Goodbye to 2023

I've really enjoyed my fishing in 2023 (you only have to look at my post count for that 210 which meant I went fishing every 1.7 days 🤯), despite the weather being absolutely rubbish towards the end of this year when I really wanted to spend quality time on the bank. 

Some of the highlights can be seen below, where a surprise big dace came out of the blue on the nearest river to me the River Alne. The mission to catch the canal carp I kept on seeing also was a highlight because that was a right old challenge that was, however in the end I finally succeeded. 

The roach were a high point as well, because when I caught the my PB as shown in the featured picture, it got me thinking about targeting them properly in the closed season, just to see if there were any even bigger fish to be caught. I also caught a nice one from the Warwickshire Stour, an old warrior but a cracking fish from a small river.

A 4lb hard fighting roach bream hybrid from the canal, catching barbel on the float with a good mate Nic from Avon Angling where we fished numerous times on the Wye together this year. Oh and also catching a stoneloach by design which was concluded much faster than my usual fishing quests, I've really mixed it up this year which is what I wanted to do when I started 2023. 

So some highlights of 2023, not in chronological order

No huge fish admittedly, but it's not often all about the size now is it.... 

• Barbel on the Float
• PB Roach (From the canal this one 1lb 12 ounces)
• Stoneloach caught on rod and line by design
• PB Dace of 12 ounces from the River Alne
• PB Roach Bream Hybrid from the canal - 4lb
• PB River Roach
• PB Canal Carp, a right mission this one was

So Mick what's the plan for 2024 ? well I fancy trying to beat my Barbel PB of 12lb and 14 ounces, and also fishing more new venues and casting my net wider, rather than trudging old ground. I also want to target roach properly on the canal, they will get some attention in the closed season that's for sure, as will Zander no doubt. Bid perch on the river ? speak to me !!!

Oh and a Warwickshire Avon 7lb Chub, yeah I fancy one of those too, as well as a river or canal 2lb roach. 

So thanks for putting up with my ramblings blog readers, tight lines for 2024 and dream BIG , on to the next one, no where is that cat !!!