Christmas and no Fishing!

Apologies about the lack of recent postings, I’m afraid I got rather wrapped up in Christmas at home and because of the blasted weather in Wales I didn’t even manage to wet a line (even though my intention was to go at least twice). Now I am back up in Yorkshire I shall be venturing out shortly and will be reviewing my 2 most recent acquisitions. A Shimano Aspire Pro Competition carryall and an Avanti Cyclotherm Suit. I thought that I would review them (the suit especially) as they as offered week in week out in most of the Angling magazines, but I am yet to read a review of what they are actually like. One of my other Gifts which will have a direct result on my future blogging is a subscription to a fishing magazine which will give me the opportunity to exercise a semi-commentary on the issues many of the Elite Anglers who feature in these magazines frequently raise.

So over the next week or so (especially as it a bloody freezing in Yorkshire at the moment) expect to see a quick review of the suit, as it has been far too long since I have cast a line!

Until then feel free to have a read and ask any questions on the posts you see below!

YXKSZJPZF5KS

Trip #18 - 2 Casts 1 Fish

The River Aire (near Kirkstall Road) is a hugely frustrating river to fish. Being told by anglers and EA officials alike that it is notoriously patchy meant that any future fishing trips to the river for me would be make or break! The fact that we had nigh on continuous rain for a week would only make things more difficult but Saturday was spent Christmas shopping and I hadn’t been fishing for the best part of 2 weeks! I needed to get out and cast a line. I went down to view a swim I had been told to fish when the river is in flood and decided late on in the afternoon to pop down with my 11ft ledger rod and give it a whirl.

The river was definitely in flood!

The Netting of a Local Pond

A few weeks ago I received an invite from Pete Turner, an Environment Agency officer asking if I would like to watch a local pond being netted for fish. I thought I would be foolish not to. The lake in question is a natural fishery in Cookridge, currently under ownership of the BT Leeds Angling Club (unfortunately although I have been given permission to write about the day I have been asked not to name the lake specifically in this post). Having never fished this particular water I was keen to know what fish the lake held after recent speculation that the lake was frequently visited by the dreaded Goosander!

Trip #17 - Clayton Ponds - Lower Lake!

With limited bait and an uncertain forecast I decided to give Clayton Ponds another go, and this time I would try the bottom lake. Unsure of what to expect and hearing many cautionary tales of the lake I approached it with the intention of either Pole fishing or Slider float fishing on the waggler (given that it is 16 -18 feet deep in places).