Saturday 1 February 2014

Best Laid Plans


Chasing ladies... A trip to the Avon with James and his brother Richard after our first grayling each, and things didn't go to plan...

Getting lost, walking miles in the wrong direction, five minutes of poaching (right stretch, wrong side of the river), someone phoning the police (reporting us for poaching), eventually finding the bailiff (who explained to the police it was a mistake) and with his help we finally found our stretch...

And it was so flooded we couldn't get anywhere near where we wanted to fish...

We started fishing at midday - 7 hours after starting out! Float fishing maggots for the unlikely grayling and ledgered deadbaits hoping for a flood water pike...

Long story short(ish); two dropped runs and a 2lb 8oz pike for me, Richard had a pike about the same size and a handful small silvers, and James briefly hooked into a good perch...

Not the day we had been looking forward to all week...

Then we missed the train home!

8 comments:

  1. All caused by a lack of research... Not enough hours in the day...

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  2. Pretty looking pike, shame it wasn't 28Lb heavier.
    Fish is a fish though, well done in some terrible looking conditions.
    Paulos

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    1. Was delighted to see a fish, really was looking at a blank.

      Think I'm going to be lucky to hit the pike challenge this season, probably have to try again next season. Which sounds good to me!

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  3. I was disappointed to say the least, my write is up is to be short and sweet as was my time connected to a fish was short but very sour, I will certainly visit when the river becomes fish able again and may even catch my Holy Grail. Well done on the Pike though Brian.

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    1. Yeah, haven't given up. Definitely going to have another go when the river is back in its banks. At least we know where it is now!

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  4. For future reference!

    http://www.londonanglers.net/fisheries/fishery_maps/bridge_farm.html

    http://www.londonanglers.net/fisheries/fishery_maps/rectory_farm.html

    http://www.londonanglers.net/fisheries/fishery_maps/old_river.html

    Hard luck. I always enjoy reading about the Avon but haven't fished Britford before. Keep meaning to try.

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    1. Great - thank you.

      We'll definitely be back... Especially now we know it's a five minute bus ride not a 5 hour walk!

      Heard a lot of good things about it from the bailiff & locals, can't wait to give it a proper try.

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  5. Megan Boyd: the Scottish fishing fly maker who wove magic

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/outdoors/outdoor-activities/10607030/Megan-Boyd-the-Scottish-fishing-fly-maker-who-wove-magic.html

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