Man Against The Elements

 Would you believe that the last time I actually fished was January 9th when I won an open match at Windmill Fishery. I don't mind missing a bit of a fishing at this time of year if the weather and water conditions are not great, and sitting in the sun sipping rum is much more appealing. However, I was really itching to fish again this weekend knowing that Sunday was my only opportunity to go for another two weeks. The weather forecast was horrendous and I decided that rather than try to get on a match and maybe have the wind in my face, I would fish the river somewhere. I went with my wife to watch Rovers on Saturday and Glenn Bailey and Shaun Townsend were also there, and Shaun told me the river had been pants and he wasn't going on it till the last week or two. Hmmm that was not what I wanted to hear, but as I had purchased a pint of casters and maggots they weren't going to be wasted.

I've got to be honest when I woke up Sunday morning and heard the wind I wasn't feeling so keen on going. Not long after the rain began and I was really not sure this was going to be a good idea! The desire to go fishing was greater though and I decided to do one of my limited tackle approaches and get up to Swineford. I mixed some Sweet Skimmer and brown crumb up in my shed and popped that into my Preston EVA grounbait bowl along with my maggots, casters and some worms. In my little Preston Hardcase accessory bag (I've had this for about 7 years) I had my feeders, reel, some hooks, line, disgorger, scissors and a drink and a bit of grub. I took my 12 foot 6 Supera with 2oz tip, landing net and pole and that was it. When I got to Swineford the rain and wind was nasty and I could see by the direction that getting on a peg in the second field would give me a little protection from this, I got in 17 and the willow tree on my left would give a little respite from the elements. The river was clear but I was expecting a little colour to come in it as I fished, my view from the bank.

My minimal set up, everything I took with me is in this picture, I found a branch and used that as bank stick + rod rest. 

As I was threading the line through the rod eyes (I use some 8lb Korum line) I realised I had no glasses with me, but luckily I can still do things just about without them even if it takes me a little longer. I attached a 28g open end feeder with 0.17 powerline to 14 N50. It was just gone 11am and I had my first cast, I spent 25 minutes of regular casts down the middle to get some casters in and then had 35 minutes of waiting longer for a bite. I never had a bite on this, but no matter I thought this might come good later with more colour, but now switched to a 40g large maggot feeder. With the wind swirling around it makes just holding the rod at times tricky, well that's my excuse for the first cast going to far and over the branch in the water lol. Somehow I got everything back but had to tie a new hook length as it had gone curly. My first three casts in the water were uneventful, but on my fourth I had a hell of a drop back, but no fish attached and the bait was not touched. Next cast and after a short wait another drop back and before I could pick the rod up it pulled back round, fish on! I had to reel in a lot of line from the bow and I think I was a little slow on the uptake, and soon enough the fish was off and must have hit a snag as the line was snapped halfway back, grrrrr.

Next cast and the feeder rolled a couple of times so I decided to reel it back in soon after, as I was reeling back in the rod went over, what the hell? I had something on but it was fighting funny and not like a chub just slow, then it was gone. I thought must have foul hooked something, but then I sw the hook was gone, I reckon it was a pike went for the three spinning maggots on the hook and it bit me off. I was a bit naffed off having to tie another hook on straight after the other. A couple of casts later another decent bite and fish on, I was giving this one no quarter and even though it was trying to get further across I had it away from the snags, no further issues and a 2lb+ chub was panned, blank avoided.

The next few casts were all quiet and it seemed there was no chub fest going to happen, and I was thinking that this was going to be a one fish day. Out of the blue I had another bite and was attached to another chub but this one was much heavier and I was pleased to keep it under control in that first 8 or 10 second nervous tug of war. I gave it a fair bit of stick to keep it from going downstream and it was soon popping up and in the net. This one was a lovely bronze colour and I would have said it was a 4lb chub which is up there with the biggest I have had.

I think it was just a few casts later when I hooked another chub but sadly this one just came off for some reason, ah well chub 2 Tim 2. I wasn't giving up despite my hands being cold and everything being soaked, a couple of swans came up looking for food and I obliged them with some casters which they smashed down in no time. The flow was picking up and I needed to go to a 45g feeder to help keep everything in a place.

Things were quiet and I was thinking of going back on the groundbait feeder until I could take no more of the weather, but then another bite came and again the tug of war ensued! Again I got the fish away from the snags, but it was a good one and made me back wind on a few occasions, when it popped up the first time on the surface it looked bigger than the last one. When in the net I could see it was my best chub ever, and picking it up to get the hook out it was really heavy. I have no scales so can't be certain, but I would have said it was going to be a 5lb fish, very thick and fat bodied.  Being on my own and trying to protect the phone these are the best pictures I could take sadly.

I persevered with the maggot feeder, but then had a snag with damaged the hook length. It was 2pm and I thought this was the time to call it a day and pack up, so I never got to try the caster line after all. The swans were chuffed though with all the bait I gave them, and I 'd like to think I have helped them through the winter a little bit.

Walking back with the wind and rain my face was a challenge but other than my hands I was feeling warm and was oh so happy with my catch today. It just goes to show that having a bit of get up and go, or damn stupidity to go out in this weather, you can get a reward. Had I stayed at home I would have not had my biggest chub today and not had another memory to add to the collection. I cannot fish next weekend with more travels for football and a birthday, but then weather permitting I'll be fishing the River Tone festival and that will be my next blog post.