fishing and stuff

Last weekend

2006-08-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Here are some random photos from last weekend, when me and the family went to our cottage, near Newtown in the middle of Wales.

Had a few trout between us on the Severn, I had 4 brownies in total, my brothers had a fair few and so did the old man.

Also had a look at a lake up in the hills, which was dead (according to the signs it was too acidic due to the underlying stone) but it was pretty nontheless.

Also noticed some funny small patches of Astroturf fixed to the ground with plastic pegs near Llandinham on the Severn. Any ideas?

Visited the Clewddog dam which was in full flow letting the water out to feed the Severn which was high, given it hasnt rained for ages. It was also cold, as the water comes from the bottom of a huge deep reservoir.

Here's the website

http://www.llanidloes.com/clywedog/index.html

Better than I expected...............................

2006-07-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

Popped down the River Chew, which I hadnt fished for some time due to the dry spell and was pleasantly surprised. Had a few (2) little brownies above the steel bridge and saw plenty rising in the shaded areas. The river is the lowest its been for some time. Perhaps the little bit of rain we've had as freshened things up.

Only downer was loads of people walking and dog walking.

Weed

2006-07-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

Fished Chew Magna lake and caught more weed (no not that sort!!) than fish. In fact didnt catch a single fish. Still too hot for the rivers.

Last weekend and the weekend before

2006-07-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I blogged (hate saying that) and things have been quiet on the fishing front what with going away to Venice, working, watching Cricket, watching football, going on the piss etc.

I've lost track of when I went fishing but not really when. I checked out the lower river chew for an hour and caught nothing (again) but note they've changed the look of their website http://www.knowleangling.co.uk Took a look at the Publow Pond (old carp lake stuffed with stockies) which is apparently favoured by the older members of the club (no need for waders, you could wear slippers on a dry day). Had about 5 or 6 rainbows, all on the dry. Plenty rising, good fun but definately not proper fishing.

Anyway seeing as I've had a bit of a varied time here are a mix up of photos. Headingley, Venice and an old stockie (had to dispatch it, it was never going to survive.

Once this hot, good for nothing weather ends I'll get down the River and do some proper fishing that involves getting wet and stung by nettles.

Rainbows on the dry

2006-07-10T04:34:00.000-07:00

Gave Publow pond a go seeing as I didnt have much time.

Caught a 1 1/2 lb rainbow on a small parachute.

Snatched an hour or two before the 'Leeds Weekend'

2006-07-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

Just the one on theChew unfortunately. Very hot and dour with only the tail end of the duffers fortnight Mayfly hatch around.

Looking forward to the end of this hot dry spell. Its not good for the rivers and certainly isnt good for fishing.

A long way for nothing

2006-06-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

I bombed up to mid wales at the weekend, spur of the moment stuff, leaving home at 5.45 and arriving at the river severn at about 8.30.

There was plenty of fly life around, and the old man got this tiddler;

Had a look at the Rheiw up at Berriew, might try this one of these days. Rivers were low, so I'll need to get my skates on.

I'll look for a link to the Berriew club.

I seem to be restricted to weekend fishing

2006-06-11T04:12:00.000-07:00

I seem to be fishing at weekends too much lately fighting it out with dog walkers and the rod rest brigage.

Theres still a fair few Mayfly about although the trout are getting harder to catch. The heat has put them down.

I went on saturday evening and had one, and got two this morning (1 was in the KAA stretch.) I didnt take any photos as Ive got too many shots of trout in the hand.

Nice parr in the KAA stretch under the wires. A good sign.

New camera

2006-06-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

So I finally got myself a waterproof camera. Surely I wont knacker this.

Especially with the waterproof case. If only my waders didnt leak.

Just found this in the WTT archives..............

2006-06-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

A report by the wild trout trust on the River Severn at Caersws where I'm known to fish. Follow the link; http://www.wildtrout.org/images/PDFs/AV2006/2006severn.pdf

Loving the mayfly.....but......

2006-06-05T13:35:00.000-07:00

Itching to fish the Severn, a big river.

What a difference!
Small River (My local);

Big River (Upper Severn);

Although the fish are pretty much similar Which is Which? (Answers on a postcard);

A blusher

2006-06-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

Managed to sneak a few hours in!!

2006-06-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

Managed to sneak a few hours in. My brother had obviously thought the same. Here are a few photos taken with my new WATERPROOF digital camera. I'd recommend anyone buying a digital to get one rather than knacker a perfectly good camera. It cost me the best part of £250 quid to find this out.

Anyway fishing was great tonight there were mayfly dipping and laying eggs but nothing hatching. The trout were grabbing anything you put in front of them. Whilst I landed 3 I lost another 4 and should have had more. A lovely evening.

2 were at least a pound including the one in the photo. Also hit into some dace although couldnt hook them. They were in the usual spot by the tree where the other photo was taken from.

Unusually on a nice night there were no dog walkers or ramblers - lovely

River, Lake, River

2006-05-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

Dad, Nick and myself met at the River early. It was still running high and coloured so we went to the Lake (or rather Pond at Publow) where we managed to pick up a fair few Rainbows on the dry (hawthorns and 'bibio's) were being eaten.

Went down to the Chew and I had a couple including this one;

which as you can see I knocked on the head to have for breakfast tommorow. It had a funny eye (sort of closed in) so I did a bit of weeding out of the poor stock. This is only the second I've eaten from the Chew for about the last four years.

Still plenty of Mayfly around. Must make sure I spend more time down there whilst it lasts.

Fished a flooded river

2006-05-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

River Chew at Compton was running down with visibility down to about 8-10 inches. Still there were plenty of mayfly spinners around and laying eggs on the water. Must have been the dryish spell we had today woke them up. Still managed to get one although lost it after a few seconds.

There were some chavs fishing (floats and rod rests!!) who claimed to have had a few 'tiddlers'. Also some guy fly fishing.

I perhaps should have accosted the chavs, especially since its fly only on this stretch until June 16th.

Still pissed off about the camera. Its been sat on the radiator now for almost 5 days, still the lens is full of 'water vapour'.

Fucked my camera up

2006-05-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

Managed to give my digital camera a dipping. Not working now.

Caught 2 very nice brownies on Mayfly on River Chew. Lost two on the wet fly during pouring rain - switched to dry when it stopped raining and dripping and caught two beauties. Plenty of mayfly coming down.

New rod worked well.

One was at least 12 inches.

I should wear a different shirt

2006-05-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

my brown chequered one seems to be on all the photos!!

If only it would rain

2006-05-07T10:01:00.000-07:00

Popped down to the Chew at Compton Dando for a few hours and caught 3 nice brownies on the dry. As it was a sunday there were loads of people walking dogs, kids and anything else with legs. If it was raining they wouldnt have been there. I ended up covering alot of rising fish but only getting 3. Heres one of the bigger ones caught in the slow stretch where the cows drink;

The weekend

2006-04-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

Decided to try a spot of Lower Chew on the Friday with the old man. Before I met up with him spent just over an hour on the Chew at Compton. Caught 3 browns of average size ( bit smaller than last year?)Heres one;

There were plenty of flies around including sedges of some sort and small dark olives. A fair bit rising and I lost a couple as well all in the space of an hour. Some guys were chopping some trees down on the far bank, whether this will improve the fishing I dont know.

Met up with Dad on the lower Chew below 'Roundhouse'. Whilst there was plenty of the flies I'd seen at Compton Dando there were no fish rising. Nothing. I cant see why but its a slower less trouty section with some intense looking agricultrure nearby.

Went to the Upper Chew and caught 3 rainbows still with their parr markings. Didnt manage to get a photo. Still there was nothing rising here apart from the shoal I caught these 3 from.

On Sunday today popped down Compton and had 2 nice trout and lost a couple. If its like this now what will it be like when the big mayfly come out

Chew Magna Reservoir

2006-04-09T13:37:00.000-07:00

Spent an hour fishing static buzzer.

Caught buzzer all!

Cold and windy.

I think the cormorant got their first!!

Second trip of the season

2006-04-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

Started at the Chew Magna Reservoir, cold and windy so fished for an hour and then had a look at the Upper Chew River.

Then fished the Chew Magna Reservoir again. Caught two rainbows deep with a montana.

Rovers lost again. Bang goes the playoffs.

Cooked one of the trout up on the George Foreman.

I'll get some photos next time I go.

Wellow Brook

2006-04-02T01:32:00.000-08:00

Eventually found somewhere to fish that wasnt too brown. Took a while to find it but managed to fluke a small brownie that I lost after a few seconds. Lovely little stream though should be good come mayfly time

Decided to try and join.....

2006-03-14T14:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.knowleangling.co.uk

Apparently no waiting list!!

Eventually...

2006-02-08T14:02:00.000-08:00

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.

On the Cliffs

2006-02-06T12:48:00.000-08:00

Manorbier

Last book I read

2006-01-19T12:51:00.000-08:00

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1873674333/203-0516299-3535114

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

2005-12-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

Crappies

2005-12-05T13:43:00.000-08:00

Panfish

2005-12-04T14:41:00.000-08:00

Ive been reading too much Geirach

Bluegill

2005-12-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

Gas get new 'director of football' - Heres hoping......

2005-11-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

thoughts turning to my winter hobbies

2005-10-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Statistics

2005-10-01T06:23:00.000-07:00

Heres what I caught this season;

54 brownies, 6 grayling and 2 chub - fished 17 times on 5 separate rivers with the most successful months being May followed by June.

Biggest fish; Chub at about 2lb

River Severn & River Wye

2005-09-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

Fished the Severn and Wye both in the same day!

Severn;

Wye at Llangurig;

But caught bugger all!

Still I saw a Red Kite

Review of the Box Brook by Adrian Wallace

2005-09-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.amberarc.co.uk/angling/bathampton/waternewsdetail.asp?category=Trout&menu=20&ID=236

Fished the Chew

2005-09-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

..........very little moving

caught nothing

starting to feel just like Autumn

World Rally Championship

2005-09-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

Rheola SS3
Got invited by Faber Maunsell Structural Engineers and M&E

< Arvin Swartz's Skoda (McRaes team mate)

Subaru defying gravity

Good weather for ducks

2005-09-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

the football yesterday

Danube

2005-09-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

Havent fished for ages - so heres a picture of a river I took on my hols

Danube through Budapest
as seen from Chain Bridge

Liverpool

2005-08-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

Spent the Bank Holiday weekend in Liverpool on the piss and this is the only photo I have!!

Most wanted spotted on M6;

Nothing moving

2005-08-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Fished the whole stretch BAA and KAA. Plenty of small buzzing upwings but very little moving on top.

Had a beauty on for a few seconds though!!

We need some nice steady rain

Giant Hog Weed & Himilayan Balsam

2005-08-15T14:22:00.000-07:00

Plenty of this around on the Severn I noticed on Saturday

Premier league football and premier league fishing

2005-08-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

Started the day at Goodison Park, Everton 0 Manchester United 2

Finished the day at River Severn Chris 1 (grayling) Nick 4 Brownies

I'm bloody knackered up at 6 got home at 1 in the morning

Just the one again.........

2005-08-05T22:08:00.000-07:00

Caught a nice Brownie just above the footbridge - only fished for an hour. No flylife around although loads of phesants - they seem to love the Himalyan Balsam along the banks

Forgot the camera again

first time for ages

2005-07-31T22:30:00.000-07:00

Had a couple of hours on the chew. Rose a couple and caught a nice brownie above the footbridge.

Himalayan Balsam has really shot up.

Havent fished for 2 weeks!!

2005-07-16T03:38:00.000-07:00

I need to go fishing. As soon as it clouds up Im off fishing

quite fancy a bit of this, up in the hills of Wales;

Too hot and sunny

2005-07-10T22:07:00.000-07:00

Just too hot and sunny to fish

Drive by.......

2005-07-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Didnt fancy fishing today but whilst on the way to pick up the missus I drove through the lovely Chew Valley and near Wollard saw a Frenchman on the road.

Are the shoot up the road releasing them?

Chew Valley Website

2005-07-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

An interesting website;

http://www.riverchew.co.uk/

This looks familiar

Where I fish............

2005-07-07T12:57:00.000-07:00

Box Brook

River Chew

Some photos of where I fish................

Upper Severn

Cormorant, Chub and a downstream dry

2005-07-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

Fished the KAA stretch and BAA stretch 1-3.30ish. Sunny intervals and warm.

I was fishing the first good pool on the KAA where the reeds narrow the river. Happily fishing away in a likely spot (where I caught a beauty the first day I ever fished this bit) and a feckin great cormorant shot out, paused and then flapped off.

Fished the rest of that stretch but seemed dead. I wonder why?

Caught a nice chub up from the footbridge. Also a small brownie on a downstream dry by the bridge. See photo.

Had two little brownies below the fallen tree.

Thought this would cheer me up on a Sunday PM

2005-06-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

Brown tinge after the rain

2005-06-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

Fished both stretches of the Chew had 3 small browns. 1 lower 2 upper . Bridge stretch looked dead although there was a chub rising I think.

Things are getting tougher with fewer upwings around. Glad we had some rain though.

Found some weird card saying 'this cache was found by the white family'. It was under the footbridge

This is the websitehttp://geocaching.com

Cottage stretch early in the morning followed by Caersws AA the rest of the day of and on!!

2005-06-18T23:05:00.000-07:00

Dad, me Steve and Nick fished the cottage stretch at 7-30 am ish until about nine. I didnt get any only Nick had one from under the willow opposite the island to the new small backwater. Not much moving and getting hot and sunny.

Fished Caersws stretch on day tickets from 11ish upto 1ish and then 3-7pm (stopped for picnic) until dark

Me - 6 including a dodgy poor quality stock fish with eaten gill covers and one eye. Rest were good fighting fish upto a pound with some parr and small wild fish mixed in which were good to see. Knocked dodgy fish on head.

Nick - None
Dad - 2 I think.
Ronnie - None
Steve - cracking fish of about 19-20inches (2.5-3 lb) looked wild lovely fish biggest caught by us on the river although Nick disputes this as you would expect!! Steve had a couple more I think.

Seriously hot and sunny all day but quite a lot moving especially at dusk

Some photos

River Severn

2005-06-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

Fished the Cottage stretch of Severn after arriving at the cottage at about 8'o' clockish. Had two beautiful brownies just under a pound in the fast run under the railway line. Water levels low with little coming out of the dam. A few small upwings about. Dad had a couple including one lost further up. Steve and Nick nothing.

Monkey World

2005-06-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

Our day trip out

Duffers fortnight coming to an end

2005-06-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

Still had 6 though in including two grayling again under the wires!
Lovely jumping brown above the branch pool

Fished the whole stretch and got a soaking!!

2005-06-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

Fished the KAA followed by BAA. Another small grayling under the wires and a brownie on KAA. Fished just up from the roadbridge and was closing in on a rise took a step from 2 foot of water and plunged into a 6 foot hole and got a soaking. Was up to my armpits and treading water. Caught a small parr brownie just above the vee pool. Someone else was fishing so called it a day.

Sunny and bright with a strong wind.

Duffers fortnight drawing to a close!!

2 Grayling and a good brownie in KAA stretch

2005-05-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

Crummy picture of a Grayling

Not bad, although not half as much moving as there was yesterday. Something to do with the sun. Wasnt catching on the bigger parachute so swithched to a smaller one and did much better under the elec cables.

I'll give em a rest now I think for a few days!!

11 in KAA

2005-05-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

Caught 11 between 12 & 2. Parr upto 12 inches all on the mayfly.

Even better than Bathampton's stretch

First evening on the KAA stretch

2005-05-26T22:13:00.000-07:00

Caught 4 on the normal stretch and 2 on the fast runs under the elec cables on KAA. These were smaller probably because of the speed here.

Good hatch of mayfly best yet with the yellow bodied spinners dipping on the water. Had to kill one though that wouldnt revive. Line had wrapped around gills and was bleeding. Never mind tasted lovely.

6 or 7 in tot

First Chub of the Season

2005-05-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

Caught my first chub in the footbridge pool - about 2lbs in midstream on my new detatched body Mayfly. Was worth the £1 that it cost. Didnt manage to fish the KAA stretch as it pissed down.

Oh and had a couple of decent brownies as well.

Intermittent heavy showers, but loads of mayfly of different sizes and types. Stuff still rising even in the pouring rain.

Next couple of weeks will be brilliant.

The mayfly are here!

2005-05-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

Caught two beauties, one at the bridge pool one at the log pool in the vee between the log and the fast water. Im sure I have caught this trout more than once this season.
Played it really hard and it jumped like a rainbow, so much I thought it was one.

Going to get a KAA permit tommorow so that I can fish below the road bridge and make a day of it.

A quick 4

2005-05-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

The mayfly have started!! Slowly coming off plenty rising caught a few in 2 hrs between 4-6pm. Caught one by the branch pool. An old friend

Box Brook for starters

2005-05-01T03:45:00.000-07:00

Caught 4 or was it 5

Hawthorn hatching plus some small upwings

Nick 1
Dad 2
Steve 4

Me and Steve fished lower beat Nick and Dad the upper beat.

A few other fisher men about. Water slightly coloured due to thunderstorms the night before.

Bust a hole in waders, definately need chest waders!!

9 in three hours

2005-04-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

Caught 9 in three hours on the River Chew. In the usual places.

River Chew

2005-04-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Fished today, caught nothing. Again a few hatching but few rising. Mum Dad & Steve turned up on a sunday drive!!

Water too cold?

Saw a family of duck

Try again next week!!

March Brown

2005-04-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

Was this what was hatching yesterday

March Brown

http://www.lancecampbell.com/misc2/

First day on the Chew

2005-04-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

Fished from about 1-30 -3-30 saw 3 or 4 rises in the usual places. Caught the first rising brown I saw. Nothing after. Fish was about as long as the handle. Dry mayfly.

Some small upwings (march brown, dark olives?)

River Irthon

2005-03-27T18:00:00.000-08:00

Fished here yesterday

Caught nothing
Saw 2 rises all day - suspected one was a salmon parr in the smaller slow glides
Fished from herehttp://www.cammarch.co.uk/