Famine to feast

Walked straight on past Roach Bend on to the next stretch to see what was what. Not a lot, despite diligent searching. Wonder of some white gold with whizzed up corn might be good way to pique some interest when prospecting. A lot to carry round though.

Dropped down to the next indent in the reed fringe (on another otter midden) and on the second trot the chubber buried and  a decent brownie was on. No real acrobatics and it was soon slobbering in the margins  A good 3lb guestimated.

A few hesitant bites followed with no reward so down to the double stile that marks the upper end of  our stretch. Soon to be named 

First trot and float away, a tiny pike that didn't survive the disgorger and is now residing in the freezer behind me. Waste not, want not.

After that it was a constant stream of gonks, enough to make a (small) pie. 

Enough also to earn the swim name Gudgeon Gate. 

Just a dace and  a smaller brown managed to beat the gudgeon to the double reds.

Looking down to Roach Bend.

  

 

Two rivers

I had heard of some roach and imposter stone loach so headed up to the top of our top beat and did indeed find the imposter stone loach (gudgeon, a tale best left on the Whats App Group) in reasonable numbers and slightly larger than last time out too. A nasty down streamer meant the pin was out but the (mostly) roach managed to keep up with the double reds on the first bend. Not up to the size reported on the Whats App group but still plump, lovely unspoiled fish.

Tried the cattle drink and the roach and dace were well over to the far cover and most obliging. A very pleasant late afternoon all round..

No show school taxi and an unplanned excursion in the opposite direction before heading off to a different river for an autumn trotting recce. It took a long walk to find a gap in the burr reed on a bend with an even fiercer down streamer. Dace, chublets, gudgeon, more plump roach and an unfortunate foul hooked minnow kept me busy for an hour or so then a rodless look around before rain drove me off. 

Tea chores done  I stole an other hour back on roach bend on my local river, temperature a balmy 22C " into dusk, with zero wind and just coughing sheep and cattle for company.

 

This last fish had me thinking bigger roach for a while.

Freshen up.

I've got a couple of tench catch ups to write but at last the river police have shut the feck up and I have had a couple of trots and it's been a lovely change. Nothing to trouble the net but gudgeon galore, chublets, roach and dace. Plenty of dragon and damsel flies and the ever present Cetti's Warblers. I have even found some decent rudd to go back for. Happy days.

And the Loafer sent me this. I guess Alresford or the Pump Pit. Half the man I am now.