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.