Early session on the Frome. 18-09-14

An early dark walk up to the chosen swim,

and setting up as quietly as possible,

did not help.

I used pole at 10 - 13mtrs

using maggot, caster and hemp

loose fed over ground bait.

I used a 0.5grm and 1.00grm

floats,

with 3lb main line and 1 1/2lb hook length

and size 18 up to 14 hooks.

Loose feeding around 6 maggots and caster

on a regular interval, 

as well as half a pouch of hemp.

This American Signal Crayfish

and one other were trundling 

around the shallow area in front of my swim.

 I fished the hook from 12 inches over depth

to 12 inches off the bottom

without getting much action.

As can be seen one small roach and a Dace

with plenty of Minnows was the end result.

I took the keep net out early

to let it dry out a bit before packing up.

In the end I packed up early after 3 1/2 hours,

mainly because of the dogs and there owners.

Next time I will try trotting

instead. 

Late rush at Limpley Stoke. 16-09-14

13.30.

 I have just got to the first of my chosen swims

and exactly where I want to put my baits,

these two swans are feeding happily.

 So I tried out some other areas.

This will help when the water levels

rise.

Eventually the one under the near side

overhang  moved off.

So under went my bait.

 Well by 15.30 there was no sign off life.

So onto my main swim of the day.

This time I had signs of life straight away.

This time I was loose feeding some Casters.

and at 16.20 the first proper bite.

After a really good fight, this

3lb 1oz Chub was in the net.

 No 2 Chub was in net

20 minutes later, again putting up a really good show.

This was 2lb 9 1/2oz.

Now it was time for the swans to catch up with me

and spent an hour paddling round the swim.

 By now had managed to put out 

a fair few freebies, I could now settle down

to wait on some action.

It was not until 18.00 that I again had some signs of life.

Around 18.20 I lost a Chub to to some reeds on the 

far bank.

Then just before 19.00

I had my next Chub this time 2lb 1oz.

 By 19.45 this 3lb 13oz Chub was on the bank

and was the biggest of the day.

I had to pack up then as it was to dark to continue

safely.

In between I managed two other Chub

2lb 9oz and 3lb 3oz.

The calfs in the field are very curious

and spent a long time watching me,

they then escorted me out of the field.

So what next?

I hope to be down on the Bristol Avon

tomorrow afternoon / evening

after taking 

"She who must be obeyed"

to hospital in the morning.

Then wednesday morning

on the pole on

the

Bristol Frome.

The worm, the maggot and the sweetcorn.

Took the pole down to the

Bristol Frome

this morning for a short explore

of a swim I've not fished for a

good few years.

Fortunately there were no snags in it,

so  no tackle was lost.

Starting just after 6.30 am,

I fed a small pouch of hemp

and 4 - 5 maggots every few minutes

over a small bed of ground bait.

I caught a minnow on

double red maggot on a size 14 hook

first put in.

Then a small 6" Trout

took a white and red maggot.

A few more Minnows decided

they were hungry before 

I caught a nice Dace.

The Minnows even took a whole
worm with a grain of sweetcorn
and a Maggot cocktail on a size 16 hook.

This is how it continued

till 10.00.

So I guess I ended up with

a couple of pound,

which is not quite what I expected.

One good thing is that a swim

which didn't have any fish in it last year

now has a small head of Chub,

so I will take my Centre Pin 

down for a bit gentle trotting.

But that will have to wait for next week

as no free time till then.

Landing net handle!

Managed to use an old piece 

of a damaged pole to line

the inside of the damaged handle.

Glued in with Arildite.

Then glued the connecting ferrule

in. Let it dry and bingo 

it works.

Proof is in the using.

Fingers crossed.

Hopefully saving £50 plus.

Cows, fish and broken landing net handle.

Having decided on a plan to look at the swims 

at Limply Stoke and get to know the features.

I took the usual kit plus the float rod

and maggots over ground bait.

On arriving at the field at 12.00, I was

surprised to find a small herd of calfs.

I mixed the ground bait and and put in 

three orange size balls straight away

plus some maggots and pellets.

I first of all set up the usual ledger rods,

and cast out to both banks down stream.

Then I settled down to loose feed

6 - 10 maggots every few minutes

down the float line.

I now heard some snuffling behind me

and turned round to find the calfs

taking an interest in what I was doing.

Well they got bored quite quickly

and went back to eating grass.

I started getting some interest

on the far bank rod and

so extended the landing net handle

and placed it on the edge of the bank.

The far bank rod then pulled round

and a Chub then ran towards the

rushes. I manged to turn it and the fish then

tried to get into some reeds 

 in the middle of the river.

Well again it failed to get to them.

I bent down to pick up the landing net

when "CRACK" the landing net handle 

broke.

So with only half a handle

I had to jump down the six foot

to the bottom of the bank.

Well I landed the Chub and then had to

climb back up. Not to easy with my bad ankle.

Anyway this 2lb 12oz Chub

was my prize.

 The youngsters were back but soon

turned away bored.

 Anyway a few trots down the float line

proved that only small fish were

showing interest in the maggots.

I decided to drop a ledgered pellet

on the ground bait and sat back to

await the out come.

Half an hour later,

 after an other visit from the locals,

The pellet gobbled down the pellet

and this 2lb 15oz fella was in the net.

 With another Chub to the far bank

rod coming in at 2lb 8oz,

I then went back to the float.

I had a very pleasant hour and a half

catching:-

Trout 

 Roach

 Dace, small Chub and minnows.

The float line was in line with the

rod rest down a drop off.

Well as it was getting dark

I packed up and said good bye 

to my little friends.

I am now trying to repair

the landing net handle

and look for a new one.

Down Limpley Stoke way. 03-09-14

At long last I managed

an escape trip.

So popped down to Limpley Stoke

to try out a new venue.

This seemed the best spot

for a short walk with an iffy ankle.

I started fishing at 14.00 and pre baited 

4 swims.

So settled into swim 1.

This was between to  over hanging trees

Not much room to manoeuver here

but it looked really fishie.

If there were fish in the swim

they were at home watching

the T.V.

On rod was over the far bank

 with boillie and the other down the near side

with pellet.

Not a touch.

So after 2 hours i 

moved on to swim two.

 This swim again looked like

it could also throw up

a Chub or two.

Well with the same set up as before I settled

down to see what was around.

I started getting some signs of life,

 with the far bank rod nodding and

jingling.

In the end the rod tip kept nodding

gently so I decided to lift the rod.

This 3lb 4 1/4oz Chub was on but not very

exited, putting up a very poor showing.

I weighed and photographed it

then left it in the keep net

so it would not upset the rest.

 That idea did not work as there was no 

further sign of life.

On to the next swim,

this one had a lot of cabbage leaves

With some streamer weed in places.

Looking for gaps in the vegetation

I used the same tactics,

this time the results were the same.

No signs of life.

I left at 20.00.

I met another fisherman

who only managed 2 Chub.

Well I need to spend more time there.

It was great to get back onto the bank

and the ankle held up.