First of two blanks. 07-09-20

An overcast, warm and windy (gusting 44mph) afternoon.

I was at the first swim by 13.45,

I used my usual pellet and Dumbell baits

as well as Luncheon meat.

All afternoon in the three swims I chose to fish

I had the same result.

Knocks, rattles and tugs 

resulted in a blank.

Still a very enjoyable afternoon.

 

Bristol Avon Barbel. 26-08-20.

Arrived at my favorite venue

at just before 2pm.

As there had been some rain in the days before 

I was prior to this one the river was up.

However it was dropping down

and clearing.

My first swim was one I had dabbled 

with a few times.

It looked very fishy as usual

but with only a few light knocks 

on the lines

but no takes.

My second swim was a new one,

again looked very fishy.

Over hanging tree down stream 

on either bank.

Once again knocks and pulls

but no takes.

The reasons I fish these swims 

are:-

To find any snags,

To introduce my baits and ground baits,

and check the depths.

 By 6.15 I was in my third and last swim.

This was a is a regular swim,

I nearly always finish up here, it is closest to the car park.

I set up two rods,

one down stream with my usual Dumbell hook bait

and pellet  stringer and pva netting.

The second rod wes fished upstream

with Luncheon meat flavoured with a dusting of 

Braddocks Spice. Don't think it is available now.

At 6.52 the upstream rod, a

Korum 12ft Twin Tip. I was using the Avon tip.

A Trinium centre pin reel, loaded with

8lb Diawa Sensor line (brown) and 2ft same line for the hook length

to size 8 hook.

This 10lb 3oz Barbel pulled the tip round and

raced off up stream. I then had a 10 minute battle.

This is only my 4th Barbel ever,

and first on an Avon tip and center pin reel.

When I sorted out the Barbel,

I wound in the other rod, this

Gudgeon.

It took a size 4 hook on 10lb line.

Shortly after this Chub, 4lb 4oz, took the size  4 hook

with the Dumbell.

The Barbel was still recovering in the landing net,

and so the difference between the two can be seen.

The Barbel was 79cm long abd the

Chub 68 cm.

This was the last action for the evening,

and I packed up at 8.30,

a very happy fisherman.

 

Back to the Tanks. 23-08-20

Sorry for the gap on putting up the 

post.

Popped back to the Tanks at

09.00.

High water was at 11.10.

And fished till 12.40.

There was a light south, southwesterly wind

and quite warm.

I used Lug-Squid and Rag-Squid wraps

to 3/0 and 4/0 hooks

on Pulley Pennel rigs.

I failed to get any bites

and realized I should have used smaller hooks,

smaller baits and

shorter casts. 

All in all got it totally WRONG.

OUCH!

I saw three Sole caught by two other anglers,

Well done them.

 

Avonmouth Tanks. 18-08-21

 First time down the Tanks

With my usual spot down the grass bank at Rockingham

now a no go due to the parking problems, 

I decided the next best place was the tanks.

I had problems finding the right track

to the Tanks.

Eventually I had help to find the way.

I had missed the first half hour of fishing,

but soon had the baits cast out and fishing.

I then phoned "she who must be obeyed"!

Well that was the time a fairly decent pull on one of rods

proved there were still some fish in the channel.

Well I soon felt a good pull back and weight,

unlucky for me the bait the fish took,

felt like a Conger,

was only 12lb with 1/0 hooks it wasn't long  before

what ever was bit through the hook length.

High water was at 19.40.

I had no other interest until my second to last wind in.

Felt extra weight and some pulling back,

this proved to be a 5lb 7oz Thornback Ray.

Baits used were Lug and Squid and Rag and Squid wraps.

This one also took the 1/0 rigs with Rag / wraps.

Packed up 21.00.

An evening on the Ledges, Clevedon. 08-08-20

It was hot and humid on the ledges on Saturday,

I arrived an hour early to get some photos of the area

in front of the ledges.

These next photos show the sand out front and some of the obstacles.

 Where the tide is at this spot, is where the first tide flow crease is with about 3 hours before High tide.

There is another crease around 70 mtrs further out.

I aim to cast to the near one on tides of 12mtrs or more  

because the tide flow is to strong to hold bottom, even with casting up tide.

Take care when fishing the low tide here as there can be some areas of quick sand. 

Also give yourself plenty of time to find your route back up the ledge

I was using Squid, Sandeel and Crab 

on Pulley rigs.

The sunset was a good distraction for the lack

rod tip action.

The MSC Manya looks to have a very light load for Avonmouth.

 I arrived at my chosen spot at 18.00

started fishing at 19.00 and 

packed up at 23.30,

having run out of baits.

There is not a lot of fish out there at the moment.

River Avon 05-08-20

 

Headed to Lacock for an afternoon and evening

of  river fishing.

I was in my first swim by 2pm. This swim was a new one for me.

So in the hour or so I was there, I did quite a few casts to check

out the bottom features.

There are not to many snags so I made a drawing of 

the snags and reeds and cabbage leaves.

This is a must when the river is higher, with

colour and more pace.

I didn't get any interest on the baits, 

I didn't really expect any as the the sun was out

and the river clear and slow.

So I moved to my next swim.

This swim is a deeper one,

I have fished it a couple of times before

but never had much luck.

The main reason for fishing this one

was to introduce my bait in it again

and  do another profile of the bottom.

As it started raining I decided to stay

there for longer than I intended.

Once the rain stopped I headed to swim number three.

This swim is one I have fished recently and I wanted to check

out the bottom again.

There is a good flow from the reeds

into a hole, then a gentle rise  to more reeds.

Unfortunately there is a snag there.

I hope to get it out at a future date.

I sat here and played around with different 

hook lengths, weights and rigs.

A very enjoyable couple of hours.

With time passing very quickly

I moved on to my last swim. 

I did managed to catch this

2lb 7oz, 53cm long rather skinny Chub.

I was using my usual Dunbells and pellet mix

over hemp and Sweetcorn.

Also managed to catch a couple of

22cm Perch.

These were caught on worms.

 With time passing very quickly,I moved on to my last swim. 

This one is a usual swim I fish most times.

However there was no interest here for the

rest of the evening.

Not even the worm getting any interest.

So just after 21.30 I packed up and headed home. Another very enjoyable day. 

Ledges again.

Sunday 03-07-20 Ledges, Ladye Bay.

Decided to head to the Ledges for the afternoon high tide.

I arrived at my chosen swim at 11am

with Lug, Rag, Squid and Crab.

Well what can I say about it!

Blanked except for a tiny crab that managed to tangle

one of its legs in bait elastic.

Weed would pull the rigs out and bounce them down tide.

While I was there I didn't see any other fish caught.

Well it was enjoy able and I had plenty of casting practice.

I think it is back to the river later in the week.