Klinkhammer Magic On The Ship Canal
Early Start
The last visit to the Ship Canal with Phil was hard work as it was blowing a gale, making bite detection all but impossible, we knew the fish were there, as our baits were regularly chewed up by the fish, but the wind made bite detection virtually impossible. This morning it was the exact opposite with a glassy calm making bait presentation and bite detection far simpler.
My killer method was to lay a bed of groundbait using an open end feeder at two rodlengths out in 14 ft of water. I then trotted through a 4 gram Cralusso Bolo float in the gentle flow.
Bites and fish came thick and fast, and i gave up counting after reaching 50 fish. The roach were in pristine condition ranging in size from 4 – 12oz. The chub were a smaller stamp from 2 – 8oz.
I caught steadily til about 10.30am when the bites slowed and then stopped. By this time the early morning mist had dissappeared and the bright sunshine must have put the fish off the feed.
I fished on until 12.30 but in the last hour the size of the fish got smaller until the bites dried up completely. Miggy came along at about 11am to tell me he had caught another Pike of about15lb ana a nice tench of about 5lbs.
I have no idea of the total bag weight i caught but guessing that the average weight of fish was 6oz then i must have had a net of at least 20lbs of roach and small chub. The best days silver fishing i have had in ages. It would have been interesting to see and photograph such a bag of fish but unfortunately its still the close season until the 16th June so keep nets are not allowed.
The Bolo float worked like dream holding its line two rod lengths out, there wasnt even a hint of it trying to return to the line behind the rod tip. Another bonus of using this type of float is that it doesnt ride up when being held back against the flow.
At 12.30 went home for a well deserved sleep.
In the evening i went fishing with my favourite fishing parter. He gets into lots of tangles and misshaps, but is the best company i could ask for.
Matt is slowly becoming a better angler and can now set up his rod, tie some of the knots, hook and land small fish but hasnt the experience to play and land larger specimens. We took a quick two hour trip to Maceys in Bury.
Matt caught this skimmer first cast, then had a few perch and a roach.
He then hooked into a fish that took off like a train across the lake – everything was going wrong for him, letting the rod tip fall and follow the line of the fish, letting the fish into the weeds, letting it swim under the fishing platform, despite all this just as i was about to slip the net under a lovely 5lb plus mirror carp the hooklength parted. Matthew i feel for you but you know its only a matter of time before you catch a cracker.
A Quick Fix
As i had an hour or so free after work this evening so went for a quick fix of my new drug upstream nymphing.
After having a couple of practise casts in the swim i fished with Phil and Tony yesterday evening i moved a couple of hundred yards downstream and fished the gentle weir pool in the photo above.
I had about 5 good takes which resulted in the fish below and another nicer one which slipped out of my hands before i could photograph it.
The gear i used is not really fit for the job as the lightest line i own is a 6 weight. This line is great for still waters and the larger rivers i sometimes fish, but on a small stream such as this i winced every time the heavy line crashed into the water. Additionaly the rod i was using was long at 8ft 6″ and a 7ft rod would be far more suitable for small streams, i seemed to spend alot of time retrieving my fly from the undergrowth rather than fishing it through the swim.
I have a feeling that before i fish this stream again i will be raiding my fathers tackle collection – beware dad i am coming round for a cup of tea and a chat tomorrow!!
Lastly again thanks to Tony for his killer ptn pattern which gave me 4 out of the 5 takes i had this afternoon and both fish.
Upstream Nymphing
I spent Monday afternoon with Phil having a wade and fish down a new section of one our local small rivers. Our tactics were not very succesfull as after completely fishing through the chosen length of stream, our only fish was a small Chub which Phil caught. I didnt even get a bite.
Later in the evening, Tony joined us, it is good to see him out on the bank again after his recent enforced lay-up. Phil took us to have a look at a new tributary of our local river which neither Tony or myself had fished before.
Upon arrival i had a small trout virtually immediately upon casting in.
Phil then proceeded to catch every fish in the vicinity, taking 10 fish in the next hour using float and worm.
I moved to a slightly deeper swim 25yds downstream and proceeded to catch another trout of about half a pound, which is about the average size of fish in this river.
Meanwhile Tony was trying out his new cut down 4 weight rod using dry fly and upstream nymphing techniques. After having 3 good takes and a nice fish, he very kindly invited me back upstream to show me how to fish using an upstream nymph style.
To say that the bites were electrifying and the whole experience addctive would be an understatement. I think i have become a pretty confident traditional wet fly down and across fisherman but the thrill of watching my line dart forwards when a fish takes is amazing. Being a beginner, i missed plenty of bites but did manage to hook into one fish, which i saw flash and turn in the current before shedding the hook.
I feel like a little boy in a sweet shop at the moment as i dont know which place, method or venue to fish next. Since October last year when i decided to escape the rut of continually fishing the same venues, i have discovered and been introduced to some first class fishing within 15 minutes drive of my front door. Now i know that these venues exist and the quality of fish that they contain, it makes it difficult to decide on where to try next.
I think i have figured out a plan of attack for the roach and chub on the Ship Canal, but Tony has now shown me a new fly fishing technique which i know i am going to enjoy learning to use.
For the time being, the trout win and i’m going to go upstream nymphing after work this evening. Roll on 5pm!
North Yorkshire Without A Rod!
Having promised Lucia a day out together without me spending some part of the day fishing, i couldnt believe it when she told me the she wanted to visit the waterfalls of High Force and Cauldren Snout. Both of these falls are located on the River Tees in North Yorkshire and are located in prime brown trout territory.
It was a great place to go for a walk as the wild flowers in Teesdale are something to behold at this time of the year. I even managed to locate some Blue Gentians, which are extremly rare in the UK.
To get to Cauldren Snout we had to park in carpark of Cow Green Reservoir, a famous wild brown trout lake. Despite the gale force winds, i could see three hardy anglers braving the elements. Despite being on my best behaviour it was touch and go as to approach them to make enquiries as the the quality of the fishing.
I could see plenty of fish on the River Tees, and despite the 125 mile drive, it would be somewhere i could easily return to cast a line. The scenery is spectacular in this remote, sparsely populated part of the UK.
Our walk eventually took us to High Cup Nick, which is the viewpoint at the head of what is in my opinion THE classic hanging valley in the British Isles. The strong winds that we had experienced for most of the day became extreme at this point as can be seen from the photo, it was difficult to remain standing.
The only low point of the day was the seven mile slog back to the car facing into the wind, however hot tea, wine gums and good company kept our spirits high.
I only wish i was a better photographer as my pictures dont really capture the wildness, the open expanses of moorland and the lack of mans interference in this beautifull solitude.
A Chill Wind
Ship Canal Pt2
First Time On The Manchester Ship Canal
This is a photo of Phil dropping the prize catch – half a second earlier and it would have been a photo to remember!