MORE Free Fishing on the Wey.

I’m starting to really like this free fishing lark, last week free fishing on the river Itchen, this week we were going to spend a few hours on the river Wey in Farnham.

As the darkness now hangs around for longer in the morning it means not quite so early starts, which is nice, so I picked Steve up at 7am (which is late for us) and headed for Farnham, Steve had fished here before so had an idea on parking which was handy as I had only driven over the bridge before.

About 7:30 we was parked and a whole £2 parking later we set off the river, its quite a thin section of the river and quite shallow in places but looked great, we walked over the bridge that I have driven over many times and cast in just beyond it. On the second trot through I had a nice little brown Trout, then all went quiet so we moved up to a nice stretch in front of a park, there was loads of fish here, every cast was either a Minnow, Dace, Chublett or Trout, it was fantastic fun, and as soon as the fishing slowed we just moved up a hundred yards or so and carried on, this is why we had to travel light, just a rod/reel in one hand a net in the other and a rucksack on my back with all I need in. We walked up and down the river and caught loads of fish but the most surprising thing for me was the quality Dace fishing to be had, and for free, we had fish to 8oz, I had one to 7oz and most over 5oz, great fishing.

Free Fishing on the Itchen.

This fishing session we was going to be fishing the River Avon in Salisbury but due to a rising river and flooded banks we decided to give it a miss and try some free sections of the River Itchen.

I was up at 6am and the car was soon loaded, I was travelling very light as there was going to be allot of walking, a rucksack with tackle and bits, rod and net, that’s it. I soon arrived at Steve’s and set off to pick up Pilchard (shock horror).

Steve was armed with the maps etc. to show where the sections of the river are and which bits are free. Our first section started in central Winchester, and cost a whole £2 each for parking, turns out this stretch was huge and had all types of river fishing in one section, nearer the centre of Winchester it was quite thin and very fast so we decided to leave and walk down river. We stopped in a few spots for a fish with not much happening, the odd Minnow but that’s about it. This section was quite dark and silty and only about 2-3ft in depth. We walked all the way up to the road bridge with next to no luck, I cast under the bridge and let it trot down, as I pulled the float back I realised I was in, only a small Perch but I was happy. With the fish back I decided to change my set-up a bit, I was using a centre-pin reel with 4lb line to a 2lb 8oz hook link and a light stick float, not sure if its just my eyes or the conditions but I was struggling to see the float most of the time, so I changed to a chubber style float, still used in-line, the bigger tip made life easier, also I fished the line straight through to a size 16 hook to help with tangles.

We crossed over the bridge and continued walking up, we saw next to no fish except Pike, there was loads of little Pike about 4-8oz, so we turned round and headed back up, searching for fish as we did.

Steve spotted a few Roach on the way back but they did not seem interested or move out of reach of the Centre-pin cast range. We reached a section near a sports club which deepens off quite a bit, we was on the other side of earlier so we decided to have a go there. Me and Steve walked up and spotted a couple of fish in the depths, I had no idea what they where, I decided to put a worm on and cast in, it floated over this fish then the float dipped under and I was in, to be honest I thought it was weed to start with as it just seemed to rise up, but quite heavy, then it kicked back so I thought maybe it was a Trout, as it hit the surface it was a Grayling, I started to literally shake as I had never caught a Grayling before and this looked a good fish, as it came over the net I was over the moon, I walked the few paces down to an area wide enough to weigh the fish and have a look, during this time Steve also had a Grayling, I put the fish in the net in the margins to rest whilst I got sorted.

The fish went 1lb 9oz on the scales, much bigger than the average, I was so happy, after a few shots I rested the fish then let it go, one of my most memorable moments in fishing.

We headed back to the car for the next section of the Itchen.

A couple of years ago Steve used to work with me and we stopped all the time at Rivers and lakes to have a look, we once came across a river with some really nice looking Grayling in but thought it would be highly private and had no idea where it was, that turned out to be the next FREE section.

We set off down the river looking as we went, I saw a reasonable Grayling in the middle so I stopped to have a go whilst Steve and Pilchard headed up river. I put a few maggots in then cast behind, I was soon into minnows aplenty, and thanks to a set of polariods I watched a Grayling munch the maggot, it went 15oz, nice. After another small one I walked up to see Pilchard and Steve further up the stretch who also had a few.

When the action slowed we headed back to the car for the final section of the Itchen in Southampton.

We parked the car and walked over to the river, it was really pushing through, I dropped the float in and the pin started spinning straight away, it was far to fast for the stick float, so we headed down stream stopping at all the likely spots with no results, we stopped and the end of the run, had an ice cream, fished for about another half hour right at the end of the run then headed back, this section did not produce today but was assured by people fishing that it can, it was just carrying allot of extra water, but looks a great winter Pike venue.

All in all a great days fishing a few Grayling including my first ever and PB at 1lb 9oz and all it cost was 2 pints of maggots a bit of diesel and £2 parking, an absolute bargain.

4 Day Fish....ish.

Wednesday

Today was the first day of our 4 day fish, we had originally decided to have 3 days and 3 nights at Strokins then a day session at Bishops Green, but as usual things did not quite go to plan.

We arrived at Strokins at about 7am and had a good look around to try and find signs of fish. A couple of shows in the far corners saw us lugging our gear to the far end of the pond, each in a corner as we did the last time we fished here. Base camp was half set up but with the sun creeping up and temperatures rising we set off down the other end of the pond for a spot of surface fishing. We both missed fish then Steve cracked out the float gear and a worm and after a bit of a wait he had a Carp on, about 5lb which is small for here but a Carp none the less and in these conditions a hard one to catch.

From the moment we arrived we had been baiting the margins with pellet to fish over later in the day, and after a hearty BBQ that’s exactly what we did.

For this trip I was mirroring my method last year as it worked well then, solid PVA bag set up, short uncoated hook link, size 10 curved hook with a pellet on the hair soaked in Betalin,a leader, 10lb fluorocarbon mainline, 3lb test Carp rods to Big Pit reels, I would not normally use my big Carp gear for a pond this small, I would normally use the Barbel rods and free spools, but there are a few monsters lurking here, Carp to over 40lb, so I decided to step up.

All was quiet on the fish front, we sat there chatting and watching motionless bobbins wondering when/if it may happen.

We was both absolutely knackered and feeling a bit rough due to the hot sun, and over eating so rather than leave the rods out we wound in for a good kip.

Thursday

I had a shit nights sleep thanks to low flying helicopters, rats eating all I own outside of the bivvy, and owls, but was still up at 5:30am to try and catch one using stalking tactics, sadly just as we was setting up to head down the far end some anglers turned up, which when the pond is this small that means you stay where you are, damn it.

We rebaited the rods, put some pellets in the margins and set our traps, then it was time for the greatest part of night fishing, the bacon sarnie, or two.

We had decided to do the day here then pack up before the weather got nasty.

Fishing was really hard going, not helped by a freezing night and very warm temperatures during the day but we cracked on, Steve was in first, then at last I had one, a lovely scaly Mirror and very welcome.

It got to about 3pm Steve had had another Carp which didn’t fight in the slightest it just seemed to give up, strange, then it was my turn and the Dekims screamed into life with a lovely Common.

With the fish back I packed up the gear, bar the rods hoping for one last fish, but it didn’t happen.

Friday

I picked Steve up at 6am and headed to Bishops Green, we was happy to find an empty lake on our arrival.

We headed down to the far end of the lake as the margins can be very prolific due the the reeds.

I was using my Barbel rods for a bit more fun, solid bags set ups at the ready and lowered into the margins, then sat on the delkims ready to scream, which didn’t take long.

Around 10 minutes later it was away, and as usual for these fish it went absolutely mad.

Not a big fish for Bishops at about 6-7lb but welcome all the same.

I continued baiting margins either side whilst feeding doggies on the surface as they had already started to top.

Once the fish where feeding ravenously on the surface I brought one of the margin rods in and tried my luck on the surface, cast past the fish and brought it over them slowly. I started on bread but the fish where just knocking it off with there tails so I put a side hooked fake doggie on which after a while resulted in a Carp of a similar size to the last, as they where really hard to get of the surface I went back to the margins.

All was quiet for about an hour so I up sticks and went to a swim round the corner, which must have been some kind of Carp nursery as they all seemed about 1-2lb, but still fought like a train. I did hook a nice fish and an easy double but it came off after about 5 minutes.

We decided to call it a day, an early one at that as it was not even midday but we had pre-decided to go and visit a few old venues to check out rules etc. so we can update the site.

First on our list was a visit to a new tackle shop in Newbury called Experience Fish. It comes highly recommended from us due to its good size and stock of products.

The first lake we visited was Wylies Lake which is on the R.D.A.A ticket but available on day ticket. Although we fished here twice we had next to no luck, but it still looks very fishy and with depths of over 15ft and Tench over 10lb its hard not to want to return.

Next on the list was Court Farm, the ticket prices have sadly not changed and still far to high for this venue, but the lakes are looking very nice with willows hanging into the lake and some nice swims, really pictures s, but not worth the £9 PER ROD, as is lake 2.

Lake 3 is also looking nice, good marginal growth with some lilies, but worth £11 PER ROD.......NO.

Next we popped into Seven Lakes, we are very impressed with the progress of this venue so far, trees cut back, swims created on lake 6 and 7 and looking good, lets just hope in continues onto the other lakes and a re-stocking programme introduced.

Last on our list is an old favourite of ours Aldermaston Mill on the river Kennet, a special venue for both me and Steve as it holds both of our Barbel pb's, my Chub pb and Steve's Perch pb.

But we was very disappointed at how it looked, obviously the mill and grounds themselves look stunning, but the river not so much. The back water is very low, there is so much silt in the margins that you would need a 5m landing net to reach the fish, and there is only really a couple of swims. The lawn swims are not much better, only a couple fish able which have had special landing stages to try to get over the silt. Its a real shame so we can just hope it will improve back to its former glory as there is not many stretches of the River Kennet on a day ticket.

So a productive day, a few fish and an updated website, nice.

Its Crucian O'Clock at Marsh Farm.

This month we decided to re-visit an old venue, Marsh Farm, famed for its huge 100% true Crucians knocking the British record and huge Tench, I was really looking forward to returning as the last 2 visits have not really gone to plan, the first time we went it was the one of the hottest days on record, then the next time we went it was torrential rain the whole time, so I was hoping for a better day.

I left home just before 6am to pick up Steve then headed for Milford, Surrey. We arrived at Marsh Farm at about 6:45 and the gate was open, result, we know we cant start fishing until we have a shop brought ticket, and as the shop doesn’t open until 7:30 it gave us plenty of time to look around and choose our swims before it got busy.

We decided to fish the windward end of Harris lake, as its known to produce monster Crucians including the lake record which is held by Anglers Mail own Bill Rushmer, who gave us some information and tactics on this lake.

We put a bag in the swims we chose and headed back to the van to wait for the shop to open.

One thing you need to make sure of when fishing Marsh Farm is that you turn up with a completely bone dry landing net, because if you don’t, you cant use it, you can burrow one of there’s for a returnable £10 but then you will have to stop fishing at 5:30pm when the shop closes.

Marsh Farm has a really good and well stocked tackle shop and café on site which means you can just buy your bait there in the morning, I got myself 2 pints of maggots, a pint of pre-ordered casters, some pellet and paste, a Crucian banquet.

Once paid up we headed back to the swims to start setting up, I decided on two lines of attack, on the left side of the swim I would fish double corn on a bolt rig and alarm for the Tench, and on the right I would use a much lighter float set up, a 13ft rod coupled with a centre pin reel with 4lb mainline, a 2lb hook link, size 16 hook and a very light pole float.

I pre-baited both sides of the swim with pellet, maggot, caster and Tanches ground bait, a legend of a ground bait and got settled into the swim.

I began fishing and was soon into the Rudd and Roach, there was loads of them down there and most of the time took on the drop, which I was fine with as action from the off is a great confidence booster. After about an hour the high winds was really getting to me so I decided to take a break and go and grab some breakfast with Steve, another great advantage to Marsh Farm.

With a Bacon burger and brew sorted we headed back, I sat in the swim having a munch thinking how to tackle this wind, the best way would be to move to the other end of the lake, but with this much wind pushing down this end it was bound to bring the fish, so I decided to swap my set ups over and fish the float on the left so at least the wind with push the float towards the rushes rather than away, and bolt rig the other side. Caster on the hook was producing allot of bites so I decided to stay with it, the float just dipped a couple of mil so I struck, and felt a good resistance, at this point I was petrified of loosing it, then up came a big bar of gold, and it was in the net, it looked huge barring mind my previous best was only about 1lb 8oz, this one went 2lb 6oz, I was ecstatic.

The whole time I was fishing I have been feeding a handful of pellet and caster every 2 minutes or so and it seemed to have worked, and now with a massive confidence boost I continued fishing.

The Rudd and Roach where really getting on the feed with fish to over 10oz it was going well and it seemed an age before the next good resistance, and again it came in the form of a Crucian.

When it lay in the net I thought it was smaller than the last one, but it had quite a hunch back to him, and when on the scales it went to 2lb 9oz, another PB, this was turning into a great day.

The constant feeding seemed to be really paying off and they were loving the casters, but with the sun high in the sky I pulled the rods out to give the swim a rest but continued feeding, we decided to have an on site website meeting, so with a brew from the shop we discussed what we can do to better the site, which as its already brilliant not allot, but we spoke about our 4 day fish in August, venues for next year and our 2013 fishing holiday.

With the weather clouding over around 3pm we carried on fishing again, and was soon into more Rudd, Roach and Perch, but soon the float dipped delicately and I was into another Crucian, this one really gave it some but huge fun on a centre pin, once in the net it looked even bigger than the last one, but it was exactly the same size, 2lb 9oz again, but still a specimen Crucian and very happy to catch it.

The wind was getting silly now and was probably missing some Crucian bites, so we decided to move in an hour or so to Mill pond as its more sheltered and a better chance of a Tench, and although this swim had a real chance of a monster Crucian, I don’t think I would see the bite.

But not long before the move I was into another Crucian, this one was about 1lb 8oz or so, still a fantastic fish.

With that Crucian returned I packed up and joined Steve on the Mill pond, it was allot calmer with hardly any ripple in my new swim, and was soon into Rudd again, just on a smaller scale.

It didn’t take long for the Tench to move in, and my god did they fight, although most around the 1lb mark they really went for it, after a few I did eventually bank a 2lb 10oz Tench so was happy with that. Soon after it started to get really cold, its bloody JUNE and its cold, what is going on, so around 7pm we packed up and left.

Today was a real red letter day for me, I beat my Crucian PB twice then matched it again and some nice Tench. Marsh Farm really has it all and I do think that is mainly because of the lack of king Carp, although I love my Carp fishing it can push me to fish for them when I am at any venue with Carp in, which can not happen here as there is next to none, also it really helps having an on site tackle shop and Café.

A really great day and cannot wait to return.

Its who you know.

Friend of the website Martin aka Martinoff had invited me down to a private estate lake near Romsey in Hampshire, I have been here a few times before and love it, its quite rare to be able to fish in near silence, apart from the wildlife, sadly for me and Steve its highly private and only available to a very select group who have to work for a certain high end supermarket, Martinoff is a farmer for the supermarket so is allowed to have a ticket for the water, and is allowed a guest, which on this occasion was me.

Sadly Martin had been told there will be another 5 people on the lake when we were going, which may not sound allot on a lake of a few acres but we are used to having no one there when we fish, so we decided to get there early so we can secure a good swim, so I was up at 3am, van loaded by 3:15am and at Martins house in Stockbridge just before 4am. We arrived at the lake just before 5am and happy to see there was no other cars in the car park, result.

We grabbed a bag each and went for a wonder, after a lap there was nothing showing around the lake, not even bubbling, so we decided to set up across from the islands as we have done well here in the past.

We returned to the van, loaded the barrows and headed off to the swims, as I had the rods already set up it took moments till I was fishing, 1 was set up for solid PVA bag fishing, the other for maggot fishing. I cast them both to the island as close as possible, with the Delkims on I sat back to enjoy the view and make a nice cup o tea.

It took a hole hour for one of Martins rods to scream off resulting in a small Common, at the same time mine screamed off but sadly dropped off. I started baiting the margins as they can be very productive.

So far I had no bites on the maggots but the odd bleep on the boilie rod, my boilie of choice is CCMoore Live system with matching pellets.

Finally the alarms screamed into life which resulted in a little Common around 5lb.

Around 10am the other people had arrived and the fishing had gone very quite, and the weather really hot, so I went for a wonder. Most of the Carp where up on the surface, so I had a go for them using standard surface tactics, but to no avail, they were being infuriatingly fussy, just nudging the bait, I tried bread, banded dog biscuit, side hook fake biscuit but nothing worked. So I returned to the swim and put the rods back out to the island, baited the margins and had a kip.

Nothing really happened for a fair few hours apart from a couple of bleeps from my boilie rod, and as there was movement in the margins I decided to reposition the rods there, the right hand rod was on the boilie, and the left on maggot. After casting in and re-baiting it was about 15 minutes until my maggot rod screamed into life, it was obvious from the take that the Carp had some real issues, it powered all over the swim for around 5 minutes then it was netted, the result was a beautiful 15lb 12oz Mirror, 10 minutes after the rod was back in it was away again, this time a stunning dark Common of 10lb.

The time was now getting on, it was about 7:30pm, which is not that late but when you have been up since 3am it was starting to get to me, so we packed up slowly hoping for one last fish but sadly it did not happen.

We fished the venue in hard conditions, cold morning, hot day and high pressure, not excuses but this can be a really productive venue on the right day, but still a fantastic day and a big thank you to Martinoff and look forward to returning if given the chance.