Monday, March 03, 2014
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Saturday, February 08, 2014
THE TWO VWs - VERY WET AND VERY WINDY (Daytime carp fishing) (Winter fishing. Series 1: Episode 10)
Click video to play. Includes: Don't allow the weather to stop you fishing - bait revealed - carp on the bank
I've really enjoyed my chub angling so far this year but this week I fancied tackling a different species, and in particular, carp. Although I take conditions into account, of course, that's pretty much how I determine what I'm fishing for, it's basically whatever takes my fancy. I'm serious about my angling in one sense, but the basket everything sits in is the one called enjoyment.
Dudmaston's Seggy Pool
The first fish of the day
A beautiful looking mirror
On the mat ready for unhooking
The featured venue is Kinver Freeliners' Seggy Pool, which is on the Dudmaston estate. Not as popular as the Big Pool, but certainly as far as winter day-time carp fishing is concerned, it's one of my favourites. Pleasant surroundings, great wildlife and general nature, and above all from an angling perspective, always a chance of banking a carp even in the colder months.
The video features the session and what a day it was weather-wise. The title says it all, so no need to elaborate there. But I'm a great believer in just getting on with it and not allowing the conditions to affect us, other than in venue or species choice. It was a couple of hours in before I had my opening fish, a common on lobworm boilie pop-up. It's always great to bank that first one.
Exactly an hour later and the other rod went off on a screamer. Another pop-up, this time it was M1 that did the business. This was followed by a third run, that unfortunately resulted in the dreaded hook-pull. So not a case of 'third time lucky there, but as I'd already netted two, it wasn't exactly a blow. In fact, even if I hadn't, it still wouldn't have been. This is just fishing, and must always take its proper place in our lives.
I added another couple of carp, pretty much towards the end of the session, which was a dawn through dusk one. I've been doing a lot of short outings so far this year, hitting the canal for a few hours, so it was nice to actually have a full day's fishing. It was also different in that I was sitting behind the rods for the first time, waiting for the alarm to kick me into action, as opposed to watching a quiver tip.
A common on the bank
I've already mentioned the wildlife, and that was topped by a muntjac that I spotted grazing right by the car park. In a split-second it was gone and that's why we need to be switched on and alert to the natural world around us if we are to make the most of it. On the flower front, as well as snowdrops in bloom I noticed a number of species in leaf, such as lesser celandine, cow parsley and broad-leaved dock. The evidence of an extremely mild winter. (Published February 8 2014)
My blog is published every Saturday. This is week number 552.
Saturday, February 01, 2014
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PASSION AND AN OBSESSION - Canal chub (Winter fishing. Series 1: Episode 9)
Click to play the video. Includes: It's important that anglers understand the difference between a passion and an obsession - Bait and rig revealed - The toilet habits of the kingfisher
In this week's video I share the need to know the difference between a passion and an obsession. This is true in every area of life, but especially so for us anglers. In fact I would say that it's crucial we not only understand that there is a difference but then to make sure we are firmly on the right side of the line. In a nutshell, passion is good, obsession bad. I would also say that just because someone fishes a lot, that in itself doesn't mean to say they are obsessed. It's all about what's going on in our mind. Anyway, what about the actual fishing this week, how did that go?
A small chub on the bank
Underneath the first photo in this week's blog, I wrote the words 'A small chub'. But is it small? Someone contacted me recently to say he had never caught a 3lb chub and the ones that I have been banking of late have all been monsters. So although there's nothing wrong in using words like 'small' we do have to understand that they are just relative to our own experiences. The moment we feel a chub, or any other fish for that matter, doesn't have the same value as another based on size alone, then it's time for some serious re-evaluation.
Barbel Stix does the business again
I continued with my Barbel Stix approach this week, fishing both Frankfurter Sausage and Undercover flavours. That's the latter that you can see in the photo above. I think confidence plays a massive part in angling and no more is that reflected than in bait choice. Although the canal has been tough, the only bait I've taken along has been Barbel Stix. If nothing else, I know that it has put a lot of big chub on the bank for me. Another thing is that I can confidently say it won't 'blow' as a bait. In the whole of this week I only saw one family group of anglers anywhere on the canal - and they went after an hour.
Another chub poses for the camera with yours truly
Whoever said 'time flies' wasn't joking - I can't believe it's the first of February today (as I publish this blog entry of course). I'm still on track for my fish-every-day-of-the-year target, although to highlight the title of this week's blog entry, there's no obsession involved but lots of passion. Of course, I'm not able to fish twenty-four hours of every single day, and that is reflected very much in this week's sessions. I averaged out at about three hours per outing. I can do four mornings and it's no more total fishing time than the angler who does a twelve-hour session.
In the net and ready to go back
All the fish caught this week were my target species, apart from one bream in the final visit. However, when the rod pulled out of the rest and the fish took off like an express train, in the split second before I lifted into it, I was convinced that I had hooked into a carp. Imagine my surprise when I found myself banking a small bream, one that definitely punched above its weight for sure. As it happened, it was the only fish I caught that morning so avoided a blank. It's always nice when your target species hits the back of the net, but hardly an issue when something else obliges instead.
The bream that I thought was a carp
And finally (I like to end my blog with that as no doubt you've realised), for those who do access my website (www.anglingdiary.com) as a means of connecting with my weekly entry, you will have realised by now that it hasn't been updated for a couple of weeks. The people that host the site did some internal work, which meant that for the first time in almost 11 years, I was unable to get on there. Basically they weren't able to help, so I just had to draw a line under it. It's no issue though, I was just using the site as a place to host the blogs. They're still out there, and as from now will just be on Blogger as opposed to the site as well (Published February 1 2014)
Blog published every Saturday, this is number 551.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
YOU CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF A GOOD THING - Canal chub (Winter fishing. Series 1: Episode 8)
Click play to watch video. Includes: Tips on making angling videos for YouTube - enjoy it and don't let it interfere with your fishing - be honest - be yourself. Woven in with sessions after chub on the canal.
As the title more than suggests, as far as angling is concerned, you can't overdo it. What I am referring to in particular though is that once again I pursued canal chub. As far as my own fishing schedule is concerned, although I'm an all-rounder, I don't have a rota so that every species, method and venue gets a fair crack of the whip. Whatever takes my fancy, that's what I target, fish with, and head for. So for the third week on the bounce, it's chevin from the cut that has captured my imagination.
A different take on a selfie
If you watch this week's video you will see I share a few tips, pointers and thoughts on making YouTube videos. I certainly don't claim to be anywhere near an expert on the subject. But having made them for a few years now, hopefully there will be something in there that's helpful if you're thinking of walking that path yourself. The most important advice I would give though, is don't let it get in the way of your fishing. It should be a joy not a burden.
Dipping bait to boost the flavour
I fished a number of the sessions this week with Barbel Stix as the bait. I've been using them (there are three flavours) for some time successfully when after chub. I film the photographing of the above on the video and as I say, check it out on the SBS Baits site as well. If you're not aware, by the way, I write a monthly blog that appears on the home page of the SBS website. I also fished with bread as well and caught small bream, one of which you can see being returned below.
Not a chub, but avoiding a blank
In fact, weather permitting of course, it won't be long now until I'm targeting bream proper. I do enjoy the pursuit of big slabs, and as I did last year, I'm hoping to bank a few this spring and summer. In the meantime though I've got plenty of winter sessions to get through. Even though we may look forward to the future, we can't wish the present away. In life in general and certainly as far as our fishing is concerned, enjoy the moment.
Chunky chub in the net
If you watch the video then you will be aware that even though I didn't blank during the first three sessions (although the roach was border-line) I didn't net any chub. At the end though I spoke by faith saying I would get some before the week was out. And so it was. It was definitely a tough week but as always, unless you fish then you'll never catch anything. In many ways, the harder the going is, the greater the satisfaction when you do finally catch your chosen species.
Returning a chub
Finally, if you're on my Facebook angling page then you may recall last autumn I shared that I had been approached by a radio station to host an angling show. I was quite keen on the idea and travelled to the station to meet the person who had contacted me, who was the programme controller. He gave me a brief introduction to the equipment and talked about some training for me on how to use it. Unfortunately, just afterwards he left the station and so the project died a death. But as far as I was concerned it was nice to be 'head-hunted', and although I'm not disappointed, who knows what the future may hold on that front. (Published January 25 2014)
Published every Saturday, this is blog entry 550
Saturday, January 18, 2014
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH - Canal chub fishing (Winter fishing. Series 1: Episode 7)
Click play to watch video. Includes: Fishing short sessions - bird clips - fishing in difficult conditions
As always, you can watch the video above by clicking play. Apart from doing things a little differently this time round (a change is as good as a rest and all that), it was hard going and so with no fish on my opening session of the week, I was forced into prolonging the filming if I wanted to catch something for the camera. As you will hear on the video, I was quite positive that the fish had come on the feed. Well they did, but not as I would have liked.
The opening fish of the week
As we all know though, angling can be a real challenge sometimes. But, as the heading of this week's blog implies, we have to battle on and persevere. In fact following a blank, my second session, on paper, didn't look good at all. A sharp overnight frost, combined with the first snow of the year, saw a number of anglers commenting on social media that they were definitely staying away from fishing. Now of course, I'm not being critical, but the reality is you only catch if your bait's in the water.
A chub rested, in the net, and ready to go back
Although the opening fish wasn't big, I was just happy to catch. If you've been following my recent chub adventures, you'll know I've been banking some big fish. Sometimes though you're just happy to catch anything, regardless of size. I was recently asked if I have ever had a fishless blog and the answer to that, is in over 10 years I have managed to catch at least one fish each week. Of course though, the advantage I have over most bloggers is that I do get more than one bite of the cherry.
A robin on the rod
As you will be aware if you have watched the video, I managed to capture a few bird clips this week, including the angler's favourite - the robin. Whether stealing maggots from our bait box, mopping up dropped groundbait or just perching on the rod, there can't be many fishermen who have not had a close encounter with a friendly robin on a regular basis. I also saw my second (although likely to be the same bird) chiffchaff of the month. Very common summer migrants, it's always great to spot an overwintering one.
Returning another small chub
So no big fish this week, but as we know with angling, you can't put your order in and expect it to be delivered as and when you want. The most important thing though is that I did manage to catch something, but I guess even more important than that is I enjoyed it. Without that, what's the point in fishing? At the end of the video I give my Facebook angling page a mention, well it also incorporates a lot of nature stuff as well. So if either - or both - of those float your boat then why not give it a like? Finally, if you watched the video and took the bird quiz, the answers are: magpie, robin, bullfinch (female), mistle thrush, robin, mistle thrush. If you got all of them, well done. (Published January 18 2014)
Published every Saturday, this is blog entry 549
Visit my angling website HERE
Saturday, January 11, 2014
WATCH OUT FISHES - Canal chub fishing (Winter fishing. Series 1: Episode 6)
Click play to watch video. Includes: Rig explained - Bait revealed - Thoughts on anglers v boaters - Fungi clips.
We often hear the phrase 'Things to do before I die', and of course everyone has their own individual list of desires. For me there is just one box to tick, and that is to fish every day of a calendar year. I attempted it in 2013 but due to severe snowfall that had me housebound, I didn't even get past January.
A good fish to kick the week off with
However, not to give in totally, I took up the challenge once more as we entered the current New Year. I'm fortunate in that I meet all the criteria that allows me lots of fishing time, the icing on the cake being that I very recently went semi-retired. Watch out fishes, even more so than before, is all I can say.
The rig I fished with
With canal chub on the agenda this week, the first session is the one in the video. It was harder going than I expected, which just goes to show that good water temperature alone is no guarantee of fish. I avoided the dreaded blank though, and it was a top quality chub that I caught.
Barbel Stix did the business
The second session was just as tough but again I managed the one fish. As well as showing my rig on the video, you can see the photograph of it above. Mainline is 6lb Maxima to the same strength Drennan Team England hooklength. The lead is 1/3oz and the hook a size 6 Drennan Super Specialist. The system over the swivel is a Greys top and tail rubber.
Lots of fungi clips in this week's video
If you follow my angling adventures regularly, you will know that I'm a keen naturalist. Fungi have not been my strongest point though, but after my wife bought me the Collins (black series) book for Christmas, now is the time to take my knowledge up a notch or two. Right next to where I fished, on decaying wood, I found some turkeytail, which is a bracket fungus.
A chunky chub to end the week
It was a slow week as far as the fishing was concerned, with no more than one chub putting in an appearance per session. It shows how thin that line is between 'success' and 'failure'. But if you're on the right side of it, that's what counts and especially so when the fish are specimen-sized. Above all though, I have enjoyed this week, and as always, that's what really counts. (Published January 11 2014)
Published every Saturday, this is blog entry 548.
Visit my angling website HERE
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