With most of the rivers in flood it seemed like a good time to try and find a chalk stream dace. But where were they? I couldn't find them - and to cut a short story shorter - 4 trout, 2 chub, a roach, a gudgeon and an Iron Man found the net. The 2oz gonk being the highlight!
Nuf respect for Iron Man
ReplyDeleteHe was blowing about in my swim, disturbing the fish in the shallow water - he had to go. Another thing added to my ‘weird captures’ list!
DeleteMassive gonk, and that roach looks a good 'un too!
ReplyDeleteFirst weighed 2oz gudgeon in a while - love ‘em! And hopefully be back for a few more roach...
DeleteCracking gudgeon, did you measure it? We tend to go on length at our matches.
ReplyDeleteHow much did the mask weigh? Was it a pb? How many steps?
Cheers, wasn’t expecting a gudgeon from this section - didn’t measure it but could work it out by measuring the scales :-)
DeleteMask was a helium balloon - not sure how to weigh balloons - scales upside down and see how much they pull up??!
I've tried that Brian.... lost two sets of scales so far.
DeleteBoom!
DeleteCracking Gonk !!
ReplyDeleteCheers Mick. And lucky I had the scales in the bag (in case I bumped into a monster minnow).
DeleteMega mate!!! We just need to find them and keep them on the hook!
ReplyDeleteStill time... But it’s running out this season...
DeleteIt certainly is, but in this last week or so can a real dent be made in the Barbel challenge, or is it going to be a tough end to match most of the season?.
DeleteI can offer some small river dace hints if needed.
ReplyDeleteCheers, I think the main thing is - are they still there? I’d like to know they are still knocking about there somewhere and I’m not just chasing ghosts...
DeleteFor sure there’s a big shoal. I caught a bunch last Tuesday up to 13 oz. I think theres a couple of 1lb’ers in the shoal but they’re a bit more canny.
DeleteThat’s great news - thanks. I found a small shoal on Saturday but the small chub with them made it difficult - nothing like the size you’ve found but glad they’re still there...
DeleteYeah there were a few chublets and small trout among them (as always) but vastly outnumbered by the dace. Oddly enough another swim I know that used to be chock-full of dace seems dead.
DeleteI think we must be fishing fairly close. Just need to find those bigger dace!
DeleteFinding "that"shoal of Dace is what is needed, there are only a small handful of spots where they are, we just either haven't found them or we have and have got lucky!
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