Luncheon Meat & Sole

A couple of very quick trips to the Small River, the second of which I spotted this beauty sat between two weedbeds - a proper fight - and a fantastic double at 10lb 12oz! They are turning their noses up at bread now - only luncheon meat will do - autumn is offically here!


And the sole... Not an 'eel... Guess I was in the right plaice...

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With the weather finally turning and summer a distant memory I thought I'd look back on my Pre-Season targets:

• Take my Small River barbel total to over 1,500 fish - 1,591
• A new PB rudd (2lb+), roach (2lb+) or perch (3lb+) - 2lb 10oz
• A new river (Thames?) double figure barbel - Severn
• And a double figure pike from a new water

Three of four checked off - I still fancy a crack at the roach & perch PBs - but that last target needs to be addressed!

Finposters

Had to use up the remaining maggots from The Itchen - only one thing for it - an afternoon on the Small River chasing gudgeon - and I caught loads! Probably 30+, so I thought I'd have a mini species hunt. Eight species including 2 ultra-rare perch and 12 mini-barbel...

...Cracking afternoon!

Autumn Colours

A very sunny 26° - October t-shirt weather, not ideal conditions for a grayling fishing trip - but it's always great to be on the riverbank. A trip to the Lower Itchen with Danny, Keith & James...


Bit of a catch up - and a lot of wandering about on a beautiful stretch of the river - just to see what was around the next corner. Plus some stunning looking fish on the stick 'n' pin...


Thirty plus grayling...


Two salmon parr...


A couple of dozen brown trout...


Felt like hundreds of minnows...


And a couple of Sea trout.

Lucky Severn

His Barbel Quest took James back to The Severn, I tagged along as I've never fished it before. We headed to a tidal section - a low population of fish, but they were rumoured to be big...

James was trying to add a double to his quest, I just wanted my first Severn barbel. Meat had worked well on The Wye but I wasn't convinced here - so I set up a second rod fishing a 16mm pellet...

To cut a long day short - fishing about 100 yards apart - only one bite between us in 12 hours (48 rod-hours). A barbel fell for the pellet - and what a barbel - it's always better to be lucky than good!!


One bite, one fish - 12lb 2oz - that'll do!


What a way to open my Severn account!!

Shooting James 2

Day 2: James & the camera crew slept in bivvies - I crashed out in the car - was up before dawn, while James was in hair & make up (not really, they were waiting for enough light) - I headed onto The Wye...


Great start - 8lb 13oz - luncheon meat accounting for all the fish.


Followed by - 9lb 7oz - rolled or very light ledger.


Surviving trespassers will be shot again.


Well over time now - 7lb 7oz - as the sun came out.


And 5lb 7oz - before hacking it back to London.

Shooting James 1

Day 1: James was doing a Drennen video, did I want to come down? Ummm. It's on a private stretch of the River Wye. Hell yeah! Water conditions weren't great after the recent rain - but it was very interesting to see how it was filmed. Did I take a rod with me?


Of course! First up - 8lb 0oz - they were feeding in the flood.


Oi you London folk - Get off my land!


Next up - 8lb 15oz - the business end.


Quick Pez - taste of America (can't get Pibb Xtra here).


And 9lb 5oz - thanks for the invite James - a fantastic day!