Chris Fishing Diary 2001
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Here you’ll find details of my most fishing adventures from 2001, whilst not being a noted specimen angler, I do enjoy my fishing, and try to fish on a regular basis when time permits. In this online diary, I’ll let you know how I’ve been getting on and where. Normally I go fishing at the weekends, mostly with my brother Pete. My personal favourite fishing is by the river on a hot summer day, but I enjoy whatever type of fishing I take part in, though I’ve yet to try fly fishing. View my 2002 diary on this page. |
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It’s bank holiday weekend today. Normal traffic conditions need not apply. So to avoid the heavy traffic up and down the M27, a day off was called for. Add to that the excellent weather, no more of an excuse was needed. Not having been fishing for some time due to the weather, foot & mouth closures and a general lack of time, it was good to get the kit together for a spot at a lake. I think the last time I actually went this year was a cold blustery February day on the beach at Hengistbury Head. Stopping off at Pro Tackle in Barrack Road, Christchurch, one of my local tackle shops, I checked the availability of the lakes in light of the foot and mouth, and bought some bait. I decided on Lake Farm, one of my favourite local lakes (to Bournemouth) near Alderholt Mill. After phoning up to double check on opening and availability, I set off for the day. I arrived at about 11am, and it was fairly busy for a weekday. I think the good weather had several people getting the same idea as me. I set up the tackle. I use bread or worms at this lake mostly. Having the bottom end of the lake swim I decided on worm, size six hook, casting into the margins below the trees. After eating some lunch I was rewarded with a nice 3lb carp. ( I know it’s not massive, but my personal best is only 11lb, on this lake last year in fact). Unfortunately that was the last of the day. But the nice weather more than made up for it. Much better than work! |
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Today is Saturday. It’s Sunny! Time for fishing! Decided to go to Lake Farm today, after yesterdays first fishing session for the year. Being Saturday, it’s normally not to busy. I find Sundays to be busy everywhere normally. Got a better spot than Friday. Nice spot behind some reeds and next to a tree on the far side of lake from the car park. Not my favorite spot here, but good anyway. Fished with mostly worms and maggots in a feeder, rolling near the margins to the reed and under the tree. Pete’s fishing with pellets and worms nearby to the island in mid water. Not as sunny as yesterday, but nice enough with the fish mostly in the shaded swims. Mid afternoon saw my best catch as the owner strolled round. A 5 lb common carp, which according to the lakes owner is original to the lake, he’s never stocked them himself. Apparently the lake dates back to at least 1620 which is the earliest record he has of it. The fish have been in for an unknown period at least in the entire time he’s owned it which I think he said was in excess of 20 years. Total fish today caught, by me 3 carp plus 2 roach. Pete had 3 carp also the largest being 3lb in weight, none weighing under 2 and half. All in all a very enjoyable afternoon. | |||
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Not the best day...I feel this could be the understatement of the year. Here’s a big tip for all of you out there that go be car. “Do not lock your keys in the car”. Set off to go for an afternoons lake fishing with Pete at about 2pm. Decided we go an retry Lake Farm again if it was not to busy. It was busy, so thought we’d go either to Hordle or Orchard Lakes. We decided that Orchard Lakes was the best bet, being as time was ticking on and it was the nearer of the two. Plus despite reports that Hordle was fishing really well, we prefer lakes that look nice too. I’m not a great fan of lakes that are just holes dug in the ground with fish in them personally, though they can be great if you want to bag up on fish. Got to Orchard Lakes at about 3pm. Got gear out of car. Shut boot...Uh oh what are my keys doing on back shelf...Yes, we’d locked ourselves out of the car. Oh, and where was my mobile phone, in the car! Idiots!!!....tryed to release the catch down side of the window with a bit of wire. Looked well dodgy I’d say but three or four other anglers walked past the car park without so much as saying “Oi is that your car?”. Still this was fruitless and when the lady who’d come to collect the money, suggested phoning from the farmhouse. So we called out the the rescue service & they said they’d be along in about half an hour to an hour, but being unsure as to where exactly the farm was to stand at the end of the road. We thought it was a waste of fishing time if we both stood there. I volunteered to stand by the road, but Pete said he’d do it and I should set the rods up. So I wandered down to the lake and set up my quiver rod and his carp rod with size 6 hooks baited with two-three worms, swimfeeder stuffed with maggots and plonked them in the lake. On by the nearby Island and the other rolled down towards some reeds. Shortly on Petes rod I landed a 1 pound skimmer. Quickly followed by a nice 1 pound roach on my quiver and then a small carp, also on my rod. Not having a watch, I did not know the time, but felt it must be ticking on. When I’m waiting I always find time passes more quickly than it really does. I assumed that this must be the case and really not long had gone. Then just as I was about to go and see what was happening, the rescue man walked up behind me, asking if he knew who my brother was. I said who I was, and agreed to sign the idemnity form for him to break into the car. He said he must of driven in the opposite way and missed my brother. Rescue man then unlocked the car and retrieved keys. I thanked him and he said he would look out for him as he drove out and tell him the car was done. I proceeded to return to the lake to ensure the gear was still ok. I had retrieved all lines from the water while the car was sorted. Ten minutes seemed to pass and no sign of Pete. So I thought I’d walk back up and see if he’d got back. No sign, so drove car down farm track to the gate, where I’d thought he’d be waiting thinking rescue man must of missed him despite my accurate description. (“White T-shirt, not much hair”). But no, no sign. Odd I thought and proceded to drive down road, where my brother appeared walking looking really bemused at the sight of me in the car. He’d missed rescue man, probably ‘cause there’s two roads to the farm! Went back to lake, to fish for remaining 40 mins before I had to leave. Pete cast in rod with worms. Sat for 5 mins and wack, struck into a skimmer of a pound, commenting “I’d be seriously worried if I ever blanked on this lake!” He caught his record number of fish here before, but that is another story... | |||
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Orchard Lakes the return! After yesterday debacle, a late decision saw me and Pete return to Orchard Lakes. Triple checking the keys were firmly in my pocket we walked down the hill to the lake at about 3pm. Upon reaching the lake and passing the first swim, I noticed two Environment Agency baliffs checking up on licences. This is the first time, I personally have ever seen this, in all the years I’ve been fishing. Unfortunately for the anglers at that first swim it appeared they did not have the required rod licences. Phew, had mine in my top pocket, at least insult to injury could not be added to Orchard Lakes history today. I had purchased a copy of the Anglers Mail last week and had read the EA was checking up. It also reported that Southerners were the worst offenders, with 13.3% of anglers being caught. It’s just not worth the risk and I buy an annual licence each year, though have yet to be asked to produce it. Though why the licence keeps going up each year at the moment I don’t know. I did note however in Reel Lines the EA magazine sent to last years Rod Licence holders that they had reduced the young anglers annual charge to £5 ( for 12-16 year olds). A good thing I think. Setting up at the far end of the lake. I set about the fish with my trusty worm/maggot combo. 5 minutes later. Whack! The rod line was going mental. Big one there I thought. After a minute bringing it under control, I was disappointed to see it was just a lively half pounder carp with loads of energy! Pete was trying sweetcord ( of the strawberry flavoured kind), so far to no avail (Would his comment of yesterday come home to roost ? He he !) Shortly after I caught a nice 2 and a half pound carp by some lily pads. Not bad for me at this venue, though I have seen some larger ( 16 lbish ) here. “ I’m an enthusiast, but not a fisherman”, remarked Pete at about 6pm, with only line bites to his name, after my umpteenth comment about the boast from Sunday. “ I like to fish, but seldom seem to catch” he followed. Quite true for both of us really, but historically Orchard Lakes has been good to him. The fish I feel will have the last laugh today. As I just finished writing that last sentence, I hear that fateful sound of a rod being struck an reeled. Oh, no he’s got one! In it comes and he guides it over the net a lovely looking golden carp. A bit small but a fish none the less. And to add to the jammyness, fishy jumps off the hook, just as he nets it. He’s reluctant to weigh it, I say it’s about 3/4 of a pound, Pete reckons under half, but it suprises us both, tipping the scales at a 1lb. Next thing I know my rods attempting to leap into the water on its own accord. I grab it knocking the sweetcord all over the place. “Call me Captain Calamity” I cry as I net my 5th carp of the day, this time a small fatty, silver one at 2lb. All this happened as the tea was getting cold in our cups. Why is it that the fish always seem to wait until your have a brew up ? What could possibly happen next. Well the tea worked on Pete, and he’s off to answer the call of nature. “Mind the Ditch” - too late he’s now wearing one black boot and one very sandy mud covered one. Photo’s to prove it I will have if he ever develops the film in his camera. The truth really is stranger than fiction, is my closing thought for the day, I don’t think I could of made these past two days up if I’d tried. We eventually depart about 7pm. In total I’d managed 5 carp and 2 roach of about a pound. Pete had added a 1 and a half pound tench to his earlier carp. Oh well, back to work tomorrow...Roll on the next time. Though I’d be suprised if it matches this weekend. | |||
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Today is fairly sunny, though the weather is not as hot as the bank holiday weekend, with clouds occassionaly blocking the sun. After a mornings cricket practice, I set off for an afternoon session at a busy Lake Farm. Finding a free swim on the far bank about 1/2 way up the bank, I set about fishing the margins with worm as per normal. Pete fished the margin in the opposite direction with a hair rigged pellet set-up and it was this that struck into a fish first. The carp was to be the largest of the day at 3lb in weight, which is suprisingly light for this venue as we normally can catch at least a 5lb carp here between us, if not larger. He caught another two, before the worms suddenly came into play and with constant bites every five minutes, I landed 5 carp of around 2lb in quick succession. Pete landed a further carp near the end of the afternoon at about 6.30pm, making the tally in fish 5-4 to me. | |||
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Today saw my first ever fishing visit to Hordle Lakes. I had visited here before as a non-fisherman a few years ago and was unimpressed with its featureless surrounding which left it looking like 7 pits in a field. On my return today, I was impressed by how much it has changed. Now the lakes are surrounded with vegetation and reed features, and the wildlife could be heard singing from the trees. Pete and I arrived in the afternoon, and decided to fish on the largest of the 7 lakes here, Bob’s Lake. The entire venue was fairly busy, even the tiddlers pool for the younger kids was a hive of activity. This despite the cold weather which threaten and occassionally did lightly rain. The fish on Bob’s lake were rising to floated bread on the far island when we arrived to two anglers on the far bank who were occasionally landing a nice sized carp on their bread baited rigs. I fished with worm and maggot, but today this was to no avail, as I blanked, though it was not without the occassional line tap. Pete had more luck, fishing with a single ledgered worm he landed 2 carp and a roach. I think I will have to return here another day soon to retry, maybe with a different rig up, and certainly with warmer weater (I hope we get a good summer!) | |||
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Opening Day of River Season, and access is allowed to Throop Fisheries.nbsp; Excellent. Shame about the weather though, arriving in the afternoon, I fished from 2pm to 6pm down by the school house bridge on beat 2 of the fishery. I’d like to say it was excellent, unforunately after a promising morning of sun. It poured down by the bucket low for most of the afternoon, with occasional sunny breaks. The river look in good nick, with a least 20 anglers in site on the banks, and the paths well kept. Unfortunately due to my desire to keep dry all I managed during this session was a 1 1/2 lb eel. Still I’ll be back there soon I hope & I intend to do better! | |||
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I returned Throop Fisheries for the remaining few hours of a fabulous day weather wise at 8pm, to fish to the left of the school bridge. It was a perfect summer evening with the flies enducing the fish to feed from the surface, several large ripples indicating the presence of some large fish in the river. I was fishing today on a size 12 hook with 2 to 3 castors, which were the remains of the maggots I had used on Saturday. About 45 mins my line twitched and suddenly slackened. Gaining quick control I realised I had a large fish on the line. Hoping for a large chub or ideally one of Throops excellent barbel, I held the fish as it fought to find cover. Then as it darted about I saw those unmistakable markings of the Pike. It mouth crashed out of the water to confirm this moments later. Eventually bringing it under control I netted the fish. A pike of 7 & 1/4 pounds. Whilst not the biggest of pikes still a nice size, especially considering how small the hook was, a lucky catch. I released the pike after holding it in the water to give it time to recover shortly after weighing it, the pike darting off as an angler leaving the venue walked by the bank. Asking if it was a barbel, I had to admit it was a lucky pike. He’d been fishing further down river and had caught some chub around a 1lb and a 4lb bream. Staying till dusk saw several large swirls again in the river, which seems to be fishing well to me at the moment. By the end of the short session I added a 1/2 lb chub to the pike. Hopefully I will find some time this weekend to visit again. | |||
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Peter and I went fishing at Throop fisheries, on the north bank of the river by Blackwater junction. Normally, this is for the most productive stretches of the river and many big fish can be seen here. However, today we hardly saw any large fish, which this time of year is quite uncommon on the Dorset Stour at this point. Over the past years on the fishery, north bank past High Bank large barbel on not uncommon with many reaching the weight of over 13 pounds. As the river here runs fairly clearly I normally spot around four or five fish of this size with the occasional large chub. Today was different, not seeing any signs of fish around high bank, it was not until we walked to appoint about one mile north of the School Bridge that I finally saw a reasonable size fish amongst the weeds. We fished a variety of baits, I started with castors and maggots in a
swimfeeder to a size 12 hooked castor. Pete started with some meaty bites,
which is a flavoured luncheon meat. Later in the afternoon I moved to the
luncheon meat dipped in a hemp based groundbait. Pete added a swimfeeder
with hemp and the groundbait. However, apart from a small chub I lost on
castor early on we had no bites of any note. In short we blanked.
But on the plus side the weather was wonderful. Wednesday 27th June 2001 A of gain fished Throop fisheries in the late evening near the school
Bridge. Again the river was full of jumping fish some to reasonable size,
fishing tonight with meaty bites luncheon meat Peter and I had several bites
when sticking to Peters line but he was unable to land it losing the fish in the
weeds. Towards the end I caught a chub of 1.5 pounds, Pete finally
breaking his river blanking duck landed a eel of the same weight, though
personally I think he would rather of not caught it as he is not a big fan of
slimy eels. Speaking to a bailiff who came to inspect for tickets my
suspicions of yesterday were confirmed he said it was fishing much better around
the school Bridge and almost nothing was being taken from the normal hotspot of
high bank and current time. A flying visit in the afternoon to Throop right by the School Bridge on a sunny at very windy afternoon between 2.30 and 5.30 fishing solely with luncheon meat saw me blank and Pete land a two pounds eel again much to his satisfaction HA HA!! I hope this is not the start the trend of him beating me on the rivers. | |||
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Another hot saturday, we seem to be being spoiled weather wise this year. Surely it can’t last. Today Pete and I decided to change from fishing the Stour to try a go on the Hampshire Avon. Deciding on the Severals fishery near Ringwood, we arrived at around 12 noon to find the river being busily fished near the Railway Bridge entrance, and heard reports from the angler fishing near the bridge that the chub were fishing well, apparently he’d had two chubs around the 5lb mark. Heartened by this news we walked round to past the old bath tub swim to a swim on a bend in the river. I always think the bends are sometimes the best place to fish on the Avon, as it’s here you tend to find the slacker waters, in what is a fairly strong flowing and deep river. I fished on worm and castor feed into a swim feeder at first, Pete trying with simply just a large worm to weight in the reeds. I landed a 2lb eel around 4pm and decided to switch to a smaller hook (size 12) with three castors on the hook length, to try to avoid catching any further eels. I was to have several bites but no firm takes. Peter was standing, making tea when his rod twitched up and down, I informed him he had a bite, he muttered about the inconsiderate times fish always seem to bite, and started to pull in, he told me it felt like an eel, I looked towards the water, and glancing a large brown object told him it was no eel, but a big fish. I was to be proved right as he landed the chub, of the bucket sized mouth variety - 5 3/4 lbs - very nice! | |||
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Hoping to follow on from the success of Saturday, we set out to fish the Avon at Severals again, choosing the swim near the old bath tub. Baiting the hooks with worms, in the hope of another whacking chub, and feeding the castors with groundbait in swimfeeders, we fished the swim from 8pm to 10.15pm but we plagued with constant entanglement with weed drifting along the river. The only catch of the evening, saw me continue my success rate with the eel population of local rivers landing another of 1 1/2lbs in weight. Enjoyable evening none the less though. | |||
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Monday, it’s hot, sunny and holiday time is here again! Time for a days fishing, setting off at the earlier time of 10.30am I set off to fish the Severals fishery, however the Railway Bridge car park was full, so I changed the venue to Avon Castle, which is off the bottom of the Severals fishery and is a RDAA controled part of the river Avon. Fishing with a castor mix and maggots, I spent a glorious day in the sun with a blank. The occassional bite did occur, but again the weed in the river caused numerous problems, not really allowing the line to settle in one place for long. And around 6pm just prior to departing - disaster I snapped the top of my quiver rod on the weed. I hope this can be repaired, which it was the last time it snapped about 2 years ago, but this break looks worse. | |||
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What a difference a day makes. It’s pouring down with rain today and blowing a gale! Not to be beaten me and Pete decided at 2.30pm that it was obviously not going to stop, so it was wet weather gear time. On came the legging, and waterproofs and it was out to Severals again. This time suprise, suprise, given the weather no other fishermen were on the banks, and we chose to fish Pete’s chub corner again. No luck again today fish wise for either of us, and to cap it all, I broke my chair and tore a hole in my leggings. I seem to see a trend starting these past two days..... | |||
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Well, what a day! A new personal best for myself in the chub
stakes. Fishing on the corner of the Railway Bridge bend at Severals I
landed on the very last cast of the day a 4lb 6oz chub. My previous best
was only half that size. I’ve been delaying putting this diary up until I
got my photo developed as proof! It had the hall marks of being a blank day, with only a couple of nibbles on the line, as I fished with worm baited hooks. But just as we started to pack up, I cast once again onto the far bank in a stretch just clear of the weeds. When all of a sudden, WHAM! the rod goes, reeling in the fish, hoping that it was not a false alarm where a large piece of weed rushes onto the line (is that not annoying ?), and low and behold a lovely River Avon chub. Nice! | |||
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Cove - Chesil Beach 29/09/2001 First fishing outing since the end of July! A bright sunny autumn day saw me and Pete drag our sea fishing kit out of its mothballs and we headed over to Portland to fish for the last 2 hours of light at 5pm. Heading to the Cove area of the beach we parked up and first tried out the feathers, in the hope of mackrel which are sometimes sighted here. Not seeing any shoaling we changed to rag ( on my rod ) and sandeel (on Pete’s) casting about 30m out into the strong incoming wind. A strange day really nice and bright and sunny ( an out of the wind nice and warm ), yet a coat was required to keep warm. I missed the first strong knock, but shortly after landed a small wrasse. Pete also missed his first bite shortly after, and then landed a nice sandsmelt. Bites were fairly common ( though they could of occasionally been spider crabs ) and on my last cast out I landed my 2nd fish a wrasse of just under 1lb. All fish were returned, apart from the sandsmelt which Pete ate for lunch on Sunday to one of Mrs Beetons recipes. | |||
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Chiswell (Chesil Beach) 03/10/2001 A night fishing expedition to Chesil Beach. Me and Pete set off in the van from Bournemouth at 6pm arriving in Portland at 7.30pm parking up in the nearby carpark. We then hiked up the hill to the High Street in Portland to obtain a fish and chip supper from the Chip Shop ( now on winter hours apparently so it closes around 9pm). We headed back to the van and eat our dinner then set off to the nearby pub on the top of the beach to give ourselves a touch of dutch courage - the wind was howling in at the time although it was dry. A pint later we set up our beach casters with two hooks a piece going for ragworm (me) and sandeel (Pete). The wind was reducing slightly and we arrived on the beach about 10.30pm setting up our chairs and gas lamp in the pebbles. Casting out into the breakers was aided by a bright moon lit night. About midnight Pete landed a 2lb 10 oz bass, which he kept for tea the next night. Further bites were obtained though no further fish ( I think there might of been a few crabs ) We finally retired to our van for sleep at about 2.30 am. Returning to the top of the beach at 10am till 3pm the following day - though no success then due to the low tide I would presume. | |||
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Charity Open Festival 07/10/01 Southbourne Pete & I entered this year Charity Sea Fishing Open Festival as a team of two, applying to enter 3 days before the date, knowing that a gale was forecast for the Sunday that the fishing was to take place. We hoped for a strong wind, but no rain, but boy were we disappointed!
As we set up at Southbourne, a car park further west than Solent Meads, the weather wasn’t too bad, with no rain and a strong incoming wind. We set up our rods with rag and sandeel, braced our chairs behind a wind shield and waited for the start. Casting off into the wind was a challenge indeed, and numerous times we miscast to be forced to wind in with a lump of seaweed etc in tow. Then about 11.45 the weather changed for the worse, with rain steaming into our faces and the tide surging in, the salt biting into your face like thousands of small needles whenever you cast out or walked about. We hid behind our umbrella as best we could to keep as dry as possible. Help arrived about 1.30 pm with bangers and mash being bought along by mum to warm us & some soup. By now the storm was in full swing and already some of the numerous anglers had quit. Over 2 hundred had entered this event at £10 minimum a head. About 2 O’clock the first fishing disaster struck us of the day, when I lost my line and a small bass that was on the line due to the amount of weed that was crashing around as I reeled it onto the beach, the fish and weed disappearing into the surf as the line gave that horrible cracking sound. On my recast I lost the last of my line and had to quit. The second disaster occured when Pete’s rod tip broke off as he attempted to hurl the line into the surf. I lent him my rod and he continued till 3.30 when we finally gave up and returned to the comfort of the van, before going home and drying off. Once dried of we set off to watch the results and weigh in at Boscombe Pier,
the event producing only about 14 fish or so in total on account of the
conditions and the two best fish being the winning Wrasse and a 1 3/4 lb
flounder shown at the weigh in below Overall it was a fun day, it’s a pity the weather was bad, I’ll certainly think about entering another one, this being the first ever competition I’ve entered.
Fished the headland between 3pm and 5pm and a total contrast to my last fishing outing at the Open. Today was like a millpond, totally flat sea, low tide. No wind. Only one thing remained the same - no fish! Fished with sandeels, but to be honest the conditions were not good and I noticed the other group of anglers had had no success during the time I was there, but they looked set in for the night which is usually better there. | |||
The fishing was started at 10am and the fish stop
was due to be at 4pm. At the draw at Boscombe pier the foul weather was on
show, with spectacular surf rolling in as a huge wind rolled inland from the
Channel. Due to the foul weather, the zones were dropped (although a
drawing of lots via coloured golf balls was still done to provide the zone prize
allocation later), with a foul weather zone at Hengistbury Head being allowed in
addition to the previously expected 4 zones from Boscombe Pier to the Head. 