Out at last. OR. Unlucky 13th.

At last, escape chit in the bits box,

frost scraped off the wind screen

I headed up to Limply Stoke.

The Avon was up, brown and flowing.

I had fed a few swims as usual 

and set up by 07.15.

There was a shallow mist across the fields

and mist rising off the river.

Over the next couple of hours

all my equipment turned white with frost,

and the eyes on the rod froze.

 From the first boillie baited cast

leaves were a real problem.

Some times lifting the bait like a kite.

Bait presentation was just about impossible.

So after two hours I moved to 

my second swim.

This one also proved to be

problematic, with snags everywhere.

Time for my next swim.

This one had a back eddy 

under my feet and a good crease

with a strong flow down the middle.

 I put one rod under an over hanging bush

to my left and one out to the crease.

Using various baits

from paste to Boillie and pellets to meat,

I failed to get even a tickle of a bite.

It was great to see a couple of male

Goldcrests in the trees,

as well a Little Egret flying past.

So a beautiful day out, I enjoyed

the wildlife and fishing, even if I didn't catch.