Bluemoon Angling Thread

[Didsbury Dave]

I used to love fishing the Dane. I fished it a lot in the early 80s. One of my favourite pegs was the small weir(opposite water treatment plant) between Byley bridge and Croxton. Myself and 2 mates snook on there about a week before the glorious 16th june opening day.

My mate Gaz fished a float under the Weir sill, he had 8 barbel, best around 8.5lb. my other mate Ian fished in the middle and he caught 7 barbel. I fished on the end where it runs off to shallow up catching 6 barbel. Another memorable day on the Dane.

I remember fishing just upstream of M6-J19 when it was day ticket, mid to late 80s. Brand new Maxima 8lb line on that day and was smashed off on the first run. Probably a carp as double figure barbel were few and far between on the Dane back then. Never had a carp of any size on there though. Come to think of it, I can't remember catching any on the Dane.

That sounds like an unbelievable session - I know the very spot!

I caught two carp from the same area: immediately downstream of the bridge at Croxton Lane. You walked along the canal for maybe half a mile or so and then ducked down to the river. The area I caught them from had a big canal basin right next to it so my assumption is that anglers had transferred them. I used to see a golden orfe and a ghost carp sometimes at the Manor Farm stretch too.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

That sounds like an unbelievable session - I know the very spot!

I caught two carp from the same area: immediately downstream of the bridge at Croxton Lane. You walked along the canal for maybe half a mile or so and then ducked down to the river. The area I caught them from had a big canal basin right next to it so my assumption is that anglers had transferred them. I used to see a golden orfe and a ghost carp sometimes at the Manor Farm stretch too.

The Dane was a cracking river before getting polluted (like you mentioned). One of my favourite pegs was just down from the Weir inbetween the confluence of where the tiny river Croco merges. We used to call it the tin wall peg as it had a corrugated Iron far wall that had a glide of around 3ft sheilded by overhanging bushes. Many a good day trotting a stick float with a bait apron on. Gently flicking it out to 6" of the wall was perfect, then eagerly anticipating a bite. Then whallop, float disappears to see my 13ft Fothergill&Harvey spliced tip rod arch into another chub between 2-4lb.

As for golden Orf and ghost carp, I used to be a member of Warrington AA for a couple of years around 1990. They had some good waters including about 5 small ponds near the village of Antrabus. I caught quite a few decent orf to around 5lb on Lymnvale, but their ponds were far more interesting species wise. Ghosties blue carp, orf, golden tench etc. I never knew what to expect: )

 

[Didsbury Dave]

The Dane was a cracking river before getting polluted (like you mentioned). One of my favourite pegs was just down from the Weir inbetween the confluence of where the tiny river Croco merges. We used to call it the tin wall peg as it had a corrugated Iron far wall that had a glide of around 3ft sheilded by overhanging bushes. Many a good day trotting a stick float with a bait apron on. Gently flicking it out to 6" of the wall was perfect, then eagerly anticipating a bite. Then whallop, float disappears to see my 13ft Fothergill&Harvey spliced tip rod arch into another chub between 2-4lb.

As for golden Orf and ghost carp, I used to be a member of Warrington AA for a couple of years around 1990. They had some good waters including about 5 small ponds near the village of Antrabus. I caught quite a few decent orf to around 5lb on Lymnvale, but their ponds were far more interesting species wise. Ghosties blue carp, orf, golden tench etc. I never knew what to expect: )

I know that Dane peg. I used to freeline slugs for chub.

I was a regular on Lymmvale for about 6 or 7 years back in the late 90s. Had my first 20lb carp from there, and lots of PBs, including a 9-2 tench and a 7-11 chub. The latter two are PBs even to this day. I think my Lymmvale days were some of the best in my fishing life, where I really learned how to catch carp. It was stunning water. My mate caught the two big cats (which are still there now I think) within an hour. I can't remember the weights but in the 40s I think.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

I know that Dane peg. I used to freeline slugs for chub.

I was a regular on Lymmvale for about 6 or 7 years back in the late 90s. Had my first 20lb carp from there, and lots of PBs, including a 9-2 tench and a 7-11 chub. The latter two are PBs even to this day. I think my Lymmvale days were some of the best in my fishing life, where I really learned how to catch carp. It was stunning water. My mate caught the two big cats (which are still there now I think) within an hour. I can't remember the weights but in the 40s I think.

Wow, your PB Tench and Chub are impressive mate. Mine are quite low at around 6lb and 5lb, so I can hope to beat them in the future. Not fished anywhere near what I'd have liked the last 20 years due to family commitments and working away.

I'd really like to catch a tench that size. Is Lymmvale still as good nowadays?

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Wow, your PB Tench and Chub are impressive mate. Mine are quite low at around 6lb and 5lb, so I can hope to beat them in the future. Not fished anywhere near what I'd have liked the last 20 years due to family commitments and working away.

I'd really like to catch a tench that size. Is Lymmvale still as good nowadays?

It's not as good, no. There was a disease about 15 years ago which affected the stock. From what I can gather the carp fishing is just as good, the catfishing better (those big ones are massive now) but the tench are much smaller. I used to get up to 20 tench sometimes whilst carp fishing and they'd all be in the 5-9lb range. I actually learned how to avoid them after a while which upped my carp catches.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

It's not as good, no. There was a disease about 15 years ago which affected the stock. From what I can gather the carp fishing is just as good, the catfishing better (those big ones are massive now) but the tench are much smaller. I used to get up to 20 tench sometimes whilst carp fishing and they'd all be in the 5-9lb range. I actually learned how to avoid them after a while which upped my carp catches.

How big do the cats go in there?

 

[Didsbury Dave]

How big do the cats go in there?

Big. As I say, my mate had 2 in the 40s 15-20 years ago and I'm pretty sure they are still alive. Give me 5 mintes to check and I'll let you know. I know where they hang out and how to catch them, too ;-)

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Big. As I say, my mate had 2 in the 40s 15-20 years ago and I'm pretty sure they are still alive. Give me 5 mintes to check and I'll let you know. I know where they hang out and how to catch them, too ;-)

Just checked and the biggest was 65lb two years ago. 15-20 of them in there of a good size (several over 40) and some small ones which have spawned naturally.

 

[BlueMoonRisin’]

Just checked and the biggest was 65lb two years ago. 15-20 of them in there of a good size (several over 40) and some small ones which have spawned naturally.

That's a good size for a northern English stillwater. I may have to rejoin and put a spare rod out for them. Mind you, my Daiwa cat rods and Shimano reels are far too beefy, plus my reels are loaded with 120lb braid at the moment.

It's either Warrington or Prince Albert I join. How much is Warrington AA to join these days?

 

[Didsbury Dave]

That's a good size for a northern English stillwater. I may have to rejoin and put a spare rod out for them. Mind you, my Daiwa cat rods and Shimano reels are far too beefy, plus my reels are loaded with 120lb braid at the moment.

It's either Warrington or Prince Albert I join. How much is Warrington AA to join these days?

I don’t know. I’m in paas and a few others. Lymmvale is on the Lymm ticket. Let me know if you go to the vale as I can help you find those cats.