHD_MSGUfe1J-IobyC5eFsUoUGpF69WuqpvjrTg/s2048/Photo%25252020151108181730124.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6ptAirNNzT1WYKtmtlK7CvzQE18vai0mL3yTtu312yjsL9mQv9TR5_dNLwfH8zUArwLzfReePVy9OzNNQQr9AeKjbgHDvEZfFbdHHD_MSGUfe1J-IobyC5eFsUoUGpF69WuqpvjrTg/s500/Photo%25252020151108181730124.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006890944.0469" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="395"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll never tire of catching these!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I used a couple of short trips to my local river soar to experiment with some flex-head jigs I'd recently aquired. I figured the extra joint in the rig would help impart more movement into the lure whilst possibly improving hookup rates, early results have been promising!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR67BELGjFSHm2nFtVRAysDjgRx9rGp_zTX-nXqFt7DWVxt79tFgqReWGjMhzt-RYKh8nsw3eKVK8nELZREGahF2UaiMIAHSpgE4JROF09fIrsete7toXQYNs0krFHxx4fGx7cA793XQ/s640/Photo%25252020151108181730150.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR67BELGjFSHm2nFtVRAysDjgRx9rGp_zTX-nXqFt7DWVxt79tFgqReWGjMhzt-RYKh8nsw3eKVK8nELZREGahF2UaiMIAHSpgE4JROF09fIrsete7toXQYNs0krFHxx4fGx7cA793XQ/s500/Photo%25252020151108181730150.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006890964.6301" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="480" height="640"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of four in less than an hour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">A hastily arranged trip to Grafham water was next on the agenda. Its not a water I've fished before and has a tough reputation but I figured my experiences on other large Trout reservoirs would stand me in good stead and I would be in with a chance at least. My boat partner Jamie had never fished it either but as luck would have it we met up with our old mucker Steve who was meant to be guiding on there but his client had cancelled due to bad weather in his part of the country stopping him flying down. His loss was our good fortune however as Steve agreed to come out in our boat for a couple of hours and hopefully show us the big G way.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">We went straight to a mark Steve had found on previous trip and started to get the odd tap from the off. It turned out that these were mostly small perch but I was well chuffed when the first bite I connected with was my first Grafham Zander albeit a small one!</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">We had more Perch after that, Steve also nailed a Zed of around 7lb and I managed a feisty rainbow trout but it was tough going despite trying several other spots. After dropping Steve off at the boat dock around lunchtime Jamie and I headed back out to the first area as news filtered through that a couple of the other boats had found a few fish out that way.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">It wasn't long before Jamie hooked what we initially though was a huge Zander or maybe a Pike but we were surprised to find he'd caught a lovely brown trout of maybe 4-5lb. We caught more perch and both lost what felt like good sized Zeds before all to soon it was time to head back in. I did snag another small Zander before hometime though which was pleasing. Upon our return to the lodge we were pleased to discover that Phil, another of our party in another boat, had caught a new PB zed of over 11lb which was a happy end to a most enjoyable day. It illustrated perfectly that Grafham has so much potential to obliterate those PBs, I've a feeling that I will be fishing there a lot over the next couple of years!</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPkA3iFfXQla581qDhHK9HuSJyoCJok8ETkUExVGUcXOz8UatJ35bDLZI1d8wwMYMktFlaZq0fy8tgieA2CAHLH6htx1FVyNVl4Vw2RcVCbJV1w37qH_5v1iw5QIHMadpfJHXVsKpTg/s747/Photo%25252020151108181730167.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPkA3iFfXQla581qDhHK9HuSJyoCJok8ETkUExVGUcXOz8UatJ35bDLZI1d8wwMYMktFlaZq0fy8tgieA2CAHLH6htx1FVyNVl4Vw2RcVCbJV1w37qH_5v1iw5QIHMadpfJHXVsKpTg/s500/Photo%25252020151108181730167.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006890991.4746" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="364"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First one from the big G!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-UG1zevDhyphenhyphenhvtCSPRh1F3gcv_cq4CY5aZb6LEhHcXQRjjMbjlGKxuoEHaAm5i0N82YATQDDHmm_egvCBXSzQNREOg6sX5tWNQBUdvgPJQ0KB7z8imd-coi8wE7rMGsNngs6zXJPuzg/s748/Photo%25252020151108181730184.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-UG1zevDhyphenhyphenhvtCSPRh1F3gcv_cq4CY5aZb6LEhHcXQRjjMbjlGKxuoEHaAm5i0N82YATQDDHmm_egvCBXSzQNREOg6sX5tWNQBUdvgPJQ0KB7z8imd-coi8wE7rMGsNngs6zXJPuzg/s500/Photo%25252020151108181730184.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006891016.0146" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="384"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Typical grafham perch</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytRLqcYRWb7K7gCrxB3K6_fVEblCyFxYdvav17kyA9rdtYVHKqUaTxL2mIHbEXdcWkdsdxGO4vNl6isR6uQwjDQiHR9lo2y61jskbBzklOwmG09tpW-kv-INfcpCuMzsCEysendNWpg/s2048/Photo%25252020151108181730280.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytRLqcYRWb7K7gCrxB3K6_fVEblCyFxYdvav17kyA9rdtYVHKqUaTxL2mIHbEXdcWkdsdxGO4vNl6isR6uQwjDQiHR9lo2y61jskbBzklOwmG09tpW-kv-INfcpCuMzsCEysendNWpg/s500/Photo%25252020151108181730280.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006890949.4216" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jamie bending into a good fish</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKw1woaf-QuLhKCDU2Ff7Tdbw_kmoy7MuHRStJf-BJpDROvzH3tAvIpLYekS5X7CQewiqrkSyhIUb-SamZ1ONw6oOjP2Vte5GB1YwQ7uw9sthIFrGUcRimF9yskdWEKZg1HN1kgIyUQ/s2048/Photo%25252020151108181730387.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKw1woaf-QuLhKCDU2Ff7Tdbw_kmoy7MuHRStJf-BJpDROvzH3tAvIpLYekS5X7CQewiqrkSyhIUb-SamZ1ONw6oOjP2Vte5GB1YwQ7uw9sthIFrGUcRimF9yskdWEKZg1HN1kgIyUQ/s500/Photo%25252020151108181730387.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006890971.32" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Result!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58Vd8N_L98maDOG7lmeuNRvkxNXYDVKA83893_003Seew4jpPQWwPAIiCX0147SnZNTqUa6_ENArZP0Ge1EDCbdeauYVyp14a3tMNl5p0MA8TXoFZhCsS1qYrsgHa5rkncSnWMxDCaA/s740/Photo%25252020151108181730416.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58Vd8N_L98maDOG7lmeuNRvkxNXYDVKA83893_003Seew4jpPQWwPAIiCX0147SnZNTqUa6_ENArZP0Ge1EDCbdeauYVyp14a3tMNl5p0MA8TXoFZhCsS1qYrsgHa5rkncSnWMxDCaA/s500/Photo%25252020151108181730416.jpg" id="blogsy-1447006891040.4653" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="399" alt=""></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another little one at last knockings!</div><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-54932510090494187172015-10-10T10:22:00.001+01:002015-10-10T10:25:06.924+01:00The Zander theme continues!
<p>What's this? Another post within a month of the last one? I'd better steady on a bit, don't want to push myself too hard!</p>
<p>Ok firstly, following on from my last entry, I'll just give a quick run down of my Rutland antics towards the end of last month. The first trip I had on there since the Zandermasters was one of our Facebook socials and it proved to be a tough day fishingwise but very enjoyable with loads of banter and mickey-taking. The actual write up of the day can be found on my good friend Phils blog which is well worth adding to anybodies reading list, <a href="http://everyday-angler.blogspot.co.uk/" style="line-height: 1.3em;">http://everyday-angler.blogspot.co.uk/</a> . </p>
<p>Myself and boat partner Nate managed a fair few bites but the choppy conditions is what made it hard work and we were forced to find some slightly more sheltered water in order to fish effectively. Trouble is the fish were out in the wild stuff but despite this we still managed a nice mixed bag of around 20 Zander and Perch between us and, as I always say, whether you catch or not, there's no such thing as a bad day afloat!</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDiWPzXPNScmqsAzgo2bcXJ21fsQ0iqiMmb3TE0iyUmuin-0STJUruEwuzquvVzNuVZxxLnMjYvBZmHGXBKqkRikYLPjgsdy0d6zbS_05-vrUYm9Oz1daAycvGtPUYeIoygqlVYG9hA/s960/Photo%25252020151010101945502.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDiWPzXPNScmqsAzgo2bcXJ21fsQ0iqiMmb3TE0iyUmuin-0STJUruEwuzquvVzNuVZxxLnMjYvBZmHGXBKqkRikYLPjgsdy0d6zbS_05-vrUYm9Oz1daAycvGtPUYeIoygqlVYG9hA/s500/Photo%25252020151010101945502.jpg" id="blogsy-1444468965709.2205" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a><br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Talk about greedy!</div>
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<p>My next trip to Rutland was a bit of a birthday treat to myself and I was joined by my old mucker and regular fishing partner Phil K. on this occasion. Conditions couldn't have been more different for this session than the last one, bright sunshine and flat calm, I wasn't sure how the fish would react as I'd not fished there in such conditions before.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAiQbMBTRNvMIK7vPBK5-r2ZoSfA_0kVwBmSzOUHqxSyl9yUS124vGXjO_imqYaLcLxhmuazCPVduu4eTRv0u7G4xMUHl-dggGetPaXK0GV770IMoLeYwm8xEAczkOvmyx8uIo94xaQ/s2048/Photo%25252020151010101945597.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfAiQbMBTRNvMIK7vPBK5-r2ZoSfA_0kVwBmSzOUHqxSyl9yUS124vGXjO_imqYaLcLxhmuazCPVduu4eTRv0u7G4xMUHl-dggGetPaXK0GV770IMoLeYwm8xEAczkOvmyx8uIo94xaQ/s500/Photo%25252020151010101945597.jpg" id="blogsy-1444468965755.1064" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Calm!</div>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Out we went straight to our favourite spot in the south arm which was between 50-60ft deep and usually pretty reliable. There really was hardly any wind and when we deployed the drogue in an attempt to keep the boat from spinning around it jus sank straight down! The water was too deep to anchor in so we just sat there dead in the water for a bit. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u-T0bl92tRVO0XzrfYskZ5GqnujnjYH92x0pEfZo22Tvv_UrXM82KJbyzP0Eu4cT30g3foSz6QLrZk2dpgi56YxK-xI-auGCUDsrFuyHddCowm7CjB189DAtSLV94iV-KDvDSdS3Kg/s1280/Photo%25252020151010101945661.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2u-T0bl92tRVO0XzrfYskZ5GqnujnjYH92x0pEfZo22Tvv_UrXM82KJbyzP0Eu4cT30g3foSz6QLrZk2dpgi56YxK-xI-auGCUDsrFuyHddCowm7CjB189DAtSLV94iV-KDvDSdS3Kg/s500/Photo%25252020151010101945661.jpg" id="blogsy-1444468965773.3013" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: left;"><br></span>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;">Never a bad day afloat!</div>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: center; clear: both;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: left;">Phil struck first blood with a Zander but bites were hard to come by as we weren't moving much. I fined everything right down and eventually managed a Perch at which point a gentle breeze started up, it wasn't much but it was enough to get a slow drift and we could finally start exploring the area.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">We soon started hitting fish, lots of them too! The finer tackle made a real difference with bite indication and we had a few double hookups between us. There seemed to be a gully on the bottom stacked up with fish and our drift was taking us along it perfectly.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt1LVpr_ry9ZUB8Z1vl4qbpvzgp-tzQD0zS_hcihNsthFfTUhY7l0o8MgqfBrPai5V1YdjF3HYrS-UZjdkvPcJR_kWy5q8axrZUuwqV4v2lOpKCemh3tWIkdn5uFh5_uemeDmowrGTw/s1600/Photo%25252020151010101945720.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzt1LVpr_ry9ZUB8Z1vl4qbpvzgp-tzQD0zS_hcihNsthFfTUhY7l0o8MgqfBrPai5V1YdjF3HYrS-UZjdkvPcJR_kWy5q8axrZUuwqV4v2lOpKCemh3tWIkdn5uFh5_uemeDmowrGTw/s500/Photo%25252020151010101945720.jpg" id="blogsy-1444468965770.1614" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">The wind gathered strength as the day progressed and our drifts were covering a lot of water. despite having to uprate the tackle to account for the conditions we managed to stay in contact with the fish. We had a dalliance in the north arm for a couple of hours and we did catch but the south arm certainly seemed more prolific so we resolved to spend the rest of the day there.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCf4uXw7a2smTUkBf9MhJIKzmlm6piyHKUTR-D9luuJMj_QZ4_jm9BdppSU-fsXTSqTTyMiJ_WW-YxdzPAQ3IiXYchRZGLTu5QUowN3YNWGeDDZ2uff1jFhE2gIEP4szLmFFvdZxZAA/s2048/Photo%25252020151010101945889.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCf4uXw7a2smTUkBf9MhJIKzmlm6piyHKUTR-D9luuJMj_QZ4_jm9BdppSU-fsXTSqTTyMiJ_WW-YxdzPAQ3IiXYchRZGLTu5QUowN3YNWGeDDZ2uff1jFhE2gIEP4szLmFFvdZxZAA/s500/Photo%25252020151010101945889.jpg" id="blogsy-1444468965759.017" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div>
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<p> By the end of the day we had amassed over 50 fish between us and my shoulder was actually aching from so much hauling! Red letter days like that are always welcome and are one of the reasons that's keeps most of us doing what we do.</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The obligatory sunset shot......</div>
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<p>Tiling the bathroom and other DIY jobs around the house took precedence over the following weekend although I did manage a bit of 'wasping' on the Trent one evening and was pleased to record 28 fish in just 2hours fishing, the practice is paying off!</p>
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<p>I decided to leave the lure gear at home for my latest trip as I had been meaning to try a certain canal with deadbaits for ages in a bid to find some bigger Zander. I'd never used deadbaits there before so I was going in completely unsure of what to expect.</p>
<p>I started fishing float paternosters but the tow brought on by the nearby locks was akin to the flow on the Trent so I switched both rods to straight leger. I backleaded to avoid the boats and it seemed to work fine although there was a lot of debris being pushed around on the bottom by the tow and boatwash which meant I had to recast fairly regularly. </p>
<p>A good take early on had me striking into thin air but certainly filled my confidence reserves. As the afternoon became evening the boats died right off and my next bite was soon forthcoming. I struck a very stuttery take and was surprised to land a 2lb+ Perch.</p>
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<p>That was followed around 30mins later by it's brother! Maybe I was onto something here and deadbaits could be the way forward with these better canal fish?</p>
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<p> Darkness began to close in and I could hear some hefty splashes out in the darkness, sounded like the resident carp were on the move anyway! A very late boat came past which forced me to check the rigs and recast but shortly afterwards my right hand rod was nearly pulled in! After a typically poor fight I soon had a shiny Zander on the bank of 3lb-odd and was most chuffed to have finally got off the mark.</p>
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<p>I only had one roach left and was in two minds whether to bother casting back out but I thought another half hour wouldn't hurt so out it went. I was just contemplating packing up when I had a couple of bleeps on my right hander once again. I hovered over the rod and 10seconds later the tip properly buckled around and I was in, These bites were mental! </p>
<p>This one definately felt heavier than the last although once again the battle was pretty one sided. When it came up for netting I could see it was much more thick set and I hurriedly slipped the net under it pleased to get a proper one on my first trip. </p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Canal PB :-)</div>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">At 6.4 it was easily my best canal Zander and it left me cursing myself that I'd not brought more bait to stay on for a bit longer! It was certainly an interesting trip and I have a feeling I will be back down for more of the same very shortly!</div>
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<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-19580902105358455072015-09-30T22:39:00.001+01:002015-09-30T23:14:16.639+01:00Autumn predators on the plastics
<p> Well, what can I say? It appears I have neglected my blog for far too long once again! No I've not packed in fishing, far from it in fact but, as usual, life has got in the way and some things have fallen somewhat by the wayside.</p>
<p>Throughout most of August work was manic leaving me with little time to fish but I did have a cat fishing social with some lads from our little Facebook group on Office lake fishery in Notts. In the event it was tough going and the only cat caught was this little fella whilst we were trying to catch livebaits!</p>
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<p> I had a blistering run in the middle of the night and hooked something heavy and powerful which wiped out my other rod before weeding me up and shedding the hook. I was totally gutted by this as you can imagine especially seeing as it was the only run our group had between us! It's a nice lake though and I will certainly head back there next year to even the score.</p>
<p>The bank holiday weekend after that was a busy one too as I had organised our fishing clubs inaugural Barbel match on the river Trent and I was fishing the zandermasters lure match on Rutland water also. The barbel match went really smoothly although I was disappointed that the barbel didn't play ball after all the effort I'd put in. No barbel were caught by the competitors and only a few chub were caught. It was decided that the prize money went to charity seeing as nobody could claim it and I got some great feedback from the lads, most of whom said they couldn't wait to come back and do it again next year.</p>
<p>The Zandermasters match was something I'd been looking forward to for a while and was to be a totally new experience for me considering I'd never fished a match before in my life! Organised by Steve Collett in association with the lure company Ecogear it was held on the mighty Rutland water with the aim of the game being to catch the longest combined length of Zander possible. </p>
<p>The match gave me an opportunity to rub shoulders with some really good anglers and the atmosphere was fantastic. Our boat partners had been drawn prior to the event and my partner, Tony, was certainly no slouch in the lure fishing stakes having already qualified for this years british lure angling champs final.</p>
<p> I have to admit was somewhat nervous about whether I'd end up blanking and making a tit of myself in front of all these experienced anglers but after five minutes in the boat with Tony all that was long forgotten and despite the horrendous weather we had a right laugh. It didn't take us long to find a few fish either with my dropshot tactics soon putting a couple on the scoresheet up in the North arm. Tony switched to dropshot too and quickly added some fish of his own. I even managed a Rutland PB of 60cm which helped my cause no-end!</p>
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<p>We tried a couple of other areas and although it was tough going we managed a few bites and pretty much matched each other fish for fish. By the end of the match Tony had beaten me by two fish which had edged him in front of me by 31cm. I finished with six fish for 2.37m which I was more than pleased with especially as, when we arrived back at the boat dock, we found out that half of the field had struggled to catch 1-3fish with some even blanking altogether. It was a tough day as the results below show but it's great to see Tony made the top 10 which also means I wasn't too far behind!</p>
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<p> The match really whetted my appetite for more of the same and since then I've been making plans to fish further matches with my next one being fished in early October.</p>
<p>August rolled into September and throughout the whole month I've nothing but lure fish! I just can't get enough of it at the moment and my bait fishing has taken I real backseat. Part of me feels a bit guilty because I know I could be out there catching fish for the bloggers comp or kicking my Barbel and Perch campaigns into gear but the simple truth is that I'm having too much fun with the lures and I'm not ready to stop yet!</p>
<p>I've been trying some new swims on my local Trent and Mersey canal with some success in a bit to overcome my mental block of catching on lures in coloured water. I know I've mentioned it before but I just can't get my head around how fish can be caught on lures, which, on the face of it is very visual method in water with little or no visibility. I did catch a few Perch but to be fair the water wasn't THAT coloured and I figured that I needed to do it properly if I was to conquer this thing.</p>
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<p>I decided to organise a trip with my mate Carl who fishes (and catches from) the eternally chocolate coloured Ashby canal to try and get a few pointers and build confidence. On the day our first port of call was the Oxford canal which was fairly coloured but still had 8inches or so of visibility which meant we found some decent early success with some nice perch, a good start.</p>
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<p> Pretty soon though a couple of boats went through and the water went pretty mucky but Carl assured me the fish would still feed. The perch were quickly conspicuous by their absence but they were soon replaced by a string of Zander, obviously switched on by the turbid conditions. Visibility was reduced to around 4inches by now.</p>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">The boat traffic soon became really busy and the visibility was reduced to zero as was our bite rate so we decided to up sticks and head to the Ashby canal instead. I was immediately disheartened to see that the water was as chocolate coloured as it possibly could be with zero visibility but Carl said press on so that is what we did. Half an hour later I was just chatting on my phone whilst casually bumping my dropshot on the bottom under the rodtip, at that point two boats passed each other right in front of me and I groaned inwardly at the futility of my chances when all of a sudden there was a kick on the rodtip and I found myself connected to a Zander! Well bugger me, the biggest of the day too!</div>
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<p> How that fish found my lure I will never know because visibility was absolute zero and I can only assume the vibration of the weight hitting the bottom must've brought it in to investigate. My confidence was transformed and although it was soon packup time I already had plans to try other similarly coloured canals.</p>
<p>The following weekend saw me hit the Oxford and Ashby canals again aswell as the Grand Union and despite all being coloured I still caught a fair few fish. I quickly found that the dirtier the water the slower the bait needs to be fished.</p>
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<p> In between my canal trips I was also having quick sessions on my local rivers with the dropshot gear and absolutely slaughtered them on natural coloured baits.</p>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">September also saw me back on Rutland again twice possibly for the last time this year but as usual it didn't disappoint and although the fish weren't huge there was plenty of them and the last trip in particular was very productive indeed. That will have to wait till next time however as time is short as usual and I must go, tight lines y'all!</div>
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<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-47936370005440455802015-06-26T23:45:00.001+01:002015-06-26T23:46:07.454+01:00Back to some proper fishing - part 3<p> ........ A text from my buddy Phil enquiring as to whether I'd be up for an after work lure session brought the obvious response and soon enough I once more found myself trentside. After the exciting session with the surface poppers last week I was keen to use the method again, Some of the takes we had were truly spectacular and really got the old ticker racing that's for sure. We decided to try a shallow section with the surface gear first for chub and jacks and then planned to move to a slower deeper section with the shads in the hope of a zander or decent Pike as the light faded.</p><p>I wussed out and put a large spinner on first just to get some instant action and was greatly encouraged when the action really was instant and I caught a Perch first put-in. Having broken my duck I quickly changed to a surface frog and a couple of casts across a shallow riffle brought an explosive take with the culprit looking very chub-like. It soon managed to shake the hook out though but I wasn't to be put off and a couple of swims later I had another hit which was more akin to a carp taking a dog biscuit off the top, a gentle swirl accompanied by a sucking sound. This proved to be my first Perch on a surface lure and at a tad over 2lb it was my best of the (short) season so far.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLzhrDU_Mx_Qbxh8VAbsxOaM83I2zuNh4T07UpTLzgxEKQ9_MJQEGbXww4CIiFiuq9q4Aj0ek5hu1xJHmRASYw2dH3dlHr53x54od3A-8hVO361J1C17pRaNBxae6I0PnuMttlfqhiQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150626234357545.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLzhrDU_Mx_Qbxh8VAbsxOaM83I2zuNh4T07UpTLzgxEKQ9_MJQEGbXww4CIiFiuq9q4Aj0ek5hu1xJHmRASYw2dH3dlHr53x54od3A-8hVO361J1C17pRaNBxae6I0PnuMttlfqhiQ/s500/Photo%25252020150626234357545.jpg" id="blogsy-1435358709608.9866" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p> No more fish looked at the frog in that swim but a change of lure told me I'd found a group of half decent fish because I quickly hooked and landed another one which went 2lb12oz on the scales, a long fish with considerable winter potential I feel.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgTgYl7rBzAVGChjJcQ16NufL1AGRrS69JZxQwzayRyf7tochcj4ZCUKvCKwDn9N9oIJA38r8DsZ4MANg5KhgaIz_unSTKJ-JE78044wOmF3L0TRcjJyGXZHdXnQFwYOHiJjlVY5O7A/s2048/Photo%25252020150626234357624.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgTgYl7rBzAVGChjJcQ16NufL1AGRrS69JZxQwzayRyf7tochcj4ZCUKvCKwDn9N9oIJA38r8DsZ4MANg5KhgaIz_unSTKJ-JE78044wOmF3L0TRcjJyGXZHdXnQFwYOHiJjlVY5O7A/s500/Photo%25252020150626234357624.jpg" id="blogsy-1435358709603.0833" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p> Several more smaller perch to around a pound followed as I worked my way down the field and before long it was time to head to the deeper area.</p><p>After a few minutes of bumping a shad slowly around in one of my favourite Trent zed swims I had a positive tug and struck into something which buried the lure in amongst the rocks in seconds and came off. Phil too reported a follow from a zander in the next swim along so we were in the right area.</p><p>One swim I came upon was only inches deep and fish could be seen bow waving on the shallows. I twitched a shad across them and after several bow waves shot across the gravel towards the lure I caught a small perch. There was still loads out there but I was struggling to hit the taps and pulls so I switched to the spinner again. First cast and a large hump in the water appeared behind the lure before it got smashed by a lively jack. The next swim brought the same response and another slightly larger fish tail walked it's way into the net .</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMa-vHJlfnjY4VZWUg-7Txpd7Jbx0OS-xhs1-iiW2PIzrs51jNURpR3WdvfCyhzlu7hCHn3XWx2XYqSZ2B_B8XcIpJ_QtRzHQtBabNmQQhu4gjBGtqPZIBHXoOf6_1jRoMEHTYYDCYg/s1024/Photo%25252020150626234357643.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMa-vHJlfnjY4VZWUg-7Txpd7Jbx0OS-xhs1-iiW2PIzrs51jNURpR3WdvfCyhzlu7hCHn3XWx2XYqSZ2B_B8XcIpJ_QtRzHQtBabNmQQhu4gjBGtqPZIBHXoOf6_1jRoMEHTYYDCYg/s500/Photo%25252020150626234357643.jpg" id="blogsy-1435358709623.3127" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Another lost pike and a couple of small perch landed later and it soon became apparent that the light was fading fast so we decided to work our way back to the car. I had another pike in my next swim and decided to call it a day,</p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iDZJWIr31GGI25nglLqxEbHyjEZBVO_BfZnsrfkh_b5EtiFh1S1drhGrJw5UKczRp3kcNLQcXa85YWzx_Ma-w3qQWx8AxtWex7KEeV4IyXlouPqB1p1z4vrWGBPPdQKMIDl_mTr1-w/s1280/Photo%25252020150626234357683.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iDZJWIr31GGI25nglLqxEbHyjEZBVO_BfZnsrfkh_b5EtiFh1S1drhGrJw5UKczRp3kcNLQcXa85YWzx_Ma-w3qQWx8AxtWex7KEeV4IyXlouPqB1p1z4vrWGBPPdQKMIDl_mTr1-w/s500/Photo%25252020150626234357683.jpg" id="blogsy-1435358709651.152" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> Phil manage a couple of zed like pulls but no hookups and we then headed for home. So there you have it, my first week of the season, lots of fishing, not quite what I expected but I certainly enjoyed it all nevertheless, tight lines all.</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-32868326725100700022015-06-26T22:55:00.001+01:002015-06-26T22:55:36.078+01:00Back to some proper fishing - part 2<p>....... The next evening I found myself on yet another different area of Trent in pursuit of a Barbel. It was quite late by the time I arrived and I didn't get much time to setup before dark. Straight away I was getting taps on the rodtip so there was obviously fish out there.</p><p>I didn't have to wait long to get an idea of what they were however because within minutes a large bream rolled out in the middle where my baits were, then another and another, the place was alive with them!</p><p>It didn't take me long to catch one, a typical Trent stamp of 6-7lb, and realise that I would be struggling to catch a Barbel amongst them. It was too late for a move so I resolved to stop till around midnight and hope a whiskered beast would be able to bully it's way through.</p><p>Of course it wasn't to be and after catching a more than respectable bag of several Bream to 8lb2oz I packed up still frustrated at the lack of barbellage. Looking at my records I now realise that I've never done great for Barbs at this time of year and my best results by far have come in late august through till early October, I'm not giving up just yet though!</p><p> I decided upon something completely different for my next trip as I'd recently acquired permission to fish a very private estate lake. I had no idea what to expect and even the gamekeeper couldn't tell me a great deal other than he reckoned there might be some carp and tench in there. The only way to find out was to fish it I guess so I planned a short Saturday afternoon session on there.</p><p>Armed with bread, maggots, sweetcorn, worms, ground bait and pellets I think I had all bases covered and upon arrival I settled into a nice looking corner swim fishing off a boat jetty. It was overcast but very muggy and a lot of Rudd could be seen milling around under the surface. A couple of balls of groundbait introduced alongside a overhanging tree soon turned that area of the swim into a jacuzzi as the tench homed in on it.</p><p>A good plumb around revealed that the lake was no more than 18inches deep all over and after casting a grain of corn into the jacuzzi it didn't take long to get an enquiry. A small Tench was soon swung to hand and that was followed up by several more and some Rudd aswell.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMv2UhykvAIrXkgn-DojeHKxuSGrpkqdgociFJR4SVg2eLU9aZkX9F46wKOe4-hf0imXH3XrL1mSHNUTPh56rdyFQ-f-WEtrwje9C-kH-Lnzyi6U2Pr19EUcJj9VUpd_YQyRPZAQSBw/s768/Photo%25252020150626225238840.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMv2UhykvAIrXkgn-DojeHKxuSGrpkqdgociFJR4SVg2eLU9aZkX9F46wKOe4-hf0imXH3XrL1mSHNUTPh56rdyFQ-f-WEtrwje9C-kH-Lnzyi6U2Pr19EUcJj9VUpd_YQyRPZAQSBw/s500/Photo%25252020150626225238840.jpg" id="blogsy-1435355735204.3972" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="428"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjoQDdf_MZGZu7U2ciVkOycckSk_UCuDdvEeiehbLrraUP3u9VajJcjFBYJEyQVaPFVmMwH24KL2S-Pk22__PhCLMbURiIBl9eunv-4iqeV0lnjyTZGsjzhg55wBJ1RnegPeLjB8k7A/s900/Photo%25252020150626225238864.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjoQDdf_MZGZu7U2ciVkOycckSk_UCuDdvEeiehbLrraUP3u9VajJcjFBYJEyQVaPFVmMwH24KL2S-Pk22__PhCLMbURiIBl9eunv-4iqeV0lnjyTZGsjzhg55wBJ1RnegPeLjB8k7A/s500/Photo%25252020150626225238864.jpg" id="blogsy-1435355735208.9524" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="366"></a></div><p> </p><p> After around half an hour I finally managed to hook something a little more substantial which turned out to be a small carp. Well so far the lake certainly wasn't what I was expecting, it was stuffed with fish but they were all small! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq5jpwbmcswi5eb1BHphr3VQ1VP-RWnrMxR4wsgRmKWEihcGjEOTetRFBTDmuOqRPSXBwskykqZDIsL-tM3eaxky_SqdndNOp8NZ-ErWfXqKUrgEVm3Y55_EyQGy0B0vFO8LL9hqc4w/s2048/Photo%25252020150626225238918.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq5jpwbmcswi5eb1BHphr3VQ1VP-RWnrMxR4wsgRmKWEihcGjEOTetRFBTDmuOqRPSXBwskykqZDIsL-tM3eaxky_SqdndNOp8NZ-ErWfXqKUrgEVm3Y55_EyQGy0B0vFO8LL9hqc4w/s500/Photo%25252020150626225238918.jpg" id="blogsy-1435355735218.2717" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>I could see some bow waves and other signs of larger fish moving out in the middle of the pool so I decided to setup a small bolt feeder rig baited with a large pellet in bid to catch something better.</p><p>I placed the rod down on the edge of the boat jetty and before I even turned away the tip was pulling round! After a spirited scrap another little carp was soon netted.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazGQZtef668mLA27D-6fFKfgM3KBe-t45GWAYMyNW2hL7iB72vev-cEWqqLWAXDJ1RUZTj6NOGSol4DNsLe6YyY6IbfwcrrXpLqxPwQH7Yfz2vpAhpoMNwodqDThOxNv8fW3EyS5W2Q/s1280/Photo%25252020150626225238948.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazGQZtef668mLA27D-6fFKfgM3KBe-t45GWAYMyNW2hL7iB72vev-cEWqqLWAXDJ1RUZTj6NOGSol4DNsLe6YyY6IbfwcrrXpLqxPwQH7Yfz2vpAhpoMNwodqDThOxNv8fW3EyS5W2Q/s500/Photo%25252020150626225238948.jpg" id="blogsy-1435355735214.3687" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p> And so that set the tone for the next 3 hours, cast, catch, net, rebait, cast, it got to the stage where I wasn't even putting the rod down, I just held it till it pulled round. It was still very shallow in the middle because every bite resulted in a splashy swirl out where I'd cast to.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUt0Q67Wc3LkDV2Y52mG3NYiaEDDGFYcZW6arbFVa-2938la2sePq_xLlkaU07hAzpg4vvLU4q1kxWVBNiFb9DwLIcO41ql5UbdDThGjP6A-Jl39JYnljGbdiBWod5ZqCFTd8m6X-Cjg/s2048/Photo%25252020150626225238999.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUt0Q67Wc3LkDV2Y52mG3NYiaEDDGFYcZW6arbFVa-2938la2sePq_xLlkaU07hAzpg4vvLU4q1kxWVBNiFb9DwLIcO41ql5UbdDThGjP6A-Jl39JYnljGbdiBWod5ZqCFTd8m6X-Cjg/s500/Photo%25252020150626225238999.jpg" id="blogsy-1435355735218.151" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYMSuulLVD-O3k-uXd02040tsJifSt0h2fegKp-GqR4_wQlJdiMvrT4eB4e8hHcQz2EnDQlcVR-jFcGuA2UFN6l9zmZaWC6qmIS2gcZb3bpw47Huh8wA5vryhdes2BIBlrsAp2qse6A/s2048/Photo%25252020150626225239049.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYMSuulLVD-O3k-uXd02040tsJifSt0h2fegKp-GqR4_wQlJdiMvrT4eB4e8hHcQz2EnDQlcVR-jFcGuA2UFN6l9zmZaWC6qmIS2gcZb3bpw47Huh8wA5vryhdes2BIBlrsAp2qse6A/s500/Photo%25252020150626225239049.jpg" id="blogsy-1435355735228.906" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p> I even attempted to fish two rods at one point but gave that up as a bad idea after three double hookups on the trot! The place was absolutely heaving with small stunted carp.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlacxVIxsu5Gee0VcZQX3uhH1M7_zv6nUMqlHaJUV-t3jhwqRHWD-HHuGgrfeHMWN3hO1KTAbs1u3Su9dIG2DEkJnpByKPnrtSd0q13C8Y8A2DwyvclTv6Pz9f7s_Gpe1NuVbi88sLw/s2048/Photo%25252020150626225239113.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlacxVIxsu5Gee0VcZQX3uhH1M7_zv6nUMqlHaJUV-t3jhwqRHWD-HHuGgrfeHMWN3hO1KTAbs1u3Su9dIG2DEkJnpByKPnrtSd0q13C8Y8A2DwyvclTv6Pz9f7s_Gpe1NuVbi88sLw/s500/Photo%25252020150626225239113.jpg" id="blogsy-1435355735180.7058" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> Eventually I ran out of bait and although I'd just had one of the maddest few hours fishing of my life it was a bittersweet end because I was almost expecting such an old estate lake to hold some really special fish. I'd enjoyed my trip on there though despite small carp not really being my thing, every one pulled like a demon and every one had a perfect mouth and was in great condition, certainly a lake to rival any commercial I've ever fished.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS45y28UsCakiPq8vKPyIVNIs_qNn3GdUQLGVCTVvVfXO3JzdE5J_jZdY8lN3nnxMn6-CCQKrjgID6Y7LO1Vi1C3dEYZ_Dya2xRg-UuWKrMEb51XwcIQDQeBwnvTflHEFF4xfUl2oauA/s2048/Photo%25252020150626225239170.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS45y28UsCakiPq8vKPyIVNIs_qNn3GdUQLGVCTVvVfXO3JzdE5J_jZdY8lN3nnxMn6-CCQKrjgID6Y7LO1Vi1C3dEYZ_Dya2xRg-UuWKrMEb51XwcIQDQeBwnvTflHEFF4xfUl2oauA/s500/Photo%25252020150626225239170.jpg" id="blogsy-1435355735142.172" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> Anyway, having had my lake fix, I was soon back on the river with the lures for my most recent trip .....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-18091465979141686542015-06-26T21:31:00.001+01:002015-06-26T21:33:38.630+01:00Back to some proper fishing - part 1<p>So that time of year has come around again and the rivers are once again open for business as usual. The start this year has been somewhat hit and miss for me but I've certainly landed a few fish albeit not always my intended quarry!</p><p>Opening day was the usual massive anticlimax and although conditions were seemingly perfect, the much anticipated Barbel never materialised. We were joined by Steve Collett and cameraman Ian who both came down to do a feature for the anglers mail . A lot of thought goes into setting up the various shots and it was fascinating watching the pros in action.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv-BM4rrJHiqbNWg08t_KjicAdPev897hygH0J0afzgLDmG_lJO4nolDLgq4C2R8aj2RJ0Tasm9TYAykqvFBFGqeMuzBHKptgypsFuBmk1pEKocbXSAJxlUAOTrKnjE_96saWue3rEA/s1024/Photo%25252020150626212948533.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv-BM4rrJHiqbNWg08t_KjicAdPev897hygH0J0afzgLDmG_lJO4nolDLgq4C2R8aj2RJ0Tasm9TYAykqvFBFGqeMuzBHKptgypsFuBmk1pEKocbXSAJxlUAOTrKnjE_96saWue3rEA/s500/Photo%25252020150626212948533.jpg" id="blogsy-1435350689113.2256" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="373"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p>I did manage a bream of over 7lb and three Chub to 5lb and I lost something which felt suspiciously like a Barbel or a Carp to a hookpull so odd catch a few. I was a little disheartened after building my hopes so high for some Barbel but nevertheless it was great to be back on running water again and getting a few bends in the rod.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnSKFtghfCQpJOg8SMvKUyzg_aWGeCZJ8I5dDKW5hz9SHWvEIrL4CAf7TCr49oDJ8jqQmQ47KR0-vw-0_NSKGz2hBwD-nq3eZzD1QmWOWrcQ5gSyGnvFu9iXoXM2I8tM6XHMZVEYTBg/s2048/Photo%25252020150626212948595.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnSKFtghfCQpJOg8SMvKUyzg_aWGeCZJ8I5dDKW5hz9SHWvEIrL4CAf7TCr49oDJ8jqQmQ47KR0-vw-0_NSKGz2hBwD-nq3eZzD1QmWOWrcQ5gSyGnvFu9iXoXM2I8tM6XHMZVEYTBg/s500/Photo%25252020150626212948595.jpg" id="blogsy-1435350689087.1777" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>I headed to the river soar the next morning with the lure rod and after catching a Chub on pretty much my first put in I was hopeful of some fast and furious action.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSmcvMaAKB7y3I2nt19nM260WBw3rgwSvmrvH984GDGMG-EdvppORhnbQ3WCmxCqaof9Uakgz8YFBGa4eA0iy7VUeWADMBNbXpBogbz3fO78qoVWtzSoEdbEVSPZdU9o0HMBQ4VkbrQ/s882/Photo%25252020150626212948611.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSmcvMaAKB7y3I2nt19nM260WBw3rgwSvmrvH984GDGMG-EdvppORhnbQ3WCmxCqaof9Uakgz8YFBGa4eA0iy7VUeWADMBNbXpBogbz3fO78qoVWtzSoEdbEVSPZdU9o0HMBQ4VkbrQ/s500/Photo%25252020150626212948611.jpg" id="blogsy-1435350689080.591" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="397"></a></div><p> </p><p>The fish however had different ideas and the Perch in particular were conspicuous by their absence. By the time I had worked my way down to the bottom of the field I'd only added a small tail walking jack to my tally with very little interest from much else.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKIhOviYWrGx1q1fCbpTMBEaP5zFl7emN6Zai6M__MCdUD0070N9cdaZAC5pOTShn7b2Bs-yZ3Ek5wf3S0ipYi69Y8OBe4xiFSw8mw2B7wR3HoTWrA1GvztPfAmjNflX8100AxADZAA/s768/Photo%25252020150626212948625.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKIhOviYWrGx1q1fCbpTMBEaP5zFl7emN6Zai6M__MCdUD0070N9cdaZAC5pOTShn7b2Bs-yZ3Ek5wf3S0ipYi69Y8OBe4xiFSw8mw2B7wR3HoTWrA1GvztPfAmjNflX8100AxADZAA/s500/Photo%25252020150626212948625.jpg" id="blogsy-1435350689120.3354" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="403"></a></div><p> </p><p>I decided to try a nearby weirpool in a last ditch attempt to build a half decent bag and was rewarded with several perch and two more Pike, the fish obviously preferred the faster and more oxygenated water in the muggy conditions.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0V1UFv4xW4RSFsT9HkWb-HktHojvHiiFkr39pke3E-LwCi9dtneS0yAnPKol8nJnhVdqZ98qiY9MpJ6S3_AYsiiGQxCh0jDqPKKjtu90BZUfdR7s0aQA5xpq7bSqoMZJu9xLZujEaw/s1024/Photo%25252020150626212948642.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0V1UFv4xW4RSFsT9HkWb-HktHojvHiiFkr39pke3E-LwCi9dtneS0yAnPKol8nJnhVdqZ98qiY9MpJ6S3_AYsiiGQxCh0jDqPKKjtu90BZUfdR7s0aQA5xpq7bSqoMZJu9xLZujEaw/s500/Photo%25252020150626212948642.jpg" id="blogsy-1435350689106.4387" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQM8ocwji2mFP3ft4NmHXPCnEw_H3Yw3ZXeWTEoEqB0ag4bc0UiXYUEYanDMUsNbdxPcpdhdkapth63fi1yQTZoxTxMZrzJRqV_3jdu5ov0Ys2QlkoUmiaXhZPpmdzjodu8-P7WozPw/s954/Photo%25252020150626212948659.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQM8ocwji2mFP3ft4NmHXPCnEw_H3Yw3ZXeWTEoEqB0ag4bc0UiXYUEYanDMUsNbdxPcpdhdkapth63fi1yQTZoxTxMZrzJRqV_3jdu5ov0Ys2QlkoUmiaXhZPpmdzjodu8-P7WozPw/s500/Photo%25252020150626212948659.jpg" id="blogsy-1435350689116.7417" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="445"></a></div><p> </p><p>That evening Phil and I were back on a different stretch of river which, based on past form, is usually a dead cert for a barbel. Just on darkness I managed to lose a fish in a snag after a truly brutal take which nearly pulled the rod in. I could feel the line grating through something from the off and it didn't take long to lock up solid before suddenly everything fell slack as the badly damaged line parted. Just as I was cursing my own luck a call came through from Phil telling me he'd caught something special and was in need of assistance. I grabbed my camera and headed upstream to find that Phil had indeed landed a beast, all 14lb11oz of it! Always good to get those PBS in early mate, well done!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWb_LS-FFZ4cqRzxeGJEcEVi1RpiUkpt8uG91cI8zp07OxxTXQ9wsyH5yRBfv3vLnGK32AuXNpMx72IBfSfHPyHdu17rxvOUCqVbuKZjpBQ15tUBAr_ypILUqCJNrTu1CrOpPxilv7A/s774/Photo%25252020150626212948674.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWb_LS-FFZ4cqRzxeGJEcEVi1RpiUkpt8uG91cI8zp07OxxTXQ9wsyH5yRBfv3vLnGK32AuXNpMx72IBfSfHPyHdu17rxvOUCqVbuKZjpBQ15tUBAr_ypILUqCJNrTu1CrOpPxilv7A/s500/Photo%25252020150626212948674.jpg" id="blogsy-1435350689115.5735" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="427"></a></div><p> </p><p>The following day we went out with the lure gear and were joined once again by Steve and Ian for another feature. I won't delve into the events too much because it will come out in the feature but we did have some good action on surface poppers and Steve caught a very special fish indeed.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOG_UPaEZrlG0HrUPTOqO8rOowLh-CaXH62aJjGLoDCrRBoczmUQEHqiHDVrX4F9n4-CgnryOTschyphenhyphengSeNxTlqixq4qB79oPxWkM8abZARLd0joaeQItiwm20Ye0HIMEn_eTjSgwc5mg/s1024/Photo%25252020150626212948690.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOG_UPaEZrlG0HrUPTOqO8rOowLh-CaXH62aJjGLoDCrRBoczmUQEHqiHDVrX4F9n4-CgnryOTschyphenhyphengSeNxTlqixq4qB79oPxWkM8abZARLd0joaeQItiwm20Ye0HIMEn_eTjSgwc5mg/s500/Photo%25252020150626212948690.jpg" id="blogsy-1435350689050.5256" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>The next evening I was back on the Trent on my own and still determined to catch a Barbel. The taps on the rodtip as darkness fell certainly had my confidence through the roof so you can imagine my disappointment when my first proper pull of the evening turned out to be another Bream!</p><p>It all went quiet for a while after that until around midnight when I struck into what turned out to be a decent Chub of 5.8. With all the obvious spawning activity across the river over the previous few days the fish proved to be hollow and I'd certainly like to reacquaint myself with it come the winter time.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ5PRi34Qa1_OiSRNaU7gQ5OLG-pAeeHVrfTD0IBUGufm8EjYY9LPMEbvNIHCKKkM7nOX58t-LNK-alMsRrikFBysFQ4lyolFMcxuSXgEpYIfoMliCmkgyeg5Znju_gM0E34jgbWeOA/s1024/Photo%25252020150626212948705.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZ5PRi34Qa1_OiSRNaU7gQ5OLG-pAeeHVrfTD0IBUGufm8EjYY9LPMEbvNIHCKKkM7nOX58t-LNK-alMsRrikFBysFQ4lyolFMcxuSXgEpYIfoMliCmkgyeg5Znju_gM0E34jgbWeOA/s500/Photo%25252020150626212948705.jpg" id="blogsy-1435350689054.3357" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="403" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>I packed up shortly after but I already had plans for the following evening ..........</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-18349580347986312622015-06-13T09:21:00.001+01:002015-06-13T12:37:55.868+01:00Smooth operator<p> To say I've not been fishing much of late is an understatement, for some reason I've just not been able to muster up any interest in fishing my local lakes. Once again this closed season I've not had any kind of campaign to get my teeth into although I think this is more down to not having a new and interesting water to fish than actually losing my mojo. I could fish my usual local waters but to be honest they bore me to death these days and I'd rather not fish them at all than fish them half heartedly.</p><p>A couple of blogs ago I mentioned the canal and it's horrible colour due to the massive increase in boat traffic. Now the colour has always been a real confidence killer for me when fishing lures on the cut but some other anglers don't seem to bother about it at all and fish on regardless. The other day I was headed to a local club lake for a bit of rubber chucking and my journey there took me over the canal. Even though it was tea coloured I decided to have a few casts anyway just in case and was surprised to get a thump from something on only my second put-in.</p><p>Nothing else was forthcoming in that swim but I decided to fish a little more persistently and a couple of spots later I was rewarded with a nice perch which absolutely smashed my tiny pink shad. It looked well worthy of some challenge points anyway although it was some way short of the hoped for 2lb.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-M4HolYP61sSjqDf2Jm80I3IUbvM9NjkfcjEGoPb9Xkxi1RVpx10-Wcfhu-uTIui-7JWW8zeYl1RPn6n0rOA2NaIR6SrAz02CqTmgUIVxqzvQYdd2T5sNZodlvxZlyXjUUY0NRa_cg/s1039/Photo%25252020150613092006589.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-M4HolYP61sSjqDf2Jm80I3IUbvM9NjkfcjEGoPb9Xkxi1RVpx10-Wcfhu-uTIui-7JWW8zeYl1RPn6n0rOA2NaIR6SrAz02CqTmgUIVxqzvQYdd2T5sNZodlvxZlyXjUUY0NRa_cg/s500/Photo%25252020150613092006589.jpg" id="blogsy-1434195418789.9158" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="399" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> After that I moved onto the lake where I managed to pimp out a few micro-perch on the dropshot before heading home.</p><p>My next trip out was an impromptu visit to the beach at chapel st leonards in pursuit of my first Smoothound. A chance comment after seeing a post on Facebook about Smoothound the week before started the ball rolling for another of our little group get togethers. Now this was set to be an interesting one because, although we were all seasoned freshwater anglers, we hardly had any beach fishing experience between us let alone tackle for the job! The week in the run up to the trip was spent frantically sourcing suitable tackle and reading up/watching every available snippet we could find about catching smoothies, it was all very exciting.</p><p>The big day finally arrived and at 5.30am the East Midlands battle bus containing Myself, Andy, Dave and Phil set forth in the direction of Chapel and hopefully some rod bending action. We made it to local lad Big Phils house at around 7.15 and met up with him aswell as Lee and Martin. After a slap up brekky courtesy of Phil and his good lady Louise, our intrepid party headed to the beach via the bait man at Chapel point to pick up some extra supplies.</p><p>We headed around a mile down the beach from the point and it was all but deserted save for one poor unsuspecting angler who was totally unaware of the rabble that was about to descend on his tranquility. The tide was in, the sun was out and the wind was off our backs, good conditions for it we hoped! We walked to a suitable area a proceeded to get setup with everybody opting for squid as a starter bait due to it's ease of use. </p><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Well it didn't take long to get stuck into some fish because we started getting thumps on the rodtips straight away. Phil scored first with a small but perfectly formed Smoothound which was the first any of us had seen let alone caught, mission accomplished!</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxR74vrCOsNFgZcuu6Ogr3YfdacCV_-sCfx8-aEl6TH59yj6yU7zC7VmwpHLRApX0jVHwv7wcfAPZOXg5ENhx7Hni84yFgjljPSR-enaD_r03GwN8tMVCC8uffHkDByJTCxd_4LWbyQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150613092006688.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxR74vrCOsNFgZcuu6Ogr3YfdacCV_-sCfx8-aEl6TH59yj6yU7zC7VmwpHLRApX0jVHwv7wcfAPZOXg5ENhx7Hni84yFgjljPSR-enaD_r03GwN8tMVCC8uffHkDByJTCxd_4LWbyQ/s500/Photo%25252020150613092006688.jpg" id="blogsy-1434195418748.6619" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> Dave, Andy and Lee all stepped onto the scoresheet next with similar sized fish and it was proving to be a productive session. Phil had another and then Dave hooked a more substantial specimen. It pulled hard on the 3.5lb test pike rod he was using but it was soon tamed and the first big one of the trip was beached.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ83u7FybBF8bfSV4pbSfi7bJGtRH7rsPWKP5eAlC1NwgH_im_KqTOHTXrVJ5lOaVwizAD8S1AzYldi-ixKkTlsMRPPtdjH8X0RdopkZL2xmCxE9M6l49n4VEtgD0pTYZoHRFCVwTprw/s2048/Photo%25252020150613092006763.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ83u7FybBF8bfSV4pbSfi7bJGtRH7rsPWKP5eAlC1NwgH_im_KqTOHTXrVJ5lOaVwizAD8S1AzYldi-ixKkTlsMRPPtdjH8X0RdopkZL2xmCxE9M6l49n4VEtgD0pTYZoHRFCVwTprw/s500/Photo%25252020150613092006763.jpg" id="blogsy-1434195418780.7156" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUYnDwo5ndNUq20km__yi8TmOpRlyfbswHRr63pKGB3YLMIsA-mBzhI2xsfADnoDbUG0_YUMVNN5RAlRKpQekRdLJynDjyZuWE-nWS065b8DnP16xWFDgAQNV37rYvDNghE5R35GZ5w/s2048/Photo%25252020150613092006861.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUYnDwo5ndNUq20km__yi8TmOpRlyfbswHRr63pKGB3YLMIsA-mBzhI2xsfADnoDbUG0_YUMVNN5RAlRKpQekRdLJynDjyZuWE-nWS065b8DnP16xWFDgAQNV37rYvDNghE5R35GZ5w/s500/Photo%25252020150613092006861.jpg" id="blogsy-1434195418732.4954" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGK2nsRxMRapU4uqz7evWZshAw9-rJxCBT5VgAyMdgMs450G_exlVMzi2LnhyphenhyphenSoSoiBkRwywMravFMCDnbWp2Hkl0e8wmsDRJigjjkdqinjUzzLqyNM6nVzW5Kpb2UHnyRKaClo0oHpA/s2048/Photo%25252020150613092006953.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGK2nsRxMRapU4uqz7evWZshAw9-rJxCBT5VgAyMdgMs450G_exlVMzi2LnhyphenhyphenSoSoiBkRwywMravFMCDnbWp2Hkl0e8wmsDRJigjjkdqinjUzzLqyNM6nVzW5Kpb2UHnyRKaClo0oHpA/s500/Photo%25252020150613092006953.jpg" id="blogsy-1434195418778.424" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> I must admit to being somewhat jealous of all these fish getting caught and was wondering when my turn would come. I'd been a little unlucky as I'd had two drop off but a change to a lugworm hookbait soon brought a change in my fortunes. The rod tip banged over hard then the line fell slack so I wound furiously to make contact with the fish and battle commenced. To be fair on the gear I was using it didn't stand much chance but it still had be back winding a couple of times. Pretty soon a nice smoothhound, certainly the biggest of the day so far, was wriggling up the beach and my day was complete, I didn't care if I didn't get another bite because I'd caught what I'd gone for.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZyC0fuGsHQ6XxnNaXBFSD3bn7ZqDVhzxWkwoqg3J1QDHM83FyYeEY2cWW8GfML_HD4l1LSh4ydDdNBBi57M6Xab40Q1Wlg41_oMkXokwNQsJu_8OsaTFhaEin87NnGPn34m227jNIw/s2048/Photo%25252020150613092007031.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZyC0fuGsHQ6XxnNaXBFSD3bn7ZqDVhzxWkwoqg3J1QDHM83FyYeEY2cWW8GfML_HD4l1LSh4ydDdNBBi57M6Xab40Q1Wlg41_oMkXokwNQsJu_8OsaTFhaEin87NnGPn34m227jNIw/s500/Photo%25252020150613092007031.jpg" id="blogsy-1434195418797.4436" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> After that the tide began to go out and sport died for everybody. It soon became tiresome moving the gear down the beach every 20mins but we were still hopeful of some more fish. Sadly, other than a couple of flatfish including my first Dab there was no more action forthcoming.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIC6RO8-91LOE7m40b2Ns-rtQVo6RvK8cZnOCq6jP86Uk589HaaVupRQCX1CFCv_GMI8yyX-D6w9U0sD87XY62Y1CboZ1IkDPwY8pWbB4JPg8q6ovCfl-AMY3AkNXogqF-VIWporOnHA/s2048/Photo%25252020150613092007109.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIC6RO8-91LOE7m40b2Ns-rtQVo6RvK8cZnOCq6jP86Uk589HaaVupRQCX1CFCv_GMI8yyX-D6w9U0sD87XY62Y1CboZ1IkDPwY8pWbB4JPg8q6ovCfl-AMY3AkNXogqF-VIWporOnHA/s500/Photo%25252020150613092007109.jpg" id="blogsy-1434195418770.2273" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> We decided to hang around until the tide came back in in the hope that the smoothies would come back in with it but when the flood tide did eventually come in it brought with it so much weed and rubbish that fishing was nigh on impossible so we gave up on it and headed home. All in all a good day out and yet another successful trip for our little Facebook group. After my LRF success the other week plus this, I think I shall be heading to the coast more often especially as I'd so love to catch a Bass. It's the one sea species I've tried for more than any other but so far one of its kind has eluded me, not for much longer though I hope!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WptM2jWy0Udb72DXcsNE15qfi8ob9sOLzNCL2IGVzHPX6JBIAsJvJWfANfQjhqtXi8R7ZLNBvuV3uMvtWZG5nwX6V5Z7854IQifdfHESq405EiUfYE9I3HjATHaOkmRFgxok8AkUjQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150613092007178.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7WptM2jWy0Udb72DXcsNE15qfi8ob9sOLzNCL2IGVzHPX6JBIAsJvJWfANfQjhqtXi8R7ZLNBvuV3uMvtWZG5nwX6V5Z7854IQifdfHESq405EiUfYE9I3HjATHaOkmRFgxok8AkUjQ/s500/Photo%25252020150613092007178.jpg" id="blogsy-1434195418761.2246" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-60172146013620388042015-05-25T22:21:00.001+01:002015-05-25T22:21:13.330+01:00LRF - I could get into this!<p>May bank holiday came around and some friends had invited me and my better half to a wedding in Cornwall. The idea was to drop the kids off at the in-laws in Torquay, stop the night and then drive on into Cornwall to a b&b near port Isaac, with all that sea around it would've been rude not to take a rod along!</p><p>Now, light rock fishing or LRF as it is better known has grown massively in popularity in recent years as more and more anglers discover the sporting opportunies that the mini species which can be found in abundance all around our coastline can offer. The best way I can describe it is ultralite lure fishing at the seaside!</p><p>Usually for me, a trip to the sea involves me packing my beachcasting gear and ordering some lugworm at the venues local tackle shop but this time around I really quite fancied a dabble at the whole LRF thing as I'd never tried it before and I was hoping that it would add a whole new dimension to my already varied lure fishing exploits.</p><p>I did a bit of research on the internet with regards to lures, tackle and suitable venues and soon enough something like a plan was formulated. It felt quite odd packing such light kit for sea fishing and I have to admit to being quite dubious as to whether it would be up to the task!</p><p>Padstow harbour was to be my first port of call as I figured fishing vertically off walls into calm water would be the easiest thing to start with as it allowed me to exert the most control over the lure without having to worry about currents, rocks and tides too much. My research had told me that the first thing I needed to fish there was a permit from the harbour master as I was told I risked a hefty fine if I was caught without one. Fortunately the permit is just a formality, it's free of charge and valid for life plus I got some tips from the harbour master as to the different spots to try and the ones to avoid.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu0QOjKZzPmBr5kTrpE3TKKgmv_Q08S9ifBlNyTLIjnxkllkU0K1u80InGipisEDzR-t4SZdvAFzikg6M9vb714SnsmP7khKZ8aNFhQDGCn_roVnHcr5RbqdDU4w9WvLCrJgYjcm6CA/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221828900.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu0QOjKZzPmBr5kTrpE3TKKgmv_Q08S9ifBlNyTLIjnxkllkU0K1u80InGipisEDzR-t4SZdvAFzikg6M9vb714SnsmP7khKZ8aNFhQDGCn_roVnHcr5RbqdDU4w9WvLCrJgYjcm6CA/s500/Photo%25252020150525221828900.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872816.464" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> That sorted, I was soon tentatively dangling a tiny jighead baited with an ecogear aji-must alongside a moored boat completely unsure as to what to expect. My initial confidence soon began to wane however as, despite trying several spots, I never had so much as a tap.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofDBVtm7KZnCXL0Lo3cZLxCg2lzmMBLyQX33Ot-ge4jL2vgF9TrOHWAykTgovlANOYHzEcXC2fxzAMU4e-dL7zsHdn894GpVm4jFnzNYMvud9b0CYvVMDD0rrGvT7qQJsEalCb-rktw/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221828952.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofDBVtm7KZnCXL0Lo3cZLxCg2lzmMBLyQX33Ot-ge4jL2vgF9TrOHWAykTgovlANOYHzEcXC2fxzAMU4e-dL7zsHdn894GpVm4jFnzNYMvud9b0CYvVMDD0rrGvT7qQJsEalCb-rktw/s500/Photo%25252020150525221828952.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872887.4854" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> I checked the time, it was nearly 10am and the harbour area was really starting to fill up with tourists. I didn't have too much time left myself as the wedding was at 2pm that afternoon and I had to get back to the b&b to get ready. I was just contemplating giving it up as a bad job when I noticed a couple of kids across the way chuck a load of fish bits in as they packed up their crabbing gear, the small fish topping over the 'loosefeed' was what really caught my eye and I was round there like a shot. I couldn't see anything on the surface upon my arrival but a couple of sharp taps on my first put-in really got my heart going even though I missed them. Next drop I connected with a fish straight away and swung in my first LRF-caught fish and my first ever Sand Smelt, I was most chuffed!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKl6GTiih-1OMMFEWeNmkctVAs26Eqw1IlwRe0sU2vhThSdJc3NctQYvuyAXfg_t88eni46Ssxjpsxf7o8b4kBxichXSz1FtdCKmgA9O9Uf4Jbr9pHPQYp7shXLzfqfQGch2z1e7LloQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221829042.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKl6GTiih-1OMMFEWeNmkctVAs26Eqw1IlwRe0sU2vhThSdJc3NctQYvuyAXfg_t88eni46Ssxjpsxf7o8b4kBxichXSz1FtdCKmgA9O9Uf4Jbr9pHPQYp7shXLzfqfQGch2z1e7LloQ/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829042.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872882.3499" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="403"></a></div><p> I managed a couple more afterwards to prove it wasn't a fluke before time got the better of me and I had to be gone. Although I was pleased to have caught, from what I'd been reading I really was expecting a bit more in the way of small bottom dwelling species such as blennys and scorpionfish. I figured a change of venue might be worth a go next time out.</p><p> After the wedding and subsequent reception shenannigans the previous night we headed back to Torquay feeling somewhat jaded and decided to blow the cobwebs away with a stopoff for something to eat at Brixham on the way. Obviously I'd already planned this little adventure beforehand as it allowed me to checkout the dangling opportunities around the towns breakwater! After convincing the missus I needed to take my rod along for our walk to the lighthouse I was soon having a cast around a likely looking feature for 'research' purposes (of course!)</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvQO859UKTXzt09ui1fjBsH-WyzzoktK8TS1KDNu9aU8dtmo-586LJ3gDBaBp2b-DBoiL6ElG_29nK6vtOzgNmwJBTqIggYrjVLgC6RzJg4q_XtvP8KVucdgZNvJ6ZcYjOzhjp-qCNg/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221829157.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvQO859UKTXzt09ui1fjBsH-WyzzoktK8TS1KDNu9aU8dtmo-586LJ3gDBaBp2b-DBoiL6ElG_29nK6vtOzgNmwJBTqIggYrjVLgC6RzJg4q_XtvP8KVucdgZNvJ6ZcYjOzhjp-qCNg/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829157.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872868.0315" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUFg1nPiqJ5raHeG5W702fx7F2_lzYnchfUzX-03Ynsf-c_At2xVgixCYkrL4wDMj1st8GdewfZzoOx10r3BFxZqoazwcEqijyVn06iFtu8dBKGOYdJ0f5B7jOXXNG127q6CZgXdAPg/s960/Photo%25252020150525221829193.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUFg1nPiqJ5raHeG5W702fx7F2_lzYnchfUzX-03Ynsf-c_At2xVgixCYkrL4wDMj1st8GdewfZzoOx10r3BFxZqoazwcEqijyVn06iFtu8dBKGOYdJ0f5B7jOXXNG127q6CZgXdAPg/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829193.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872867.5698" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> In the all too few minutes I managed to squeeze in I had several good pulls but really couldn't connect with them so was non-the-wiser as to what the culprits were. I resolved to return at first light the next morning for a proper go prior to our long journey back to the midlands. That afternoon I also popped into the tackle shop in Torquay to pick up a few bits and ended up buying a slightly heavier 3-12g rod as I felt a little undergunned with the 0.5-7g I had been using. The currents off the breakwater were much stronger than in the harbour before and it was also extremely rocky.</p><p>The next day I was back, this time with my daughter Charlotte in tow, both of us proper determined to catch something. Once again I was getting lots of unhittable taps and decided to scale everything right down further and switch to dropshotting as opposed to fishing jigheads.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98W62CoDOTrMysiKFmohCL8sA1cjRsxUhKSf0B9qAgJX08SgWrYFmuvM_M2Judk3ScQJzXzc6WpspnFY7HR5zloQrEh5vV3nbzzgpqxzr5HTku6CEbQNW50hvNeVhaBuMfBincXUVIQ/s1280/Photo%25252020150525221829233.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98W62CoDOTrMysiKFmohCL8sA1cjRsxUhKSf0B9qAgJX08SgWrYFmuvM_M2Judk3ScQJzXzc6WpspnFY7HR5zloQrEh5vV3nbzzgpqxzr5HTku6CEbQNW50hvNeVhaBuMfBincXUVIQ/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829233.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872891.9712" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p>Straight away I was getting taps and still not connecting but after spotting some small wrasse darting in and out of the seaweed and rocks at my feet I decided to drop the lure on top of them to observe their reaction. They were on the bait instantly and although they were having a good go it became obvious that the problem was my bait and hook size. I swapped the size 8 for a 12 and the 1.5inch sliver of marukyu isome worm was reduced to half an inch. First put-in gave me a pretty little wrasse and I knew I was onto a winner!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7ybA4s4GXQCqATf3o7tDB-MWcqaSOtYk7E0cjxmrxwlBtBd9vlu-npTtrB_j8pGua4lxPawrp2n6TK3fl5XA7Yl2Vvp_qBkxkHXK-JMLGktdNt4hauCCyZ9QFobYeIjj68zqxT99-Q/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221829329.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7ybA4s4GXQCqATf3o7tDB-MWcqaSOtYk7E0cjxmrxwlBtBd9vlu-npTtrB_j8pGua4lxPawrp2n6TK3fl5XA7Yl2Vvp_qBkxkHXK-JMLGktdNt4hauCCyZ9QFobYeIjj68zqxT99-Q/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829329.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872809.4636" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> A succession of small wrasse followed and it was really interesting watching them approach the bait and almost bristle at it in much the same way as perch do. It was also fascinating how they just appeared from nowhere every time the bait was lowered down amongst the rocks, the camouflage on those things is incredible. Charlotte was quick to get in on the action too and I ended up having a job prising the rod off her so I could have another go myself!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4VooaiDEVvc3YURPbxJ924Fwr1WSsN9ZtftCDnlgJMGkArjHzBAe9MbqqLa8OgvDrWdPKVImMy9J5NhqgAIEOz4Q_wYt1e76-51M_KCGZFfwtHqYcmqtwD0toH1QPKElrUkvhS7SYA/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221829426.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4VooaiDEVvc3YURPbxJ924Fwr1WSsN9ZtftCDnlgJMGkArjHzBAe9MbqqLa8OgvDrWdPKVImMy9J5NhqgAIEOz4Q_wYt1e76-51M_KCGZFfwtHqYcmqtwD0toH1QPKElrUkvhS7SYA/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829426.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872895.829" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> I spotted a few much larger shapes moving about further down the rocky slope and after much coaxing with a larger bit of worm I managed to hook one which looked around the 3lb mark. Now this thing really pulled and I struggled to stop it getting down into the rocks whereupon it promptly smashed me up, gutted! I couldn't hook another despite my best efforts so decided instead to stick with their smaller brethren. </p><p>Apart from a solitary goby all the fish we caught were wrasse and from what I can make out we caught three different species of them, Corkwing, Goldsinny and Ballan.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn5pBkdcBZAydA4yQbCNtKkqLd7o8_O8dIDsCaDZMsMDE5Dn9oRoT3DxquFaD2yiPT9DcbJPO-UaZYeZntcpC-uN2CJbQiuLQUs0ROD4HKWssDMwEHk5N-p5tBRFhkNadVWwIjHkuGw/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221829487.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn5pBkdcBZAydA4yQbCNtKkqLd7o8_O8dIDsCaDZMsMDE5Dn9oRoT3DxquFaD2yiPT9DcbJPO-UaZYeZntcpC-uN2CJbQiuLQUs0ROD4HKWssDMwEHk5N-p5tBRFhkNadVWwIjHkuGw/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829487.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872842.5579" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xDfp00zk6iLVP0UtZQU6rMQ8554X8Qlsdq_lSrhmWCZkwA2eWLkrI2pxt66Fmvy3SLUJzXGFsDS09e_dnC46RfgUz4TUdyISTQuxcgjyOkHqY1SGy6DNOVPE73oIFcKi6T80T_e0vQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221829569.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3xDfp00zk6iLVP0UtZQU6rMQ8554X8Qlsdq_lSrhmWCZkwA2eWLkrI2pxt66Fmvy3SLUJzXGFsDS09e_dnC46RfgUz4TUdyISTQuxcgjyOkHqY1SGy6DNOVPE73oIFcKi6T80T_e0vQ/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829569.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872854.7832" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4yF7spTulBh4wrr0ppPa_z5cHpKvsGfwn95w2n27WjxBPnAvQXAdCDU7oVITfQzesvI4lkoVPzK7T58HqCfFndvgS-W26DZAE3mm3le_zyp2B_XI9TB4VLveBRzYfspjb6c7ZGolxA/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221829677.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4yF7spTulBh4wrr0ppPa_z5cHpKvsGfwn95w2n27WjxBPnAvQXAdCDU7oVITfQzesvI4lkoVPzK7T58HqCfFndvgS-W26DZAE3mm3le_zyp2B_XI9TB4VLveBRzYfspjb6c7ZGolxA/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829677.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872811.2678" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="407"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZocyXuWOalrIU6N3n3lqOjzHQ2CbseWYjqxiTXUGSXIUSEMeG7iZw8cMMzPWE16SGpqvM2CLi8kK7POZznbRLyx0lK9m1wnjvqE2C4_n4jGwtWCTbfNuzivehKZNDQ0Ia_lQlvTnejQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221829787.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZocyXuWOalrIU6N3n3lqOjzHQ2CbseWYjqxiTXUGSXIUSEMeG7iZw8cMMzPWE16SGpqvM2CLi8kK7POZznbRLyx0lK9m1wnjvqE2C4_n4jGwtWCTbfNuzivehKZNDQ0Ia_lQlvTnejQ/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829787.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872896.4336" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1mFFFC6V-Rr4kwnbMY0dALJVbRx7n2lo0g3_fBNSCQWFUzxUE4oanDWcIbWkpJFOwg3OOi93GdiMiVGdWAzYSHJgYgR3l5K9y3SiCu3Xs0TLa61yCyEG8wp4TpYdGuDo9AxchAjI0Q/s2048/Photo%25252020150525221829864.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1mFFFC6V-Rr4kwnbMY0dALJVbRx7n2lo0g3_fBNSCQWFUzxUE4oanDWcIbWkpJFOwg3OOi93GdiMiVGdWAzYSHJgYgR3l5K9y3SiCu3Xs0TLa61yCyEG8wp4TpYdGuDo9AxchAjI0Q/s500/Photo%25252020150525221829864.jpg" id="blogsy-1432588872884.9258" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div><p> After a couple of hours I'd well and truly lost count of how many we'd caught but it had been a great trip for both of us. On my part it had given me loads of confidence in the whole LRF approach and for Charlotte it had given her lots of dropshotting practice to build on and obviously we both really enjoyed ourselves. Forget the bait fishing in future, whenever I visit the inlaws it's going to be LRF all the way now!</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-14996532049908682992015-05-24T21:31:00.001+01:002015-05-24T21:31:01.928+01:00Pitsford Predators
<p> Following on from last years successful trip to Rutland water, the lads from the same Facebook group decided to organise a similar session on Pitsford water. The venue was to open it's doors early to predator anglers this year so we decided to book some boats there on opening day.</p>
<p>Having never been to the lake before I was surprised at how big it was. For some reason I had a picture in my mind of something much smaller but after setting out in the boat and motoring through the tunnel under the nearby road into the main body of water it became obvious we had a seriously long trip ahead of us to get to the dam end! The wind had really put a good chop on the water and we were motoring directly into it, waves crashed over the bow of the boat and we got soaked, the sun might've been out but it certainly wasn't overly warm.</p>
<p>Eventually we got to where we wanted to be near the bubblers and, after bailing out some water, we set about fishing. We had 35ft of water below us which seemed a good depth given the bright conditions. Not much happened for the first hour but I think that was more down to Phil and I getting used to handling and positioning the boat in the strong wind. Neither of us had boat fished in such conditions before so it was a steep learning curve for us but we got somewhere near in the end.</p>
<p>Phil struck first blood fishwise when his shad was smashed by something considerably larger than the perch we were hoping for. After an unbelievable battle we were surprised to see a small Pike of about 6lb break the surface, it pulled so hard we were convinced it was a large trout for most of the fight.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>After that we had a couple of fruitless drifts along the dam wall before deciding to head to some shallower water. In the entrance to a large bay we found a lovely drop off which sloped from 23-25ft up to 8-11ft over a very short distance and it was here where we both found some fish. After a couple of missed hits I eventually connected with a small jack to open my account and Phil nailed another one too.</p>
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<p>There seemed to be a few fish in this area and we both had another pike apiece aswell as missing/losing others then another boat moved in and it went dead. We decided to work our way along the windward bank from there back around the lake towards the road end. Over the next hour or so I managed another jack aswell as missing a couple more thumps before we found another area with a significant drop off where we concentrated our efforts.</p>
<p>More fish were landed albeit pike, the perch were noticeably conspicuous in their absence so I decided to go all out for old esox with the big lures. I was amazed that some pike were literally following the lure right to the boat in over 20ft of water and I even had a couple of hits right under the rod tip. I was fishing with Savage gear real eels and the small supply I had were getting chewed up pretty quick! </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I don't want to steal phils thunder as I'm sure he will want to recount the story in detail in his own blog but he did catch an absolutely fantastic pike of 22.8 on very light tackle after a lengthy battle which involved me having to follow the fish around the lake in the boat big-game stylee!</p>
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<p>Morning rolled into afternoon and after beaching in a picnic area for some lunch with our comrades the wind had dropped quite a lot and we headed back through the road tunnel into the area of lake in front of the boat dock. This side of the water appeared much shallower and we had an average depth of around 16-18ft and there seemed to be less weed also. Phil managed a jack and I had a follow from a very decent fish but it was slow eventually we found ourselves headed back to the area we caught well from earlier.</p>
<p>It didn't take long to get amongst a couple more pike but I had to switch to large spinnerbaits to provoke a response as the eels seemed to suddenly lose all effectiveness. Maybe it was because the fish had seen them being pulled over their heads in that area for most of the day.</p>
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<p> As the evening drew in I became aware at just how much I'd caught the sun. Because it had been windy for much of the day I never really noticed it but now it had dropped I found I was absolutely glowing and<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I think a touch of sunstroke may have occurred</span><span style="line-height: 1.3em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> because </span>the next day I felt quite unwell as a result, another lesson learned!</p>
<p>That aside we were treated to a lovely sunset as we took the boat back to dock and another cracking day afloat came to an end. Pitsford is certainly a water I shall be returning to in the not too distant future without a doubt as there are some cracking fish to be caught there.</p>
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<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-47672999563250971142015-05-09T10:06:00.001+01:002015-05-09T10:06:08.987+01:00Dawn raid<p>I needed to get some more species down on the list for the bloggers challenge and with limited time I decided an early morning attack on the local canal could well give me a few points. I had to be back home for 10am and it was 5.30 when I arrived bankside.</p><p>I began by chucking some hard lures about in my favourite Zander swim and despite getting a couple of savage pulls I couldn't connect. A switch to a soft lure saw me land a scrappy little Zed on my first chuck which went 1lb12oz. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hRVvL9YDovpY4cJmOetNReFFtzTGmUQJKV-6V9kvS-gXdQlSE4rCeVxbdebF2e_riopNeIAcWUW1r4XTGWOLkuacsJBv_q2BHESGVIZq1L2Hi7pvW5RedLB6sDxAqNP_dpLDrSvEXA/s2048/Photo%25252020150509100542383.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hRVvL9YDovpY4cJmOetNReFFtzTGmUQJKV-6V9kvS-gXdQlSE4rCeVxbdebF2e_riopNeIAcWUW1r4XTGWOLkuacsJBv_q2BHESGVIZq1L2Hi7pvW5RedLB6sDxAqNP_dpLDrSvEXA/s500/Photo%25252020150509100542383.jpg" id="blogsy-1431162369805.6826" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p>My next cast saw me bump another then I couldn't buy another pull so I went back to the car to swap the lure gear for the float rod and set about trying to winkle out some more fish.</p><p>The wind was pretty horrendous which meant I had to fish down the inside track which wasn't where I really wanted to be. I managed to scrape a few different species together though, perch, dace, gudgeon, roach and a roach/bream hybrid, all small but all points!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdxkVbFkmr3yGRx9C_zkucgljKIUh-FD2iwxC-LcHR-ne0Kj4wYVfDsgvgtIROgE5YIh_c4MapkpQh87eNL9gQryUJVhF6RZUHdKJB_EPu7jDpMlSaZbbVwUsIl1T5t5qok718W8cCw/s2048/Photo%25252020150509100542433.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdxkVbFkmr3yGRx9C_zkucgljKIUh-FD2iwxC-LcHR-ne0Kj4wYVfDsgvgtIROgE5YIh_c4MapkpQh87eNL9gQryUJVhF6RZUHdKJB_EPu7jDpMlSaZbbVwUsIl1T5t5qok718W8cCw/s500/Photo%25252020150509100542433.jpg" id="blogsy-1431162369804.529" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="401" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-71019502801602682632015-05-05T22:08:00.001+01:002015-05-05T22:09:49.861+01:00Braving the elements
<p> First day back at work after the bank holiday and as I travelled to the gulag I couldn't help but notice that the weather conditions were screaming at me to go fishing! The wind was strong but very warm and rain showers intermittently poured out of the thick black clouds above, for the first time in ages conditions looked really good. </p>
<p>My local lake hadn't been at all good to me this year, in fact not a single carp had fallen to my rods and it wasn't for lack of trying either! As I sat in the office watching the wild weather battering the windows I visualised the carp stacking up on the windward bank of the pool, embarking on their first mad feeding spell of the year. I really needed to be there.</p>
<p>4pm arrived and I was out of the workhouse in double quick time and first out of the carpark by a country mile! after an ultra fast pitstop at home to eat and load the gear I was soon back on the road and headed to the lake. Upon my arrival there was already two anglers in residence with very little to report but fortunately neither were in my fancied areas. The wind seemed to be gusting from all different angles and no single swim jumped out at me. It was generally pushing towards the longest and blandest bit of bank on the lake which also has some very deep water in front of it so I decided to wait for the carp to tell me where to go.</p>
<p>Within a couple of minutes one stuck it's head out of the water in the vague vicinity of where I thought I should be so I headed around there. I opted for a boilie only approach using good old fashioned stringers as I think the fish are wary of little piles of pellets and groundbait because every man and his dog seem to be using pva sticks/bags and method feeders in there at the moment.</p>
<p>The weather lashed at my brolly to the extreme over the next hour and I soon got fed up with adjusting it to stop it blowing away. Somewhere in all the chaos though I suddenly became aware of a delkim warbling urgently and thank god for snag ears because my left hand rod was taking on an alarming bend as a fish made it's bid to get to the far end of the pool.</p>
<p>I leaned into the fish to try and turn it but it seemed hellbent on getting into the reeds along my margin. After a few hairy moments I managed to turn it towards open water where it was much easier to battle despite the ferocious wind making my wielding of the landing net somewhat difficult. A nice looking common was eventually netted and I was pleased to record a weight of 22lb8oz, my biggest from the venue so far.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV_Tn_xa2CRgXA37JJMyk8Ux3kOECsm-aHZrt7or9fNd56NSn66T_HuJg7lohhM5Ipie3R1WNeqo7BX0ZcWQBFMHr6iUWOk-Y4rikHKjpg7UnJPBxd4hzmnnXnzUQetWj3KENm0raLQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150505220823076.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWV_Tn_xa2CRgXA37JJMyk8Ux3kOECsm-aHZrt7or9fNd56NSn66T_HuJg7lohhM5Ipie3R1WNeqo7BX0ZcWQBFMHr6iUWOk-Y4rikHKjpg7UnJPBxd4hzmnnXnzUQetWj3KENm0raLQ/s500/Photo%25252020150505220823076.jpg" id="blogsy-1430860123452.3435" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="410" alt=""></a></div>
<p> After that I never bothered to recast as the weather had really started to close in and the drizzle became torrential, home beckoned! A quick result with a decent fish on a work night was a sweet reward for braving some truly shocking weather :-) </p>
<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-84603028998479106822015-05-03T18:18:00.001+01:002015-05-03T18:29:01.845+01:00Taking up the challenge<p>In past years some of my fellow bloggers have taken part in a big fish challenge whereupon points are awarded for specimen fish caught across three different catagories, river, canal and Stillwater. The number of points awarded is based upon the fishes percentage of the current record for that species. After seeing that the lads were running another one this year I thought it might be fun to have a go at it myself and, after a belated email to Russell Hilton to sign up, I now find myself in the lineup!</p><p>Everybodies got to start somewhere and after the major grueller I've been having of late I decided to head out to try and bag a couple of easy carp to kick things off. A trip to a favourite little pool in Leicestershire was the order of the day as I knew it would give me a double or two with the outside chance of a 20.</p><p>The rain was tipping it down upon my arrival which made for some uncomfortable fishing but It cleared up as the day progressed and I managed to find a few in the end. The biggest I had was a slightly disappointing 11lb on the button but points is points and I need every one I can get at the moment! I had a few bait robbing skimmers too and again it was all about the points as I weighed a veritable monster of 2lb5oz.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrWhfeZqhlvnk0CRnQbOqG9z33X2wKmfzcNR8okgU5MvA7vPuAYekVhVFfuPzWvvHDnD3XjY3mEzYs6RHAty5txLTo0v04Tnno1w3Qz9_IaklMBsuucdu-36q6br1Df5GvBK7YnGLjw/s2048/Photo%25252020150503181808345.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrWhfeZqhlvnk0CRnQbOqG9z33X2wKmfzcNR8okgU5MvA7vPuAYekVhVFfuPzWvvHDnD3XjY3mEzYs6RHAty5txLTo0v04Tnno1w3Qz9_IaklMBsuucdu-36q6br1Df5GvBK7YnGLjw/s500/Photo%25252020150503181808345.jpg" id="blogsy-1430674140960.4312" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvn9B1wTOXUEBxw9bs1sWhd_5YQtxlaqmW-hV4yrxld-ix-WwO80CawkNNYIjn1yXoXKA543DX6LdU-WweZAspvHpX8eotXpzueBVu1Ah2bUd4atOQ_dIsYXvLvL0CytavKTefHi9kA/s2048/Photo%25252020150503182844117.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwvn9B1wTOXUEBxw9bs1sWhd_5YQtxlaqmW-hV4yrxld-ix-WwO80CawkNNYIjn1yXoXKA543DX6LdU-WweZAspvHpX8eotXpzueBVu1Ah2bUd4atOQ_dIsYXvLvL0CytavKTefHi9kA/s500/Photo%25252020150503182844117.jpg" id="blogsy-1430674140934.1697" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="423" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A mediocre start I know, But I'll be building on it soon enough for sure. A bonus koi touching double figures provided a nice end to my trip, shame they don't count in the comp though!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietKcSabA3IcvzGKUWYqrgjhO0r6nvpDF2iAgRncnZTtE5ygJS9FzUjme0f6Ndw4XkQQFh0AEqAYQDGRd7MU6lh2xMzrnHDH86Q3m0xYmxf91g0PgsMhLHx8xPLn4XpTkk6fJuhyphenhypheny8Nw/s2048/Photo%25252020150503181808427.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietKcSabA3IcvzGKUWYqrgjhO0r6nvpDF2iAgRncnZTtE5ygJS9FzUjme0f6Ndw4XkQQFh0AEqAYQDGRd7MU6lh2xMzrnHDH86Q3m0xYmxf91g0PgsMhLHx8xPLn4XpTkk6fJuhyphenhypheny8Nw/s500/Photo%25252020150503181808427.jpg" id="blogsy-1430674140955.7302" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-30346365083416310702015-04-19T19:27:00.001+01:002015-04-19T19:29:16.852+01:00Filling the void<p>All of a sudden the closed season is upon us and, for me at least, that time when something is badly needed to fill the angling void between the rivers shutting and the weather warming up for the summer species. Ordinarily I'd turn my attentions to bream and tench at this time of the year but a total lack of preparation and a reluctance to revisit waters of the past has conspired to put a dampener on things a little. Instead I decided to split my time between carp and lure fishing until hopefully a flash of inspiration or a better offer came along!</p><div>On the carp front things have been exceptionally slow, in fact as I write, a month into the closed season my tally stands at just a couple of fish to mid-double figures.<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5pGqu8tXJpGNG6BBrd4bIRjvoVJYChX25cZL8odXiLrElESKNfCvD1e7fRGXxb5EoBR4jqnSOlMLCPg0g0_MqUoIrV4nmex3-L6wCSUsEvB0ANZbklgh3_8jDsJi1DWkciNOuYmIsQ/s2048/Photo%25252020150419192601983.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5pGqu8tXJpGNG6BBrd4bIRjvoVJYChX25cZL8odXiLrElESKNfCvD1e7fRGXxb5EoBR4jqnSOlMLCPg0g0_MqUoIrV4nmex3-L6wCSUsEvB0ANZbklgh3_8jDsJi1DWkciNOuYmIsQ/s500/Photo%25252020150419192601983.jpg" id="blogsy-1429468040269.7468" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> It's not for lack of trying though and although they've started to show on my regular water they've proven incredibly hard to tempt. Some Other anglers have reported catching one or two but the vast majority, myself included, are going home with dry nets which is most frustrating! Whilst we have had some warm sunny days it has still been very cold at night and the sunshine I think has put me into the mindset that everything should be feeding but in reality I think they are still only just waking up after the winter.</p><p>On a trip last weekend I suffered a lot of liners which told me there was fish moving about around my baited area but it wasn't until the evening when I finally received a proper take which turned out to be my first tench of the year, which was nice, but it wasn't my hoped for carp!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwRilIN0LQv7kzVOLh-rDwvHkf0hQh27j5FmOGTD7FUeMb02J5mnC6bkXXka6hlgWwNGxlRL3lQ7TiI7c_QJ_xPmFhbx90wNdNKZgU_F_olcdYnkcVswevRyOVn2HCtNhWV-60Dpqvg/s2048/Photo%25252020150419192602072.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwRilIN0LQv7kzVOLh-rDwvHkf0hQh27j5FmOGTD7FUeMb02J5mnC6bkXXka6hlgWwNGxlRL3lQ7TiI7c_QJ_xPmFhbx90wNdNKZgU_F_olcdYnkcVswevRyOVn2HCtNhWV-60Dpqvg/s500/Photo%25252020150419192602072.jpg" id="blogsy-1429468040263.5327" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="418"></a></div><p> Even the lure fishing has been tough! I don't know what's going on with the perch of late but they certainly aren't in their usual areas and seem to be very finicky when it comes to feeding. I've caught a fair few of course, mostly on the dropshot, but certainly not as many as I was expecting from the conditions. Other lure anglers I've met on the bank have been struggling too so it's not just me.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_v1Lf87btZ7WSUJvl9TVA__2Q0bCLRcKcUyswjF7nUcOJG-S5KefU1wBvdugbM6mJrDZKGlowVExFbEk8Au-WARN24oNjPJXQyo0I6TpDAr1P2Gy9dinA_TNDKfFNpq6oPFID9Y9n7A/s2048/Photo%25252020150419192602156.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_v1Lf87btZ7WSUJvl9TVA__2Q0bCLRcKcUyswjF7nUcOJG-S5KefU1wBvdugbM6mJrDZKGlowVExFbEk8Au-WARN24oNjPJXQyo0I6TpDAr1P2Gy9dinA_TNDKfFNpq6oPFID9Y9n7A/s500/Photo%25252020150419192602156.jpg" id="blogsy-1429468040262.1978" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="406"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8CBd4jYUco3OkOtDqYL95zm2YUUIZgE-k22g0OXFGS8G4f4HnGjFKp2yv6U2gPEcQhgCRzmlZChAxPS-1A6pwfRBt4lSu0TFF_kHUcwXBA_eVwV81u4F0aJPMDBP4sJ_bOf_vQagKw/s2048/Photo%25252020150419192602244.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8CBd4jYUco3OkOtDqYL95zm2YUUIZgE-k22g0OXFGS8G4f4HnGjFKp2yv6U2gPEcQhgCRzmlZChAxPS-1A6pwfRBt4lSu0TFF_kHUcwXBA_eVwV81u4F0aJPMDBP4sJ_bOf_vQagKw/s500/Photo%25252020150419192602244.jpg" id="blogsy-1429468040197.7832" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="667" alt=""></a></div></div><p> </p><p> The canal I mostly fish has been very coloured up due to the sudden increase of boat traffic brought on by the warmer weather. As a result bites have been hard to come by and lure fishing in coloured water never fills me with confidence at the best of times. To this end I started to think about what other attraction could be used to attract the fish to my lure besides action and colour and decided to experiment with rattles. Obviously, to get the loudest rattle, I would need to go down the hardbait route and after a bit of research (and asking those in the know) I settled on a couple of rapala and bill Lewis patterns to try.</p><p>My most recent session was to be my first with the new lures and upon arriving at the canal it looked fairly coloured and good test for the lures attraction. The first cast gave me an opportunity to check the rapalas action which proved to be what I can only describe as a rapid shimmy! On the next cast I was just admiring the feel of the lure through the rod when a gentle tap had me striking into a nice fish, result! It proved to be a Zander of around 4lb but as I fumbled about with the landing net it threw the hook leaving me somwhat disappointed! I needn't have worried though because a hefty thump right at my feet on my next cast saw me land another Zander of around 2-3lb .</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIaqqRb4FGQxYsSqZ94i3gmjPWhz-Z0hpcdklDKtxAWmqL4E_AcSjLgc4hEmTxPo6wsuLWAeqcOCFnw2A2eXRubo8ykA1PAYAcXy3QRETtwWyGXUsac2pPxSRCpkdr-Mj6b9joZSSyw/s2048/Photo%25252020150419192602330.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIaqqRb4FGQxYsSqZ94i3gmjPWhz-Z0hpcdklDKtxAWmqL4E_AcSjLgc4hEmTxPo6wsuLWAeqcOCFnw2A2eXRubo8ykA1PAYAcXy3QRETtwWyGXUsac2pPxSRCpkdr-Mj6b9joZSSyw/s500/Photo%25252020150419192602330.jpg" id="blogsy-1429468040241.2212" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="394" alt=""></a></div><p> After that I began to struggle with all the debris which was floating in the canal because my lure was like a magnet for it! More often than not I was bringing back twigs and other rubbish so, having already proven my rattle theory to myself, I decided to switch to the dropshot setup and went on to take around a dozen small perch over the course of the morning. </p><p>I've got a fair bit on at work and home over the next month so time will be limited but fishingwise I've got a few ideas in the pipeline so I'm hoping things take a bit of an upturn and I can start banking a few more!</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-42260614472156999252015-03-26T20:25:00.001+00:002015-03-26T20:25:39.471+00:00End of the season trips<p>The last week of the season has often been very good to me in terms of bigger fish and I was hoping that it would be a similar story this time around and booked a couple of days off work in anticipation. I had originally planned on perch fishing for the last few trips but suddenly every man and his dog seemed to be fishing for them and, even worse for me, my favourite stretch of river was proving to be extremely popular this year thanks to a few high profile newspaper stories involving perch captures from said river. Somewhat disgruntled I decided to bin the perch idea off altogether and try something else.</p><p>At the back end of last summer I found a lovely little pond in Staffordshire with some nice carp in and seeing as it seemed quite prolific I had it earmarked as a bit of a winter water. Unfortunately I never got round to fishing it in winter proper but seeing as I couldn't get it out of my mind I decided to give it a go.</p><p>As expected, upon my arrival, the lake was empty and didn't look like it had been fished much at all over the winter. I setup on the main body of the pool as I figured this would give me a good vantage point to spot any fish movement should it occur.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RPo4xXa_l43uGDLaryEBcLBdQrYJLsU_RZDlgGK-xUmxc_cQr4-OwVDBANPyADKliS_LiE5JKJAL5Q4tO2xCoGKPizHYdOgteiEvPNqllEkhn4nW6wxpQRAIRUrb3-fUfUYuIxvYEA/s2048/Photo%25252020150326202431624.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RPo4xXa_l43uGDLaryEBcLBdQrYJLsU_RZDlgGK-xUmxc_cQr4-OwVDBANPyADKliS_LiE5JKJAL5Q4tO2xCoGKPizHYdOgteiEvPNqllEkhn4nW6wxpQRAIRUrb3-fUfUYuIxvYEA/s500/Photo%25252020150326202431624.jpg" id="blogsy-1427401539342.6482" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> The weather decided to take a turn for the worse as the morning progressed and my maggot hookbaits remained untouched by the fish although the local tufted duck population seemed rather partial to them! Just after lunchtime I decided to reel in and have a mooch around to see if I could find any clues to the whereabouts of the fish. </p><p>The water was pretty clear and it was obvious that there wasn't much happening in the margins, that is until I arrived at the far corner of the lake and the water there was noticeably cloudy. Although it was the shallowest part of the lake, it was also the most sheltered and on the back of the cold wind to boot. There hadn't been any bird activity over there all day either so it didn't take a rocket scientist to work out there might be a few fish moving over there. I rushed back to fetch my kit sharpish but at this point divine intervention occurred and the heavens opened proper. I cowered under my brolly to wait it out but 30minutes later it was still going strong and I had seriously lost my enthusiasm to move! Shortly after that I decided to pack up on the next lull in the downpour and return on a better day!</p><p>The next day I wanted to fish for Chub on the Trent as I felt I had neglected them way too much this season and first light saw me stepping out on the bank and forging a path to my favourite haunts. The weather was in complete contrast to the previous day being bright and sunny if a little cold, good conditions I hoped.</p><p>The first spot I picked was my total banker swim, how quickly and how many I caught here would be a good indication of how the day would pan out. It didn't take long to get some interest either as my mashed bread and flake combo proved too tempting for the first fish of the day, a lively 3lber which gleamed nicely in the early morning sunshine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfv6aRjSiqlE12qlw_CGq7DxI2VKVy43b2nhOO1R2noN-BiRRux4M5GpG1Vy9ajxjF_sy66EbcSeLp9GtC2KP4IfJbjRHhXdjA5oLLVFUhFC8_vyqzII1md4eF3hPqtFVF7vDnlPPIw/s1024/Photo%25252020150326202431681.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfv6aRjSiqlE12qlw_CGq7DxI2VKVy43b2nhOO1R2noN-BiRRux4M5GpG1Vy9ajxjF_sy66EbcSeLp9GtC2KP4IfJbjRHhXdjA5oLLVFUhFC8_vyqzII1md4eF3hPqtFVF7vDnlPPIw/s500/Photo%25252020150326202431681.jpg" id="blogsy-1427401539349.4133" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="388"></a></div><p> A bumped fish on my next cast quietened the swim down somewhat and it took around 20mins before I had another pull. This fish was slightly bigger than the previous by the look of it but I never got chance to find out how big exactly because a large pike walloped it right at my feet and broke me off, a move was definately called for!</p><p>My next two swims never produced a rap despite being reliable spots in the past and the third gave me a missed bite within a minute of casting in then nothing else. I was somewhat disheartened and decided try one last spot before upping sticks to a new bit of river. It was very shallow but there was a distinctive crease in the flow where it came off the side of a gravel bar into slightly deeper water. </p><p>Ten minutes after casting in the rod tip tapped a couple of times and I hit into a decent Chub which was well over 4lb. It had a nasty looking wound on its side so I put it back ASAP without weighing and quickly got cast back in. Another ten minutes later and I found myself playing a heavy fish which stayed out in the flow, it kept me guessing right to the end and the hoped for monster chub suddenly became a Bream which was most surprising considering the scrap it put up!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o67lta_9rLoCODT3ypkqrqjBO-kcxemrfnMyPj2kv4en0L4J-fgxcUnpl_-Kiu5P10ZhrIROhkU4j4pReuyovjm38_y4qjAUDQIMF6QxSrp43y5i9ueGq6QLudXvbOHaZEJlJMGbBg/s1024/Photo%25252020150326202431727.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o67lta_9rLoCODT3ypkqrqjBO-kcxemrfnMyPj2kv4en0L4J-fgxcUnpl_-Kiu5P10ZhrIROhkU4j4pReuyovjm38_y4qjAUDQIMF6QxSrp43y5i9ueGq6QLudXvbOHaZEJlJMGbBg/s500/Photo%25252020150326202431727.jpg" id="blogsy-1427401539324.4956" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="396"></a></div><p> A move to a new stretch followed and rather than trying my usual swims up there I decided to look for new spots in the shallower areas. The decision paid off aswell and I went on to take several more nice chub over the course of the afternoon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAgy2L5678Z2L64nQ-JXX3c6moOQs4KxCqKVxTrG1YTm2Sk8DVJAC2jriJ9MNbs3aJI-6Dk03h78ou6rZJXcCFu3-IVVQ227oU7N5Yseq7308Hho0BH2HMsXDa9eG20gBQNPySsJT1w/s1024/Photo%25252020150326202431785.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAgy2L5678Z2L64nQ-JXX3c6moOQs4KxCqKVxTrG1YTm2Sk8DVJAC2jriJ9MNbs3aJI-6Dk03h78ou6rZJXcCFu3-IVVQ227oU7N5Yseq7308Hho0BH2HMsXDa9eG20gBQNPySsJT1w/s500/Photo%25252020150326202431785.jpg" id="blogsy-1427401539330.0173" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="389"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh814yVQcCYXs0PYxaHYNsrrMnbLYE1ej-g-T0T4Y_dfxdB0Kj6Dq2HhyqeZpjICM9LmVQ1x70A2ttI5zOftiKJTSPAIgskIHuwiKWL2y9EwPRkM2IwdeMMP7FXIsS_31689bkRpctWvg/s1024/Photo%25252020150326202431830.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh814yVQcCYXs0PYxaHYNsrrMnbLYE1ej-g-T0T4Y_dfxdB0Kj6Dq2HhyqeZpjICM9LmVQ1x70A2ttI5zOftiKJTSPAIgskIHuwiKWL2y9EwPRkM2IwdeMMP7FXIsS_31689bkRpctWvg/s500/Photo%25252020150326202431830.jpg" id="blogsy-1427401539393.4055" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="412"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3Hm-tlejL7JmPAGySJQai0g4l07waHrQk162srk6me-U2oTrj_u8ricffib5vTItbGFVkaVeCzGW2kg71iiAmMDJ2p_DohPIhmLjVh-UPw6hZBLMvmV7qAW83Yg51Scbxa2m9H-DXw/s1024/Photo%25252020150326202431885.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3Hm-tlejL7JmPAGySJQai0g4l07waHrQk162srk6me-U2oTrj_u8ricffib5vTItbGFVkaVeCzGW2kg71iiAmMDJ2p_DohPIhmLjVh-UPw6hZBLMvmV7qAW83Yg51Scbxa2m9H-DXw/s500/Photo%25252020150326202431885.jpg" id="blogsy-1427401539389.994" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="410"></a></div><p> Just before packing up I had a swimfeeder taken by a sizeable pike on the retrieve. The fish bit me off but was certainly large enough for me to start making plans to come down and catch it on my next trip out!</p><p>The following Friday I found myself setting up in the same swim armed with the dead baiting gear. It was a fairly tight swim so I opted to Floatfish a sardine under the rod tip. Unbelievably, as I was plumbing the depth, a jack hit my float and bit me off! The pike must've been really hungry in this swim!!</p><p>Once I got fishing properly I noticed that the river was starting to colour up and after a biteless hour it really was quite brown and starting to rise. The previous nights rain must've been heavier than I thought . I decided to move swim to some more sheltered water but before I did so I had a couple of casts with a small shad on the the lure rod. A gentle tug from deep in the murk at my feet had me striking into something heavy and I was pleased to see a very large pike break the surface like a crocodile. It had to be the same fish from the week before and having had a good look at it I knew it was a good upper double, maybe bigger. At that point it decided to wake up and one shake of its head had my shad flying out of its mouth and into the grass at my feet before, with a flick of its tail, it sloped back off out of sight, I was well gutted!</p><p>I did get a consolation Perch of over 2lb on the shad a short while later but the river was coming up fast and I didn't hang around for long before heading home with plans to fish the Soar for pike the following day which also happened to be the last day of the season.</p><p>I wanted to finish the season with a few fish under my belt so I headed to my favourite pike runs area where I knew I'd get at least some sort of action. The weather was surprisingly cold but fortunately the soar was running low and clear which was in total contrast to the Trent which by now was carrying nearly 3ft!</p><p>It took around half an hour to get some interest but I managed to lose the first two fish which picked up my baits to hookpulls. The third run I had more luck with and promptly went on to land my first pug nosed pike from the river which looked about 6lb.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrO-XzjD-f-bOBC1bucshp6xOlfvHWg9Sqd1smcqsr4M3pqsVRxIBBKf5aqGHCR-4oHTsLN-B5egiY_9VO8kGrbjkte5dAO_TFDQXHbbzd_3oRvpi9Vw-6gLES8QkcJeJbcYF_Hsn1w/s2048/Photo%25252020150326202431963.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrO-XzjD-f-bOBC1bucshp6xOlfvHWg9Sqd1smcqsr4M3pqsVRxIBBKf5aqGHCR-4oHTsLN-B5egiY_9VO8kGrbjkte5dAO_TFDQXHbbzd_3oRvpi9Vw-6gLES8QkcJeJbcYF_Hsn1w/s500/Photo%25252020150326202431963.jpg" id="blogsy-1427401539348.2166" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> It was obvious these fish were finicky feeders after being regularly fished for all winter, two fish lost to hookpulls and a third barely hooked at all had me thinking about my rigs. After two dropped runs on my conventionally hooked bait on the downstreamer I decided to drop a hair-rigged bait on the same spot. It was away within a couple of minutes and I managed to land the culprit successfully, properly hooked it was too!</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHkcS_2Tk4iLNZ_U6pxY5IX5v8oUuXBHzOeVdxD4Apyv64_xy3dczWSjBfchy7o6q9sbz2wkX-cMGQy5zfGC0-0SX34PgpPP1GtVJDmQIkSR6fuPQgkHvXF6V8GvhjLSpf8PvLia6kQ/s1023/Photo%25252020150326202432009.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHkcS_2Tk4iLNZ_U6pxY5IX5v8oUuXBHzOeVdxD4Apyv64_xy3dczWSjBfchy7o6q9sbz2wkX-cMGQy5zfGC0-0SX34PgpPP1GtVJDmQIkSR6fuPQgkHvXF6V8GvhjLSpf8PvLia6kQ/s500/Photo%25252020150326202432009.jpg" id="blogsy-1427401539373.0894" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="433" alt=""></a></div><p> Another jack to the same rod half an hour later had me thinking I'd cracked it but the local rowing club soon started up their usual Saturday morning activities and my action was killed stone dead. I was pleased to get a few fish anyway and an early packup at lunchtime was to herald the end of my river fishing season. I've certainly had better seasons but as long as I keep getting my string pulled there's no such thing as a bad season!</p><p>Now, a couple of weeks into the closed season I find myself in the doldrums slightly as the water is still a little too cold for the summer species to feed with any vigour and the canals suddenly have lots of boat traffic which makes them slightly more tricky on the lures due to the coloured water. I need a plan of action methinks..............</p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-88174958048504098462015-02-20T20:40:00.001+00:002015-02-20T20:41:55.250+00:00Back to Blithfield<p>After last autumns successful perch trials the management at Blithfield res decided to release a couple more dates so last weekend saw me headed back over there to do battle once more. Phil was to be my boat partner this time around and seeing as this was his first time out on a trout ressie I was praying for a good day to whet his appetite for future trips.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MX-hqUmTuOAQu0hSfX99ZpBS9p9vMSC7b7yOgmU55XeHcOKgrVxTA-6PyGt9rcOR4M8azluB7dPbDWwT0CZhQkF5hyCdYfw7g-x90Dx-sraCJxja2FNagxsdsfoePzkEFEj1b9Hp8g/s1024/Photo%25252020150220204016092.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MX-hqUmTuOAQu0hSfX99ZpBS9p9vMSC7b7yOgmU55XeHcOKgrVxTA-6PyGt9rcOR4M8azluB7dPbDWwT0CZhQkF5hyCdYfw7g-x90Dx-sraCJxja2FNagxsdsfoePzkEFEj1b9Hp8g/s500/Photo%25252020150220204016092.jpg" id="blogsy-1424464851166.5928" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> </p><p>As we approached the lake it didn't look too bad but as we got closer I was slightly disappointed that there was a good chop on. Being relatively inexperienced at boat fishing myself I had visions of spending most of the day wrestling with the boat in the wind but in the event, although we were drifting a little too quickly for my liking, the drogue did it's job and it wasn't too bad.</p><p>The fishing itself proved to be a pretty slow burner and although we were getting a few taps we were struggling to connect with anything. My first fish came after I had put the rod down and reached for a sandwich. Phil pointed out that my rod tip was pulling over at an alarming rate and I turned around and struck into a small but feisty Perch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvli4BtufpVkxDAW3pwFMZU4Ea19wkCGNj8CkuQ3EWQLxeJa8dYZBhtIebMjeIiIqlAnCutHQavk2wlHnWjvo6IW0oAtjvSvFt-2MqchdRsNnmZXHB-1ATBRYBnZ9A5semF6MGXIGmQ/s699/Photo%25252020150220204016108.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvli4BtufpVkxDAW3pwFMZU4Ea19wkCGNj8CkuQ3EWQLxeJa8dYZBhtIebMjeIiIqlAnCutHQavk2wlHnWjvo6IW0oAtjvSvFt-2MqchdRsNnmZXHB-1ATBRYBnZ9A5semF6MGXIGmQ/s500/Photo%25252020150220204016108.jpg" id="blogsy-1424464851117.5176" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="408"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">After that we fished on with more confidence and actually managed to catch a few even though we were still missing a fair few plucks from the depths. I'd say it was prolific but I'd be lying, there was just enough action to keep the interest up but at least we were getting our string pulled.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb_TZVhPl6iacYPjcdrsiqwPllxVuu2BMUjDmxiuDIj4Xo84sKrZWdR-EFpMQbOipHk5eVLJVXJTCZ4AXE4wZxakZ2yG6D5NaTrg7uGpUQuBvgjrc3ANkuBmk5WoFR-TYPfj1ixV9iw/s1024/Photo%25252020150220204016126.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb_TZVhPl6iacYPjcdrsiqwPllxVuu2BMUjDmxiuDIj4Xo84sKrZWdR-EFpMQbOipHk5eVLJVXJTCZ4AXE4wZxakZ2yG6D5NaTrg7uGpUQuBvgjrc3ANkuBmk5WoFR-TYPfj1ixV9iw/s500/Photo%25252020150220204016126.jpg" id="blogsy-1424464851136.2847" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobH9SAjAfg9mHtxAJNiiDyw7LKeoD9kkLHmQtsbhBFomriEDex8t3x1BVQnXsxvmehzAfnO01WY-KB9cEOCjFChDMukFU1yXHIy9KGiL3B3SitCYDgtLgoPExDrto9LD3t1janHPV5w/s2048/Photo%25252020150220204016191.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobH9SAjAfg9mHtxAJNiiDyw7LKeoD9kkLHmQtsbhBFomriEDex8t3x1BVQnXsxvmehzAfnO01WY-KB9cEOCjFChDMukFU1yXHIy9KGiL3B3SitCYDgtLgoPExDrto9LD3t1janHPV5w/s500/Photo%25252020150220204016191.jpg" id="blogsy-1424464851153.9216" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Small red Berkeley minnows and silver savage gear minnows seemed to produce most pulls. At one point I hooked what I though was to be a proper mansize perch but it turned out to be a lively overwintered rainbow trout, a pleasing result on the ultralite outfit.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Mg8xig5RaTuYyP9qXBYxoIU_SmN0AsqMVliGfK0XbwogUqb5eJwBotm9HrW4GksTJvXOgl1JwDfYbP-bLf_0c2sTk6LzqhR8Lf8Z-BcLrGEjOKe72aZAXeOBdAZgyQEJZfMoVRLW7g/s1024/Photo%25252020150220204016207.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Mg8xig5RaTuYyP9qXBYxoIU_SmN0AsqMVliGfK0XbwogUqb5eJwBotm9HrW4GksTJvXOgl1JwDfYbP-bLf_0c2sTk6LzqhR8Lf8Z-BcLrGEjOKe72aZAXeOBdAZgyQEJZfMoVRLW7g/s500/Photo%25252020150220204016207.jpg" id="blogsy-1424464851147.3896" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> We seemed to find a better stamp of fish later on in the day but the fishing didn't get any easier. Nevertheless Phil and I both enjoyed ourselves and the quicker the autumn arrives so we can get on the other midlands ressies the better!</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzQp3aKxrxazaTDeOv6LX3PPKJX06rrq7jIs7YK0QUjGmMZAmz8t4aggb6ssVB6vxDBTSz03u4epU7jh1z8f9Mtka_V3dq5bE0HUxK5jhHCdaIPvgUrkDJwPLDIIDjhnbiyM2ihY_Gw/s1024/Photo%25252020150220204016222.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzQp3aKxrxazaTDeOv6LX3PPKJX06rrq7jIs7YK0QUjGmMZAmz8t4aggb6ssVB6vxDBTSz03u4epU7jh1z8f9Mtka_V3dq5bE0HUxK5jhHCdaIPvgUrkDJwPLDIIDjhnbiyM2ihY_Gw/s500/Photo%25252020150220204016222.jpg" id="blogsy-1424464851179.741" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-64588921447784975422015-02-15T08:20:00.001+00:002015-02-15T08:24:31.821+00:00It's been a while!
<p>Oh dear! It's been so long since my last post I'd almost forgotten I even had a blog! Even now I'm struggling to remember what I got up to 6-7weeks ago! To be honest with all the crappy cold weather I don't think you've missed much. I've spent 99% of my fishing time lure fishing still but with everywhere being iced-up, snowed under or flooded it's certainly been a struggle. Heres some pics with brief descriptions to bring you up to date anyway;</p>
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<p>This little chap brightened up a miserable, snowbound Christmas. I had great fishing plans for the Xmas break but it snowed on Boxing Day and wrecked everything. Little did I know it was to be the start of a tough few weeks on the fishing front!</p>
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<p>A spot of Piking on a local pit proved unproductive and, seeing as I really didn't fancy chub or grayling fishing, I resolved to try a few new waters for Perch in a bid to find some fresh specimens.<br></p>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">A park lake I'd been tipped off about yielded one or two fish and in hindsight I should've stuck with it but I really had my heart set on the canals even though I knew I'd be in for a grueller.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_TBSXEifKvT_lWnWwcoiwU5oL28C8GLYhwh1mjHVtNpLgx2Tow9LSaQ-sC7lbyW5NQEkH0tXjQnixFMUc_Hxg_JPUmqJWsGeYg6T6Mt9yoSgPjz1sW5eccx6N0Gu3wCWLUodzUyuzA/s2048/Photo%25252020150215081831538.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_TBSXEifKvT_lWnWwcoiwU5oL28C8GLYhwh1mjHVtNpLgx2Tow9LSaQ-sC7lbyW5NQEkH0tXjQnixFMUc_Hxg_JPUmqJWsGeYg6T6Mt9yoSgPjz1sW5eccx6N0Gu3wCWLUodzUyuzA/s500/Photo%25252020150215081831538.jpg" id="blogsy-1423988433120.012" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">During my non-fishing time I decided to have a play about making some dropshot lures. Some of you may already know I work as CNC programmer so I have access to some pretty tasty kit for making molds and after playing about with some different designs I soon knocked up a couple of molds.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> The end results were pretty good and in the pic above you can see how my pink creation measures up to an Ecogear grub.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHiBMYbWqMyil4XiGAkJjtaNCbhDibR9AVE3jkY_hVg2xU7ceQucKU5wFO819c1YOiS7cYQB2fttazaD30TGPk-SUTy0D47wRbpxTZLW64VyiTox5XwhEkcl4DpDEogSf_sV1hkAXkg/s1024/Photo%25252020150215081831850.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHiBMYbWqMyil4XiGAkJjtaNCbhDibR9AVE3jkY_hVg2xU7ceQucKU5wFO819c1YOiS7cYQB2fttazaD30TGPk-SUTy0D47wRbpxTZLW64VyiTox5XwhEkcl4DpDEogSf_sV1hkAXkg/s500/Photo%25252020150215081831850.jpg" id="blogsy-1423988433132.2002" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="412"></a></div>
<p> As you can see, the pink grub does the business too! I kid you not, this little zed picked up the lure on my very first cast with it!</p>
<p> </p>
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<p> I've caught one or too chub lately on the dropshot gear too which I find slightly unusual because of the bitterly cold weather, I always thought they were more inclined to hit lures during the summer months?</p>
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<p> I managed a pb thingumajig the other day too, not sure what it is but it pulled well on the ultralite gear!</p>
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<p>A spur of the moment decision to hit a local lake on my way home from the canal the other day paid off with a good result. Despite trying the lake numerous times I've never had any decent sized perch from it so I was well chuffed to land on the fish above which is the biggest I've had from the pool by a country mile!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v4Nr1Xw_aMCiYCTidu6YZWLTJYvYOFTf3yHoqiplQQBACtxDua0r8ov3jx_qzTb89JZIZJkPp08glJXeh41x-HGHKdvK-VdXTx5vzss-zOXg3Zi0Zi0CDbaOz5Gg2wvmHjj7xlVKnA/s1024/Photo%25252020150215081832343.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v4Nr1Xw_aMCiYCTidu6YZWLTJYvYOFTf3yHoqiplQQBACtxDua0r8ov3jx_qzTb89JZIZJkPp08glJXeh41x-HGHKdvK-VdXTx5vzss-zOXg3Zi0Zi0CDbaOz5Gg2wvmHjj7xlVKnA/s500/Photo%25252020150215081832343.jpg" id="blogsy-1423988433071.6257" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="457" alt=""></a></div>
<p> After spending way too much time lure fishing of late I decided to switch to bait fishing in a bid to catch a proper one. The first trip out gave me a blank but it was to be second time lucky when an after work session threw up this 3lb2oz fish.</p>
<p>Think I'm going to leave the lures for a bit now till the closed season, I've missed on on way more action than I should have this winter due to my lure fascination. In all honesty though I've not had the urge to bait fish until now anyway.</p>
<p>That, I think, pretty much brings me up to date, I'll try not to leave it so long next time!</p>
<p> </p>
<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-28168640559761847432014-12-24T18:13:00.001+00:002014-12-24T18:17:20.893+00:00Last one of 2014
<p>I've been all too aware that my posts have been most infrequent of late and I've decided that I really must try harder in 2015. As usual , life has gotten in the way and my blog has really been overlooked this year as is obvious from looking at my annual post count compared to previous years.</p>
<p>So what have I been up to since my last update? Well, the lure thing has continued it's hold over me and the back end of November saw me taking part in the Perch fishing trials on Blithfield res in the company of Steve Collett. We were quite lucky weatherwise and although it was chilly it wasn't too windy so we managed to set up some lovely drifts.</p>
<p>The bottom of that lake must be carpeted with Perch in much the same way that Rutland is heaving with Zander! We had loads of action dropshotting tiny lures in around 30-40ft of water, fish to mid-2 pulled our strings and I even managed a rogue trout. The average size wasn't great but it was good practice and you never knew what size was going hit the lure next. Heres a few pics anyway;</p>
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<p>A jig fishing session on the Soar followed on from Blithfield and although it took me a while to find some fish, when I did it got hectic! I managed around 20 perch and a couple of jacks in the space of an hour or so. A few days later we had some hefty rainfall and that put paid to my river chances for the rest of December to date. </p>
<p>It got cold aswell and I thought that would be it on the lure front but an afternoon session on a local pool yielded a few small Perch to ultra-tiny grub type lures which was encouraging especially as the pool is noted for switching off once the weather cools.</p>
<p>It occurred to me I'd not done any chub fishing this winter and I found myself with a hankering to get out and quivertip some bread. I really couldn't muster up any enthusiasm to fish my usual haunts even though I knew I'd get a few and be in with a chance of a lump. I had a look through some of my club tickets to see what else was about and soon found a couple of interesting leads. One was a small river and the other a brook, both held Chub that much was certain but I'd never even seen either before let alone fished them, my angling juices were well and truly intrigued.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTaCDgdA0Wjq5sgfwJViftnC-sV09REy2eiqsLdXad2r7GzbH3EWXIKE42M_oigAKpeN9Wb544ZtsEnT-Mzck0U_XLtdvS0XWL6ErBC71T7Yrts1bzwgEkPVq_zPCoPB42QaisiEg5A/s2048/Photo%25252020141224181231008.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwTaCDgdA0Wjq5sgfwJViftnC-sV09REy2eiqsLdXad2r7GzbH3EWXIKE42M_oigAKpeN9Wb544ZtsEnT-Mzck0U_XLtdvS0XWL6ErBC71T7Yrts1bzwgEkPVq_zPCoPB42QaisiEg5A/s500/Photo%25252020141224181231008.jpg" id="blogsy-1419444835425.4653" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div>
<p> The river was up first and upon our arrival I was a little disappointed to see it coloured and it looked to be carrying a few inches too. It looked pretty damn Chubby though and it was also deceptively deep, my first swim being around 5-6ft. It was also surprisingly lacking in the fish department too as one missed bite in the first hour testified! It was bitterly cold though so I wasn't expecting to set records.</p>
<div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> A move upstream was called for and after a passing dog walker informed us we were wasting our time 'cos the Cormorants and Otters have wiped the place out' Phil and I weren't exactly stoked with confidence! Our main problem was finding potential fish holding swims because there was long stretches of fast shallow water and it seemed all the deeper slower areas were overgrown with trees and unfishable. We did manage to find a couple of swims in the end though and I caught four small Chub which proved there was still fish there afterall!</div>
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<div class="separator" style="text-align: justify; clear: both;"><span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: left;"> After that we retired to the warmth of the truck and headed 20miles up the road into Derbyshire and the brook we had our eye on. This proved to be much the same as the river in width and colour but was much shallower. Again we struggled to find some fish and it wasn't until the last couple of swims we tried when we started to catch. I only managed a Roach and a couple of Chub but I felt I'd really had to work for them that's for sure!</span></div>
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<p>The most recent trip was to commercial in search of Perch and although I planned to bait fish I also look the lure rod along just in case! It was wasn't cold but it was windy and after trying the dropshot for nothing more than a couple of taps I switched to worm and prawn. A couple of carp hooked early on certainly pulled my string but the perch were noticeable by their absence.</p>
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<p>I switched back to the dropshot gear and managed to catch a couple of tiddlers and aswell as getting a few other enquiries but it proved to be exceptionally snaggy where they were so I gave it up as a bad job and carried on with the bait fishing. I used worms only seeing as the prawns were carp magnets and eventually managed to snare a nice Perch of a tad over 2lb. </p>
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<p>So that's about it for 2014, not a bad year but not exactly exceptional either. I do have a couple of trips planned before the new year so hopefully I'll have something to blog about next time! In the meantime, merry Christmas everybody and have a happy new year!<span style="line-height: 1.3em; text-align: center;"> </span></p>
<div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1498048607222553778.post-40701965748623305132014-11-19T22:39:00.001+00:002014-11-19T22:39:54.378+00:00Autumn sessions<p>Since my last entry I've done quite a bit of fishing, in fact , as I sit here and write I'm struggling to remember it all! The weather has definately taken a turn for the worse of late and autumn is well and truly upon us. For the most part I've been doing a lot of lure fishing as that side of things seems to have taken on a whole new lease of life for me, more on that shortly however. In the meantime to kick things off I'll talk a little bit about a grayling session on the Dove around three weeks ago.</p><p>As expected, Phil and I had the whole stretch to ourselves upon our arrival and the fishing started off in a promising way with a lovely Chub falling to phils rod within minutes. After that we really struggled in a couple of swims which was quite surprising really as the fish seemed quite active. A strong and cold wind got up which didn't help the situation but eventually I found a swim where I could sit with my back to it. Bites were hard to come by to begin with but I was reluctant to move and decided to stay put and keep the feed going in. This soon began to pay off as a succession of small grayling and trout steadily came to my rod. After an hour or so I suddenly realised my catch rate was really picking up as was the size of the fish, the more maggots I put in the river the more I was catching. It was one those times when everything seems to fall into place and a nice rhythm was established, cast, bait,wait 30secs, catch, cast, bait, wait 30secs,catch, lovely!</p><p>Every fish I caught was full of maggots so they were obviously really having it, even a flotilla of passing canoes didn't dampen their appetite! I lost count of how many I caught, grayling nudging 2lb and trout to over 3lb all came to the net over the next couple of hours before, eventually, I managed to exhaust my maggot supply and was forced to pack up. Nothing big was caught but it was a great days fishing and the beautifully marked trout in the pic below was probably my favourite fish of the trip, a proper wild stunner!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyXx2oCy-TKnu1ShRkWU1e3pQfD6s8IrDBTZjImUzw6BeJ_GzCDpkdlY2koxOuNxzQMXeJbstaFMI3UXjKJ0sEdhJxWsqD2ipnqCxDxFxJwk1711K_pxfqflP9KsZKKFdc8_E1fgoXg/s2048/Photo%25252020141119223817.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyXx2oCy-TKnu1ShRkWU1e3pQfD6s8IrDBTZjImUzw6BeJ_GzCDpkdlY2koxOuNxzQMXeJbstaFMI3UXjKJ0sEdhJxWsqD2ipnqCxDxFxJwk1711K_pxfqflP9KsZKKFdc8_E1fgoXg/s500/Photo%25252020141119223817.jpg" id="blogsy-1416436791699.6182" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p>After that trip I had a bit of a mishap with my car exhaust so decided to book a day off work to sort it out with a view to maybe squeeze some fishing in aswell. As you probably know by now, I like to lure fish whenever I get a limited window to fish as this technique requires absolutely no preparation and you are fishing the second the lure hits the water. Today was no exception and I headed to a local canal with nothing more than a few bits to do some dropshotting.</p><p>The water was fairly murky but it didn't take long to find a few Perch, only little ones but plenty of them. I found the best lure was a little panic minnow but it was the last I had and I was gutted when something nipped the tail of it! It did some damage of its own though as you can see below.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVkqT9DHUDxeVnMOujNnTps_ZeCwZxWtBCMkw7-6MfugbKwS5f1Sgm0MVJVzfYm2-M5VPk1RV7boR21eeBgfMfA_nojH4Kd8KGTvwMhHJRTKnMbgWlQvZ3J0CP1yL11xg-x2COWgF0Q/s2048/Photo%25252020141119223817.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVkqT9DHUDxeVnMOujNnTps_ZeCwZxWtBCMkw7-6MfugbKwS5f1Sgm0MVJVzfYm2-M5VPk1RV7boR21eeBgfMfA_nojH4Kd8KGTvwMhHJRTKnMbgWlQvZ3J0CP1yL11xg-x2COWgF0Q/s500/Photo%25252020141119223817.jpg" id="blogsy-1416436791784.8545" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> The pike seemed very active today for some reason aswell and they took a liking to the dropshot lures. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOYRMyCFNDcb0IaTBLQSUE-61QIsaw3bL5dfyBrnoU1PZD-WLLQG4T-GL1KGYZY3j8KQhJZM7bfontYQ8fFU9Ct5c_lkumIWRfDxtnzhfRjVgoz_n6wv_xW4fIdxKgQucJphRaEgAyg/s2048/Photo%25252020141119223817.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOYRMyCFNDcb0IaTBLQSUE-61QIsaw3bL5dfyBrnoU1PZD-WLLQG4T-GL1KGYZY3j8KQhJZM7bfontYQ8fFU9Ct5c_lkumIWRfDxtnzhfRjVgoz_n6wv_xW4fIdxKgQucJphRaEgAyg/s500/Photo%25252020141119223817.jpg" id="blogsy-1416436791738.3975" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> </p><p>After catching a couple of jacks and getting bitten off I decided to incorporate a trace into my rig. This had the instant effect of putting the perch off but I still managed a couple more pike including a nice one which must've been approaching double figures.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8dxcS7Z7i8wJLkekl4QsVEjQoV4DfaKBVZ3vb1ADAhyu7zxFZwqB82rwl0KFIBAvFO2ujvWivQWxkc852WavIgIeH6-spku27V_8BS7M5lIVs05ENY5-8pscuSw2emxnDLVVD2lm4g/s2048/Photo%25252020141119223817.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8dxcS7Z7i8wJLkekl4QsVEjQoV4DfaKBVZ3vb1ADAhyu7zxFZwqB82rwl0KFIBAvFO2ujvWivQWxkc852WavIgIeH6-spku27V_8BS7M5lIVs05ENY5-8pscuSw2emxnDLVVD2lm4g/s500/Photo%25252020141119223817.jpg" id="blogsy-1416436791736.1003" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-_9s-T_5RDrDviyTTzv5gwtHNHDSJbfDA7QFNjNKncwvjUjd0C2nAMh7at0g55hsNTXxAQ-bxQTXBO4dxhyphenhyphenH4afNLFN-P91jKhHywWxGido1Zuu8MnD1tIuVFmEABNc5bREtFPC9Ww/s1280/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-_9s-T_5RDrDviyTTzv5gwtHNHDSJbfDA7QFNjNKncwvjUjd0C2nAMh7at0g55hsNTXxAQ-bxQTXBO4dxhyphenhyphenH4afNLFN-P91jKhHywWxGido1Zuu8MnD1tIuVFmEABNc5bREtFPC9Ww/s500/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" id="blogsy-1416436791748.1216" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="667"></a></div><p> After that I headed back to pick up the car well pleased with the mornings action. I did have another dropshotting session on a local pool a couple of days later and managed another load of small perch. The water was crystal clear and it was great fun watching the perch attack the lure, such aggressive little buggers!</p><p>The next fishing trip proper was to a large reservoir with Roach being the target. Despite it only being a short distance from home I'd never fished it before so was totally unsure as to what to expect other than that the roach averaged a good size. </p><p>It was absolutely chucking it down when we arrived but even so the lake itself was still very low after the long dry summer. My chosen spot wasn't any different in looks to any other swim for 500yards in either direction but there was fish showing within casting range so that was good enough for me!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-NEN9apqsHG9gkdcyd4eFej8e60sZKy0GMahCDR0KFo04M2zgFLb8jMCE3Ylnl0Jescq4amvADVN28KxQ6HCgZa0m9_5loevhZVaurfh0aajHjlu1MOAMJgKi1VxRi9NnXcbCcMaNw/s2048/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-NEN9apqsHG9gkdcyd4eFej8e60sZKy0GMahCDR0KFo04M2zgFLb8jMCE3Ylnl0Jescq4amvADVN28KxQ6HCgZa0m9_5loevhZVaurfh0aajHjlu1MOAMJgKi1VxRi9NnXcbCcMaNw/s500/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" id="blogsy-1416436791779.2427" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="375"></a></div><p> I fished two maggot bolt feeder rigs at around 50yards range and the plan was to keep recasting both rods every 5mins until a good bed of bait was built up and hopefully the roach came on the feed. </p><p>Fortunately it didn't take long to start getting bites and soon the fish were coming thick and fast. I was really pleased with the average size aswell with most fish being between 6-12oz and a nice sprinkling of pound plussers chucked in for good measure.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAyDPw8-C0LqV8IjnqyQdI4ulNclj_NJT8L9g_5Qk7qk9ZAoH2OsgbSgC-43YbcDvJvzQNTU2kS_0l7cvWF33UN_U1LIqw0kSxDZh0n4aPP4B1skyg_CvZyooNZU3J8LC43ZlNZpRFA/s2048/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAyDPw8-C0LqV8IjnqyQdI4ulNclj_NJT8L9g_5Qk7qk9ZAoH2OsgbSgC-43YbcDvJvzQNTU2kS_0l7cvWF33UN_U1LIqw0kSxDZh0n4aPP4B1skyg_CvZyooNZU3J8LC43ZlNZpRFA/s500/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" id="blogsy-1416436791728.8044" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="361"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">I was playing the numbers game to try and snare a 2lber but there was just too many smaller samples in my swim. I ended up with somewhere around 30lb of roach I'd say with the biggest I weighed going 1lb5oz. I have no doubt that 2lbers exist in the lake but it'd take a lot of fishing to find one given just how stuffed the place is! A water I'll revisit with different tactics next time I feel.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Since the roach trip I've been pretty much 100% lure fishing or more specifically, Ultra light lure fishing. I met up with well known angler and lure fishing guru Steve Collett who has kindly been showing me the ropes with the whole U/L concept.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">Tiny lures, fine wire hooks, pencil thin rods and miniature reels are all part and parcel of this style of fishing and some of the tips and edges that Steve has passed on have been real eye openers. Balanced tackle which allows you to see and feel even the shyest of bites is the key to getting the most out of U/L as is technique. After seeing Steve in action I realise what a newbie I am to lure fishing and how much scope I have to refine and improve my technique, it's like a hidden world has been opened up to me!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7uEqpBxXlgkaSflMIxdIBeTXt9GfGFmKY4eJXKYiX2cP7-OlAPLczV3QHcBKI-lkkUxs-EyicAkV9jMjlqSOvX0G4xrsVE_DylyQGfiWXFcpBkIqweycWv0TRVZbJGTltQHZlNX8iw/s2048/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr7uEqpBxXlgkaSflMIxdIBeTXt9GfGFmKY4eJXKYiX2cP7-OlAPLczV3QHcBKI-lkkUxs-EyicAkV9jMjlqSOvX0G4xrsVE_DylyQGfiWXFcpBkIqweycWv0TRVZbJGTltQHZlNX8iw/s500/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" id="blogsy-1416436791705.3455" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="391" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> Another major thing which Steve has helped me to overcome is my reluctance to lure fish coloured water. I always had a mental block about chucking lures about in coloured water thinking if the fish can't see it then they won't take it, how wrong I was! An adjustment in technique and the confidence to keep plugging away was all that was needed and after witnessing Steve catch a zander in the most coloured water you could imagine I set about trying to catch one of my own.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;">In the end it took a couple of trips but catch one I did and, although it was small, I can't overstate the significance of the fish in terms of confidence building. I feel ready to take on the entire midlands canal network now! my next blank trip will certainly send me crashing back down to earth but there are exciting times ahead I feel.</div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRzqvV7EXehL0uygABA_bKfBlxDyr0LVkRqI2bB3-u7D1odrT9YRxCQjayFWweSYRIowVaDzHsOqq47-ih6fephLh0rvBZUg89FPJ5VX5ZH3alBB-3Mu0qhADymGLdLJDaNfUMEuMdg/s960/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRzqvV7EXehL0uygABA_bKfBlxDyr0LVkRqI2bB3-u7D1odrT9YRxCQjayFWweSYRIowVaDzHsOqq47-ih6fephLh0rvBZUg89FPJ5VX5ZH3alBB-3Mu0qhADymGLdLJDaNfUMEuMdg/s500/Photo%25252020141119223818.jpg" id="blogsy-1416436791715.6047" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="375" alt=""></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left; clear: both;"> </div><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Leo Heathcotehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06897861995687694777noreply@blogger.com1