The Codling came in two by two. Rockingham 22-03-14

Back to the grass bank again

as I only had the morning free.

Using up the left over

worms and some Squid,

I again used the same style of rigs.

This time the fish came in

doubled up on the wishbone rig.

 These little Codling

were also trying to

take whole Squid on

4/0 hooks.

Again 17 Codling were caught

and returned.

Rubbish, grass and other muck

caused problems with winding in.

The washing on the line

caused the shock leader knot to

catch on the top eye.

So I was forced to

cut the line,

remove the rubbish

and retie the the shocky.

The wind was also a pain but all in all

another good session.

Rockingham 21-03-14

07.30 at Rockingham

and ready to cast.

 With a bit of a breeze blowing

I set up on my usual spot with a pennell pulley 

 and wishbone rigs loaded with

1/0 to 4/0 hooks

and Lug and Rag worm baits.

I also put out my

specimen rod with 

1/0 flowing trace for close in work.

First cast was at 07.50.

 From the off

it was little fish.

They all took Lug except 2.

All were Codling except one 

Flounder,

which decided Rag was the bait.

All three rods

were kept busy on the flood.

Only 2 were caught on the ebb.

17 Codling and the flounder

was the end result.

None of the Codling

were over 9 inches.

Nice if breezy mornings fishing

I packed up at 11.00.

What next?

Tomorrow morning (friday)

I'm heading down to

Rockingham,

between Avonmouth and Severn Beach.

Sea fishing.

High water at 09.51

12.6 mtrs.

Closed season and Licence

Please remember that the

Closed Season on RIVERS

and Some private lakes

starts at midnight on 14-03-14,

this Saturday.

The 2014 / 2015 season

starts on June 16 2014.

Also for any fresh water fishing

in the U.K.

An Environment Agency

Rod Licence is required.

The new Licences start

on 01 April 2014.

The Non Migratory Trout and Coarse licence

costs £27.

It allows you to use 2 rods.

If you use three or four rods

then a second licence is also required.

Licences can be 

bought from local Post Offices,

or

online at www.postoffice.co.uk,

Last bash on the Bristol Frome. 13-03-14

As hoped, I had a final fling 

down the Frome today.

Fished 11am till 2pm.

First swim was full of snags,

so with three lost hook lengths,

I moved to the next swim,

again it was full of snags.

So onto swim three,

on the second trot

through, I had this 2lb 2 1/2oz Chub.

 Shortly after I caught this

Rudd.

It looked as if it was a juvenile

just changing to its adult colours

 The photo does not do it justice,

it was really bright coloured.

 Next was an equally hansom

Roach of the same size, but thanks to

a number dogs trying to get my bread

bait, I had to release it before

I could take a photo.

Now came around 20 Minnows,

and the dog problem was getting worse,

so on to swim four.

This one is usually a banker for Chub

but this Tout of around 6oz was first on the hook,

followed by a 2oz (ish) Trout.

That was it in an hour of

trotting Maggot or bread flake.

Well it was time to head home

and a good end to a quite good

2013 / 2014 river season.

Chub score at Lacock.

As the 2013 / 2014

closes I have had

25 Chub over 1lb

at Lacock.

I can't forget my first ever and only

Barbel at 4lb 1oz.

Roll on 2014 / 2015

season

Good last day up Lacock 10-03-14

I had a later start today

11.30.

It was good to have a lie in,

also to get a few jobs done.

I went to some of my summer swims

 which were snag city in

the floods.

First swim, first fish, Chub 2lb 6 1/4oz, caught in 10 minutes.

That was the same swim I had the same result

during the summer.

Well 20 minutes later I

had a second Chub, 1lb 6oz.

Wow what a great start.

So off to my second swim,

again caught there as well.

A longer wait this time.

It took an hour for the shyest

of nibbles, then a really good

pull and another Chub, 

3lb 15 3/4oz.

Again a bit of a wait then

another Chub, 2lb 2oz.

So on to swim 3,

I had not fished this one before

so was surprised to

catch quickly.

Another just over 2lb Chub in the net.

BUT!

It was also a tackle

grave yard.

Went back to my first swim

and this time it took another hour

before another Chub was caught,

this time it snagged me and

I lost it at my feet,

On to my last swim,

and by now the wind was

easterly and very cold.

From the off,

very shy knocks and taps

proved the weather was starting

take its toll.

As can be seen I was sat

low down and casting to

the tree on the near bank.

My other rod

was cast to near the the fallen

branches on the far bank.

I had hoped the near bank 

rod would catch, no chance.

However the other rod

eventually started to

pull round and drop back.

Another Chub of 2lb 15oz

in the net.

So with dark getting closer

I was thinking of packing up.

When to same rod rattled and pulled round

Chub number 7 was in the net

and again 2lb 14oz.

Well darkness was there and it was time

to go.

Having not taken my winter boots

or leggings, I was by now frozen.

What a plonker, that

cloud had kept the temperature

right down.

Out tomorrow 10-03-14

Off to Lacock tomorrow

for possibly the last time before

the season closes.

Weather forecast

is good.

Got some spare time on Wednesday

as well this week,

so possibly

trotting

the Frome.

Fish, dogs,dog owners and ducks. 05-03-14

6.30 and I was walking down the hill

to the Frome.

I set up at a swim I used to

fish in the 90's with my then young sons.

There used to be a large fallen tree

which was a great fish magnet.

Now its only 2' deep!

So I decided to move to a deeper swim.

Ground bait was put in, with some maggot, caster,

 worm and hemp freebies.

Then I set up a

1grm float with a size 20 hook.

I tried hard on the bottom and

and trotting the swim.

Trotting was best.

First put-in produced

the largest and fattest Minnow I've ever seen.

This was followed by a good Dace. 

 This carried on for another

hour or so,

by which time I had about

2lb of Roach, Dace and Minnows.

Red and white maggot was best.

Then the nutty dog owners arrived,

(only a small minority nutty mind),

this person thought it would be good

to throw a stick into river about 8 meters 

down from my swim.

SPLOOOSH!

The dog was in for a swim,

that was it, only three more

Minnows were caught by 11.30.

Three more dogs also went

in for an early spring dip.

So off home I went.

 These two Mallards decided to scrounge

for some free food and boy they had a slap

up brunch.

As can be seen in the first duck photo the Frome is

clearing quickly and there was a good flow.

I think part of the problem for

the lack of fish

was

the clear water and bright sun.

Either way I did not enjoy the trip

as much as I had hoped.

Whats on tomorrow. 05-03-14

Down the Frome tomorrow

with the pole. 

Plus Maggot, Caster and Worm.

Fingers crossed for

some nice silver fish.

Blanked again. 01-03-14

First day of spring

and the fish were sunbathing.

First cast at 10.15 and finished

as dusk.

Not a bite!

 Exiting day.

 Usual baits used and methods,

4 swims fished 

and not even a rattle..

The river was dropping nicely

all day.

It was nice seeing

Buzzards and Sparrow

Hawks out in numbers.

How ever the Kingfishers

were not out an about.

Back to the Frome this week.