On it like a bonnet

Friday and I'd had enough of endless video calls. Off to see Mr Pharmacist for his snake oil remedy and  back home to collect an Avon rod and a tub of worms, then down to the river. Jolly chap with wicker basket and crow quill avon float, shots strung out like shirt buttons. No syndicate ticket though. Where does it say I have to be a member? On that gate you are leaning on...oh. He did slope off tail between his legs.

Lots of water in the pool and a small slack well over, so 2x SSG on a short link and  a couple of worms on a size 8 and over we go. Quiver  nods as the shots find a slight hold, then lift to ease them to the next holding spot, jag jag on the quiver and instead of the expected perch a chublet was twisting and darting in the flow. All Billy Big Balls bravado and swagger even at this size. 

No more chublets  but a couple of small perch then this cracking rudd before the rain set in for good. No matter, head cleared from work so all good.

Saturday and I thought I'd search for a couple of sit and trot spots for future reference so headed up past the floating boom towards the road bridge and a deeper, sheltered straight with one slight dog led and a decent depth. Narrow and busy path and not much casting space, especially with a 15 footer, but in  a couple of spots enough to swing the float out. Double red maggot on a  size 18, a  steady flow but lots of tiny dace that just drifted down with the bait in  that flow, with just a slight increase in the pace of the float. Bumped  a better fish a long way down the trot just above the dog leg so moved down and quite soon into better dace, and the odd hand sized roach, beautiful in their autumn garb.

One that felt a lot better, hugging the near margin and keeping deep. It turned over the net, brilliantly coloured, drawing a gasp from an appreciative kayaker had a waters eye view of the whole event from bite to net  a mere paddle away. It was a lovely gold and red hued perch, all spiky dorsal, humped shoulders and a fat belly. Just like Crabtree said it would be..

 

Another quickly followed, a bit paler and a shade smaller. Watching them on the way in and rolling at the net out that recent lost Fen monster into perspective. It had been a goliath of a perch alright.

One last roach and a trip ending tangle in the gloom and rain set me homeward, head buzzing with perchy plans before I get my pike head on .