Bluemoon Angling Thread

[crublue1]

They can be quite fiesty.
I hooked a swan once. It was not a pretty outcome.

Hooked plenty of ducks but never a swan.
Your comment reminded me of something that happened to me many years ago.
I was fishing one of the cheshire meres, on a long sesh, 4 or 5 nights I think. Anyway i'd noticed this swan behaving strangely, hard to describe but it seemed in distress, and the other swans were avoiding it. Binos out and I could see line coming out of its beak. It had obviously swallowed a hookbait (not one of mine) and couldn't get rid, and it was clear it couldn't feed. I decided to try and catch it to see if I could free the hook.
I tempted it with bread and eventually caught it in my landing net (it took fucking ages) After much wrestling with it, I more or less had to stand on its neck to get a look down its throat, I could see the hook but it was too far down to get at it.
I knew it would die if I did nothing, so I decided to take it to the rspca, which wasn't that far away, maybe 5 miles.
I wrapped it up in my unhooking mat, and put it on the back seat of the motor, and off I set. At first it was quite calm, but after a bit it started panicking, making a right fuss. I thought it would be fine, but after a while the fucker escaped and started flapping like fuck inside the car. There was feathers and shite everywhere. Turns out swans have a bigger wingspan than I'd imagined, it seemed to fill the fucking car up lol. I can laugh now but at the time I proper shit it, just stopped the car and got the fuck out. I left the door open but it wouldn't get out, ffs this was at the side of a main road god knows what passing cars must have thought.
Anyway I eventually managed to get it to the rspca, where I gratefully handed it over to a member of staff.
The car stank of shit for weeks.
The swan made a full recovery, which is more than can be said for me.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Hooked plenty of ducks but never a swan.
Your comment reminded me of something that happened to me many years ago.
I was fishing one of the cheshire meres, on a long sesh, 4 or 5 nights I think. Anyway i'd noticed this swan behaving strangely, hard to describe but it seemed in distress, and the other swans were avoiding it. Binos out and I could see line coming out of its beak. It had obviously swallowed a hookbait (not one of mine) and couldn't get rid, and it was clear it couldn't feed. I decided to try and catch it to see if I could free the hook.
I tempted it with bread and eventually caught it in my landing net (it took fucking ages) After much wrestling with it, I more or less had to stand on its neck to get a look down its throat, I could see the hook but it was too far down to get at it.
I knew it would die if I did nothing, so I decided to take it to the rspca, which wasn't that far away, maybe 5 miles.
I wrapped it up in my unhooking mat, and put it on the back seat of the motor, and off I set. At first it was quite calm, but after a bit it started panicking, making a right fuss. I thought it would be fine, but after a while the fucker escaped and started flapping like fuck inside the car. There was feathers and shite everywhere. Turns out swans have a bigger wingspan than I'd imagined, it seemed to fill the fucking car up lol. I can laugh now but at the time I proper shit it, just stopped the car and got the fuck out. I left the door open but it wouldn't get out, ffs this was at the side of a main road god knows what passing cars must have thought.
Anyway I eventually managed to get it to the rspca, where I gratefully handed it over to a member of staff.
The car stank of shit for weeks.
The swan made a full recovery, which is more than can be said for me.

Absolutely brilliant story. Loved it. All anglers get into scrapes with nature and that’s a belter.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Hooked plenty of ducks but never a swan.
Your comment reminded me of something that happened to me many years ago.
I was fishing one of the cheshire meres, on a long sesh, 4 or 5 nights I think. Anyway i'd noticed this swan behaving strangely, hard to describe but it seemed in distress, and the other swans were avoiding it. Binos out and I could see line coming out of its beak. It had obviously swallowed a hookbait (not one of mine) and couldn't get rid, and it was clear it couldn't feed. I decided to try and catch it to see if I could free the hook.
I tempted it with bread and eventually caught it in my landing net (it took fucking ages) After much wrestling with it, I more or less had to stand on its neck to get a look down its throat, I could see the hook but it was too far down to get at it.
I knew it would die if I did nothing, so I decided to take it to the rspca, which wasn't that far away, maybe 5 miles.
I wrapped it up in my unhooking mat, and put it on the back seat of the motor, and off I set. At first it was quite calm, but after a bit it started panicking, making a right fuss. I thought it would be fine, but after a while the fucker escaped and started flapping like fuck inside the car. There was feathers and shite everywhere. Turns out swans have a bigger wingspan than I'd imagined, it seemed to fill the fucking car up lol. I can laugh now but at the time I proper shit it, just stopped the car and got the fuck out. I left the door open but it wouldn't get out, ffs this was at the side of a main road god knows what passing cars must have thought.
Anyway I eventually managed to get it to the rspca, where I gratefully handed it over to a member of staff.
The car stank of shit for weeks.
The swan made a full recovery, which is more than can be said for me.

Brilliant story mate. They are seriously bad bastards when the mood takes them.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Brilliant story mate. They are seriously bad bastards when the mood takes them.

I’ve seen a swan kill another swan while fishing on Lymmvale once. Arrogant, Nasty bastards.

my swan story: I used to live in Henley on Thames and there was a great pub right on the river. I think it was called The Angel. Anyway, we were in the packed beer garden and there were swans all around scrounging food. To make my mates laugh I held out my fag towards this swan as it came towards us as though to offer it a drag. It only took this fag from my fingers and it attached itself to the corner of its beak perfectly. So this swan was swimming around, cool as fuck, for a minute or so in front of everyone with a fag on. Then it must have burnt its beak because it suddenly plunged its head down into the river in a panic.

Half the beer garden thought it was funny but the more sensible half were looking at us seriously disapproving.

 

[crublue1]

I’ve seen a swan kill another swan while fishing on Lymmvale once. Arrogant, Nasty bastards.

my swan story: I used to live in Henley on Thames and there was a great pub right on the river. I think it was called The Angel. Anyway, we were in the packed beer garden and there were swans all around scrounging food. To make my mates laugh I held out my fag towards this swan as it came towards us as though to offer it a drag. It only took this fag from my fingers and it attached itself to the corner of its beak perfectly. So this swan was swimming around, cool as fuck, for a minute or so in front of everyone with a fag on. Then it must have burnt its beak because it suddenly plunged its head down into the river in a panic.

Half the beer garden thought it was funny but the more sensible half were looking at us seriously disapproving.

Ha ha brilliant

 

[Saddleworth2]

I’ve seen a swan kill another swan while fishing on Lymmvale once. Arrogant, Nasty bastards.

my swan story: I used to live in Henley on Thames and there was a great pub right on the river. I think it was called The Angel. Anyway, we were in the packed beer garden and there were swans all around scrounging food. To make my mates laugh I held out my fag towards this swan as it came towards us as though to offer it a drag. It only took this fag from my fingers and it attached itself to the corner of its beak perfectly. So this swan was swimming around, cool as fuck, for a minute or so in front of everyone with a fag on. Then it must have burnt its beak because it suddenly plunged its head down into the river in a panic.

Half the beer garden thought it was funny but the more sensible half were looking at us seriously disapproving.

You should have taken a photo of that mate.Priceless.
there were about 4 swans on the little fishery up the road from us and it must have been breeding season because one of them was chasing the other three across the water like a mad thing. Anyway, I’m fishing buzzers slowly and the maniac decides to chase the three right in the direction of my leader. So I am retrieving line as fast as I can but the inevitable happens - I hook loony tunes on the leg and it goes bloody berserk. Talk about screaming reels. Much to the merriment of the other 20 guys on platforms at the fishery, swan launches itself in the air and I am left ‘playing‘ this bird 20 feet above the water. Now I had 12lb floro on so it can take some strain so I did the only thing I could think of at the time and apply maximum drag and point my rod at the bird. After what seemed like an age, ping. Leader snaps and I lose a buzzer and the top 4 feet of floro. Swan makes very clumsy landing and immediately proceeds to knock seven bells out of the three it had been chasing.

now like a good citizen I did report this to the fishery owner who had been happily watching this farce from the safety of the lodge. His smile vanished when I suggested that it might be his responsibility to try and retrieve the buzzer that was embedded in the poor birds leg though.

I was on barbless hooks so hope to this day that the bird was able to pull the hook itself.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

You should have taken a photo of that mate.Priceless.
there were about 4 swans on the little fishery up the road from us and it must have been breeding season because one of them was chasing the other three across the water like a mad thing. Anyway, I’m fishing buzzers slowly and the maniac decides to chase the three right in the direction of my leader. So I am retrieving line as fast as I can but the inevitable happens - I hook loony tunes on the leg and it goes bloody berserk. Talk about screaming reels. Much to the merriment of the other 20 guys on platforms at the fishery, swan launches itself in the air and I am left ‘playing‘ this bird 20 feet above the water. Now I had 12lb floro on so it can take some strain so I did the only thing I could think of at the time and apply maximum drag and point my rod at the bird. After what seemed like an age, ping. Leader snaps and I lose a buzzer and the top 4 feet of floro. Swan makes very clumsy landing and immediately proceeds to knock seven bells out of the three it had been chasing.

now like a good citizen I did report this to the fishery owner who had been happily watching this farce from the safety of the lodge. His smile vanished when I suggested that it might be his responsibility to try and retrieve the buzzer that was embedded in the poor birds leg though.

I was on barbless hooks so hope to this day that the bird was able to pull the hook itself.

Always been a fear for me that I'd hook one when floater fishing for carp with hefty line - especially if they take 200yds of maxima into a tree or powerlines.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

You should have taken a photo of that mate.Priceless.
there were about 4 swans on the little fishery up the road from us and it must have been breeding season because one of them was chasing the other three across the water like a mad thing. Anyway, I’m fishing buzzers slowly and the maniac decides to chase the three right in the direction of my leader. So I am retrieving line as fast as I can but the inevitable happens - I hook loony tunes on the leg and it goes bloody berserk. Talk about screaming reels. Much to the merriment of the other 20 guys on platforms at the fishery, swan launches itself in the air and I am left ‘playing‘ this bird 20 feet above the water. Now I had 12lb floro on so it can take some strain so I did the only thing I could think of at the time and apply maximum drag and point my rod at the bird. After what seemed like an age, ping. Leader snaps and I lose a buzzer and the top 4 feet of floro. Swan makes very clumsy landing and immediately proceeds to knock seven bells out of the three it had been chasing.

now like a good citizen I did report this to the fishery owner who had been happily watching this farce from the safety of the lodge. His smile vanished when I suggested that it might be his responsibility to try and retrieve the buzzer that was embedded in the poor birds leg though.

I was on barbless hooks so hope to this day that the bird was able to pull the hook itself.

Haha. That was the situation that lead to the swan murder:
One was territorial and wouldn’t let the other set foot on the lake. It had obviously attacked it so much it was exhausted to it killed it in the end.

That’s also reminded me of another swan tale. I was barbel fishing on The Ribble with two rods up high in a pod. A group of swans can flying down river coming into land. One went straight through my line and picked it up resulting just like you in a seriously screaming reel. I picked up the rod, the whole thing went tight, the swan panicked and then there was an almighty crack as the line snapped . It had all happened with such force that the spool on my nice new shimano baitrunner collapsed in on itself and smashed to pieces.

i landed 5 ducks in one 48 hour session on whirley mere once too. I couldn’t believe it when the sixth run was a carp.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Haha. That was the situation that lead to the swan murder:
One was territorial and wouldn’t let the other set foot on the lake. It had obviously attacked it so much it was exhausted to it killed it in the end.

That’s also reminded me of another swan tale. I was barbel fishing on The Ribble with two rods up high in a pod. A group of swans can flying down river coming into land. One went straight through my line and picked it up resulting just like you in a seriously screaming reel. I picked up the rod, the whole thing went tight, the swan panicked and then there was an almighty crack as the line snapped . It had all happened with such force that the spool on my nice new shimano baitrunner collapsed in on itself and smashed to pieces.

i landed 5 ducks in one 48 hour session on whirley mere once too. I couldn’t believe it when the sixth run was a carp.

Ha. That was absolutely fowl mate ;-)
Enough to send anyone quackers.
At least you had paid the bill for your baitrunner.

I'll get my coat......

 

[Blue_eyes]

Just been for a walk to check out the river, looks very inviting and am already plotting monday or tuesday pm if I can "arrange" it around work schedule. That old saying "already on the beach" should be changed to already on the bank, as thats where I now am mentally, will report back if it comes off.

Took a few pics of the likelier swims, all within 200yds of parking, just praying for a milder night tonight.

 

[yerwot?]

was sat on the decking over-looking the bottom flash at Winsford, talking to my neighbour when we noticed people were pointing out to the middle and what looked for all the world like a dead swan was drifting. One of them phoned the RSPCA, who said they would send someone from PRESTON. I used the telescopic sight on my rifle and saw it was a large polythene bag. The rspca were informed end of story. Until a white van appeared, man and woman with identity tags. Told them it was a bag but they said "better make sure" and unloaded an inflatable dinghy and rowed out , retrieved the bag. Made them a brew and they more or less said it was better than sat in the office.....
Spring is very unpleasant round the lake with the mallards gang-raping the females, the swans chasing off and sometimes killing intruders, even offspring from a couple of years ago......

 

[crublue1]

was sat on the decking over-looking the bottom flash at Winsford, talking to my neighbour when we noticed people were pointing out to the middle and what looked for all the world like a dead swan was drifting. One of them phoned the RSPCA, who said they would send someone from PRESTON. I used the telescopic sight on my rifle and saw it was a large polythene bag. The rspca were informed end of story. Until a white van appeared, man and woman with identity tags. Told them it was a bag but they said "better make sure" and unloaded an inflatable dinghy and rowed out , retrieved the bag. Made them a brew and they more or less said it was better than sat in the office.....
Spring is very unpleasant round the lake with the mallards gang-raping the females, the swans chasing off and sometimes killing intruders, even offspring from a couple of years ago......

Spent many a happy day on the flash back in the day. Had some cracking bags of bream from the pegs near the yacht club.
It was honestly a bite a chuck on a good day. Really simple fishing too, just a short chuck with a method feeder. Great sport.
There was also some long stay carp anglers on the spit iirc, although I never targetted the carp myself.
Is it still a prolific bream water?

 

[yerwot?]

Spent many a happy day on the flash back in the day. Had some cracking bags of bream from the pegs near the yacht club.
It was honestly a bite a chuck on a good day. Really simple fishing too, just a short chuck with a method feeder. Great sport.
There was also some long stay carp anglers on the spit iirc, although I never targetted the carp myself.
Is it still a prolific bream water?

not fished it for years tbh, always has been a bream water, have seen a few 20 plus carp, and decent pike but never prolific for anything but bream. The matches were dominated by bream, with the occsional eel, and bits if the bream aren't there.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

was sat on the decking over-looking the bottom flash at Winsford, talking to my neighbour when we noticed people were pointing out to the middle and what looked for all the world like a dead swan was drifting. One of them phoned the RSPCA, who said they would send someone from PRESTON. I used the telescopic sight on my rifle

I was hoping this story had a different outcome at this precise point.

 

[Blue_eyes]

Bloody hell, I actually managed a short session this afternoon after much stressful rushing around, my first this year!! on the stretch of river I walked and posted about yesterday. It had been cold again overnight and low cloud in the morning meant that the temp stayed low, but lunchtime the sun came out so I just had to try as tuesday doesnt look promising again workwise.

Didnt have much time so I just went with my tip rod already made up and only had bread and a few prawns for bait. I feel more "proficient" with this method on the river, especially at this time of year and think that if you do catch it will be a better fish.

Anyway, it was tough going, the river was fast and the stretch that looked so good to walk along yesterday had practically no features or eddys to cast to and there were submerged snags too. I tried a couple of pegs looking for fish using a large knob of bread and the odd prawn as bait but without success, not even a knock.

Walking along I came to a semi fallen tree, it was just the feature I needed, especially the treetrunk lying on the surface protuding from the far bank. If only I brought my float rod I could trot down to it and present my bait underneath using the flow, but I hadnt so I cast my ledger as close as I could with an extended "tail" to try to get under the log/treetrunk and found that I got bites if close enough.

After a few misses I reduced the bait size(bread) thinking that smaller fish might be taking and by this time anything is better than nothing. First cast like this and I hooked into a fish, it felt so good to be back in business and after a short fight there was a fat chub in my net, probably 3lb or more. Two or three casts later with no takes I packed up as dusk approached.

Couple of pics, the swim with fallen tree and a football!!! and the only fish of the day, very welcome when a blank seemed more likely and looking forward to next time now.

 

[Maccblue]

Haha. That was the situation that lead to the swan murder:
One was territorial and wouldn’t let the other set foot on the lake. It had obviously attacked it so much it was exhausted to it killed it in the end.

That’s also reminded me of another swan tale. I was barbel fishing on The Ribble with two rods up high in a pod. A group of swans can flying down river coming into land. One went straight through my line and picked it up resulting just like you in a seriously screaming reel. I picked up the rod, the whole thing went tight, the swan panicked and then there was an almighty crack as the line snapped . It had all happened with such force that the spool on my nice new shimano baitrunner collapsed in on itself and smashed to pieces.

i landed 5 ducks in one 48 hour session on whirley mere once too. I couldn’t believe it when the sixth run was a carp.

Whirley Mere!!! That brings back memories of my PA days 30+ years ago pulling out crucians for fun. The very first peg you come to as walk down from the carpark

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Whirley Mere!!! That brings back memories of my PA days 30+ years ago pulling out crucians for fun. The very first peg you come to as walk down from the carpark

No crucians any more I don’t think. It’s tench and carp mainly. I used to fish it for the carp occasionally and it was a water I liked. Pushing your barrow up that hill behind your peg is an absolute back breaker though.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Bloody hell, I actually managed a short session this afternoon after much stressful rushing around, my first this year!! on the stretch of river I walked and posted about yesterday. It had been cold again overnight and low cloud in the morning meant that the temp stayed low, but lunchtime the sun came out so I just had to try as tuesday doesnt look promising again workwise.

Didnt have much time so I just went with my tip rod already made up and only had bread and a few prawns for bait. I feel more "proficient" with this method on the river, especially at this time of year and think that if you do catch it will be a better fish.

Anyway, it was tough going, the river was fast and the stretch that looked so good to walk along yesterday had practically no features or eddys to cast to and there were submerged snags too. I tried a couple of pegs looking for fish using a large knob of bread and the odd prawn as bait but without success, not even a knock.

Walking along I came to a semi fallen tree, it was just the feature I needed, especially the treetrunk lying on the surface protuding from the far bank. If only I brought my float rod I could trot down to it and present my bait underneath using the flow, but I hadnt so I cast my ledger as close as I could with an extended "tail" to try to get under the log/treetrunk and found that I got bites if close enough.

After a few misses I reduced the bait size(bread) thinking that smaller fish might be taking and by this time anything is better than nothing. First cast like this and I hooked into a fish, it felt so good to be back in business and after a short fight there was a fat chub in my net, probably 3lb or more. Two or three casts later with no takes I packed up as dusk approached.

Couple of pics, the swim with fallen tree and a football!!! and the only fish of the day, very welcome when a blank seemed more likely and looking forward to next time now.View attachment 11555
View attachment 11556

Great fishing mate.

 

[snorky]

Received a pack of turbo discs with tubes and liners that I ordered earlier.
Going to try to tie some for the start of the salmon season Wednesday.

They will probably look like drowning budgies though!

 

[Newman Noggs]

I love fishing. Thought I'd have a day on the river before the close season yesterday. Nice day, river in decent nick but colder than usual and howling gale. Really fancied it and built myself up to enjoy a cracking day.

One bite, one gudgeon.