Foraging and Fishing

Just a wee note to those of us who like a bit of foraging, or food for free. Now is the perfect time for wild roses of all kinds, I always try to collect some petals when in full bloom. Take about 8 petals in a mug and add hot water, add sugar or honey and leave for 5 minutes. You get a warm soothing and relaxing drink like no other herbal tea you can buy. They can also be dried for use later in the year if stored in airtight jars. Then there are Elder flowers, these can be made into a cordial which is a nice addition to Gin or as a non alcoholic drink with fizzy water. You can also make Elderflower Champagne, a very easy lightly alcoholic wine with a nice fizz. Recipes for these ideas are widely available on the Internet.

N.B. Collecting in the wild requires some common sense, so not roadside where fumes taint, shop bought flowers or any that may have had pesticides sprayed upon them.

Roach in the Mist

Went out around nine last night. It didn't look too promising, as the mist was rolling along the water dampening out the usual sounds of nature and making it quite eerie. Had a few tentative nibbles in the first half hour before I caught my first Roach, 2-3oz. Exchanged some pleasantries with a few passers by then things went even quieter, the mist became fog and even difficult to see float at 11m. Then all hell broke loose with a serious Roach that was doing a good impression of a leaping salmon. Turned out to be about 6oz and just very lively, lovely fish. Caught one more fish at 10.30pm and decided it was time to call it a night. A much more successful session than I expected.

Seven Little Ducklings

Had a nice start to the day today. It was damp and misty but not cold when I left, around half ten. Water still looking murky but I'd seen some movement on my way along so not discouraged. Missed the first gentle take but was soon into a fine specimen of a Roach. Ducked and dived and put up a good fight, around six ounces and good fins. The morning went in fits and starts thereafter, but was regularly into catches till one o'clock I'd landed five Roach and lost two. Nipped off home for a while, had some things to catch up on, then went back out around eight tonight. Nothing moving until i threw a few sprinkles of casters in, then caught a small Roach on the drop. Then nothing for another hour when i caught second Roach of the evening around 10pm. Had a nice wee visit from a mother duck and her young who weren't shy so took a short video clip before packing up

Muddy Water!

Thursday night saw me start fishing about half eight, but things didn't feel promising. A random wind was blowing, quite cool, cloudy overhead and you couldn't see even an inch into the water. It was even cloudier in the water than the sky! Anyway got set up, met another local angler fishing not far from me and shared some recon :) Nothing was moving, no fish rising, flies emerging or any signs of life. Started to think tonight would have been better spent online or watching telly, when float disappeared! A small Roach around 10cm, photo taken then put back. Not a catch to brag about but at least I woke up a bit with the little adrenaline rush it gave me seeing the float go under. Carried on a while longer and though I was into a better fish around ten, which got off the hook I was cold and things were really bleak so called it a night.

Waste Fishing Line

On a serious note. Our sport harms no one but our carelessness can, Please dispose of safely, or wind up and take home you waste or tangled line. This by product of our hobby does kill harmless birds and wildlife every year and gives us as fishers a bad name. I often have a drink in a can which I then use to stuff any line in then pop it in nearest bin on way home. Be responsible and Tight Lines!

Late Session

Decided to start a bit later tonight , so left about 9.30 pm, to an open swim I hadn't fished before. Warm night, slight breeze, great panoramic view and midges everywhere! Shipped out my rig and whilst doing so saw a good few rises that looked promising. Twenty minutes in I landed my first Roach. The fish were feeding just below the surface and had more than one try to catch my bait as I was lifting off. Just after ten my float started to move opposite the drift, I thought maybe a bigger fish dragging line but no it was a small Perch taking my maggot for a walk. Landed and put back, I shipped out again and almost immediately caught a very splashy Roach who leapt from my hand once I was putting it back. Called it a night as the swans and thier families were coming along.

Bigger Fish?

Well I decided to aim for bigger specimens tonight so went out a bit later, around nine, to an area I got my best Perch previously. Shipped out larger rig, hook and bait and waited. Not surprisingly there were small Roach leaping at flies occasionally but sure of my no small fish setup I carried on. Twenty minutes in I get a positively aggressive take and I'm sadly disappointed to lift my quarry straight from the water when setting the hook. Yes all three inches of Perch shot straight up in the air, till I settled and released it. What shouldn't have been even capable of getting the size 16 hook and two maggots in its mouth proved me wrong. Well and hour and a half later the same had happened another three times, all four fish under four inches and each sank the float as if it were some leviathan. Oh well so much for the bigger fish :)