Autumnal Fly Fishing for Bass and Grayling

Fishing under the Seven Sisters

It's been a very mild autumn this year. We are into November now, yet to have a frost and it still feels warm. I've had a couple of free days this week as I'm waiting for my next decorating job to start. What better way to fill the time than a spot of fishing!

On Monday morning I was treated to the most incredible, misty dawn down under the Seven Sister's cliffs. I headed down there on the off chance that there might be a Bass or two willing to take a fly.

The weather over the weekend had been very calm and settled. On arrival I noticed that the water was nice and clear. This is essential to success on the fly in my experience and was a good start. I rigged up my new fly rod as quickly as I could, watching small fish topping no more than 30 yards out. Another good sign......it was looking very fishy!

I started fishing with an epoxy sand eel pattern on an #8 weight set up and floating line. The leader was 9 feet of 10lb fluorocarbon straight through.

Epoxy Sand Eel Fly

Starting at low tide, I waded in to knee depth and began casting. First straight out to sea and then by fanning casts around the clock to cover the water. It can't have been more than my fourth cast when the line pulled tight in my hand signalling a fish had hit the fly. I instinctively set the hook with my left hand by giving the line a good tug and the fight was on.

At first the fish was confused, topping once and floundering a little. Then it got it's head down and charged off out to sea, taking line as it went. At this point, I realised I was attached to something fairly substantial and the old knees started to knock a bit.

After a few more runs and some stubborn resistance the fish finally tired having given a good account of itself. I could now see it was a cracking bass hooked very nicely with the fly sitting comfortably in the scissors. This was my first bass on the fly for quite some time as my fishing efforts have been concentrated elsewhere recently. To say I was pleased is an understatement. I was over the moon.

In my eyes, there's not much better than taking a fish like a bass on a fly from my local patch. It's a pretty special place and they are pretty special fish.

I'd guess it went between 3 to 4lbs, so not massive but an amazing experience on the fly tackle. I followed this up with another 5, all of which were smaller, around the pound mark and like peas in a pod. Probably the last chance this year as the South Westerly winds have now picked up again bringing with them colour to the water. I'm glad I went.

Beautiful bass 

My friend and casting instructor Bob also invited me down to the River Itchen on wednesday to have a bash at chalk stream Grayling fishing. This is something I've always wanted to have a go at as the water is so clear it adds a whole new dimension to the fishing. You can see the fish and they can see you!

The technique here is to creep along the river, spotting fish as you go and covering them with your fly. Casting upstream above the fish and dead drifting your offering past the grayling or trout in the process was the aim of the game. Without being seen of course!

Bob in action on the Itchen

We were fishing #5 weight fly fishing gear, floating lines and bite indicators with a small leaded nymph suspended below on a 3.5lb tippet. Keeping off the skyline was essential as the fish were very easily spooked.

After a slow start and a little advice from Bob regarding mending the line and use of the wiggle cast, things started to improve. I managed a tiny grayling first off, more by luck than judgement I think. Then a move on to a carrier stream proved to be a little easier as 3 more reasonable grayling came to the net.

The stamp of grayling we encountered

It was a new experience for me flyfishing on the chalk streams but I have to say it really was very exciting. I'd love to go back again some time in the summer when the trout are rising to dry flies. That will no doubt be 'heart in the mouth' stuff. Until the next time - TIGHT LINES!

Monster Rainbow Trout - Chew Valley Lake

Now that's a TROUT!

A couple of months back I got a phone call from my old mate Rog from Bath with some good news. He was offering me a days fishing on Chew Valley Lake just outside Bristol. Being a mad keen pike angler, we've been friends and occasional fishing partners ever since we met back in the early 2000's.

Chew Valley Lake is legendary in the world of pike fishing at the moment. It has consistently been producing quantities of very large pike nudging the british record for some time now. It is one of the hottest tickets around and places to fish on their limited number of pike angling days are highly sought after. 

Many of the big names from the pike fishing scene are frequent visitors and are always seeking out that record breaking fish of a lifetime. Places go on a telephone lottery system much the same way as Glastonbury or pop concert tickets do. There are a couple of dates a year that the phone lines open and if you don't get through in the first few attempts then you can forget it until the next time.

Fly fishing for the pike there is available all through the coarse fishing season but the lure and bait fishing is restricted to the specific Pike days mentioned previously. 

The water is a prolific trout fishery as it's mainstay and herein lies the reason for the colossal sizes of the pike.....a readily available supply of high protein food. There are quite a few waters dotted around the country that offer trout and pike fishing together. Why Chew Valley Lake should be the one water that stands out in the numbers and sizes of these magnificent creatures is a mystery. It just does, and that is why it is so difficult to get a ticket. Now you understand why I was so pleased to hear from Rog as it's not every day you get the chance to fish for pike like these.

When the day arrived, the weather was kind to us with gentle breezes and intermittent cloud cover. If it blows up then being out on a large expanse of water in a small boat can be rather uncomfortable, so we were lucky. Armed with a selection of sea dead-baits and a vast array of artificial lures, the plan was to fish the baits under floats and cast around with the lures to hedge our bets.

The fishing was slow in the morning. The floats never twitched and the long anticipated slam on the lure rod never came. It wasn't until mid-way through the afternoon that I spotted a good sized fish follow my spinner in to the boat before diving for cover. I didn't get a proper look at it but it was a reasonable size.

A few casts later and the rod finally came to life in my hands as it hooped over and the first fish of the day was on. The fish made a couple of powerful dives initially before then surfacing right by the boat. It was without a doubt the biggest rainbow trout I had ever seen and was thrashing about on the surface looking like it could throw the hooks at any moment. Rog grabbed the net and bundled the fish in to it accompanied by contented whoops of joy. What a fish! 

I didn't want to stress the fish by weighing it so snapped off a quick photo before unhooking and a speedy release. I'd guess it was well into double figures, somewhere around the 12/13lb mark and was very happy with it after the hours of inactivity.

We fished on and had another couple of swipes to our lures before one of my pike floats finally slid away right on dusk. I went through the routine of steadily winding down on the fish before setting the hooks. The pike was attached for a brief moment but then spat the hooks which was a bit disappointing but at the same time it didn't feel like one of the lakes famous leviathans, so no great loss really.

It had been a great day and it's always good to catch up with old friends. the thing about fishing on a water like Chew is that every time you get a bite it could be 'the one' and it's little things like this that give us seasoned anglers the motivation to keep going back again and again. I for one will certainly be on the phone on speed-dial the next time some places are up for grabs - Tight Lines!

Fishing on the River Tarn in France - September 2015

I have just recently returned from a most wonderful 2 week holiday in France. My wife and I went to stay with some friends of ours at their idyllic place about 40 mins into the countryside out of Toulouse. Surrounded by vineyards, sunflower fields and arable land it was far removed from the hectic, overpopulated East Sussex we are used to. Just what holidays should be.

At the back of the house where we were staying was the most impressive vegetable garden tended to by our hosts Scott and Aurelie. We were never short of fresh veg and the most incredible tasting tomatoes we had ever eaten. It really is amazing how good it all tasted, kissed by the sun and grown organically using good old horse manure for fertilizer. 

There were plenty of animals running around too. Chickens supplying fresh eggs daily, quails, rabbits, goats, peacocks and a couple of rescued pigeons. There was also a pond full of various fish, small carp, rudd, bream and even a minature catfish. It really was the most relaxing place to be, impossible not to unwind fully which was just what we needed.

Scott is an old university friend of mine that some of you may know from earlier blog posts as my travelling and fishing companion on my Indian adventures. Naturally, we planned to squeeze in a bit of fishing during my visit. With the River Tarn being a mere 15 minute drive away we were ideally situated too.

The Tarn is famous for it's big catfish which have been filmed taking pigeons from the banks in much the same way as killer whales beach themselves when taking seals. They are formidable predators and a worthy quarry for the angler. Traditionally, they have been fished for with smelly deadbaits, pellets or livebaits. However, these days they are increasingly being targeted on the continent with artificial lures and it is this technique that interested me the most. Far more entertaining than sitting behind baited rods, that's for sure!

The catfish have very poor eye-site and primarily detect their prey through feel and vibration. It is therefore important to choose your lure accordingly. You need something that gives off a lot of vibration and displaces a good amount of water. Big paddle tails, wide swimming actions and large spinning blades are just the ticket.

Our first session saw the 4 of us set up camp for 2 nights in the most beautiful spot imaginable just downstream from a large weir. The plan was to fish the feeder and carp rods from base-camp and then also roam the banks with the lure rods for the big cats.

We baited up with a large bucket of maize and fished over the top of it for the carp and silverfish. The water was very clear so it wasn't until the light started to fade that we got any action. With a few small carp, one over 20lb and a couple of small barbel we were happy with our initial results,

Bang on dusk we spent an hour fishing our lures in a lovely looking deep water spot. It is a hole that had been successful for Scott in the past and on the fourth cast with my Rapala Super Shad Rap.....I hooked up. I could not quite believe it had happened so quickly but the fish appeared to be well hooked and charged off on a few blistering runs before hanging deep below me under the rod. When it finally tired Scott was able to glove it out for unhooking and a quick photo. It was a monster and a very fine catch on the lure rod, estimated between 50-60lb and a good 4-5feet long I was suitably impressed with my first experience of catfish on the lure.

To make it a true red letter day, 10 minutes later Scott also had a fish from the same hole. Slightly larger and this time on a clacker spoon. What a session! We called it a day after that and headed back to camp to relax by the fire with the girls. 

We fished a couple of more times during the holiday and I enjoyed some good sport with the small barbel and silverfish on the feeder rod but there was no further action from the catfish. I always enjoy fishing in France whenever I visit, there is so much water to choose from and so few anglers it really is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the often crowded banks back at home. Highly recommended. Vive La France!

WATCH THE CATFISH ON A LURE VIDEO HERE:

The Spring Squid Run

A good size spring run squid caught from my local harbour wall

Recreational fishing for squid is something that has recently started getting a lot more attention from the UK sea fishing community. With the 'All England Squid Fishing Competition' now a yearly event down here in my home town of Brighton I was keen to find out a bit more. With a spring run of squid along the south coast occurring around April/May time then it seems to fill a gap in the angling calendar quite nicely before the summer species really arrive. There is of course the added bonus that fresh squid really is rather delicious too!

For the squid to come inshore and be a viable target then settled, calm conditions are required. With this comes a good degree of water clarity that is so important for catching these sight feeding creatures. They are ideally targeted from a pier or harbour wall with access to deep water close in. The squid work the structure looking for small fish to prey upon. 

A squid jig

The best way to catch them is to fish a 'squid jig' under a float and to trot the float down the tide with the jig suspended around 2 to 3 feet off the bottom where the squid can see it. Accurate plumbing of the depth is required to keep the jig in the strike zone at all times - this really is the key to successful squid jigging. If the water is clear then natural coloured jigs are the way to go, however if there is some sediment in the water and visibility is low then brighter colours are the order of the day. If the going is tough then sometimes lashing some fresh fish (mackerel, herring etc) to the jig with bait elastic can give you a real edge.

Simple sliding float rig for squid jigging

Bites are usually a fairly positive affair with the float simply disappearing under the surface. It is important not to strike at this point but to wind down as quickly as possible and tighten up to the squid. Then it's simply a case of keeping the tension between you and the squid whilst retrieving line until it surfaces. A drop net is a handy accessory at this point if fishing from structure high above the water, it will prevent the soft bodied squid falling off the jig as you bring it up to your angling position. 

They can also be caught by using a jig in the same fashion as you would a lure for fish. This technique is known as egging. Simply work the jig slowly near the bottom back towards your casting position. The only problem with this style is that tackle losses can be high due to the many hooks attached to the jig and it can get a little expensive. Using a float to suspend your jig largely avoids this problem.

Fun for all the family!

Watch out for the ink as they frequently have a habit of defiantly squirting it at you as the jig is removed from it's tentacles. A swift blow to the the head will see the squid dispatched quickly and humanely.

A Bit of Spring-Time Trout Fishing

A nice bag of rainbow trout taken on montana nymphs.

With the rivers shut for the close season and the summer stillwater and saltwater species yet to wake up properly........now my attention turns to a spot of trout fishing. March can be a tricky time in the angling calendar when options are rather limited. The only real possibilities are a pre-spawning Perch from a stillwater, Plaice on the coast or as the case was today....a spot of trout fishing!

It's always nice to dust down the trout gear and chuck a little fluff about, of course the bonus with this style of angling is a good feed should one be successful. Today my venue of choice was Lakedown Trout Fishery whose webpage can be seen here: Lakedown. This fishery was created by the one and only pop legend Roger Daltrey of  'The Who' fame, he still owns it to this day. It is situated in the heart of his 420 acre estate set in the beautiful East Sussex countryside. I have yet to find a fishery to equal his in terms of beauty and tranquility. With 4 large lakes to go at there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy a superb days angling in excellent surroundings.

On arrival at the venue we were greeted with foul weather. The wind was howling from the south-west bringing with it a fine, misty drizzle. This made casting and presentation of our flies tricky to say the least. According to the fishery manager, patterns such as the montana nymph and damsel-fly nymph had been doing the business recently so it was these that we stuck to.

The successful fly - Green and Black Montana

After a good start and a fish in the bag on my fourth cast, it took a little searching and exploring of the lakes to locate the pockets of fish. It seemed they were all on the end of the wind as it was impossible to get a pull anywhere else. Hard work indeed casting into the teeth of the wind but distance was not important as the fish were close in. 

It was very difficult to spot the bites as the wind was causing all sorts of issues with regard to the drift but after about 4 hours I had reached my bag limit and called it a day. All my fish came to a green and black montana fished deep down on a 12ft leader with 4lb tippet. The retrieve rate was very slow.

A great days fishing and fresh trout for dinner. Job Done.

TIGHT LINES!

Tidal River Pike

The tidal reaches of rivers have a habit of producing some serious pike. One of the rivers close to me is no exception having produced fish to 38lbs in the past. I have been squeezing as much time as possible on the banks this week as the conditions have been near on perfect.

We've had very little rain for the last 3 weeks or so and the rivers have dropped and started to clear nicely. The temperature is hovering between 5 and 8 degrees most days at the moment and the weather has been still and overcast - Perfect piking conditions for the river!

I have fished one short session on deadbaits, two short sessions with a lure rod and all day today on the deadbaits again. The lures produced 3 fish between 7 and 10lbs, the deadbait has produced a low double and a bigger fish pushing 20lbs at a guess today. Easily my biggest river pike for years! I didn't have my scales with me today so can't be sure of the weight.....but who cares.....it was a cracking fish all the same.

Below is a short video clip showing the biggie from today - Tight Lines!!

Winter fishing 2014? And a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A fin-perfect and stunning Perch from my local river.

Well....HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! Out with the old and in with the new. I wonder what fishy surprises 2015 will have in store? The one thing I would dearly love more than anything is a big (2lb +) roach from one of my local rivers.....not the easiest of tasks to achieve but a good challenge none the less. I think if it's going to happen, it'll be between now and the end of the season or later in the year after September time. I will be out there trying though, that's for sure.

This winter has been kind for us river anglers so far. We haven't had the ridiculous amount of rain that the previous year brought and consequently the rivers have been in good condition. I have been out targeting the pike, perch and grayling over recent weeks and have had made some good catches. I'm still chasing down a 20lb + pike from my local rivers and will continue to do so when conditions allow through until the end of the season. It'll either be piking or roach fishing for me now.

I have made a short movie of my recent 2014 winter successes running up to the new year, all shot on my go-pro camera. Check out the action below....Tight lines until the next time!