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5 Weeks Left

Posted: Fri Feb 08 2019 22:58
by Fentiger01
What's your plans?

I'm on the hunt now and have booked the first week of March on leave. As I get older, the river season seem to get shorter.......

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sat Feb 09 2019 01:16
by dropped_run
Catch something decent local!

I've had the best season for numbers for zeds out of flowing water. Trip average has been good but size has been terrible. All on lures.

Stillwater has been an absolute waste of time. Breaking my balls and my back on it. I almost got the bait gear out for the first time in years.
Five venues, a big one out of one, very very big for the venue actually although not massive by national standards. Ones been a complete blank, ones been micro ones while perching and the other two have been very low numbers.

Only have time for three trips left on the rivers, if the conditions play ball, which really hasn't been the case this season. I can honestly say I haven't been out in perfect conditions once. Seems to have been the driest year I can ever remember.

Few trips on the still waters until they start to nest then leave them alone and switch to bass and chub.

It's been a bizarre year personally and I haven't done myself any kind of justice for the hours that I've put in. That's all going to change from October. Got to do better.

I bet you're super chilled about it now Dave, after earlier results?

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sat Feb 09 2019 08:04
by Fentiger01
Hi James,

Totally agree with what you say ref the weather, it's all been a bit bizarre this year.

I've tried to put in a load of effort this year but in reality, it seems like I've hardly been in ages and here we have the end of the season looming already. I am fairly chilled but I would like another crack at the river when its in fine trim.

Rather than compete with everyone during the last week, I've taken the first week in March off to try and get an edge. I'll hopefully get a few good sessions from the boat and bank.

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sat Feb 09 2019 17:56
by Monts
It would be nice to have some good conditions wise in the final weeks, the summer was dire owing to the heat and low levels. I left the main rivers alone and fished small pacy streams for Chub and Trout, From mid-October until very early January the decent Perch over three pounds put in an appearance and Pike to low doubles all on lures. At this time of year, I'm looking to have caught ten plus Perch over three pounds in weight, but not this season. I've not had one Chub over five pounds this season also.

January was dire, low and gin clear. At present, the rivers I fish are bank high and dirty. The long range forecast is looking good weather-wise for the next couple of weeks so fingers crossed. But the highlight thus far was in the early Autumn, had a couple of nice fish. But spotted my first Hobby in around ten years, and had a Barn Owl sitting in a tree above me for twenty minutes. But every time I pulled the camera out he or she? Jumped up a branch and out of view, before flying off home to bed, that made my day. It's not often to see them that close.

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sun Feb 10 2019 23:02
by dropped_run
Fentiger01 wrote: Sat Feb 09 2019 08:04 -
Hi James,

Totally agree with what you say ref the weather, it's all been a bit bizarre this year.

I've tried to put in a load of effort this year but in reality, it seems like I've hardly been in ages and here we have the end of the season looming already. I am fairly chilled but I would like another crack at the river when its in fine trim.

Rather than compete with everyone during the last week, I've taken the first week in March off to try and get an edge. I'll hopefully get a few good sessions from the boat and bank.

12 hours chucking lures and rowing about today. One mangy Jack. Tearing my hair out now :hammer:
Still my flask was nice.

Starting to wish I'd never sold my ET sneakers now. And thats saying something as I haven't used bait for six years!

Someone stick a pic of a zander up so I can remember what they look like

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Mon Feb 11 2019 08:45
by Jason Skilton
Blanked for the first time on the river this season......at last light the river then was alive for a short period with roach topping...

Plan is to continue the search for the river twenty.

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Mon Feb 11 2019 20:46
by Fentiger01
Monts wrote: Sat Feb 09 2019 17:56 -
It would be nice to have some good conditions wise in the final weeks, the summer was dire owing to the heat and low levels.
It has been a funny year in terms of conditions I think Monts but you're right, it'd be lovely to have a good last couple of weeks worth of conditions.

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Mon Feb 11 2019 20:58
by pete webster
dropped_run wrote: Sun Feb 10 2019 23:02 -
Fentiger01 wrote: Sat Feb 09 2019 08:04 -
Hi James,

Totally agree with what you say ref the weather, it's all been a bit bizarre this year.

I've tried to put in a load of effort this year but in reality, it seems like I've hardly been in ages and here we have the end of the season looming already. I am fairly chilled but I would like another crack at the river when its in fine trim.

Rather than compete with everyone during the last week, I've taken the first week in March off to try and get an edge. I'll hopefully get a few good sessions from the boat and bank.

12 hours chucking lures and rowing about today. One mangy Jack. Tearing my hair out now :hammer:
Still my flask was nice.

Starting to wish I'd never sold my ET sneakers now. And thats saying something as I haven't used bait for six years!

Someone stick a pic of a zander up so I can remember what they look like
Here you go mate
PB Zander 11lb2.jpg

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Mon Feb 11 2019 20:59
by suffolk si
One more twenty would be nice to make it my seasons best tally but I’m relatively happy with how the seasons gone👍

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Tue Feb 12 2019 14:20
by dropped_run
pete webster wrote: Mon Feb 11 2019 20:58 -
dropped_run wrote: Sun Feb 10 2019 23:02 -
Fentiger01 wrote: Sat Feb 09 2019 08:04 -
Hi James,

Totally agree with what you say ref the weather, it's all been a bit bizarre this year.

I've tried to put in a load of effort this year but in reality, it seems like I've hardly been in ages and here we have the end of the season looming already. I am fairly chilled but I would like another crack at the river when its in fine trim.

Rather than compete with everyone during the last week, I've taken the first week in March off to try and get an edge. I'll hopefully get a few good sessions from the boat and bank.

12 hours chucking lures and rowing about today. One mangy Jack. Tearing my hair out now :hammer:
Still my flask was nice.

Starting to wish I'd never sold my ET sneakers now. And thats saying something as I haven't used bait for six years!

Someone stick a pic of a zander up so I can remember what they look like
Here you go mate
PB Zander 11lb2.jpg

Cheers Pete. That'd do! Love when they are dark like that.

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Tue Feb 12 2019 20:26
by Fentiger01
:thumbs: Nice photo Webbo.

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Tue Feb 12 2019 22:04
by pete webster
dropped_run wrote: Tue Feb 12 2019 14:20 -
pete webster wrote: Mon Feb 11 2019 20:58 -
dropped_run wrote: Sun Feb 10 2019 23:02 -
Fentiger01 wrote: Sat Feb 09 2019 08:04 -
Hi James,

Totally agree with what you say ref the weather, it's all been a bit bizarre this year.

I've tried to put in a load of effort this year but in reality, it seems like I've hardly been in ages and here we have the end of the season looming already. I am fairly chilled but I would like another crack at the river when its in fine trim.

Rather than compete with everyone during the last week, I've taken the first week in March off to try and get an edge. I'll hopefully get a few good sessions from the boat and bank.

12 hours chucking lures and rowing about today. One mangy Jack. Tearing my hair out now :hammer:
Still my flask was nice.

Starting to wish I'd never sold my ET sneakers now. And thats saying something as I haven't used bait for six years!

Someone stick a pic of a zander up so I can remember what they look like
Here you go mate
PB Zander 11lb2.jpg

Cheers Pete. That'd do! Love when they are dark like that.
:thumbs: :thumbs:

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Fri Feb 15 2019 14:25
by Monts
Fentiger01 wrote: Mon Feb 11 2019 20:46 -
Monts wrote: Sat Feb 09 2019 17:56 -
It would be nice to have some good conditions wise in the final weeks, the summer was dire owing to the heat and low levels.
It has been a funny year in terms of conditions I think Monts but you're right, it'd be lovely to have a good last couple of weeks worth of conditions.


Conditions are looking very good, lures and tackle all ready for a full day on the river tomorrow. Really looking forward to as it happens. :thumbs:

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Fri Feb 15 2019 16:49
by Fentiger01
Monts wrote: Fri Feb 15 2019 14:25 -
Fentiger01 wrote: Mon Feb 11 2019 20:46 -
Monts wrote: Sat Feb 09 2019 17:56 -
It would be nice to have some good conditions wise in the final weeks, the summer was dire owing to the heat and low levels.
It has been a funny year in terms of conditions I think Monts but you're right, it'd be lovely to have a good last couple of weeks worth of conditions.
Conditions are looking very good, lures and tackle all ready for a full day on the river tomorrow. Really looking forward to as it happens. :thumbs:
17 degrees on car temperature gauge on way home this afternoon - weekend is supposed to be mild with good cloud cover - forecasts don't get better than that for me. :laughs:

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sat Feb 16 2019 00:32
by dropped_run
Poxy windy and my boat partner has food poisoning. Necessitates a venue change therefore going to be another struggle for me this weekend. I've abandoned all previous tactics and thought up a load of new ones. If I get a bite I'll be happy!

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sat Feb 16 2019 06:45
by Monts
dropped_run wrote: Sat Feb 16 2019 00:32 -
Poxy windy and my boat partner has food poisoning. Necessitates a venue change therefore going to be another struggle for me this weekend. I've abandoned all previous tactics and thought up a load of new ones. If I get a bite I'll be happy!
That's the spirit positive James. :laughs: Right I'm set for the off. :thumbs:

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sat Feb 16 2019 10:14
by Fentiger01
Usual Saturday jobs for me today I'm afraid, hopefully this awesome morning's weather will continue into tomorrow when I'll be on it! :cool: :cool: :cool:

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sat Feb 16 2019 15:21
by dropped_run
Monts wrote: Sat Feb 16 2019 06:45 -
dropped_run wrote: Sat Feb 16 2019 00:32 -
Poxy windy and my boat partner has food poisoning. Necessitates a venue change therefore going to be another struggle for me this weekend. I've abandoned all previous tactics and thought up a load of new ones. If I get a bite I'll be happy!
That's the spirit positive James. :laughs: Right I'm set for the off. :thumbs:
I didn't even get out of bed in the end. Utter loss of motivation last night. Bought a new (for me) alphas off Karl /Jeanette so I'm going for a walk and to flick a few shads about.
Haven't bank fished in freshwater for a year so if you don't hear from me, I've fallen in!

How did you get on?

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sat Feb 16 2019 19:06
by Monts
dropped_run wrote: Sat Feb 16 2019 15:21 -
Monts wrote: Sat Feb 16 2019 06:45 -
dropped_run wrote: Sat Feb 16 2019 00:32 -
Poxy windy and my boat partner has food poisoning. Necessitates a venue change therefore going to be another struggle for me this weekend. I've abandoned all previous tactics and thought up a load of new ones. If I get a bite I'll be happy!
That's the spirit positive James. :laughs: Right I'm set for the off. :thumbs:
I didn't even get out of bed in the end. Utter loss of motivation last night. Bought a new (for me) alphas off Karl /Jeanette so I'm going for a walk and to flick a few shads about.
Haven't bank fished in freshwater for a year so if you don't hear from me, I've fallen in!

How did you get on?

Caked in mud, from top to toe, fished a club ticket that has a better Pike pedigree than my two other club tickets. But it's much, much busier than what I'm used too. But I'm not going to get a river twenty unless I chance my arm along here. Barbel anglers out in force as to be expected given the conditions, in eight hours of throwing lures I managed one micro Jack and maybe a scrapper double. I've learnt today that "Pike anglers are a pain in the a**e as we make to much noise". This from a man who was casting a bag of pellets in every ten minutes that sounded like a depth charge. The said man then and came and stood on my Fooler as I unhooked the better of the two fish and somehow bent the third eye from the rod tip. And then goes onto to say " That must weigh around 18-pound mate". I bloody wish!

I covered around eight miles of the river up and down and I'm knackered. Perhaps I should stick to my Perch and peace and quiet, I'm not really suited to fishing alongside other anglers. But watching out and out Barbel anglers makes me smile, it reminds me of me ten years ago. So blinkered it is untrue and all dressed up in reel tree and grim looking faces, rods in the air like a twelve gun salute, but fishing under there feet to a near bank feature.

Still enjoyed myself mind you, but I was hoping for a far better return. :grin:

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Tue Mar 05 2019 17:40
by piker60
Out hunting a big back end Barbel. Turned up on Sunday for the day in storm whatever it was called and no one else was on the stretch :thumbs:. Wangled a nice one out in the dark. Not long to go now :thumbs: and long may the close season continue.

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Thu Mar 07 2019 19:42
by Mark Phillips
Weather dependant, I usually switch over to carp around this time of year. As things warmed up so much, it was end of February this year, so my pike fishing is now over until next winter :smile:

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Thu Mar 07 2019 21:50
by norwich lad
Been doing chub fishing mainly last couple weeks and doing well. went today had 4,lost 1 and pricked 2. p****d down all afternoon but very enjoyable. will get the pike rods out next weds again before its over for another season. like the close season,but plan to do some tench/bream fishing on a stillwater. the season seems to go so quick as you get older.

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sat Mar 09 2019 18:54
by Monts
norwich lad wrote: Thu Mar 07 2019 21:50 -
Been doing chub fishing mainly last couple weeks and doing well. went today had 4,lost 1 and pricked 2. p****d down all afternoon but very enjoyable. will get the pike rods out next weds again before its over for another season. like the close season,but plan to do some tench/bream fishing on a stillwater. the season seems to go so quick as you get older.
Yep, they do seem to fly by as you get older, one minute it's June the 16th and a dawn start, then you blink and it's March the 14th. Today was as expected hard work, but you have to try your luck. :thumbs:

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sun Mar 10 2019 17:06
by Fentiger01
norwich lad wrote: Thu Mar 07 2019 21:50 -
the season seems to go so quick as you get older.
That is so true mate! :thumbs:

I've had this week off work, Monday the river was as low as it could be and gin clear - dramatic amount of wind around, 1 Pike about 6lbs.

Wednesday, the river was 6ft up and rising, wind horrendous - absolutely gale force. Blank session.
Thursday, as above. Blank session.
Friday, as above. Blank session.
Saturday - didn't fish - family time.

Sunday - river coming down a little although wind still horrendous. Had a great little early morning Zed session for a really nice result. :laughs: :laughs: :laughs:

Season done now, its been a bit of a new one in terms of approach from me but it has definitely paid off. :thumbs:

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sun Mar 10 2019 19:51
by dropped_run
I gave up on zeds and switched to just fishing for fun.

All within 25 minutes walk from my house, had five 3lb plus perch (although there may have been one recapture in there) and a 5-5 chub which was also a lure caught PB. Change is as good as a rest, as they say.

The ned rig really is as good as they say- I was an absolute sceptic and proved hopelessly wrong.

Re: 5 Weeks Left

Posted: Sun Mar 10 2019 20:08
by Fentiger01
I may sneak out after work on Tuesday to a local swim for a last gasp bash. :laughs: :laughs: :laughs: