Well, not until March of course. However, I have not been fishing since my last outing for various reasons, but mainly it’s down to my health (I’m an obese diabetic). I struggle out of a car with my tackle, let alone a short walk along the bank! Need to get a bit fitter in time for next June …
Tight Lines – The River Angler will be back 
Due to holidays and other commitments, I am having a break from fishing until September.
The above is a picture of my empty net! After a having flying start on peg 13 the previous match, peg 5 on The Stones produced just 2 small Perch!
Last Sunday (July 10th) I fished The Stones which is left-bank, just downstream of Strensham Lock on the Warwichshire Avon. This venue is controlled by Eckington Angling Club and is easily accessible. You can actually park behind the 1st few pegs!
This was my debut match with Woodmancote Royal British Legion (Angling Section), one which I had been looking foirward to for weeks having missed the previous match due to illness.
I drew “unlucky for some” peg 13, a much unfancied swim, I thought. Like most pegs on these stretches of the Avon, it looked like Perch would be easily caught … but would the Bream show?
I attacked the far bank with a block-end feeder filled with red maggots, but soon realised that I only had half a pint. Within the 1st couple of casts I caught a Perch, but without enough bait had to switch tactics to the groundbait feeder. Disaster for me, I left my casters at home. Good job I had a tin of hemp, otherwise I would have probably packed up there and then …
After a few chucks of the heavily hemp-laden open-end feeder I caught a skimmer and wondered … rod high up in the air I ignored the small taps and just watched the tip for a while. It soon went slack, with that classic drop-back, lift bite, I firmly lifted the rod and I was into a Bream of around 3lb or so. First one for around ten years actually, and it felt good
Anyway, I lost another one and had a few more bits including a small Roach and a chublet which I dropped at the keepnet, but it was enough to win the match with 5lb 2ozs.
Looking forward to the next match now with some confidence!
I Only fished once on the Severn last season, but I fished my 1st match for about 10 years with my new club Tewkesbury Popular Angling Association, of which it was my 2nd year as a member. I had a bit of a walk from the draw along the bank, but not as far as some. I was dreading it, but determined to be confortable when I got there, so I put my Boss wheels on my Korum chair.
To be fair, it is a long walk across The Ham, and I can certainly see why anglers are put off by it. However, it is worth it when you get to your peg … mostly! It is a river after all, and not a boring featureless hole in the ground like one of those ‘gold mines’ at Hillview, which are filled with stock fish which even I can’t fail to catch.
It is now May and I can’t remember what I caught in the match, but I had an enjoyable day despite the long walk!
