Back for Grandmother

Having had a memorable day earlier this week I went back on Thursday to College in search of "my" perch's Grandma. I could only do a morning session so arrived at the same peg about 8 (late, I know) and started to feed a mixture of chopped worm, prawn and red maggot while I tackled up.

As you all know it was a real summer's day, blue sky, sunshine, so I wasn't feeling too confident. I was right. Apart from a couple of tentative nibbles on a piece of chopped worm, my float rod remained unscathed. I did manage 3 nice bream on pellet from the depths between 5lbs and just over 6lbs, so not a wasted day.

But, as Arnie said, I'll be back.

College Pool Today

Had a very pleasant late afternoon fishing with Keith. I'd arrived a couple of hours before him and had the benefit of building my swim. We both wanted to try for the perch, which we felt must be putting on a bit of weight.

We weren't wrong, beat my PB by miles 3lbs 10oz. Chuffed. Thanks to Keith for taking the pics.

Back to The Stillwaters

As I still had a box full of red maggots and some lobs from my last trip to the Avon I decided to have a few hours on a relatively local pond. With this bait combination, Perch seemed the obvious target. As Jeff has said on his blog, some of our colleagues have been making the capture of 2 and even 3lbs fish seem the norm!

It's only about 12 miles to a small 2-pond fishery where the owner was supposed to have caught a 6lbs fish a couple of years ago but was unable to claim the record! I'd never even seen the place let alone fished it but I thought, "What the hell".

When I pulled into the car park, I was surprised how small it was. Could such a place really hold perch of mind-bogling proportions? There were only 3 others fishing, 2 on poles the other livebaiting for the perch.  I chatted with him and was told that, yes there were some nice fish there but he'd never had them over 2.5lbs. It's a well-maintained fishery with the platforms having a reasonable amount of cover - at least when it grows! Also, due to the lack of numbers fishing I could chose a spot which had reasonable reed cover and the option of fishing towards a bigger platform which, I was told, was a haven for some of the bigger fish.

As it was stocked with a variety of species I opted for a feeder rod cast into one of the deeper holes - about 14' - with 2 small Source boilies as well as my float-fished lob targetting the perch. I sprayed red maggots fairly frequently towards the large platform where the margin shelf started to fall away.  Straight away I started to get indications but even waiting for a second or two for the float to sink below the surface I was unable to hit any. The lob always came back pristine! I think the interest was fom some of the smaller fish, maybe not even perch.

After a few hours I managed 2 smallish perch of around 1lb and then had one of those moments when you're glad that no one was around to see.  I was intent on watching the float when I felt something hitting my bum! I realised that I'd forgotten to engage the baitrunner on the boilie rod and whatever was on the other end was pivotting the rod on the rest and the handle was knocking on my backside. Bait alarms? Huh, I spit on them. I will now start using the HSA type (handle striking arse). A spirited silverish common of about 5lbs was the culprit.

I noticed the 2 guys pole fishing had managed a succession of small goldfish, tench, skimmers and roach but no monster perch.  As it started to get towards dusk, the sun which had been out for most of the afternoon went below the trees and the wind made a better ripple which encouraged me to stay on. I was rapidly running out of maggots as I'd been spraying them at 10 minute intervals all afternoon. I crept around the reedbed and hand-fed the last of them around my float. While drinking my last cup of coffee - everything was running out - the float dipped once and went under. A stronger pull back raised my hopes but it turned out to be a well fat (female?) of 1lbs 9oz.  Sorry about the quality of the pic but I hadn't brought my camera and had to make do with my phone.

Last Knockings

Went to a private stretch of the upper Avon yesterday afternoon and found the weather again wasn't the best for catching. Bright sunshine and cold, clear water.

A lovely-looking bit of river with several likely hot spots. My mate fished a long glide where a few days ago a 14lb plus barbel had been taken and I started on a swim which had a couple of nice scoured bays opposite.

Although we fished until dark, the only signs of fish were a couple of pulls on the bread rod.

 Late in the afternoon a little black swan put in an appearance. It's mate was particularly aggressive and chose to come ashore exactly where I was sitting in order to give me a menacing hiss! I decided NOT to share the remains of my Sainsburys' organic loaf with him/her.

So yet another blank on this part of the Avon to finish the river Season. I'm now looking forward to searching out the lakes until the middle of June.

Hope you guys who got out on the last day fared better.

Return to Pensham 11.3.11

Had a nice day in the sun at Pensham yesterday but managed to blank - as did most of the other anglers I spoke to. I did see 2 dodgy-looking characters sitting opposite the weir at Lucy's Mill as I drove over the Avon at Stratford on the way back home. In the very quick look I was able to have, one of them looked a bit like Danny ???

I'm thinking of a last-knockings at Barford on Monday afternoon to see if the barbel are interested. Good luck to all the guys who will be out over these last 3 days of the river season.

Our next problem?

Hope they don't decide to get the bus down to the Midlands!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-12612946