Friday, 18 June 2021

A Subtle Start to The River Season

The Glorious 16th

 I'm up with the birds on the 16th partly to get a good spot and also with a view to packing up at lunchtime with temperatures potentially nudging the 30 mark, off to a private stretch of river that would hopefully be quieter than the other options available. It was the 16th though so I didn't care as long as there was somewhere to run the float through for the first time, trotting down the river.

On arrival there's a few cars there but it's ok, one of my preferred swims was vacant, trouble was it was also empty of fish, the same spot where last year I had one a chuck was now clear gravel with nothing to be seen gliding over it in the bright morning sun, they must be somewhere else I thought so I continued upstream my feet getting wet from the morning dew as the birds sang their hearts out.

I found a spot where there was a decent run through and set up a 4no4 stick with basic shotting as it was only two feet deep, it's always special when the float glides under the shade of the trees and goes under for the first time, the first fish of the river season was a small chub, which was almost predictable as there's loads in this stretch.

An hour later I wondered downstream passing a couple of anglers and settled on a deep bend where the river did a right angle, here I could still see bottom but also a few roach gliding about and it had a lovely bit of shade. Just to sit there running the float through was a dream, looking up I also had a great view of the river as a swan came down, it's white reflecting the sun in what was a sea of green.

I was catching a few fish although nothing big, it seemed to be one of those days but I was content to be getting a few 6-8oz roach which looked absolutely massive in the clear water, then when in the net it's a case of "Oh not as big as I thought" They were pretty though as their silver flanks and red fins stood out when returned to the water to look big again.  A few perch, gudgeon and the compulsory chublets made for variety as a couple of carp crashed around in the watercress still breeding.

One of the chaps packed up and came by, covered in sweat he looked ever so hot, he said it was the worst first day he has had which was a shame, I really hope he regroups and gets some perspective of the day once at home with a nice cool drink. After he passed by I had a nice chub, barely even a pound but absolute perfection, It was to be the biggest fish of the day but I wasn't too concerned.

I was still sitting in the shade getting bitten but it beat getting burnt, it had been ages since I had such an early start and lunchtime seemed to take forever to come so I had elevenses and tucked into my packed lunch before noon, which is illegal in some countries. Mark Twain once harshly said that "Golf was a good walk ruined" However you can't say that about fishing, I'd already had a nice walk, caught a few fish along the way and was now having a picnic under a tree, I didn't need a big fish today.

Apparently they now reckon Mark Twain didn't say that at all, also it's not illegal to have lunch before noon in any country, even Hungary.

The Wet 17th

The next day i'm off to Cassiobury Park in Watford to fish the Gade, almost a tradition even if it is a river suffering from the usual urban predicaments and is considered well past it's best, I have fished this river for decades from the time it used to see dozens of anglers each day, today there was just one as yours truly had the whole stretch to himself. Mind you it was chucking it down but after the heat of yesterday I didn't care as I set up in the heavy rain by a weir.

I couldn't wait to wade out there and I knew I would get a dace or two and sure enough the float went around the boils like a whirling dervish and the first of several silver darts ripped it under the way only weirpool fish can do, medium sized but perfection.

A few small chub, roach and gudgeon were mixed in with the dace although I was a bit miffed to lose the only perch of the day in the turbulent water, not a big one but perch are really rare in this stretch since the weirs were lowered making it shallow and fast, they used to be the most common fish as my records dating back to the 80's show, sometimes it's good to keep track of how the rivers change.

I wondered upstream (I would say lonely as a cloud, but clouds were aplenty and they were still dishing out the wet stuff) and fought my way through the undergrowth to spot that used to be good for chub but hasn't produced the last few years. With the rain finally starting to ease it was like a jungle, even when the park is busy this spot is tucked out the way, with everything overgrown it took me a while to find it and even longer to find a way back out, my reward for this endeavour was just a couple of roach and small chub, but that's proper roving for you.

Out of the jungle I had lunch at a deserted picnic site, sitting on my jacket in a T-shirt having worked up a sweat, the cooling effect of light drizzle now welcome on my arms. Some chap went by with no shoes on, it's never dull when you fish somewhere public.

 I soon had to work my way back downstream as I was on the clock regarding limited parking in the side street, refusing to pay the £5 for the car park that was once free. The park itself was still empty, the bonus of this weather as only the hardy dog walkers were out, along with one hardy angler and no shoe guy. Trying a few more likely spots here and there I picked up more roach and dace, some better ones too.

In little over three hours I ended up 47 fish most of which were dace all on my own private bit of river, well when I say private it's free, anyone can fish it but if you want the whole place all to yourself - Just add rain.