The Tiny River Alne - Gonks and Gynotikolobomassophiles

36 hours prior to this session the local River Alne had another 2 metres of water on where if the rain had continued for another few hours it would have most likely have broken the highest river level record at this measuring station (recorded on 21 July 2007) where it reached 3.38m. 

Levels approaching 3 metres the road is impassable because the Sherborne Brook bursts its banks and spills out on to the road which is adjacent to it. Once it has peaked it really does plummet so it was nicely within the banks for this early morning session.

The Alne hasn't been fishing well at all really of late, but the methods in my madness that finding those slack areas could be the key to any piscatorial success. Those little streams I fish always fish well when there is plenty of water on and the water is the colour of hot chocolate. 

(This was Dick Walker's thoughts on the matter)

"At this time of the year many of our rivers are either flooding the surrounding country or threatening to do so, and this abnormal state of affairs has caused many anglers to postpone their next fishing excursion until such a time as the waters have abated somewhat.

These anglers are missing some of the best sport that is to be obtained in coarse fishing, for when the rivers are feet above their normal level, and the water is of that consistency which is generally known as ‘pea-soup’, then is the best fishing of the the whole year to be had. When such conditions are prevalent, nearly all freshwater fish are feeding freely, and the larger fish put aside their usual shrewd suspicions so far as to be willing to investigate anything in the shape of food.

The chief difficulty which the beginner to this sort of fishing will find himself up against is finding the fish, for they are anywhere in their usual swims. Indeed, it is practically useless to fish in the main stream, a diminutive dace or chub being all that is likely to reward one’s efforts.

Backwaters, drinking-places for cattle, eddies at the tails of islands or on the inside of bends, and flooded ditches are most likely to produce a fair bag of fair-sized fish, and it should be borne in mind that fish will be found in much shallower water than is usual in winter. Flooded ditches are very good places in which to try for perch, and only last week I took five nice fish from the mouth of a ditch leading on to a flooded meadow, in less than 18 inches of water.

Another excellent place in which to try is the extreme edges of mill-pools. All sorts of insects, snails, worms, etc., are washed from the banks when the river is high, and after passing over the mill-race, are deposited in the shallows at the edges of the pool, hence the presence of the fish there.

With regard to baits, I do not think one can do better than use worms of one kind or another, and personally I like good big ones best. When the water is very thick a large bait is easier seen than a small one, and has the advantage of weight which makes possible the use of little or no lead. Other baits which are more or less useful in flood-fishing are snails (both land and water), freshwater shrimps, which are very difficult to obtain at this time of the year and the catching of which is guaranteed to produce a severe cold, small frogs or newts, which may be found under stones near water, and various grubs.

If you prefer to fish from the bank, or rather the water’s edge, remember that soggy land transmits vibrations very much more than dry land, and tread accordingly, for the fish, though biting freely, are just as easily frightened by heavy footfalls in flood time as when more orthodox conditions prevail. 

It is not advisable to remain long at one spot unless something is forthcoming, and groundbait is not often effective in bringing the fish together. The best method is to keep moving until the fish are found, and then to cast in a few chopped worms from time to time to keep them there; but often this is unnecessary. I will conclude by saying that the softer your tread, the longer your cast, and the bigger your worm, the greater will be your bag in flood-fishing"

Well thanks Dick but your advice was all well and good, but the problem was I'd only a few lobworms left so maggots and some bread would have to do for this session. The first swim has a nice slack and I thought that would produce this morning but all I could must up was when switching to some maggots was a few Gonks. Nothing wrong with gonks as I love catching them but I was really after some dace and any chub if they were around.

The ground was certainly welly testing as it was proper sodden because this time yesterday the fields were acting as floodplains, so much so to get to the upstream pegs above the bridge I'd have to don the waders if I wanted to venture up there because it was still waterlogged. 

I fished 4 swims in total and only swim produced sadly despite the bait being presented properly. Well maybe it wasn't who knows but the fish were really sulking having to endure one of the worst floods in a while. Still a lovely morning I must admit and I'll be back don't worry to bother those specimen dace that reside here. Well I'm hoping anyway, the 12 ounce fish I caught I'm hoping was not just a one off. On to the next one, Chub maybe ? 

I'll have a think, all I know is I need a decent pull on ones rod, it's not happened for a good while. I've made a new batch of cheesepaste, maybe I'll give that a go.