A Well Deserved Fish.

After a very stressful day at work and now with 9 days off I decided to pop to Ashmoor for an evening's surface fishing with Steve in toe.

I wasn't going to bother to be honest as I was knackered by the time I got home about 6:30pm and was wondering if there was going to be enough time for a fish, but I shouldn't of worried.

We pulled into the car park about 7pm and had the lakes to ourselves, which was nice, tackle could not have been more simple, Barbel rod, medium sized freespool reel and a size 12 hook baited with a bit of crust, no floats or shot etc, simple fishing, just how I like it.

As time was limited we walked around the lakes baiting all the areas we know to produce, after the lap it was time to grab the gear and find some fish, which took about 10 seconds and I had a Mirror on, only a couple of pounds but any fish after the day I've had was very welcome.

The bites came steadily throughout the couple of hours fishing, I had so many I lost count after 10.

As usual Ashmoor provided some cracking sport with Carp to over 8lbish and an unbeatable way to relieve stress.

And with a few days off hopefully I can get a few more days down here as its always been a home from home and the fact its owned by my good friend Steve's Grandparents makes it just perfect.

Family Fishing at Bishops Green

Today was a family fishing day, which can be a right faff.

I had a struggle deciding where to go to cater for all, we needed some small fish for my daughter Ellie as she hasn't done a lot of fishing so starting her off small, my son Liam has done a bit and was progressing through the different styles of fishing and he wanted to try some feeder fishing, and as I was going to be helping the kids most of the time I wanted a venue which catered for me having a couple of rods out on alarms.

We left home at about 8am which for me was very late, but as there was women in toe they needed more beauty sleep.

We popped into Frobury farm and it was rammed and looking very strange with recently astro turfed swims, so we decided to pop further up the road to Bishops Green where we decided to fish.

After a quick walk around the lake I decided to fish the car park end as everyone else was fishing the far end, after paying we set up, Liam on the feeder, Ellie on the float with her little bright pink Princess rod, and my rods set on alarms fishing PVA bags in the margins for Carp.

Ellie was soon in on the Gudgeon and the Carp soon sprung into life with long lean Commons soon on the mat one after the other.

The feeder was producing nothing so I switched Liam to a float so he could get a few Gudgeon and maybe a Roach which he did.

My Carp setups where producing the goods throughout the day fishing solid PVA 2ft from the bank with a handful of pellets every 30 minutes or so with fish to around 10lb, great fun.

I decided to try and catch one off the top just to finish the day off, and after feeding the ducks off I started feeding the Carp little and often with some dog biscuits, after about 15 minutes I had a small Common of about 6lb on the bank.

With that we packed up and left, a cracking day fishing and Bishops Green producing as always, not huge Carp but they go like a train due to the fairly shallow water.

Barbel Bashing at Ashmoor Lakes

At long last it was time for the start of a weekends fishing. First up Saturday was Ashmoor Lakes, lakes stuffed with fish of all sorts of shapes and sizes, I was just going to target all that swims as its been a while and just need a bite or two.

I was not going to delude myself, it was pretty cold so was not expecting a massive amount of action, I decided to start o the feeder, towards the car park corner on Lake 3 using a flatbed feeder and fake caster for bait. I was getting bites but nothing much so I changed over to a maggot, I had a couple of small Bream but nothing else so I moved behind Steve onto Lake 2 with instant results, first fish was a Barbel, which was the last fish I thought would be on the feed, but in the next couple of hours I had 4 Barbel only up to a pound or so but an unbelievable fight for it size.

Sadly the weather soon changed and it got very cold, all it took was a slight wind and it was enough to turn the fish right off.

After an hour or so of the freezing wind and no bites we decided to call it day, we had had a few fish between us so all was good and we left in high spirits.

The BIG ONE approaches.

After having a year out from the big one fishing show last year, this year I can't wait to return.
Some anglers say its just a jumble sale of cheap fishing tat but I really like it, the whole atmosphere is great, you get to meet angling celebrities and yes there are some stands selling some real cheap stuff but there are some great deals to be had.
This show has a lot to live up to and with VIP tickets for both days I can't wait.

Basingstoke Canal Lure Fishing....

After getting to grips with Lure fishing at a recent trip to Anglers Paradise Lure weekend it was decided to have a go on the Basingstoke Canal.
With my fishing partner in crime Steve (thepassionatepiscator.blogspot.com) we set off at a leisurely 8am and decided to start at the Great Bottom Flash in Ash Vale.

Perch fishing was the idea on this section as its known for throwing up a lunker.
Only problem was it was quite bright at times and bitterly cold, not excuses honest.
After a couple of hours chucking the soft plastic lures about we had caught loads.........of trees and branches that had fallen in.
We decided on a move, so we left and drove up to Church Crookham on the Chequers Bridge section, this time we was going to target the Pike as I had some on lures on this section before.
Using the soft rubber jig head lures we headed of to towards the lock past Poulters Bridge to then walk our way back.

Right up near the lock was where I had my first interest, a very small Pike followed and nipped the lure a couple of times but then disappeared, we continued all the way back to the car chucking in along the way but to no avail.
This was turning into a very difficult day.
Last section to fish was Odiham, as we arrived we noticed a lot of cars in the car park with boat racks on the roof, meaning only one thing, bloody canoeist, that coupled with some weird algae bloom meant a total blank for me, but the stunning scenery along the canal plus seeing a big shoal of massive Bream and a big Koi meant it was still 100 times better than being stupid at home or even worse working. 

Free Fishing on the Thames.

Today we had decided to fish the fantastic River Thames on the Kingston stretch, its a part of the Thames we have wanted to fish for a long time and decided its time to pay it a visit. But after being told by 2 different people that it will fish hard unless we get some rain did we waste our time...

We decided to leave nice and early so as to have plenty of time to search for decent swims, so I pulled up outside Steve's house at 5am still in the pitch black and we set off to Kingston.

We pulled up in the small turnout next to the start of the stretch about 6am and still dark, we went for a walk along the path looking for some good looking areas, a couple of swims down there seemed to be quite a lot of disturbance on the surface so we got some gear and started to set up, I decided to use a Barbel rod on a quiver set-up with a medium fixed spool reel loaded with 6lb line, cage feeder with a 4lb hook link to a size 14 hook baited with either maggots, worm or corn. I also had another Barbel rod same set-up but size 10 hook baited with a big worm as a sleeper rod hoping for a bonus Perch.

As we started to be able to see the River it was obvious we was going to have our work cut out as the River was low, slow and very clear.

Sadly it was becoming obvious the fish were not really playing ball, with no bites in the first few hours, but I was watching all the Bleak jumping out in front of me and could take it no more, I had a backup float rod with a centre pin on and 3lb line so decided to go for some Bleak, and I caught loads.

The Thames is a quite unique place to fish and can be hard to concentrate on the fishing with so much going on around, by midday we had had a bike rally/race behind us, probably over 2000 bikes in total, there was a small boat with a huge speaker on the front blasting out reggae music, and we still had a few hours left.

By about 5pm we decided to pack up, mainly because there was some eastern Europeans starting to fish next to us and they were so loud I couldn't handle it anymore.

On reflection the fishing was very hard, Steve had one Bream which was our target fish, I had a lot of Bleak and a few small Perch, but the place itself is so different to fish that it was enjoyable even with a lack of fish, loved it, and looking forward to returning with a bit of pace and colour in the water.

Stalking around 7 lakes

Although the weather was looking pretty shocking, very wet, it was fairly warm with a nice warm wind, so I decided it would be a great day for a couple of hours stalking at 7 lakes angling, and a great opportunity to show my son how its done.

We left for the lakes around 2pm after my wife had returned from work. It was absolutely hammering down and I was questioning my sanity but he who dares wins, hopefully.

The sun had broke and the rain had stopped whilst we was walking around the lake looking for likely spots to drop a few doggies in. Once we had done a circuit and dropped the bait we walked the lakes again to spot feeding fish, we located a few fish on lake 5 so we got some gear, just a 10ft rod, small reel with a decent quick drag and 6lb line and a size 10 hook, net, mat and bait, simple.

We crept into positions on lake 5 and I under armed a bit of crust next to the feeding fish, it only took a few moments and it was fish on and after a spirited fight the little Common of about 3lb was in the net, and although only little was a stunning fish.

Next was my sons turn, a little way along the lake there was another pod of Carp so we crept into position and my son under armed the bread onto the Carp and within moments he had one on.

And must admit ii was very proud with how he played the fish away from the snags and once on the bank how he handled the fish, was a moment.

With a fish each and the rain now pouring we left and returned home.

7 Lakes is one of the best places to take kids an learn the sport or just for a day out whilst you fish, and as an added bonus under the age of 12 fish free with a paying adult.

Lakeside fishing

This month we decided to fish Lakeside fishery in Berkshire due to the slightly better weather we was hoping to rake in the Carp, but as usual things didn't quite go to plan.

I picked Steve up about 7:30am and we arrived just after 8am and luckily Kate the owner had just arrived and let us in.

We had a quick walk around the lake, knowing that it wont take long to get busy, on our last trip we fished in the canal section to the side of the lake and the left of the main bowl so this time decided on fishing behind the islands as thought they would hold groups of fish or intercept them as they swim round.

I decided to start by fishing the flat bed feeder towards the island with a couple of maggots and light ground bait, light tactics really for the size of fish in here but that's what I caught on last time so decided to start with that. After an hour or so with no bites and a chat with the bailiff decided to fish the bottom of the shelf with a solid PVA bag and 12mm tipped pellet on the hair, the second rod cast just to the left of some snags.

The sun was up and it was really hot and un-comfy at times, I had a tree next to me and was moving my chair constantly to try and keep in the shade as I'm not a fan of sitting in the sun for long periods of time.

Time was getting on and still no fish, I could see loads on the surface but on the other side of the island and well out of my swim, but I started firing dog biscuits my side of the island to try and bring them in.

I put a zig rig on the left hand rod and cast between the islands, after a few twitcy bites I had a run which promptly fell off. Then another bite which took me round the island and came off luckily all the rig came back and the fish was safe, after quite a while I had another screamer and this time after one hell of a fight and trying to keep it out of snags and the island the fish was on the mat, only about 6lb but that didn't matter. I think one of the most challenging days fishing for a long time, not because the water is a hard water or lack of fish by a long shot but the conditions where not easy and our swim choices where not the best for the conditions.

Soon after catching that fish and with one each we packed up had a quick chat to the bailiff and left, and although a very challenging day weather wise still a great day and will return for a better go at zig rigging in the more open water. And a big thanks to the owners and the bailiff for his advise.

Bish Bosh

As the weather was looking pretty good, and a good friend asking for a fish, I decided it was time to return to Bishops Green for a few Carp....Hopefully.

When I fish Bishops Green there are a few swims I favour so I decided on a early start and picked James up at 5:30am and was lakeside by 6am.

We grabbed a bucket and headed round the lake for a look. There was not a lot to go on so we headed to the far end of the lake where there is good marginal growth.

I started by putting a couple of handful of pellets either side of the swim in the margins then sorted the gear. I had two rods on alarms using pre-made leaders with short hook links in solid PVA bags with 12mm pellets tipped with plastic corn soaked in Betalin dropped in the edge.

It was a cold morning promising to get hotter during the day but still had a run pretty soon after casting in with a 11lb 11oz Common as my prize.

Old school friend James was soon catching and was all going well, but when the sun got up and it started to get rather hot the fishing died down with just the odd fish.

Bishops Green is normally a great place for surface fishing even when its cold but it just didn't happen today, and with 6 Carp each we headed home.

A decent day for the conditions and although the ticket price has recently doubled in cost to £10 a day for 2 rods its worth every penny.

You can't get better.

This month we decided to fish Ashmoor lakes, mainly because we was unsure on the weather so decided to keep close to home, plus we love this fishery.

I picked Steve up at 6:45 and arrived at Ashmoor around 7am.

We grabbed our gear and headed around the ponds for a look. Fo

r a change we headed to the far side of lake 2. I had a Barbel rod set-up for Carp and a flat bed feeder on a quiver rod for everything else. I was experimenting with my Carp set-up and had 6 solid PVA bags on leaders ready made to tie on and try, first was a bloodworm dumbbell tipped with flouro corn packed with 1-4mm pellet. This was placed in the corner along the bank, and before I had even sorted the next rod it was away, a lovely Mirror was my prize of a few pound, great start. Next I put out a peperami dumbbell tipped with pink corn, again in PVA bag put in the same place. This time I even got round to sorting the other rod then it screamed off, and another Carp was in the net. I put a pineapple pop up out next and carried on with my feeder fishing, which was disturbed yet again by the alarm with another Carp. With this I put the Barbel “sleeper” rod out the way so I can concentrate on my feeder fishing.

After a couple of Bream and a small Carp it slowed up, so we moved back to our old favourite swims the other side of the lake, I feeder fished the island in front of me and had my sleeper rod fishing with the yellow pop up in the edge. I was catching well with many Carp and Bream but started to slow. I swapped my feeder rod for float rod and started fishing in the edge with instant success, adding Perch and Barbel to the tally of fish. The sun was now well up and it was surprisingly really warm for March, so I shallowed up and started Rudd fishing, I have no idea how many I caught but it was a lot with the odd Bream and Hybrid.

There was a few Carp cruising about on the surface so I decided to have a wonder around and found a few fish in lake 1 around the pipe, there was two younger anglers fishing lake 1 in the far corner but they had no luck, and after catching 5 off the top I did wonder why they was not following suit.

I returned to my swim to finish the day float fishing and catching a few more.

As usual we end the day with a shed load of fish and wondering why people fish anywhere else, and the fact there was 5 other people fishing which only one other angler caught a couple of fish, what they do is just mind boggling.