Warwickshire Avon - Seladoria and Selenography

Just shy of a week off from fishing, that's not happened for a while, even when I've been on holiday when I've needed to keep up the wellbeing fixer. The truth is the Wife had been away from Thursday through to the Monday in Edinburgh and I'd be responsible for the kids. If Ben wasn't Ben I'd have planned to do a couple of fishing sessions as Sam is a keen as ever, especially in the summer school holidays, but he's have to wait for a while, like I would have to.

Not a problem because I had lots planned for the kids despite having to work as per normal. A trip into Brum on the train to play some crazy Golf in the Bullring, some lunch, and a trip to the park. A banana loaf made by Sam to take to his Nan, the Wife's Volvo given a good wash and vac. A couple of lego models constructed and a climbing wall, well climbed !!!

Some dinner in the kids favorite curry house, Korma and garlic rice and naan for them, a mixed madras balti for me with the aforementioned and some pistachio kulfi to finish, the time went pretty quick to be fair. Having left to my own devices in the evening when the kids were in bed. Some movies watched including a horrors and the old but still funny and mood boosting cornetto trilogy.

The day the Wife returned was actually her birthday so after picking her up from the airport late afternoon rather than go fishing (she said why not go for a few hours peace) I lit the charcoal chimney and made some Moo Ping instead with some jasmine rice, cucumber and some birds eye chilli ladened thai dipping sauce.

It's one of my favorite foods on the BBQ I would say because so simple to make and paired with a cold bottle of Reisling with a couple of ciders, it was nice to have the Wife back. It's only when she is gone for a bit you realise how much she does at home, I've always said that to be honest, although she did appreciated I'd empted the washing basket, and made good the stinky clothes from the teenagers the day before she got back.

Anyway a small window of opportunity before she went to Yoga the following day I again decided to forgo the fishing and rig up a baitcaster (Temu special) a setup that Sam wanted to try with a heavier lure to see if we'd been missing anything. The one I've bought definitely doesn't seem to suit the lighter lures (I tried it) but a quick google, they definitely are better suited to lugging the bigger head turners.

I was working from the office for some much need peace and adult conversation the following day 😊 and with it being overcast decided to have a couple of hours afterwards to try and winkle out a chub off the top. The conditions really are pretty pants at the minute as you can actually see the fish and they can see you on many of the stretches I fish.

However this searching method can get those fish out from the cover where a static bait would often big ignored. They do wise up to this method however it does increase the probability of getting a decent bend in the rod.

I love this stretch for good reason though because under those polarised sunglasses you can literally see everything even in the deeper swims, so those dark shadows all of a sudden start moving when that piece of crust gets within the chubs eyeline.

The 2 hour session wasn't that successful to be honest because after the first cast a small chub graced the net after a decent battle I peaked too soon. You see after that fish I roved around where I lost one fish in the reeds, one came off mid fight, another after a huge bow wave where the chub went for the bread, I failed to hook up.  

Not a blank though so I wasn't complaining and I love the summer colours chub get when the rivers are gin clear and the sun does it's thing. As I was nearing the end of the session moving from swim to swim I spotted a decent barbel milling around the streamer weed in an elevated swim. After ignoring the slow sinking bread that literally went straight past its nose, it proceeded upstream and took itself under a canopy of cover.

Certainly a fish which catching so now I know where it lives I'm going to give it a go over the weekend in to dusk obviously because that will no doubt be my best chance I feel. So I'm back and yes it felt good especially when the weather has been nice of late. 

So much to look forward to in the next few months, two seperate week long family holidays where some lake and some sea fishing will be on the cards, just shy of a week in mate Ward's villa in Spain for catch-up without the kids in tow, with a whistle stop night out in Benidorm, The Fat Boy Slim long weekender where we have a decent turn out from the guys. (12 at the last count)

Then unlike Nic from Avon Angling who was invited by Fishing Republic to spend last weekend fishing the Catch Of The Day charity event in aid of The Willow Foundation fishing, where he was fishing again with England goalkeeping legend David Seaman, I had to make do with someone less well known, unless you're an old raver like me. 

You see the Wife's trip coincided with the charity match sadly as Nic said I could tag along, so being disappointed I'm off to see another Dave Seaman , none other than DJ royalty himself from Selador records who will be part of a brilliant line-up (12pm to 1.00am) from the Skybar in Glasgow. 

A cracking smaller venue with a great sound system and an older crowd, where Haanes Bieger will be twiddling his knobs on his Roland TB-303 amongst his other electronic hardware.   

I've seen Dave Seaman and Steve Parry for that matter many times over the years, they really do play my kind of repetitive beats that test the subwoofers to their limitations, so I'm really looking forward to that especially when the rubbish flight times on the Sunday meant, it would be better to have the Saturday in Glasgow too 😃. So a tour at the Clydeside Distillery booked to pass the time as well as a couple of other time fillers to sort out in the countdown.