tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5975178673883161512024-03-05T05:52:32.024-08:00OFF THE OCHE, DOWN THE RIVERA HAPHAZARD BLOG OF PLEASURE FISHING IN WARWICKSHIRE AND BEYONDUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-1767342623735697762023-01-01T06:56:00.001-08:002023-01-01T06:59:53.358-08:00AWOL Again<p>I won't dwell too much on the last 6 months of angljng inactivity. Fishing has been sparse. Life's responsibilities, challenges and niggles all too often conspiring to prevent piscatorial escapism. </p><p>Priorities took over, naturally. Fishing sat on the back burner, but never far from the mind. Reminded of what I was missing through social media connections, waiting for any brief opportunity.</p><p>The enthusiasm hasn't wained though. Far from it. As I drove towards the river on a windswept late December afternoon I passed a couple of joggers caught in a rain shower. "They must be mad" I chuckled to myself. Then I remembered what I was about to do!</p><p>But despite facing a gusty 3 hours with periods of rain cascading almost horizontally across me, I was as happy as a pig in muck. I've genuinely appreciated every ounce of fishing I've been able to extract.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RjGmInZm3iC6Lq8KsFpp77G6-z-8i6zn8VI7bgn8cwKc4V6-xrcGBBEOXWYWqoRBqpFI1lBvzruoGYp8vILY0rlA2NhuDVSB8yps8wTo3fcOd0nsP97yEeDZHzpfhNv0oqbVOyMMNuktycO_J31w9Jw-fJtMEzCKOXxn4iB_b3e_hjDr4E6y1DoHaw/s4608/20221228_154251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RjGmInZm3iC6Lq8KsFpp77G6-z-8i6zn8VI7bgn8cwKc4V6-xrcGBBEOXWYWqoRBqpFI1lBvzruoGYp8vILY0rlA2NhuDVSB8yps8wTo3fcOd0nsP97yEeDZHzpfhNv0oqbVOyMMNuktycO_J31w9Jw-fJtMEzCKOXxn4iB_b3e_hjDr4E6y1DoHaw/w400-h300/20221228_154251.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Most of my short sessions have been on the River Blythe for convenience. I still haven't hit my 5lb chub target, having gone close earlier in the year (previous season) with a fish of 4lb 15oz. The best so far this season is 4lb 5oz, but the better opportunities to expand on that probably lie in the weeks ahead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZAf6N_YONAPjFruQK9zlp7xnJEsVlUEevCtAVh-ZzT555c5zVVV9iZy_7hV4C-Uyj1ZZEOneyigs86vEXXXn2eE6k6bbEI8LHuzvH95LDvjqPx-ou4zCmhhxy9c8SJO3DbkvAPLcE1YZU7KY5thca0cTs3AbizzeNAarDi2Sw5hcrfDOnR9OMs2Y4w/s3456/20221228_163119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2812" data-original-width="3456" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZAf6N_YONAPjFruQK9zlp7xnJEsVlUEevCtAVh-ZzT555c5zVVV9iZy_7hV4C-Uyj1ZZEOneyigs86vEXXXn2eE6k6bbEI8LHuzvH95LDvjqPx-ou4zCmhhxy9c8SJO3DbkvAPLcE1YZU7KY5thca0cTs3AbizzeNAarDi2Sw5hcrfDOnR9OMs2Y4w/w400-h325/20221228_163119.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I did manage my first Blythe trout over the summer, which was a pleasant surprise.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzpyXFCmgxMDtMIwbISEWIyChu5EFI5biIS0ihUIu2qkU39HKgksohjnMazDsh6T3pF9dAS-b8VVuZrkWEQkJHp1CVn1qrJ6Gqad8H1PR2Esqha1A-nTBZaWycxcpXEvK42BmioQrXjg3ulRJRKu2h22s7MccSIIlEjL2Z0pmbMAC-gUyC28WCyRj5g/s4608/20220622_115754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzpyXFCmgxMDtMIwbISEWIyChu5EFI5biIS0ihUIu2qkU39HKgksohjnMazDsh6T3pF9dAS-b8VVuZrkWEQkJHp1CVn1qrJ6Gqad8H1PR2Esqha1A-nTBZaWycxcpXEvK42BmioQrXjg3ulRJRKu2h22s7MccSIIlEjL2Z0pmbMAC-gUyC28WCyRj5g/w400-h300/20220622_115754.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>No barbel at all in 2022 for me, although I think I only spent about 2 hours after them! Hopefully I'll find more time in 2023 for them. The same applies to predator fishing. Just one short session in December which ended barren in chilly conditions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7TGbBQuwyqEtSQseAvatC5-_iS4UB7HV2JZxDXDoJ3oVn4OjCgCGh-6EEWoDY6pxh43dOf5Nav8lrysuc2BwXWp7BbwTyy_8TXDW0gWJ1G2gMNtQISQ5iJL_48D7Yi_dopoRFYewZ_aXLA6k-fzku0i6HVYZRLXP7Xgp30RF35LyvTLh4GzmWytdHA/s3783/20221217_134453.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2785" data-original-width="3783" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7TGbBQuwyqEtSQseAvatC5-_iS4UB7HV2JZxDXDoJ3oVn4OjCgCGh-6EEWoDY6pxh43dOf5Nav8lrysuc2BwXWp7BbwTyy_8TXDW0gWJ1G2gMNtQISQ5iJL_48D7Yi_dopoRFYewZ_aXLA6k-fzku0i6HVYZRLXP7Xgp30RF35LyvTLh4GzmWytdHA/w400-h295/20221217_134453.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Total number of sessions in 2022 was 22 - an increase of 3 on 2021! Total bank time was still well under 100 hours though. </p><p>I won't set any targets for 2023, other than to spend more time on the bank. I'll be culling a couple of tickets, but will still have a clutch of others in my wallet. Still far more than I'll ever need, but like a woman is drawn to buying shoes, fishing tickets are my weakness! And rods and reels...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-41068079394160782142022-05-28T13:48:00.001-07:002022-06-13T23:00:30.884-07:00Closed Season Briefly Open<p>Just the one brief moment where I let my hair down during the 3 month hibernation period.</p><p>It wasn't planned well. In fact it wasn't really planned at all. It was late on a Saturday afternoon. With no boozy companions available for the evening and a toddler acting compliantly and sleepy, I declared I was going fishing.</p><p>I lobbed some gear in the car and headed for the car par park peg on a local club water. Nobody else there at all. Technically I shouldn't have been either, as the day in question was a closed day - for work party duties. </p><p>I genuinely didn't realise until I consulted the vast rule list on arrival, but I figured I was there anyway and the work party ship had sailed many hours earlier, so I decided I wasn't getting in the way. </p><p>All I caught were a skimmer and some of the many ugly carp (battered mouths) that call this place home. Nothing pretty! Fair reward for my lack of effort I'd say.</p><p>It gave me a quick fix though, put a bend in the old Avon rod and gave a robin a bit of company (or was it the other way around?!). Total fishing time 2.25 hours. Closed season resumed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkund_unrb1Hwjdd93u3sc1OAsB_qVMB1famQ_78dr2SZbSGhlRKx3Dy25FFdGVUMYULkwoR-Uj3LIR2sxtHqMO4N81gynnMMDKFePxHBIAVD8NyeCIhgIYbw4ISu72ccrj3LAjDYrBJ25QkDwV-g4q53zwqVvQ2mUQvTw6UxaR9kvNsV1qDzl7WwyUA/s1956/20220528_193931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1956" data-original-width="1931" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkund_unrb1Hwjdd93u3sc1OAsB_qVMB1famQ_78dr2SZbSGhlRKx3Dy25FFdGVUMYULkwoR-Uj3LIR2sxtHqMO4N81gynnMMDKFePxHBIAVD8NyeCIhgIYbw4ISu72ccrj3LAjDYrBJ25QkDwV-g4q53zwqVvQ2mUQvTw6UxaR9kvNsV1qDzl7WwyUA/w632-h640/20220528_193931.jpg" width="632" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNg-MHFsxAAPa5S7WCcaCwl7jTeOZjhuc-2mUk4UJKrn1HQwNOG-3za5f_JbQkwz10YrJiG_uahaGJhgUnZ1O-AlCe6cO33aMvPyli-QLDpr41-7S-YASG9r6xCbJCka3RP_i0y-YWF0-flhQyW_j50rCBs8J3ZkCgLbazsrIiOjcby_WaOiTihORDA/s3264/20220528_192756.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNg-MHFsxAAPa5S7WCcaCwl7jTeOZjhuc-2mUk4UJKrn1HQwNOG-3za5f_JbQkwz10YrJiG_uahaGJhgUnZ1O-AlCe6cO33aMvPyli-QLDpr41-7S-YASG9r6xCbJCka3RP_i0y-YWF0-flhQyW_j50rCBs8J3ZkCgLbazsrIiOjcby_WaOiTihORDA/w480-h640/20220528_192756.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Thankfully the rivers are open again soon. I'm not sure exactly when I'll get off the mark, but I've booked a week off work from the first Monday, so I'm not too bothered about rushing out on the 16th this year. I'll be working that day.</p><p>Early season plans are simply to get around different venues (particularly those I've neglected) and to mix it up a bit. Definitely a series of catch anything and everything sessions - no doubt interspersed with the usual blanking. Looking forward to it...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-7769932031644186522022-03-13T03:04:00.000-07:002022-04-16T02:04:41.929-07:00Over and Out<p><br /></p><p><b>River Blythe - 2.5hrs</b></p><p>Another season draws to a close. For me it hasn't been particularly active due to other commitments, but that's probably meant I've appreciated every session all the more.</p><p>My season finale typically ended in a whimper. Thinking back, I honestly can't remember having a red letter day to finish off with. Probably a measure of my general inability to trouble fish!</p><p>Another short session was all I could muster and I decided to follow up on the previous week's pioneering visit to a new stretch. This time I'd stretch the legs even further. If nothing else, it would serve as much needed good exercise.</p><p>Zilch from the starting swim, ditto from the one I fancied but didn't fish last week and more of the same from the third port of call - which provided the only action last time out. Hmmm! With the clock ticking, blank panic set in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_U3AJ85cJl5z0y4rzqElfq-LbuGOXwv9zzccYDP58wVDGf_7uwPiXtUze-T8uWMEUJWWXwUVg6Yc8BIps9PC2wRfBycmKhmyt53n1acd-AcsuDN0V-4IymQRbacxIYiXlZyctS0WBvC4-fNKvoQE2HTHRYYTqe8UV0sVC-x__sUNVT-cKmZCDjfdug/s4608/20220312_152317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_U3AJ85cJl5z0y4rzqElfq-LbuGOXwv9zzccYDP58wVDGf_7uwPiXtUze-T8uWMEUJWWXwUVg6Yc8BIps9PC2wRfBycmKhmyt53n1acd-AcsuDN0V-4IymQRbacxIYiXlZyctS0WBvC4-fNKvoQE2HTHRYYTqe8UV0sVC-x__sUNVT-cKmZCDjfdug/w640-h480/20220312_152317.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>On to swim 4 and I finally had some interest just as I was checking out the football scores. Coventry hit 4 was the headline and I got as far as seeing the 4-1 scoreline when the rod tip started bouncing around.</p><p>A quick strike and a spirited battle ensued. I was quite surprised when it surrendered in front of me that it was only around 3lb. It gave a right old scrap and was a short, chunky fish. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtJ9ZD0oAIuH9-1yLjBvz3QJLWwDXKeMfCI_g-Pfb2RH79QY5crk1rXppBskSj5CukvAbVkKBTJwywofL0EFuQyhuU6SlcdsPF08kZWuFcGjvS2gar8Omxan9SZ_1jkmOqmASEIJqJPUgym4NImvgLvbANYMk7jErlqtMrnXMzqTw0_f6JzLZw8Ewyw/s3903/20220312_164657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2635" data-original-width="3903" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtJ9ZD0oAIuH9-1yLjBvz3QJLWwDXKeMfCI_g-Pfb2RH79QY5crk1rXppBskSj5CukvAbVkKBTJwywofL0EFuQyhuU6SlcdsPF08kZWuFcGjvS2gar8Omxan9SZ_1jkmOqmASEIJqJPUgym4NImvgLvbANYMk7jErlqtMrnXMzqTw0_f6JzLZw8Ewyw/w640-h432/20220312_164657.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I tried a couple more casts before heading off to try 2 more swims. A pointless exercise as it turned out in terms of adding to my tally, but I guess it left me closer to the car.</p><p>The search for a Blythe five will continue next season...</p><p>Hibernation until May is on the agenda.</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-39288995641072409852022-03-07T14:26:00.007-08:002022-03-07T14:32:45.905-08:00Exploration<p><br /></p><p><b>River Blythe - 2hrs.</b></p><p>Another short excursion this week. I very nearly opted for a stab at a local pond for convenience, but my brain kicked in and reminded me there's only one more weekend left. It had to be a river.</p><p>The Blythe was the best bet time wise, but with a match using part of the water, I opted for a stretch I hadn't fished before. </p><p>Largely open and lacking in features, it's not as obviously alluring as some waters, but I found myself quite captivated by it. It was just nice to be strolling through pastures new, looking for something that screamed "fish me".</p><p>I found a handful of likely swims, but chose to ignore the one I liked most. I'd actually already selected another swim to start from, but I couldn't help wandering further on for a brief look. I'll revisit it when I have more time.</p><p>Any concerns of blanking were dispatched first cast. A couple of tentative plucks were met with a hopeful strike and a small meat loving chub was soon on the bank. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPJCdFtrJkswNONCtFy5MntmlfEV5tVPSwstg19qWUtXr1huVvl1TuhcGzQKG4nwDlWu9rZMOCR3LX4gmpGg-inZdF6498yys4Ysy7AL0wOqYGq-EuozB6_2BXKhwTcokMJtFlJ6sM6OgcekU4hqEDqcZ7UlNOjplyB7yHO65P8wNXZh9MOtcQnCyEkQ=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPJCdFtrJkswNONCtFy5MntmlfEV5tVPSwstg19qWUtXr1huVvl1TuhcGzQKG4nwDlWu9rZMOCR3LX4gmpGg-inZdF6498yys4Ysy7AL0wOqYGq-EuozB6_2BXKhwTcokMJtFlJ6sM6OgcekU4hqEDqcZ7UlNOjplyB7yHO65P8wNXZh9MOtcQnCyEkQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>No follow up though, until I decided to start tracing my path back. Reeling in to move on, my chunk of meat was snaffled by something on the retrieve. The usual suspect revealed itself and was actually my first Blythe pike. A real tiny one this - very similar in size to the chub.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8pb_npp5QJI3_vl5KvmXOtuMHoHArp_zbAbPyL176l1ziGBN6r0cpzS42zyY3e5PuRXH1Q2qP06OzcZVckP8YR8E9sA9B8n-CMhq_oV01Vc32lCcFdHfF9y-fFpgz7FBjQq0URDk93gz4189sEXfgU-lEKqOzMTIDNBw3RfR7fc2WwLJJsZHA77DQhg=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8pb_npp5QJI3_vl5KvmXOtuMHoHArp_zbAbPyL176l1ziGBN6r0cpzS42zyY3e5PuRXH1Q2qP06OzcZVckP8YR8E9sA9B8n-CMhq_oV01Vc32lCcFdHfF9y-fFpgz7FBjQq0URDk93gz4189sEXfgU-lEKqOzMTIDNBw3RfR7fc2WwLJJsZHA77DQhg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's food for thought for the future though and maybe there's a decent one lurking somewhere. I'll sleep on that for now.</div><div><br /></div><div>I tried 3 more swims without a sniff. I remained conscious throughout - which is good form for me.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixxkGE9yuLqQ_U1FrJhyj5UOnVxnsrLhDeojBUtFnAhOQwEBAnuSXCUIdbNpKw__m3IiapcWNBYeUzJK-V1Jdl05EZ-flN1GWiW6rm2NWNIGgMQ3aV_bU0UiNngd7JBtolV7o2ptIHWTi6aaKRi7WU4XOCTfn8I3zmLbHGDjyIZTipvT1aF0-4t-FOZw=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixxkGE9yuLqQ_U1FrJhyj5UOnVxnsrLhDeojBUtFnAhOQwEBAnuSXCUIdbNpKw__m3IiapcWNBYeUzJK-V1Jdl05EZ-flN1GWiW6rm2NWNIGgMQ3aV_bU0UiNngd7JBtolV7o2ptIHWTi6aaKRi7WU4XOCTfn8I3zmLbHGDjyIZTipvT1aF0-4t-FOZw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A pleasant couple of hours in tranquil surroundings, with the place to myself. Lots more to learn and uncover. As Arnie said, I'll be back...<div><br /></div><div>These closed seasons creep up far too quickly for my liking. Hopefully one more brief adventure next week<div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-88978732910317491642022-02-27T13:34:00.004-08:002022-02-27T14:15:55.976-08:00Close but no Cigar<p>I'm determined to document all fishing this year, so here's the first catch up covering 3 sessions.</p><p><b>Session 1 - approx 4 hours - River Blythe</b></p><p>A midweek afternoon session that was a 50th birthday treat. I'm not big on birthdays in all honesty and I try to let them slip under the radar whenever possible.</p><p>I was booked in to take my uncle to a routine hospital appointment in the morning and work seemed reluctant for me to ply my trade from home in the afternoon. Simple solution - don't do any work at all and go fishing instead! </p><p>I opted for the Blythe for maximum bank time, I wanted to try a section I hadn't fished yet, but I could see a couple of anglers already in the distance, so I gave up on that idea. I like my peace and space!</p><p>Plan B saw me head slightly upstream where there was no-one around. That led to cunning plan C. I'd prebait an easily accessible swim, head off further upstream for a couple of hours and then return for a late smash and grab raid.</p><p>Furtger upstream offered optimum tranquillity. Just me, a river and a lovely January day (too bright though!). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBVRPnvY7uAHGTsbq6CTDjYwbswnKd5JyRAtr7zmSv3nMLa76hMUch5T316BIkE-k2F_KyRf67wgtHzpMqGPeilSrGlXXaH_HxjOV4jiT02kUg_so3A9wInoW-zYFhLyRe1HSitFwv3BNtkRRfZ4ue_WATk2OtH_0mRsIESkKMpPP2FGKipnFOS7zEHw=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBVRPnvY7uAHGTsbq6CTDjYwbswnKd5JyRAtr7zmSv3nMLa76hMUch5T316BIkE-k2F_KyRf67wgtHzpMqGPeilSrGlXXaH_HxjOV4jiT02kUg_so3A9wInoW-zYFhLyRe1HSitFwv3BNtkRRfZ4ue_WATk2OtH_0mRsIESkKMpPP2FGKipnFOS7zEHw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>5 swims tried. Not a sniff. I nodded off at one point, as is customary for me these days. Time to revisit plan B....</div><div><br /></div><div>A quick hike back to the car and a couple of minutes up the road - only to find someone plundering my spot! It's always the risk we take, but at least he was blanking! </div><div><br /></div><div>And it would remain that way for me. I tried a couple of other swims and actually got into my baited swim briefly at the end. A barren, biteless start to the year.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Session 2 - 1.25 hours - River Leam</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This was a very late call on a Sunday afternoon. I siezed the chance to escape the madness of being around the house. Grabbing some pike gear and a few deadbaits, I headed off to the Leam to reacquaint myself with pastures old.</div><div><br /></div><div>Great to be out, but 75 biteless minutes slipped by quickly and with no time to nod off either. I got what I expected!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGTjkwM0HrAbTjVB_OdZWMU_RhnqiQHVBl-hrDZas7HOnp-FqqVl675sWAscqj7_G8vanrB8kNxIBB6_WU624EE-LMYXJ3Nua3KWqYz-mIkfqvagX8E4cAAejbS-W2YXmerV8ZNdVv9ASgza5CwXW3177gjuPDAzoXq7SAKTJsbTD0Ta_8OQik5gjdgQ=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGTjkwM0HrAbTjVB_OdZWMU_RhnqiQHVBl-hrDZas7HOnp-FqqVl675sWAscqj7_G8vanrB8kNxIBB6_WU624EE-LMYXJ3Nua3KWqYz-mIkfqvagX8E4cAAejbS-W2YXmerV8ZNdVv9ASgza5CwXW3177gjuPDAzoXq7SAKTJsbTD0Ta_8OQik5gjdgQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Session 3 - approx 2.25 hours - River Blythe</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>Another late call for this one. I got a little carried away entertaining my 2 year old in the garden. I was mulling over whether to go for an Avon barbel earlier in the day, but that ship sailed while I was unearthing potatoes long past their best before date.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, it had to be the Blythe again. I wasn't overly confident though. Bright conditions again and I expected a few others on show, given that it was Saturday, the season end is looming and we'd previously had 3 blustery weekends that would have kept many anglers quiet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully I called it wrong. Not a soul around, so I took up the easy option peg. It's a long glide and I'd prime 3 areas with liquidised bread, wait for the sun to drop and then swoop.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQlBT0xgpt4Df8l6qf3kcR0bY_ZThmcpU9sMFvIDIsC-EmYDlRd7LZqs5Ft0413iM-RfO3GTU3CWqwfLjQ_4E3yJWnXHFkYccvbRCJLJ5gZ--iARxmaKp54cu_tpdHJjChzLZb5qu22vm62KcbTKCDx5_olEcNMIyW8O_y1IxiTjOuQPVENoG8CFxjJw=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQlBT0xgpt4Df8l6qf3kcR0bY_ZThmcpU9sMFvIDIsC-EmYDlRd7LZqs5Ft0413iM-RfO3GTU3CWqwfLjQ_4E3yJWnXHFkYccvbRCJLJ5gZ--iARxmaKp54cu_tpdHJjChzLZb5qu22vm62KcbTKCDx5_olEcNMIyW8O_y1IxiTjOuQPVENoG8CFxjJw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Over an hour in and I started to slip into one of my comatosed states, such was the excitement of another potential blank. </div><div><br /></div><div>The resident swan family drifted down to me and I decided to play it cool. Nothing to see here. But then one of the young whippersnappers rumbled my banker prebaited area and proceeded to hoover up - ably assisted by 3 siblings and both parents.</div><div><br /></div><div>I admitted defeat and wandered off to a fresh area. Barely settled into position and my feathered friends thought I was going to provide another meal ticket. A loud expletive was dished out. Utterly wasted, but satisfying nonetheless! </div><div><br /></div><div>Brain engaged, I literally lay low out of sight and just let them drift on. There was after all nothing for them to feed on this time. And within a couple of minutes all was clear.</div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to target a nearside overhanging tree. I'd keep well back from the swim and would be fishing almost below the rod tip.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA7A0iGGTI-QtQMzk9Zt7WHlk3aTYedW663UyBIiBE6WBNVxQC0AOS3xnJy02o8ToweKeNQ29Id8CPAPUkShR9-Qig-69FULBXb7rKhGLSIozu7PlhfdljHQuhTDziA9EBszvZaDruhUXfEU7Xl2X17H5NbNZVGOjw25zlYnjn8C8ztoMVWbKBX8jA3w=s1572" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1572" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjA7A0iGGTI-QtQMzk9Zt7WHlk3aTYedW663UyBIiBE6WBNVxQC0AOS3xnJy02o8ToweKeNQ29Id8CPAPUkShR9-Qig-69FULBXb7rKhGLSIozu7PlhfdljHQuhTDziA9EBszvZaDruhUXfEU7Xl2X17H5NbNZVGOjw25zlYnjn8C8ztoMVWbKBX8jA3w=w640-h450" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I wasn't expecting much to be honest and I was just checking out the football scores when the tip steadily pulled down.</div><div><br /></div><div>Initially it had the madness of a trout, but it dived into nearside cover and revealed itself to be a decent chub. I managed to coax it out though and slipped it into the net. Finally a fish! </div><div><br /></div><div>I knew it was a pb shaker and dared to think it might squeak through the 5lb barrier. It was a light meal short though at 4lb 15oz. I'll settle for the pb though and the 5lb challenge can linger on a little longer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNMGhub0Rak615WVUVbYaSkKIVUx1GJrBerm09rKLzqs8VTCxigQN_BW8OGPqbNet7n840iXEf85mJWxEvLvbEalPmuFMk0O0enGlvj6A8Hpqws-_GUzYyGD1cBSHXOLHDv4_yGP0LYi8auX7fu2U06mOPTUDiyWr0VEUatXBTeYG-7lGicOZznBoacA=s3296" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="3296" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhNMGhub0Rak615WVUVbYaSkKIVUx1GJrBerm09rKLzqs8VTCxigQN_BW8OGPqbNet7n840iXEf85mJWxEvLvbEalPmuFMk0O0enGlvj6A8Hpqws-_GUzYyGD1cBSHXOLHDv4_yGP0LYi8auX7fu2U06mOPTUDiyWr0VEUatXBTeYG-7lGicOZznBoacA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I hung on for a short while as dusk approached, but nothing else doing. Thanks swans for putting me on to that swim! It's all part of the planning!<div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj77QEB0FYEdachjfqaxGj_o-YDsqyOLS0flQL5J96bnBaI_y5LbtD1i4OBn0FbIGFR3WVrg0s3QcQwl5v57ijVtOLU7T1RxTTfnt7epYvUgnW-NwqAFSbK_Rif1lUHctoklLlmbM9l459YGIcErzfcEXEANw_pcCS6nlXraXqjm7DsYosDRCO6iLpBCQ=s4402" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2649" data-original-width="4402" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj77QEB0FYEdachjfqaxGj_o-YDsqyOLS0flQL5J96bnBaI_y5LbtD1i4OBn0FbIGFR3WVrg0s3QcQwl5v57ijVtOLU7T1RxTTfnt7epYvUgnW-NwqAFSbK_Rif1lUHctoklLlmbM9l459YGIcErzfcEXEANw_pcCS6nlXraXqjm7DsYosDRCO6iLpBCQ=w640-h386" width="640" /></a></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-65951316137954579552022-01-12T14:57:00.000-08:002022-01-12T14:58:42.126-08:00Spluttering Along<p> A lack of posts in 2021 means that little has changed for me. Family life remains eventful, chaotic, infuriating, rewarding, challenging, frustrating, exhausting and a whole load of other things - some of which I wouldn't dare print! </p><p>All of this means that fishing continues to be on the back burner, but never far from my mind. Starved of time on the bankside, I've still been entertained by blogs and some WhatsApp chit chat / catches that keep me yearning for the next fishing fix. I might not be wetting a line all that often, but I'm certainly spending plenty of time thinking about fishing!</p><p>So what happened in the last half of 2021? For starters there were only 19 sessions for me in the whole year, almost all of which were around 3.5 hours or less. I wouldn't have reached 80 hours in total for the year. So, from where I left off on here in June, it's 14 sessions for about 50 hours to cover off. Statistically I must have spent more time in the toilet! </p><p>The perennial quest for a 5lb chub continues. This so far 3 decade long adventure is not exactly something I've pursued with any real vigour. I've kind of figured that it would just happen through a law of averages. Perhaps after 30+ years of trying the accidental approach, it's time to realise that I might need to hatch a plan of a more cunning variety, if I want to get the monkey off my back.</p><p>The best managed in 2021 was 4lb 9oz from the small but captivating River Blythe. I acquired a ticket in the previous season and I've still barely scratched the surface of the water available to me. I'm sure I could easily get obsessed with this venue if I had some real time to spare, but I'll settle for a patient approach and take a bold punt that I expect it will finally deliver the elusive 5lb target for me in 2022. That's bolloxed it for sure!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOMCnECR_pJtVfSVSddx2JvT6eQrWnDUe72IDfax5V2OAXFpww614lD530qeImhGyS-6HlahkPxcJZ4C_2NhfjjoNDtIZnzpzap5taUz_9VyDYsAGhwnlK52ixwHuhja05ephCEs208T9aAP2HnSL2QLPAEH2Hk8gY4Ui9tmTFa4M_QyyuI6EIt5T_pA=s3296" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="3296" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOMCnECR_pJtVfSVSddx2JvT6eQrWnDUe72IDfax5V2OAXFpww614lD530qeImhGyS-6HlahkPxcJZ4C_2NhfjjoNDtIZnzpzap5taUz_9VyDYsAGhwnlK52ixwHuhja05ephCEs208T9aAP2HnSL2QLPAEH2Hk8gY4Ui9tmTFa4M_QyyuI6EIt5T_pA=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCnH1ENxzDj35Jhb3m5OpPhcGoUQAeh9MGUU195srCMUhcEhcHkDrVlRTjrEAW4BHoa61TNi_sFmd9ZqaZuL2gtT-suYG9m5dziD-urtVxCK8-j3Cr2cyE-qyhODFTu-13WwD0wMUNBAcR2_eUdBF9AgK8R5GSl5NpgaPRwgV022Wm0B3h_QVUiijKBQ=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCnH1ENxzDj35Jhb3m5OpPhcGoUQAeh9MGUU195srCMUhcEhcHkDrVlRTjrEAW4BHoa61TNi_sFmd9ZqaZuL2gtT-suYG9m5dziD-urtVxCK8-j3Cr2cyE-qyhODFTu-13WwD0wMUNBAcR2_eUdBF9AgK8R5GSl5NpgaPRwgV022Wm0B3h_QVUiijKBQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir-Mak6kUNV2fmfiBBjJTCG9JJv41sFRX2iU_goHMUCZGU8DD7llyLMacufLqG8cJ6MfVeNf0pc2zox3Yl1IxWfiWY2wUPPGOWFwJq3VWV3LOu0JfMfOXQOdguZl2BSxf66wco2oPDbWpQdrBT_gxI_A4erHReNQXFnnT_WwJ_JHvl-_sawd4POwcqxg=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir-Mak6kUNV2fmfiBBjJTCG9JJv41sFRX2iU_goHMUCZGU8DD7llyLMacufLqG8cJ6MfVeNf0pc2zox3Yl1IxWfiWY2wUPPGOWFwJq3VWV3LOu0JfMfOXQOdguZl2BSxf66wco2oPDbWpQdrBT_gxI_A4erHReNQXFnnT_WwJ_JHvl-_sawd4POwcqxg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Time on the Warks Avon was limited to 5 short sessions. Three of those were early season in the middle of the day, just seeking out bites from a few silver fish to while away the time. One short session targeting chub or barbel yielded my only (tiny) whisker of the year. A December predator session on a chilly day</span><span style="text-align: left;"> proved a little more fruitful with a scraper PB zander of 6lb 1oz. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJzyPuB711aWL0WPRUqmghvw6oUXCMWJ5fkVyb49SkLpKLk2H0sOpRrhxUC1vDy9neLnVVFn_-Npjj83Smb4Mnul5WbrIrdShGIXmP5Ph7J00Ju3hzr8w1BGkoR1mNZYUqjq61y8wdnOYW-wnZL1CQFf55Yn-d8xu8Dv9jyPpYR9STjMUWsD8LUG7lFg=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhJzyPuB711aWL0WPRUqmghvw6oUXCMWJ5fkVyb49SkLpKLk2H0sOpRrhxUC1vDy9neLnVVFn_-Npjj83Smb4Mnul5WbrIrdShGIXmP5Ph7J00Ju3hzr8w1BGkoR1mNZYUqjq61y8wdnOYW-wnZL1CQFf55Yn-d8xu8Dv9jyPpYR9STjMUWsD8LUG7lFg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhZwkhh1mx-1mEE55EjLlEAS1MCfHqpupouFfmbfclMaObyQfuUjPOZu8-wPPCziA-pZ_QcyWA58Waj-GL3382q_pKTIunQ4U1qiKQUp0sHCQqemHQ9RHnKQO08hRdfZqPAQJrMXQWjZNRtYboFZY3T4EmpIYUJkvRZB6kS9ZYIeeuLZyDgv6OfpQ4WQ=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhZwkhh1mx-1mEE55EjLlEAS1MCfHqpupouFfmbfclMaObyQfuUjPOZu8-wPPCziA-pZ_QcyWA58Waj-GL3382q_pKTIunQ4U1qiKQUp0sHCQqemHQ9RHnKQO08hRdfZqPAQJrMXQWjZNRtYboFZY3T4EmpIYUJkvRZB6kS9ZYIeeuLZyDgv6OfpQ4WQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4haLTB4hRAo_Dz7v4nEdoTE39b4Ywr23iM-mDmbnqwu7jjC29V4svi0Bg3SwJrDJVuG0rptVX5LUllJklADkdBoPT8QFF0O6aHuFcyqkr_7nTgIWLxAMgv0wjAoCGp_ZDDhi0rkm5DF3LTxKKIwsgdkshsY8DkJd38pFMg6jvlAmPy8BoxoykzSsmXQ=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4haLTB4hRAo_Dz7v4nEdoTE39b4Ywr23iM-mDmbnqwu7jjC29V4svi0Bg3SwJrDJVuG0rptVX5LUllJklADkdBoPT8QFF0O6aHuFcyqkr_7nTgIWLxAMgv0wjAoCGp_ZDDhi0rkm5DF3LTxKKIwsgdkshsY8DkJd38pFMg6jvlAmPy8BoxoykzSsmXQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZHFCfwjWNXU19VTmeY8nknb8C7N30ytiJkX4kHJI7rPtqmMdzSDSqG25B2DUdZdk4mX0MMImW-BKkSZqplVKhadagLoNMEMUZhWwflRP3ivyBn7Ufxq_1M9CerhW-3YQacjmoqGdKYurFrD0T9hKRZSP3Yjh8gQn6XLBDCNy7MoZaQoWUY2JNnRQcVg=s4280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2678" data-original-width="4280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZHFCfwjWNXU19VTmeY8nknb8C7N30ytiJkX4kHJI7rPtqmMdzSDSqG25B2DUdZdk4mX0MMImW-BKkSZqplVKhadagLoNMEMUZhWwflRP3ivyBn7Ufxq_1M9CerhW-3YQacjmoqGdKYurFrD0T9hKRZSP3Yjh8gQn6XLBDCNy7MoZaQoWUY2JNnRQcVg=w640-h400" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Just one visit to the syndicate's pool. Good to see the new stock flourishing and beginning to show up in catches. Hopefully they'll continue to prosper and provide some good sport in years to come. Some excellent work has been done to this previously neglected venue and a huge thanks goes out to all those who have grafted hard to make it happen.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp1rHqMjlyGP3M1pvxjVX6Fi8x0-WpKaeVhRkLGsDZRGOqFq_lmdUmzI4vJxFHHygirKO4wqhINggNy6unHqcX_KysyMh4L9hyKDjG6M0eqf2J2RwqonC1qV2rqkMtmC6oSzkJDtf7ffJRPXWIbPL5GA1SSYdU2ss51JQsvE5MwWUWysE4kwNeSMg8yQ=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp1rHqMjlyGP3M1pvxjVX6Fi8x0-WpKaeVhRkLGsDZRGOqFq_lmdUmzI4vJxFHHygirKO4wqhINggNy6unHqcX_KysyMh4L9hyKDjG6M0eqf2J2RwqonC1qV2rqkMtmC6oSzkJDtf7ffJRPXWIbPL5GA1SSYdU2ss51JQsvE5MwWUWysE4kwNeSMg8yQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /><div>My old adversary, the Anker, has taken a complete back seat. A river that frustrates more than it delights in my experience, but that's all part of the challenge. There's no doubting it holds some fine specimens for those prepared to put the time in. Unfortunately it's the longest journey for me, so with time at a premium, it just hasn't figured. I'm sure I'll be back there in future (the bream will be calling me!) and I've renewed my ticket just in case.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkZAuVsE-nEo3EVhySKBqcKGVlY2BelQUL-BDgDSex4xhl7_ZnT_SB0CrNQ8sMMqKqVcjhKBAPGDBMPMJ4urOr6yx8wM67W1hN70N1iuBLCRK0FG_4TNRFJ6WgfWn8pJTXl2PvohNIglfurl_TR4-HoUBvvjMlzjW0ffbxItz5gd49IMnz2tq7ee5WNg=s4608" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhkZAuVsE-nEo3EVhySKBqcKGVlY2BelQUL-BDgDSex4xhl7_ZnT_SB0CrNQ8sMMqKqVcjhKBAPGDBMPMJ4urOr6yx8wM67W1hN70N1iuBLCRK0FG_4TNRFJ6WgfWn8pJTXl2PvohNIglfurl_TR4-HoUBvvjMlzjW0ffbxItz5gd49IMnz2tq7ee5WNg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So what's in store for 2022? </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm armed with the same number of tickets as usual, so despite me not putting in many appearances in 2021, it's not down to the lack of options! I'm patiently serving my time on a waiting list for a stillwater which I doubt will come to fruition for the 2022 renewal. Therefore it's looking like very little change for me, but given that I have access to waters that I've barely fished all yet, I probably need to start discovering and using more of what I already have. </div><div><br /></div><div>There's some new water on my river syndicate that's actually old water to me, having last fished it around 7 years ago. I'm looking forward to giving that a go again and it's encouraging to see it's already thrown up a chub over 4lb. </div><div><br /></div><div>The main target for the year is to just get out more again and to stay fit and healthy. Oh, and I'll be hitting the 50 milestone too (I've already put in a request for a new rod to commemorate it!). </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-54527394801876868362021-06-15T01:13:00.001-07:002021-06-20T01:20:28.839-07:00February to June 15thWith Covid movement restrictions in place, the end of the river season drifted into a non event for me. <div><br /></div><div>The closed season didn't see much activity either. I attended more Covid vaccinations than I had fishing outings! Just a single trip to a local club water for a few hours. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfXPc3B8FkHsc9bK8HkyH6gQakT7qOWA-Yt7veILjhaUM_WRb-9aO5OUylP-tVn0DmEntpRVbuaoir7QnGvQpzIvUP36ozJL78xl-N-73moOWU4rode6CXTvWjOIi3a5L88WWcMe1RWvQ/s3265/20210504_110120.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2623" data-original-width="3265" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfXPc3B8FkHsc9bK8HkyH6gQakT7qOWA-Yt7veILjhaUM_WRb-9aO5OUylP-tVn0DmEntpRVbuaoir7QnGvQpzIvUP36ozJL78xl-N-73moOWU4rode6CXTvWjOIi3a5L88WWcMe1RWvQ/w400-h321/20210504_110120.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cheeky robin looks on</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />With lots going on at home and work to distract me, the closed season seemed to drift by with relative ease this year. In the past I'd often spent hours on end preparing tackle and bait, willing the days to roll on by. This time, I'd done literally nothing by June 15th, other than to return all rods and reels into some semblance of organised storage and to purchase the usual range of tickets.</div><div><br /></div><div>A well earned week off work beckoned to mark the new river season...</div><div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-34998915115460012072021-01-31T02:31:00.003-08:002021-01-31T02:34:45.440-08:00January<p> Some pretty simple monthly statistics to kick the year off:</p><p>Fish - 0, Bites - 0, Sessions - 0.</p><p>The first time in over a decade that I haven't managed a January outing. </p><p>Lockdown 3 has naturally limited the options, but the frequent moody and foul weather has done a fair job of narrowing them further. Throw in some family baggage and the month quickly became a write off.</p><p>You know things are bad when you've had more trips to the local Covid test centre than you've had fishing trips! My daughter recently clocked up her 4th visit - all negative outcomes so far thankfully.</p><p>Her nursery was a casualty for a week though when a staff member tested positive. A week of juggling home working and providing childcare is something I don't need much more of! </p><p>We end the month with rivers over their banks again and temperatures dipping. I'll probably extend my barren spell for a couple more weeks and hopefully have the odd day off work when conditions improve.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS8zHLOCZ7uRnJaqaQ0E4ufViaoRdCyQgU3-2KLvwG0NaqTzPUCmJ2n6z-jiQ4c4iPBYXjU9dai5hzsIoZsmcLs6osN-lMSFA790uFJSW6hb1ezwQV1G3OzhUBQ7tu9ueNq22ypXIPMBA/s4608/20210124_154436.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhS8zHLOCZ7uRnJaqaQ0E4ufViaoRdCyQgU3-2KLvwG0NaqTzPUCmJ2n6z-jiQ4c4iPBYXjU9dai5hzsIoZsmcLs6osN-lMSFA790uFJSW6hb1ezwQV1G3OzhUBQ7tu9ueNq22ypXIPMBA/w480-h640/20210124_154436.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our local pond</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-91771929530751888022020-12-31T05:15:00.008-08:002020-12-31T05:39:01.733-08:00To The Future<p>Another year comes to an end. Covid-19 dominated most of 2020 and looks set to do the same as we move into the new year and well beyond. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8KUXCeyUJ-xSR4jXEJasqbnfHLtlJUKaxSnAFctj-HeeeQiWqMvSJ-9rL9H0P2WhDQ2biIDHl_Gx_p05yTz1-wq2prlKk73d_b8kOGuOzPrJo3zXnLYqdsP0EpvW6ZYc_pwSNEhE7SVP/s4608/20201230_142347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8KUXCeyUJ-xSR4jXEJasqbnfHLtlJUKaxSnAFctj-HeeeQiWqMvSJ-9rL9H0P2WhDQ2biIDHl_Gx_p05yTz1-wq2prlKk73d_b8kOGuOzPrJo3zXnLYqdsP0EpvW6ZYc_pwSNEhE7SVP/w480-h640/20201230_142347.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Hopefully we'll avoid another full lockdown that prevents any angling, but it's getting dangerously close again. I just hope we can get a workable strategy that sees a return to "normal" life in the first half of 2021. Right now things look dangerously out of control, despite the optimism of multiple vaccines.</p><p>While I've been lucky to have avoided any serious Covid issues amongst my extended family, it's completely derailed the support networks that my household revolves around.</p><p>When you can't just rock up at a friend's or family member's house to let them see / entertain your young offspring, it adds extra pressure within your own environment. As a result, I've done far less fishing in 2020 than in any of the previous 30 years. Quite simply, maintaining a functional household has had to be the priority. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A6M58yO6JbDZkrKqiM6BeWR9_Zs4VQu3JY5pE6WXFRjaOCLinGsjlpLSWGoU7a82dUzqCgUSs5byWHdhayvD2PculBu-26shhoyPGzBWeMklW-0Y0a9DpYpGvCz61510q79O6-GfUWwg/s4608/20201225_090328.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2A6M58yO6JbDZkrKqiM6BeWR9_Zs4VQu3JY5pE6WXFRjaOCLinGsjlpLSWGoU7a82dUzqCgUSs5byWHdhayvD2PculBu-26shhoyPGzBWeMklW-0Y0a9DpYpGvCz61510q79O6-GfUWwg/w480-h640/20201225_090328.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Normal life!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Doom and gloom aside, I look forward to some good fishing in 2021. A new river ticket which might finally see me crack that elusive 5lb chub! Hopefully another bloggers' challenge - Covid permitting. Maybe follow up on a tip off of some good perch in a stillwater I joined during lockdown 1? Perhaps investigate the recent additions at the syndicate pool? And of course there's still my other staple venues to fall back on. </p><p>I might be challenged for time, but I'll have plenty of variety to go at when I do get out! I'll try to share things more regularly on here over the year ahead. </p><p>Good luck to everyone in 2021. Tight lines, but most importantly, good health to all your family and stay safe. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-70700190699468393132020-12-25T01:33:00.002-08:002020-12-25T01:33:05.822-08:00December <p>A couple of short pre-xmas sessions. A blank on a stillwater and a lone barbel on a ever swelling Avon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jaG4drxPGhXlv3GqtfsU5NaFXAwutPqjc6kJDCbskNSfsKBM5Y-2kOCm6CuBgoYtPz7Sc5Y4PC5gHA4i8iuH1ToBUwLSszNwh7C9pUTEhlvXc2ghDfBOrOMQQsUdRQ3ZU1LlpipOeZp-/s3096/20201221_181318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="3028" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jaG4drxPGhXlv3GqtfsU5NaFXAwutPqjc6kJDCbskNSfsKBM5Y-2kOCm6CuBgoYtPz7Sc5Y4PC5gHA4i8iuH1ToBUwLSszNwh7C9pUTEhlvXc2ghDfBOrOMQQsUdRQ3ZU1LlpipOeZp-/s320/20201221_181318.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Further serious quantities of rain have seen the upper Avon (Rugby) hitting record levels. Misery for festive river anglers. Unlikely to improve much with a big storm arriving later on Boxing Day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One more session planned this year. Might have to be a stillwater, but I'll take anything I can get. It's been that sort of year.</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-28482320168956776442020-12-25T01:21:00.001-08:002020-12-25T01:21:34.473-08:00November<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">November, no fishing for me again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDjTCQspQwqDFHJR8cV3LuC1JPEC03TrRkwo_ruMa1hfAZXG1DaxXQ-2f_Zes50LtLb2IbFy2isTw678H4Dp23k4x320LvHoG19YZ-2oBtB580CO4neC73WSpBMKPKl1mmynoBi60j010/s975/20201104_153526.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="952" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDjTCQspQwqDFHJR8cV3LuC1JPEC03TrRkwo_ruMa1hfAZXG1DaxXQ-2f_Zes50LtLb2IbFy2isTw678H4Dp23k4x320LvHoG19YZ-2oBtB580CO4neC73WSpBMKPKl1mmynoBi60j010/s320/20201104_153526.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-14878630397920034162020-12-25T01:16:00.001-08:002020-12-25T01:16:36.100-08:00October<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some fishing respite around half-term thankfully. A bit of a mixed bag across a few sessions. Nice to see a zander again - it's been a while.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXcI-Avkp1uo4lIv987cr6ycnPQvKD4PGUqqHGgN89-bkD9wDulWAcxP8FX2SPzmS4MSNwODJ9t39t9YG4US3RTl9tShhAY2Gc80AZ_LfKmjaquP8ArlpnJm5xnfIQq3-0TWECKg-T7pA/s4608/20201026_105439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXcI-Avkp1uo4lIv987cr6ycnPQvKD4PGUqqHGgN89-bkD9wDulWAcxP8FX2SPzmS4MSNwODJ9t39t9YG4US3RTl9tShhAY2Gc80AZ_LfKmjaquP8ArlpnJm5xnfIQq3-0TWECKg-T7pA/s320/20201026_105439.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTOR7jp_dYQlnvAWHIM48lkRJJBJel2xJ54o2u5KqOpKOdQW3UIhC93MqEKMOiwRx1haTQ6QRKvxhmy4i15mL2CvJR8yBgm3BR66rPufqE3fnNbhHdGLCIssXHp6pY9-l7r8WRfbfllb9/s4608/20201026_121206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTOR7jp_dYQlnvAWHIM48lkRJJBJel2xJ54o2u5KqOpKOdQW3UIhC93MqEKMOiwRx1haTQ6QRKvxhmy4i15mL2CvJR8yBgm3BR66rPufqE3fnNbhHdGLCIssXHp6pY9-l7r8WRfbfllb9/s320/20201026_121206.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNXLBiRs_Rbbg_LSV4R71NogezBFed-ESYp0N6oUwZsFOK9Lm05Uk6GwGIxc7k_I22635ujZPJZN_rSkuzO51p9EacgHe5m4fSI3EzkY46VrVeMYSix4ru5hN-0AwdXZhgN0HbU7mBEqY/s4608/20201026_150123.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNXLBiRs_Rbbg_LSV4R71NogezBFed-ESYp0N6oUwZsFOK9Lm05Uk6GwGIxc7k_I22635ujZPJZN_rSkuzO51p9EacgHe5m4fSI3EzkY46VrVeMYSix4ru5hN-0AwdXZhgN0HbU7mBEqY/s320/20201026_150123.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtiRBbG7y_zucBANWuDiVdhP9MaQ4d2DpdasrnQDoDvExIgswlMazcywARf_F0ogfxIfh5JwlLASszvu4ZptmfXebmgVHdl2QjTwWJnpKENLmnuNnGKWGTduLhDVwLiM3PmXtdbq0gf6_/s4608/20201029_105429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtiRBbG7y_zucBANWuDiVdhP9MaQ4d2DpdasrnQDoDvExIgswlMazcywARf_F0ogfxIfh5JwlLASszvu4ZptmfXebmgVHdl2QjTwWJnpKENLmnuNnGKWGTduLhDVwLiM3PmXtdbq0gf6_/s320/20201029_105429.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCc3_5RQfTezZsNRDyBlQAaowyVfhCeSbPBp-IIpd_EZ70vG0tiVGJC6FzscV5oQtETe6_kH8eu30UaIJntuPX3Q96DFx_9dzOKJ3AV2hBQO441tH__tpzcDgXNz-wlVdZxYyUiYMFaBIZ/s4608/20201029_114634.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCc3_5RQfTezZsNRDyBlQAaowyVfhCeSbPBp-IIpd_EZ70vG0tiVGJC6FzscV5oQtETe6_kH8eu30UaIJntuPX3Q96DFx_9dzOKJ3AV2hBQO441tH__tpzcDgXNz-wlVdZxYyUiYMFaBIZ/s320/20201029_114634.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9AIlq8OyVpGlEgvy3JIpnWaFd0BrAk1gYdpha1M0KTGlclbHed_gFH1ryS4-FHJGre7PJRh5-ZbbWy4ALv0SMzzbAFv8fGKLqkIMqjPdXtHV4Yu93BVGY_wpsvRaaZMTYNZRmBcIegkY/s4608/20201029_130451.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9AIlq8OyVpGlEgvy3JIpnWaFd0BrAk1gYdpha1M0KTGlclbHed_gFH1ryS4-FHJGre7PJRh5-ZbbWy4ALv0SMzzbAFv8fGKLqkIMqjPdXtHV4Yu93BVGY_wpsvRaaZMTYNZRmBcIegkY/s320/20201029_130451.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2924Hcfe6hNx4fqOom-vIy1WmEAL5P3h1W7wG7iENqdWBKx6hXTjqdLGZraoOoxIszXhHF6jefPgTotLt0tGZ6zyTUHDvpZMM1mAHNmWPJc7L8wlzKZQ4wiMVxqJk8wAw9bGJRD_o3tx0/s3413/20201030_123324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2683" data-original-width="3413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2924Hcfe6hNx4fqOom-vIy1WmEAL5P3h1W7wG7iENqdWBKx6hXTjqdLGZraoOoxIszXhHF6jefPgTotLt0tGZ6zyTUHDvpZMM1mAHNmWPJc7L8wlzKZQ4wiMVxqJk8wAw9bGJRD_o3tx0/s320/20201030_123324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-79771473074615070692020-12-25T01:12:00.001-08:002020-12-25T01:12:32.189-08:00September<div>Didn't wet a line all month. Family duties taking over. Fishing can wait...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiH48SsmBnmwjx8BcLC0T3pdHs-w8HIf0jrPndAWtu2mny3G8GZF_kMvQQfAROgjH4qm9qeJz50F1heZAV-KYebi0Hpz8Av3s1VeaAOginwhlZbbubhzoFfj_Fxn355TM9PAtR4xVCE7F/s4608/20200920_131028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiH48SsmBnmwjx8BcLC0T3pdHs-w8HIf0jrPndAWtu2mny3G8GZF_kMvQQfAROgjH4qm9qeJz50F1heZAV-KYebi0Hpz8Av3s1VeaAOginwhlZbbubhzoFfj_Fxn355TM9PAtR4xVCE7F/s320/20200920_131028.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-41076154507960709092020-12-25T01:06:00.001-08:002020-12-25T01:06:40.337-08:00August<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Returned to working in an office. A couple of canalside pub lunches - my only 2 pub outings since mid-March. It remained that way for the rest of the year. Fishing still sparse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXGR_0gDdCc3dowBYyy6eDMr0rfrwoklaZdC9bpiNQ-YjptJorlZp64YoFWMmV-vVgN8vw0EE0yFKFNShl4QD3UT1Z6Mf0c6KPzCsiRvMfpoZsVnDmeotqlZfzolDDByeCjtYgeUUJFMp/s4608/20200805_111914.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXGR_0gDdCc3dowBYyy6eDMr0rfrwoklaZdC9bpiNQ-YjptJorlZp64YoFWMmV-vVgN8vw0EE0yFKFNShl4QD3UT1Z6Mf0c6KPzCsiRvMfpoZsVnDmeotqlZfzolDDByeCjtYgeUUJFMp/s320/20200805_111914.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROWUAZ0rneOxhb_-JRNXL4pIHezEK566uDxsf43HTP1BGT73ih6t1ynHEF2X_1mFyw0_SddSN81A-Pn2E5lXPVrzFgNWnFhLVjK_ahamw7WL52QsyJ_W6Xx3NQYZeg9h_IKtyi4EQ-Xz4/s4608/20200806_103929.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROWUAZ0rneOxhb_-JRNXL4pIHezEK566uDxsf43HTP1BGT73ih6t1ynHEF2X_1mFyw0_SddSN81A-Pn2E5lXPVrzFgNWnFhLVjK_ahamw7WL52QsyJ_W6Xx3NQYZeg9h_IKtyi4EQ-Xz4/s320/20200806_103929.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLEzvYkGcndHqcLuGSGokZAi-B8_HYZsiYp2uS9vYNI7LGBTc5x1sK2qiKy4QXYEHHj3_9riAJAsWjDj1iezciFoT3WlShc4ZKj06MYiZI3KweZcjCykz0MWCeeQrjEnNl_mDwXAaMtwx/s4608/20200806_121133.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLEzvYkGcndHqcLuGSGokZAi-B8_HYZsiYp2uS9vYNI7LGBTc5x1sK2qiKy4QXYEHHj3_9riAJAsWjDj1iezciFoT3WlShc4ZKj06MYiZI3KweZcjCykz0MWCeeQrjEnNl_mDwXAaMtwx/s320/20200806_121133.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjw5g_bQkzIHmWI6eL40MUC4WJ5_OX8p5TASpziizFyWHYJCVLr49u2R2DYaVN9lxJvyL1J2JKeOT8FugHl0TgbPOS2i3Eh4SUpaoWHnDc11hKV5ycOXidneV7DX_rEK4Tqvwh1RqroDP/s4608/20200806_124102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjw5g_bQkzIHmWI6eL40MUC4WJ5_OX8p5TASpziizFyWHYJCVLr49u2R2DYaVN9lxJvyL1J2JKeOT8FugHl0TgbPOS2i3Eh4SUpaoWHnDc11hKV5ycOXidneV7DX_rEK4Tqvwh1RqroDP/s320/20200806_124102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-91059094188136622282020-12-24T00:28:00.001-08:002020-12-24T00:28:34.240-08:00July<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A bit of normality returned to daily life. Still starved of my usual fishing quota, but I managed to nick a few.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1MgpOFq415YJ3MgnX3CxLyXBdoijKzitse9zbZzYjPDA5ePQJXYTBOSdPrTvbOgi84Rp6Zfgh1R6VG0W5FF6ctNJCU2ANlf8hp8F0H0hUr4fVqV4XU_KQ7F870GqRlMRI5RNKzYZoXpY/s4608/20200711_201017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1MgpOFq415YJ3MgnX3CxLyXBdoijKzitse9zbZzYjPDA5ePQJXYTBOSdPrTvbOgi84Rp6Zfgh1R6VG0W5FF6ctNJCU2ANlf8hp8F0H0hUr4fVqV4XU_KQ7F870GqRlMRI5RNKzYZoXpY/s320/20200711_201017.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cpVAfD_WKMGzG6ASxbiU6c63koAYlWnl4Sv60TEtdv6CJbjE4Fv0Mv_SajoRsrDYRA0UnInrGje311_37GTBJDLhb2NvN1kuaYphx0mzglAot6Jy-D5rH9mGLfNRa8CPMIZaTXslnbfz/s4608/20200711_204641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cpVAfD_WKMGzG6ASxbiU6c63koAYlWnl4Sv60TEtdv6CJbjE4Fv0Mv_SajoRsrDYRA0UnInrGje311_37GTBJDLhb2NvN1kuaYphx0mzglAot6Jy-D5rH9mGLfNRa8CPMIZaTXslnbfz/s320/20200711_204641.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMVyCzwIvMK40yuWiTnkTMKofx7QR0VzNLwExWdsMqoyc8GzkhG1QIWd8FOPxJZK3eNBf-cUG-HiVQnyXGxvs5fkI124GRRHSemERcCCdBIjdyhBf5jDUCMbKZY4WCmxhcEh1uIU5sLhE/s4608/20200711_213523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMVyCzwIvMK40yuWiTnkTMKofx7QR0VzNLwExWdsMqoyc8GzkhG1QIWd8FOPxJZK3eNBf-cUG-HiVQnyXGxvs5fkI124GRRHSemERcCCdBIjdyhBf5jDUCMbKZY4WCmxhcEh1uIU5sLhE/s320/20200711_213523.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDukWkuQOdV_0Iy-8l-N9LhuhoP38LvnFh_2WKcRQa4LDmWVaTxp2NiJdWTc0YsPjPwB9mX_F_e2x_JC0M0oO1Gby5SlxwX3oA3htcxxuhGbhfCdc8-YggJ0hKYDCEgyZ-rus7Go6gRBAZ/s4608/20200713_142726.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDukWkuQOdV_0Iy-8l-N9LhuhoP38LvnFh_2WKcRQa4LDmWVaTxp2NiJdWTc0YsPjPwB9mX_F_e2x_JC0M0oO1Gby5SlxwX3oA3htcxxuhGbhfCdc8-YggJ0hKYDCEgyZ-rus7Go6gRBAZ/s320/20200713_142726.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqAzuqEhpzt2T0zQriLAE2FqgB6_YUtt6-xxf2jJFZSwdZXB-da3r5vBg0mfam2rOWdlBcMvy3uEYksNRnTvxzBZ_DP9aDvL-Bugz7gd0rqHbvp_uwCOJmGmTwAjeSyi53_VVN9bWS6Fu/s4608/20200714_113636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqAzuqEhpzt2T0zQriLAE2FqgB6_YUtt6-xxf2jJFZSwdZXB-da3r5vBg0mfam2rOWdlBcMvy3uEYksNRnTvxzBZ_DP9aDvL-Bugz7gd0rqHbvp_uwCOJmGmTwAjeSyi53_VVN9bWS6Fu/s320/20200714_113636.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-19849085012999762242020-12-23T14:26:00.001-08:002020-12-23T14:26:23.733-08:00June<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally some fishing. Opening day on the river saw a mixed bag of bits with a lone bream and a tiny pike.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi74QyBjiTLCQuxhqfTNSdotETbJIGUUNe6OOZJzhyphenhyphenzewLwljbgbnMBSNxnWKS7CeKDj9z9rsWS3bPNgGk7OEu71F8k5PF43-1WXDfTRmJQ9ZqpUaGqHg7TLcweNVQuAKtXAWaBIQoTWL/s4608/20200616_102344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLi74QyBjiTLCQuxhqfTNSdotETbJIGUUNe6OOZJzhyphenhyphenzewLwljbgbnMBSNxnWKS7CeKDj9z9rsWS3bPNgGk7OEu71F8k5PF43-1WXDfTRmJQ9ZqpUaGqHg7TLcweNVQuAKtXAWaBIQoTWL/s320/20200616_102344.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLDXRwrdwxj38If2vWwvlokhoJ7I0Uv8x2lbeSEmoArzKrTHaHCF2cV_VvhAm1oisGq3c3Kve30f4x1w5ypRFMIrbwf7RiVYdhG2WCtqXDFThmsboierTfoeFy2lQFPlHe-ZlR4vLEgGp/s4608/20200616_111748.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLDXRwrdwxj38If2vWwvlokhoJ7I0Uv8x2lbeSEmoArzKrTHaHCF2cV_VvhAm1oisGq3c3Kve30f4x1w5ypRFMIrbwf7RiVYdhG2WCtqXDFThmsboierTfoeFy2lQFPlHe-ZlR4vLEgGp/s320/20200616_111748.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vIzP_lx01pu0dvPlrt4wG1HQ7ZhJBWDaGE7UNvLIycpw0v55cUPvFiwdcQMN4TPfUDZ1Bx8_qjEg6TyXW3aPPU_vRHyU2QLDRh0q0FR5RJFmDXS1oY4wrAtRZAT0ao-W8lCPBqQaOwQ-/s4608/20200616_120502.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vIzP_lx01pu0dvPlrt4wG1HQ7ZhJBWDaGE7UNvLIycpw0v55cUPvFiwdcQMN4TPfUDZ1Bx8_qjEg6TyXW3aPPU_vRHyU2QLDRh0q0FR5RJFmDXS1oY4wrAtRZAT0ao-W8lCPBqQaOwQ-/s320/20200616_120502.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pubs still closed, but many things gradually reopening, including nurseries - got a huge chunk of my life back from that! I now have huge respect for those who look after children on a daily basis!</div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-88132375338388351922020-12-23T14:14:00.001-08:002020-12-23T14:14:53.951-08:00May<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lockdown continues. Weather still good. Still no fishing. A holiday cancelled. Lots of exercise with the little one, who was now starting to find her feet.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5ABrYq7YQr2m2meVH0G3gCLo46EoPXpEfxwk6G3yqvoo7l7zD3lXmVKLafhFI7H6GiJb_0sHsleAV2ne9j4j_Bey6TkY3PM3q7l83AbTVGVNvj6nBeWvQEWzZx_EvZXEGvCOvK981aah/s4608/20200531_152404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5ABrYq7YQr2m2meVH0G3gCLo46EoPXpEfxwk6G3yqvoo7l7zD3lXmVKLafhFI7H6GiJb_0sHsleAV2ne9j4j_Bey6TkY3PM3q7l83AbTVGVNvj6nBeWvQEWzZx_EvZXEGvCOvK981aah/s320/20200531_152404.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-37700964576640203652020-12-23T14:07:00.002-08:002020-12-23T14:16:12.539-08:00April<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">National lockdown. No Grand National. No fishing. Decent weather, but very little on offer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hectic times trying juggle childcare with my wife, while both of us working full time from home. Long days...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuoIl1q8UHtCb45VWVzBMZyxQ4N9NA8jbVPDnp5AF37z-ImLQ8R6FAKjpuqR0Z8WQi4nSxh8RYSjm6T89hQ96Od-XLqmKLcVVGZdbrXzDeX-TwcY-wmfGyYMGeyAw7WD3qT6M2m6dZ9uC/s3264/20200430_144535.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuoIl1q8UHtCb45VWVzBMZyxQ4N9NA8jbVPDnp5AF37z-ImLQ8R6FAKjpuqR0Z8WQi4nSxh8RYSjm6T89hQ96Od-XLqmKLcVVGZdbrXzDeX-TwcY-wmfGyYMGeyAw7WD3qT6M2m6dZ9uC/s320/20200430_144535.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Baby's first steps emerged just shy of her first birthday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-28187539195472692012020-12-23T13:51:00.001-08:002020-12-23T13:51:28.226-08:00March<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A dose of hand foot and mouth for my daughter in March, courtesy of the nursery. Passed on to me too! Little did we know about the virus that was to shape the remainder of the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlmJYd0YhoZTb8Dj40wd_hz2eFV8P64O8bZnkAJ0yf2pfP_Tsx0MyLHCd6hk32Vy8bahC5lMfS7DTleZ0gF6JzkFptB4ZYzWxLt7jQPoNQjYKAd49uk5S9NZSw0zlBx3bgm51GVdzQGtj/s4128/20200311_120303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlmJYd0YhoZTb8Dj40wd_hz2eFV8P64O8bZnkAJ0yf2pfP_Tsx0MyLHCd6hk32Vy8bahC5lMfS7DTleZ0gF6JzkFptB4ZYzWxLt7jQPoNQjYKAd49uk5S9NZSw0zlBx3bgm51GVdzQGtj/s320/20200311_120303.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Covid-19 lockdown came shortly after the river season closed. One last short session on the 14th was a blank. A disappointing end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-58652552243743723052020-12-22T09:21:00.002-08:002020-12-22T09:23:14.204-08:00February<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd returned to work in February and the reality of managing work and parental duties was a tougher task than I'd bargained for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fishing was also limited by the conditions, but I did manage to sneak out my best ever Warwickshire Avon bream.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGc-XTTNFkFxF-aTWWdrreG1u5avAJxlIVaFJ1r4y-Uxh0wSxNmpbHLgRbd0_ABEyS2gRd36i5eh_YWOEDhDpc0aPvsD7AOjQQDXggjBrSvhkqY66xjviBsptGkG3Ym8MK7yD_vnQxE6M/s4128/20200201_151636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGc-XTTNFkFxF-aTWWdrreG1u5avAJxlIVaFJ1r4y-Uxh0wSxNmpbHLgRbd0_ABEyS2gRd36i5eh_YWOEDhDpc0aPvsD7AOjQQDXggjBrSvhkqY66xjviBsptGkG3Ym8MK7yD_vnQxE6M/s320/20200201_151636.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemlejUbfdvFvzwKdGDHl8X0pSQKddj7-O-D2IaZwuh7hiQ3UDDmVTaoSGDvqDiLiKldysZETJodwvVuE3KUeA_JSJhYxEgpIGE-lfFqqh4kjWnCgQZ8VrzUeIuNBDRs2WzBfSAzljIKTf/s4128/20200201_114750.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemlejUbfdvFvzwKdGDHl8X0pSQKddj7-O-D2IaZwuh7hiQ3UDDmVTaoSGDvqDiLiKldysZETJodwvVuE3KUeA_JSJhYxEgpIGE-lfFqqh4kjWnCgQZ8VrzUeIuNBDRs2WzBfSAzljIKTf/w300-h400/20200201_114750.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7lbs 4oz Warks Avon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-275681983240079852020-12-20T13:43:00.001-08:002020-12-22T09:19:03.862-08:00January<p>A belated catch up of what has been a disjointed year. Just pictures mainly, to fill the gaps. More month by month posts coming soon.</p><p>I was still on parental leave in January, with a 9 month old that was about to start nursery. Rivers frequently flooded and frustrating. Fishing was limited.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatHiChn4pgT1Au7_D0Aw9TRUONz_SkujSHxppybgdMdtzxpoMknYipJ_dHvrOcqYAFH240dOQT_ywalpJKigdDYILlQUVQqRz3aiGwq-4jvtESGdq-HTTaKGcsuVdpAXbUmb1nfU_MZvN/s4128/20200121_124837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatHiChn4pgT1Au7_D0Aw9TRUONz_SkujSHxppybgdMdtzxpoMknYipJ_dHvrOcqYAFH240dOQT_ywalpJKigdDYILlQUVQqRz3aiGwq-4jvtESGdq-HTTaKGcsuVdpAXbUmb1nfU_MZvN/w300-h400/20200121_124837.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXudgIJhKtMdntvCQvSKBwdEla4HGSdmr8J8-i4LYawXWNkxcLcOEfbKU8qgcbQIa83go2E1AIHtVrbWEZBZ5PtdBuLd_6gihnaWqWKuWCTdTFIhLqX4v5n_no5rrkTBWyMF0QsUYOdlk7/s4128/20200121_123239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXudgIJhKtMdntvCQvSKBwdEla4HGSdmr8J8-i4LYawXWNkxcLcOEfbKU8qgcbQIa83go2E1AIHtVrbWEZBZ5PtdBuLd_6gihnaWqWKuWCTdTFIhLqX4v5n_no5rrkTBWyMF0QsUYOdlk7/w400-h300/20200121_123239.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSu_uosSO1HOzsYx_tU_-DOTl1sCkG2E9THBPkpmTIkS_QImBL41HzabmSceBEt2YMsQ81kb-yZshI5Vmw0mkcdIZ6ho3Kqtyp135xIEGmUf5eCsv3hyk2Khxledq_lxIbBVAu7p_TBPU/s3012/20200117_145505.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2344" data-original-width="3012" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSu_uosSO1HOzsYx_tU_-DOTl1sCkG2E9THBPkpmTIkS_QImBL41HzabmSceBEt2YMsQ81kb-yZshI5Vmw0mkcdIZ6ho3Kqtyp135xIEGmUf5eCsv3hyk2Khxledq_lxIbBVAu7p_TBPU/w400-h311/20200117_145505.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7EE4guur2gRYOM0ymAsDCN8LNt6K5qkvA63xpN9Jowsj8iPuIX1jEVKmZ4uvXpPkh4R2Wl59TCWXobDquK6ZwmzRCMJVqatdKIQH10cniy0RV31NwpBR-MMSKdy9026dDrKNXH-flzLx/s4128/20200117_155145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7EE4guur2gRYOM0ymAsDCN8LNt6K5qkvA63xpN9Jowsj8iPuIX1jEVKmZ4uvXpPkh4R2Wl59TCWXobDquK6ZwmzRCMJVqatdKIQH10cniy0RV31NwpBR-MMSKdy9026dDrKNXH-flzLx/w300-h400/20200117_155145.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRVxUwAfj0WU69Cw7CEwgXm4t6T2lf-AeFqIGLiAipvozqvfQcWPENviwNufUqZYX-uBLnF0MtkuHQmIaCWO9GFJh3xQ324QJHJkC1yG4sE1yLZ9Harwfwmsr7wAz-vZzLcM9lhSVIJGC/s4128/20200110_155738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRVxUwAfj0WU69Cw7CEwgXm4t6T2lf-AeFqIGLiAipvozqvfQcWPENviwNufUqZYX-uBLnF0MtkuHQmIaCWO9GFJh3xQ324QJHJkC1yG4sE1yLZ9Harwfwmsr7wAz-vZzLcM9lhSVIJGC/w400-h300/20200110_155738.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-62070186810929955972019-12-31T15:16:00.003-08:002019-12-31T15:20:45.038-08:00Still Fishing - Just!A bit of a barren year on the blog post front, which largely mirrors my angling year.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX_aje7uZ-Qh1JcvKA79-VG-h1RAjBvMWk8gtV_DFUPT3OLg51VgLpWU5dkVDEVa9qTH1WjYqoVHeGuexaTnxDG9SaqWQlTYIu9Qzg-OdBsDheX3N-CmYwyJI5NnEYjuP6uQ_SYi1vApw/s1600/20190705_195111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX_aje7uZ-Qh1JcvKA79-VG-h1RAjBvMWk8gtV_DFUPT3OLg51VgLpWU5dkVDEVa9qTH1WjYqoVHeGuexaTnxDG9SaqWQlTYIu9Qzg-OdBsDheX3N-CmYwyJI5NnEYjuP6uQ_SYi1vApw/s640/20190705_195111.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Life took on a different meaning for me in April, following the birth of my daughter. Despite having the usual best of angling intentions and a good handful of club / syndicate tickets, the fish rarely got a look in during 2019.<br />
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I've been limited to snatching short sessions whenever the going at home has been good. A far cry from being able to throw myself into decent length sessions pretty much every week. I'm not complaining though - family wellbeing is now the priority - but I've sure missed my regular dose of piscatorial therapy.<br />
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That said, what a miserable run of wet weather we've had in the last quarter of the year. All too frequently my short sessions have coincided with the rivers being badly our of sorts. I've even resorted to the odd stillwater, which had little impact on my success.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmlgmRspyNQ-qPy-nsTmsHi9BkgG19EJYS3sjU15dKECYzZsrVElbkF7zjmgMqCXolrG4YI-L5diZcM7xT2VpFS4VDDiMWBFosdjs-MPUPccrdNPtQcrER6zS1PQzlIZYvxeAq5xm37v9/s1600/20191206_142550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmlgmRspyNQ-qPy-nsTmsHi9BkgG19EJYS3sjU15dKECYzZsrVElbkF7zjmgMqCXolrG4YI-L5diZcM7xT2VpFS4VDDiMWBFosdjs-MPUPccrdNPtQcrER6zS1PQzlIZYvxeAq5xm37v9/s640/20191206_142550.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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A run of 7 blanks stretching back almost 3 months was endured at the peak of my misfortune and only ended with my final session of the year.<br />
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Amongst the limited offerings I've had, there were occasional highlights with a couple of pb's.<br />
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A completely unexpected specimen canal silver bream that was actually my first post baby capture in May. It went 2lb 8oz and the sheer scale of it didn't really hit me until I started discussing it with others afterwards. I just wish I'd taken some better shots of it now.<br />
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The other highlight was finally breaking into double figures with an Anker bream of 10lb 2oz, taken on stick float and centrepin in June. Again I didn't do it justice with the self takes and a mat shot will have to do.<br />
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2020 will hopefully see me hitting the bank a little more often again and I'll duly follow with a few more blog posts.<br />
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Tight lines all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-61930842180979131702019-01-31T14:26:00.000-08:002019-02-01T23:58:37.528-08:00JanuaryI'll summarise the month with a 4-3-2-1 countdown:<br />
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4 sessions - all pretty short. A case of grabbing what I could when the opportunity arose.<br />
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3 blanks - two chasing chub, one after predators. Let's move on swiftly.<br />
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2 venues - both on the Anker.<br />
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1 bite - but a personal best!<br />
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After years of figuring that I'd eventually drop lucky with a Warwickshire Avon five pound chub, my pb was refusing to budge above 4lb 5oz. I'd pushed it close with an Anker fish earlier in the season and much bigger fish (in the 6-7lb range) are in residence.<br />
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I didn't strike gold with a 6, or even silver with a 5. I had to settle for a close third with a clean well fed fish of 4lb 12oz. I'd like to say it was down to a perfectly executed plan, but it would be stretching the truth a little.<br />
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I'd fed my three preferred swims with liquidised bread, but I then fancied a quick look at one of the deeper downstream pegs before putting a bait into them. I offloaded my gear at the end peg, but when I tried to settle in, I wasn't happy. It was a lethal mudfest at the business end. I didn't want to risk a ducking.<br />
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I moved to a different peg further upstream that I hadn't fed. I cast two big pieces of flake across the river, more in hope than anything. I was amazed to get a quick tap on the right hand rod and more surprised when the tip pulled steadily around. That was the only bite of the session - and from a peg I could easily have overlooked. The baited pegs were barren.<br />
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The season's end draws ever closer. Soberingly, I'm probably down to just a handful of opportunities left. Let's hope the weather doesn't curtail it further. While I have plenty to do at home in preparation of a new arrival, I'd rather not be confined to enforced decorating duties.<br />
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Finally, it was nice to bump into Lee from This Angling Life (ex blogger / now Facebook). during one of the sessions. I never knew we were members of the same club! Looks like he had a nice perch of 2lb 11oz (amongst other fish) while I was slumbering. Nice one Lee!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-71256412140068015602018-12-31T14:50:00.001-08:002019-01-03T11:50:21.734-08:00DecemberDecember seems to have flown by and for once, I managed to grab my fair share of sessions. Returns have been bizarrely consistent, albeit somewhat sparse too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdXcdc4iI0E9KsihLNL9-FeF0SnUNJ7e61ZCplAsDL09EMBFyrKfAzycG-F0pYu-W2hxs15hLNA-vKeR5BH5fx88w1KfTN4KpmfmDkyLgzn6nyvgCe9aPR0Vo_QWF-MhlCle3E7sczgGW/s1600/2018-12-16_17.55.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1289" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRdXcdc4iI0E9KsihLNL9-FeF0SnUNJ7e61ZCplAsDL09EMBFyrKfAzycG-F0pYu-W2hxs15hLNA-vKeR5BH5fx88w1KfTN4KpmfmDkyLgzn6nyvgCe9aPR0Vo_QWF-MhlCle3E7sczgGW/s640/2018-12-16_17.55.20.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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No blanks (always welcome!), but I frequently can't seem to negotiate my way past small pike, or a count of one! Indeed, it was only in the last of the six sessions where I hit the heady heights of two pike (also losing a third at the net).</div>
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Sessions were split between a small deep stillwater (2) and the Avon (4). The stillwater is still quite new to me and proved a useful option when the river briefly slipped over its banks to less than ideal levels. </div>
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Being quite urban, it's not my normal kind of venue, but as it contains the odd pike to 20lb+ and near double figure zander, it was worth suffering noise on the odd occasion I'd need it. </div>
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A bailiff popped by and gave me a tip off for a swim where a zander had shown earlier in the week. It was on my "to fish" list anyway, as it was on my route back and just looked fishy with lots of overhanging branches and deep water close in.</div>
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Blanking with half an hour to go, I suffered a hook pull on a jack and began to wonder if I'd be left fishless. Fairly quickly and to my relief, I put the blank to bed with a jack through.</div>
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With light levels dropping I decided to stay put and see the session out in the same swim - and I'm glad I did. With a small ripple present, I was struggling to see every twitch on the float in the ever fading light. I started to think I was imagining things, but I felt sure something was cagIly working my smelt hookbait over.</div>
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Then I got a decisive dip and clear movement of the float, followed by a fight that didn't feel pike-like. As suspected, it was a zander and it popped nicely into the net and instantly shed the hooks. Phew! Not a huge fish at 5lb 6oz, but respectable enough and my first from a stillwater. So, a pb of sorts I guess.</div>
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The return a few days later was a bit trickier and threw up one bite and one jack.</div>
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Now the Avon hasn't really been kind to me in predator terms for a couple of seasons now. As mentioned, I'm avoiding blanks this season, but largely with single jacks. It's just a case of plodding on though and hoping things drop right. Pike can be notoriously fickle creatures - seemingly stupidly easy some days, but rock hard on others and often with no obvious indication which way it's likely to play out.</div>
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The highlight of the December Avon sessions was the last one of the year. Nothing to do with extra fish, but for the entertaining demonstration by a real professional angler in the shape of a kingfisher.<br />
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It popped by several times and even plundered my swim!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh617Db9H-T943S1O7aH6qlxiyIIaNr9Kzbz4mmDgzifJh1qse7jQH7KFEk7BOnMyN7KBfWC5w5yZwDHrwFUkPUX09MMEE5r7O_p3N9pYnPL92TYcwwQzAS9lhVjeGtbxuzMrSW49RAbpPY/s1600/2018-12-31_22.12.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="1600" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh617Db9H-T943S1O7aH6qlxiyIIaNr9Kzbz4mmDgzifJh1qse7jQH7KFEk7BOnMyN7KBfWC5w5yZwDHrwFUkPUX09MMEE5r7O_p3N9pYnPL92TYcwwQzAS9lhVjeGtbxuzMrSW49RAbpPY/s640/2018-12-31_22.12.52.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last fish of 2018</td></tr>
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Christmas brought a few fishing related gifts - mostly bags to replace those that are now showing signs of wear. A special mention goes to a net handle that was a bit of a blind punt. </div>
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I love quirky or compact tackle and the Korum Opportunist 1.8m telescopic handle caught my eye online. I have all manner of net handles ranging up to 4m, but I wanted something compact and stronger than the normal offerings. The 1.8m version I already had was quite weak in its feel and only suited to small light pan netc, </div>
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This Korum version is a lot more sturdy and I've pleasantly been able to use it with a specimen triangular folding net with no issues so far (which is beyond what I expected of it). Obviously there are more suitable handles for use with such larger sized nets, but this little version is definitely a useful backup and can be left in a net bag permanently for when needed (it folds to less than 2ft). Or, it's a great tool for those opportunist family breaks where fishing kit space is limited (easily hidden in a suitcase!).</div>
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On that note, 2019 will more than likely see a reduction in my fishing, due to a new addition that's due to check in to our household in late April. Exciting times ahead though and I'm sure the rewards of parenthood will offset any lost bankside hours. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-597517867388316151.post-16744472043011117072018-11-29T15:09:00.000-08:002018-11-29T15:09:20.339-08:00No(fishing)vemberAnother month drifts by and there was next to no fishing for me. DIY work has somewhat swallowed up most of the limited spare time I've had.<br />
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The good news is that I'm on track to finish the current phase of work this weekend, leaving me with a whole day to indulge myself. Weather permitting, I sense a rare dawn to dusk session is a shoe in.<br />
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November fishing activity won't take much summing up. Sessions, proper bites and fish were all equal at one each.<br />
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Tackling the Avon, I fished a deadbait rod (smelt), hoping I might sneak a zander. It remained biteless for the entire 4 hours. Luncheon meat was used on the other rod and although quiet, I did get one positive enquiry which yielded a small barbel of 5lb 7oz.<br />
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Being a bit of a statto by trade, I like to keep records to look back on. The barbel on the stretch in question are showing a downturn in size for me this year. Across the previous 3 seasons I had a pleasing running average of a shade over 9lb, but this season's fish average out to just over 7lb so far. The number of fish are similar though, so that remains encouraging.<br />
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Significant rain would be most welcome, as long as it doesn't wipe the river out over Christmas again. I'm hoping to make the most of an extended festive break this year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0