Back to the Dorset Stour. 04-08-18

Set off for Bournmouth

at 04.30,

arrived a 06.25.

Then a 20 minute walk 

to my first swim.

I set up in my first swim

with my usual two rods 

and rigs.

Straight from the first cast

the tips started nodding

twitching.

So I wasn't surprised when,

at 07.25 

one tip pulled round and

my first fish was on its way in.

2lb 14 1/4 Chub was on the unhooking mat.

 While I waited for the next take,

a Sparrow Hawk kept my attention

as it hunted in the trees

on the opposite bank.

Pike were also hunting

with fry being chased

and eaten.

The other rod tip

pulled round at 08.05.

4lb 1oz Chub 

this time.

 As the tip action eased off

I changed swims,

first cast in this swim was at 09.00.

However, although I could see fish in the 

areas between the the weed,

they were not interested in

static baits.

I didn't have the kit to fish loose 

 feed baits. 

I decided another move was needed.

I was in swim 3 by 10.00,

this was a new swim for me.

I cast out one rod across the

to the far side

and the other to a over hanging 

tree.

This is a nice deep swim,

and had plenty of life.

Rod tips showed plenty of life

and 10.15

a 5lb 11 1/4 Chub

snapped up my bait.

This was the biggest fish of the session.

The Duck weed was a pain

and stuck to ever thing.

Now it was Bream time

This one was landed at 10.30

taking the same baits as the Chub,

and weighed 3lb 12oz.

 I didn't even manage to

release the first Bream

when the other rod bounced

rattled,

producing this 5lb 8oz

Bream.

More Duck weed covering

every thing.

 Once again

the rod tip activity eased off,

so it was into

my 4th swim.

Mid day found me

settled into my last swim.

One bait was cast across the river to a deep hole,

the second rod was cast

down stream to a 

Gravel run.

Not so much tip activity

but plenty of time for my lunch.

At 12.30 the down stream tip 

pulled down.

The last fish of the day

was on,

3lb 5 1/4oz Chub was in the net.

I watched a lot of wild life

for the next hour,

so by 1.30

I packed up

and head for the car

and the 2 plus journey home.

Another lovely trip.

Lacock 31-07 18

5.30 am and I found myself up at

the Abbey again.

Back into the swim where I caught 

a Chub on the surface on bread.

With in 5 minutes of my first cast,

The tip twitched and then pulled

round.

Picking up the rod I felt a good

tug but also a scraping on the line.

Unfortunately the fish had managed to 

get it's self into a snag.

Gutted.

There wasn't any more intrest

in my baits by 7am,

so I headed to another swim.

Here I had a few rattles

but no other interest.

So I moved on again,

this time there were some very

good action on the rod tips.

Eventually this 3lb 15 1/2oz

Chub was in the net,

there were a number of damage

marks on both sides of the fish.

It was a plump fish,

but that was the end of the action.

I headed home at 10.00.

Back to the Dorset Stour after some rain. 28-07-18

The rule here is no fishing before 7am

so I arrived at 6.30 which is the earliest 

allowed to head for the river.

First swim was a good 20 minutes

fast walk.

This was all new swims for me

so started by doing some water craft,

checking out depth and where 

the clear runs between the weeds are.

So having found a deep run with good flow,

I cast out my rig.

The second rig was cast into a back eddy 

with some cover. 

 An hour later my son turned up with his

young lady and passed on his 

knowledge about some other swims. 

 This is the most interesting part of fishing in my book,

exploring new venues and swims.

 Plenty of fish were seen

but for some reason were not interested

in our baits. 

 This small fish, a Perch,

was foul hooked.

 Final swim was a deepish one

running into a long shallow run.

Here the chub were interested 

on loose fed bread but not 

free lined offerings.

The wild life was very interesting

this Heron was trying to get some

Moorhen chicks,

but the adults were very persuasive

and chased the Heron  away.

Enough to say no fish were landed

but it was a very relaxing day 

with great company.

Back to Lacock.

With only the morning free

I was back on the bank

at Lacock 

for some more Chub action.

First bait was in the water by 

05.00.

 Twenty minutes later

this 2lb 12 3/4oz 

spawned out Chub 

was on the bank.

 Twenty five minutes later

this 3lb 2oz

plumper and curvier 

Chub was in the net.

 That was the end of the action

in that swim so 

I moved to the next swim.

I haven't fished this swim before

it is deep but there was

no sign of anything 

hungry. 

 The next swim had a some 

thing that was interested

in my bait

but nothing took the hook.

Then some cows crossed the river 

from the far bank and

waded almost neck high across

the river.

So with no more action I moved to my last swim.

By now the sun was out in full force 

and once again

there was no interest in my baits.

So I was on my way home by 10am. 

Lacock Abbey 01-07-18

An early start found me on the bank

at 04.45.

I had put my pellet mix and chopped boillie 

mix in to 6 swims as I passed the ones 

I intended fishing.

The first two swims produced 

nothing bar a few line bites.

I was distracted by a herd of young cattle

which were rather energetic.

So I moved to a different field.

Here I had a lot of line bites and plucks.

A pair of Swans and 4 Sygnets

 passed gently by and started feeding 

over one of the baits.

This must have calmed the fish down,

as   this 3lb 2 3/4oz Chub took the bait .

After that  the swim died.

 There were some very good looking swims

 which I will explore further next time.

 In one swim this young 

Kingfisher was waiting for its parent to feed 

it.

 In my last swim I again had a few 

plucks and knocks

which produced a 3/4lb Chub. 

Two fishermen then moved in down stream of my 

my swim which killed my swim. So at 11.45

I left for home 

having had a lovely morning fishing.

Dorset Stour.

Back to fishing after a long time away from

the water doing what had to be done.

So with a Ringwood and district anglers association

ticket,

I headed down to one of their venues.

Arriving at midday I followed my son Jason,

who had checked out a few spots during the weekend.

Using some baits supplied by Jason,

I soon had this 7lb 2oz  Chub. 

 It didn't put up much of a fight

but had a great dig mouth.

This is a personal best Chub.

Well pleased with it.

 This is a wonderful venue one I have wanted to fish for years,

this was a fathers day present which 

was a wonderful thought.

Thank you Jason and Hannah. 

Unfortunately that was the only fish I caught

Jason had his biggest nightmare fish.

He has become an expert at catching Bream

catching them at various venues.

He is a avid Carper

and brilliant all rounder.

We both failed to catch after that. 

We packed up at 7.30.

What a wonderful day.