A Day AT Gold Valley!

The working week had passed, and I had been waiting for a day on the back since Monday! You see, a lot of people at the school I work at are running around, looking for certain worksheets, documents, text books but not our class, our class is sorted and well equipped before we leave on the Friday! So, when Monday arrives I have one thing on my mind; where are we fishing this weekend coming? When I say we I mean Lee and I, however this time we were joined by Kev.

Lee, Kev and I decided through the week that Gold Valley would be a good idea. Lee had never fished there, Kev had been a few times with his club and I have been there a lot last year on pleasure days and on matches. But what we all had in common is that we had never fished Bat Lake.

We meet at Gold Valley at 7am but before we hit the bank we had a look around the tackle shop and had a bacon sandwich. While chatting away and awaiting our bacon sandwiches we received some good information off the staff there about Bat Lake and what lived in there! So after our sandwich's and chat we drove around to Bat Lake! The Pegs we were told that may produce that day were already taken by other anglers so we picked other swims around the same area.

View From My Swim!

 

Today Kev, Lee and I had chosen all different methods. Kev the pole, Lee method feeder and waggler and me the waggler. The area we where all in was very shallow but the sun was beating down on it so we thought that part may warm up quicker and the carp and silver my turn up! I had a well covered margin to my right and the island straight out in front of me, and with good over hangs and features I had to try for the Perch!

 

Bait for me today was maggot in Marukyu Krill, worm and prawn! All good Perch baits on there day!

 

Baits For Today!

 

So with all the kit ready we were fishing! The weather was a great, bit chilly but little wind and no rain it was perfect considering what the weather has been like since Christmas.

 

Kev Plumbing Up His Pole Lines!

 

I didn't have far to cast at all which was good as my waggler skills are not exactly great, but with choosing to fish the margin line I had the option to change if needed.

 

The start was very slow for Lee and I, Lee had a few movements of the feeder rod but then went quiet again. However, Kev was starting the day well with only fishing for about an hour and his first fish was hooked!

 

Kev Playing His Fish With Lee Very excited!

 

Lee Calmed Down A Little Now!

 

Nearly There...!!!

 

Unfortunately there was no picture of the landed Carp as when Kev unhooked it and started to get ready for a picture the fish slipped out of his hands and landed straight back in the lake and swam away! so as Lee and I said that one don't count, but neither of us could hold a straight face before we burst out with laughter! But anyway that was Kev with his first fish of the day!

 

As the day went on we had a right good laugh, and Kev unfortunately losing a few more big Carp with them snapping his light hook lengths. That's the thing about winter fishing you scale down kit to get the bites but when doing so if you do manage to hook a bigger fish there's always that chance of them snapping off! But that's winter fishing!

 

I decided to change from worm and prawn and try for the smaller silvers, so I started to use maggots as a hook bait. Also Lee changed his method feeder to a waggler.

 

Maggots In Marukyu Krill!

 

Again with changing baits this still didn't bring a bite and I decided to move swims to the deeper water! However still this didn't bring any bites to my day and Lee was in the same boat too! I decided to pack up about 3pm and watch Kev. Kev was having a different day! He had 1 fish, lost a few and now had hooked another fish while I was walking around to him! I found out that Kev had also made a bait change too, to the old trusty maggot and within minutes of swapping from pellet too 2 maggots on the hook Kev was into another fish!

 

Kev said he had to remember even tho he went up in hook length line that it was still light for a big Carp so had to play the fish delicately and couldn't rush the fish! And what he said explained must of been spot on as 5-7 minutes later it was in the landing net!

 

Kev Playing The Fishing And Explaining What He's Doing To Lee!

 

Kev Playing His Fish!

 

Kev About To Land His Second Fish Of The Day!

 

A Very Happy Kev!

 

And One More For The Camera!

 

That ladies and gents was the last fish of the day, and with me and Lee blanking that didn't matter as we got to see Kev catch a few and I learnt a lot from Kev specially about pole fishing in quite a small amount of time!

 

 

My conclusion for todays fishing:

 

I knew today was not going to be easy as the weathers not been great lately, but I think anyone going to a commercial who thinks there going to get a bend in there rod this time of year just because its a small lake and holds a lot of fish I can ensure you, its not going to be easy at all! A change of bait is a must, from small pellet to maggot with in minutes got Kev a fish to take it. My waggler skills are nowhere what I thought they might be, its easy fishing out a meter or 2 from the rod tip but once it means getting a little more distance it was everywhere so I need to practice them for sure! Watching someone is the way forward, not only could Kev explain how and why he was doing something but showing us made all the difference and I learnt a lot from a short time!

 

It was a great day! I would like to thank Lee and Kev for both travelling down this way for a days outing!

 

You can follow Lee and Kev on Twitter:

 

LEE: @Thegudgeon

KEV: @Topkitkev

 

And here's one more picture from the day!

 

Lee At Gold Valley - Bat Lake!

 

Tight Lines & Wet Nets....

Another Session On The Canal!

All this week I have been planning on where to go for a days fishing! I thought about maybe a commercial like Gold Valley or a Farnham Angling water, but I just had a feeling about going back to the Basingstoke Canal to the swim I have fished a lot lately! So I went with my gut feeling.... Basingstoke Canal it was!

As per normal I was already to go the evening before with the kit and bait ready! However, I wasn't going to take the chair this time, I took the seat box! It's great to be sat on the chair, its comfy and very relaxing but when sat up on the box its business time! with all the attachments hanging off and everything so easy to access its a great bit of kit!

Matrix Box All Ready!

 

I arrived at the canal around 7am and with the box easy to set up with attachments like the feeder arm and bait table I was ready to go within minutes!

 

I was going to float fish for the Perch up close to the tow path as the area dark and had lots of cover for the Perch to hide out from other predators and to ambush there prey!

 

Drennan Loafer Float I was Using!

 

For hook bait today I was using Prawn soaked in Bait-Tech Predator Plus, I have caught a few Perch on this so I am confident in it! I did have a back up hook bait which was dead red maggots in Marukyu Krill. Every minute or 2 I would feed a pinch of maggots and ever 10-15 minutes I would also feed and prawn or 2 chopped up!

 

Todays Hook Bait!

 

Pinch Of Maggots Every 2 minutes

 

Chopped Prawn Every 10-15 minutes!

 

Area I Was Fishing!

 

I was looking forward to getting out today as I had a few new bits of kit I wanted to try out! One was my 4 meter Maver Competition Landing Handle, but can be used at 3 meter too and that was the length I was using it at today. I had a Daiwa Net too and the only way I could try these out was by catching and netting a fish!

 

Daiwa Net!

 

Maver Landing Handle!

 

It wasn't long before I started to get indications on the float so I was happy there was something in the area, so I just waited to see if the float would go right under. While waiting I spoke to a few other anglers. One bloke was catching a few Pike roving the canal on dead baits and another older gent, he had fishing the local rivers and canals for nearly 60 years, amazing I thought he's been fishing twice my life time! We must of been chatting for about 45 minutes! but I didn't mind he had some great stories about fishing the canal!

 

After the older gent left the float went under! I lifted into the fish and it was hooked! sitting on the box made playing the fish a lot easier the on the chair specially when netting the fish! when it surfaced I could see it was a Perch and when it was safely in the new Daiwa net I was very happy! It weighted in at 1LB 5 Ounces, not a big Perch but it was very wide which I think gave it it's weight!

 

Todays Perch!

 

Nearly Ready To Go Back!

 

When returning the fish I always like to make sure there ready to go, as there are Pike in the area and a fish not quite ready and still a little shocked could be easy prey for the Pike in the area, but the Perch shot off once released from the Net.

 

Well the rain continued and I was totally soaked but that didn't matter as I had caught the target species! But not long after I started to pack up and get home to get dry!

 

Todays Conclusion:

 

I thought today maybe I should of brought worm!! I hear time and time again that Perch and many other fish love worm... and in all honestly only a fool would ignore that, so next time worm will be the hook bait of choose! I have also been coming to the canal now for the last 3-4 weekends and not been going anywhere else. In the week leading up to the session I think where shall I go this weekend? But I always end up back at the canal so maybe I should expand to other waters! But I have to say the canal is a great place!

 

Thanks for Reading.......

 

Tight Lines & Wet Nets!

Fishing With Company....

When I go fishing its normally just me, it's a great time that I can just sit on the bank and relax after the weeks work. But today I had company, a friend called Lee!

Saturday morning Lee and I had decided to meet at a cafe just down the road from the Ash Vale train station to have breakfast while the canal was still pitch black with darkness, but with the cafe still not open at 7:20am we decided scrap the breakfast and go to the canal! But Lee kindly offered to share his Snickers chocolate with me!

Once lee and I parked the cars at the train station we walked down to the canal to our chosen area. I had pre-baited the area the day before with maggots so I was hoping the Perch may tip back up for another feed, but as per normal you cant always promise anything from the canal with it being such a big stretch of water, I guess you just never know!

Lee and I where both fishing the float, feeding maggot and prawn on the hook that had been soaked in Bait-Tech's Predator Plus Liquid over night. So the morning was underway and lee and I where chatting about all manner of fishing and life's events.

Lee At His Swim!

 

It wasn't long before we where getting indications on the floats but the float was being dragged from side to side rather then being pulled under. but when checking the baits they where just being shredded to bits, I thought this maybe The Twins.... The Crays! Just to check I tried a smaller hook and this time maggots on as hook bait, but still nothing. Lee was having the same issue with his float going from left to right but no take either.

 

After another hour or so on the floats we decided to pack up our float gear and get the lure kit out! But not before we went for breakfast down the café!

 

Once we had breakfast Lee and I walked along the stretch near the area we decided to fish for the Perch. Lee was trying out his new lure set up and I was giving him a few pointers, but in all honesty I have only lured fished for around 4 months now so I'm no expert by any means. We tried all different lures but we couldn't get a bite, but the sun was out, the sun was warm and time on the bank is fantastic so we couldn't complain as we where having a right laugh!

 

Lee Enjoying The Session!

 

Lee Totally Nailing His Casting To Confined Areas Against Features!

 

Lee and I decided to set up the Drop Shot set-up, this is something we are both quite new too! The small lure I always favour is the Perch! This is a colour I have had great success on so I'm very confident in! So same as before we set up, chose an area, and I started to show Lee how I did it! In all honesty I learnt off the Fox Rage DVD's, learning to cover all areas specially the margins! As just moving out of the margin and into deeper water I felt a knock, so I struck but unlucky the hook hold wasn't in properly, Gutted! I thought that could have been the first fish of the day! So again I went over the same area and nearly straight away we had another knock, and this time this fish was hooked! While Lee put the kit down and was unfolding the net I was playing the fish, a nice little fight off the Pike! Lee passed me the net and it was in there! 

 

Our First And Only Fish Of The Session!

 

Nice Little Pike!

 

unfortunately that was our only fish of the day! But not all was lost! We learnt not only changing lures but changing methods from lure to drop shotting can bring you a bite! It was a great laugh and the plans Lee and I have for coming sessions will be great! He's a great angler I'm sure he's going to teach me a load of tips! Make sure you follow Lee on Twitter:

 

@TheGudgeon

 

And his very own blog:

 

Thegudgeon.blogspot.com

 

Tight Lines......

Few Hours On The Canal

With having the flu, working extra hours and my wife's hospital appointments getting ready for her operation I haven't had much of an opportunity to get out. I had some great plans made with friends to try a few new venues but due to work I had to cancel, and if you know me I hate to let people down and cancel! However, for a few hours this morning, Saturday 5th of January this was going to be my first session off 2014, and to say I was excited was an understatement. I haven't had much drive lately to try the Basingstoke Canal as its fished very hard lately! However with a cold evening and with no rain for about 18 hours and the pressure falling I thought why not give it ago for the Perch!

As always I was ready to go the evening before with all my kit prepared, bait ready! I was going to be using some of the new Kit I had too so I was looking forward to putting this to the test if I was lucky enough to hook a Perch!

All Kit Ready To Go!

So I packed the car at 7:10am and the cold had defiantly set in for the evening as I had to de-ice the car! But have to say that when I arrived at the Canal the views was fantastic!

A Very Cold Evening!

 

My View This Morning!

 

I had chosen to fish an area very close to the Ash Vale Train Station on the Basingstoke Canal, I know there are a lot better areas but this is a 5 minute drive from the house and for a few hours this would be perfect! So with all the kit set up I was ready to go....

 

All Kit Ready!

 

Bait and rig wise I was going to keep it very simple. Feeding dead red maggots and on a 12inch Berkley Flurocarbo hook length a size 8 Drennan Super Specialist Hook with a Prawn that had been soaked in Bait-Tech Predator Liquid over night.

 

Awesome Combo!

 

I find float fishing very exciting, you can be as busy or as lazy as you wish, but once you start seeing movement on the float you start to really get into it and I don't know about you all but I start think what's down there? Is it a few roach or skimmers picking at the maggots or having ago at the Bait-Tech soaked Prawn or is it that once in a like time 4LB Perch! However, for the first 40 minutes there was no movement so I got a chance to look over some of my new kit!

 

New Korum Chair with some of the attachments, I love this, its comfy and I hate putting kit on the ground not the fact that it gets all your kit dirty but saves me treading on it! I'm Also surprised how light it is and this is going to be used a lot while roaming the canals and rivers this year!

 

New Korum Chair!

 

I wanted an all round rod and reel for float fishing and this had to be forgiving as fishing for Perch they can give a great fight and nod every so hard once at the net. But I also wanted it for all manner of fishing so an all rounder was a must and while chatting to a few guys I decided on the Maver Powerlite Match Rod and for a reel the Diawa TDR with 8LB Diawa ST Line, this reel has a very high rating and I have one for Feeder and one for Float work too at the moment.

 

Float Gear!

 

After admiring my kit and saying hello to several dog walkers/bikers I seen a sudden movement on my float, then again... then as I went to take control of the Maver Powerlite the float disappeared! I took control of the rod and reel and I was into a fish! it was nodding its head and putting up a hell of a fight with it no way giving in, the clutch on the TDR working beautifully as I had it set light as I know Perch are known for coming off due to hook pulls, but with in a few minutes it started to surface, a beaut of a Perch with those Sergeant stripes showing! I already had control of the Savage Gear Net and as I pulled gently toward the net the Perch tried one more time to get away, but with it tiring and Drennan Super Specialist hook doing a great job in the Perch's hard boned mouth the Perch was in the net! A Very excited and Happy Angler! It weighted in at just 1LB 5 Ounces, the pictures don't do the Perch justice, but I cant complain as a lady watched me land the Perch offered to take the photo for me!

 

The Sergeant!

 

Huge Head!

 

Hello!

 

The Sergeant Ready To Go Back!

 

As soon as the pictures where taken and the Perch happily safely returned  to the canal I texted Lee with excitement! I Feed the area once again, and stayed for another hour but nothing else was caught, it was nearly time to return home so feed a few areas for a free snack for the Perch, Roach and Skimmers and  then I packed up!

 

My Conclusion On Todays session.....

 

I have learnt a lot about Perch fishing lately, not just on Youtube but off guys offering advice and put a lot of that into play today. I know fishing the Canal isn't going to be as easy as fishing certain commercials with Perch in, as sometime Perch can be the main Predators in those waters, but in the Basingstoke Canal there are bigger Predators like Pike and Catfish so the Perch certainly watch its back when feeding as well as the other silver fish! A regular feed is good, even if this is just a few maggots at a time, keep those fish interested and keep them there! Find the cover, they will be hiding there ready to ambush pray and the low light levels gives them advantage with there sight working a lot better!

 

I loved the few hours I was lucky enough to have, I'm one happy angler! I hope your weekend's fishing went as well as mine!

 

until next time.................

 

 

Tight Line & Wet Nets!

2014.... A New Year.... New Goals....!

Well, its a new year, a new set of goals for many anglers. Goals from catching a 50LB+ carp, Breaking that 2LB Perch P.B, Catching 100LB+ on the match scene, 1LB+ Roach.... Whatever they be its the 1st January and there's many days and nights to accomplish this! I found myself asking what are my goals and I came up with a few:

• 3LB+ Perch
• 9LB+ Bream
• Catch a canal Carp

These are but a few that came across my mind! But in all honesty, what im hoping for is just to ENJOY and love this thing called fishing! I have made a few good mates on the Twitter scene too, Lee "The GUDGEON" I am meeting in the near future for a day on the Basingstoke Canal for ago for the canal pike and perch, so I am very much looking forward to that session!

So Christmas has passed and as always I asked my wife for fishing gifts, everytime she asked me what I wanted I would reply with "Guru tackle this, Diawa that and Korum this......" and everytime she would role her eyes and laugh! But I have to be honest she's very good about me goining fishing, she has never moaned or had a go.... So I must be lucky!

So with a few ideas/goals I would like to accomplish before this time next year(sounds weird, and so far away January 2015..... Urgh, scary) I have some new kit in my armory, not just what I treated myself too but gifts off my wife for Christmas! I got a Korum Accessory Chair. This I would be using for roving the rivers and along the canal! Its great as my Matrix Seat box Feeder arm etc all fits with the chair with a few adaptors I have.

New Korum Chair!

 

I also have a new seat box, the Matrix Superbox 1. For days at the commercial's and the odd match with the Talk Angling guys.

YAY New Seatbox!

 

Love the Look Of This Box!

 

Tackle, mostly Guru as reading alot of great reviews and hearing great things about them. Got to admit I'm a big fan of the Fishing Gurus TV show!

 

GURU!

 

I have a new Feeder set up. A Maver Reactorlite 10ft 6" Feeder rod and the Diawa TDR Reel loaded with Diawa Tournament ST line! This I can't wait to try, heard alot of great things about this rod and in all honest if its good enough for top Matchmen like Andy Kinder and Glen Butler its good enough for a novice like me!

 

New Feeder Combo!

 

TDR Reel!

 

Now I know I haven't been on here for a while keeping you all updated but in all honesty I haven't been out on the bank! Apart from the odd walk around the Farnham waters or the canal that's as close as I have been! The weather has been horrific and I salute the guys who have braved it. However, its time for me to pull my finger out.... Get out there with friends new and old, get this blog updated regularly, learn, compete in a few matches and most of all.... ENJOY IT!

I wish you all the best for 2014 in your fishing ventures and work/personal life, may all your dreams and goals come true this year!

I look forward to seeing you all on the bank soon!

Tight lines and Wet Nets!