Trip #88 - Back at Bills

Ironically many people find themselves in the autumn and winter months with some additional spare time, in these months however but we seem to be at our busiest. With work and various life matters being flat out there seems to be no end in sight of places to go, thing to buy and people to see. Still, being the opportunist angler that I am, meant despite travelling home I was able to arrange a few hours on the fly with my Dad and Grandfather. We would be heading down to Riverside for a few hours to try and tempt some last gasp puddle pigs that resided there before the seasons really took a turn for the worst.

Trip #47 – Last of the Autumn Carp.

Recent weeks have brought the onset of winter. It won’t be long before I start dusting off the wire traces and treble hooks for a few wary winter Pike. Still, as the sun was shining (at least for the moment anyway) and the air temperature didn't feel that cold, I asked my brother if he fancied catching a few carp from our local fishery, Riverside. This would be a form of redemption for Mathew, who also blanked on our last outing together to Acorn fishery near Clevedon. Today we would be fishing light, searching out the last few feeding summer carp on good old dog biscuits. A bait which is hugely underrated and amazingly cheap!

Trip #43 – Mathern Mill

After my disaster of a fishing trip to Acorn fishery in Clevedon, my next trip had to be filled with fish to compensate. After a Google search and speaking to some friends I decided to try Mathern Mill. This hugely successful match fishery frequently produces 200lb bags of carp, and as I would be accompanied by one of my friends who was after a “lump” I thought this would be the perfect place to catch some good quality fish. Speaking to my local tackle dealer, he warned me that the main carp lake usually has matches on both weekend days (Saturday and Sunday) and fishing the same lake on Monday might prove tough. There was only one way to find out...

After a slow start this was the third double of the day!

Product Review – Chub Twin Tip Barbel Rod

After a few sessions of surface carp bashing, I was becoming increasingly aware that my tackle was aimed at the lighter end of the fishing spectrum, and if (or when) I was lucky enough to catch that “lump”, my tackle might let me down. It was time for me to start looking for a better quality rod, one with enough stopping power to deal with double figure carp, but flexible and adaptable enough to use on a river/commercial venue. Time to scour eBay for a bargain, and a bargain is what I found. I bought myself a Chub Outkast twin tip Barbel rod.

Trip #34 – Berserk for Biscuits.

After my fantastic days fishing at Riverside recently, when I had a few hours to spare on the coming weekend I thought it would be rude not to nip 15 minutes down the road to wet a line, and try and add to the Carp tally. Unlike my normal fishing outings, where I am prepared for all outcomes (whether it be float fishing, ledger fishing, pole fishing etc), today I would be taking 1 rod, 1 reel and 1 bag of bait. This is slightly alien to me, but it does allow for more mobility on the bank (not that I am particularly mobile at present). Fortunately my Dad was with me and he would be acting as my trusty fish spotter while I targeted the little bleeders from the water’s edge.

Plenty of space to fish!

Trip #33 - Riverside – Shooting fish in a Barrel.

  It’s amazing how catching a few fish after a long break gives you the bug again and after the catching bream from Hendre and the improvements I was showing whilst taking my medicinal cocktail, it was time the get the Pole out of hibernation. This would be a test, but I would finally know if my grip, strength and dexterity were up to challenge of a few hours shipping in and out on this action packed little fishery.

Plenty of room and plenty of fish about at Riverside