tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51854826783322076872024-03-18T22:43:14.440+00:00Piscatorial Quagswagging...the diary of a specialist angler in around the Warwickshire Avon and its tributaries. Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.comBlogger1595125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-79662463327154273262024-03-16T15:27:00.004+00:002024-03-16T15:27:43.455+00:00Transient Towpath Trudging - Pt.85 (Canal Zander)<p>Although I moan a lot about fishing canals, (I moan about lots of things to be honest), well I am 52 years old in November it goes with the territory I suppose. The world has changed so much in the last fourteen years since I've had this blog and certainly not for the better. </p><p>The canals you see, since I've been fishing for zander, those numbers of fish I used to catch have certainly dropped off, no doubt some of that from having anodes stuck up their jacksies from the determination of the canal and rivers trust to get rid of them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxjCUMxksysuQX8oO1-vZgAqw9x-9dtl7gRJP7Qjsg-PTraAdB1-HlpQc7-1E2Bej00xAWJcnA-0OHpfbPyZfrx0S7yrqJFypYpZsEm-QohUFxlR-d2gnie9DZ9iaEL_iRVuokPtguutLM9ZLZHfDHxtHRycAZbs1uT5_aP0ptRi0SXmcC9HOfBJmdgw/s4032/IMG_0430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxjCUMxksysuQX8oO1-vZgAqw9x-9dtl7gRJP7Qjsg-PTraAdB1-HlpQc7-1E2Bej00xAWJcnA-0OHpfbPyZfrx0S7yrqJFypYpZsEm-QohUFxlR-d2gnie9DZ9iaEL_iRVuokPtguutLM9ZLZHfDHxtHRycAZbs1uT5_aP0ptRi0SXmcC9HOfBJmdgw/w640-h360/IMG_0430.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>But the cover too, much of that has been removed in huge quantities and yet I thought they were struggling for money ? I'm sure that money could be spent better elsewhere because ok, remove any that is hindering the boats but why remove the cover that just makes a canal look nice, rather than the baron landscapes they have become more recently. </p><p>Cover provides a haven for these predatory fish you see and much of the time they are laying up not doing a fat lot, well until a deadbait is dropped on their heads and they decide to act on their instinct. They are also scavengers and it's difficult for them to resist any food items that comes their way especially when that food item is fish shaped. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5qz0QcBWbEgVMjGiCbMiQROjmKMl4LvvgwlSGyx6KaGz7DmxUrmVaoP_7Uei9jc7ng2j94BuRJaS6XP2aODgZLzzlPt3snECXZkmY3-jOrJAa0MvQR1nLDmzUfr6DLjJxiHPnjDJTmCODq0rgIM_4sIfaohMmccXcsIwp6BcG36Z12RSEgtduFTtYn8/s4032/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5qz0QcBWbEgVMjGiCbMiQROjmKMl4LvvgwlSGyx6KaGz7DmxUrmVaoP_7Uei9jc7ng2j94BuRJaS6XP2aODgZLzzlPt3snECXZkmY3-jOrJAa0MvQR1nLDmzUfr6DLjJxiHPnjDJTmCODq0rgIM_4sIfaohMmccXcsIwp6BcG36Z12RSEgtduFTtYn8/w640-h360/IMG_0429.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajkfwA7gVwLAEPtK55gbAFL-FhV6391ZNXOL7L-OY4a_Lx6XSLQKxzmQZagEPI8pJPpDIdN7uHVzVcZ0vtVkEMmpumjJWQa7kcgxbFFK7KrVYwzGdfs9tZOD-i6hynhfN9WmOI8qnZLlhtlmgyMf0QFUvks9Y02XTBBJXhUZA8TqQ8RFadFX9Xjn7L64/s4032/IMG_0431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajkfwA7gVwLAEPtK55gbAFL-FhV6391ZNXOL7L-OY4a_Lx6XSLQKxzmQZagEPI8pJPpDIdN7uHVzVcZ0vtVkEMmpumjJWQa7kcgxbFFK7KrVYwzGdfs9tZOD-i6hynhfN9WmOI8qnZLlhtlmgyMf0QFUvks9Y02XTBBJXhUZA8TqQ8RFadFX9Xjn7L64/w640-h360/IMG_0431.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Canals despite the dog related landmines and the great unwashed provide an angler an option in the closed season which they will do me, not just the zander but other species too. They also offer exercise as well especially when targeting zander where a leapfrogging roving approach is needed to try and find the fish, where a 4 or 5 hour session those 10k steps are ticked off quite easily. </p><p>Now this inaugural trip post closed season was to a local'ish area of canal that seems to be bouncing back if the reports from the like-minded are anything to go by. Not just schoolies either, because a picture shared showed a fish that some weighing scales were definitely required, and made me raise my eyebrows because of that. I knew where it was caught just by seeing the background even though the person that shared the capture has always been happy to share where he fishes and where he catches. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGE3NchVYIYrZLDUmlkLrWtOPopQ-AFuMb-Ui74HarhhATeX7xCs0J5WW6zonCMfgFo8NWufKQBmrj-OQLgf20ELkdnqXKl0ViVm-1LHZAloEMZc6SgEakU1OEE58AQZU8ayU_ZA5VMt-FKdABVsoWrksN72gU7sYCceo3mcH0Kvv__1Y2HZKOGfANjY/s4032/IMG_0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGE3NchVYIYrZLDUmlkLrWtOPopQ-AFuMb-Ui74HarhhATeX7xCs0J5WW6zonCMfgFo8NWufKQBmrj-OQLgf20ELkdnqXKl0ViVm-1LHZAloEMZc6SgEakU1OEE58AQZU8ayU_ZA5VMt-FKdABVsoWrksN72gU7sYCceo3mcH0Kvv__1Y2HZKOGfANjY/w640-h360/IMG_0427.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>That why <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AvonAnglingUK/videos" target="_blank">Nic from Avon Angling</a> was here today as well, a bit of a social really with said person being fish catching machine <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RIVERMASTERS/videos" target="_blank">Buffalo Si from river masters</a>. We've fished the same waters for a good while now and often share the towpaths because we have the same mission after all. His results are all there to see on his Youtube channel π </div><div><br /></div><div>To be honest it took a good while to get the first bite which actually came when I retrieved the float when a boat was coming as it snatched the bait when it came up off the bottom. The canals locally are very turbid indeed most of the time and pike are a rarity so I use 18lb fluorocarbon for hooklinks and thin wire trace if there are pike around. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBR5-cMlstkhyphenhyphenC0OF6Cc005KgNva7cX85yzFrdBy_aQfIItyldvJH_1nKiT8Ar_AmnCn7NuZ7i4LTi61fNR6aIlrAjBlelnBpOkd7f5xCX3VnbV7XmtWnP3LqU_6kISdpm4eSzlvbwgmN55Sb8pha0mZtO74ZOxmiwkxvxGYVv46ha-4EkGBD0RLG83c/s4032/IMG_0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBR5-cMlstkhyphenhyphenC0OF6Cc005KgNva7cX85yzFrdBy_aQfIItyldvJH_1nKiT8Ar_AmnCn7NuZ7i4LTi61fNR6aIlrAjBlelnBpOkd7f5xCX3VnbV7XmtWnP3LqU_6kISdpm4eSzlvbwgmN55Sb8pha0mZtO74ZOxmiwkxvxGYVv46ha-4EkGBD0RLG83c/w640-h360/IMG_0428.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Anyway the fishing wasn't exactly prolific so Nic went to a new area to fish which was a ten minute walk away and I stopped in the 'hot spot' with Si talking rubbish. After I had a fish that dropped off I myself went on a rove to where Nic had been fishing.<div><br /></div><div>He managed a couple of zander which was nice and decided that was enough for him and left me to it. The fish didn't seem to be moving around that much hence why trying to find the fish is the key. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeX514z_6wQlKGNtV2d-lAEvzqTQnXmUp-gP1gbrnNLyfTR75PKxL0APjYA0rIhNGbY3J-A9ORuIdnfaV0XEkbgBZuWuIiOFoOkihNdl7HOaBmiBDxbxIRC2_Ycp-B_pBVp1RzeCRMcYrRjsvChbPq_VOMbltWeRQFUJCMkkL5L6z4W4AM6h_E-fnfG0/s1300/IMG_0433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1300" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeX514z_6wQlKGNtV2d-lAEvzqTQnXmUp-gP1gbrnNLyfTR75PKxL0APjYA0rIhNGbY3J-A9ORuIdnfaV0XEkbgBZuWuIiOFoOkihNdl7HOaBmiBDxbxIRC2_Ycp-B_pBVp1RzeCRMcYrRjsvChbPq_VOMbltWeRQFUJCMkkL5L6z4W4AM6h_E-fnfG0/w640-h360/IMG_0433.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I had a fish drop off within 10 minutes of having the baits out but it didn't take long to get another bite. This one was pulling back much better than the first fish but was actually much shorter in length but full of spawn by the looks it it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had another run but didn't connect and by this time I'd fished around 7 hours with not that much to show for it. With a busy day ahead I also decided to make my way back to the car fishing a few spots on the way back. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2G1ZIY8L3v4dkVoUvYlL4y9mrkOU0MFOqxxDObusBAqmB4CrrCAmTTEDWGXiC-UXeN484o3RalONd8lVuBhvmIsUdlGk5yJ2m_fday8n2xFbAOhu_isTLYxJFvOjh2eXNQjxpOutXKEVDe84ZMqV489sC6rMx6ne4ymt5bzRP8cBHOheYMdzya8s64s/s4032/IMG_0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2G1ZIY8L3v4dkVoUvYlL4y9mrkOU0MFOqxxDObusBAqmB4CrrCAmTTEDWGXiC-UXeN484o3RalONd8lVuBhvmIsUdlGk5yJ2m_fday8n2xFbAOhu_isTLYxJFvOjh2eXNQjxpOutXKEVDe84ZMqV489sC6rMx6ne4ymt5bzRP8cBHOheYMdzya8s64s/w640-h360/IMG_0426.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And that was my lot, not exactly prolific with Si blanking when I left him but I'm sure they will be crawling up the line when they switch on and realise just who is fishing for them. π</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure the cold overnight temperature didn't help our cause because they just didn't seem to be moving much. Still not complaining a few fish caught and always good to catch up with the like-minded. </div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-75018655948928037212024-03-15T08:28:00.006+00:002024-03-15T08:30:16.306+00:00River Arrow - Bangers and Ballistocardiographs<p>So it's the 15th of March today when I type this, another closed season where canals comes back in to play and also luckily for me the river Alne where I will target the trout from time to time. It would be rude not too especially when it's so close and those after work sessions come in handy to get that fishing fix.</p><p>Zander and other species will be targeted on the canals because I fancy trying for some big Rudd and also some big Roach on the Midlands turbid waterways, and whatever comes along basically. Some of those sessions will be dedicated Zander sessions and then I'd have a Zander rod out in my peripheral view whilst praying the lift float method will come good with a big silver fish under it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW6suj6DDLRFUYh3kzGDv9w_7XCl4F7LS2vazg9B7NzJ0wjMWE-mBQOBTwPh6SO-mtcfDDoEM1mkKS0SDgOfgVpnoku7-HjrYj2lJbSOMTfFFzZwGypo0PUDLlPlpHCkxSpXxfrXSLciq_PX710NLA7sa00GLWxukuq5YmlxmMqSr8gY8WXDOTvUOUWw/s5472/SAM_2025.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="5472" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW6suj6DDLRFUYh3kzGDv9w_7XCl4F7LS2vazg9B7NzJ0wjMWE-mBQOBTwPh6SO-mtcfDDoEM1mkKS0SDgOfgVpnoku7-HjrYj2lJbSOMTfFFzZwGypo0PUDLlPlpHCkxSpXxfrXSLciq_PX710NLA7sa00GLWxukuq5YmlxmMqSr8gY8WXDOTvUOUWw/w640-h360/SAM_2025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's where I'm hoping these Temu specials will come in to their own a nadger bigger than my favorite float the 8g Korum Snapper Float but far more visible. They are foam so the issue I have is often I have retrieving floats from bushes with a hard yank, due to my wayward casting so they might not survive the punishment but I will just have to be more careful won't I.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully they won't act like a sponge and the dye's run !! but let's see, proof is in the pudding and all that !!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9X5a2aPVDyQ1J19KJ4hKOxcNUBZs_klFfN9kNpPSW42Rkguch8F5HjqxtVMpuGPLl73X3J0jcK9fFUgWjeyL7rxSaCAyroKHxf6UEFZYm0MWWfQ6pFCvaT2kjj4tpCwZJOsCavY73dr01REh_EAySK5mSIwHyulSV4-OkypUFaT0Eevz3LUovXmzaD8/s3000/IMG_0342.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="3000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9X5a2aPVDyQ1J19KJ4hKOxcNUBZs_klFfN9kNpPSW42Rkguch8F5HjqxtVMpuGPLl73X3J0jcK9fFUgWjeyL7rxSaCAyroKHxf6UEFZYm0MWWfQ6pFCvaT2kjj4tpCwZJOsCavY73dr01REh_EAySK5mSIwHyulSV4-OkypUFaT0Eevz3LUovXmzaD8/w640-h360/IMG_0342.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Anyway for this last session I fancied trying for a chub at a section of the river Arrow I'd been fishing. Quite a handy stretch this and I'd already caught some fish here so the plan was to try and at least get a bend in the rod before having to forget coarse fish on running water for a while.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AvonAnglingUK/videos" target="_blank">Nic from Avon Angling</a> was on the stretch too and kindly primed some swims as he arrived before me. When I rocked up post work he was downstream somewhere so I decided to start off in a swim where I'd caught fish before, but I'd missed some unmissable bites the last time here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSbLRKqT2aHZt8JdzteOeM_DKUJ4PMhDA65T0nTojampch7RWsBWK8JHe96lZAXoW1GVqQLJSif11rswQlDkzeUB5Z-vGdynU3MMSqPNfQ8OO7zu5td1dHt2dDe_PiHM8r9J-QfesX4VwylM6djEeCqppfMMMxjoNyX3pmuTdQDb5YnloB9D-ZSnUTR0/s3645/IMG_0341.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2050" data-original-width="3645" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSbLRKqT2aHZt8JdzteOeM_DKUJ4PMhDA65T0nTojampch7RWsBWK8JHe96lZAXoW1GVqQLJSif11rswQlDkzeUB5Z-vGdynU3MMSqPNfQ8OO7zu5td1dHt2dDe_PiHM8r9J-QfesX4VwylM6djEeCqppfMMMxjoNyX3pmuTdQDb5YnloB9D-ZSnUTR0/w640-h360/IMG_0341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCWMXoQ8oyr3kdWD41LaoIBj7fPiqi0lOlDD0bBWF-WRknCi-u5JPsDiBFMYUSsCCrC1-flsbOYQn-wCpiVObHGF9aEHgUSgau0G658iNwu6Z41lHR8_bYeizahkcieIGFrGRHHTF3B8yjAe2u_O8bn4909BeDnituXRDe-ePX2wDmvy8SiD8_h2eTic/s3000/IMG_0343.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="3000" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihCWMXoQ8oyr3kdWD41LaoIBj7fPiqi0lOlDD0bBWF-WRknCi-u5JPsDiBFMYUSsCCrC1-flsbOYQn-wCpiVObHGF9aEHgUSgau0G658iNwu6Z41lHR8_bYeizahkcieIGFrGRHHTF3B8yjAe2u_O8bn4909BeDnituXRDe-ePX2wDmvy8SiD8_h2eTic/w640-h360/IMG_0343.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What I didn't expect that after the breadflake offering settled to the bottom after feeding some mashed bread within a minute or so after a few rattles on the 1oz tip it pulled round confidently and a fish was on !!!. It felt pretty decent too because with a powerful initial run I was reaching for the drag which was slightly too tight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The battled continued however after a while it realised the game was up and it decided to grace my landing net. A lovely plump Arrow fish and sure enough "over 4 easily" it went 4lb 12oz in the scales, happy days, a nice fish to end the season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixDb0R4PDPCnrX9RGl5xnq5hOSVoAOdf2b8dq2bdlYxttJi_9D4JH08kQEgXusISJzxHH2J7Rw6FbeOaLjnmT1_LmiKQKSEBi-kQZJgfVzSO5fYOqR_6nAJSYiaZbi6EJyMu-HCetzpWBPubrxxmLfeh5QxsaDKpqYiEh-fHj8YPZOaApPDw3pgtvD38/s4032/IMG_0340.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjixDb0R4PDPCnrX9RGl5xnq5hOSVoAOdf2b8dq2bdlYxttJi_9D4JH08kQEgXusISJzxHH2J7Rw6FbeOaLjnmT1_LmiKQKSEBi-kQZJgfVzSO5fYOqR_6nAJSYiaZbi6EJyMu-HCetzpWBPubrxxmLfeh5QxsaDKpqYiEh-fHj8YPZOaApPDw3pgtvD38/w640-h360/IMG_0340.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>The rain started to come down rather heavy after that fish, so with it retained in the landing net I went about trying to catch another from the same swim. I spent another half an hour in that swim and managed another chub on luncheon meat this time from a spot around 10 yards to the right of the first fish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A smaller fish but still in cracking condition, could I catch a 3rd ?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well sadly not despite spending another half an hour in that swim there was no more bites so I went on the rove and met up with Nic for a natter. He'd been mugged off in a swim missing those 'unmissable' bites and was determined to see what it was. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAZuVK1lvznSR1QORFSMgsRr2wBz8W3Uuo0bBGN7pj1p6m3qZNa8yx9GUH9IF4rfLrfUXSGIrD19tTto10uA7xxV0nVn8kV19AWO_kQ1XoOTUKN09u-Ik-y5Bpf3C7neEWq9G54G0UmHXOfeYqcdEYPk23vRgQzyqlrA1H0XWfReWTr9N_IUhvfFNplU/s4032/IMG_0328.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAZuVK1lvznSR1QORFSMgsRr2wBz8W3Uuo0bBGN7pj1p6m3qZNa8yx9GUH9IF4rfLrfUXSGIrD19tTto10uA7xxV0nVn8kV19AWO_kQ1XoOTUKN09u-Ik-y5Bpf3C7neEWq9G54G0UmHXOfeYqcdEYPk23vRgQzyqlrA1H0XWfReWTr9N_IUhvfFNplU/w640-h360/IMG_0328.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rain by this point had increased in intensity so I went about trying some more swims to trying and winkle out another fish. The ground was sodden and the banks were slippy, this swim in particular that didn't produce was like a mud pit and actually pretty uncomfortable to fish. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the end I tried another few swims without even a nibble so headed back up the stretch to see Nic where upon arriving at his swim his tip rattled in to life and I was living his frustration. π Clang, Clang, Clang, pull round and strike in to nothing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SBH2AK2zrmV3v1XhJGd46BBm8WzH4dLDULLr_1r9szXLeSbHgHFGAMCSfaCkAqgZmMlEHiBdciXJY1mI4zzvUozXp9_nD13wvt7JjBOQLYCWuF7SIOydR7aVmYFg1u7zsTbPr-ZQ8-lo-nq7GrOC9SkF-SqQTka-ITc3LjesknH74ifcsRZ7KwGN9H0/s4032/IMG_0339.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SBH2AK2zrmV3v1XhJGd46BBm8WzH4dLDULLr_1r9szXLeSbHgHFGAMCSfaCkAqgZmMlEHiBdciXJY1mI4zzvUozXp9_nD13wvt7JjBOQLYCWuF7SIOydR7aVmYFg1u7zsTbPr-ZQ8-lo-nq7GrOC9SkF-SqQTka-ITc3LjesknH74ifcsRZ7KwGN9H0/w640-h360/IMG_0339.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Fair play to Nic he stuck it out in the rain and in to dusk sadly without success, because I managed one more swim for 10 minutes before deciding the rain got the better of me and that first fish was a cracker so I drove back a happy man.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A washout of a winter to be honest having to make do scratching about rather that fishing how I'd like to fish. Not just for us in the midlands but it seems countrywide too, I managed one two pike sessions that was it, a nightmare. Fingers crossed we get better weather in 3mths time as I'd be glad to see the back of this grim weather. <br /></div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-68030514240469492332024-03-14T08:31:00.004+00:002024-03-14T08:40:35.197+00:00Warwickshire Avon - Washouts and Wapenshaws<p>With my plans kiboshed because Sam was ill and was off school the late morning session wasn't going to happen on the Arrow as I had to wait for the Wife to get back from work. Always the way isn't it, best laid plans and all that what a disappointing end to the river season with the local rivers being a right state again, I should have stayed at work and not taken some of my hard earned annual holiday !!! Still there was always...</p><p>....<span style="font-size: large;"><b>go big or go home </b></span></p>So gear packed, all ready to go after a cobbled together brunch, hurry up Sarah !! Now go <i>big or go home</i> is a widely used philosophical idea that encourages us to be bold and brave, like with sports or gambling. The idea is that you either win big or lose big, thereβs no in-between. The phrase is said to have originated as a sales slogan in the 1990s. A motorcycle parts company in Southern California incorporated the term go big or go home in its packaging for some oversized Harley Davidson pipes.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTqK6v4HX11b8rlekqKZ3dLnWHxjWzFDmVEFSQni-6ABNiqeWx5KQnuhyphenhyphenYY03UMpv6AG1ngDT7F8peOsmnUgZWsdDRbu8n2mZKkh1nrwPaaEUxedvgeMhynIName9eY7dpj7BIk1NcGZXJldt4K5NuVIpWUGnQkVSzhzb7RLOJt31FHaTcvM86dGqlKc/s5472/SAM_2011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="5472" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTqK6v4HX11b8rlekqKZ3dLnWHxjWzFDmVEFSQni-6ABNiqeWx5KQnuhyphenhyphenYY03UMpv6AG1ngDT7F8peOsmnUgZWsdDRbu8n2mZKkh1nrwPaaEUxedvgeMhynIName9eY7dpj7BIk1NcGZXJldt4K5NuVIpWUGnQkVSzhzb7RLOJt31FHaTcvM86dGqlKc/w640-h360/SAM_2011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I could fish in to dusk for this session so I decided to do what I generally don't do very often and that was to fish for one bite from a <b><span style="font-size: large;">BIG</span></b> barbel. Two rods, a comfortable chair (with a lumbar support don't you know π) a big piece of meat on one rod, a pungent Vortex Baits boilie on the other. Some goodness grenades to start the swim off <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RIVERMASTERS/videos" target="_blank">Β©Buffalo Si</a> and then I'd fish over the top with a feeder full of groundbait and also a PVA bag of pellets on the boilie rod.</div><div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55p2p2aUu93byHqQuPWnLUmOAu4_oef5xDImDTtPOrJOtkCRIfKMT7Vbk8AYp7YuurT5lXwwzeFI0nulekmwJMIogDJfAxnKlXB4n_4S5lfnbOutf8lUF7OhejlWETDMdx8kLp4tlyyUlNjB3ickreTV5TrxNe1GXSXIZBnZOWC8qMAWDcQmrAiS1JNc/s1600/Mick%20Newey%20Warwickshire%20Avon%20Barbel.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55p2p2aUu93byHqQuPWnLUmOAu4_oef5xDImDTtPOrJOtkCRIfKMT7Vbk8AYp7YuurT5lXwwzeFI0nulekmwJMIogDJfAxnKlXB4n_4S5lfnbOutf8lUF7OhejlWETDMdx8kLp4tlyyUlNjB3ickreTV5TrxNe1GXSXIZBnZOWC8qMAWDcQmrAiS1JNc/w400-h225/Mick%20Newey%20Warwickshire%20Avon%20Barbel.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I rarely target the barbel on the Warwickshire Avon within my stomping ground because well I struggle to endure sitting behind motionless rods on a low stock river. </div><div><br /></div><div>Gone are the days where you could rock up at Barford which was once known as 'barbel alley' just down the road from me and catch a few fish especially in to dusk and go home happy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Those days were long gone well before even I became a member where I did manage some nice fish including my <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/search?q=12lb+14oz&updated-max=2019-03-15T07:06:00Z&max-results=20&start=10&by-date=false" target="_blank">PB of 12lb and 14oz's which was caught in February 2019.</a> The fish that are still frequenting the Warwickshire Avon generally are on the larger scale and fish that can obliterate my relatively mediocre PB, hence why when the conditions are favorable ie banging through and well up like it was for today's session, it's worth a dabble for them. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiebNiJ6U3nTaCXHcyytjZevbmOLIpvP_5xd80_2z9xugAMGDZNNcsM7Civc3GhQgTaQ-pHEqjUPMUiCUG5jJFs7_NWc7eqTRAGf2MxD3JahsXQn8F0dI2xZNbthr7zm58SzJtMUtOsJR9gpOTvOr08PKRVlRCNgxPvZNK1zE1oXRjjIBSM1RZSeoDNY/s5472/IMG_0228.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="5472" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwiebNiJ6U3nTaCXHcyytjZevbmOLIpvP_5xd80_2z9xugAMGDZNNcsM7Civc3GhQgTaQ-pHEqjUPMUiCUG5jJFs7_NWc7eqTRAGf2MxD3JahsXQn8F0dI2xZNbthr7zm58SzJtMUtOsJR9gpOTvOr08PKRVlRCNgxPvZNK1zE1oXRjjIBSM1RZSeoDNY/w640-h360/IMG_0228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Now this stretch is only 12 miles away from me and is home to some right old lunkers but they are fished for because of that, they are not stupid these barbel especially when they get to PB breaking size. Luck is a huge part of it and also being there at feeding time which might be such a small window, there is no point trying to guess. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's why this type of fishing is not for me despite the rewards !!! if there was larger head of fish I might fish for them more, but for now, the odd session here and there will suffice and more than enough to keeps one's sanity. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehHYmHHO3FOek3GG7H_uQpZW9pEXtMSCUBxPT3fU45xP2QwefST8hO3W1dh8VM0TzOUkBr-GIYkVfh20RGJRSqiP_H0bKWyuh-xdtkLC-0AUo9RsBI-LkFfe8vHi9mzV2jbyDFOXXmmZeoYWIt4QUDbLCqmST1DPyMnwMVLuJ9rjUfSDD2QpvQ6zRtww/s4032/IMG_0293.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehHYmHHO3FOek3GG7H_uQpZW9pEXtMSCUBxPT3fU45xP2QwefST8hO3W1dh8VM0TzOUkBr-GIYkVfh20RGJRSqiP_H0bKWyuh-xdtkLC-0AUo9RsBI-LkFfe8vHi9mzV2jbyDFOXXmmZeoYWIt4QUDbLCqmST1DPyMnwMVLuJ9rjUfSDD2QpvQ6zRtww/w640-h360/IMG_0293.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>When I arrived there was already 4 cars in the carpark of convenience, not unsurprising as we were all after the same quarry, a barbel. Some familiar faces too so after a natter I got fishing. The river was banging through and after persevering in one swim after an hour I decided to upsticks and move.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not only was the debris coming doing wiping out one of the rods from time to time it just didn't look like a fish would be feeding in such a turbulent area. So the next swim was only just up from this but a stream that entered it from the inside and the fact the way the river coarse went meant that the water was calmer in nature. Not bubbling and boiling but a nice steady pace to it...</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AoNI13xBEMNL4J7qhdW4RcYtSpLNaeF8Gze7XGNzO8BxPhxNSdRVDPpYeeC28v-NSRsUzt82UJiXx5WdGcbcThsUhOx05Nt_PDOe66miE9Xg4_A8LNoSIqZWcsfNDCPJya6qVYIhfka_yjkEBzVbxlwrrBa2irZQVyMDWUwQDtlJ1h9_n9W2qO5T4DM/s4032/IMG_0295.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AoNI13xBEMNL4J7qhdW4RcYtSpLNaeF8Gze7XGNzO8BxPhxNSdRVDPpYeeC28v-NSRsUzt82UJiXx5WdGcbcThsUhOx05Nt_PDOe66miE9Xg4_A8LNoSIqZWcsfNDCPJya6qVYIhfka_yjkEBzVbxlwrrBa2irZQVyMDWUwQDtlJ1h9_n9W2qO5T4DM/w640-h360/IMG_0295.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaVTIAEeRsTSyWtxD7CLaYBiLjSV3cKd-NuBNgqbF-jQhZtegrLdUSYo0Y0IpMfoitFbYcFKqnlx2eCTOjvdrKKcZO__8wMCLWJHJJA-qKWasBBAyuxG1A2hLZORbR3nKTlJR-txE9-y4AHQUSpjU_8AFHTJ-C8AhSMVW8rSFV3GL6MifIf7R9nnYVno/s4032/IMG_0294.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaVTIAEeRsTSyWtxD7CLaYBiLjSV3cKd-NuBNgqbF-jQhZtegrLdUSYo0Y0IpMfoitFbYcFKqnlx2eCTOjvdrKKcZO__8wMCLWJHJJA-qKWasBBAyuxG1A2hLZORbR3nKTlJR-txE9-y4AHQUSpjU_8AFHTJ-C8AhSMVW8rSFV3GL6MifIf7R9nnYVno/w640-h360/IMG_0294.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Most of my big barbel have succumbed to overly large chunks of luncheon meat so that went in the swim as did the other rod with a boilie and PVA bag of pellets. This time the swim steady enough to deposit some big goodness filled heavy groundbait balls that would get straight to the bottom and the same mix went in the big feeders.</div><div><br /></div><div>I felt at least this time the bait was presented properly where as before I didn't have that confidence. Anyway was the hours went by without much happening, the anglers started to disappear one by one, with only a report of one barbel being caught that was around 6 or 7 lb. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatfTtApSMm62bGE_iKQ97_rhcyKW3YsCSjVQX15JXQZFeSAi2sIPvMl6auu7lMw8v4M-k-KjDNT0EozXTPx-nT_TmxziiWu3AzSvQkX18JaqGc5pUljQu0ydOrQ9XpmRdl71McK95xc1RzfYE56pGBml3o8KdxuzRti88GswxdUmyaRaCWR6nfLJDF-w/s4032/IMG_0292.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhatfTtApSMm62bGE_iKQ97_rhcyKW3YsCSjVQX15JXQZFeSAi2sIPvMl6auu7lMw8v4M-k-KjDNT0EozXTPx-nT_TmxziiWu3AzSvQkX18JaqGc5pUljQu0ydOrQ9XpmRdl71McK95xc1RzfYE56pGBml3o8KdxuzRti88GswxdUmyaRaCWR6nfLJDF-w/w640-h360/IMG_0292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So in the end I was left on my tod to fish in to dusk where hopefully a last gasp bite would bring me some success. There is a good reason why the barbel hang round here because you can park right by where you fish for the first handful of swims such is the convenience, and that means more bait goes in than anywhere else on this stretch.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sadly not even a chub pull or nibble for me gone dusk, so 5 hours of fishing waiting for that bite that never materialised really did test my patience, especially when Buffalo Si from River Masters, had sent a picture of another massive canal zander he had caught not a million miles away from here, where he had already sacked off the rivers for this season, as had a couple of other anglers I know. Anyway the Arrow beckons where hopefully I can at least catch a chub or something before the season end....</div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-48264512716922313872024-03-12T20:00:00.006+00:002024-03-13T10:42:13.253+00:00River Arrow & Warwickshire Avon - Ammonia and Aichmophobia<p>There was a decent turn out for my mate Daz's 50th on Saturday where after watching the England versus Ireland rugby in the 6th nations where somehow England were victorious, we all went for a ruby murray. Now I made the mistake of ordering a dish with a three chilli rating on the menu, and a garlic butter naan to go with it. </p><p>Well I say that, it wasn't a mistake because I do like hot spicy curries I always have done, but this exceeded vindaloo chilli levels and was heading towards the phall scale I'd imagine. Even a standard balti was turned up a notch at this restaurant where those that cannot handle any levels of chilli heat at all, like me had a surprise waiting for them as well. Luckily a few beverages before and after help reign back the scoville scale, albeit temporarily, but it was certainly one of the hotted curries I'd had for a while. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvqvSaWeEc_TzgYayjCUnXFMq-tclbaKEwyt26nBs_sfe95LeamzYDoTQp8Au_OhY4sXewr6lIeOVYCmEmhJkRDbR9eiHgt-Tp5j2qV4oQg7_obpsH4k_MXyuTcIPGxTU81rjUaGVHccFzDDZA-EO72pVcKcW4UsALFlqP7YiLYy34g0x_NWKMhgliME/s3486/IMG_0185.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1958" data-original-width="3486" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvqvSaWeEc_TzgYayjCUnXFMq-tclbaKEwyt26nBs_sfe95LeamzYDoTQp8Au_OhY4sXewr6lIeOVYCmEmhJkRDbR9eiHgt-Tp5j2qV4oQg7_obpsH4k_MXyuTcIPGxTU81rjUaGVHccFzDDZA-EO72pVcKcW4UsALFlqP7YiLYy34g0x_NWKMhgliME/w640-h360/IMG_0185.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>You see the first toilet run in the morning I was soon reliving the nights pleasantries' where not only what went in looked exactly as what came out, where within a split second the house was soon filled with a veritable vampire garlic roadblock, and the spiced pungency of the thick air around Birmingham's balti triangle. (Thankfully we were out in Leamington)</p><p>That tub of unopened sudocrem finally got its comeuppance, because let's just say I needed cooling down, the 'sting' from mouth to exit seemingly amplified in intensity as it passed through ones intestines. The positives I could take from it, well, I know not to choose that particular main course on the menu again and it also narrowed down the bait I was going to use for when the river is up again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogf9Z-PvbKdTRDHSfIIASh7xi5ySQ95UYaQGgGCq9xFwB0JJV-J7ZgwHCT4y25y6Bhpre4WrVL0x8QR45LqiK2TvXpwwGYvuUV2_9-ELktL1W9ZQp_i0V-p0pkhXNChnwTumrzG5LC-Gr1AQZ5RHb6jmmOY-K8gVqr7v_X5bff8dSJoWzdK0H15_phGA/s4032/IMG_0219.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjogf9Z-PvbKdTRDHSfIIASh7xi5ySQ95UYaQGgGCq9xFwB0JJV-J7ZgwHCT4y25y6Bhpre4WrVL0x8QR45LqiK2TvXpwwGYvuUV2_9-ELktL1W9ZQp_i0V-p0pkhXNChnwTumrzG5LC-Gr1AQZ5RHb6jmmOY-K8gVqr7v_X5bff8dSJoWzdK0H15_phGA/w640-h360/IMG_0219.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lJGOLy4yq-5Gcaf_hyphenhyphendmmJa84Xg-svbAJr-_gImGVBJU7KWVzFbVoCiegdaIzrgJ4rSyZe1kQR4xdXxGVnaA6NStpnhOtnk4HqsC1e7U2BqqLJZ245AnoMvQKEzD12rJX9ugXBXn8a7CZl1jom3oGpya5XCMbuwvjMVJuJXPu_5S54HmL7r4iNTIWbs/s4032/IMG_0218.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lJGOLy4yq-5Gcaf_hyphenhyphendmmJa84Xg-svbAJr-_gImGVBJU7KWVzFbVoCiegdaIzrgJ4rSyZe1kQR4xdXxGVnaA6NStpnhOtnk4HqsC1e7U2BqqLJZ245AnoMvQKEzD12rJX9ugXBXn8a7CZl1jom3oGpya5XCMbuwvjMVJuJXPu_5S54HmL7r4iNTIWbs/w640-h360/IMG_0218.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>You see when I was fishing the Arrow last I was going to try a newly purchased bait which was some <a href="https://vortexbaits.com/product/boosted-cocoon-specials/" target="_blank">Dark C.K.O. Boosted Cocoon Specials from Vortex baits</a> which I never got round to trying because bread was doing the business. As far as I got was to show them to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AvonAnglingUK/videos" target="_blank">Nic from Avon Angling</a> where upon removing the lid we both jolted our heads back in unison because the hit was like sniffing a tub of smelling salts. </p>Now smelling salts are used to arouse consciousness because the release of ammonia (NH3) gas that accompanies their use irritates the membranes of the nose and lungs, and thereby triggers an inhalation reflex. This reflex alters the pattern of breathing, resulting in improved respiratory flow rates and possibly alertness.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHuxlKWAOinCFbiSY3jLnoaHhdYBO23IhCDVDVHrwhR_vVr6l9uXvRhz4aEV_yMamkfFG-arxIpFXSPbut4Ryy9qy8fF6IcR2A9MnJFRqRb8FTqZ0QjHSEnIe5263Cr8j-FL7ia0jKrcr-tjEXQnT7WJ6fts71y5mm89Z45NJOeeuDRBSjYbMxSp7eCU/s4032/IMG_0217.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHuxlKWAOinCFbiSY3jLnoaHhdYBO23IhCDVDVHrwhR_vVr6l9uXvRhz4aEV_yMamkfFG-arxIpFXSPbut4Ryy9qy8fF6IcR2A9MnJFRqRb8FTqZ0QjHSEnIe5263Cr8j-FL7ia0jKrcr-tjEXQnT7WJ6fts71y5mm89Z45NJOeeuDRBSjYbMxSp7eCU/w640-h360/IMG_0217.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmGjAnKHpbAgBOWwGPLNW2GHtlMBX_JTmLvflJ_i7-PVlC91xaZilgAKXbIDEG-YN_lK3anQ6UiJuoGSjcICg_lckMRcFInEEkMlhUuI_2eusJNL1V3a-zok4TjOFJv1pckZ8z8jexpbZWwOoV3JWlWGUtdeuPd1peFA0J8ezjzdwYynYLvppgSw6Wvw/s4032/IMG_0215.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmGjAnKHpbAgBOWwGPLNW2GHtlMBX_JTmLvflJ_i7-PVlC91xaZilgAKXbIDEG-YN_lK3anQ6UiJuoGSjcICg_lckMRcFInEEkMlhUuI_2eusJNL1V3a-zok4TjOFJv1pckZ8z8jexpbZWwOoV3JWlWGUtdeuPd1peFA0J8ezjzdwYynYLvppgSw6Wvw/w640-h360/IMG_0215.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div>It wasn't just the instant reaction either because that smell (Crab, Krill and Oyster apparently) lingered in the air for a considerable amount of time, and feet from where the lid was opened. Pungency off the pungency scale most certainly, and as a bait for the fish to home in on, it was right up there with the other smelly baits I use from time to time when conditions dictate. </div><div><br /></div></div><div>Anyway with a rare couple of days off work the plan was to fish the Arrow in the morning when it was hammering it down and then the Avon when the rain had stopped.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixU8YUlOiz5ZZacMuXD6bZ1qNV9wEXuwAzZmEXnIEbw0ntMF3hB0C77b02JvRrlBcoAg2fy1gNdNAQ0QsyhNbhRuv4wtDtqD0Syhbr1fb-IZptHO-LxfCtpkwzTqz0YC6GemET7pYSfNkGwll8v9qBRJUdM94J1mX3iEV_UMhXhLZNVh_BE92X6F6bva0/s4032/IMG_0216.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixU8YUlOiz5ZZacMuXD6bZ1qNV9wEXuwAzZmEXnIEbw0ntMF3hB0C77b02JvRrlBcoAg2fy1gNdNAQ0QsyhNbhRuv4wtDtqD0Syhbr1fb-IZptHO-LxfCtpkwzTqz0YC6GemET7pYSfNkGwll8v9qBRJUdM94J1mX3iEV_UMhXhLZNVh_BE92X6F6bva0/w640-h360/IMG_0216.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSHweRV29CPxkVraWg3YvtjNqopib6tmUNtg8_ZqigzhHdsaI9-6ubBhwyG2SXAtMxkP4cGcm3YKMjV-Y1nFY38y6BG5D2lrqXUEd2-1aWeuGUzHVn4uTuiJJ4mpC1PER9UQ8Dk3kaePam-dOG-F5QwR2sb3AI1cHcbWJug-l_SK2I0u9uOZEYoI8wJk/s4032/IMG_0214.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSHweRV29CPxkVraWg3YvtjNqopib6tmUNtg8_ZqigzhHdsaI9-6ubBhwyG2SXAtMxkP4cGcm3YKMjV-Y1nFY38y6BG5D2lrqXUEd2-1aWeuGUzHVn4uTuiJJ4mpC1PER9UQ8Dk3kaePam-dOG-F5QwR2sb3AI1cHcbWJug-l_SK2I0u9uOZEYoI8wJk/w640-h360/IMG_0214.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Well it didn't start well because I missed two unmissable bites on the Arrow where the rod violently pulled round and I stuck in to nothing, WTF. Those bites came on bread and after a couple of more swims without a nibble, I returned to the same swim and sat it out for another bite. That didn't happen obviously π </div><div><br /></div><div>So it was off to the Avon which like the Arrow was motoring up, where already the bridge that connects the two meadows was already a couple of inches underwater, luckily there is an escape route so I didn't need to retrace my steps. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbsKz1uaaBZ_QoRWj_Lrz6f3XHT3Ssccne6OCs8blTScILL1yo0-82EbTo8HLwZEmYkYPW_ZrU2DL1MzwkxumSoz3QYS2GegO9wa36W8k56cyGHh9xjw7xPys8hkI9hbuZZo_5PFvuzsoa3LjqPNGTaw0h8fC7oobxJsoE5njp5KrOyAxDtqVCLfwOu8/s4032/IMG_0221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbsKz1uaaBZ_QoRWj_Lrz6f3XHT3Ssccne6OCs8blTScILL1yo0-82EbTo8HLwZEmYkYPW_ZrU2DL1MzwkxumSoz3QYS2GegO9wa36W8k56cyGHh9xjw7xPys8hkI9hbuZZo_5PFvuzsoa3LjqPNGTaw0h8fC7oobxJsoE5njp5KrOyAxDtqVCLfwOu8/w640-h360/IMG_0221.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrdYzl9X4-32TxOiTBtXDsOFLSUFMHn-i0CRhrJLGTIcdWm2nD-y3MkQrwvWQA0ggDNDu4UX4N81YYItF_ih6qp2W9alFJfr0YRf5MndHItwPxL4Z4NyUH_W8FRLMPkRv5vMQgfLM4ENlsFRsWR26WDHujwwJTopMrARkV9lFbKZzx5kS6JVcJT9kTaI/s4032/IMG_0220.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrdYzl9X4-32TxOiTBtXDsOFLSUFMHn-i0CRhrJLGTIcdWm2nD-y3MkQrwvWQA0ggDNDu4UX4N81YYItF_ih6qp2W9alFJfr0YRf5MndHItwPxL4Z4NyUH_W8FRLMPkRv5vMQgfLM4ENlsFRsWR26WDHujwwJTopMrARkV9lFbKZzx5kS6JVcJT9kTaI/w640-h360/IMG_0220.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Anyway the boilie was getting interest straight away in the last swim on the stretch that is usually a sanctuary away from the main flow most of the time. Today it was already boiling and swirling but the bait was being snatched and pulled by a chub in the swim I assume.</div><div><br /></div><div>The fish didn't hook itself mind you so maybe it was a greedy chublet, even a switch to bread I didn't get to see what the fish was. Bites were forthcoming and all of a sudden they stopped completely so I went on the rove and baited a couple of spots that I would fish towards the end of the session.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoP8tRUHqqNOllVy13hgMXi9kSEyIXZveURNlVXGMzuy_zWznGJjLjlLswAVdqEttp2MwnB6Hcf5i6yN53cYlG6lMlkWX9NuytX5wTaTDQU19KgnA72ODWUVbZ1buQrQL_YihBVufDRk-UvLLWTkb_00CDawpyIvx3rTVWlNMyrIYoCdnGItIGaC_Y58/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoP8tRUHqqNOllVy13hgMXi9kSEyIXZveURNlVXGMzuy_zWznGJjLjlLswAVdqEttp2MwnB6Hcf5i6yN53cYlG6lMlkWX9NuytX5wTaTDQU19KgnA72ODWUVbZ1buQrQL_YihBVufDRk-UvLLWTkb_00CDawpyIvx3rTVWlNMyrIYoCdnGItIGaC_Y58/w640-h360/IMG_0213.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />In one of those a determined chublet decided that it would like a taste of the boilie and eventually hooked itself the greedy blighter and I felt sorry for it when I swung it in with the barbel rod. I switched to meat at one point where a deep margin had been baited with hemp and pellets at the start of the session but a good hour in that swim without so much as a chub pull let alone a Warwickshire Avon barbel.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now I'm not one to sit behind motionless rods, each to their own but after almost watching the river rise with my own eyes, I decided enough was enough and after around 6.5 / 7 hours fishing which is a long session for me I packed up fishing early and popped to the pub for a swift pint instead and would reconvene somewhere (no idea yet !!!) tomorrow afternoon and Thursday after work for a last hurrah.</div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-45702169791727423082024-03-09T12:47:00.005+00:002024-03-10T07:55:01.065+00:00Operation Brazzers Breach - Angels and Divas<p>It certainly doesn't feel like almost 2 years the day I caught a <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2022/03/operation-brazzers-breach-red-dawn.html" target="_blank">1lb 7oz Warwickshire Grayling</a> but there you go, it's there in black and white if you look at that blog post. So I was back before the season end because I fancied trying for another one. </p><p>This is my 6th trip (I think π€) and with the trotting gear still in the car from yesterday's session and maggots up for a dunking the session almost dictated itself, especially when I could kill two birds with one stone and drop in to see my mum to drop off a card and some flowers. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72UNc5pnVcnOG-mUuv3qFjTOEVM3Tb9S0vs6J9iFQeWe_A1wWznnVJBBHJUmVmVTnyvt6uAGuWYM_VyBkyfXdzgZxR0DD9ZqCx_E6yCoxpO9_qoL6QZRQvtyfisZ1sugLkyj1upR7QzYwPoI5695OPJHwayr7mId_Ju_TqXM8yXqrDIOmOqGbxk8dehU/s902/IMG_0175.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="902" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72UNc5pnVcnOG-mUuv3qFjTOEVM3Tb9S0vs6J9iFQeWe_A1wWznnVJBBHJUmVmVTnyvt6uAGuWYM_VyBkyfXdzgZxR0DD9ZqCx_E6yCoxpO9_qoL6QZRQvtyfisZ1sugLkyj1upR7QzYwPoI5695OPJHwayr7mId_Ju_TqXM8yXqrDIOmOqGbxk8dehU/w640-h340/IMG_0175.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Now In the rapidly flowing upper reaches of many rivers, grayling will often be found living happily alongside the dace. Grayling are extremely sensitive to pollution and are a good indicator of clean, well- oxygenated water. </p><p>Despite having an adipose fin between dorsal and tail, which shows that it is a member of the salmon family, it is considered to be a coarse species by fishery bodies due to the fact that it spawns in the spring and not the winter.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCN_IoveLUdiNs5_YQMl6uNdJR62tIA4IopyZfbVkkDqibyZMPRJ0JAT7FNBziKAcdyOo1I8axknai7xNFqWs_d6cSyGOFO9uPqa7HCJ8IfwQEQb543FVJ3dyROQga38XNVoCS9Hvapy2AtbSSXmOVVwRZhkahVYokXu-rTGxQpUE2ny0A5SgV5lwqVE/s4032/IMG_0170.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCN_IoveLUdiNs5_YQMl6uNdJR62tIA4IopyZfbVkkDqibyZMPRJ0JAT7FNBziKAcdyOo1I8axknai7xNFqWs_d6cSyGOFO9uPqa7HCJ8IfwQEQb543FVJ3dyROQga38XNVoCS9Hvapy2AtbSSXmOVVwRZhkahVYokXu-rTGxQpUE2ny0A5SgV5lwqVE/w360-h640/IMG_0170.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>Grayling are fish of contrasts' biting boldly and fighting extremely hard for their size, yet very delicate when brought to hand for unhooking. <p></p><p>They have an unnerving habit of writhing while being unhooked, which immediately and instinctively results in their being gripped even tighter to prevent escape often leading to disastrous consequences. </p><p>It is far better to try and unhook them in the water. The fighting ability of the grayling is undoubtedly enhanced by its very large reddish brown dorsal fin bigger and almost sail-like in the male which is raised in the flow to produce a large area of resistance.</p><p>The silver-sided grayling is a shoal fish and averages around 12oz to 1lb, with fish over 2lbs being very special fish indeed. The chalkstreams of southern England are renowned for producing fish of this size, but not exclusively as very big grayling have also been recorded from both Welsh and Scottish rivers in recent years.</p><p>Oh and how can we forgot the county of Warwickshire, yes they can be found there too and only a short car ride away for me which is nice, just don't tell anyone. </p><p>Now Grayling, like dace, feed both on invertebrates on the riverbed and flies at the surface. </p><p>One of the grayling's most endearing characteristics is its willingness to feed even on the coldest and brightest of days even after a sharp overnight frost. They will take small worms, brandlings and maggots avidly. Fish them on hooks between sizes 12 and 18 (for single maggot). </p><p>There can be fewer more pleasant ways to spend a crisp winter's day than to run a float down shallow runs and glides in search of grayling. Loose feeding is often not necessary but will increase the number of fish that can be taken from a shoal before they become wary. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDINpyCNNGJjm6qnlgPjaJbX95CLVmiZGGYMRr1ub8G2CkTq7fn2qsuXSjGioTdhORJbal0pergIuM5-Etm6Zt52xhKhokHKwqILT3QA44PwTiOQMMcaVdrH-IMn-BY101GG0bThF_lWZEWzKCPlEC9zdYsxnkTTY6QlACyljK9iA-youonWlpQ7k29bc/s3162/IMG_0172.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="3162" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDINpyCNNGJjm6qnlgPjaJbX95CLVmiZGGYMRr1ub8G2CkTq7fn2qsuXSjGioTdhORJbal0pergIuM5-Etm6Zt52xhKhokHKwqILT3QA44PwTiOQMMcaVdrH-IMn-BY101GG0bThF_lWZEWzKCPlEC9zdYsxnkTTY6QlACyljK9iA-youonWlpQ7k29bc/w640-h360/IMG_0172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUnFwpHk0hG3jLFRe4TJ6dbSekmSFHLMX-6AroO9WSfrjZzwlhenw1xCQfW3qtjqASHT4lQ_ok9o3BIv6MqyOpE9NCBZgH1PrlnmgNVf02EZv-vx6IEQogQUKBMqF1waXOV7eKha7lHE2Yh3M7tvxLAW-EKzNe7fiOgOdV1b3h0DmQXpA2_QJ_A31zl8/s4032/IMG_0174.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUnFwpHk0hG3jLFRe4TJ6dbSekmSFHLMX-6AroO9WSfrjZzwlhenw1xCQfW3qtjqASHT4lQ_ok9o3BIv6MqyOpE9NCBZgH1PrlnmgNVf02EZv-vx6IEQogQUKBMqF1waXOV7eKha7lHE2Yh3M7tvxLAW-EKzNe7fiOgOdV1b3h0DmQXpA2_QJ_A31zl8/w640-h360/IMG_0174.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The only conditions that really seem to put grayling off feeding are high and coloured water. At such times they can be very hard to catch, making it much more profitable to go in search of dace and roach instead. I remember fishing a turbid river Itchen once where a solitary grayling succumbed to the maggot feeder so they can still be caught in the toughest of conditions. </p><p>Anyway the river was lower than I'd have liked but I cannot magic up extra water now can I, but the colour was nice for a bite so I was hoping some fish would show.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIUGxanEUrLhOyWFtnvqWFvKLCRy-eej-fgo2kgOH5T8_3LQiJUTjWp3vfswEcjtDmxDaY3vudq9C7glCn88mkK493nEkIhN5t7uOQBjdvhEujVswn7K_2avGJTDyUW88_cBZ7nmRbZCkq2c-LGDAIhwsmHeR89JetfaE9y8QmbEntgizxppPFMDsK3U/s4032/IMG_0173.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIUGxanEUrLhOyWFtnvqWFvKLCRy-eej-fgo2kgOH5T8_3LQiJUTjWp3vfswEcjtDmxDaY3vudq9C7glCn88mkK493nEkIhN5t7uOQBjdvhEujVswn7K_2avGJTDyUW88_cBZ7nmRbZCkq2c-LGDAIhwsmHeR89JetfaE9y8QmbEntgizxppPFMDsK3U/w640-h360/IMG_0173.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>What I didn't expect that within 10 minutes I had already lost a Grayling because after a sure bite I struck in to some resistance where the fish came to the surface and wollowed about a bit in plain sight, before managing to bump off the hook Arrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!! Not uncommon with Grayling admittedly but when you are fishing for a small group of fish and the odd bite rather annoying I must admit. </p><p>I manage a small chublet not long after but then a good hour or so without a bite I decided to go and try another swim. Now you can tell it's not fished much down here if at all, because I stumbled upon a phone holder and bankstick that I must have left here 15mths ago. π</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VVvh22V6PWIlZHwntCvZihEevuOEtwzwzOloh0CNj_AhhXCq_MBNI0nRQJQZJ09l6IdVL0qsWGeODm9aI_pm2Z_3m2tY607rX8d1hL8jwDfgd7PVcmUmocL77nDcST7WcnWsg5d2jlG98pR713HUs3WSGg9np1KsMeSoLaRHdg_xJgHx6HEvtGwBwIc/s3312/IMG_0171.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="3312" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5VVvh22V6PWIlZHwntCvZihEevuOEtwzwzOloh0CNj_AhhXCq_MBNI0nRQJQZJ09l6IdVL0qsWGeODm9aI_pm2Z_3m2tY607rX8d1hL8jwDfgd7PVcmUmocL77nDcST7WcnWsg5d2jlG98pR713HUs3WSGg9np1KsMeSoLaRHdg_xJgHx6HEvtGwBwIc/w640-h360/IMG_0171.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>That swim didn't produce a bite for a good half an hour so I decided to go back to the main swim where after feeding more maggots I managed another 3 chublets. The grayling after the initial lost fish just didn't show at all in this near 3 hour session.</p><p>Sadly the curfew came round far quicker than I'd have liked but at least I didn't blank and the new trotting set-up works wonders. The Korum glide line combined with the shallow spool the line comes off brilliantly and it worked that well I'm tempted to buy another Drennan float fishing reel to put on my main 15ft trotting rod for barbel and chub. Anyway on to the next one before the drawbridge comes down.</p>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-7207576520149236332024-03-09T10:30:00.001+00:002024-03-09T10:30:00.132+00:00The Tiny River Alne - Bitcoins and Biobibliography<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOkibeSHtLztz8ISWSSS1XTRjlg-owKkN17YFE9jepB_WPrMX_XskwDN4n-HTsMqtm2scFcRPeIBL420goHvqt5Qcds0dqwNa1dCSucb6DHnLmYtjoHDJsnuE5dbmNGQXGt1KZnVoIhB5twNBT7QWtEBnc5zGdzIvKij-n-L3jrEymIvDn4d2PpwtRiI/s480/dumop.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOkibeSHtLztz8ISWSSS1XTRjlg-owKkN17YFE9jepB_WPrMX_XskwDN4n-HTsMqtm2scFcRPeIBL420goHvqt5Qcds0dqwNa1dCSucb6DHnLmYtjoHDJsnuE5dbmNGQXGt1KZnVoIhB5twNBT7QWtEBnc5zGdzIvKij-n-L3jrEymIvDn4d2PpwtRiI/w400-h225/dumop.gif" width="400" /></a></div>The phone that I accidently dropped in the River Stour last Sunday was never to be seen again, however the insurance sorted it quickly and a new case and SIM card from EE all came on the same day. <p></p><p>So 48 hours after the 'incident' and thanks to the iCloud I was back up and running again. I was a bit peeved that I lost Β£40 in notes in the process but it could be worse my name could be James Howells. </p><p>You see James lost a computer hard drive he says has a fortune on it at the dump has threatened the council with legal action over its refusal to let him dig up the site. </p>His hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins was accidentally thrown out back in 2013 and since he has been battling for a decade for permission to dig up the Newport City Council landfill site on Docks Way to find the hard drive and access his coins, which he says are now worth a staggering amount.π<p>But despite a tireless campaign, the council have argued that the chances of finding the drive, which James believes is now worth around Β£225m, are unrealistic.The computer engineer has previously hired environmentalists and data recovery experts from around the world to aid in his desperate search.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3YWks9yqB_oe6fshiwbOlJq0IKf-JtuQP5hF_JzPcnJsYay1eCPIyfs3ZXIzKcBHIuCK3UPFt6o0pqbpu0jXoXAkdxgIII3590zRFJQsih6onz0W3M1oelnXp88lPAN07Spsb0TJXX1I_5MQU4uSTrLBVw5cx_oZlUeWsQBTVK67FUpbnj66a6_NeVU/s4032/IMG_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3YWks9yqB_oe6fshiwbOlJq0IKf-JtuQP5hF_JzPcnJsYay1eCPIyfs3ZXIzKcBHIuCK3UPFt6o0pqbpu0jXoXAkdxgIII3590zRFJQsih6onz0W3M1oelnXp88lPAN07Spsb0TJXX1I_5MQU4uSTrLBVw5cx_oZlUeWsQBTVK67FUpbnj66a6_NeVU/w640-h360/IMG_0140.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Now In 2021, James even hired NASA data experts Ontrack the data-recovery firm which recovered the battered drive from the Columbia space shuttle after it exploded in 2003. James has even offered the council a 25 per cent share in the funds, currently estimated at around Β£50 million, and has pledged to invest in his community, but that has fallen on deaf ears sadly.<p>Although I've fished the upper reaches of this stretch of the River Alne I've been fishing over the years I've not been up here for a good while. Well it was back in June I believe when I managed to catch a <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2023/06/sovereigns-of-stony-bottom-stone-loach_25.html" target="_blank">stoneloach by rod and line and by design</a>. I per usual I didn't have much time but I had some maggots that needed a dunking and I fancied trotting to see what I could pick up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw2_YRxCsIgiCCr9Q6s2T1N_Rf55090OPrhLaYX6amwXjj2SCdUuSMd1SL65Bf44RC01TBAldCK1UtNwoyOaz-P0hst_Lv8HdwUlE2-BafbUD9d3cahn5nCFNWY01gjmX3P0EEQENZeFZ4STaH2WOnpPn9nlK4PNMZtS8NeFN17IsrXZ7An1prulqoj8/s4032/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaw2_YRxCsIgiCCr9Q6s2T1N_Rf55090OPrhLaYX6amwXjj2SCdUuSMd1SL65Bf44RC01TBAldCK1UtNwoyOaz-P0hst_Lv8HdwUlE2-BafbUD9d3cahn5nCFNWY01gjmX3P0EEQENZeFZ4STaH2WOnpPn9nlK4PNMZtS8NeFN17IsrXZ7An1prulqoj8/w640-h360/IMG_0141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Now the river finally has had some stability of late because it really has been unfishable over the last couple of months, where just when the water is back in the banks again all of a sudden the heavens open and it is back to being in flood again and spills out into the floodplains.</p><p>Just to get a few bites would be nice because the Alne isn't fishing particularly well of late I must admit, and not fishing this area for a while I was hoping a change of scenery would be of benefit too, oh and when I drove over the bridge recently it looked a great colour. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpKLwfRZAmRahH5-HG9YIDxbHpXayyDOUsHVFFgyEZl-1ozoWJMzIa231uwXMPoEnxM0OPA6oXvlix7Am-xRtVqD3u1kcQRWj0Er6vb-qJY43x1ZWLb_B6wbfbbYMx4ZRauhzwo97QV_aNQfMW9e45GKsz41SvtV5AjawusTlMMfm57fW6Y5cIDgi6QQ/s4032/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpKLwfRZAmRahH5-HG9YIDxbHpXayyDOUsHVFFgyEZl-1ozoWJMzIa231uwXMPoEnxM0OPA6oXvlix7Am-xRtVqD3u1kcQRWj0Er6vb-qJY43x1ZWLb_B6wbfbbYMx4ZRauhzwo97QV_aNQfMW9e45GKsz41SvtV5AjawusTlMMfm57fW6Y5cIDgi6QQ/w640-h360/IMG_0138.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>I didn't really have a swim in mind, so I'd get there first have a roam around and pick a likely looking swim. There are often minnows here in numbers and that was the concern I'd have even when trotting the fast water, but up at this bit there are gravelly runs that I was hoping would hold some dace up for a feed. </p><p>I also wanted to try out my trotting set-up which was to dust of the 14ft Acolyte and pair it with Korum glide line and a newly purchased shallow spooled Drennan reel. The river has dropped considerably of late and probably a little too much really because well I just couldn't get in to a rhythm in the first swim so within half an hour without a bite I moved to the next swim where I disturbed the resident otter, and after popping its head out it went on its way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoSWDFE14rg8o6w7GDaIDWOUO7g5va9XFEv8IJOFyAna074R53GnR1UpUXDrmejt4A_AW7pdXVzQ7cs7QTXabHSNSKAV28cKB8UdA_3GLYtkxcNTtay7BfMreWcF5l5wR1Q8vQajppApUyPt9MRWYoWBimrDEnV14yw70qmn195HQ9igZtXKaKXOzfsc/s4032/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHoSWDFE14rg8o6w7GDaIDWOUO7g5va9XFEv8IJOFyAna074R53GnR1UpUXDrmejt4A_AW7pdXVzQ7cs7QTXabHSNSKAV28cKB8UdA_3GLYtkxcNTtay7BfMreWcF5l5wR1Q8vQajppApUyPt9MRWYoWBimrDEnV14yw70qmn195HQ9igZtXKaKXOzfsc/w640-h360/IMG_0139.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The float was going down much nicer in the next swim however trot after trot after trot and feeding the swim with maggots nothing was showing whatsoever. Not even a minnow bite which is quite incredible for the river Alne. The sun was right in my face as well which didn't help, just one of those wasted sessions really, then again I was limited on time (as per usual) so the Alne was the only choice really.<div><br /></div><div>So yes, the river was dead, proper dead much like this sheep I assume !! It does explain the wall of ammonia I walked in to a couple of months ago. Anyway with the gear in the car still I might pop back out in the morning. This time at another stretch, maybe even Brazzers Breach, I'll decide in the morning. </div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-44094528550375345352024-03-08T09:32:00.001+00:002024-03-08T09:32:35.191+00:00Warwickshire Avon - Deserters and Deuteroscopy<p>For the coarse angler, March is a cruel month.</p><p>There are the notorious March winds, for a start, scourge of the reservoir fisherman who follows the experts' advice about fishing into the wind and the reason why few March anglers go fishing in a kilt.</p><p>Anglers whose noses or ears drop off as a result of prolonged exposure are advised not to panic, but to place the appendage in a clean plastic bag and take it to the nearest casualty ward. They can do wonders with replacement surgery these days. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzOZCmPgGTZEcyHgJMeQDSLK1YeFItZD-u8blB1vAfFFB_ylyXXiILkpVfd0b5EX9REDhKNm66tAhHI4hyg0UQqObUZK-qBjbZKpozXY9l5H6nEldMtxdXTLhDbGqE2ulQ-W_7iQUGui3Bse020bpstMOtFgSbXHirCoohOkPP1YQS6ibiVQ3n9UdC98/s4032/IMG_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzOZCmPgGTZEcyHgJMeQDSLK1YeFItZD-u8blB1vAfFFB_ylyXXiILkpVfd0b5EX9REDhKNm66tAhHI4hyg0UQqObUZK-qBjbZKpozXY9l5H6nEldMtxdXTLhDbGqE2ulQ-W_7iQUGui3Bse020bpstMOtFgSbXHirCoohOkPP1YQS6ibiVQ3n9UdC98/w640-h360/IMG_0113.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Anglers with a broken or otherwise misshapen nose should ensure that the surgeon knows which way up it ought to be. A nose replaced upside down means that every time you sneeze your cap blows off.Ears replaced back to front are not so serious a problem: at least you'll know when your deadly rivals are talking about you behind your back.<br /><div><br /></div><div>The cruellest thing of all about March is that the fifteenth sees the start of the three-month close season for coarse fish.<p>Many areas in the British Isles have no close season for eels. So that's something you could try for. And if the odd perch grabs at your lobworm, how the heck were you to stop it? So perhaps it's not so much cruel as highly confusing. And perhaps the best advice to any frustrated coarse fisherman is 'On yer bike'.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCP7qMvxdwAINdjfo3sUqwlgR7cKAAwnwcgsQuFEDifmrphI8pCuofBxQJM2vKjLEliX6wTcqd0SV_Hhr-aHyuKvbnGsQW_BvJFYCPHNJjrj1l5Yusx2SnMw4MX4NYreVPvqo5JuzeCBnw67zLewNc969PgqPShBu5Lg8EUt8uoKvG8iXSL0igW27N1YQ/s4032/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCP7qMvxdwAINdjfo3sUqwlgR7cKAAwnwcgsQuFEDifmrphI8pCuofBxQJM2vKjLEliX6wTcqd0SV_Hhr-aHyuKvbnGsQW_BvJFYCPHNJjrj1l5Yusx2SnMw4MX4NYreVPvqo5JuzeCBnw67zLewNc969PgqPShBu5Lg8EUt8uoKvG8iXSL0igW27N1YQ/w640-h360/IMG_0107.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPln-sXc_dFdDhDE0Hcnd-xu8nuQ_wJ3876NgjaOzeIlq7hb8bdn_2G9ZiJQrM6ZcFTU6xLNkKqJwWR5fqSEdh9RYeqJLNcFcAtGhTfkh2qedxVbxU5-bc40SEzBAk-Xyovvb5GJcrC2Qd3bIbo2Iv8RgdBcZt-BQaF_gCo9DQYOnkMwUmoSs9OLPHMe4/s4032/IMG_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPln-sXc_dFdDhDE0Hcnd-xu8nuQ_wJ3876NgjaOzeIlq7hb8bdn_2G9ZiJQrM6ZcFTU6xLNkKqJwWR5fqSEdh9RYeqJLNcFcAtGhTfkh2qedxVbxU5-bc40SEzBAk-Xyovvb5GJcrC2Qd3bIbo2Iv8RgdBcZt-BQaF_gCo9DQYOnkMwUmoSs9OLPHMe4/w640-h360/IMG_0108.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>March sees the opening of the trout season. So any coarse angler really suffering withdrawal symptoms could put aside his prejudices and join the game fishermen for a while. He could start with still-water trout fishing, preferably on a newly-stocked water where the hand-reared trout have not had time to become suspicious, thinking that every weighted lure is another high-protein pellet. (What was that about prejudices?) </p><p>Once he's got the hang of things he could move on to chasing wild brownies in fast water. Now and again he'll run into the tweedy-twit type of game fisher who thinks that coarse fishing is only one step removed from glue sniffing, certainly not a pastime for an officer and a gentleman. </p><p>It's really only ignorance on their part, and any remarks such as, 'Coarse fisherman, eh? Extremely coarse, I'd say,' can be countered by a sophisticated riposte such as a swift welly to the naughty bits.</p><p>(Only kidding. Ha ha. We don't want to give coarse anglers a bad name, do we?)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyuhCOQCti_Frtgt73Lz1d8DflLTDHmv7PZbu49j08RW6hrs9HmLt3pW5JwdxEsg8PP96F6IXZRnkz1FqIZ-U_kmwvh_nckG9rZKjptUtmEOYnrpIgbkBrmFi2_kkaQaAnkzzequ8uPkuSxU3tXkHHfk1niQvN8-2rfzEhqru14MbSZkGrlngGA45PU0/s4032/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyuhCOQCti_Frtgt73Lz1d8DflLTDHmv7PZbu49j08RW6hrs9HmLt3pW5JwdxEsg8PP96F6IXZRnkz1FqIZ-U_kmwvh_nckG9rZKjptUtmEOYnrpIgbkBrmFi2_kkaQaAnkzzequ8uPkuSxU3tXkHHfk1niQvN8-2rfzEhqru14MbSZkGrlngGA45PU0/w640-h360/IMG_0106.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Anyway back to coarse fishing !! where the heck is everybody. The rivers, well the ones I fish anyway seem to be deserted of anglers, all very odd. </p><p>The conditions are ok at the minute too, well I say that because a couple of hours at the stretch of convenience after 5 or 6 swims I managed to catch a nice chub at dusk that fought like a demon despite only being 4lb or so.</p><p>It gave such a whack on the tip where I struck in to nothing I was surprised it came back for more, but I assume the bread flake was too tempting for it. </p></div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-39494848472378621012024-03-07T08:30:00.001+00:002024-03-07T08:30:26.206+00:00River Arrow - Brownies and Bromatology<p>I didn't really know what to do for this session but then a message from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AvonAnglingUK/videos" target="_blank">Nic from Avon Angling</a> who planned to go to the Arrow later that day meant that made the decision easier for me. Now he'd arrived for 2.00pm and would prime a few swims before I got there post work. It was still chilly but very pleasant in the sun and it certainly felt like spring has sprung. </p><p>He'd trot and ledger later on and I'd have the link ledger rod with me and rove the various swims to try an get a bite. Before I had even set off Nic had already had a nice chub and also a decent sized brownie that gave him a right scrap on the float gear. 3lb 7oz too which is a cracking for for a tributary of the Warwickshire Avon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNh0I_YwLB-jbWtBcBoh7ysu4X7U1s4AApkCg5H6OM0KqFkuhkquDCJLZ4cEWUHtX2PL9kk-BdX9brmAhHir_bCFrodvLYQk_HaqA0kwRNKho8utHpCcHVcoQaB6TyiylPIWg_zatt4BqmA6JW4VCJqj14cxO_6rd70aaCgHAXQuGdftAH10JWErrMGe0/s4032/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNh0I_YwLB-jbWtBcBoh7ysu4X7U1s4AApkCg5H6OM0KqFkuhkquDCJLZ4cEWUHtX2PL9kk-BdX9brmAhHir_bCFrodvLYQk_HaqA0kwRNKho8utHpCcHVcoQaB6TyiylPIWg_zatt4BqmA6JW4VCJqj14cxO_6rd70aaCgHAXQuGdftAH10JWErrMGe0/w640-h360/IMG_0095.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Now when I arrived I headed to where Nic was fishing and it didn't take me long to get in to the action either. You see I let some bread drift down on the surface about 100 yards from where he was fishing and had chub already rising to take it off the top.</p><p>For some reason they didn't show again but then after putting in to some bread mash in to a couple of places it didn't take long to get the first bite, when a 3lb 9oz chub decided it would like the breadflake offering.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnOtwZ5CZSfxdygE-LBIQv7rNzehvJWSpaUszcQ0h52O0qxnQbklbBXdRSVNyAVnNAzVQEVQB72snTQGLgsAmTEfQPbBdIBq4KUBU-8_gEt6fjhjJ-B7jE-RvQoHlMmFuSxWIxln_uKG-X1gs0uD4kciY_LgiCqWZGnFQkaVf731WUlXvP140lY52bjE/s4032/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnOtwZ5CZSfxdygE-LBIQv7rNzehvJWSpaUszcQ0h52O0qxnQbklbBXdRSVNyAVnNAzVQEVQB72snTQGLgsAmTEfQPbBdIBq4KUBU-8_gEt6fjhjJ-B7jE-RvQoHlMmFuSxWIxln_uKG-X1gs0uD4kciY_LgiCqWZGnFQkaVf731WUlXvP140lY52bjE/w640-h360/IMG_0092.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yAZE9O1Mn2E054KT3ho7sRcFRfSn5DWNr6e4PV1qklkZ5sMX3TTfOJdTTQ7Z7CWaZyOzb5K-tOYcPfSjHi4lVRAo1-lfi7jte1R_klbfX0rbqPm-HFbdFf0lrM5CuDxIYeunNsZ55kMKJ_JaAGQtzArPOtO7YArXuDtyMrs9KmGYzzKS_bEglbN10qU/s4032/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yAZE9O1Mn2E054KT3ho7sRcFRfSn5DWNr6e4PV1qklkZ5sMX3TTfOJdTTQ7Z7CWaZyOzb5K-tOYcPfSjHi4lVRAo1-lfi7jte1R_klbfX0rbqPm-HFbdFf0lrM5CuDxIYeunNsZ55kMKJ_JaAGQtzArPOtO7YArXuDtyMrs9KmGYzzKS_bEglbN10qU/w640-h360/IMG_0096.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After that fish we both went on the rove and dropped in to every likely looking swim to try and get another bite. There is plenty of interesting looking swims here and with around a foot of visibility it looked good for another bite too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dusk was approaching and after two bitless swims we both decided to head up the stretch again because it just looked better for a bite quite honestly. That proved itself because after dropping in to a deeper swim within 10 minutes I had a bite on breadflake again. This time no loose feed, just the breadflake on its own to flutter in the current.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e444HImh_TR4-S5aTR53VR3NPEzJdtiOLoyDwHJmB6ZR0ycZIKhmobSeUJjvMCs7Gd-oEFO89AuQGLhglvnZpL9sX5YjZS196oPJiS-UagE6j4EEtSenaM9T0H2LMAYAJIWQACJzDCTD8JeFC9MoMoYOBbvqY1fVG37P0qZdUmPHyvddGKptfxD1YF0/s4032/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e444HImh_TR4-S5aTR53VR3NPEzJdtiOLoyDwHJmB6ZR0ycZIKhmobSeUJjvMCs7Gd-oEFO89AuQGLhglvnZpL9sX5YjZS196oPJiS-UagE6j4EEtSenaM9T0H2LMAYAJIWQACJzDCTD8JeFC9MoMoYOBbvqY1fVG37P0qZdUmPHyvddGKptfxD1YF0/w640-h360/IMG_0091.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What I didn't expect was that I was contacted to an out of season brownie myself that after moving like a grayling towards the surface it made one run taking line after realising it was hooked and then decided to give up in the fight !!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A cracking fish as well albeit out of season so after a quick weigh and picture and a rest I returned it to the water to get back on his way. Now I weighed it at 3lb and 6oz and after a conversation with Nic, was it a coincidence it weighed very similar to his ? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxkVen21VY-UVkHMI9qxlK1RYvcFmmxhN-6ploTUW8sVOzx2W8tOFvyFm27d-GPxDA-E7grlfajkykRQltSGYBsheUHWl0HuCPn1iaRvV5rTr7tUMPAcyhyphenhyphen2LRLxx0CWqwUV32QsV8RUhNEZx3BD9bTjFaYHSSq1-BK7JbHKkxUWyJg4HwlD-0KMk9is/s1242/IMG_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1242" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxkVen21VY-UVkHMI9qxlK1RYvcFmmxhN-6ploTUW8sVOzx2W8tOFvyFm27d-GPxDA-E7grlfajkykRQltSGYBsheUHWl0HuCPn1iaRvV5rTr7tUMPAcyhyphenhyphen2LRLxx0CWqwUV32QsV8RUhNEZx3BD9bTjFaYHSSq1-BK7JbHKkxUWyJg4HwlD-0KMk9is/w640-h578/IMG_0098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well it appears not because after a photo comparison the green gill plate stand outs a mile and it was definitely the same fish caught 2 hours and a couple of hundred meters apart π</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I know trout are not the most intelligent of species a little like the pike but it was having a bad day lets put it that way. I'm not complaining though because after losing decent trout down the Alne in the past this is my PB river brownie from Warwickshire. I've caught bigger down the Itchen but not locally so a memorable catch I must admit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-AP4KcZSm7Pn5S6ha5GSkWZ82aSDZr6hLpzxlWj8WocPRSzSsT5uw1TeaHLRbrUTBz0g6UqWfI75AUgmMbpGIiZBXcR8334IYgt5GuVroGy2miuj1Fmwl6riwKv74NLH_7cCd07OoPPQ1kadlx6w1Cp6yznz3sVbU3WKqQwm-2eF5rCRI-Ylm6RuRms/s4032/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-AP4KcZSm7Pn5S6ha5GSkWZ82aSDZr6hLpzxlWj8WocPRSzSsT5uw1TeaHLRbrUTBz0g6UqWfI75AUgmMbpGIiZBXcR8334IYgt5GuVroGy2miuj1Fmwl6riwKv74NLH_7cCd07OoPPQ1kadlx6w1Cp6yznz3sVbU3WKqQwm-2eF5rCRI-Ylm6RuRms/w640-h360/IMG_0094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway we continued on and fished in to dusk and Nic a little beyond that but there was nothing else doing for both of us. Nic missed a few bites but he couldn't connect which was frustrating but we both went away happy, the trout not so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The local rivers are starting to clear nicely so hopefully I'll get some trotting sessions in before the season end which sadly is coming up far too quickly for my liking especially when after the rivers have been in a terrible fishing state they are now in decent fettle. </div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-39009270238045623222024-03-04T09:01:00.000+00:002024-03-04T09:01:13.317+00:00Warwickshire Stour - Luddites and Liabilities<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxIoJtZlVlqWOTV2W9a4J1Ax1KhRVEWLJjsT_Kl9SEe8fDbXGzx24GAB6YvcaiyZY_XPC898EaHVR4Lt82vAF_alZyILrU1iVdW312dhrU6p9LeCeBvJDmLiMCkKO7n0OnpPxvFmtlV71BzwKRrt7nqmN3Co0M3_rTVrlygV85hQVoW2eeEg-hRI1NRI/s576/giphy%20(1).gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxIoJtZlVlqWOTV2W9a4J1Ax1KhRVEWLJjsT_Kl9SEe8fDbXGzx24GAB6YvcaiyZY_XPC898EaHVR4Lt82vAF_alZyILrU1iVdW312dhrU6p9LeCeBvJDmLiMCkKO7n0OnpPxvFmtlV71BzwKRrt7nqmN3Co0M3_rTVrlygV85hQVoW2eeEg-hRI1NRI/s320/giphy%20(1).gif" width="320" /></a></div>Well it started so well !!!<p></p><p>You see the weather really was glorious despite having to scrape the ice of my windscreen and the river was fishable despite the levels being about the highest I'd like to fish it. </p><p>It was bombing through and boiling up in most swims but there were quite a few slacks that could be fished, where I'd target the roach and chub that reside here.</p><p>Liquidised bread in the feeder with a sprinkling of hemp and small bits of bread flake on the size 12 hook. Swim after swim though nothing and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/AvonAnglingUK/videos" target="_blank">Nic from Avon Angling</a> even put me on to specific swims where he caught last time because he struggled in the usual swims as well. </p><p>I was getting towards the end of the session when in the last swim I decided to measure the water temperature and when bending down to put the probe in the water my phone in slow motion fell out my top pocket and straight in to the river π</p><p>Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh FFS !!!!</p><p>I tried to retrieve it with the landing net but the bank drops away quickly and it goes really deep. Then I remembered I had Β£40 cash between the phone and the case which was for a curry after work on Monday Arrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. So a double whammy, oh and I blanked too. </p><p>Thankfully the Wife has phone insurance through Nationwide but it's still Β£100 excess and I'd need to buy a new case too, so an expensive fishing trip. Now it has been invaluable that insurance because the Wife informs me this will be the 5th, yes 5th claim over the years.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtjc-DTcgC3aDhfJnDz2Z2i4xTkGI5v8ZlF0hkuBp_HnWTSQgt6GDy85mV-i1EP3e_Dnn4W3HtG1_TupisrLTjD0ztkrydaD0I0PSExOGVI17UISv91hs65j-eCNhPyFs5ZGMPxz5vYUTptav84FgwQHKbly4nXQJ71SvwyOuOjPAGYk-xdd5SzGlSf4/s4032/stour1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtjc-DTcgC3aDhfJnDz2Z2i4xTkGI5v8ZlF0hkuBp_HnWTSQgt6GDy85mV-i1EP3e_Dnn4W3HtG1_TupisrLTjD0ztkrydaD0I0PSExOGVI17UISv91hs65j-eCNhPyFs5ZGMPxz5vYUTptav84FgwQHKbly4nXQJ71SvwyOuOjPAGYk-xdd5SzGlSf4/w640-h360/stour1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><ol><li>A mate Deano pushed me in a pool in Ibiza when I had the phone in my pocket.</li><li>A few years later it was nicked in Ibiza by a pickpocket </li><li>Then a cartoon of milk in my pocket exploded, which drenched the phone</li><li>Then whilst doing some weight training in the garage, the phone slipped out my pocket the same time as I dropped the dumbells on the floor, you can guess the outcome it wasn't pretty !!!</li><li>Dropped in the Warwickshire Stour</li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8iYDs-dJXkh6Ydw1yfybaaa9_FUdwCfy5Cgr_yT586EyJlftOvrG-vJNr6YQTSQJ7W9JJ64EH4J05Ll8DaCqhfR58r7KkCRemmMTWPfUi0YsWuzaZMx-ca8mt1I3jyiDehJ7f8exhAhlBO1FwwslKsXaavl4WmHS9Bkx97aw_DBK6CqWD_YMKKKKn1w/s4032/stour2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8iYDs-dJXkh6Ydw1yfybaaa9_FUdwCfy5Cgr_yT586EyJlftOvrG-vJNr6YQTSQJ7W9JJ64EH4J05Ll8DaCqhfR58r7KkCRemmMTWPfUi0YsWuzaZMx-ca8mt1I3jyiDehJ7f8exhAhlBO1FwwslKsXaavl4WmHS9Bkx97aw_DBK6CqWD_YMKKKKn1w/w640-h360/stour2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div>So I'm waiting for a sim card now and the replacement phone, so I've an Iphone 8 that I can use WhatsApp with but because my iCloud backup is on a later software revision the 8 doesn't support I feel a bit lost. Anyway oddly some of the photos I took were backed up to the cloud as you can see here, and luckily I didn't catch that 2lb roach I was after because that really would have been disastrous. </div><div><br /></div><div>The river will be in perfect fettle today I'd imagine where Nic will probably bag-up, a session I'd rather forget because not only the loss of my phone but the oddly no bites either. </div><p></p>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-9550579547846544542024-03-02T08:25:00.002+00:002024-03-02T08:25:09.999+00:00Warwickshire Avon - Hail and Haussmannize<p>30 minutes before I planned to go fishing the cold rain all of a sudden decided to change to hail and lasted a good twenty minutes before it petered out, all very bizarre but then the weather has been all over the place of late.</p><p>The fishing for me and the likeminded has been very tough indeed recently where bites seem to be as scarce as any settled weather. Dave W on my syndicate 11 blanks since Christmas apparently. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rmX-QZ0yjJ_XzPzkwAEFfjx609y24sdN6bN2f-2mLZjQ6vXUsUuljQMh2CYpAEWTaBPpHCP9DxgAFgyvUaYSyzuEl-7Amn-a-pUueyru97KzNsjOtwIeTHTKArBTJTaOLIrUxu64ORACh-ukzF_Uuwbsm4MPnUsUPq-eQGP1Sq3mKOsdJFviQ1XhKow/s4032/IMG_2352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4rmX-QZ0yjJ_XzPzkwAEFfjx609y24sdN6bN2f-2mLZjQ6vXUsUuljQMh2CYpAEWTaBPpHCP9DxgAFgyvUaYSyzuEl-7Amn-a-pUueyru97KzNsjOtwIeTHTKArBTJTaOLIrUxu64ORACh-ukzF_Uuwbsm4MPnUsUPq-eQGP1Sq3mKOsdJFviQ1XhKow/w640-h360/IMG_2352.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Just when you think the rain has gone for for a while it comes back in anger and those brooks and streams fill up again and in turn, the main rivers are back to chocolate brown.</div><div><br /></div><div>Frankly I'm getting a bit fed up of it because the urge to go fishing as wavered of late and to be honest that's not good at all now is it. What can you do though ? the closed season is just round the corner and if you don't force yourself to get out there you'd only regret it. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnOg4I43ae9hejE0MM9HG9nqxqVSOjwv8X6hcDh6unG7A6mHWyBP1VbG9qr0LB7eJwjMVOA0TIYB5-2n9iofVXZiBYkkm_-QS-_cJ9XhdtEr-nQHEqolm9Octcziic92AG1BrpUfrr_cs6SI_NHDwfwz2Hqvc11Ms21sRbV3-jdEwoWNmiNM5-HSxivE/s4032/IMG_2351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnOg4I43ae9hejE0MM9HG9nqxqVSOjwv8X6hcDh6unG7A6mHWyBP1VbG9qr0LB7eJwjMVOA0TIYB5-2n9iofVXZiBYkkm_-QS-_cJ9XhdtEr-nQHEqolm9Octcziic92AG1BrpUfrr_cs6SI_NHDwfwz2Hqvc11Ms21sRbV3-jdEwoWNmiNM5-HSxivE/w640-h360/IMG_2351.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So the stretch of convenience was in order to try and catch a chub or two....</div><div><br /></div><div>The river was on the rise and was motoring through which limits the swims somewhat. Still enough to go at though, however after 5 or 6 swims without a bite on cheesepaste / bread I should have realised the outcome after the first couple of swims. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R2dp6aRdOXV_PpbkY2AQoG_oyP_d4AGi6IrXrMbqAuh-128IlZrWhhE7H7aGrFDiOB3-2pOH4YsqEEJ0Qxrrdc2o5iObBzsZnwACaoGzYqxzE5FK6LMXMh9gpIDM_apY-1nrjY5FxUemgT8xrAZ7umCRDPG-rZWk4dX41s5ZOmv9gnhpOcQD_PNwJqw/s4032/IMG_2350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4R2dp6aRdOXV_PpbkY2AQoG_oyP_d4AGi6IrXrMbqAuh-128IlZrWhhE7H7aGrFDiOB3-2pOH4YsqEEJ0Qxrrdc2o5iObBzsZnwACaoGzYqxzE5FK6LMXMh9gpIDM_apY-1nrjY5FxUemgT8xrAZ7umCRDPG-rZWk4dX41s5ZOmv9gnhpOcQD_PNwJqw/w640-h360/IMG_2350.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I stuck with it though and to be honest it was quite nice when the sun came out. The predicted rain didn't arrive either with just the odd sprinkling. The river has changed from a lovely green colour to a weak tea colour and I'm sure that didn't help.<div><br /></div><div>Out in the main river the amount of debris coming down was alarming which would mean those chub would be hiding away in the slacks.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LJW8MuwTlEm-XgT1haUfHBEwQAWQmwCwSQ_mSK0D020reVX-Gg2_G6NdeUnipPZwMsiQqDoooW3Nu1h4m7FbQUEw83W89JycenURnGZiQkjmCdrHW9T5Z5BYO4ZPrrGOfKiiSTroJL7YFpnDM-IsY8sL_UQLzjj9Y1l1dGrQ_OroKltnUovTywGtZ9s/s4032/IMG_2348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LJW8MuwTlEm-XgT1haUfHBEwQAWQmwCwSQ_mSK0D020reVX-Gg2_G6NdeUnipPZwMsiQqDoooW3Nu1h4m7FbQUEw83W89JycenURnGZiQkjmCdrHW9T5Z5BYO4ZPrrGOfKiiSTroJL7YFpnDM-IsY8sL_UQLzjj9Y1l1dGrQ_OroKltnUovTywGtZ9s/w640-h360/IMG_2348.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Tell that to the chub on this stretch though because they were nowhere to be seen. In the end I ventured off the beaten path where a recently created raft eventually brought a bite. A bite which I missed and probably scared off the chub in the process because well it never came back again sadly which more often than not they do. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway roll on Christmas, at least that is something to look forward to, because the rivers can do one. ππ</div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-3848903421038365752024-03-01T08:35:00.008+00:002024-03-01T09:02:36.647+00:00The Tiny River Alne - Foolocracy and Foghorn Leghorn <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsC8TgU5Zfp_b7U3HYqndgT3PV7MTlO7yXVKAKNZBPgXQKDKVMpOpfFN8kFStL8ysnK9sJan_oObLRnffJr-AOVTVeEU5dCvRYU-sRwkOI0w-guotNFGtlcE65g-e7669gvF7IqOJUdQDyl24OaLNBopO4g3en1GWDCkKyHmI83O3iyDrLE7HuMDrXqBI/s500/giphy.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsC8TgU5Zfp_b7U3HYqndgT3PV7MTlO7yXVKAKNZBPgXQKDKVMpOpfFN8kFStL8ysnK9sJan_oObLRnffJr-AOVTVeEU5dCvRYU-sRwkOI0w-guotNFGtlcE65g-e7669gvF7IqOJUdQDyl24OaLNBopO4g3en1GWDCkKyHmI83O3iyDrLE7HuMDrXqBI/s320/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a></div>This week I have mostly been working !!! I've been in the office twice, where sadly I couldn't switch off the person that was overly loud on their teams call, the bloke opposite coughing and trying to bring up one of his lungs, and the aircon / heater unit with blower set to max. <div><br /></div><div>Don't get that issue WFH now do you βΊ<div><div><br /></div><div>Even the remedial action to replace the Skullcandy Crusher Earpads (with a lovely green colour because they were cheap ) didn't blockout the racket from Foghorn Leghorn.</div><div><br /></div><div>I might need to upgrade to the latest noise cancelling version ANC 2 versions but then I hate chucking stuff away when they are still working, and >6,000 mixcloud DJ mixes listened to, they are still going strong apart from the signs of wear, a bit like me I suppose, because I've been back on the weight training for a few weeks now and enjoying it. </div><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gjVPFO8jVGJa7kZ1REUeRMVudRw8bJPLwJt0cfmtzgcW7SyKY4l1xMEuiwEXi4dnnMdeeFAnerMe8GPQ0690bI4F4FvbcYuY4x_UOUSOBAy2MnmcBeQkHh0y3bZ-ya2jQuXhVEqelN8BQ1PfuMY_yUpx2orS62yYbz2HDpUSrUz6AQa6oO64pRtKf8Q/s5472/IMG_2296.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="5472" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gjVPFO8jVGJa7kZ1REUeRMVudRw8bJPLwJt0cfmtzgcW7SyKY4l1xMEuiwEXi4dnnMdeeFAnerMe8GPQ0690bI4F4FvbcYuY4x_UOUSOBAy2MnmcBeQkHh0y3bZ-ya2jQuXhVEqelN8BQ1PfuMY_yUpx2orS62yYbz2HDpUSrUz6AQa6oO64pRtKf8Q/w640-h360/IMG_2296.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div>On the positive note due to working, working, working, my pension funds are growing nicely at the last inspection, because every year that goes by working for that extra pound, I could easily find more enjoyable things to do with my life. Even when I was a jobber (20 years or so) I made sure I ploughed in to a pension fund and I'm amazed how many people don't especially when I cannot claim state pension until I'm 67 ππ </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway to the fishing, with the Wifes yoga kiboshed because of the cortisone injections she had in both hands and thumbs still a little sore I could go fishing instead. Now I could have jumped up and down for joy but rather than revel in her misfortune I played it down instead whilst silently giving myself a thumbs up ....</div><div><div><br />"I've cancelled yoga you might as well go fishing after work"<br /><br />"yeah could do, ta, fancy a cup of tea ?"</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtkFKuJJNb9xUgx_Zelp4gLg7K_nHhexBPJvPCdsIXfNhkZHyLmOMAGq0fI58fMVeoNDcE19ze9ePLJ5o5v6_yb7z-W8g8bet-o1vsjiC1jj0sAYFPhQ7aOXJxG72AFoFNsmV5371IeZ_Nu2ZqTmQy_wNtc4d-OWV6p65eQo7vnMccD5PgLvAz2NkH34/s2688/IMG_2294.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="2688" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXtkFKuJJNb9xUgx_Zelp4gLg7K_nHhexBPJvPCdsIXfNhkZHyLmOMAGq0fI58fMVeoNDcE19ze9ePLJ5o5v6_yb7z-W8g8bet-o1vsjiC1jj0sAYFPhQ7aOXJxG72AFoFNsmV5371IeZ_Nu2ZqTmQy_wNtc4d-OWV6p65eQo7vnMccD5PgLvAz2NkH34/w640-h296/IMG_2294.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Alne was on the rise which is my experience is better for the fishing. Well looking at my blog anyway, but then this is the Alne, a moody river is there ever was one, just when you think it will fish well it will kick you in the googlies. The fish just seem to switch on more, I had this on the Wye too, the change in catch rate was undeniable. <br /><br />....Boom or Bust<br /><br />Prosperity and Depression....<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84l5Ay_kPmRL40HY-6B5XoaYyKjOuWhPMvyqNYV9lqpozc51EE6pwuLLOEjsoauPq5D9BH7XgHlkFyNWFelJ1BPMaWIA5s49kz_CmBANXY9aC7nbdNe4V05mnQuBO23f-hpLDSKikcLpg1mpWNPSwUFhTKs0yP6VLN9p1WopBfhRMqud2aJA8vUIBuK0/s2208/IMG_2455%2013.2ft.PNG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1242" data-original-width="2208" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84l5Ay_kPmRL40HY-6B5XoaYyKjOuWhPMvyqNYV9lqpozc51EE6pwuLLOEjsoauPq5D9BH7XgHlkFyNWFelJ1BPMaWIA5s49kz_CmBANXY9aC7nbdNe4V05mnQuBO23f-hpLDSKikcLpg1mpWNPSwUFhTKs0yP6VLN9p1WopBfhRMqud2aJA8vUIBuK0/w400-h225/IMG_2455%2013.2ft.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>Anyway dace and chub were the target and I'd target two areas. Both deepish areas, the first area >6 foot and the second area a <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-tiny-river-alne-exaggerators-and.html" target="_blank">quite ridiculous 13.2ft</a> when I decided to see just how deep it was. </div><div><br /></div><div>That scan was done when the river was motoring through and the swim was difficult to fish and I still to this day don't know what the fish were. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since the floods though I can approach the swim from the other side of the river and that it what I intended to do for this session. How it got so deep God only knows because I can only imagine it was to do with the railway line that once ran through here, where the deep swim is yards from it. The AlcesterβBearley branch line was a 6& 3β4-mile single-track branch railway line in Warwickshire, It was built by the Alcester Railway Company.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0osLLvMR3WYxRiwFA9HaK3_Q_d2glrVyIIlDeQ9aYDM_4Gizwb4-SjdM8Ldle1L1rNm5SO9Y2VMeEvSmwtOTRCgI_l6OkUrbGJdUZaEzZpGgz-M0sjBOA957PUbMMqlfLWyK2BwSM7UTARDIOMS_b7bcOyD_zlF0U8Mqvgv46Kl3niW9RrWUg6Iqtm8/s4032/IMG_2320.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0osLLvMR3WYxRiwFA9HaK3_Q_d2glrVyIIlDeQ9aYDM_4Gizwb4-SjdM8Ldle1L1rNm5SO9Y2VMeEvSmwtOTRCgI_l6OkUrbGJdUZaEzZpGgz-M0sjBOA957PUbMMqlfLWyK2BwSM7UTARDIOMS_b7bcOyD_zlF0U8Mqvgv46Kl3niW9RrWUg6Iqtm8/w640-h360/IMG_2320.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It connected the manufacturing town of Alcester into the Great Western Railway network, opening in 1876. Running through sparsely populated country, it was never commercially successful. During World War 1 it was closed and its track used in support of the war effort. During World War II it brought Coventry factory workers to a relocated manufacturing plant near the line when their own factory had been bombed.</div><br />The line closed in 1951 apparently.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4y1CE7VwqbIzoY0ksehT47pw5qtJuM7vc-J66GGUV5DfqBi48iwdCiyQWHvaLWzAqSINvzdSTnvXXFBgEgFh0qK0psv-mOHGmaCLvMgKmPzQoEgeL-kCKMGKn1Sj2hEmEQXbITx95wyvnXWISY7pc7hNWCoJv4A9E6y5-cmOD-pOvJ65vr2O8tjUX9w/s1604/aston%20cantlow%20castle.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1604" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4y1CE7VwqbIzoY0ksehT47pw5qtJuM7vc-J66GGUV5DfqBi48iwdCiyQWHvaLWzAqSINvzdSTnvXXFBgEgFh0qK0psv-mOHGmaCLvMgKmPzQoEgeL-kCKMGKn1Sj2hEmEQXbITx95wyvnXWISY7pc7hNWCoJv4A9E6y5-cmOD-pOvJ65vr2O8tjUX9w/w640-h348/aston%20cantlow%20castle.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>It's the dace that keeps me coming back to this stretch, oh and the big trout that have eluded me thus far. But the closed season I'll have a dabble on the lures because it's one of those quests that needs to be concluded. Anyway I digress the <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-tiny-river-alne-gazebos-and.html" target="_blank">12 ounces dace</a> I caught from here came on bread and that's what I would use for this session. </div><div><br /></div><div>The minnows were a pain last time and I thought bread might be the better option especially when in the coloured water it would stand out better than the pungent worm. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9RtojfIwO9rFfT5qTo6ACXyhJZA9EpyxiDJCPjkYvAWCKUF683nWJLmK7PJR1je8WGOAVnS0UJxuoOTYE93zSLu9QSTAMSZrbchbedvhRvjsd09mTDwkJou-Kk7pUuIxwlWVfX2EzUsVj06LTM5taw0xoWeZeqP5sYQ74fLb8ALJ7ewEJyjnyvDFIaQ/s4032/IMG_2319.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9RtojfIwO9rFfT5qTo6ACXyhJZA9EpyxiDJCPjkYvAWCKUF683nWJLmK7PJR1je8WGOAVnS0UJxuoOTYE93zSLu9QSTAMSZrbchbedvhRvjsd09mTDwkJou-Kk7pUuIxwlWVfX2EzUsVj06LTM5taw0xoWeZeqP5sYQ74fLb8ALJ7ewEJyjnyvDFIaQ/w640-h360/IMG_2319.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I had worms as back-up though and when I arrived I'd bait the deep slack with some bread and fish that at dusk with a much bigger bit of bread to try and winkle out a chub. I've found the dace seem to switch off at dusk and beyond where the chub are often just gathering their knives and fork and awaiting that dinner bell.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well I said that, best laid plans and all that, this is the Alne after-all !!<br /></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_P06EsO7zyUXSgzWpFAt_rrgHYdp3QrKRIwe1HaJoh4c0dXQfXeh95JophhfV02t7BzqAOhc9d60Zz2W9Tdqld1pDegIR_MMPpRdBC4_IlFyjk5fXT8Bjd-c4PdZPbogJ1tBgS3PNyH2FOOgJpASbeX2aDEZcYSQJOsd8dxYdaPEQlM-6YOx2qrX5Zg/s3033/IMG_2317.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="3033" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_P06EsO7zyUXSgzWpFAt_rrgHYdp3QrKRIwe1HaJoh4c0dXQfXeh95JophhfV02t7BzqAOhc9d60Zz2W9Tdqld1pDegIR_MMPpRdBC4_IlFyjk5fXT8Bjd-c4PdZPbogJ1tBgS3PNyH2FOOgJpASbeX2aDEZcYSQJOsd8dxYdaPEQlM-6YOx2qrX5Zg/w640-h360/IMG_2317.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ERbnwCTW91F11NjVEKFQ1iiGTYAG0_QhsiUI17PrQGTG0tJoOfr2-BGSCmGicDx2WQXrXWJiW-8PcGQC8FMWQ7CKW-ryUQXyOSJG2iRyPWJXUsIOwiGuoPHN78puPyImC6Xsf7mpdgwiVoSzftRRJJW3NEPlaPsiN9iJdtCsoPqXj2oSAvxwrrvvfZo/s4032/IMG_2318.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ERbnwCTW91F11NjVEKFQ1iiGTYAG0_QhsiUI17PrQGTG0tJoOfr2-BGSCmGicDx2WQXrXWJiW-8PcGQC8FMWQ7CKW-ryUQXyOSJG2iRyPWJXUsIOwiGuoPHN78puPyImC6Xsf7mpdgwiVoSzftRRJJW3NEPlaPsiN9iJdtCsoPqXj2oSAvxwrrvvfZo/w640-h360/IMG_2318.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Well the small fish were on it because after about half an hour eventually the fish turned up. Small dace and fat minnows sadly and oddly after catching around 5 or 6 dace of similar stamp the swim went quiet. There was loads of small fry in the margins which was encouraging because apart from that there wasn't any fish showing at all. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'd pre-baited the last swim to fish so decided to head there earlier than anticipated where on arrival there was a small fish being chased by a predator. I've caught perch here in the past but they don't show that often. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw82P7CIwiXArJPjFT99-qZpbQXYXMN3Mih989L7Q3kI8bZVA1KmlZX2ytes7iL1RYHEZkHqWuGhPpvVa8srt-sqbca20BSEja98e6_9Yb6pNH_3ccaaII1pkc0T3p958CVojC9eK02Pwo7p1LVCwkPcvMmhzEnw9582mn8eDqtvkA4tZZkw-vlStVXqY/s4032/IMG_2316.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw82P7CIwiXArJPjFT99-qZpbQXYXMN3Mih989L7Q3kI8bZVA1KmlZX2ytes7iL1RYHEZkHqWuGhPpvVa8srt-sqbca20BSEja98e6_9Yb6pNH_3ccaaII1pkc0T3p958CVojC9eK02Pwo7p1LVCwkPcvMmhzEnw9582mn8eDqtvkA4tZZkw-vlStVXqY/w640-h360/IMG_2316.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />There was other fish topping as well so encouraging signs so at first I tried worm and maggots on the deep deck but after fifteen minutes without a bite I decided to switch to bread flake and stick it out to try and catch a chub.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dusk arrived without even a nibble and despite having fingers and toes crossed that pull round never happened. I'm not sure what's going on with the Alne of late because it has been really tough going for some reason. I'm sure I'll give it another go before the season end but for now I'll try some other venues. </div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-82459511530493418072024-02-28T07:30:00.001+00:002024-02-28T07:30:00.154+00:00Warwickshire Avon - Cedric's and Chalypsography<p>Winter definitely seems to be behind us despite the recent frosts, for starters the birds in my garden seem to have a lot more vigour and getting through the <a href="https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/299513581">Peckish Goodness Nuggets</a> faster than the Tesco delivery man or women (insert other genders here) !! can deliver them. Give them a go if you've not tried them as they do seem to have brought more species to the squirrel proof feeder of late. </p><p>The meals are getting lighter too, much like the daylight which thankfully is getting more and more each day. Some marinated squeaky halloumi , with a red cabbage salad, pomegranates, parsley, turkish rice (it's there somewhere) and home made chilli and garlic sauce went down rather well I must admit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY2qBpHJ56efnzNypDQofydUrYRwmxB1hYkq36yfpJmgLfkwVnxr47ydhEB3c5PieKyDQc1ck7bpMI7MD-wtCv0Uz6d-NTf90dA6wzF2ehrx6krjqNzJFAnKwin0g0er9_bKZgAlSDRrxixfv9DnWA28pm4CeZ7t5Sy8T4ndeFmU6LFRGk41CAWQ1W6U/s4032/IMG_2266.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVY2qBpHJ56efnzNypDQofydUrYRwmxB1hYkq36yfpJmgLfkwVnxr47ydhEB3c5PieKyDQc1ck7bpMI7MD-wtCv0Uz6d-NTf90dA6wzF2ehrx6krjqNzJFAnKwin0g0er9_bKZgAlSDRrxixfv9DnWA28pm4CeZ7t5Sy8T4ndeFmU6LFRGk41CAWQ1W6U/w640-h360/IMG_2266.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><p>It's almost given me a spring in ones step, literally because all of a sudden from a bit of a lull and feeling a bit blluuurrrgggghhh, from the post holiday blues where the rain seemed constant, the work too, I can see the light at the end of the closed season tunnel. The rivers might only be fishable for a couple of weeks before the barriers are put up again but fingers crossed all things flowing will be in decent fettle before that big hammer reigns down, and tramp alley beckons. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvx9DfgwefTyxbA7O91skCVMGQVHUCgcbskRWHzBQVm0ifvbxlBRthoOducdbYVp4pIfV9W1be70b8HUt0Bj2AB4jnoGeWkJvXFSuM_1fcJsoe6Oglmam39ZhahS8cW5fccpKaNwy3UP87i6Ps4z-tM0j5Op81JaMRacL2B-eYK4zZqUn9DkouVCAXAQ/s774/IMG_2268.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="774" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvx9DfgwefTyxbA7O91skCVMGQVHUCgcbskRWHzBQVm0ifvbxlBRthoOducdbYVp4pIfV9W1be70b8HUt0Bj2AB4jnoGeWkJvXFSuM_1fcJsoe6Oglmam39ZhahS8cW5fccpKaNwy3UP87i6Ps4z-tM0j5Op81JaMRacL2B-eYK4zZqUn9DkouVCAXAQ/w320-h320/IMG_2268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Now I did wonder what to fish for for this post work session but I'd not been down the Avon for a while, and despite <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AvonAnglingUK/videos" target="_blank">Nic from Avon Angling</a> messaging me with the chub he'd been catching down the Stour whilst I was bashing the keyboard even harder than I usually do in a rage of jealousy.<p></p><p>I wasn't quite ready to join Nic in catching fish he is beginning to name now. π Cedric was the last one I believe, but sadly I had worked to get finished off and that won't be achieved chucking bread at the chub down @theriverbank. </p><p>Anyway I jest but to be honest, locally there hasn't been many options for piscatorial pleasantries, Nic has been right on the money with the Warwickshire Stour and his success demonstrates that, bites are good after all, blanks not so. </p><p>His multiple catches of chub and even the big roach are getting in on the act as well recently, this clonker taking breadflake in a swim I usually blank in. <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2023/10/warwickshire-stour-bread-eaters-and.html" target="_blank">I myself caught a nice roach on this stretch</a> and there seems to show themselves when the river is really high and as coloured as Russell Brand's past. So those big roach unlike Russell Brand haven't been cancelled yet, there are there still to be caught but they don't show up that often.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCiCR5kgk4d1QUJoDdo2QOiNbbCilaZdKXyvYipEj93sbO_z8ikvp_5PUrOl4dP6TxmBdAs6aemnGjC2LA220panhCrF5Qn4Y_t_PyL_gif8Haht1fIGa5CppmQWMNpcrJkmosrUCMSXZkxwwG867qIH3dLkn9jbjackyGkNAeht6X-qxBdBZX26EK6M/s4032/IMG_2292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCiCR5kgk4d1QUJoDdo2QOiNbbCilaZdKXyvYipEj93sbO_z8ikvp_5PUrOl4dP6TxmBdAs6aemnGjC2LA220panhCrF5Qn4Y_t_PyL_gif8Haht1fIGa5CppmQWMNpcrJkmosrUCMSXZkxwwG867qIH3dLkn9jbjackyGkNAeht6X-qxBdBZX26EK6M/w640-h360/IMG_2292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Anyway back to my session, the stretch of convenience was in order to try and winkle out a chub and thankfully the river from being over its banks is now firmly back within them. The fish I bet haven't the foggiest what the heck was going on because one minute they are sheltering from a bad flood, then some short term relief, and then it's all batten down the hatches again. </p><p>I was hoping bread fished in a few swims would at least bring a bit from a chub especially when I'd be heading in to dusk. I fancied a nose down here as well because with the river being well over the banks again it's always fun to see what damage it had done this time.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O7JcdTKqa_2Y8hO6AbRzA2xHeNq9zEc7dcYDFCPsya1qB8a6AjyrH_ykzmWbfC9I6ArOFy7DCwyccm3IGVi7xBZ9bwYkBQLW6HviBABtkHGm1l3NPIf3aGWXD9FVzlZZ896Be8aIWaCpb7_ckBqAq3kaEEtjX-y7u1XgoKATST225-tx-hMBteEaGsg/s4032/IMG_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7O7JcdTKqa_2Y8hO6AbRzA2xHeNq9zEc7dcYDFCPsya1qB8a6AjyrH_ykzmWbfC9I6ArOFy7DCwyccm3IGVi7xBZ9bwYkBQLW6HviBABtkHGm1l3NPIf3aGWXD9FVzlZZ896Be8aIWaCpb7_ckBqAq3kaEEtjX-y7u1XgoKATST225-tx-hMBteEaGsg/w640-h360/IMG_2291.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> The river was well up as expected and I fed a few swims before settling down to some fishing. The river despite carrying some pace still was a lovely green colour as can be seen here and I always do ok for chub when the colour is like this.<p></p><p>The main river was out but those slacks cna offer a bite when the river is like this. This first swim I tried two areas but after around twenty minutes in each, boredom got the better of me and I went on the rove. What I didn't expect from the next swim was a bite so quick, where after a satisfying donk in a deepish swim next to a tree, the tip jumped in to life and I struck in to a solid fish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_pTD31LxWL7zGVHnjBc9T6IG8Fjo1_iDAvTEpuAqD0oyZ1V4NiWccZ7lpq4rpgWqDcpn0rIJFuRQEvregKJlvU6xNRJUXMid2INtqPOn6XbBGn5eBgdLOxyzkxSPz7RlAPuMt6KTD7T3q8gd3HZcEP-hhvstAE8Gv3pYE7N_aKI8VB8y2rBXtqe35Bw/s4032/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_pTD31LxWL7zGVHnjBc9T6IG8Fjo1_iDAvTEpuAqD0oyZ1V4NiWccZ7lpq4rpgWqDcpn0rIJFuRQEvregKJlvU6xNRJUXMid2INtqPOn6XbBGn5eBgdLOxyzkxSPz7RlAPuMt6KTD7T3q8gd3HZcEP-hhvstAE8Gv3pYE7N_aKI8VB8y2rBXtqe35Bw/w640-h360/IMG_2290.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCs8jxGEwhjk5OzM3_4Nc5TymJwzG5pXvDdg8l0mVIlKB6_c9dMcoktg2I3AbicL3o32uUgbSqHtaOA_J09cOy7dJ0etNXtT0_ih1ZgxIb-l0l8Olg9rDwMKTxnFOih06S0gz055Ty2SN5pvpiN_JpRhBY8ohvUk9Xs0V37ZhA2TMrUXg-CA_iX1vakE/s4032/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCs8jxGEwhjk5OzM3_4Nc5TymJwzG5pXvDdg8l0mVIlKB6_c9dMcoktg2I3AbicL3o32uUgbSqHtaOA_J09cOy7dJ0etNXtT0_ih1ZgxIb-l0l8Olg9rDwMKTxnFOih06S0gz055Ty2SN5pvpiN_JpRhBY8ohvUk9Xs0V37ZhA2TMrUXg-CA_iX1vakE/w640-h360/IMG_2289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Not the hardest fighting of chub admittedly but most welcome I must admit after a couple of blanks recently. It was soon in the net though and went 4lb 1oz in the scales so not quite a fish to be engraved on the PB trophy having caught fish over 2lbs more than this on the Acon . After that fish I thought I might catch another one or two fish, but sadly not, 3 more swims fished without another bite.</p><p>Still I'm not complaining, a blank avoided and it is also nice to see one of my favorite species in the net and this time played on the centre-pin, a rod I specifically set-up for the Arrow recently. Hopefully the Avon continues to fall because it will be in decent order before the end of the season where fingers crossed trotting may be a possibility. </p>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-24778548292906104292024-02-26T07:30:00.001+00:002024-02-26T07:30:00.138+00:00The Tiny River Alne - Trindents and Troglodytes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJuMjaxQu1hsQpcnfn8tEuvQC2cIVOn7N6NSkptcsdsX5RapYRz_gXNEg47oIt9GBp6Rx60chWiJhb2bmfBvi8stUbW7jP5WauQ3zw4lr1MqXBrBHowdMq4bG_k1njKsIv9R14YqJnrVWauoMjGVM1v3yFuyudi4hoXMYuPmt08xVZmRUMNG6qYvSeZM/s480/giphy%20(1).gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJuMjaxQu1hsQpcnfn8tEuvQC2cIVOn7N6NSkptcsdsX5RapYRz_gXNEg47oIt9GBp6Rx60chWiJhb2bmfBvi8stUbW7jP5WauQ3zw4lr1MqXBrBHowdMq4bG_k1njKsIv9R14YqJnrVWauoMjGVM1v3yFuyudi4hoXMYuPmt08xVZmRUMNG6qYvSeZM/s320/giphy%20(1).gif" width="320" /></a></div>The river Alne has been up and down like the latest Trident Missile launch from HMS Vanguard. If you hadn't heard, the Ministry of Defence confirmed an βanomaly occurredβ during the January 30 exercise off Florida, but the nuclear deterrent remains βeffective". <p>The crew on the nuclear sub perfectly completed their doomsday drill, and the 44 ft long Trident 2 missile was propelled into the air by compressed gas in the launch tube. But its first stage boosters did not ignite and the 58-ton missile fitted with dummy warheads splashed into the ocean and sank.<br /><br />A source said: βIt left the submarine but it just went plop, right next to them.β</p><p>Apparently the biggest expense for the Trident program is the day to day running costs, which is around 6% of the total UK defence budget apparently, hmmm, better find out what the problem was then I would say. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TcCgoSZ-Qv-hdchyphenhypheneZYlntusH2ynN7xjcuRV0d0asWuJlgGr_7oKpAy6Z8ZzT-z9BgDqzKqtgklheKk-LzzD4SV2_XllwudfdNIBo-wLgT1g6IxR3hhK0U1LuSn9vZo7-qZHwBXJBc9D7AV2aqTWJuuIG1spRaPJUlRMAyTivNgJWyQcI4h4tdtA8Ck/s1877/HMS%20Vanguard.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1877" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TcCgoSZ-Qv-hdchyphenhypheneZYlntusH2ynN7xjcuRV0d0asWuJlgGr_7oKpAy6Z8ZzT-z9BgDqzKqtgklheKk-LzzD4SV2_XllwudfdNIBo-wLgT1g6IxR3hhK0U1LuSn9vZo7-qZHwBXJBc9D7AV2aqTWJuuIG1spRaPJUlRMAyTivNgJWyQcI4h4tdtA8Ck/w400-h188/HMS%20Vanguard.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I suppose the key question is the credibility of the UK nuclear deterrent. <p></p><p>While this recent setback would have Putin laughing his backside off, the overall reliability of Trident is well-proven and the state of the ageing submarines should probably be of greater concern than their missile system. </p>Now the Vanguard class can carry up to 16 missiles although only 8 missiles would be carried routinely (5 warheads per missile). A quick google, test results, which may not fully replicate a real scenario, show Trident having a failure rate of about 6%. A very crude projection would suggest if a Vanguard boat fired its 8 missiles then only one might fail and 35 nuclear warheads would still be on their way.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9K5EJ0P7oEN2Z7UK9h3g6drh_wOdkV2_RiIc4ewPsYOqYbjOymnQe1gqDy_4NMEHy_AX-cBLmAnZtF9NZS6F3ojz-wpLIdO_fBFPf3PE3ZoRhL1POWkKsDU5o521K0t-cKm6e1Tdz-vn7Xm3wHmwQoZpsEtT7Nmw6Pw82Z1MiAw0tUDwfbTQR1uWbVI/s4032/IMG_2264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9K5EJ0P7oEN2Z7UK9h3g6drh_wOdkV2_RiIc4ewPsYOqYbjOymnQe1gqDy_4NMEHy_AX-cBLmAnZtF9NZS6F3ojz-wpLIdO_fBFPf3PE3ZoRhL1POWkKsDU5o521K0t-cKm6e1Tdz-vn7Xm3wHmwQoZpsEtT7Nmw6Pw82Z1MiAw0tUDwfbTQR1uWbVI/w640-h360/IMG_2264.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituBSUflkCtwy46CLp2xaOfAuy3eF58KPApZge5UKyYxQQXoRHIhauVdlBdiMv5BujmCr1wXdvhwVmlFk_rHHApW30ZXs5lILUTUeGdG-5mYFUY039l-WmpDZuUw75k10rChM4hF_BTgdX6HQdfW5O35wd0z1gtA_LZjqdcGLmATUvAicJw0hDr8GyI6M/s4032/IMG_2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituBSUflkCtwy46CLp2xaOfAuy3eF58KPApZge5UKyYxQQXoRHIhauVdlBdiMv5BujmCr1wXdvhwVmlFk_rHHApW30ZXs5lILUTUeGdG-5mYFUY039l-WmpDZuUw75k10rChM4hF_BTgdX6HQdfW5O35wd0z1gtA_LZjqdcGLmATUvAicJw0hDr8GyI6M/w640-h360/IMG_2263.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Anyway as anglers we knew what the problem was with the rivers and that was they had been in flood for the week, roads flooded and no way to get the bank let alone cast a line.<div> <br /><div><div>As I said on the previous post I wasn't desperate to get out anyway and monitoring the levels they looked like they would be ok the weekend and that would do me to try and get back into the swing of things.</div><div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcs4c0NV1xAEFTcMBeoP1uMzUrw7is0YO06uXT9OV0cOe0Ro7ByxG99kD1QgRN5C1KZhPK5ChW-Yfe-vR7-qGvOxDyK87OqTPFL_QD49ukREX_RPQtRwDzyH-L0m8wxgazR3U_APLWf9yn_SXWVP10BnXL5q9irG713Sts8g3Smg8IknzlaAw8OeLeqw/s4032/IMG_6590.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcs4c0NV1xAEFTcMBeoP1uMzUrw7is0YO06uXT9OV0cOe0Ro7ByxG99kD1QgRN5C1KZhPK5ChW-Yfe-vR7-qGvOxDyK87OqTPFL_QD49ukREX_RPQtRwDzyH-L0m8wxgazR3U_APLWf9yn_SXWVP10BnXL5q9irG713Sts8g3Smg8IknzlaAw8OeLeqw/w400-h225/IMG_6590.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div>Knowing that the river would be coloured worms and maggots would be mainstay and I'd have some bread for back-up for a change bait if necessary. </div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-tiny-river-alne-gazebos-and.html" target="_blank">12 ounce dace I caught on this stretch </a> hasn't been forgotten so I scaled down for this session to see if I could stumble upon any that might have migrated up here to chill when the river had been over its banks AGAIN. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway talking about forgotten, well I had somehow hadn't packed my rod rest in the car, however at least it wasn't my landing net or rod, a rod rest is quite easily to fashion up now isn't it.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0IzqR-V4WMbRmx5C4KkHOHMW7p6fzYFReZkR24MYHKakF7CBhlUyC6-IwXgeIqn4KwGF99wigrGfN73JtGp-N0tSDuPurCD3rFgUby3MhbFWC-5fzUuxYftSVinddAJpYbzIQg3TrKPpjURSILosz9UvWhbu2UUVtqGdacc0BlyJ3BkCPB1ez1r0PYM/s4032/IMG_2262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT0IzqR-V4WMbRmx5C4KkHOHMW7p6fzYFReZkR24MYHKakF7CBhlUyC6-IwXgeIqn4KwGF99wigrGfN73JtGp-N0tSDuPurCD3rFgUby3MhbFWC-5fzUuxYftSVinddAJpYbzIQg3TrKPpjURSILosz9UvWhbu2UUVtqGdacc0BlyJ3BkCPB1ez1r0PYM/w360-h640/IMG_2262.JPG" width="360" /></a></div></div><div>An overnight frost and with the river now bank in the banks again the colour looked good for a bite, although often when there is a drop in water temperature that can put the fish off feeding.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bites were forthcoming though however I suspect they were minnows trying to get at the maggot I tipped the worm with.</div><div><br /></div><div>I use a fine wire size 12 hook which is perfect for the quarry I was after but maybe not what was biting on the end of the line.</div><div><br /></div><div>A good hour in that swim with only fast plucks and no proper bites I got on the rove to try and find the fish. There are plenty of swims to go at here so I thought I'd yet at least a bite in one of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Swim after swim I was getting the same result in most of them. Nothing that would constitute a proper bite and only indications from small fish with eyes bigger than their bellies.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Alne is one of those proper moody rivers though because catch it right and it couldn't be more different where multiple fish can be caught.</div><div><br /></div><div>I crossed over into the other field where you could see just how high the river had been because it was waterlogged in places making it hard work to get to the different swims.</div><div><br /></div><div>All good exercise though so I wasn't complaining it not all about catching fish now is it. Although one would be nice in the session to make the trip here worthwhile. I crossed over the bridge of death again and fished a swim tight to cover where I stumbled upon a large pile of large scales and also a piece of flank around 4 inches by 2 inches.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxBhCmL7fIa9s2bA1cHfXV7Zxw8u8ORUk9BG-aNb4mPaRKtgxo5z72FzeGy7uXmXvoMk76NPH4vPyLo5dhExrvsNriPtK40E8w812LkWQhnxeCyjMe-7UR6BU5Cx-vIyo0cRsrq_2rqxGy10BKzFHwtSL_ZD0A5COHqt4uQ3K7H-Y1FYq4XnDTEUWsC0/s4032/IMG_2261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxBhCmL7fIa9s2bA1cHfXV7Zxw8u8ORUk9BG-aNb4mPaRKtgxo5z72FzeGy7uXmXvoMk76NPH4vPyLo5dhExrvsNriPtK40E8w812LkWQhnxeCyjMe-7UR6BU5Cx-vIyo0cRsrq_2rqxGy10BKzFHwtSL_ZD0A5COHqt4uQ3K7H-Y1FYq4XnDTEUWsC0/w640-h360/IMG_2261.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>At least the Otter was showing me how it is done. Anyway nothing in that swim I decided to fish the deepest swim on the stretch (12 ft or so) where I can now access it from the other bank. I thought I was on for a fish because there was some plucks after fifteen minutes or so, however the bites didn't materialise in to a proper bite, so I can only guess it was minnows again.</div><div><br /></div><div>This wasn't going very well at all, so after 3.5 hours I decided to head home on a blank. One of those tough Alne days that I've not had for a while, I suspect the water temperature had plummeted and that put a kibosh on proceedings, oh well, on to the next one. </div></div></div></div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-90295156873333082142024-02-24T12:07:00.004+00:002024-02-24T12:11:43.802+00:00River Arrow - Mojo's and Mogigraphy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhVGThHD7OhcUaB3IDJpaaVfD82Jq3dJcgUxzCGaR6qrVDIQ7fvhVazp7ewGsV1x31wYnbEMi_ef_q2dW3fIL1C5gAZNh4DCGTO-3eCULYbee04oEOzNVED3x4Ml59j90bgVsCqYx5DTgPn19z4qC1Y8SMY2icYCL_rer1rozOBQuElJXjiLjRyWhl5Q/s700/PhotoFunia-1708438690.gif" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhVGThHD7OhcUaB3IDJpaaVfD82Jq3dJcgUxzCGaR6qrVDIQ7fvhVazp7ewGsV1x31wYnbEMi_ef_q2dW3fIL1C5gAZNh4DCGTO-3eCULYbee04oEOzNVED3x4Ml59j90bgVsCqYx5DTgPn19z4qC1Y8SMY2icYCL_rer1rozOBQuElJXjiLjRyWhl5Q/w309-h400/PhotoFunia-1708438690.gif" width="309" /></a></div>Now perhaps like me at the moment your fishing mojo has gone missing of late, to give you a chance for pause and reflection ?, this lull in your energy and enthusiasm might be a sign to take stock of what's going on for you.<br /><br />Instead of becoming frustrated by your change in mood, take a large spoonful of self-compassion and allow time to do its thing.<div><br /></div><div>It hasn't helped that after returning from sunnier climes the countdown to the closed season is on big time and the rain well, it has been relentless hasn't it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Those days are flying by, and sadly dog poo / tramp alley beckons, a busy stillwater, or dread the thought a commercial fishery which will obviously be the last resort. (Sam keeps on asking to go to Tunnel Barn !! π)</div><div><div> <br />With the closed season being less than a month away now it hasn't helped that many of the local rivers have been over their banks again, so I've not really had the urge to get out there fishing, even though I've had the odd gap in my busy schedule. <br /><br />Work, life Blah-di-Blah etc etc all get in the way don't they, it's not like I can just decide to go spur of the moment, the diary makers as I refer the aforementioned too, have had their say much of this week. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGi7VdfDNfmo_1MJlZJA7uT6ZMf7zuj0IF_oUQDNHomohECJwXqsUUppBWBeT1-ow7tCaQdo3sDeGY_NbwgXtdUHjKd6TuF97DArpuzaHBRuvmzz2pl0wL9o0lVoTWEAEU2EhWs-vAXdnR3sg3NHLDHiQZbSp27RcC3I9EjycBiSZwciZfjh3plPPSgU/s3890/IMG_2210.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2189" data-original-width="3890" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGi7VdfDNfmo_1MJlZJA7uT6ZMf7zuj0IF_oUQDNHomohECJwXqsUUppBWBeT1-ow7tCaQdo3sDeGY_NbwgXtdUHjKd6TuF97DArpuzaHBRuvmzz2pl0wL9o0lVoTWEAEU2EhWs-vAXdnR3sg3NHLDHiQZbSp27RcC3I9EjycBiSZwciZfjh3plPPSgU/w640-h360/IMG_2210.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>But then I've only added to that, because with a window of piscatorial opportunity (only the cut sadly) I decided to meet up with some friends for a big fat curry in Warwick and a couple of beers instead, rather than hit the river bank. To be honest my options were seriously limited anyway, some spice serotonin was the obvious choice, this garlic chilli chicken one of 5 main dishes shared between the group. </div><div><br /></div>Anyway a new river stretch to fish felt the best way to get back in to some fishing where this was merely a reccy really to try and winkle out a fish, but to also check some of the swims out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWtIxd8H3qzTRAV7gGHtr9-RCjTzbL8JbPdvB6oJKVC3wxhyWcyI6XamFerNTCH7DsA54edB3vPz_JxRI_jqq5YHWPL8FcQmzmWF5wlocWwGN6qtzssv8bFq8UaBb9nIJoZnpPwwvEEibEamEGhkya-plweKwbLa0BWhEBFMqLX5Ftzs0St47gzNcIhc/s4032/IMG_2247.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWtIxd8H3qzTRAV7gGHtr9-RCjTzbL8JbPdvB6oJKVC3wxhyWcyI6XamFerNTCH7DsA54edB3vPz_JxRI_jqq5YHWPL8FcQmzmWF5wlocWwGN6qtzssv8bFq8UaBb9nIJoZnpPwwvEEibEamEGhkya-plweKwbLa0BWhEBFMqLX5Ftzs0St47gzNcIhc/w640-h360/IMG_2247.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/search?q=river+arrow">I've fished the Arrow plenty of times</a> and it's a lovely little river that suits my roving style. I fancied trying for something to give the string a pull for this session so the plan was to try for a proper pull on the rod using lobworm, cheesepaste or pungent meat as bait, and roving around to check some of the swims out too. </div><div><br /></div><div><div>Now a hard frost greeted me when I woke up and after de-icing the car and debating whether or not to go back to warm bed with overly large plump pillows, I headed to the river where the wife let out a breath in a sigh of relief. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupdplK_g7rat8mPRu2FyQDLAlyRGV9N5mT7FFgp9ElwHsDlngB8If0vrbjCwKXAQpJWQN2OzIe-w6IG9ytQ7bTIwEfatnT0DJ9aA2AdMWEtCapacRHEKwglewm3nr19XA0V48jMm10E5q-b-soadXG2Opr7HmP4o3rI7E7LrsGcayah_ACkgImJEgWUc/s4032/IMG_2246.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupdplK_g7rat8mPRu2FyQDLAlyRGV9N5mT7FFgp9ElwHsDlngB8If0vrbjCwKXAQpJWQN2OzIe-w6IG9ytQ7bTIwEfatnT0DJ9aA2AdMWEtCapacRHEKwglewm3nr19XA0V48jMm10E5q-b-soadXG2Opr7HmP4o3rI7E7LrsGcayah_ACkgImJEgWUc/w640-h360/IMG_2246.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdidPiUiDnJeU-abLNqIosYQdHUpu5NPQN956Zz6k6YAkIDxWJ-_TBFGfYGCm8Pf5cFM579PqqHC42DqUsRrV5YZgnUKfDTQKTYnBqdgFuB8sw4ZSmGJs47pdFRCGx3wDWAGz_L50V7Xvg4nZG04kXxrR0dOuH5yHqwnhfgZPztcpuhFC6XX1rChbfIQ/s4032/IMG_2245.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdidPiUiDnJeU-abLNqIosYQdHUpu5NPQN956Zz6k6YAkIDxWJ-_TBFGfYGCm8Pf5cFM579PqqHC42DqUsRrV5YZgnUKfDTQKTYnBqdgFuB8sw4ZSmGJs47pdFRCGx3wDWAGz_L50V7Xvg4nZG04kXxrR0dOuH5yHqwnhfgZPztcpuhFC6XX1rChbfIQ/w640-h360/IMG_2245.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The river was still motoring through but despite that these small rivers there is always somewhere to fish so I got on the rove to try and find the fish. I started at a convenient point swim that looked good for a bite with two merging columns of water where there was a nice slack and some depth too, it looked a perfect swim to start my campaign on the new stretch. </div><div><br /></div><div>I gave that a good half an hour with no bites so made my way down the stretch where I'd fish the slacks and any likely looking fishing spots. I bet it looks completely different in the summer so I'm looking forward to that.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjCQmykrSBecwruhq0yZxOmDMjO4Jf3UV6hzkvRZC0fwAmOFnVyy-uivVfT01c7T7gMyWCiivD_oaMRUqVL-uiiMIL4Ibs4fx6_TW6g_TjYPsEMtmHad7HqaAhhZRawB97d4WivtMjkM4fldDy3j8nG72iWndXwuOU1T8Bm6Pe7af8b-bCSu_HOjNR0E/s4032/IMG_2244.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjCQmykrSBecwruhq0yZxOmDMjO4Jf3UV6hzkvRZC0fwAmOFnVyy-uivVfT01c7T7gMyWCiivD_oaMRUqVL-uiiMIL4Ibs4fx6_TW6g_TjYPsEMtmHad7HqaAhhZRawB97d4WivtMjkM4fldDy3j8nG72iWndXwuOU1T8Bm6Pe7af8b-bCSu_HOjNR0E/w640-h360/IMG_2244.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>The water temperature was 6.5 degrees which I didn't think was too bad but swim after swim there wasn't much doing whatsoever. I even tried some bread at one point to no avail but then out of the blue a fairly open swim with a back eddy produced a bite using lobworm as bait.</div><div><br /></div><div>The problem was they were fast rattly bites that I just couldn't hit and none of them developed in to a proper bite a chub or barbel would give. Small fish I assume, but at least it showed I should stick to lobworm.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ladiLLB8uOsV_H7MGkp1T4ZldaO7S6tCPtAbrP_SnXCMnp02_rdnU65JL4wTzmu6EOLxVA0QIesfTsmAvSCi2Vc8o5pXXBNUBLI7CdEb_EfEeIF3otsGcXeqL57Ot1nHhk6bpRzjnv0ANoozNL2sryZVJssvovqhsy_6CaLZqByPLrgcF_1AIIi2ZGw/s4032/IMG_2243.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ladiLLB8uOsV_H7MGkp1T4ZldaO7S6tCPtAbrP_SnXCMnp02_rdnU65JL4wTzmu6EOLxVA0QIesfTsmAvSCi2Vc8o5pXXBNUBLI7CdEb_EfEeIF3otsGcXeqL57Ot1nHhk6bpRzjnv0ANoozNL2sryZVJssvovqhsy_6CaLZqByPLrgcF_1AIIi2ZGw/w640-h360/IMG_2243.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>There was only a couple of inches of visibility and the river was still strong tea coloured but I thought a chub might be up for biting. Sadly it wasn't though and after giving probably 5 or 6 swims ago and falling arse over tit at one point when I tripped on a partially trodden on fence π, I decided to call the session half an hour early.</div><div><br /></div><div>So a blank but the session wasn't all bad because when I hacked out one swim to get close to a snag in the process I managed to bag myself a nice little stick float. A well worthwhile reccy though and I'll be back when the river is in better fettle. </div></div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-62645900018309643092024-02-18T08:57:00.004+00:002024-02-18T16:12:13.165+00:00Lanzarote - Scorpions, Lizards and Wrasse. <p>I definitely chose a good week to jet off to sunnier climes where Playa Blanca in Lanzarote would be nice and hot and dry not cold and damp. The local rivers too, for at least the weekend anyway, and in to the following week most likely would be over the banks yet again and would put a kibosh on ones fishing !!</p><p>I've fished plenty of times now in the canaries and a small rucksack with the bare essentials and a travel rod would suffice for some piscatorial pleasantries. We hadn't stayed over this side of the island before but a quick look on google maps there looked to be an nice area to fish around 0.6 miles from the accomodation for the week, just by Playa Flamingo beach. Not only was there a nice rocky area but also a sea wall that protects the beach if I needed to get out any further. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlC3F8K8jk9iA89WPqvJ5EW5eF1hc1dFMJ7hiQIGZXRTGdbqi5WLq-mBkiwofrdwh_vp5wLnHpeoXijYh3CnLLYHWUYQLdb6XEPNARFVnuUw_bod6-uDzeUbRBbqPUiDDfj6uyxo1pxKPvtH95BX3yUGMTXrpKXFMoLZZ-klWBCZ19hPIA8tb8a78aQc/s1280/Presentation1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlC3F8K8jk9iA89WPqvJ5EW5eF1hc1dFMJ7hiQIGZXRTGdbqi5WLq-mBkiwofrdwh_vp5wLnHpeoXijYh3CnLLYHWUYQLdb6XEPNARFVnuUw_bod6-uDzeUbRBbqPUiDDfj6uyxo1pxKPvtH95BX3yUGMTXrpKXFMoLZZ-klWBCZ19hPIA8tb8a78aQc/w640-h360/Presentation1.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>I had some LRF bits and pieces but also a float set-up that worked quite well last time. I caught plenty of fish last time and most of those were on bread or prawn, but I had some Marukyu Isome Sandworm with me for this trip. I did have some small crankbaits but to be honest for some reason the lure didn't do the business for me last time, don't get me wrong I caught fish but I was having more fun on the float set-up. </p><p>I fished most days the last time here and that was 10 days, this was only a week and I didn't bring the laptop for this holiday so I'd post when I'd get back where hopefully I'd have caught a fish or two. Plenty of species turned up at the last visit and I was hoping for a few more to tick off the list. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG8YiXjuhAH6djFZgZ9Bz8PyFD4pxQKkNKv38aYOEp4TX_SDPv-3BscNfpO15oxofL6OmnGae9UHyLrLwjZpnUKzYjZWngrEVOutqeD6sBlS9CO2oBxsI1SV2ax6jXIAXT0bP9Cr4bDG-Dj7tnTAntii1qdaksEs46teLL-BAj0z0PKbkzlrj3DTPDTc/s4032/IMG_2125.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG8YiXjuhAH6djFZgZ9Bz8PyFD4pxQKkNKv38aYOEp4TX_SDPv-3BscNfpO15oxofL6OmnGae9UHyLrLwjZpnUKzYjZWngrEVOutqeD6sBlS9CO2oBxsI1SV2ax6jXIAXT0bP9Cr4bDG-Dj7tnTAntii1qdaksEs46teLL-BAj0z0PKbkzlrj3DTPDTc/w640-h360/IMG_2125.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTOmIT-M9Ax63HjoPqKgxevsNLbk9QP2oQaQrLBNQTgX3_Jz0OAot87E_il0LHCsiCloO7OnSAIQEp2ftVVzTI0qQgaGXrFCBK1YSMvc1sg9xEudhquu3RvoViFYQV0sAM8NiAdK6GQV1BegIIWPTOotTlLSwByLA9gawf9QDt4j62stmkZIaiwkDm3I/s16382/IMG_2182.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="16382" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTOmIT-M9Ax63HjoPqKgxevsNLbk9QP2oQaQrLBNQTgX3_Jz0OAot87E_il0LHCsiCloO7OnSAIQEp2ftVVzTI0qQgaGXrFCBK1YSMvc1sg9xEudhquu3RvoViFYQV0sAM8NiAdK6GQV1BegIIWPTOotTlLSwByLA9gawf9QDt4j62stmkZIaiwkDm3I/w640-h148/IMG_2182.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6m0zpRKCiF6Ab7XKvJrpimJn2VyE3LYFOU36l66XB3sUf1YhmIqi5DIAmKdio7bmO5ymZDK_ZfInV29YXcxaf-s1rIC12W0zmzTp3_wze4321UF4PNlMSibBm-j1sln_SPu94T2sp72Ctsb5YZWn7FmHN0T52X1cHAaXXsmW3TLOL4Ggl7_dze_mi4I/s4032/IMG_2183.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6m0zpRKCiF6Ab7XKvJrpimJn2VyE3LYFOU36l66XB3sUf1YhmIqi5DIAmKdio7bmO5ymZDK_ZfInV29YXcxaf-s1rIC12W0zmzTp3_wze4321UF4PNlMSibBm-j1sln_SPu94T2sp72Ctsb5YZWn7FmHN0T52X1cHAaXXsmW3TLOL4Ggl7_dze_mi4I/w640-h360/IMG_2183.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Later on in the week despite the wife and kids up for walking up the Volcano which can be seen above only I managed it. π, they wanted to stay round the pool for some reason !!, but then it was 26 degrees that day, probably a wise choice to be honest. It was only a 40 minute walk from the bottom, obviously a lot easier going down, because it was a heart pumper in places.</p><p>The fishing well some new species were caught and I'd seen some the biggest mullet I've even seen but failed to catch one. The sea wall on closer inspection was unfishable really, the huge concrete 'Tile Spaces' couldn't really be fished from, to the right of one of them though was this rocky area luckily. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mX4-iuqgtXL1QYe-v5XIxpUZmKJDsBX1HYoeC1LLhwhDJk_6ka01wvGQESAxD1JAcIZzrL6sk_RLYAb4ktzBZ9UNA0ExBeo04ewQYq5eVA-5F-2qzdbXbtUM3mbuBRQgf2wTnBleknMINjR-oyoDsBgTVS-qYHUOGh_h8I-pbWFWXMXolOvoHVdW24U/s4032/IMG_2154.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mX4-iuqgtXL1QYe-v5XIxpUZmKJDsBX1HYoeC1LLhwhDJk_6ka01wvGQESAxD1JAcIZzrL6sk_RLYAb4ktzBZ9UNA0ExBeo04ewQYq5eVA-5F-2qzdbXbtUM3mbuBRQgf2wTnBleknMINjR-oyoDsBgTVS-qYHUOGh_h8I-pbWFWXMXolOvoHVdW24U/w640-h360/IMG_2154.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPvNnq1PmLki-gnudvM8tPJ5d0fEP9VIpHhLQPmIdueYTDG-UNSgZF9YolC4NE2hJV8vt-U3fIDVJTXbeB6Vxcjg1oSe0RImh4EP2jljzIfc7zVbyNml1wZpEpxRLKoyHTpqXxPKsmBuTvMSaCxlm8cIc9F0t-QoTmXRFe8R_bSXeIMsD8iUEURyHxVE/s4032/IMG_2194.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPvNnq1PmLki-gnudvM8tPJ5d0fEP9VIpHhLQPmIdueYTDG-UNSgZF9YolC4NE2hJV8vt-U3fIDVJTXbeB6Vxcjg1oSe0RImh4EP2jljzIfc7zVbyNml1wZpEpxRLKoyHTpqXxPKsmBuTvMSaCxlm8cIc9F0t-QoTmXRFe8R_bSXeIMsD8iUEURyHxVE/w640-h360/IMG_2194.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_ApMEoFfFaXXTI-8nNSf8kVsdvdHePYiSIHNv6YFRfHz6CrTK4e2yl4FVtpSaVv6b-nx1eb4pDSSY-1vQapeTumQaoquO8IVmHpgePUzkmnCetJ0VgKpC-ma8KhQ3K5-k_-e3d0roAiCYfnH59PdbzTFFik0jZQwp6u7WjMO_eZ_Z282Zxrjk36QFcM/s4032/IMG_2127.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik_ApMEoFfFaXXTI-8nNSf8kVsdvdHePYiSIHNv6YFRfHz6CrTK4e2yl4FVtpSaVv6b-nx1eb4pDSSY-1vQapeTumQaoquO8IVmHpgePUzkmnCetJ0VgKpC-ma8KhQ3K5-k_-e3d0roAiCYfnH59PdbzTFFik0jZQwp6u7WjMO_eZ_Z282Zxrjk36QFcM/w640-h360/IMG_2127.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Most sessions were only an hour or two, it was a family holiday after all, but what a fishing venue the canaries is. It's harder not to catch fish to be honest, the ornate wrasse were incredible looking fish and queuing up in numbers. A size 16 hook and 15mm Isome worm did the business or a small LRF lure on a jig head.</p><p>It was the mullet that were frustrating because even freelined bread and feeding in groups somehow avoided being caught. One was easily 70-80cm's a huge fish but obviously it had seen it all. The sea was too rough for float fishing on a couple of the days but a lure was used for a couple of small lizard fish and some rock pooling and inlets with the LRF gear was so much fun. </p><p>Anyway a selection of the fish caught !!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnDWwsE6_H3kBoKH3x5ieCJE-i3bQVlfylyvG-WdS7ecuUPLcgwPl6-Z1wikgNFfeaWsPofHTeUhEUD4hBamv1o29tSYzeFz3G2wChYNjXQ2fpth3DvTPbDKlUCAv5quVX0SDsmNbf2dHnn_iQ8QRztnt5zbxVFokpwXX5Qr4QXbK-9UKtf_XG7hTpUE/s3229/IMG_2169.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1813" data-original-width="3229" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdnDWwsE6_H3kBoKH3x5ieCJE-i3bQVlfylyvG-WdS7ecuUPLcgwPl6-Z1wikgNFfeaWsPofHTeUhEUD4hBamv1o29tSYzeFz3G2wChYNjXQ2fpth3DvTPbDKlUCAv5quVX0SDsmNbf2dHnn_iQ8QRztnt5zbxVFokpwXX5Qr4QXbK-9UKtf_XG7hTpUE/w640-h360/IMG_2169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB8GaP0ksrGBXnvEDUHGIp0qw8iXAiRweyLeuS5aozdy6LVF_0R-TGiHULuFaGS8SXH8y6K_Nf8XhOsomfu1D0i7PDHIL-XoK-YckCqa7f3y2xhZ_3nYmEArBtV1jbbny2RsRcM4c2HRMd-ll6oRGwr6TGCgd11GmPMOxpU_Z7NR7dTPWQ9ejvIDgdW1A/w640-h360/IMG_2158.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8r7zXJJDE8VVCP0icK5e3AXBmH3iUgWbWd43n_1lQfpkEnXqt0qDnsOLNEv8JXwGlx3wsekTGYK1Ay_PQz-jaFvBPyMIGVxWKj_IJF068ZdS_O0O9osS38v5a8KOCI4DctGmmyvzThJfCuRdDZxRudlQA4VZap4FxK4FbvfHHNywebcttwmBkAnMsaQ/s2676/IMG_2137.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="2676" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8r7zXJJDE8VVCP0icK5e3AXBmH3iUgWbWd43n_1lQfpkEnXqt0qDnsOLNEv8JXwGlx3wsekTGYK1Ay_PQz-jaFvBPyMIGVxWKj_IJF068ZdS_O0O9osS38v5a8KOCI4DctGmmyvzThJfCuRdDZxRudlQA4VZap4FxK4FbvfHHNywebcttwmBkAnMsaQ/w640-h360/IMG_2137.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">what is this ?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NUrx-k3ztJsmuxxo8VPTkTxvmMhyphenhyphenyodsKnrl98HhlKOh1gc3VJMEJkggcDTPrli9TkrFKWOL4zBfWN_Bx9tmZfJvC9uAlVskL-Uxl8vFbO_XFcaSGTSpcUPbr-w560yJ2XibLe6_nhNX4a1GsmGt5qqA2jWKoXshmmSI7yjYSHKy2FvUaWW80toX6Vg/s4032/IMG_2155.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NUrx-k3ztJsmuxxo8VPTkTxvmMhyphenhyphenyodsKnrl98HhlKOh1gc3VJMEJkggcDTPrli9TkrFKWOL4zBfWN_Bx9tmZfJvC9uAlVskL-Uxl8vFbO_XFcaSGTSpcUPbr-w560yJ2XibLe6_nhNX4a1GsmGt5qqA2jWKoXshmmSI7yjYSHKy2FvUaWW80toX6Vg/w640-h360/IMG_2155.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>I saw the odd angler but considering how fish filled the seas are here, I had the waters to myself. A couple of observations, using bread on the hook under a float was frustrating, on the surface more so. But so many missed bites and having to redbait. The Marukyu Isome Sandworm worked wonders and to be honest I needed another couple of packets but they are pricey.</p><p>I fancy trying for some much bigger species from the shore next time but that obviously means completely different gear and fishing in to dark which might be a bit more palatable for extending those fishing sessions. The damsel fish were there in one area in numbers but the wrasse always got in on the act first, oh and apart from one day the bream didn't really show in the areas I fished either. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkRlDwnzF8uJAlG3rFBRQCIxUvyGC9APG5sWO7o744JTik8LInDeFxGIyRFMev4PBB_OiN1khLrfMvTwcXEKpoz4ii8BZS2GTko5DwvRS2v89I0HzeEI6W4-Qga4WvIAGvzdi97P4EOIZNtUA1LZsvBaIAXXGCiybvKXbBq2T0ogy32kxOlI2DuLLVnQ/s4032/IMG_2170.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkRlDwnzF8uJAlG3rFBRQCIxUvyGC9APG5sWO7o744JTik8LInDeFxGIyRFMev4PBB_OiN1khLrfMvTwcXEKpoz4ii8BZS2GTko5DwvRS2v89I0HzeEI6W4-Qga4WvIAGvzdi97P4EOIZNtUA1LZsvBaIAXXGCiybvKXbBq2T0ogy32kxOlI2DuLLVnQ/w640-h360/IMG_2170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>We'll be back !!!</p><p>Well maybe Tenerife next time, got to love the canaries, not so much the daily sun cream. </p><p></p>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-26437632652474625272024-02-08T08:31:00.000+00:002024-02-08T08:31:14.155+00:00The Tiny River Alne - Pies and PiscicapturistsNow the term cottage pie originated in England in the 18th Century to refer to a peasant food dish. It was a meal usually eaten by poorer people living in small cottages because the ingredients were affordable. Over time, it became more popular and was crowned cottage pie.<div><br /><div>It seems to have originated as a way for folks to make use of leftovers, in order to avoid waste, both of the food and money varieties. A pie though ? not in the true sense of the word I suppose, but certainly a winter warmer which is what we need at the minute to help with the mood, a 400 quid gas and electricity bill for last month, you what !!! π’.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD63eOjhoVcqAHuopGB2YU9cFmonAnx7a7qrmg52FNZKeM2RRTrC5F84zdo-_5D1I1vBzyNgAZlXJM-Q8gvVNvNHs5csC4_BxKiQXlaV7IouaBeHfnuS7AFTm_3_mEyn_hnEFsKYXnpyiPpN4QXHsDXmPirxPp4uOxwECoZ_j124UpPCie2mmXhVVhVUA/s4032/IMG_2044.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD63eOjhoVcqAHuopGB2YU9cFmonAnx7a7qrmg52FNZKeM2RRTrC5F84zdo-_5D1I1vBzyNgAZlXJM-Q8gvVNvNHs5csC4_BxKiQXlaV7IouaBeHfnuS7AFTm_3_mEyn_hnEFsKYXnpyiPpN4QXHsDXmPirxPp4uOxwECoZ_j124UpPCie2mmXhVVhVUA/w640-h360/IMG_2044.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I know we are considered high users but come on π‘ the thermostat is 3 degrees less than what it was set at 12 mths ago and the washing machine, dishwasher etc are set to go on overnight to make use of the cheap leccy. I dread to think what it would be if we went back to our own ways. </div><div><br /></div>Where does all the money go each month ? God only knows, still first world problems and all that, however there is far worse going on in the world at the moment, so Mick get a grip and just pay the bill behind those gritted teeth !! π¬</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjgFSx3iGy4GKDkoytZNPN-OhfelnyRPx0hCbgUGZcYhO6YwrzDv9elXM_y3EUTNOcxJzulIo_RXHoHUe2vDg8dWIc41B36h9RKDF6LGfsWz3mNmBNwMiBUujCjV-ubcZWEpOJd_0y465pTvovboPl373OLYaXjfkb2gI1u_jkd-j8spB4BdXcdAeASU/s4032/IMG_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjgFSx3iGy4GKDkoytZNPN-OhfelnyRPx0hCbgUGZcYhO6YwrzDv9elXM_y3EUTNOcxJzulIo_RXHoHUe2vDg8dWIc41B36h9RKDF6LGfsWz3mNmBNwMiBUujCjV-ubcZWEpOJd_0y465pTvovboPl373OLYaXjfkb2gI1u_jkd-j8spB4BdXcdAeASU/w640-h360/IMG_2064.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Now yesterday evening's deluge of rain put the local rivers back up to teetering over the banks again, the Alne rises and falls quite fast and looked fishable following works daily drudgery. There is more heavy rain on the way so I think we chose a good week to venture off to sunnier climes, where the canaries will be a nice and hot whilst we are there , somewhere between 23-26 degrees during the day I believe, which is perfect for me π</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHP05WkPXZw7k_xVc7prIEspF4clqzay6XKEBzPdVfwNW9He56Ayt9NhyT8lxeXVmfJph3GCh0DypFc0WLVlY8tJA6Xup56CBzxTSXQpMGYyeCy383bE0TO600WMD57s0Jnt7Gg-B11G1e3xflOxJF01YQiwh5mLKOAjmMxPoQMF4Ouu98BLoxpBIbFQ/s768/PhotoFunia-1707307609.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="671" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHP05WkPXZw7k_xVc7prIEspF4clqzay6XKEBzPdVfwNW9He56Ayt9NhyT8lxeXVmfJph3GCh0DypFc0WLVlY8tJA6Xup56CBzxTSXQpMGYyeCy383bE0TO600WMD57s0Jnt7Gg-B11G1e3xflOxJF01YQiwh5mLKOAjmMxPoQMF4Ouu98BLoxpBIbFQ/s320/PhotoFunia-1707307609.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>So this late afternoon and Friday (where I'd try for a barbel hopefully) were the only possible fishing days really. </div><div><br /></div><div>The bag of worms I bought the other week I decanted in to a bait tub upon receiving them and used one or two but obviously one met with the grim reaper and sadly took the others with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>My wormery despite being frozen a week ago came up trumps with a few worms thankfully, where I'd use one or two tipped with a red maggot on a size 16 hook.<p></p><p>Pungent and fragrant roach groundbait in the feeder to try and winkle out a fish from the slack I knew that would be there at this level. Now the <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-tiny-river-alne-gazebos-and.html" target="_blank">12 ounce PB dace I caught</a> on this stretch was still on the back of my mind because the average stamp of Alne dace does seem to be very big indeed for a small river.</p><p>I'm sure there are bigger ones to be caught as well, because why not ? a fluke quite possibly but when the conditions are right and the fish are there, anything can turn up here, it's that sort of river. It surprises me every time I fish it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuu__2DvmNkKABcrBTgT-POCibTysB-BmrviETTaoBt7Y_NBPIkLlcmS49AfqA8S0NXprsEN3dcfuBND6oylA7iwTYIoaTLZCB4BUiziPCO_iUAgOh0Wd0NPmypqFibRMNifyH10y5cnpB-6HN9xIPHGPDFQNZIohNZShQ0dvvB2ZBEuk4PxI4R0gATk/s4032/IMG_2063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDuu__2DvmNkKABcrBTgT-POCibTysB-BmrviETTaoBt7Y_NBPIkLlcmS49AfqA8S0NXprsEN3dcfuBND6oylA7iwTYIoaTLZCB4BUiziPCO_iUAgOh0Wd0NPmypqFibRMNifyH10y5cnpB-6HN9xIPHGPDFQNZIohNZShQ0dvvB2ZBEuk4PxI4R0gATk/w640-h360/IMG_2063.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Ok, blanks are more often than not, but catch it on a good day, prepared to be surprised. It helps that it's 5 minutes from my house mind you because after a string of blanks I'd have forgotten about it a while ago. </p><p>Now it took a good half an hour to get the first bite which I missed obviously !! but it meant there was fish in the swim so it didn't take long for a fish to hook itself. The 1oz quiver jumped in to life and pulled round all the way to where it pushes in to the rod.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZ5BxuKDbDosChqOtHYNFjwrE5v3dPzMdSXJx218bjiPjxVUsKQMnbzQyXf791pxeUhYHd7jmVpn9XgYiNaCkPeMAi3yRu5oumGU6dk1Y8WlEdhn8iG_IVHug9BgVV6JIFPV-w0EwCTjNk9E6XAilrvu_NtHLCONoGHDYgA3qgHJXYHvvuWWvbMO92fM/s4032/IMG_2062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZ5BxuKDbDosChqOtHYNFjwrE5v3dPzMdSXJx218bjiPjxVUsKQMnbzQyXf791pxeUhYHd7jmVpn9XgYiNaCkPeMAi3yRu5oumGU6dk1Y8WlEdhn8iG_IVHug9BgVV6JIFPV-w0EwCTjNk9E6XAilrvu_NtHLCONoGHDYgA3qgHJXYHvvuWWvbMO92fM/w640-h360/IMG_2062.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Yeay a little dace, but not exactly what I was after being only a 1/4 or so of the size I wanted. I kept at it though and at one stage had to dig up a few worms because I wasn't happy with the mediocre ones the wormey had produced.<p></p><p>It produces a heck of a lot of worms I must admit but I've seen more meat on a butchers pencil so I'm obviously not feeding them well enough. Answers on a postcard please !! I basically feed almost everything really where they have a bumper amount when I've made a Sunday roast. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7MRicxb9OVDAhv4RUAK3v2bFosJca6LhG6TeQ2pF9y4qsN4728UX4ruFNcAhf-WuqqUdu0J7F9byWhIHkmxjLibO_4lfgyKHKBpWrlhZdi1M_MgqCcgCVm_i53IaYMFDZMTbRJsxecilnDLFSPnBknlaMC8jOnclCYnbBBM8OV38uu4Jt7geTKAOEms/s1280/Spanish%20Sea%20Fishing%20Licence.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7MRicxb9OVDAhv4RUAK3v2bFosJca6LhG6TeQ2pF9y4qsN4728UX4ruFNcAhf-WuqqUdu0J7F9byWhIHkmxjLibO_4lfgyKHKBpWrlhZdi1M_MgqCcgCVm_i53IaYMFDZMTbRJsxecilnDLFSPnBknlaMC8jOnclCYnbBBM8OV38uu4Jt7geTKAOEms/w640-h360/Spanish%20Sea%20Fishing%20Licence.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>Anyway a few more missed bites usually on the Alne this means fish will be queing up, well or so I thought. The bites suddenly stopped, dusk didn't help either and after having to illuminate the tip with the head torch after half an hour I decided to knock it on the head.</p><p>I had lots to do at home one was to print off the 5 year Spanish Sea Fishing licence off and sort my gear out for the holiday. I've <a href="https://spanishfishinglicence.com/shore-fishing-licence/" target="_blank">used this compan</a>y before run by Sunny who does the leg work for you (because especially in the Canaries it's a pain in the proverbials .I know you don't need one in the UK to sea fish, but in Spain you do for fishing from the shore so, when in Rome and all that and I go once or twice a year to Spain or the Canaries, so a no brainer really. </p></div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-8382017998600286892024-02-06T14:19:00.001+00:002024-02-06T14:24:44.071+00:00Is your iPhone Top Speaker Kaput ? This could well be a solution, worked for me anyway.<p>Now if you are like me and regularly drop your phone whilst fishing in all manner of gunk that does it no good, such as river water, groundbait, mud, grass and the juices of sweaty maggots, sometimes that can manifest itself with an issue.</p><p>For me it has always been the iPhone's top speaker where all of a sudden when taking a call, the person on the other end of the phone has gone rather quiet and sound like they have had a few too many Zombie cocktails (A behemoth of a cocktail that features three different rums Jamaican, Puerto Rican and 151-proof along with fresh lime juice, for the uninitiated )</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFr_c9C0DiH0bF2dYV-MdR_yd36YCPXSGcMMkh8qHggRIF9FlcQvSYuHEBql1fPqzkJ93zJyRB2_6wdqAN31XwwDBAPqHDGM-DedG2vCui3T_9PBz6Qu3y5hmRvHhaKWHy7tVa_E_X0mWJOe8C4XI8espduTjZIDDYc-7xwgEQSFleXUyH61OCPZnHNo/s1280/phone.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFr_c9C0DiH0bF2dYV-MdR_yd36YCPXSGcMMkh8qHggRIF9FlcQvSYuHEBql1fPqzkJ93zJyRB2_6wdqAN31XwwDBAPqHDGM-DedG2vCui3T_9PBz6Qu3y5hmRvHhaKWHy7tVa_E_X0mWJOe8C4XI8espduTjZIDDYc-7xwgEQSFleXUyH61OCPZnHNo/w640-h360/phone.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>Now all manner of scrubbing, brushing and blowing didn't fix it for me, however another method I stumbled upon has come up trumps more than once, so before you ditch the hardware and speak to the bank manager about a remortgage <a href="https://youtu.be/S4_Mztujpnw?si=-0ZcUME00A0LMIKF" target="_blank">give this a go</a>.</p>Basically they identified a 165hz tone as the most suitable sound to thoroughly clean the iPhone top speaker. So when combined with a little isopropyl alcohol this is an effective trick to really get all the gunk out of the little mesh at the top of the phone and back to working how it should.Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-68940227779484020952024-02-05T13:10:00.000+00:002024-02-05T13:10:18.799+00:00Warwickshire Avon - Sewers and SesquipedalianA session of two halves this one, you see I fancied going for more of a mooch at a new stretch Iβve been fishing which meant that roving for chub to cover the whole stretch, scoping some swims. But then the first hour Iβd fish a deadbait in the marina mouth to try and catch a toothy predator. <br /><br />When I arrived at dawn the marina was alive with fish. Some dimpling, fish jumping and rising it really was an eyeopener. If I had some maggots, Iβd love to know what they were because some of the fish that topped looked a decent size too, well a half decent snack for a pike or zander anyway.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80f1GxUdmyS53gZp1LLltXGfGXafKLNCzd5l4FNYu8Jq91tFB7vUIZS_aa4LWn60IA9XbtUdGylBfntbDd_IA4SzyNTmH6HwOEk-QUuRJ5hAcpiqjsIFI9xhPAgKoAXTGVNUeGLMQVZNbwxNxh93yjH9VBC3_TvtEW0UJrgxvAW2pVegrqzXAcEw4OwI/s4032/IMG_1998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80f1GxUdmyS53gZp1LLltXGfGXafKLNCzd5l4FNYu8Jq91tFB7vUIZS_aa4LWn60IA9XbtUdGylBfntbDd_IA4SzyNTmH6HwOEk-QUuRJ5hAcpiqjsIFI9xhPAgKoAXTGVNUeGLMQVZNbwxNxh93yjH9VBC3_TvtEW0UJrgxvAW2pVegrqzXAcEw4OwI/w640-h360/IMG_1998.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Because of that activity I fully expected a run on the deadbait and me being impatient, within 15 minutes I was wondering what the heck was going on. Then 30 minutes passed, then 45 and then 60 and despite fishing near the boat and also out in the open that bite never materialised. <br /><br />As soon as the sun came up the fish activity stopped so it was time to get on the move because roving is more style really. I decided to also take the deadbait rod where in the next swim I tried with a slack to my left just away from the main flow I got snagged up. So much so I had to pull for a break but then being unprepared like I always am I didnβt have any spare hooklinks with me, so just the chub fishing it was then.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL4A4wH_VdMrUqX0AR2EadbMfcSQCBgQGa8IHJFM6a9FbepgxYhKS5uoZZERlZ9aUfh_OtcAoQWC2Kt-GDuRtqKzB74ultMytCWjFTrBFz21UYXJPr_rjfCirTPgRljIW0RC5B2DC47i5mCk8c0eO50WRAx4YbD3YINLRjM1O-1tNNPKo42vFEeoH3gY/s4032/IMG_1995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL4A4wH_VdMrUqX0AR2EadbMfcSQCBgQGa8IHJFM6a9FbepgxYhKS5uoZZERlZ9aUfh_OtcAoQWC2Kt-GDuRtqKzB74ultMytCWjFTrBFz21UYXJPr_rjfCirTPgRljIW0RC5B2DC47i5mCk8c0eO50WRAx4YbD3YINLRjM1O-1tNNPKo42vFEeoH3gY/w640-h360/IMG_1995.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdDw-OF5OaFH6O0G6oWyG0iURagBO1xa7hi4oXfB_VHznCEhsHFzDKSJO_Z-Dxc4euPIC1tVvFxwOmme2o_U4v0Lp2ochHF7ZRf-xtAFVgo6ngVfzeBDH3Y86JklJuogmqi1lbeu1hoe3K0Ruv__V4WjNW9SLqOlhfYCdZppx7e9SYQKA1By8AgQ4cY4/s4032/IMG_1996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdDw-OF5OaFH6O0G6oWyG0iURagBO1xa7hi4oXfB_VHznCEhsHFzDKSJO_Z-Dxc4euPIC1tVvFxwOmme2o_U4v0Lp2ochHF7ZRf-xtAFVgo6ngVfzeBDH3Y86JklJuogmqi1lbeu1hoe3K0Ruv__V4WjNW9SLqOlhfYCdZppx7e9SYQKA1By8AgQ4cY4/w640-h360/IMG_1996.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Now I headed up to the weir and started in there where Iβd work myself down the stretch fishing any likely looking swims. On the way I dropped in some mash into a couple of swims that looked good for a chub to be holding up. Some of the swims were covered in a brown slick which clung to the surface in a very suspicious manner indeed, I think I knew what the culprit was. <br /><br />There is a reason why I keep hand sanitiser in the car that I use after every session and that is because handing fish, using the river water to mix groundbait or to make that bread mash, you really donβt know what the water contains.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lZfrAShmHXprfrquk-sm6D-_QruLMd1L9EAlcWA0Ftu6LRKMF4ixQFExC7ljX3SkLcGiCS0WcaPjHaXGQGkw5ii70iRGpZBOzWndSErMhw36CBz6F8qIGCgjp8oYmKB7UZLRA3ktGmipelw4Ndtun_Jrz099JvsBbEMZf9DKoxkSFmJ9iPYpEifgItE/s4032/IMG_1994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lZfrAShmHXprfrquk-sm6D-_QruLMd1L9EAlcWA0Ftu6LRKMF4ixQFExC7ljX3SkLcGiCS0WcaPjHaXGQGkw5ii70iRGpZBOzWndSErMhw36CBz6F8qIGCgjp8oYmKB7UZLRA3ktGmipelw4Ndtun_Jrz099JvsBbEMZf9DKoxkSFmJ9iPYpEifgItE/w640-h360/IMG_1994.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />So many of our rivers are a dumping ground for dumps (excuse the pun) basically so will often contain all manner of nasties that Iβd rather not know about, are released by the water companies. Because, well they are allowed to with the Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) which are permitted, but obviously well all know it also happens outside of the βlegal dumpingβ. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully this activity has been highlighted more in the media since COVID where natures benefits to wellbeing seems to have gained some traction, and lets hope water quality will only improve going forward.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HZ-yZpTQB4nmMJPWGQuNhHjEAr88bA4FJQbouKb2viXsXsKTJAooMkKMnP4kOO57v_dhIDG5ZT-FH9zZryAuuy1QKfFtCsDsWv7vy7oAXsizvNh6HYPQQKoxLAtBx5YfGbdbKEFl-mixD1WwGPeAquuu2kZlAwiUSBE8lXkr7HkuYQzYg-TINATEF24/s4032/IMG_1997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HZ-yZpTQB4nmMJPWGQuNhHjEAr88bA4FJQbouKb2viXsXsKTJAooMkKMnP4kOO57v_dhIDG5ZT-FH9zZryAuuy1QKfFtCsDsWv7vy7oAXsizvNh6HYPQQKoxLAtBx5YfGbdbKEFl-mixD1WwGPeAquuu2kZlAwiUSBE8lXkr7HkuYQzYg-TINATEF24/w640-h360/IMG_1997.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Anyway, enough of that as it only depresses me, back to the fishingβ¦. <br /><br />A good hour in the weir and a swim just downstream of it which looked perfect for a bite never produced even a single nibble on the bread and the colour looked perfect for the aforementioned. Trotting was probably the best way to go but I couldnβt really explore the swims really that way. </div><div><br />I was running out of option and was getting nearer and nearer to where the car was parked but then out of the blue a tentative pull in one of the prebaited swims the tip pulled confidently round. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKm2RNb4LD_7QL7LXAo48eehckE_cktV8N62z9aoeRRDxwi6T23vbL3j6UaEbO342rxg500ylobwwwLQNF3npEVAeKnE87GwoqYSVobRZIsiR4wAA84nKVj9C6GTbsF2p6dz2px2Tl-INgIHSIC2NlsAgsiGhfvohwpT_bMHUQVqXEDhV6pTsaLbSF-4/s4032/IMG_2040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKm2RNb4LD_7QL7LXAo48eehckE_cktV8N62z9aoeRRDxwi6T23vbL3j6UaEbO342rxg500ylobwwwLQNF3npEVAeKnE87GwoqYSVobRZIsiR4wAA84nKVj9C6GTbsF2p6dz2px2Tl-INgIHSIC2NlsAgsiGhfvohwpT_bMHUQVqXEDhV6pTsaLbSF-4/w640-h360/IMG_2040.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>A fish a fish !! I knew it wasnβt that big after the first run, but chub do love to fight donβt they. Only a 3lber but a nice fish all the same. Another fish came soon after and this one was much better at an ounce under 4lb so roving worked and trying as many swims as possible.</div><div><p class="MsoNormal">And that was my lot. A slightly disappointing session but at
least I didnβt blank and at least I got to walk the whole stretch this time. I
had the banks to myself which helped, Iβm still amazed that the banks are so
quiet. Iβm not complaining however, I like it that way. <o:p></o:p></p></div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-62601261156610640822024-02-03T12:49:00.003+00:002024-02-03T15:52:50.179+00:00Warwickshire Avon - Trotting and Transmigrationism<p>'The Beekeeper' brain out movie with the Wife, some wine and an openfire, where to go, what to do ? Well the Avon looked a perfect colour and level for trotting and I fancied trying for a pike too, so a bit of double dipping was planned down at the deserted stretch of convenience.So a smelt out on a running rig and then my 15ft rod, with Abu closed-faced reel and a large drake stickfloat. </p><p>Bread mash as feed and then a 10p piece of bread flake on the hook. I don't trot enough because when I do I really enjoy it, but I am a roving angler at heart to be honest. There was a good 2 foot of visibility for this morning's session where a moving bait would probably the way to go to temp a chub in to feeding. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4bvaWVeBzdJ4eQVYuLcRNLG9255QYgWirDQ88_z9eA-GbZmFM1RCnFEhSGoK_ul4icAvm5jquXkYrTEIGtEwYDRzAMBRTGZBXqz1knu7P9gXohaRbIHjjpo_QQmR0ZrWMgak4B7MtROrR_DjH9xOxTMaVO3K1-mgtFCojVuf3z4sscmyHjJ4ZoW6PTI/s3185/IMG_1951.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="3185" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4bvaWVeBzdJ4eQVYuLcRNLG9255QYgWirDQ88_z9eA-GbZmFM1RCnFEhSGoK_ul4icAvm5jquXkYrTEIGtEwYDRzAMBRTGZBXqz1knu7P9gXohaRbIHjjpo_QQmR0ZrWMgak4B7MtROrR_DjH9xOxTMaVO3K1-mgtFCojVuf3z4sscmyHjJ4ZoW6PTI/w640-h360/IMG_1951.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now because of the milder conditions this week the water temperature had rocketed to 8.2 degrees and it felt that when I handled the first fish. You see within minutes of casting out the smelt when I initially started to feed the swim with bread, a couple of bleeps on the alarm the bobbin jumped in to life and the rod top was nodding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Only a small jack but most welcome all the same !!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBScFMOzhpMV3mUU2NMPdu2qahnSQwfsQMQ4Ianl9PXwUCLzUF_w6RstVfiMtvziDdbqFWrz6K70Ciqp7vluRTx_XPRcXOfP4Wkdpar68CkoiiwK_V-MuffsZ6R6AIk1zN1Rabh4oZToYl6ZXhsjTcwtSKnlgfFpGa0Es5yknfgHso9-M5588nIwj_cM/s4032/IMG_1953.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBScFMOzhpMV3mUU2NMPdu2qahnSQwfsQMQ4Ianl9PXwUCLzUF_w6RstVfiMtvziDdbqFWrz6K70Ciqp7vluRTx_XPRcXOfP4Wkdpar68CkoiiwK_V-MuffsZ6R6AIk1zN1Rabh4oZToYl6ZXhsjTcwtSKnlgfFpGa0Es5yknfgHso9-M5588nIwj_cM/w640-h360/IMG_1953.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway I got another bait out and got on with trotting feeding small bits of bread little and often. It didn't take long to get the first bite either but I sadly pulled out of the fish within a few seconds. It felt half decent too so sad to lose it but at least I knew there was some fish in the swim.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next bite came 10 minutes after that lost fish when the float buried at the end of the swim. Quite a decent fight too on the float gear but it was soon under control and safely landed in the net. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsu1mMVs5DWqca3kOMsdUe6jge9cSYSKnGc670u0ijRdmd2PhMbwr4XawHlmzET3YzDxHrRdLA_hyFdckxZbxRoOfTVcJMjpTr9_3c3DWRL8a1O5MkL5a9jf308wU-Xn2CH3r0NCs1F1IAAZnTTTk4w8kA_dg36qDAf8yrSk2JrlPqc3l1AipqSfLX0U/s4032/IMG_1952.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsu1mMVs5DWqca3kOMsdUe6jge9cSYSKnGc670u0ijRdmd2PhMbwr4XawHlmzET3YzDxHrRdLA_hyFdckxZbxRoOfTVcJMjpTr9_3c3DWRL8a1O5MkL5a9jf308wU-Xn2CH3r0NCs1F1IAAZnTTTk4w8kA_dg36qDAf8yrSk2JrlPqc3l1AipqSfLX0U/w640-h360/IMG_1952.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIX7p9Sw0hW_zNb2aqERvqRxYUiHb4qFhwuLCLAABfzXMAa-Pa6LuSX-0TGjLp0ux6D_N1lnAsgPjDh3Sg9jxwD4wZgrJWqWIDvMTX025iwD7jPjkP5WGsSMpyrLxRzRZF0aKi0NPRyumBJ9LAU6n1JkX6ZtpuVWXS8tEl56d4U5DEK8ZpFZmVBwuGQA/s4032/IMG_1949.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIX7p9Sw0hW_zNb2aqERvqRxYUiHb4qFhwuLCLAABfzXMAa-Pa6LuSX-0TGjLp0ux6D_N1lnAsgPjDh3Sg9jxwD4wZgrJWqWIDvMTX025iwD7jPjkP5WGsSMpyrLxRzRZF0aKi0NPRyumBJ9LAU6n1JkX6ZtpuVWXS8tEl56d4U5DEK8ZpFZmVBwuGQA/w640-h360/IMG_1949.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Only a 3lber but it had a great chunky frame to it with a proud bulging belly. I retained it in the net and was looking to catch another one but one problem !!!</div><div><br /></div><div>You see, this dangly branch was getting in the way on almost every trot and no matter what line I tried and how much I mended the line, I got snagged up from time to time which was becoming very frustrating I must admit. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3_PlpsNDBCAUtcdGKDWRTRMZIGy_9O5ULeblSY-G6brdwS7FhWP1t11S_JvyV-_EZlbRqpx8xBKn9cSiJR9iJO80nOpUmvrTGEBMtmXBltoaeCiEffYLSjtfAqWewuVNXDK8G_x5t-MlW70vOKJa2IElhO0YIxv32WWUMRhPUMrFPNHoQ9ZfFf_cKag/s4032/IMG_1950.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3_PlpsNDBCAUtcdGKDWRTRMZIGy_9O5ULeblSY-G6brdwS7FhWP1t11S_JvyV-_EZlbRqpx8xBKn9cSiJR9iJO80nOpUmvrTGEBMtmXBltoaeCiEffYLSjtfAqWewuVNXDK8G_x5t-MlW70vOKJa2IElhO0YIxv32WWUMRhPUMrFPNHoQ9ZfFf_cKag/w640-h360/IMG_1950.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I had the weed rake and long rope in the car and I didn't think about that until after the session so next time I'm there I'll try and remove it. Anyway despite the frustration I gave it another hour without any more fish so decided to try another swim.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of swans and a cygnet had turned up and they were hanging around, probably wondering when I was going to feed them some of the bread I suppose. They liked the look of the bread so much they followed me up the stretch π¦’πto the next swim. There used to be a huge willow here that hung over the river like a canopy but it mysteriously was removed and lots of the other cover on the stretch. </div><div><br /></div><div>I've my suspicions...πΆ</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKjgwgJpcHs0Vwrpgyup0NzVP_rQ2AaUQFaSXS6-PspsoUifT5dL7J5rQk2jaqa5NxI6UuyVx5cSe2_JrynuCmkKs75UyrdJrXh-1hUw3JkjK_OQXZxFJzThAYDaKORJVHTz5vizUBxDI1MIPa_beHvcwRqlOParHdBLjzjN460n9qJcmxhg0-OuKlmU/s4032/IMG_1946.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKjgwgJpcHs0Vwrpgyup0NzVP_rQ2AaUQFaSXS6-PspsoUifT5dL7J5rQk2jaqa5NxI6UuyVx5cSe2_JrynuCmkKs75UyrdJrXh-1hUw3JkjK_OQXZxFJzThAYDaKORJVHTz5vizUBxDI1MIPa_beHvcwRqlOParHdBLjzjN460n9qJcmxhg0-OuKlmU/w640-h360/IMG_1946.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Anyway after feeding mash (whilst the swans were feeding in the reeds) for ten minutes to allow the bread drift down the water column the first trot down the float buried as it skirted past the remains of the willow.</div><div><br /></div><div>I struck in to something solid and knew straight away it was a decent chub. It gave me one hell of a fight too, when it tried to get in to the roots of the tree first, and then the reeds after I managed to steer it away from the roots. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVKk6hhoerCYVLaFw6_EG64966DpaHWiAR9nu4nlEfXXF2l6ZE0QmV7-Mkqc25jXGJYOHSE3TwRj0_5uVeFnL4jGiR-9cUTUex-g7CtIjNJ_IdpHR-A86cenU0UibWhup4X0xK-37BoN0-cnFci0nR-a0bWiTA8eprHbuph2rIJScQbtdXTYTMgwgnnM/s3817/IMG_1947.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2147" data-original-width="3817" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVKk6hhoerCYVLaFw6_EG64966DpaHWiAR9nu4nlEfXXF2l6ZE0QmV7-Mkqc25jXGJYOHSE3TwRj0_5uVeFnL4jGiR-9cUTUex-g7CtIjNJ_IdpHR-A86cenU0UibWhup4X0xK-37BoN0-cnFci0nR-a0bWiTA8eprHbuph2rIJScQbtdXTYTMgwgnnM/w640-h360/IMG_1947.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiime_e8jHNkV4x3b-Glb884WQF9XpBV4isKCR3499eFmqfF6eevIQzyKHrNHbCiOTzVtwjfXTMEslrP-9cA3sES6PI-13cxPqiTEEyOqIoZ7UESlWEcLodXSaKmRWJhyphenhyphentHoDpcQGn-ZKk5XJ468roif4TVS3r5lqQkUVIB2Bj7MLXw__Wu5yvAkMY7FTM/s4032/IMG_1948.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiime_e8jHNkV4x3b-Glb884WQF9XpBV4isKCR3499eFmqfF6eevIQzyKHrNHbCiOTzVtwjfXTMEslrP-9cA3sES6PI-13cxPqiTEEyOqIoZ7UESlWEcLodXSaKmRWJhyphenhyphentHoDpcQGn-ZKk5XJ468roif4TVS3r5lqQkUVIB2Bj7MLXw__Wu5yvAkMY7FTM/w640-h360/IMG_1948.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The 15ft rod taking up its lungs and eventually I managed to get the fish in to the main river. The river was quite pacey though and I didn't want to drag it through the boiling and turbulent water, so I picked up the net and moved 10 yards to my right when the bank had collapsed but I could get much lower to the water, albeit with mud half way up my wellies.</div><div><br /></div><div>After an epic battle I eventually teased it in to the net with the hook just nicked in its top lip. Not quite 5lb but it went 4lbs and 14 ounces on the scales. A rather nice fish I must admit !! Anyway nothing else in that swim, and nothing in one more either. The smelt as well, that didn't have an interest after the jack pike. An enjoyable session I must admit and the closed faced reel performed well today, so my faith in it is restored for now anyway.</div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-14865670543428413722024-02-02T18:30:00.010+00:002024-02-02T18:30:00.137+00:00The Tiny River Alne - Biscoff and Bisociation<p>The Battered Husband Syndrome, described in an issue of the British Clinical Journal, made frightening reading. The author was disturbed by the way a lot of husbands, who spend their working week in soul destroying sedentary office jobs (puts one's hand up), launch at weekends into wild uncharted seas of manual labour and active pursuits'.</p><p>'The unskilled in perilous pursuit of the unusable', is how he described the activities of these poor lads. Doing things like digging the garden, cutting the grass, weeding, servicing the car, chopping wood, building bookcases, hanging wallpaper, laying bricks and painting things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lVkm-3r1Fv8ZD-QAvpRx1Z9qO_2ahChnmWgMZ2s6rK2ZtHedHMiKcyBsMS6fF-5JCHq1Ue5rJaxObH7ULW8f4ZHHrZY5rk81CLzc_7yNzsct1DU0TxXn7_LXiVO69fB1TDY4gSU9YZmHSGwJbCV3TiuJ86dXWL2G9MlSNKwIODfCPpBmEt6Ho-e4lNg/s3131/IMG_1790.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1762" data-original-width="3131" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lVkm-3r1Fv8ZD-QAvpRx1Z9qO_2ahChnmWgMZ2s6rK2ZtHedHMiKcyBsMS6fF-5JCHq1Ue5rJaxObH7ULW8f4ZHHrZY5rk81CLzc_7yNzsct1DU0TxXn7_LXiVO69fB1TDY4gSU9YZmHSGwJbCV3TiuJ86dXWL2G9MlSNKwIODfCPpBmEt6Ho-e4lNg/w640-h360/IMG_1790.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The injury rate, apparently, is alarming. And the nature of the injuries from hammers, axes, saws and dangerous things like that, horrifying. Cracked ribs, broken limbs, cut shins, aches and pains in the back and arms. To name but a few. Not to mention what happened to husbands like the noble loony who tried to paint a wall while standing on a tea trolley.</p><p>Those husbands who stop doing good works and turn to active sports involving balls-football, cricket, golf and hockey-do not seem to fare much better. They have a tendency, apparently, to stop 'these missiles with the bare hands, or with their heads, or their knees or their genitals'. Nasty !!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeeN7Gc2QkPr9GzisJIORpHbmsIc49YQYiHguq-of_wisGTkBjLevVBUXvIFw-aNHlWKSOWoBjq3Hc5mImK84jmT6_Ll57M8YT7ipeuSSMvB5MkQRaBr1f34_IDmDhKEi8cIfc8P1EUTRDOaPA88q2H7igLuI8sClQgVbKK9cXFw-UdASz2b_50J4q_M/s4032/IMG_1789.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeeN7Gc2QkPr9GzisJIORpHbmsIc49YQYiHguq-of_wisGTkBjLevVBUXvIFw-aNHlWKSOWoBjq3Hc5mImK84jmT6_Ll57M8YT7ipeuSSMvB5MkQRaBr1f34_IDmDhKEi8cIfc8P1EUTRDOaPA88q2H7igLuI8sClQgVbKK9cXFw-UdASz2b_50J4q_M/w640-h360/IMG_1789.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Those whose injuries are not severe enough to warrant a trip to hospital just can't wait for Monday morning when they can get back to work and away from it all.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkoFsNXoYNySkR7JMuQNOW453i9hI855dkVQ22kQX4_tPS148j0c63fumSmbeWdSpb23OgOeC6sf59l5HxoK9bmbozPLUFLhCiPOsK9AlfbrIICmclPiNHjSg2CxT4t2OgXFraTE0CdwV87Cs55Fm7oD0oCtKIITjnGCT_OV32V-3-5XRsiNMjtQ_opc/s4032/IMG_1702.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkoFsNXoYNySkR7JMuQNOW453i9hI855dkVQ22kQX4_tPS148j0c63fumSmbeWdSpb23OgOeC6sf59l5HxoK9bmbozPLUFLhCiPOsK9AlfbrIICmclPiNHjSg2CxT4t2OgXFraTE0CdwV87Cs55Fm7oD0oCtKIITjnGCT_OV32V-3-5XRsiNMjtQ_opc/w300-h400/IMG_1702.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>'Now see how lucky you are,' tell the wife, 'to have a husband who puts the welfare of the family first and does not indulge in these dangerous pursuits. <p></p><p>Who instead, out of pure consideration for his Nearest and Dearest, takes himself off to the peace and safety of the river bank or the pub (which I did today and had a nice pint of stout.)</p><p>No matter how much you long to push a mower, pick up a trowel, saw, chisel or paintbrush, you fight down the impulse for the sake of the family. As breadwinner, you could not possibly risk falling off a speeding tea trolley or stopping a cricket ball with your thingies. (Knees and that. See above.)</p><p>No. It is a tribute to your selflessness, your lofty ideals, your innate capacity for self-sacrifice, that you deny yourself these pleasures. </p><p>And instead spend the weekend in quiet and solitude, preserving your mind, body and knees for the weekly struggle to wrest a modest crust from the flint-hearted employers of the Concrete Jungle.</p><p>Eh, lads, you should be proud of yourselves.</p><p>There was once an advert for an insurance company under the heading "The Great Lover'. Which showed a little, bald-headed bespectacled twit, brandishing an insurance policy and surrounded by his adoring family. He cared, you see. What the advert didn't stress was that the poor bloke had to pop his clogs before they could collect.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR6x9kbsZ9wlmpB96uVqBuO7NaWVXtLly9a8RiOC7nIdIzl9wnQAS25_rP3Ru-TUb59uze6xVdrqdcPsKzk-wvDFu7VPAWktqjHps5ohGNtWr5FB-tj-eQwEFMQ8gBIAUDjs7UYL3c7AMFhS_6yK4ow31M7U7h7FdRN3d6GkOEppiswBxWDuR-hdcdUU/s4032/IMG_1786.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR6x9kbsZ9wlmpB96uVqBuO7NaWVXtLly9a8RiOC7nIdIzl9wnQAS25_rP3Ru-TUb59uze6xVdrqdcPsKzk-wvDFu7VPAWktqjHps5ohGNtWr5FB-tj-eQwEFMQ8gBIAUDjs7UYL3c7AMFhS_6yK4ow31M7U7h7FdRN3d6GkOEppiswBxWDuR-hdcdUU/w640-h360/IMG_1786.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>You, I would respectfully submit, are the new breed of Great Lovers. By clearing off for a quiet dangle every weekend, by keeping away from serious injury or sudden death, you are ensuring your continued survival and earning capacity.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw0kKi1Ub8KgYBggpANDIK0YW2-O-xHTYZPoqmAAcHoTCJTZ2YmxUPAFGYY33ibFXJM39o5kYZkOcaItbNyMyXZqa0NbsHb1RT3nzgOERqJcxaEiZGhsuIMDrN1rVa2fAj4JgguUvD-bHa6wBeAC6ju-3MAP44bPFDpUkkXJAfyY6mwVT2NM8YEhjU0U/s832/imageedit_2_5916035066.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="832" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw0kKi1Ub8KgYBggpANDIK0YW2-O-xHTYZPoqmAAcHoTCJTZ2YmxUPAFGYY33ibFXJM39o5kYZkOcaItbNyMyXZqa0NbsHb1RT3nzgOERqJcxaEiZGhsuIMDrN1rVa2fAj4JgguUvD-bHa6wBeAC6ju-3MAP44bPFDpUkkXJAfyY6mwVT2NM8YEhjU0U/w200-h139/imageedit_2_5916035066.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In years to come, when you are sitting in front of the telly, still sound in wind and knees, with the plaster falling off the walls, the roof caving in, the car rusting away on blocks in the garage, and the grass blocking the light from the windows, your adoring family will look at you and say, 'Dear Dad... he did it all for us. Or something like that.<p></p><p>Anyway if you've not switched off already I fancied a try up the Alne for a chub or a dace for that matter. A bit of roving would be nice because WFH from the last couple of days I'd put a dent in my plan to walk an average of 10k steps over the full year. </p><p>I managed that last year and this year thus far it's going well to be fair. I did think about trotting with the sun being out to try and draw any fish out but roving it was because, well a snag filled river like this often in these conditions is the best way to approach it. Bait a few swims as you head up the river and then fish them on the return. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqD1owWVnhVPpVpApsi0K1xC6W2r1Xp3aWCX7AQftgSO6fzuKT3hf1qEIixF85c48w7IByCCMagaOw3_fLNirbGrudiIePI29oPw15yJAO51Kc_gdflZ3mSo9PkLvft9boOjGJIGYUt052QW_Q_6SaCXRc1fhZYYuOtZcHlmvXtGF10JYw5xHlq4RyTU/s4032/IMG_1787.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqD1owWVnhVPpVpApsi0K1xC6W2r1Xp3aWCX7AQftgSO6fzuKT3hf1qEIixF85c48w7IByCCMagaOw3_fLNirbGrudiIePI29oPw15yJAO51Kc_gdflZ3mSo9PkLvft9boOjGJIGYUt052QW_Q_6SaCXRc1fhZYYuOtZcHlmvXtGF10JYw5xHlq4RyTU/w640-h360/IMG_1787.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgt2WdatKUy-W6PUt-vL6k6H_f2QekdUrl-GC58QBBuod5C_KkEG0mxDs5bCXtbTRmXMEbgAd-7vtn2MdgmY-AvjPX3xOPRzbWHDL6d7hWP26xeiRzvA62JRjomZjhU_WCOsznor4HnXKjYx_T_NeY531ceZ7hhpxlWYgWaIQhoLPuDu2NyucBwcSpCM/s4032/IMG_1785.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgt2WdatKUy-W6PUt-vL6k6H_f2QekdUrl-GC58QBBuod5C_KkEG0mxDs5bCXtbTRmXMEbgAd-7vtn2MdgmY-AvjPX3xOPRzbWHDL6d7hWP26xeiRzvA62JRjomZjhU_WCOsznor4HnXKjYx_T_NeY531ceZ7hhpxlWYgWaIQhoLPuDu2NyucBwcSpCM/w640-h360/IMG_1785.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>These are the sort of swims I fished but I was running out out options as I headed down the stretch to where the deeper swims are. The weather was lovely mind you, the bit of sun was rather nice. It was blowy though so the quivertip was being battered all over the place. </p><p>Before the bridge of death did naff, all, I disturbed 3 herons, yes 3 π so maybe I should have tried a bit harder. Anyway probably about 6 or 7 swims fished without even a nibble, hmmm not good. The Alne is rarely this light green colour but I was sure there was a chub to be caught, as it looked good for a bite using bread.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP7bls8r86cmb6zQndG8SZFpFqWEEktOf98gcF1viIw7R-aqnoZw_01beAL6mtg47g3wpiNpThe5TaJ0dXJ6_E6zwNXkYxH8qrWmtnW3A15fhg3UQctgDPZ1aJT5Q0zO8Lw5eYE-lFe1ij4nsb5brES8EZct5Gy1Y79xkT2FUZzyoeNae8-ehjxQtFUc/s4032/IMG_1784.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP7bls8r86cmb6zQndG8SZFpFqWEEktOf98gcF1viIw7R-aqnoZw_01beAL6mtg47g3wpiNpThe5TaJ0dXJ6_E6zwNXkYxH8qrWmtnW3A15fhg3UQctgDPZ1aJT5Q0zO8Lw5eYE-lFe1ij4nsb5brES8EZct5Gy1Y79xkT2FUZzyoeNae8-ehjxQtFUc/w640-h360/IMG_1784.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>And I was correct because the 2nd swim in the deeper area ten minutes after the flake being out in one of the prebaited swims a decent pull on the tip that sprung back almost immediately, was followed up with a pull that kept on going.</p><p>It knew it was hooked because within a split second of feeling the fish on the end of the line it was trying to get in to some tree roots. I felt the line grating at one point and thought I was lose it but thankfully I managed to bully it away from the snag where I quickly landed it.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaXe8lOXvUX5sgGXnleYQfNCGQWmKW-o3R0X-5vKEDaptgfAASJayCdZIqphmONBDUhcl-fV5F2YeuXp8qtikiGu-MF1Cf0BhaSr2DUWjEbM61MrBDaSm1-YeDy6NwCcXd2dfwH9dOfsiz2jAN1Kd4FlW7-PJGvtqGI54qtuJBbk7hBJ12t_Z1cQVP1o/s4032/IMG_1704.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaXe8lOXvUX5sgGXnleYQfNCGQWmKW-o3R0X-5vKEDaptgfAASJayCdZIqphmONBDUhcl-fV5F2YeuXp8qtikiGu-MF1Cf0BhaSr2DUWjEbM61MrBDaSm1-YeDy6NwCcXd2dfwH9dOfsiz2jAN1Kd4FlW7-PJGvtqGI54qtuJBbk7hBJ12t_Z1cQVP1o/w640-h360/IMG_1704.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Not a big fish maybe 2lb but welcome all the same. What I didn't expect was another quick bite in a similar looking swim, where fishing tight to some tree roots that spread out in the water another chub was on within a few minutes of casting out.<p></p><p>This one was putting up a better fight and sure enough after a dirty old battle it was safely in the landing net. This one a minter, and heading towards 3lb I'd imagine and after a slow start it came good in the end. That was my lot, I thought heading up to dusk another bite was on the cards but that was it. Almost 3 hours fishing, two bites, two fish, seems to be the way at the moment.</p>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-42395352969548216452024-02-01T08:28:00.003+00:002024-02-01T09:08:23.346+00:00River Blythe - Doggers Gates and Dontopedalogy<p>Where to go for that fishing fix for a quicky post work before darkness arrives ? I was working from Horiba MIRA (formerly the Motor Industry Research Association) you see and the Anker isn't far away, this free stretch (Google says so) looks like it might be worth a dabble with the trotting gear and maggots. Any blog readers recognise it ? and if so, worth fishing this river stretch of two halves ? A nice meandering river on one side, a monstrous industrial estate on the other π</p><p>To he honest the footpath looks well trodden probably from the constant stream of landmine creators ,and as a self confessed misanthrope probably not the right stretch for me, however the only fish picture I can find from this stretch was a rather nice plump roach, and looks a nice un too !!, so it would be rude not to try it, wouldn't it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwZWtN19qK14XV7_88F_llC11vPix2PWbnbxjy8O8jTB_U02A3PStFClLROARiq8nydHMLMe0C-8xQev5kwzDAGZAudjaysakY8X_zA2PQ8s-Em_X1BRV3p-vIt9I_E8EaoJLvsn9F7h5NgeFjWHyqbMqTww2KUztSAxrY8aZMNRx2PoGlr4HnaHtcEs/s1280/roach%20anker.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwZWtN19qK14XV7_88F_llC11vPix2PWbnbxjy8O8jTB_U02A3PStFClLROARiq8nydHMLMe0C-8xQev5kwzDAGZAudjaysakY8X_zA2PQ8s-Em_X1BRV3p-vIt9I_E8EaoJLvsn9F7h5NgeFjWHyqbMqTww2KUztSAxrY8aZMNRx2PoGlr4HnaHtcEs/w640-h360/roach%20anker.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />Anyway for this session that might have to wait until I do more half-hearted research, so with the tackle in the car and belly loaded up with a MIRA canteen spicy Goat curry, I decided to kill two birds with one stone. Some fishing first then I'd go and visit my mum a couple of miles down the road. Now it certainly doesn't seem like over a year since I was last fished the <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2023/01/river-blythe-fun-police-and-futurology.html#comment-form">Blythe </a>but apparently it is, looking at my last blog post from this small Midlands waterway.<p>The 'doggers' gates thankfully were left open that early evening when I negotiated the road back after catching that chublet just before 'when those things comes out at night'. I'm sure my Kingfisher Blue Jimny would have had some curtains twitchings I'm sure, because it stands out much like those that participate in the illicit 'pastime' that has blighted this small community (upset the posh people that live here basically.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivecGm6e3CYajN2jGJWNV9o6Uc8e-5WaUKjVhokU-itSl3ZVe3ysKkrU0Iw3e3xvOQ56_HwaADZCtt1E0PvYrgYPpKCi5oAYmJbrv9BBdFiHNzpm8sYaXrzzgs5bm_4fDVYXDjJ-vOzUEvuhhkKzCWVFMmTYCNqLYu76ig5F7UqgNfOpS7Gce8V2Pgc-8/s4032/IMG_1698.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivecGm6e3CYajN2jGJWNV9o6Uc8e-5WaUKjVhokU-itSl3ZVe3ysKkrU0Iw3e3xvOQ56_HwaADZCtt1E0PvYrgYPpKCi5oAYmJbrv9BBdFiHNzpm8sYaXrzzgs5bm_4fDVYXDjJ-vOzUEvuhhkKzCWVFMmTYCNqLYu76ig5F7UqgNfOpS7Gce8V2Pgc-8/w640-h360/IMG_1698.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Can I just go fishing please, I don't want an finger pointing my way !! "See, I've got some maggots and a fishing rod !!"</p><p>Now as with many British river SSSIs, (A Site of Special Scientific Interest) sadly physical modification to the watercourse and the riparian zone
has impacted the functionality of the River Blythe. As a result, the River Blythe SSSI is currently in
an 'unfavourable no change' condition, due to physical habitat modification, namely weirs, dams
and other flow obstructions, and invasive non-native species. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1CQaIItjEBT9a6d_Od69DcTQpJV7F317MyKYqyqLvesirErhXjQegoPEVItmhmPEUkTYt282HyI_liADyoiCWM6Yiccteykov3QNDoh6DwpidUVL40O-wgWN-vI8dS3Xb7vn_OYHyQ7jmqN0Kyv7PuggW1HGfxaJ1baVOm5v6vnBRPN1pH0WarFgvW8/s1371/Capture%20blythe.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1371" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1CQaIItjEBT9a6d_Od69DcTQpJV7F317MyKYqyqLvesirErhXjQegoPEVItmhmPEUkTYt282HyI_liADyoiCWM6Yiccteykov3QNDoh6DwpidUVL40O-wgWN-vI8dS3Xb7vn_OYHyQ7jmqN0Kyv7PuggW1HGfxaJ1baVOm5v6vnBRPN1pH0WarFgvW8/w640-h274/Capture%20blythe.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Oh and the fact the water companies use them as sewers that won't help now will it, you see <a href="https://top-of-the-poops.org/waterway/severn-trent-water/river-blythe" target="_blank">Top of the Poops </a>has some grim reading and a reason why I rarely visit these pages where the 'Consent to Discharge with Conditions' is all there to see as it just depresses me if I'm honest. You would think a small waterway like this would be off the radar for the Severn Trent Tyrants, but no sadly not. I looked up the Tiny River Alne too, <a href="https://top-of-the-poops.org/waterway/severn-trent-water/river-alne" target="_blank">'cus that won't be on the list now would it'</a>, same story here as well π©<div><p>A stones throw from where I was fishing for this session HS2 will be a nice blot on the landscape adding to its woes too because a 475 meter viaduct will be built over the floorplain at Hampton in Arden and will cross the Blythe changing its outlook for ever. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUrTdtwpdmuZTDukKj9FGuSiITQSNIkvJSIBVGU43ozqTAKwSUD2KIdYkbqtlqBDNHwNiHeRkw_uUbD0VbzO_QRPf5BkVb4Y_2SEAWoZmSohpa98Ed-wW3p8tquOzZqLafnK_zzBS8ccOjyUpsqYbkd0HNQApEYXIiOrXdz_71Up6Tpa4VXPOD-p3HDA/s4032/IMG_1699.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUrTdtwpdmuZTDukKj9FGuSiITQSNIkvJSIBVGU43ozqTAKwSUD2KIdYkbqtlqBDNHwNiHeRkw_uUbD0VbzO_QRPf5BkVb4Y_2SEAWoZmSohpa98Ed-wW3p8tquOzZqLafnK_zzBS8ccOjyUpsqYbkd0HNQApEYXIiOrXdz_71Up6Tpa4VXPOD-p3HDA/w640-h360/IMG_1699.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh2KvAnj3S-7QTz_n5sE44fViFCY_GjJyVak62dkRl9d73EDHm3ie7kmDYNoHlHUA30AndwOARoRZQE4X-fSfAt5qJK4dEpPoygpcd5Q9YQ9xHZ6Kome7y0uquM0wCKNhxCP4mi31f6oHUG3P_lDmYrAT6VIiyYbaQk21uKN-uUHr2Pa1ypv2gszdM-A/s4032/IMG_1697.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuh2KvAnj3S-7QTz_n5sE44fViFCY_GjJyVak62dkRl9d73EDHm3ie7kmDYNoHlHUA30AndwOARoRZQE4X-fSfAt5qJK4dEpPoygpcd5Q9YQ9xHZ6Kome7y0uquM0wCKNhxCP4mi31f6oHUG3P_lDmYrAT6VIiyYbaQk21uKN-uUHr2Pa1ypv2gszdM-A/w640-h360/IMG_1697.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Anyway when I got to the river it was very clear indeed and probably a good foot or so lower when I was here last time. The problem was the bridge swim where I caught the chublet from the last time was probably not much more than a foot and a half itself, hmmmm.</p><p>A quick lead about the bush to my right was slightly deeper so I primed that with some bread slop and then fed the main swim with small amounts throughout the session to allow it to drift down.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc5lzHXbpGY17Ss3dGt973GWa685F40b7JFnHEM2WViWQGzepVGbhaqEXiCfYFBdINYvT7-z2G9Q7YcFAs9S9E0QbSWCnecWeIy1UCeWhPPODjxhDyK-mH8JMFxHcnEOcYvDa_dFMW8WYSqSxGw9rrvZ8ZO9zOcBeFOzpbOowvN_tcJBwVT2tQAyS11g/s4032/IMG_1696.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc5lzHXbpGY17Ss3dGt973GWa685F40b7JFnHEM2WViWQGzepVGbhaqEXiCfYFBdINYvT7-z2G9Q7YcFAs9S9E0QbSWCnecWeIy1UCeWhPPODjxhDyK-mH8JMFxHcnEOcYvDa_dFMW8WYSqSxGw9rrvZ8ZO9zOcBeFOzpbOowvN_tcJBwVT2tQAyS11g/w640-h360/IMG_1696.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A fished around an hour and a half and the last forty five minutes of that with the torch illuminating the 1 ounce quiver tip but sadly not a sausage. I was expecting at least a bit of action but there was nothing doing whatsoever on the bread or cheesepaste.</div><div><br /></div><div>Even the snag swim to my right didn't produce and it looked perfect for a bite as it was next to cover and a nice slack away from the main flow. I could have stayed another half an hour or so but I think the outcome would have been the same. Oh well, on to the next one. </div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-70531938033364325902024-01-30T09:26:00.004+00:002024-01-30T09:26:30.078+00:00Warwickshire Avon - Fountainheads and Folkloristics<p>Right, chaps. Get fell in. We're closing our ranks to help the cost of living crisis and get the old country back on its knees.There is so much that anglers can do to ease the strain, both on pockets and the resources of the island as a whole. </p><p>What follows is the Newey Master Plan for Prosperity. Stick with it and we'll be out of the mire before you can say liquidity gap. Little thin anglers can pair up and share a ganzi borrowed from a big fat one, taking an armhole each. Couple of snags. It only works well if one of them is left handed. And it can lead to ticklish situations when you're baiting up.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszaTuiN2kdXlkeiuJln3yniOdFw9od0Oy3EJwVV47T3hV-NkTGlruFJgNtWAWhkgZpxFbriMZreJqYbkq_ciNOU2nafT0PJUW4kksr21AU5wdyo0wYPm1NiUaGi2lV1rpWdkbCwwst3Pmt5myYUSJ8af91ZeS80NrkZxuXo61ZOLZuzBdJsHbpyxcu0Y/s4032/IMG_1663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszaTuiN2kdXlkeiuJln3yniOdFw9od0Oy3EJwVV47T3hV-NkTGlruFJgNtWAWhkgZpxFbriMZreJqYbkq_ciNOU2nafT0PJUW4kksr21AU5wdyo0wYPm1NiUaGi2lV1rpWdkbCwwst3Pmt5myYUSJ8af91ZeS80NrkZxuXo61ZOLZuzBdJsHbpyxcu0Y/w360-h640/IMG_1663.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>You can use only three wellies between two of you and tie your legs together as you do in a three-legged race. And no playing footsy.<p></p><p>Share the maggot. Pass it down the bank when you've used it for half an hour. When it gets to look a bit limp and empty, find somebody with a little mouth to give it the kiss of life and blow it up again. Difficult in most clubs. To find a member with a little mouth.</p><p>Stretch the worm. Two of you stand face to face, each taking a firm grip on one end of the worm, and start walking backwards. </p><p>Stop before it goes off with an uncontrolled twang, or you might lose bits of it.Using the mangle for worm stretching is not recommended. For every successful stretch you get three unsuccessful squashes.</p><p>Find other baits for free wherever you can. Shoo the sparrows off neighbours' bird tables and appropriate the bread crusts. </p><p>Or creep up behind little old ladies feeding pigeons in the park and shout, 'Boo!' Sort through restaurant dustbins for scraps of bacon fat, bits of sausage and shavings of luncheon meat. Get there early to avoid the rush by members of the Stock Exchange.</p><p>Use your bike instead of the car. And give other anglers a lift. With one on the handlebars, one on the crossbar and one on the rack at the back, four of you should be able to manage quite comfortably.</p><p>When the law flags you down and hints at a diet of bread and water for the rest of your natural, appeal to the world renowned sense of humour of the British copper. Then hold out your wrists for the cuffs.</p><p>Fish only during the hours of daylight. Night fishers who find the adjustment difficult can try closing their eyes or pulling their bobbly hats down over their noses. Instead of buying rounds in the pub of four pints at a time, ask for one pint and four straws. To avoid friction, insist that everybody sucks at the same rate. Anyone caught cheating to have his straw knotted, anyone caught cheating twice to have his neck knotted. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnBSasnsbTS8R91h5x8f6RbAkKK3mlURYaJAVnDnBgB-mbqMh99QNRzeDuGxm2EyXT0bEJZ6CAqn9ZgGHA0hzlETH8KGPHfqp1dgsFqIExZGG0f4XIkt_1o_YdjPq4t1EVvDL1MJCH10c3C1PsZmxjLiUxy9eAO8m5sgRhJtjucqhiGRPmEaL-4WnlGc/s4032/IMG_1662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinnBSasnsbTS8R91h5x8f6RbAkKK3mlURYaJAVnDnBgB-mbqMh99QNRzeDuGxm2EyXT0bEJZ6CAqn9ZgGHA0hzlETH8KGPHfqp1dgsFqIExZGG0f4XIkt_1o_YdjPq4t1EVvDL1MJCH10c3C1PsZmxjLiUxy9eAO8m5sgRhJtjucqhiGRPmEaL-4WnlGc/w640-h360/IMG_1662.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Anyway enough of that guff, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AvonAnglingUK/videos" target="_blank">Nic from Avon Angling</a> had been messaging me about the great session he was having on the Warwickshire Stour he was having, catching 7 chub ledgering bread flake whilst I as usual was sat behind a computer working. I had the gear in the car from the previous session so it would be rude not to have a dabble wouldn't it. I arrived half an hour before dusk at a stretch on the way back from the office and was back in the car an hour after dusk.<div><br /></div><div>One ridiculous bite one fish when I need the torch to illuminate the quivertip, this one caught on cheesepaste which was around 3,5lb's and was a welcome sight in the very mild conditions. I thought I might have had another one having it retained it in the deep landing net, but sadly not that was it !!!</div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-75855520619006384562024-01-29T07:30:00.001+00:002024-01-29T07:30:00.136+00:00Warwickshire Avon - Kidney Punches and Kinetoscopes<p>π</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR73mwA5kBg4loZw1tlljsgt92vQWnTvxmvCINstFFFToHZ4IYxg6rL9tg5RZHhY0yr_qsgaG09LxKYusyQ4vg5Mjobts0PkxhbcKrl1-ibtR7ylCG8TLCB0MWOo6KRwwah5hD7NeBSVVtpNKbos6ofLf44aoKkyRrHjukGHl3sOqzsQVW0KdRL0gbqX0/s4032/IMG_1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR73mwA5kBg4loZw1tlljsgt92vQWnTvxmvCINstFFFToHZ4IYxg6rL9tg5RZHhY0yr_qsgaG09LxKYusyQ4vg5Mjobts0PkxhbcKrl1-ibtR7ylCG8TLCB0MWOo6KRwwah5hD7NeBSVVtpNKbos6ofLf44aoKkyRrHjukGHl3sOqzsQVW0KdRL0gbqX0/w640-h360/IMG_1624.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>A beautiful sunrise greeted me when I got bankside on a local(ish) section of the Warwickshire Avon. Whilst sorting the gear out within 20 minutes I'd seen countless birds of prey, a rather large fox on the prowl, around five Buck Roe Deer and around four cormorants that thankfully I spooked. </p><p>I must have stood out like a sore thumb, like I was an imposter. </p><p>Now with the river clearing nicely and only two and a half hours to fish I decided to trot using breadflake on the hook whilst feeding bread mash to try and stumble on a chub or three. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGx5EOSO_yAOQ5Jsov2fr_h_WiyhpMuDqyj3GPDC4hlwuPGLV9joUoIWI38S60B0S0WNKtKpM8E29V104AFr7-lGjaoVyUrOcOWoXjhZG_7_l6kQ6Qa6SWhKS3mCybNfJRR8qfGk4dIBtqkFjbTPc7pugV6KukAP6sCuBeos0lhYv6kwRBwD1_23GiVsA/s4032/IMG_1622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGx5EOSO_yAOQ5Jsov2fr_h_WiyhpMuDqyj3GPDC4hlwuPGLV9joUoIWI38S60B0S0WNKtKpM8E29V104AFr7-lGjaoVyUrOcOWoXjhZG_7_l6kQ6Qa6SWhKS3mCybNfJRR8qfGk4dIBtqkFjbTPc7pugV6KukAP6sCuBeos0lhYv6kwRBwD1_23GiVsA/w640-h360/IMG_1622.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-k5KpDLLypiR-yPeh2n_g4UGJT_uTZeo0yrP24XbQY5ZFXbhLYsv4jxe4G4y5xIIVU_XaofXaZ2TvCMHlBX90-PiC7nfyh07qQFqs5I0Hh1HG3jZXuOvbCtAUK_-glmChvRF8d0zrWmX_ThON5dOu_0eyCWPERO_y21fmMu8Jl3LtBPOAo5X6a3X1j8/s4032/IMG_1621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-k5KpDLLypiR-yPeh2n_g4UGJT_uTZeo0yrP24XbQY5ZFXbhLYsv4jxe4G4y5xIIVU_XaofXaZ2TvCMHlBX90-PiC7nfyh07qQFqs5I0Hh1HG3jZXuOvbCtAUK_-glmChvRF8d0zrWmX_ThON5dOu_0eyCWPERO_y21fmMu8Jl3LtBPOAo5X6a3X1j8/w640-h360/IMG_1621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The weir runoff was just a bit high and boiling and bubbling, so I went another 100 yards downstream where there was a nice snag on the far bank where I'm sure chub would be laying up. <div><br /></div><div>The pace was perfect for trotting and feeding golf ball sized pieces of bread to drift through the water column, I fully expected a quick bit because everything was ticked in the trotting tactics check list.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tell that to the fish though !!!!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTW3ILtXXWT0AWwV3W9ot_a7qUQP5BSiqy379KF0AhGrH26o2pCXBUNcwMY_MKZe-orjipYIckQ1A0vm2knHtyQ0iojDlPNFQtT1c3YxSYdthPqmrLV2DNPAX_2uFQAmFszKNNVXbFHjrUgKw6nRUfBmUMG4hkVuGFhVyxlCbNVYiw1ZR1GcrMgeHax0/s4032/IMG_1623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTW3ILtXXWT0AWwV3W9ot_a7qUQP5BSiqy379KF0AhGrH26o2pCXBUNcwMY_MKZe-orjipYIckQ1A0vm2knHtyQ0iojDlPNFQtT1c3YxSYdthPqmrLV2DNPAX_2uFQAmFszKNNVXbFHjrUgKw6nRUfBmUMG4hkVuGFhVyxlCbNVYiw1ZR1GcrMgeHax0/w640-h360/IMG_1623.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Two hours trotting eventually a bite when the float drifted past the snag on the far bank it shot under and I was in to a fish, that immediately realising it was hooked went straight for it. Despite my best efforts, two hands, the rod bent double the fish did me over good and proper and gave me the middle finger and a kidney punch or two for good measure. !!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Damn It !! the only bite I had too before curfew the came around π</div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-29507037291188284712024-01-27T17:46:00.004+00:002024-01-27T17:48:09.403+00:00The River Leam - Frosts and Frontogenesis<p>I was really looking forward to this WBAS match on another stretch of Leam within the piscatorial portfolio mainly because I was looking forward to see what would turn up on the day. 6 anglers for this one so the whole river would be covered and broken up into roving sections.</p><p>It was a nippy one again but not as cold as last time where <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-river-leam-matches-and.html" target="_blank">I managed to win with 3 chub</a> caught from a pool swim. There is so much to go at here as a roving angler and I've barely scratched the surface hence why I was hoping some gems might turn up during the duration of the 4 hour match.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9dzkLP2R_bWAYebCLgBrK31MO1oPaxHK0q047M7a5WJqRzV0teDEhUcU3cDBekee1WWt13nPjpH6lc4tvKWJR-a7hQXLq9t7-K6ESJBVYXthczo9xnOUhq0F6ZkqFZ-Kun_ccJKt0T1BVMc8J3q2kJfx01yuziXp7mt0frSd_Pp2QwS8Iw1gyyB6JXM/s4032/IMG_1561.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9dzkLP2R_bWAYebCLgBrK31MO1oPaxHK0q047M7a5WJqRzV0teDEhUcU3cDBekee1WWt13nPjpH6lc4tvKWJR-a7hQXLq9t7-K6ESJBVYXthczo9xnOUhq0F6ZkqFZ-Kun_ccJKt0T1BVMc8J3q2kJfx01yuziXp7mt0frSd_Pp2QwS8Iw1gyyB6JXM/w640-h360/IMG_1561.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />A light quivertip rod would be my approach as it was last time. Chub would be key again as they usually are on these small rivers and I'd have bread, worms, maggots and some cheesepaste with me for bait. Groundbait would be liquidised bread and also some pungent black roach as well. <div><br /></div><div>Cheesepaste did it for me last time but it was clear from the last match the fish were very localised and it wasn't so much the bait, but was there any fish in-front of you. At least with a roving match you have a few swims you can try, rather than being anchored to the spot, which to be honest, is not for me anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Z8G6xZGWpyiUFggxJmQe8U2JhkExrY-upZmQgTv8FV5lG-C64VE40KyjO_hueV-FiCr3_-Ud4BP4JmgH11vW__gKmWM4tqHe6q97sArQH6LdspQxVTS_9BF9IJcB8AD_u7gPYUjLzyJTulGtE57L-ZSQ2TbmMlKV4ihZy_ss7CXSPgFCDQBUU77scEQ/s1809/98a8eb3a-7beb-482f-9c2a-270a20aa8989.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1809" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Z8G6xZGWpyiUFggxJmQe8U2JhkExrY-upZmQgTv8FV5lG-C64VE40KyjO_hueV-FiCr3_-Ud4BP4JmgH11vW__gKmWM4tqHe6q97sArQH6LdspQxVTS_9BF9IJcB8AD_u7gPYUjLzyJTulGtE57L-ZSQ2TbmMlKV4ihZy_ss7CXSPgFCDQBUU77scEQ/w640-h452/98a8eb3a-7beb-482f-9c2a-270a20aa8989.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div></div><br /><a href="https://floatflightflannel.blogspot.com/">George</a> provided the maps again and I drew area 3 with Eric just downstream of me and then Ian was in the big deep pool. <a href="https://floatflightflannel.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">George</a>, Jacub and <a href="https://upperavon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sean</a> were at the top of the stretch.<div><br /></div><div>What I didn't expect was a hard frost and it being crisp underfoot but I'm sure the odd fish would be up for biting despite the cold weather. A quick temp check it was 6.2 degrees so not too bad. Anyway with around 40 minutes to get sorted the match was from 8.30am till - 12.30pm, better get fishing hadn't we !!<div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAh-qeFtw5pfie5WPIwPEZkXRhyphenhyphenpeVNQTcR6uVPe0WuTCEH41WU5aaUMOfmdvpcvCFcFmHyoZ2RJMQUTEwRdZV1l5Ea7fsSW6_aX3RvQBXJDx63AD6RmrFAELfQLAqTgqBdgupjraKI36R8yaY_RwTGFo_udeBSsUPFvvTGem4nGcN41X-ntnbXeU_f2o/s4032/IMG_1559.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAh-qeFtw5pfie5WPIwPEZkXRhyphenhyphenpeVNQTcR6uVPe0WuTCEH41WU5aaUMOfmdvpcvCFcFmHyoZ2RJMQUTEwRdZV1l5Ea7fsSW6_aX3RvQBXJDx63AD6RmrFAELfQLAqTgqBdgupjraKI36R8yaY_RwTGFo_udeBSsUPFvvTGem4nGcN41X-ntnbXeU_f2o/w640-h360/IMG_1559.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div>Now I had by far the longest stretch to rover and I would feed some swims with mashed bread and would drop in to those swims in the duration of the 4 hour match.</div><div><br /></div><div>A quick wander there was more than enough to go at and I probably fed 6 or 7 swims to try and get any fish in the area interested before I dropped in with the bait. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmGDsoM-S9UHwV-yiNvg26qcw3qu9R3deBDg_dJDgjFrfi4sBHXfdOAvCa2l1gQuY0Etme-GVAn_bxT1moEUeel1m60L4KODLhQYr_60ggfgJfs8krmrUv31k_sbbeBXlXtjHIMc8aN69SvSKx-kRNxzeUGn8Nm5JyMJD04CSMdUNqmAnXbvS9kSdvcU/s4032/IMG_1556.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBmGDsoM-S9UHwV-yiNvg26qcw3qu9R3deBDg_dJDgjFrfi4sBHXfdOAvCa2l1gQuY0Etme-GVAn_bxT1moEUeel1m60L4KODLhQYr_60ggfgJfs8krmrUv31k_sbbeBXlXtjHIMc8aN69SvSKx-kRNxzeUGn8Nm5JyMJD04CSMdUNqmAnXbvS9kSdvcU/w640-h360/IMG_1556.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>There was a large open swim which I decided to fish first and a feel of the cheesepaste down to the bottom it was probably 6 or 7 foot or so. A feature like this is often a haven for chub especially when the water is likely to be a tad warmer.</div><div><br /></div><div>The last match the swim was very much like this and the fact that the fish have room to escape if they wanted to means that they are not always found tight to snags. Odd I know but the more I fish these small rivers they can often defy convention. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ4ryl4W9g_XkmC_uNVCcqTdyX6_Z2yRxdD18PcvDf0kAa4TlQ9xv62Bj1mWCoSM28S5q7gDThD_vdHb2YjUlmQmQ7ZgfRtJOz-dWShab54GxZ391jQ-nVGieY4Ohf75m_UXRHkZgQMODn8H5VHuQ8qZtkoR6w3Jp0jazr1JH2lmJRTOQ88VqmxQnXl0/s4032/IMG_1555.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJ4ryl4W9g_XkmC_uNVCcqTdyX6_Z2yRxdD18PcvDf0kAa4TlQ9xv62Bj1mWCoSM28S5q7gDThD_vdHb2YjUlmQmQ7ZgfRtJOz-dWShab54GxZ391jQ-nVGieY4Ohf75m_UXRHkZgQMODn8H5VHuQ8qZtkoR6w3Jp0jazr1JH2lmJRTOQ88VqmxQnXl0/w640-h360/IMG_1555.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A gave the swim a good 45 minutes or so without even a nibble so I had to get on the rove to try and find the fish. I was getting cold as well just sat there so I needed to get on my feet. <div><br /></div><div>3 or 4 swims later though I was biteless do I decided to go back to the pool swim scale down a nadger and try worm instead. <div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rCFnIEwX9CmUEXYLrFKXIAQzxINTSbLe_ZZKMmwJGny4xmVPa-nZBSH69N1bddAhwcSR9UrME9xstDt_nQyMJWoJDc9rYmQjMytgT4FLdVoj1KuD9a-pEjbnKGo3qcRqpRohgDUXXo9u9XvG_0QEpW0gFn42NICk__szWFRvH7I5xqoZ6rYHhWGJsIQ/s4032/IMG_1557.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rCFnIEwX9CmUEXYLrFKXIAQzxINTSbLe_ZZKMmwJGny4xmVPa-nZBSH69N1bddAhwcSR9UrME9xstDt_nQyMJWoJDc9rYmQjMytgT4FLdVoj1KuD9a-pEjbnKGo3qcRqpRohgDUXXo9u9XvG_0QEpW0gFn42NICk__szWFRvH7I5xqoZ6rYHhWGJsIQ/w640-h360/IMG_1557.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvR142mNFAV2wm2lRcnIOtspA6TzN13hYaneLan6vpJimy8XL5uG6Yy1KKowbnlxivMjhKlVM5Acfsy839PQjHt2Bb_TTgbXG1dZmwDHy_b1Lpg0hZBkSOKi8IuyzDTxMW8sRNHkvioOoldMf_SAU2YhI7pFRxytIePrW9zgcke1Cw2ZLPT2HXBzn754/s4032/IMG_1554.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvR142mNFAV2wm2lRcnIOtspA6TzN13hYaneLan6vpJimy8XL5uG6Yy1KKowbnlxivMjhKlVM5Acfsy839PQjHt2Bb_TTgbXG1dZmwDHy_b1Lpg0hZBkSOKi8IuyzDTxMW8sRNHkvioOoldMf_SAU2YhI7pFRxytIePrW9zgcke1Cw2ZLPT2HXBzn754/w640-h360/IMG_1554.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>The bait was only out for ten minutes or so when Whammmmm a proper decent bite that I missed, damn it !!</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>It wasn't a big chub bite it was a chublet bite or a roach bite and what I didn't expect was a bite within seconds of the bait going back out again. As soon as it felt the hook it went on a mad run however after a spirited bite it was soon in the net. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zz_m_gz0dgQNu6YnklPphQziohoAOfFlGjXBJPTB5icBH_1QJSzO533qvjz-DGAT215vxXHqKb9B9fSBK5s7HH8HplNVk2q_kMV5LJGe6PmsTOIQm9n55OYhWdIe6C5Sznzd7lk0oyDnzxsp_FrE0kttfgi8gTR0R8i84Edfp4b9h6jVSUeBVhmsh6Y/s4032/IMG_1553.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zz_m_gz0dgQNu6YnklPphQziohoAOfFlGjXBJPTB5icBH_1QJSzO533qvjz-DGAT215vxXHqKb9B9fSBK5s7HH8HplNVk2q_kMV5LJGe6PmsTOIQm9n55OYhWdIe6C5Sznzd7lk0oyDnzxsp_FrE0kttfgi8gTR0R8i84Edfp4b9h6jVSUeBVhmsh6Y/w640-h360/IMG_1553.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>A pristine fish and probably a pound or so in weight but not exactly the size I was after but at least it was a fish and I'd not blanked.</div><div><br /></div><div>The four hours went quicker than I thought and I did quite a lot of toing and froing between the swims with nothing doing whatsoever. I scaled down as well and swapped between cheesepaste, bread and worms but the fish were suspicious in their absence for me and that was my lot. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sNFj5hcoF4to8lVHTkcD2idsX2dWZ6v3wjqbNITZi0V3N1rLIhCS6cwsmX5sKoQaIv9mhZ5zhoNygJegFj2IVpQ31yHchVHOebQHwMIRdP0st67mhhC51CmqmAUjXfgfG9dX7fWKJaATVdDImJZvG4lxg57QyvV9IczvsWbMISuuRU32vBT-7a2HMTs/s4032/IMG_1563.HEIC"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-sNFj5hcoF4to8lVHTkcD2idsX2dWZ6v3wjqbNITZi0V3N1rLIhCS6cwsmX5sKoQaIv9mhZ5zhoNygJegFj2IVpQ31yHchVHOebQHwMIRdP0st67mhhC51CmqmAUjXfgfG9dX7fWKJaATVdDImJZvG4lxg57QyvV9IczvsWbMISuuRU32vBT-7a2HMTs/w640-h360/IMG_1563.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>With the match over I met up with Ian and Eric for the weigh in, Eric had caught quite early on and had a couple of crackers in the net. One went 3lb's and 4 ounces on the scales and the two in total weighed 5lb's and 2 ounces. He missed quite a few bites too and thinking they were small fish tried trotting maggots and also tried maggots on the feeder but oddly a change of tactic didn't work whatsoever.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ian had blanked in the pool and my fish weighed 1lb and 1oz !! The others met us back at the car where George was the only anglers to bag a fish, his chub weighed 1lb and 4oz π So the results !!!</div><div><br /></div><div>1st Eric with 5lb 2oz ππΈπ€π°</div><div>2nd George with 1lb 4ozπΈπ€</div><div>3rd Me with 1lb 1oz</div><div>Sean, Jacub, Ian DNW</div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5185482678332207687.post-16106793691180134662024-01-26T18:51:00.003+00:002024-01-26T18:51:27.357+00:00The Tiny River Alne - Rafts and Redundancies <p>February is just round the corner thankfully after a rather lacklustre January for me, now it is not called fill-dyke for nothing. It's called that because for most of the month it's bucketing down and often with rain and melting snow filling the canals and rivers to overflowing.(Fingers crossed it doesn't, because we really have had our quota over the last couple of months)</p><p>It's often a month when the fish seek out the deep holes and bankside eddies to stay out of the current. They're often a bit grumpy and off their food because of the suspended silt which irritates their gills, but they can be tempted with the tail of a lob fished ledger on the bottom.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2e8J6KJNGTiTwf4jVUZ1S8ALkP4rbD3HOO1BKsHSmIV_vBK2XeIc8xi9oSVnB3a_jg4YThpQil2UQ7gVmNPR6taeYu90_YA9A1jK8fuGj_NORf1DgOYwtyIyKk0zTlIbODaCuaJkaNvYBUtCoTPeX-boOUpjRM5RkGrq__eADIqUIsdLfbUM2U_uI1g/s4032/IMG_1446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2e8J6KJNGTiTwf4jVUZ1S8ALkP4rbD3HOO1BKsHSmIV_vBK2XeIc8xi9oSVnB3a_jg4YThpQil2UQ7gVmNPR6taeYu90_YA9A1jK8fuGj_NORf1DgOYwtyIyKk0zTlIbODaCuaJkaNvYBUtCoTPeX-boOUpjRM5RkGrq__eADIqUIsdLfbUM2U_uI1g/w640-h360/IMG_1446.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Now and again a river will overflow its banks, and the fish will follow the water up into the fields, feeding on the worms and grubs in the grass. They are pursued there by the hardier and dafter anglers with some degree of success. And a fish that was actually caught in a field makes a better story than one that was caught in the boring old river.</p><p>The trick is to study the river when it's not in flood and make notes of the topography of the bank, so that you'll know how far down the field you can walk in safety. When you have waded to the bottom of the field, however, you may find yourself a little disorientated or suffering from temporary amnesia. You may also find that a spur of bank you remember perfectly well is not there any more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWxylmX8BdpwhL4fhSGhyxAfoJBBgXnvyC7Gi3l-3vSXns6JWoBRh406QZN66gF8WfSTbMABdrvY9IlCJHmnypovdeOQ5i-hEMpPgPy5qeGKLOtGFmS3yMgDQY8UGMOKpUGgytGa33AN8k9GREHqow6a6hUgGxxh-vf8202ZptxTIX53r8wf7M7IXEhw/s4032/IMG_1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWxylmX8BdpwhL4fhSGhyxAfoJBBgXnvyC7Gi3l-3vSXns6JWoBRh406QZN66gF8WfSTbMABdrvY9IlCJHmnypovdeOQ5i-hEMpPgPy5qeGKLOtGFmS3yMgDQY8UGMOKpUGgytGa33AN8k9GREHqow6a6hUgGxxh-vf8202ZptxTIX53r8wf7M7IXEhw/w640-h360/IMG_1532.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Now Insurance companies, as a matter of general policy, are not keen on anglers fishing flooded fields. Nor are employers, even if the angler struggles from his sickbed to work on Monday morning. He makes the place look so untidy as he sits huddled over the radiator, coughing and spluttering. Undertakers, on the whole, are quite glad of the extra business. </p><p>There is still a week left of January mind you, and to be honest I'll be quite glad to see the back of it. Apart from one day when I went of the wagon for my mates 50th, I've been off the grog you see but that will change the 1st of February when I'm meeting a good friend Phippo for a curry and a couple of pints. It will make a change from the medicorce fishing I've been having and I'm hoping with January out the way, February will bring me some good fishy fortune. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlauIy8bcQazl4_XuBrsSYdVRaC3q7_YlvQfk_dSvAn8XsUfUYRSVYU1RR1kNeK9OEeMxhmMZB4O7XSlserYFaxAMYjFwNp_sgyKnyyXxxAtv4EBvLgpvnXTRQMDWAcNpRcLmMRmeA2hRe0Ogogg_CdsVRCzS0AiSYvKxqpXIPsytZxycFfMqRlr-9us/s4032/IMG_1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlauIy8bcQazl4_XuBrsSYdVRaC3q7_YlvQfk_dSvAn8XsUfUYRSVYU1RR1kNeK9OEeMxhmMZB4O7XSlserYFaxAMYjFwNp_sgyKnyyXxxAtv4EBvLgpvnXTRQMDWAcNpRcLmMRmeA2hRe0Ogogg_CdsVRCzS0AiSYvKxqpXIPsytZxycFfMqRlr-9us/w640-h360/IMG_1531.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>The Warwickshire Avon was dropping nicely and I fancied a dabble on Sunday morning to miss the traffic on a <a href="https://calamitymn.blogspot.com/2024/01/warwickshire-avon-cat-ice-and.html">new area of river I'd been fishing</a> that may well throw up some bigger chub, but with a WBAS syndicate match on the Saturday on the river Leam, today's session on the local Alne had almost chose itself to try and maximise fishing time. </p><p>A sunny afternoon to lift the gloom, because after surviving a cull of staff and redundancies back in June, there will now be another 15% reduction in staff it seems, where my job will be at risk again. There was a reason why I liked the contracting lark, a freespirit and decent dosh, going permi for the last 3 years hasn't exactly given the security I thought it would give.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQzYPZtYIY4FBG0db4TDFJ9LcmdGRIOV8euzMuPR0CnKNagRO8AjuKUkDAl2WCZHdAr7T-VH9ysdXV0qONm9QHaQTVCvs6yBOIyoWjV8gvRV7a_IFEN_0OsxM1r4pJYvYkEAp38vkb1CEJUXFzvBGEIt3izIE5f8v43VPQeDMDGQ06Im11n3TIbAcrj0/s4032/IMG_1530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQzYPZtYIY4FBG0db4TDFJ9LcmdGRIOV8euzMuPR0CnKNagRO8AjuKUkDAl2WCZHdAr7T-VH9ysdXV0qONm9QHaQTVCvs6yBOIyoWjV8gvRV7a_IFEN_0OsxM1r4pJYvYkEAp38vkb1CEJUXFzvBGEIt3izIE5f8v43VPQeDMDGQ06Im11n3TIbAcrj0/w640-h360/IMG_1530.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I'm old and ugly enough now to not really bother on which way it goes because I'm one of the lucky ones that has got experience and skills that are still in demand, I feel sorry for the youngsters just starting out. <div><br /></div><div>So not a great start to the weekend but at least fishing means you don't think about a fat lot, well apart the task in hand and that was fishing for chub. Anyway after being biteless in the banker swim I got on the rove. I headed up to the middle of the stretch and on the way deposited some mashed bread in 5 or 6 swims and then would fish those when I retraced my steps. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXCqTm6DDNeXBOXnNk9VAGJ-Knas6UkN5I_ihpb5nuXcZGhRxYtBm8BDoFj5nx52z8zx9dO814x80-n-Cphy22hMoU2HDJQ6j5O8iM5PmxMZxVzjl8gu4FJUPAXlfPADA-pBiA0VsD63OnYBl0Z5t0uXBbHDjVegsQExe6bwgdseoHRWG14Mi1vpnfis/s4032/IMG_1533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXCqTm6DDNeXBOXnNk9VAGJ-Knas6UkN5I_ihpb5nuXcZGhRxYtBm8BDoFj5nx52z8zx9dO814x80-n-Cphy22hMoU2HDJQ6j5O8iM5PmxMZxVzjl8gu4FJUPAXlfPADA-pBiA0VsD63OnYBl0Z5t0uXBbHDjVegsQExe6bwgdseoHRWG14Mi1vpnfis/w640-h360/IMG_1533.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Probably not ideal fishing conditions to be honest but one bite would be nice !!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway I was using decent sized pieces of bread because the water was a weird dark grey colour which I've rarely seen here to be honest, so visibility was only a foot or so, so a large white bait would stand out. 3 or 4 swims down even the 'WORLDS BIGGEST RAFT SWIM' well ok, for a small river anyway I was still biteless.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvmTvSJprxNXPsY8szu7o7pDCROOQcd-FUe6KTCOTrAr9y4xoSV8FtUh-lT8B8IoHgzyVd7En1QrQzKhH1uuZnafSuTfM19E3RdZDAbwt_RTAP29E-cQHmjh7OmNrwPEs6LVNJNTEMuwzzwpakko-h3jJbG4a8U5cMjfcDLC68vVyifwU1yNF_FCAAAE/s4032/IMG_1529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvmTvSJprxNXPsY8szu7o7pDCROOQcd-FUe6KTCOTrAr9y4xoSV8FtUh-lT8B8IoHgzyVd7En1QrQzKhH1uuZnafSuTfM19E3RdZDAbwt_RTAP29E-cQHmjh7OmNrwPEs6LVNJNTEMuwzzwpakko-h3jJbG4a8U5cMjfcDLC68vVyifwU1yNF_FCAAAE/w640-h360/IMG_1529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was gradually running out of swims but then a fairly open swim with some tree roots to my right came up trumps because a few minutes after carefully dropping in the bait, a few tentative pulls on the sensitive quiver it went round confidently and a fish was on. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It gave a decent fight as well but not the biggest chub for the Alne, but most welcome indeed. It looked like it needed filling out as well, hopefully the bread mash I pre baited with is now residing in its belly. And that was my lot, I fished another couple of swims until I couldn't see the quiver tip but one bite one fish. </div></div>Mick Neweyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05534025506569660200noreply@blogger.com2