Struggling

Not the best couple of weeks for my fishing. Last week saw pretty decent conditions but I made a hash of a short session. Physically I wasn't well and I've suffered for most of the past week. Mentally I was dropped into the wrong place when my boiler packed in just before I was due to leave for fishing.

The result was a scrambled session down the Leam, rescued only by a half pound perch and a pike at last knockings.

This week I've been glued to the weather forecasts and the EA river levels site. With Sunday being my only viable day, I was relieved to see a window of opportunity in the morning. A wet and windy affair was set to wipe out the afternoon.

The river level on the Avon was dropping and was just about on the limit of what I'd want. Most of the platforms were out of bounds though. The temperature was also struggling at -2C.

I baited up a slack and waited patiently for bites. It was tough going so I amused myself by feeding some robins that were demanding attention.

The swans, relishing the easier exit routes from the water, wanted some of the action too.

With nothing happening I started to take more photos.

Finally a bite and a fish on the bank. Now if I'm not mistaken there's a fair chance that it's a silver bream - a big eye and a scale count in the right ball park. It was only a few ounces though, so nothing to get too excited about, but it would be a first for me on this stretch.

I had a small roach to round off a thoroughly uneventful session and called it a day when the first spots of rain began to fall just past midday.

Next week is unsettled again and that could see the rivers struggling to shift the excess water.