The Complete Fisher Forum

[malerogue]

Just to cheer everyone up!
https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/somerset-snow-met-office-forecast-3872380

I hope not.

[Allrounder]

[blondie]

Totaly unprepaired for that .i didnt realise it started that soon .Thought i would check on the forum.
Hope to catch up soon Alan and co.Tight lines for the new season.Hopefully out for Blagdon :All the best.Steve |

[Allrounder]

Well I had all my kit ready to go to the Tanks this morning but then I had a pretty rotten night last night with a bad cold so decided to give it a miss.

Now, as if to rub it in, BWF are uploading numerous pics of overwintered fish over 3lb on FB to let me know what I missed today.

If you did manage to get out, let us know how you got on.

Alan
_________________
Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello!

[BristolFlyer]

Any news on the turbidity on Chew after the storms? No more deluges in the immediate forecast so hopefully it will settle out soon.

[trout]

Visibility was 'a few feet' from Woodford today, out towards the cages, good but not great. As you say, some kinder wind speeds and directions will no doubt settle things a bit over the next few days. Hopfully Alan will put his observations up tomorow if hes out, and i will let you know if theres any change.
_________________
Trout

[Allrounder]

Having made the decision to buy a season ticket again it would have been rude not to take advantage of the Season Ticket Holders day at Chew today. However having had quite enough of being soaked to the skin this year I took heed of the weather forecast and arrived at 10.30am, after the last of the 'wintry showers' had passd leaving a cold, but mainly sunny day.

First stop was Oak Trees but that was fully occupied, as were all the available spaces up to the stone groynes so I decided to have a look at Herons next. However before I began the walk across the field from the car park I was met by a local on his way back who told me not to bother, as the water was badly coloured by the wind and wave action. I guessed that Wick would be busy so I decided to end my wandering at Woodford and although there was a dozen or so people fishing when I arrived, there was room for me to get in towards the Lodge end.

Clarity wasn't fantastic due to what was probably suspended silt giving a weak tea appearance but it was probably 3 feet so it was nothing to worry about. My tactics were my usual early season approach incorporating a fast glass intermediate and two boobies on a 8 foot leader, counting down and ringing the changes until I found what they wanted.

Looking up and down the bank I saw the occasional rod bend but it wasn't going mad, and it took me a while before I got my first tug ... which I promptly missed! The guys either side of me then took it in turns to catch a fish each before I induced an inquisitive fish to finally engulf my booby and after a good fight a 3-1 Rainbow was in the net. Not a bad fish to start the season!

After that I expected to catch more fish fairly quickly but the fish were playing hard to get. I only had the occasional 'lock up' and most the time it was about waiting for the taps to develop before lifting into them which can be a lot of fun, if a little frustrating at times.

As usual the fish came and went throughout the day so there were long periods with no action at all for me, although I noticed the guys towards the trees on the other end of Woodford were catching steadily most of the day. By 4pm I had my season ticket limit of 6 fish so I thought that was a good time to call it a day in order to beat the Bristol traffic.

So a bit slower for me today compared to the usual opening day slaughter, but none the worse for that.

Alan
_________________
Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello!

[BristolFlyer]

My first Chew opening day for a few years today and I sure picked a chilly one. I was inspired to set the alarm for 04h45 by the overwintered fish taken form Woodford last year. Arriving at 05h40 I was still the fourth car in the car park.

I met Allrounder soon after who headed to the north side of the bank while I slotted into the fifth position from the trees with the Pink Panther in pole position. His rod was the first to bend but it certainly wasn’t a fish a cast. I only enjoyed consistent success when I switched to a Di5 with a white snake booby on the point and a viva booby on the dropper. Visibility still only two or three feet which maybe explains why the more blingy fly did the damage..

I had five fish on this combo and lost a few more before it went a bit quiet, but by then my hands were too cold to change flies. Most of my fish took just out from my rod tip so they are certainly not far out. I had had enough by 10h30 but it was still a fun start to what promises to be another good season.

I left Alan casting a country mile in the tricky cross wind and I’m sure he was well on the way to a limit. Until next time.

[Allrounder]

I arrived shortly after Dave (bristolflyer) to find just 3 places left in the Woodford bank car park so I was glad I didn't leave it any later. ! It was still dark but lights near the shore suggested that I was too late to bag one of the prize spots by the trees so as dawn broke I set off to the left side of the bank to fish the same spot as Tuesday. I started with the same tactics as before namely the fast glass and boobies but after an hour or so I only had a couple of half hearted plucks to show for my effort. However I noticed the guys by the trees were getting their string pulled occasionally including Dave so it was clear that's where the fish were.

As the morning drew on the persistent rain seemed to get colder and then at last I got what I had been waiting for - a decent pull! However the fight was rather subdued compared to a trout and soon the reason became clear ...


I took that as a cue to wander along the bank to see what Dave was doing different as he was having no trouble getting pulls or fish and things soon became clear. He was fishing some seriously big flies (I am not convinced he wasn't fishing TWO snakes ) and the fish certainly liked what they saw, so I decided it was time to follow his lead by changing my point fly to a white booby snake and to a faster sinking line. This had an almost immediate effect when a big Rainbow came out of nowhere to take my dropper on the hang which after a very stubborn fight pulled the scales down to just under 4lb.


Having finally caught a fish from this spot I decided to give it best and move in to the left of Dave which was as close as I could get to 'bagup heaven'. Dave continued to get pulls and fish while I struggled and it wasn't until I moved into his vacated spot that my pull rate started to improve, although I suffered as he had with fish following the flies to the surface and taking on the hang, but not staying attached.

By noon I had had enough to be honest but I had promised a friend a fish so I persevered and I'm glad I did. Once the rain stopped and the wind turned more Northerly the fishing improved and the tentative plucks turned into proper pulls and everyone along the bank started picking up fish, including me. By 2pm I had 8, keeping 2 and at that point I decided that my itch had been truly scratched.

I must say most of the fish I caught were crackers, with most between 2-12 and 3lb and they didn't half go! Word on the bank was that North Shore and Walley were also fishing very well so if you want your string pulled now is the time

Alan
_________________
Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello!

[Thomas Tom-Thomas]

Hi Folks - It's been a while

I'm off work this week and managed a morning at the Tanks today.

Started just after 6am on tank 3 using a black and green booby and a fast sinker. The level was low (I was stood by the end of the pipe), clarity was gin clear and the pipe wasn't flowing. A few fish moved early on then nothing. Got bored and moved over the road with a plan of fishing 2 roadside. As I came to the top of the steps I was faced with a large number of cormorants (I stopped counting at 50) sat by the valve tower, so I moved on to 1 roadside.

1 roadside was pretty manky looking to be honest - a deep green tinge and lots of algae growing around the banks . Tried my luck here for a bit until I saw a couple of fish move by the ramp. I reverted to factory settings and switched to a floater with a beadhead damsel, and got the desired result second cast . It was a nice overwintered 2 pound fish with white edges to its lower fins. Lots of aerobatics on the way in too - nice way to start the season.

The bank had a few mousers on it now, and they were picking up the odd fish. I went wandering again, back to 3, then 2, then all the way back to 1 roadside where I picked up another nice sleek overwintered fish on the damsel ("We're gettin' the quantity, but you're avin' all the bloody quality" commented one of the mousers).

The mousers up by the ramp were doing quite well now, although some of the fish they were catching were very small, even by Tanks standards. Apart from by the ramp, it was pretty hit and miss for everyone on the bank. Apparently it'd been a bit like that all week. Think the fish were all pretty deep

I left about 11.30 - Not the early season craziness I've had for the last two years, but none the worse for it.

Cheers

Tom

[Allrounder]

Nice report with some fine fish for the Tanks ! Sounds like you had to work for them today, Tom.

I'm surprised to hear that water levels were low on No.3 although it makes sense in light of the warning BWF put out recently about slippery banks. I was even more surprised to hear that 50+ cormorants have taken up residency on No. 2. I have only seen a couple at Chew this so far season and I had hoped they had gone back to the coast.

Reports from various sources suggest the average size on the main reservoirs is exceptional with lots of fish between 3 and 4lb.

Alan
_________________
Member of ...
The Angling Trust
BRFFA
B.A.S.S.
Pike Fly Fishing Association

If you see me on the bank, say hello!

[Thomas Tom-Thomas]

[tenet]

A big chunk of those Cormorants did come from the coast, a flock flew in over my head early on when I was fishing on the pipe coming from the direction of the channel. Fingers crossed they return from whence they came. 

With BW stocking silver bullets they will probably keep returning - the sooner they are on the general licence the better.

With inclement weather and high winds forecast it will be a week or so before I venture forth. Thanks for the reports guys.

[JCP]

I take my hat off to you combat fishers.Trout look real quality.Thanks for the reports.

Best JP

[Bovver]

First time out on Chew today.. Fished Woodford Bank and the fishing tough in the blustery wind. Water coloured. Di3 released 3 around 2.8 to 3lb coming to booby snake, humungous and booby... After a couple of hours later afternoon and just about to pack it in I switched to a home tied orange booby and with a very slow retrieve it went solid and then kept deep and took line... Along came a ranger who helped me net my biggest Chew fish. 7.7 lb. Happy Bov and it will go in my freezer.