A Funny Old Day On The Canal

 I hadn't been down the cut all summer so decided to take the walk down there in the late September sun still in my shorts and T shirt, I must admit it felt good despite the usual strange looks from those in the high street. I was looking forward to getting a bite a chuck and I had come armed with plenty of maggots to get through the bleak and chublets for a bit of wag n' mag, on the drop fishing.

On arrival at the waters edge I saw a brown murky coloured canal, I had forgotten it had gone this colour a few weeks back instead of murky green, also it was covered in leaves freshly blown in on the breeze which was quite strong in places but eerily sheltered in others.

I set up further down on the first leafless spot where the wind ripped across, sitting there in the shade it dawned on me that the hoodie needed to come on and shorts weren't the best idea. Summer was changing to Autumn for sure and I decided this wasn't the best place to spend the day, although I did get a couple of small perch there in the five minutes I tried.

I moved to sunnier climes out of the wind at a swim I did well in winter and settled down to get through the initial surge of small stuff, off came the hoodie once more and I was raring to go, however the fish weren't, bites in fact were hard to come by and I struggled for the first hour before eventually picking up a couple of roach.

A rustle in the undergrowth next to me kept me alert as did the endless fall of conkers from the tree behind before a lady in a full sari come running right up to me really fast, I thought oh god here we go, is it ever dull down here? She proceeded to ask in broken English what was the most common fish in the canal, at least I think that's what she wanted to know, either way she was now repeating a new word - Gudgeon, before bizarrely sprinting off in the opposite direction to which she came. I spent the next half hour working out whether gudgeon or roach were the most common, before deciding it may be neither as my float remained pretty motionless.

The sun then went in and it got a bit chilly again, so the hoodie was back on, there was a bit of noise this time from workers building something in the field behind, a young mum stopped with a toddler to collect the fresh crop of conkers and a couple of boats passed through. A nice lady asked me if I was catching before mentioning her husband was fishing too, but at a trout lake up the road.

I started getting more bites, a few nice roach turned up along with some gudgeon of course, they just had to show really. Then the rustle alongside me became a plop as a rat proceeded to swim under my rod tip bold as brass, it was clear I was between their commute between bushes but they didn't 'give a rats' so to speak, cheeky little blighters.

In a good spell of fishing the bites came frequently and I was alternating between roach and perch which had now showed up as if to point out their stake in the popularity contest, it was also due to me trying for them in a spot where I knew they sat close in, some of the perch were nice ones, not huge but these canal perch sure have some strength and I love catching them.

Then some bread drifted down on the surface and rats either side of me took turns scurrying out to grab a feast. This time a man came walking quickly right up to where I was fishing, took of his headphones and said "Did you see that?" once again in broken English, after a pleasant conversation I kind of shattered his enthusiasm by pointing out it was a rat and not the water vole he first thought.

All this seemed oblivious to the rest of the towpath traffic who went by in a mix of clothing from big winter coats to bra tops and hotpants, even the women wore them too. I then caught another stripey as the sun re-emerged to warm my bare legs a bit (I had normal shorts on behave) It was a bit battle scarred and had seen better days, the perch I mean, not my legs.

Meanwhile rat No2 was now there in the open just watching, clearly fresh from the water sporting a spiky hair do, how Headphone Guy thought it was a water vole I don't know as this thing was massive, the size of a rabbit just sitting there twitching it's nose at me. I don't know why but I threw some maggots at it, one hit it flush on the head but it continued in it's motionless stance observing my every move, not caring much for reds dusted in turmeric. 

A loud clap of the hands saw the rat off as the lady from before returned from her shopping trip in town, she asked again how I had got on and it turned out her old man had a trout so happy days, she was laden with shopping bags despite saying she was only going to look around, "I've heard that one before" I joked.

Well it didn't fish too well after and another slow spell became a biteless one which signaled it was time to call it a day as the workers had finished whatever they were making. I hardly had that bite a chuck I envisaged and had to work for it, but it was rewarding with the roach and perch to a decent size and around 30 in total, with roach just edging the contest this time 16-14, there was also a few compulsory gudgeon, chublets and bleak but not as many as expected.

As I walked home I imagined a vast shoal of gudgeon stretching down the entire cut, staying deep on the bottom away from the swimming rats, joggers and shoppers, I then saw what was erected in the field, as if a reminder of the circus that is the Grand Union Canal.

Changing Tactics For Barbel Save The Day

 I got stuck behind everything on the way to fishing today, or so it seemed, bicycles, bin lorries, horses, eventually I was just one link in a snake of cars winding it's way through the Hertfordshire countryside. Whilst it looked like being 'one of those days' it was a fine morning to be doing 20mph down country lanes, now behind a tractor as we all meandered along like a slow river in the hazy low sun.

I decided on a stretch of river I hadn't fished all season and hoped to get a mix of fish on maggot with pellet and hemp as back up should I struggle, setting up in a swim that looked perfect but was far from it. Struggle I did, not for bites for I had plenty but for anything that wasn't a tiny chub, minnow or small roach. One lone dace was the only fish I had that wasn't the size of my thumb, mind you it was a cracker.

I gave it an hour that before deciding maggot wasn't going to work in the clear water with all the small fry about. I tried hemp then pellet only to get a succession of gudgeon, even on 6mm pellet, these gudgeon were good ones but I also knew there could be loads of them to get through, suffice to say this was my cue to wander downstream and try somewhere else.

It was clear I had the whole stretch to myself as in every spot where I looked for fish I seemed to scare something or other, leaping into flight whilst making an almighty racket they don't half make you jump. However it says a lot about the dangers on the British countryside when the scariest creatures you encounter are those startled pheasants.

I finally spotted some fish in a shallow, snaggy spot under some trees, here a handful of barbel could be seen, they seemed spooked by the bright conditions but quick feed of pellets bought them into play, however it was so clear and the gravel was illuminated by the sun, I could almost see every stone and I didn't fancy my chances as the fish ghosted through casting a shadow as they went back to waters dark.

I decided to change to a static bait, put on some 6lb line and a small weight that was just enough to hold bottom, with a banded pellet as any hair rigs I had on my spools are probably deemed as vintage by now as they have been there so long unused, I rarely fish the lead but I felt this was my best chance here and with it now quite warm I could sit under the tree and relax for a bit as it had been a hard morning. I balanced the rod perfectly on the rushes using nature's rod rest and started to think about lunch.

A few small clouds came over so I waited a little. Then suddenly I had the 'three foot twitch' as the rod was getting yanked around, I leapt into action and was grateful the barbel headed downstream and not into the mother of all sunken trees in front of me. After a spirited battle a sprightly barbel was in the landing net. This legering lark could catch on I reckon.

After resting the fish I left the rod propped up against the bushes and had my lunch in the sun, around a dozen long tailed tits fluttered through the tree opposite in their own unique style and I could hear another pheasant cackling away in the distance as I tucked into my sarnies. At times the road in the distance went quiet and all I could hear was birdsong and the gentle rustle of the rushes in breeze. It's amazing how one good fish can make the day when you are struggling, suddenly everything was perfect. 

I carried on with the lead after lunch although now I remember why I do it so rarely as I was already getting fidgety. I carefully peered into the shallows over the rushes with the polaroids on try to see what was going on down there. I watched for a while motionless like a heron seeing only chublets and the odd roach before another lone barbel finally came into view, however it seemed to be the only one left and wasn't feeding. Nonetheless I was pleased with my heron like stealth and patience.

Up and down it went, still on it's own, I couldn't resist carefully throwing some feed down in front of it and it took two pellets on the drop, it's mouth puffing out twice and sucking away, it was clearly feeding. I fully expected it to get it's nose down on the deck for the rest of the feed but it didn't, with the next handful of feed going in the same thing happened again. I had only one thought - Float.

Off came the lead and on went the float, sliding the float rubbers over the hook was the hardest part but it must have taken less than a minute to completely change set up, keeping the same hook I was ready to go. Often barbel get cagey this time of year and do prefer to take on the drop and this was a prime example, but I was well aware the float could still spook this fish especially if I get a liner. First cast out and the barbel seemed to make a beeline for the noise of the float hitting the water  but didn't take the bait, however this action despite the sun being out made me really confident.

Next cast, a handful of pellets with the float cast right in the middle, timed to fall as one, with a banded pellet on the hook that was slightly larger than the feed, perfect, bang! The float has shot under a good foot whilst at the same time the barbel can be seen twisting, turning and heading upstream. In the clear water I could see everything but I had more control with the float, it's still chaos though in such a narrow swim and I was glad the tree didn't come into play again.

As there was only around four barbel originally in the swim catching two was a right result especially with the weather offering only occasional cloud cover, getting one in the seemingly low afternoon sun was a delight as was my first fish in ages on the lead. Changing tactics really worked and sure beat trying to get through the small stuff that were hammering the maggot.

I packed up soon after as the swim was now completely empty of anything other than those chublets and a few gudgeon, no doubt mopping up those pellets, I didn't fancy another move and it was a good way to end. As I walked back I remembered I hadn't seen anyone all day, I had the river to myself as a heron took to the air in front of me, I doubt if it was impressed with my heron stealth mode but it made a change from all the clucking pheasants.

Now you try saying that whilst eating a sandwich.

Child's Play On The Avon

 Following the successful short trip to the River Alne the previous day we were off to the Warks Avon on a sunny hot early September, Sunday afternoon. I started in a weir where I had loads of chub last time I was there earlier in the season, but today was different and I knew it would be harder, much harder. So it was I couldn't buy a bite on pellet running the float though and if I trotted maggot it turned out to be all dace and bleak.

Moving on we found a nice spot in the shade but with many walkers and dogs going by it was far from quiet being so close to the path. It was also full of more tiny dace and I didn't have enough bait to even try to get through them so off we moved once more to the next meadow downstream.

The final spot was in a wheat field, thankfully it was more peaceful although I could hear people swimming near the car park and the occasional resulting ripple would make it's way to our position. There was however less small dace here and less bites in general and I managed a few nice roach and perch.

Being in among the rushes with no wind about meant it was mighty hot and I'm not sure either me or the missus were used to it given August was so cool. The heat actually got to us a bit and we left mid afternoon after both agreeing the shade of a pub garden and an ice cold drink were much more appealing.

As the cold drink(which tasted so good) and a nice meal were consumed in a pub garden overlooking the river in Tewkesbury, the hot daytime fishing was in the back of the mind although at the time I think we both wanted to jump in the water. Summer will soon be over and days like this will be fond memories even if the fishing in hard.

The following day was the return journey from our short stay away, it was to another part of the Avon we went even though I knew it would be hard again. So did everyone else it seemed as we were the only car in the car park which meant I could actually get on the weirpool for the first time ever. The water was like an aquarium and I could see down a good few metres, although only dace could be seen, I hoped for some nice roach trotting pellet but had to make do with a less than massive chub.

It mattered not as it was lovely in the shade on such a day, a good place for the first coffee of the day. With my caffeine levels topped up I tried maggot again and once more it was all tiny dace and bleak, the weir pool was very scenic though and it was nice sitting by the rumbling water before any thoughts of heading home entered our minds.

With the whole stretch to ourselves I decided to try the only other shady spot downstream to get rid of the maggots, hoping there would be less small dace but once more they were everywhere in the main current. I had never seen the Avon this low and clear and In my new spot I saw a perch right below the platform swimming around, in a small bit of sunlit gravel about four feet below me. I had to try for this 'non dace' and as my maggot approached the giant stripey (it was about 2oz) one perch turned in to half a dozen as they appeared like little soldiers from their bunker, they were hardly sergeants more like cadets and I too felt like a kid fishing for them under my rod tip.

The missus actually said I looked like a child, squatting astride my stool which was sideways to avoid the legs going through the gaps in the platform, well that was my excuse anyway as I watched perch after perch take my single red maggot near the bottom.

It soon turned into a fish watching exercise as the way the perch sucked each maggot into their huge puffed up mouths was a sight, every now and then a slightly larger one would follow a hooked fish and I hoped to see something really big and striped, a real sergeant, emerge from the shadows but it never did. 

After half dozen fish even the small perch got slightly cagey which I found interesting, I watched my bait get followed on several occasions, the perch just drifting with the current almost alongside the maggot, then once in the shade of the tree my float would go under, this happened quite a lot whilst all the time I was also feeding midstream to keep the dace away. The perch would also take the bait from all different directions although by now I was only getting them in the dark shady water under the tree.

It was fun fishing like a kid, despite being not the sort of fishing I'd travel hours to fish it was a laugh for a short while before a hot drive home. By now my cap was on back to front to shade the sun from my neck as it breached the canopy, I cared not for looking cool as feeling cool was better even if I did look like a kid once more. I caught 28 perch plus a couple of roach and better dace with the rest of my leftover maggots going in to feed what was left, lurking in the dark depths under my platform. 

A simple morning's fishing on the Avon that was just child's play.

River Alne Warwickshire

En route to weekend break with the missus we stopped off to do a bit of fishing on The River Alne near the wonderfully named Wootton Wawen. I really liked it the one and only time I fished here a few years ago so a return was long overdue. All twist, turns, overhanging trees and pools it was my sort of river, the sort you could jump across in some places with the odd deep hole in others, I had a nice mix of trout and coarse fish the last time so would be happy with more of the same this time.

After parking up I spoke to another angler who was roving like I was to do, however he was dismayed that it was all minnow, he said couldn't get through to anything so I feared the worst. The water was low and clear so I set up in a spot where I could see some dace. I caught one first run through but then the minnow took over but at least it was a start.

Moving on I tried another hole, the sort where a little too far upstream I got minnow and if I let the float run too far down I got... yeah you guessed it, however in between there was a sweet spot requiring a demon cast under the trees, here I caught a few more beautiful dace before bang...

It was small stream fishing at it's best as a battle with all the snags, trees and nettles was won resulting in a nice chub, I thought it was a trout at first so it was a welcome bonus and probably the reason for the gap in the minnowtropolis.

Then the trout showed up but I quite like them, I don't get many round my way and they always impress me with their scrappy speed and power plus the variations in colour. For a while it was a mix of trout and dace, nothing huge but they were all netters.

I even managed a small perch among the dace and trout, then I had a quick dabble upstream before we had to leave. I briefly left the missus with the sheep, reading her book (why they were all reading it i'll never know) and headed off to a small pool upstream where I had 7 dace in as many casts, all really nice ones too, of course there was still time for another spotty marauder, released to fight another day.

It was a lovely couple of hours spent deep in the English countryside sitting on the sloping banks of a gently meandering stream, what could be better? I ended up with 28 fish and managed to avoid all the trees although I could have done with a shorter rod at times but that was half the fun, that and avoiding all those pesky minnow.

As we packed up it was evident the weather was turning and it was getting much hotter, with the rivers also low this may be the best fishing of the weekend I said out loud, but deep down I thought to myself I'd take that all day long.

I did spend the rest of the journey in the car thinking of sheep based literature puns but in the end I just thought I'd just leave it to ewe.