Wasperton - 29.01.12

0 degrees when I got to the river at 7.30am, with mist acting like a blanket over the River the Warwickshire Avon looked fantastic. I had a one Pike rod out with a ledgered sprat and the other rod after Chub and alternating between cheese paste, maggot and worm.

Managed a little Jack within 10 minutes of casting out but that was it, I changed to a smelly Mackerel tail to try for something bigger but sadly the rod remained motionless. Had a few knocks on worm but couldn't connect to anything. Apparently cold for the next few weeks so will probably go for a more roving approach, I've had more success with sea baits this year, so will probably float fish sardine or sprat. I think my limit for sitting in the cold is 3 hours these days, even when dressed for the cold it eventually gets to me, my fingertips suffer first. Walking up and down the bank it's surprising just how quickly you warm up.

River Stour - 22.01.12

My friend Simon another keen fisherman lives in Honington just outside Shipston on Stour, so after a few beers in Shipston Saturday night we had a few hours fishing the river the following morning. We ended up at Honington Bridge as there was a match on at Halford Bridge.

 

 

To cut a long story short we both blanked, I travelled light and tried various swims with cheese paste, bread and lobworm but never had a touch. Switching to maggot I couldn't get past the minnows :( I should have bought my Pike gear too, as looked ideal conditions.

I plan to explore the Stour, never fished it before but looked some cracking swims in the small section I walked, when there are leaves on the trees again it will look stunning.

River Leam - 15.01.12

The first time I've fished the Leam and didn't go too well, started at Offchurch which was painfully low and my fingers felt like I was getting frost bite so moved on to Newbold Comyn. ( pic below ). There were a few anglers from Banbury fishing a match, looked like they were all fishing the pole and catching some roach, I fished just downstream of them but after a biteless hour on worm and some smelly cheese paste I got fed up of the dog walkers with loud whistles so moved again to just downstream of Victoria Park weir.

After fighting through the rubbish the dumped matresses and vodka bottles I managed to winkle out a nice little chub on cheese paste. The sun was up now so a really stunning fresh morning, shame the surroundings couldn't match it.

When Offchurch levels are up I fancy giving that more of a go, my kind of river and seemed nice and secluded too. I don't think I'll rush back in a hurry. Next weekend will be spent fishing the River Stour with my friend Simon who lives yards from the River near Shipston-on-Stour.