UKCF Anglers.

[Simon Bolivar]

Time for a quick update.
31/10/24 Out fishing on the Hampshire Avon, trying to catch my first Pike of the season. Many twenties have come out of here since ht e1st Oct opening, unfortunately I was in Belgium, then & later Offshore so well behind the curve. Had a blank or two but finally a fish in the net. A wee Jack took my Smelt, on a sidestream.,

Celebrated by smoking a special 1996 Party Short from Tippex's collection. As a post breakfast smoke, It certainly didn't disappoint & although such a grand wee smoke could have been accompanied with a wee tot, I made do with a coffee. Best Short I can recall.

Later after lunch, I lit up a 2013 RA Netherlands ER, another lovely smoke. Always reliable ER's. Washed down with a John Smiths & a pretty good autumn day. Good to be out on the riverbank, as Mole would say.

05/11/24 Guy Fawkes & fireworks in the evening, can't say there were any on the river today but I did catch a new species & therefore, after many years, has a new PB.
My Driller friend, Big Steve & I, took out the punt on the Avon for the day. It's attached by chains to either bank & one has to haul on the chain to cut across the current & tie off when happy with the lie.

I was hoping to catch one of the near record Dace know to be in the area or a Sea Trout, which I'd not caught before. Firstly I was ahead in the minnow stakes & lit up a 1990 R&J Panatela, with my morning coffee.

Steve picked up a Chub & then I had a small Dace. Later my first Salmon. There is a syndicate on this water £2K p.a. & limited number of rods & very few Salmon caught this season (
Celebrated with a 2002 JL Patricia & another coffee. I did bring a beer but having had to haul ashore for a toilet break (too public for the usual use of a bailer), I didn't want to have to go in twice.
By the end I had a couple of decent Dace & more Salmon, infact finished 5 Par!

[Simon Bolivar]

The Pike season on the Hant's Avon started 1st Oct. Unfortunately I was in Belgium, visiting wife's family.

Normally 1 or 2 20lb'ers might be caught & a handful of dbles. This year broke all recent records, x6 20lb'ers! One lucky chap getting a 26lb08, 20lb 08. 19, 18, 17 & a couple of low dbles & decent Chub.

Call the 26, a 22 & the rest of his catch is basically what I have caught of the last 3 seasons!

Obviously, word got out & crowds descended, place h as been hammered. I went today, just hoping to catch something & get something on my scoreboard.

Two brothers decided to go against etiquette & one went to hold the swim I usually fish, whilst the other waited inline for a ticket. This is really annoying as I was there 45mins early to ensure I was 1st online & I would get my fav swim, which is a real hike downstream. The tacker dealer shouldn't be issuing tickets if the angler isn't standing in front of him. This has never happened before but a mater warned me it had been happening this week.

Anyway, I parked by a bridge & fished at it's base. I used a DB rod & a lure rod. Nothing to lures, had a small rake on DB but never developed.

Good news, it was a gorgeous morning. It was great to be on the riverbank again, with the knowledge that there's a 20lb'er for every 1/4mile & my Cigar was perfect.

RA 2010 ER Portugal.

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[Simon Bolivar]

20lb'ers will be a decent challenge ger, whilst you get used to UK Carp fishing. Within a couple of yrs, they'll be some pushing 25lb.

Hope they put in Ol' Tinca Tinca for you but true Carp nuts don't like introducing completion for the Carp.

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[gav_sw20]

I’ve joined the dark side and been roped into a private carp syndicate.

With the exception of Thailand I’ve never done any carp fishing so all a learning curve, although it’s basically Barbel fishing on steroids.

I’ve struggled on the rivers this season as the weather hasn’t been kind to anyone. It’s either been no water or extreme flooding, plus the rivers I fish you have to be off at dusk so after-work fishing October ~ March is off the cards until the clocks change.

Positive with this syndicate is it’s a 10-minute drive from the house, there are only x4 pegs (1-acre lake), 9-members and you can overnight fish there. It’s stocked with x45 carp all around the 20lb mark but I’m hoping they put some tench in.

[Simon Bolivar]

Out on the river this morning, still in flood. With the high tide, I was standing in knee high water -on the bank!

Cast out an 8oz roach DB, to the edge of the large bay, where I hoped there'd be a few sheltering from the fearce current.

Whilst preparing to send out my second bait, the first had my Delkems screaming away. I let it run a little but it was heading around the corner, so wound down & struck into a big fish, certainly felt like 15lb+. Unfortunately it came adrift.

An hour later same bait away again, slower this time, waited a little longer but didn't connect. Big baits might mean Big fish but I really don't like waiting too long.

Had a luncheon appt but returned after, hoping to get another run at dusk, with smaller baits. Turns out I didn't have to wait. My 1st bait in (cast to a different area, nearby), was away after just 5mins.

This time, it nosed straight into all the weeds, dead rushes & debris in front of me. Was really tricky to get its head up & slide the net underneath.

Went 16lb 06 & 90cms. My 1st decent fish from this side of the river. Cast out again & at 17:30 - sunset, the 2nd rod gave a very positive run & when I struck I thought I had another dble figure Pike. Turned out, after a very spirited fight, to be a 5lb Bass, 2.5miles upstream!

A grand day indeed, think I'll crack a box of Cohiba's to celebrate.

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[Simon Bolivar]

Went fishing to the local pit on Wed Dead baiting, gave up after 5hrs of the wind & rain in my face, no rins.
Today went back with lures today & managed 3, inc 2 on a giant yellow rat!
Surely deserves a decent smoke tomorrow.

[Simon Bolivar]

Slightly off topic, im not a fisherman but I was recently doing LEV inspections at the Hardy fishing tackle factory in Alnwick. The reels they make are works of art and all finished by hand, I believe the cheapest one comes in at £600…

I have been to their shop in Alnwick, well worth a visit if you're nearby.

[Scott 81]

Slightly off topic, im not a fisherman but I was recently doing LEV inspections at the Hardy fishing tackle factory in Alnwick. The reels they make are works of art and all finished by hand, I believe the cheapest one comes in at £600…

[Simon Bolivar]

Went fishing with an old colleague from the RN Medical Branch, he's a season angler but wanted to try course fishing so tried to catch him his first pike.

Fishing on the Dorset Stour, tried a large slack to start, with dead baits & occasiobal lures but water too coloured to be effective. I smoked a RASCC after breakfast. For lunch we had a tin of soup each, cooked on my stove.
Moved to the Wendy House swim, I smoked a BVF 2006 & 15:10 we had a run & he hooked & lanes his first pike, Misson accomplished!

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[gav_sw20]

On Boxing Day, as traditional, I spent the day chasing Pike, on the Hants Avon.
Was the first to arrive, infact no one else turned up all day.
I fished a large slack, with two Joey mackerel, running float patonoster.

A long day, with no action until dusk arrived & at 16:20, my first run. A spirited fight, as it tried to Bury itself into the Bush on my left. Managed to turn it & pkay it out. Landing tricky as the blank is flooded & found myself stuck in the mud. Had to rest the fish, in the net, on the muddy bank, whilst I freed my waders.

Measured 103cms & weighed 20lb 01. My 2nd twenty from the Avon & my 3rd overall.

No more fishing until 19/01 but hopefully will be in amongst the gathering grandmotgers, waiting to spawn.

Now celebrating with my last Reserva Churchill Dec 2002, a splendid smoke, without equal.
I was actually smoking the LGC when the fish took my bait.

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Sound like a great Boxing Day to me and a cracking finish to the year with a 20+.

Typical though you catch as the lights fading which makes taking fotos difficult.

[Simon Bolivar]

On Boxing Day, as traditional, I spent the day chasing Pike, on the Hants Avon.
Was the first to arrive, infact no one else turned up all day.
I fished a large slack, with two Joey mackerel, running float patonoster.

A long day, with no action until dusk arrived & at 16:20, my first run. A spirited fight, as it tried to Bury itself into the Bush on my left. Managed to turn it & pkay it out. Landing tricky as the blank is flooded & found myself stuck in the mud. Had to rest the fish, in the net, on the muddy bank, whilst I freed my waders.

Measured 103cms & weighed 20lb 01. My 2nd twenty from the Avon & my 3rd overall.

No more fishing until 19/01 but hopefully will be in amongst the gathering grandmotgers, waiting to spawn.

Now celebrating with my last Reserva Churchill Dec 2002, a splendid smoke, without equal.
I was actually smoking the LGC when the fish took my bait.

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[YoelD]

I've been scouring old threads on the forum and noticed that there appears to be quite a few anglers on here.
Just thought I would share my latest catch with you. This was bagged last weekend during the mental gales
we were suffering. True hardcore angling. A 48 hour session spent under a brolly resulting in a genuine winter
mirror carp weighing in at 25lb 10oz.

Impressive. What rod and tackle were you using?

[gav_sw20]

Hi Drewster, caught your Jack's granny!

Had a few blanks since returning from the rig 7th Oct. Both the Stour & Avon have been in flood for a fortnight, the water on tge banks is knee high.

Finally fixed the holes in my thigh waders & went for it, trekking down to the furthest swim. A small bay, out of the flow, know to produce for other in he past but despite fishing there many times, never caught.

This time, the flood & high tide gave this plenty of depth & thought it worth spending a whole day there, if nothing there at the start, they could arrive after feeding in the main flow.

Having cast out a whole Joey, to the nearest edge to the upstream flow, I tried to tighten up & clip into my drop back indicator but it kept pulling out. I initially thought it was the current, but taking hold of the line, it was pulling through my fingers. As it was a large bait, I counted 10 & wound down, to meet solid resistance. I nearly had it too the net in a couple of mins & I was thinking 7-10pbs. Then it woke up & shot out across the bay & into some reeds. Patience paid off & I winkled it out & it still scrapped & I actually checked it was my 2.75tc rod & not the 2.5tc.

As the bank was flooded, & having left my tripod çonnector in the car, I just shot it in the net. Shame, but it went 17lb 08 & 95cms.

My 1st Pike of the season & only my 2nd since my 21lb'er, on the same stretch on my birthday last December.

I lit up a Belinda Princess '99, a brilliant wee MM. With coffee & a stickie.

I stuck it out until 14:00, hoping I could catch another, as I have never had x2 upper dbles in a day. Having come expecting to stay all day, having forgotten my seat, my back could take standing up any longer.

Back home & I took the last stick from the top layer of my Dec 2002 Cohiba Seleccion box, a Reserva CE. Enjoyed with Leffe Blonde & a dram of Bushmills. The smoke was divine - they are getting milder/smoother IMHO: enjoyed in the Boli' Lounge.

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Great summary Simon. Can’t beat a days angling and a decent smoke.

I’m hoping to get on the river soon now it’s dropped, getting bloody cold now though.

[Simon Bolivar]

Hi Drewster, caught your Jack's granny!

Had a few blanks since returning from the rig 7th Oct. Both the Stour & Avon have been in flood for a fortnight, the water on tge banks is knee high.

Finally fixed the holes in my thigh waders & went for it, trekking down to the furthest swim. A small bay, out of the flow, know to produce for other in he past but despite fishing there many times, never caught.

This time, the flood & high tide gave this plenty of depth & thought it worth spending a whole day there, if nothing there at the start, they could arrive after feeding in the main flow.

Having cast out a whole Joey, to the nearest edge to the upstream flow, I tried to tighten up & clip into my drop back indicator but it kept pulling out. I initially thought it was the current, but taking hold of the line, it was pulling through my fingers. As it was a large bait, I counted 10 & wound down, to meet solid resistance. I nearly had it too the net in a couple of mins & I was thinking 7-10pbs. Then it woke up & shot out across the bay & into some reeds. Patience paid off & I winkled it out & it still scrapped & I actually checked it was my 2.75tc rod & not the 2.5tc.

As the bank was flooded, & having left my tripod çonnector in the car, I just shot it in the net. Shame, but it went 17lb 08 & 95cms.

My 1st Pike of the season & only my 2nd since my 21lb'er, on the same stretch on my birthday last December.

I lit up a Belinda Princess '99, a brilliant wee MM. With coffee & a stickie.

I stuck it out until 14:00, hoping I could catch another, as I have never had x2 upper dbles in a day. Having come expecting to stay all day, having forgotten my seat, my back could take standing up any longer.

Back home & I took the last stick from the top layer of my Dec 2002 Cohiba Seleccion box, a Reserva CE. Enjoyed with Leffe Blonde & a dram of Bushmills. The smoke was divine - they are getting milder/smoother IMHO: enjoyed in the Boli' Lounge.

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[Drewster]

Not big carp or cats today but I did get a very unexpected catch PXL_20230809_125348430~2.jpg