More visits to the Bollin Planned

After Saturdays visit to the Bollin I'm planning a few more visits, so because where I was fishing was a little uncomfortable, I'm going to dig myself a peg, I'll trim a few overhanging branches, then I'll be able to get myself set up for a nice long session.
Next time I go I'll take a ledger rod with me and my small folding seat. I've been reading reports from the fishing forums, there are reports of good sized Brown Trout and reasonable Chub and Dace not to mention the odd Pike. As the river is not too far from home and not often fished, I could have a little Gem all to myself!

Once again the weather has changed

Around a week ago it looked as if the weather had changed, it looked as though summer had arrived at last. The experts were saying the Jet Stream had moved further north, meaning we would have a more normal summer. The improved weather lasted a week, it's now back to the way it was all through June and July. The long range weather forecast for August is appalling. I think this is having  massive effect on fishing for this year, I've been to places where I would expect to catch but I've failed for no apparent reason, lets hope the Autumn Pike season is a good one or this year will be the worst in my Angling Journey.

Nothing doing on the Bollin

Went to the river Bollin for the first time in years today, the river had changed so much since I last fished it, the sandy bank I used to fish from has been washed away. Access down to river is all but impossible, when I first arrived I had a walk along the bank looking for a place to fish from, I was on the point of giving up and going home when I noticed a pathway through the trees, I followed the path and came a little spot with reasonable access in to the river.
I set up my 13 ft John Wilson Trotting rod with my Rellum Centre Pin reel, I used a Drennen 4 No 4 Wire Stem Stick Float, set at around 3foot.
I trotted through various swims at various depths, didn't get a bite in the three hours I stayed. In the past I've had some very good sessions on the Bollin, also I've had sessions like this one, fishless, there wasn't a sign of a fish all day, nothing was topping, except for a fish that fell to the ultimate angler, The Kingfisher, I saw the bird take a fish, it then flew off at an incredible speed right over my head, what a beautiful site. I also saw two of the most beautiful Butterflies I've ever seen, they were a vivid Blue colour, almost the same colour as the Kingfisher I saw.
Although I caught nothing, I enjoyed the session the peg was pure Mr Crabtree (see photo's below) On a different day I'm sure I would have caught a few fish, but today it just wasn't to be!

Change of Plan for this Saturday

Tomorrow I'm going to have a go at Long trotting, something I've not done for years, I think it was twelve years ago the last time I Long trotted a river, haven't done it since I've lived in Stockport.
Long trotting used to be my chosen method of fishing the River Tame on Tiviot Dale stretch of the River Tame. I'll be using my John Wilson 13ft Trotting Rod and my beautiful silky smooth Centre Pin reel, both of these I received as presents for my 40th birthday, a long time ago now!
I'm off to the Bow Green Farm stretch of the River Bollin, on the Warrington Card, I'm not going too early, around lunch time. It's been quite a few years since I fished this stretch of river, I went for a look at it a few months ago, it had changed from what I remembered, so in all it'll be an interesting day

This Saturday

To my surprise I have this Saturday free, so I'm torn of where to go, I'm thinking of Rixton or Cicly Mill, Rixton is the more interesting, but Cicly is probably a better bet for conecting with a Tench, which for this weekend is my chosen quarry. Npt sure what to do, I'll have a think during the week.

What has happened to the Bridgewater Canal

This is the third weekend in a row when I've fished the Bridgewater Canal, each weekend it's gotten worse, bites have been few are far between culminating in today when, I had a four hour session, getting two bites, landing one Roach.
I'm the first to admit that I'm not the most accomplished angler in the world, but this section of the Canal at Oughtrinton is normally guaranteed to proved you with a good days sport, but for the last three weeks I've struggled like never before. It could be the weather, it was bright and sunny, but I have fished here in similar conditions, catching a reasonable number of fish, it could be the cold wet summer we've had to date, maybe the dreaded Cormorants have been devastating the stocks of fish.
I'm going to give this stretch of the canal a rest for a month or so, maybe have a go at Cicly Mill on my next outing.
Below are some photos of where I was fishing, at least it was a nice place to waste a Sunday, anything rather that watch the Open Golf Championship on T.V.

Looks like summer has arrived

Just checked the weather forecast for the next week, at last it looks as though summer has arrived.
I finish work for three weeks on the 10th of August so I have a few sessions in mind, I fancy a full day at Cicly Mill hoping for a Tench or two,with luck get a session on the Bollin and a day at Rixton.
To celebrate the arrival of the dry weather I'm going for an afternoon/early evening session on the Bridgewater Canal tomorrow.

Inside my Fishing Box

Just added an independent leg set to my smaller Shakespeare Seat Box. In this I have my pole fishing tackle and Pike fishing Tackle, I'll use this set up on the Bridgewater Canal when I'm Pike Fishing, in the box is my stove,Baitrunner reel and my radio for when things are slow! and all the bits and bobs for a days fishing.

Another Session on the Bridgewater Canal

Had a short session on the Bridgewater Canal yesterday (Sunday) but the canal is not producing as I would have expected. The weather was slightly better than Saturday.
I had a nice Perch on the first cast, but after that fish were few and far between, I ended up with 8 fish, five Perch and three Roch. Once again I had a Pike rod out, I saw a couple of Pike attacks but didn't manage to connect with a Pike.

Session on the Bridgewater Canal

Arrived at the canal around 2pm, the weather was once again in and out but quite humid.
I was using my Pole and Red Maggot as bait, it was one of the hardest sessions I've had, bites were few are far between. It took 2 hours before I had a bite, in total I caught 4 small fish, 2 Roach and 2 Perch, I had a Pike rod out as well. Around 8 pm I was packing up, throughly fed up, when I had a take on the Pike rod see the video below, I must admit this is the worst Pike handling I ever done, I will never try to video myself handling a Pike again.

Five Hours on the Bridgewater Canal

Had a nice session on the Bridgewater Canal today, i fished close to the car park at Oghtrington.
The weather was in and out,had periods of heavy rain followed by bright sunshine. Early in the session the breeze was strong but once the evening arrived the wind died off completely.
I caught steadily all through the session, I was using my Pole, fishing the nearside drop off, using red maggots as bait I caught some nice Roach and nice Perch, see photos below

Finished off the session with this Pike, I'd had a Pike rod out all day with no luck, just as I was about to pack up my float went! and I was attached to this little beauty! it weighed in the region of four pounds.

Early Summer

I cant believe the weather so far this summer, it's been the worse I can remember. It's been so long since I've beeen able to get out for a session, I hoping next weekend will be better so I can 'wet a line'.
Not sure where I'll go but Rixton is favourite!