A day trip
Arriving back at the Avon with the wife for a day trip I was eager to try the spot where I viewed a few fish last time but didn't wet a line, a nondescript swim although I say that with a whole heap of complacency as every spot on this river looks the same - Gorgeous!
The low levels showed gravels and of course lush weed beds which is a stark contrast to the ever muddying Severn, with this clear water came fish, in clear view, from small chub to dace and roach, plus the odd larger chub of course. I fed some pellets and instantly they were hit, I knew I would catch.
On went a dibber more akin to a carp puddle but ever so good on rivers, even with it taking just one no1 shot plus a dust dropper I was able to ping it to the far bank albeit only just. This resulted in some good chub sport instantly with a couple around a pound or two.
Then the roach came, typical pellet fare, none of the small ones, lovely redfins, in the clear water looking much larger than they were but still a decent size.
Naturally a pike showed, this is compulsory on the Avon even in low water on bright sunny days, in the weedy swim I lost the battle but fortunately the pike didn't return although I did expect a hit with the next few roach.
The roach with the odd chub kept me busy for the next few hours, ending with a good 10-12lb of fish, not bad for a drought hit summer, when the roach are this quality you can't really knock it.
Under the Weather
I return once more to the Warks Avon on holiday with the missus, picking the windiest couple of days for a mini break and also one where I had a bloody cold, can't believe it - two years without getting ill then getting a real stinker in the middle of summer - Stress eh, there's only one cure for that and it is of course fishing, or coarse fishing, or any fishing, let's wet a line.
Trying a different area the first trip was pretty much a non event, I had hoped for some good perch at Bidford but instead had to make do with silvers before getting bleaked out, naturally a pike showed once again but in the world's most awkward spot there was only going to be one winner , what with all the weed and a dodgy platform, the latter leaving a sour taste as there was so few swims due to poor maintenance yet the opposite bank had plenty.
I was happy to call it a short day, arrive at the farm, catch up with our hosts and hit a country pub, we found one that was 16th century and used in the Archers, with all the nostalgia on the walls and hanging from the beams, a good glass of wine and a home made hearty pie filling a hole, I was feeling better by the minute.
The second day's adventure further down at Eckington saw more comfortable fishing, I was happy to sit on the bank dangling my legs like a child and lower a stick into the margins, all the time watching the water sports opposite from open water swimmers (who always for some reason seem to be rotund ladies of a certain age) to folks inflating boats. The odd canal barge came by and despite all the activity it was a lovely few hours fishing.
The wind once again got a bit silly but I still managed to winkle out loads of perch, roach,dace and chublets before the bleak became a problem once more, quite a few rudd showed too which was a bonus.
The afternoon saw us pack up and head to Tewkesbury for the traditional look round the shops for the wife and of course hit Wetherspoons for me, with the garden looking over the Avon. Here we sat in the evening sun and chatted to a couple of locals who shared our views on the state of the country. But having spent the two day break counting flags, drinking in ancient pubs and wetting a line deep in the English countryside, with country folk and country ways it was no surprise that my cold was well and truly beaten - Fishing therapy!
