Bluemoon Angling Thread

Saddleworth2 said:
Ok if there was ever a tv programme to galvanise us it is channel 4s drama documentary ‘Dirty Business’ about how our water companies are poisoning our rivers and seas in order to make massive money. The Environmental Agency that polices them is as useful as a chocolate teapot. Every river in England and Wales. Polluted by untreated sewage. Enough is enough. Time to take water into national control.
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You are Fergal Sharkey and I claim my five pounds!!

Seriously though, it is a fucking travesty what goes on with the water companies and there should be a class action against the lot of them!!
 
Beautiful. Love the snow on the jagged peaks in the background.

I've been out, myself, last couple of days but not to anywhere as stunning as that. The Ribble, in the rain on Monday was solid with small chub and Dace until a pike moved in and started taking them off the hook. Big fish too, we reckon about 18 lbs but we didn't have the tackle to get it out. His card is marked though.

Then, yesterday, it was the Severn which was bank-high and very hard going. I managed 3 decent chub and a dace. In complete contrast to your photos, it was a sea of mud which gets a bit wearing after a bit.
 
Newman Noggs said:
Beautiful. Love the snow on the jagged peaks in the background.

I've been out, myself, last couple of days but not to anywhere as stunning as that. The Ribble, in the rain on Monday was solid with small chub and Dace until a pike moved in and started taking them off the hook. Big fish too, we reckon about 18 lbs but we didn't have the tackle to get it out. His card is marked though.

Then, yesterday, it was the Severn which was bank-high and very hard going. I managed 3 decent chub and a dace. In complete contrast to your photos, it was a sea of mud which gets a bit wearing after a bit.
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I’ve lived here for almost 37 years, days like today still blow my mind
 
Went for a.little walk yesterday.
Started at the Anderton boat lift, headed away from northwich, along the canal.
Dropped down on to the weaver about a mile in. Walked along the weaver till I got to the rowing club, where I sat and scoffed my butties.
Did not see a single sign of fish, not one.
Lots of cormarants though, which I kidded myself at least it was a good sign that fish were present.
The river was chocolate brown, but hardly any flow.
Got the binos out and watched the lilly pads where you'd expect to see fish, but nothing.
The river looked dead. No wildlife, hardly any birds. One squirrel.
No anglers litter anywhere, and you always see a bit of it on popular stretches if we're honest.
This stretch of the weaver is dead.
Walked back up to the canal and finally saw a fish top.
So ten miles walked, saw one fish.
Drove home feeling a bit sad
 
crublue1 said:
Went for a.little walk yesterday.
Started at the Anderton boat lift, headed away from northwich, along the canal.
Dropped down on to the weaver about a mile in. Walked along the weaver till I got to the rowing club, where I sat and scoffed my butties.
Did not see a single sign of fish, not one.
Lots of cormarants though, which I kidded myself at least it was a good sign that fish were present.
The river was chocolate brown, but hardly any flow.
Got the binos out and watched the lilly pads where you'd expect to see fish, but nothing.
The river looked dead. No wildlife, hardly any birds. One squirrel.
No anglers litter anywhere, and you always see a bit of it on popular stretches if we're honest.
This stretch of the weaver is dead.
Walked back up to the canal and finally saw a fish top.
So ten miles walked, saw one fish.
Drove home feeling a bit sad
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Early days yet mate. Chin up !
 
Newman Noggs said:
Early days yet mate. Chin up !
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That's what I thought, but I got the feeling something was wrong. It seemed devoid of life to me. A sunny day, I'd expect to see signs.
You're probably right, and I'm doom and gloom since watching that dirty business programme.
 
crublue1 said:
That's what I thought, but I got the feeling something was wrong. It seemed devoid of life to me. A sunny day, I'd expect to see signs.
You're probably right, and I'm doom and gloom since watching that dirty business programme.
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I know what you mean. My fishing partner starts claiming somewhere has been "ottered" or "cormoranted" if we haven't had a bite after an hour. If it's any encouragement, he's never been right.

Also, for example, a lot has been written about the "death" of the Wye and it's indisputable that the decline in the salmon population has been catastrophic. However, we have had a week there in June every year for 9 years and there has been no discernable drop off in the chub and barbel fishing. We keep records so we know that for a fact.

So don't be too despondent.
 
Season opened on Saturday and we got a lovely break in the weather. The wind dropped and the sun shone albeit it was still parky. We got piped down to the water, toasted the new season with a dram and off we went. My boat partner and I had over 40 fish by lunch on an asortment of lures and smaller stuff. Among them some very nice Brownies and Bows ranging from 2lb - 6lb. Lunch was bacon sarnies provided by the fishery owners which was v nice. Afternoon the fish wised up a bit and in a shortish session we only caught another 4. I finished with 23 in all which is a pretty good haul. That included 4 double hook ups with all of them landed. Rod average was around 12.

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Back at Coldingham yesterday as perfect conditions. Overcast, mild for the time of year, light wind...
It always fascinates me how quickly trout learn. Having had a thorough hammering, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, (Tuesday was cancelled because of strong winds) I expected similar tactics to work. Not a bit of it. They were uninterested in lures or anything of any size. I ended up fishing a small blob on the top dropper to act as an attractor and a couple of size 14 black Diawl Bachs on the middle and the point. If you could find a feeding fish (rising) and cast accurately at it, it would take one of the Diawls and when I say take I mean almost wrench the rod out of your hand. Very few came to the Diawls blind. I finished by three with ten fish but it was a testing session. I chopped and changed methods at lesat half a dozen times before I found the key. Its what makes fishing so utterly fascinating.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
Back at Coldingham yesterday as perfect conditions. Overcast, mild for the time of year, light wind...
It always fascinates me how quickly trout learn. Having had a thorough hammering, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, (Tuesday was cancelled because of strong winds) I expected similar tactics to work. Not a bit of it. They were uninterested in lures or anything of any size. I ended up fishing a small blob on the top dropper to act as an attractor and a couple of size 14 black Diawl Bachs on the middle and the point. If you could find a feeding fish (rising) and cast accurately at it, it would take one of the Diawls and when I say take I mean almost wrench the rod out of your hand. Very few came to the Diawls blind. I finished by three with ten fish but it was a testing session. I chopped and changed methods at lesat half a dozen times before I found the key. Its what makes fishing so utterly fascinating.
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Indeed. You can apply that to every form of fishing. I've lost count of the number of times I've had a good day and thought "I've cracked it", only to try the exact same thing, in the same place, another day and struggled badly.
 
Newman Noggs said:
Anyone on here ( @Saddleworth2 I'm looking at you) been to the more remote areas of Scotland for your fishing. We're looking for somewhere with no people to annoy us.
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I haven't fished it extensively. I spent a few days at the Scourie Hotel that has fishing for more lochs than you can count. The setup there is interesting as you have your name put on a board when you arrive and every day you stay your name moves up the board. That determines what order guests choose the loch they want to fish the next day. some lochs are accessible some require a hike to get to. Some hold monsters and others a mix. Its remote but good company at night in the bar. I have mates that do Orkney every year and others that swear by the Machair lochs on Uist. The Durness Limestone lochs are also a good choice in Durness are challenging but a good choice too. I have a soft spot for Lewis and Harris but am no expert on its best fishing - I have fished on the Borve estate and it has a choice of Brownies, Sea Trout and Salmon (at the right time of year). Lots of fishing hotels up there hold the fishing rights. Some amazing salmon rivers too if you are lucky enough to get on them. Not my specialist subject i'm afraid. If you decide to go get a guide or gillie at least to start as the choice is huge and there are as many duff waters as great ones.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
I haven't fished it extensively. I spent a few days at the Scourie Hotel that has fishing for more lochs than you can count. The setup there is interesting as you have your name put on a board when you arrive and every day you stay your name moves up the board. That determines what order guests choose the loch they want to fish the next day. some lochs are accessible some require a hike to get to. Some hold monsters and others a mix. Its remote but good company at night in the bar. I have mates that do Orkney every year and others that swear by the Machair lochs on Uist. The Durness Limestone lochs are also a good choice in Durness are challenging but a good choice too. I have a soft spot for Lewis and Harris but am no expert on its best fishing - I have fished on the Borve estate and it has a choice of Brownies, Sea Trout and Salmon (at the right time of year). Lots of fishing hotels up there hold the fishing rights. Some amazing salmon rivers too if you are lucky enough to get on them. Not my specialist subject i'm afraid. If you decide to go get a guide or gillie at least to start as the choice is huge and there are as many duff waters as great ones.
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Thanks. I'll get my mate to do some research.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
I haven't fished it extensively. I spent a few days at the Scourie Hotel that has fishing for more lochs than you can count. The setup there is interesting as you have your name put on a board when you arrive and every day you stay your name moves up the board. That determines what order guests choose the loch they want to fish the next day. some lochs are accessible some require a hike to get to. Some hold monsters and others a mix. Its remote but good company at night in the bar. I have mates that do Orkney every year and others that swear by the Machair lochs on Uist. The Durness Limestone lochs are also a good choice in Durness are challenging but a good choice too. I have a soft spot for Lewis and Harris but am no expert on its best fishing - I have fished on the Borve estate and it has a choice of Brownies, Sea Trout and Salmon (at the right time of year). Lots of fishing hotels up there hold the fishing rights. Some amazing salmon rivers too if you are lucky enough to get on them. Not my specialist subject i'm afraid. If you decide to go get a guide or gillie at least to start as the choice is huge and there are as many duff waters as great ones.
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I do wonder if there are untapped gems in terms of course (bream and roach) fishing up there. I suspect there are, but obviously the focus is on the game fishing.
 
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