Hampshire River Avon Trip No 14 – Pike Fishing – (2013)


I am back out on the Hampshire Avon today, doing a bit of pike fishing, as I have a day off work.  It’s been a long time since I have been on the river, due to being obsessed with trying to catch the big common, with not much success!

wpid-wp-1386325802051.jpgThe first thing I noticed, was that the river level was very low for this time of the year.

wpid-wp-1386328182224.jpgRod 1

Was cast by some reeds, with a mackerel dead bait and some Fox bait flags.

dead bait

Rod 2

was cast on a nice clear sandy area, just off a overhanging tree, with a herring dead bait

wpid-20131206_154338.jpgi was trying to catch some live bait with not much success , and though i would have a go at catching some chub by rolling some bait. also with not much success.

wpid-wp-1386336499865.jpgBy noon time, it was time for a brew and some lunch. Not 1 minute after I finished my brew and rod 2 by the tree had a couple of knocks!  I quickly took the drop off bobbin off, held the line and it started to tighten up and I pulled into a nice river pike.  After a good fight I had a nice 12lb 8oz river pike in the nets.

IMG_2121This was the only take of the day, nice looking fish.

wpid-20131206_154426.jpgwith the sun going down it was time to head home.

Till next time

Richard

Posted in Avon rods, Brollys, Carp fishing, Chub Fishing, Course Fishing, Delkim Buzzers, Diawa, Fishing, Fishing Video's, Fox Tackle, Hampshire Avon, john wilson rods, JRC Tackle, Pike fishing, River Avon | Leave a comment

Trip 35 Carp Fishing (2013) Holbrook Mill Pond


Trip 35 Carp Fishing (2013) Holbrook Mill Pond.

Posted in Bag Fishing, Brollys, carp, Carp fishing, CENTURY RODS, CHILLI HEMP, Defiant MPS, Fishing, Fishing Video's, Fox Tackle, Gulp Baits, HEMP, Holbook, Holbrook Mill Pond, JRC Tackle, Korda Tackle, lake fishing, Nash Tackle, Pop Ups, Rob Nunn, SHIMANO, SHIMANO TACKLE, SHIMANO ULTEGRA, Solor Tackle, Steve Neville buzzers, ULTRGRA 14000 REELS | Leave a comment

Trip 35 Carp Fishing (2013) Holbrook Mill Pond


My good friend Rob Nunn has invited me back for another social session on Holbrook Mill Pond.  We have settled for our normal area,  as Rob as been baiting it up this week.

image

                                          view of my swim

so, hopefully we will have some fish!
image

                                         view of the swim

Rod(1)
This was cast out to a gap in the trees, it has a deep area that has been clean out by the fish over the years.

image

                      Rod 1 cast in the small bay between the trees

I am using a 2oz pear lead, a 10in of Korda’s super natural 18lb hooklink and a size 10 Kaptor wide gape hook.

image

                                     hooklink and hooks

Rod (2)

This was cast at the base of a tree, some 3 ft off the bank, in an area were I found some weed growth.

image

                       Rod 2 under the over hanging bush

The set up is the same as rod 1

Rod (3)

This rod was cast to the right of me, in the middle of an area of dead pads.  In this area there is a small dip that is about 1/2 a ft deeper, which the fish have dug the bottom up.

image

Rod 3 cast over the dead pads cast in the V of the tree shadow

I set this rod up with the same type of hook.  However, I used Krystons Jackal hooklink material.

image

                                  hooklink

This was a sorter hooklink of 6in.

All rods were baited with Bait Tecs new boillies.

image

                           Bait Tec Boillies

Bait Tec Boillies smell awesome.  They look and feel great.

I also bait up with particals, as well soaked in all sorts of liquids.  These were prepared by Rob.

The first night past with not a single beep.  Bit strange,  however, there had been a hard frost two nights before and the wind was now blowing from the north.  Mind you, this should not have made any real impact on the fish yet.
image

                             view of the rods and the mill pond

All the rods were rebaited just before dark in the same spots, with a small scattering of boillies and some more particals.

Night & day (2)

With no a sign of any carp, and only one crash in the night.  Rob was off the lake for the day, he suggested that I take the boat round the lake as no one else was fishing.
I started off down the bottom end and to my amazement, there were some 15 fish held up down there.  I checked all around the lake and only found 2 fish up the top end of the lake.  This is where we had been fishing, you could see the baits was still there.

Well, it was time to move after seeing all those fish.  The boat was loaded and I was off.
image

                                   carp boat loaded

I was looking for 3 nice clear patches, where the fish had been feeding.  I finally settled for these.
image

                                 Rod 1 by the fallen tree

image

                       Rod 2 under the overhanging trees

image

           Rod 3 just to the right of the overhanging bush

All were nice spots on the far margin.  I also put a bit of bait to the right and left of me as there are clear spots under the over hanging trees.
image

                  Back up locations under this nice overhanging tree

image

Just in case I am unable to get the rods back on the spots in the night.
image

                                all set up ofter the boat trip

All setup,  just waiting.  With no action and night coming,  I had crossed my fingers and hope the move was the right choice.
image

                       my view on the last morning

Much to my amazement, with the liners that I had last night,  I did not have a fish!  I am really not sure what to do next… other than put the kettle on.
image

                                               kettle on

I had a good think, as I only have 3 to 5 hours left before is time to head back to Southampton.

Option 1 – leave as is
Option 2 – out in the boat and rebait all rods

I am unable to cast the rod, as there are power lines over this end of the lake.  I am not sure if going out in the boat .  I may disturb and spook the fish too much. I went for option 1.
image

                          all set for the load up and trip back

It is noon now, and I am all packed up, accept the rods. I am ready for the boat trip back to the car.

Never good to have a three night blank,  however, it was great to catch up with old friends, with plenty of Rum drunk.

Till next time

Richard

Posted in Bag Fishing, Brollys, carp, Carp fishing, CENTURY RODS, CHILLI HEMP, Defiant MPS, Fishing, Fishing Video's, Fox Tackle, Gulp Baits, HEMP, Holbook, Holbrook Mill Pond, JRC Tackle, Korda Tackle, lake fishing, Nash Tackle, Pop Ups, Rob Nunn, SHIMANO, SHIMANO TACKLE, SHIMANO ULTEGRA, Solor Tackle, SP RODS, Steve Neville buzzers, ULTRGRA 14000 REELS | 3 Comments

Hampshire Avon Trip No 13


Hampshire Avon Trip No 13.

Posted in Avon rods, Bag Fishing, Brollys, CHILLI HEMP, Chub Fishing, Course Fishing, Delkim Buzzers, Diawa, Fishing, Fishing Video's, Fox Tackle, Gulp Baits, Hampshire Avon, HEMP, john wilson rods, JRC Tackle, Korda Tackle, matt Hayes, Nash Tackle, River Avon, Solor Tackle | Leave a comment

Hampshire Avon Trip No 13


I am back out on the river, after a long break.  I am still trying to catch a 30+ Common carp.  I think I need a bit of a break from carp fishing to get my head back in order.

image

I have picked a nice area, where I have been told the barbel sometime hang around this time of the year.  However, it’s not the best weather for sitting on open ground, as the wind is due go gust up to 50 mph (which is nice).

image

I am using Gulp Baits, Tuna & Spice 16mm baits, soaked in Gulp Liver & fish dip. With some ground bait & broken up Red crustation boillies.

image

image

Hopefully with all this lot, I will finally catch a Barbel from this river.

image

I also spent an hour after some Chub on my favorite weir pool.

image

Even with all that effort I still managed to blank.

Till next time
Richard

Posted in Avon rods, Bag Fishing, Brollys, Carp fishing, Chub Fishing, Course Fishing, Fishing, Fishing Video's, Gulp Baits, Hampshire Avon, HEMP, john wilson rods, JRC Tackle, Korda Tackle, matt Hayes, Nash Tackle, River Avon | Leave a comment