Thursday, 17 July 2025

Farm Pond (3)


Wonder what the perch potential is on the Farm Pond? Too dry to find worms, so I thought I'd chuck a prawn in...


First cast a 14lb 7oz common carp took a fancy to it! Not the target - but still a cracking start - biggest from the pond so far...


But I wasn't expecting what happened next - two bootlaces - followed by a monster 3lb 7oz PB eel. Wonder what the eel potential is...

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Farm Pond (2)


Another evening on the Farm Pond - to get my fishing-fix...


And the change in air pressure brought the carp out to play...


Ledgered krill boilies - not bread for a change...


Five carp to put a bend in the rod and a smile on my face...


(Didn't get a photo of number five as it was pretty dark).


OK - I did take some bread and caught some silvers on the float...


Rudd, roach and bream - need worms for the perch...


That'll tide me over for a little while..!

Saturday, 5 July 2025

Farm Pond (1)


It's been far too hot to fish The Wye - so as a fishing-fix I was trying to stalk out a carp from a farm pond - and it was a lot more difficult than I thought. But eventually one fell for a bit of floating crust (and I lost two others in the weeds). The carp are mint - tricky but fun - I'll be back...

Saturday, 21 June 2025

London (3)


They might not be Trent giants - but sat by the Small River catching barbel on floating crust is a rather spendid way to waste an afternoon. Think I could do this forever...

Friday, 20 June 2025

London (2)


Afternoon trying to stalk out a carp from the Small River - I had a couple of chances - and fluffed them both! But 10 barbel and a chub made up for it!! Oh, and also saw my bream.

Thursday, 19 June 2025

London (1)


Back to London - where it's normal; the air tastes like someone farted into a sack of dry cement, everyone hates you, and the price of a pint of beer makes you want to cry. Oh, how I've missed you!


To my sanctuary, the Small River. And I needed one more 7+ to chip me over the 200 from the river. Got - one of fifteen barbel in a 3 hour dash - a little slice of heaven!

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Sunshine


A Wye barbel, 9x chub and an eel. Make hay while the sun shines!

Tuesday, 17 June 2025

And Away…


Had the stick 'n' pin gear ready, but with almost 2 meters of dirty water on - I thought I'd have blast at an opener barbel (plus I've got mad tennis-elbow at the moment and didn't fancy holding a rod for hours).


Tough going - what did I expect on The Wye this season?? But after much searching I finally found some. Four barbel (to 8lb 2oz) and 2 bonus chub - and I lost a shad at the net. Off and running...


Monday, 9 June 2025

Pre-Season 2025/26


Another closed season has nearly dragged past, the Orange Tip butterflies have come and gone, and once again I didn't wet a line. But after last season I needed a break from the fish (and the blogs).

After much thought I have decided to risk another season on The Wye. I have expanded my stomping grounds, gaining more access both upstream & down - plus a few ponds and gravel pits near the river.

So the summer will be spent exploring the new water (might do a mini species hunt), with a view to getting a few more pike on the bank when the weather turns. Season target: 50 pike (Wye & surrounding water).

Tight lines bloggers - look forward to reading about your adventures...

Friday, 28 March 2025

Season Review 2024/25


A year on The River Wye. Back to my old stomping ground, and it was a real struggle - I worked very hard for every fish! I landed a total of 60 barbel (plus 57 from The Small River), a lot of chub (which often saved a blank) and 13 Wye pike (including 6 doubles). So here's my sixteenth season review - written monthly as I went along...

June: Very slow start on The Wye, the fish were behind this season due to the wet, cold start to the year. There were still shad in the river (loads of them, good to see) and the barbel were still spawing. There was very little to report. Only four barbel landed and no pike spotted since the season opened. Onward and upward - hopefully...

July: The River Wye still hadn't come to life - I could see barbel but I struggled to catch them! Only 13 barbel landed all month, plus a few chub - for a lot of effort. And the perch fishing was even worse - not one landed yet! A couple of 2lb+ eels seemed to be the highlight of the month - let's hope there's more to report in August...

August: The highlight of the month was three afternoons on the Small River - great to be back - and 27 barbel, 2 chub & a small carp landed - I have missed it! Still stuggling on The Wye, lots of short sessions added fourteen barbel to 9lb 1oz - plus plenty of chub. The summer is turning into autumn - perhaps my season will turn around now..?

September: Started with an afternoon fishing a private stretch of The Wye with James - both landing 6 barbel. Part of a total 22 barbel to 9lb 4oz over the month. The highlight of the month, and really the only noteworthy fish of the summer, was a 19lb 4oz pike - caught while fishing for perch! Hopefully more pike over the winter season...

October: The start of the winter season, I turned my attention to Wye pike - the main event - and I knew it was going to be tough going. Only 4 pike landed, including a scraper double - but there is nothing more exciting in fishing than watching that float come to life! A barbel and four chub (to a cracking 5lb 11oz) added some variety to the month.

November: An absolute shocker of a month - after a nice perch and a little pike to start the month the blanks kept on coming! A lot of hours on the riverbank without a run - eventually adding a jack on a lure - before Storm Bert flooded the river and put an end to the fishing. Roger's luck was in - landed a new PB 6lb 1½oz Wye chub - great fish!

December: Still struggling on The Wye, there are some nice perch & chub being caught - but I was fixated on pike - only two landed. I covered a lot of water hoping to find where they are holed up... Still searching!! A few barbel from the Small River was a welcome break. And a three rainbow trout on the fly rounded out the year.

January: It really has been tough going all winter (all season) but a herring deadbait lowered into a little slack produced a pike that makes all the miles and time worth while - a 19lb 10oz beauty. One of only two pike caught all month. Let's hope the weather and water levels (and fish) are kind for the last 6 weeks of the season...

February: A real grind - mostly double dipping; one rod with a deadbait, one with a maggot feeder & worm hookbait for perch - no pike or perch, just a couple of chub for my efforts! And it was cold, cold fishing! Bit of warmer weather near the end of the month saw the barbel start to switch on - and 3 landed - at least there was something to pull back!

March: The last two weeks - and the last two Wye pike of the season, including a double at 16lb 6oz (total 13 pike). And I took my Wye barbel total up to 60 fish. I spent the last three afternoons on the Small River, landing 23 barbel. The final day was spent with James where we landed ten each - a fantastic way to wrap up a very tough season!

Need a bit of a rethink for next season; cast my net further afield on The Wye? Back to London? Somewhere else?