Yes mate. Managed 4, lost a few, including getting done once on 8lb leader :(It is isn't it. Best view of ospreys I had there. Did you catch ?
Missed quite a few as well.
Hoping to have another crack sometime this week.
Yes mate. Managed 4, lost a few, including getting done once on 8lb leader :(It is isn't it. Best view of ospreys I had there. Did you catch ?
Just applied to join Prince Albert Anglers Club as I want to get back into fishing and there's one of his waters right near to where I've moved to.
Three year waiting list!
Last outing of the season on Friday at Coldingham on a relatively calm and mild day. The fish weren't playing ball particularly and I had to resort to the dark side with a rolly polly's snake finally doing the business landing one and dropping a couple more. I managed the beginners trick of winding a di-5 around my prop which fucked the line and just for fun drained my battery so it was a nice row up the loch by which time I'd had enough.
Not the best season on a personal basis. My rod average is down, few 'red letter' days and our trips to the midland reservoirs were verging on poor from a fishing perspective.
I'm increasingly concerned how viable this type of fishing is (stocked trout on largish waters) as costs spiral for fisheries and anglers are reluctant to pay increased prices particularly for catch and release. With Ifor Jones (RIP) fisheries now in the hands of Anglian Water, the English scene is dictated by one large supplier. Just this week they have announced that Ravensthorpe will cease to be a game fishery and will henceforth be primarily carp with some predator fishing thrown in. Eyebrook, one of the jewels of trout fisheries since the 50's will be predator fishing and no longer hold trout. That one in particular hurts as I have many happy memories of long drifts down the length of that beautiful water and great sport. Anglian Water have already cut back their stocking policy in recent years and the time when a visit to Rutland or Pitsford guaranteed sport are long gone. Hit it right and they are still magnificent but later in the season its increasingly hard. The one bright spot is that Menteith has fished so well this year and its calibre of grown on trout is stunning. Silver bullets that are like grilse. Maybe I ahould hyave a shot at the Grayling this winter.
How was your season?
Mine has been pretty average mainly because time has been limited with trying to sort out my mum's estate (two years on !). Decent trip to Ireland cut short because my mate had health issues, Wye was decent but not spectacular, Portugal, my mate and I were both poorly, probably Covid, but managed a 18lbs fish. Ladybower was slow but I managed 6 fish.
Currently roach fishing at Cound, a PAA water where both of us have had 2lbs+ fish in the past but not a nibble today. Supposed to have been cormoranted but who knows ?
Off to Providence in February so practicing my casting !
Watch your parking.