Rob's day

Back on the River today for the penultimate round of the Winter League - it was touch and go as a few days ago the River was pretty much unfishable due to the amount of rainwater entering the River. Luckily it had fined down a lot in the last 2 days and looked good – coloured and a decent flow.

With 11 on the match today unfortunately a few lower numbered pegs had to be put in – these have not fished well on the last few visits – maybe with the water pushing through, a few fished have come back down (or not). So, we wanted a high draw and I was not upset when peg 15 came out. Had Phil for company on the end peg 18 (the peg he knew he would draw due to the long walk) but at least at the right end. Also had Barry Downstream on the next peg.

Set up a whip for trotting down the middle and a pole rig for across near the boats for perch. This peg is relatively shallow with about 4-4/2 feet in the deepest part (just short of the middle) and 3 foot across where there was a bit of slack water. Started on the punch and had bites from the off – small roach and one or two dace. After an hour or so the bites dropped off so went onto pinkies for a couple more roach including a couple around 3-4 oz and a 6oz perch.

Couple of tries over by the barges produced nothing so kept on with the whip. Conditions not great today with a cold wind causing presentation problems (and tangles) – also a lot of branches on the bottom – rarely had a clear trot through without snagging. (Hooking a pinkie on a size 20 not easy with frozen hands).

Saw Phil and Barry catch a few small fish – also Tony netting a decent perch and swinging in a sizable roach (he also had a run in with the crayfish pot). Fred had wandered down earlier to say things were slow where he was – also Graham who after 3 hours had not had a bite. After a couple of more roach on maggot, spent the last 30 minutes by the barges for perch and had 3 around 4-6 oz and bumped one.

At the weigh in Phil recorded a good 3lbs 9oz from a swim that a day earlier had white water flowing down from the weir – now looked good. Thinking I had around 2 ½ - 3lb I somehow had 4lb 3oz in the net – maybe the perch at the end weighed a bit more that thought. Tony (peg 13) pipped Phil by an ounce for second place and Bill filled 4th place with 3lb 2oz from peg 10. Bob had a decent weight of 2lb 9oz from peg 12 but things a bit different when reaching peg 9 down to 4 where it was a struggle to get any fish at all.

No fish pictures today, but instead a queue of anglers trying to get away from the low number pegs after a hard day.