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Fishing 2017

Winter Sunshine

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Managed to get a break last weekend, and drove over to Wessex with a new rod and reel. The aim, to christen them with a winter Roach. The rod, A Fred J Taylor Roach Rod, has actually been christened already, but with a double figure mirror carp, so was keen to do it ‘properly’ with a Roach.

This winter was cool, a beautiful clear sky and full sun. Not perhaps, the best Roach fishing weather, but there were no complaints at all, it was great just to be fishing again, especially at a flowing river.

Picture of a Chub in a vintage landing net along with a Rapidex fishing reel mounted on a Fred J. Taylor split cane fishing rod
Picture of a small Roach with a Fred J Taylor split cane fishing rod and vintage Rapidex reel
Picture of two fishing rods leaning against a wicker creel with a Brady bay lying along-side on the grass

An old Rapidex was given to me by the bailiff of my local pond and deemed fit for the bin. After a little tlc, I managed to free the totally jammed reel, and following a good clean, got it to a state where it could actually be used again.

Sport was slow. A couple of friends joined me, the river bailiff being one, and we fished in the same spot; fruitless. Wandering across the river, and across a couple of fields, we found far better looking swims and settled down in earnest.

Trotting a large float down the river. No real bites or indicators were seen at all. Only my float would stop occasionally in mid flow. I would tighten the line as if it were caught on the river bed so that it would be on its way again. One time when I tightened I felt resistance, A fish! At last! I thought it was a big Roach lolling around in mid current, and then it made a few short runs which I knew to be a Chub. The river was so cold that the Chub did not really put up much of a fight and did not get near any snags, of which there were many. I had to be cautions,  I was using a very light hook link. A quick photograph and back to it’s cold home it went.

I moved swims, much further down the river, the sun warming hands and face. A couple of Roach and a Gudgeon were to be had. Nothing of any size, but at last I could say that the Fred J Taylor Roach Rod has now caught a Roach.

With the sun setting rapidly, I found my friends up stream, we marked the day with a delicious slice of blueberry cake. In quickly diminishing light we all packed up. Walking back across the fields sounded like a favorable breakfast cereal, as the grass was beginning to freeze under our footsteps, and we crunched our way back.

Allotment 2016

Big Plans For The Future

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Last year I was very kindly given as a Christmas present a packet of Ailsea Onion seeds. these I sowed on New Years day, this has become a bit of a tradition.

Now however, I read that you should plant onion seeds, or to be precise ‘Giant onion’ seeds as early as October for the following year.

Picture of a seed tray with cover and seed label
Picture of a packet of Ailsae onion seeds next to a mound of compost on a potting bench in a greenhouse

As a birthday present, I have been given a packet of these Giant Onion seeds. Lets see how they do, and if I can beat the 3lb 5oz onion I managed to grow this year. I must note, these giant onions do not store well at all, and that I have unfortunately had to throw a number of them away as they go off so quickly.

 

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Remember, Remember the 6th of November!

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Yes,

Remember, remember the 6th of November!

Picture of a red starburst firework

I cannot recall a bonfire night so cold. The 5th saw torrential cold rain, with a good measure of hail and sleet mixed in. I thought the night would be a total wash-out this year. Miraculously, around 18:00, the sky cleared and we could venture-forth. We were lucky to see some great displays; the latest kicking-off at 21:30. As soon as this display was ending the heavens opened again and we were treated to yet more sleet. Even the gritters were on the main roads tonight; not a good sign so early in November.

Picture of a firework

The 6th saw the best display this year, which was held near the grounds of a local castle. The day was a mirror image of the 5th, with heavy rain/sleet on and off all day; and the sky clearing allowing just enough time for the fireworks.

The gritters were once again on the roads tonight. I fear we may be in for a long bad winter.

Crucian Carp, Fishing 2016, Roach

A Final Tench

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I have been very fortunate this year; being able to get fishing so many times. I have also been very lucky when I have fished. Lucky with some glorious weather, lucky in what I have caught, and lucky in some of the company I have met along the way.

Picture of a Crucian Carp with an Edgar Sealy Floatcaster rod, Allcocks Popular Aerial reel and vintage landing net with quill float
Picture of a Roach on the grass
Picture of a nice Rudd lying in a vintage landing net along-side an Edgar Sealey Floatcaster De-Luxe fishing rod with an Allcocks Popular Aerial reel.

Fishing a favorite lake in Wessex, cloudy and cool, but sheltered on the bank of the lake in-amongst the trees. I fished my chosen swim, casting very close into the margins with my ‘secret’ bait.

Sport did not arrive immediately, the float simply quivered ever so slightly now and then. I would reel in to find I had been ‘had’, and my bait was gone. Obviously, there were Crucians’ in my swim, and very tentative they were too.  Again the quill float never dipped but quivered,  I gently raised the rod, not a strike as such and hooked a good Crucian. As I netted the specimen, I could hardly believe the size, the old vintage landing net creaked as I raised the fish to the bank. I never usually weigh any catches of mine but on this occasion I had to. The scales went to 2lb.12oz; blimey! After weighing the empty net it revealed that the Crucian was 2lb.4oz. What a fish to end the summer season on.

I could not believe it, A good friend of mine called me on my mobile, and whilst chatting, I had a ‘run’ on the right hand rod. I quickly excused myself, ‘I hung up on the good chap’ and tended to the rod. The run was a short one, I initially thought it was the final Tench I was so longing to catch. The run did not go far and I soon had netted what could only be described as a huge Rudd, certainly the biggest I had ever seen, or caught. Again I had to weight it. The Rudd turned out at 1lb 4oz, unreal! Soon after I caught a huge Roach as well.

I was blessed with catching many smaller Rudd all afternoon, but no final Tench graced my landing net this day.

At around 4pm I noticed a fish roll right next to my float. I waited for the bite excitedly; nothing emerged. I reeled in, re-baited and re-cast to the exact spot. I then saw a huge Crucian ‘porpoise’, ‘dolphin-like’ right over my swim. I have seen this behaviour in the Crucians’ larger relatives, the Common and Mirror Carp, and generally signifies them going heads down rummaging through the debris on the lake bed, swimming up and down to the bottom again, with a ‘take’ a certainty every time. However, not on this occasion. I took this as an omen to pack up and leave. No final Tench of the season. Goodbye and good to see you, hope to see you again next summer season, I believe they were saying.

Crucian Carp, Fishing 2016, Roach

Lightening Doesn’t Strike Twice, Does It?

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Fishing again at my favourite location. Glorious sunshine with a cooling breeze.

I had taken my new Edgar Sealey ‘De-Luxe’ rod and new landing net to see if I could christen them both.

Picture of a vintage split cane rod in a rod rest along side a wicker creel and a vintage landing net
Picture of a small Roach with an Edgar Sealey Floatcaster De-Luxe rod, Allcocks Aerial Popular reel and vintage landing net
Picture of a 2lb 11oz Crucian Carp with an Edgar Sealey Floatcaster De-Luxe rod and vintage landing net

After fishing for about two hours I heard a distant rumble. Now I know there is a military firing range not far away, but as I listened again and again it was getting closer. Exactly like June 16th, a storm was approaching; fast!. Boom, boom went the storm, not just one but numerous came and went by without dropping a single droplet of water.

At the place I was staying for a few days, the story was somewhat different, in that they had experienced tropical-like flash floods with flooded roads and streams; I had been lucky again not to get wet.

To cap this all, I finally managed to christen ‘in style’, my new rod and net, with numerous Roach, Rudd and a Crucian of over 2lb’s; what a day to remember!

Fishing 2016

High Hopes

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Taking a new landing net on a fishing trip is always a bit of a risk. It is often the case the one is guaranteed not to catch a thing with a brand new net.

This effect is doubled when also trying to christen a brand new rod.

Picture of an Edgar Sealey fishing rod, vintage landing net and wicker creel

Needless to say; my brand new Edgar Sealy Floatcaster ‘De-Luxe’, nor my brand new hoop landing net were troubled at all today.

Allotment 2016

The Final Result

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Its been a long season and finally I have had the courage to lift the giant onions.

These onions were sown on 1st January 2016, and were a Christmas present from the good lady.

Picture of a 3lb 5oz giant onion being weighed by a set of digital scales
Picture of giant onions
Picture of giant onions on a table in the greenhouse drying
Picture of a raised bed with the remains of the seasons giant onions ready to pick up

The experiment to grow a big onion used varieties “Ailsea”, “Mammoth Improved” and “Giant Exhibition”.

Potting the seedlings on in March with the addition of “Rootgrow” I was very fortunate this year, unlike last, not to suffer any deaths and they all grew really well in the greenhouse.

Planting these out into their final positions through black sheeting to keep the ground warm and weed free in May this year.

Overall, I think the variety “Ailsea” won the day. The other two varieties did grow really well with 3lb onions in each, but the most consistent large onion was definitely “Ailsea”. And the onion with the biggest roots was “Mammoth Improved”.

I wish I tried them in the greenhouse to see if they would grow any bigger, and the largest this year was 3lb 5oz, which I don’t think is bad for a first attempt.

Crucian Carp, Fishing 2016

Summer Idyll

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Today, the good lady ‘allowed’ me to take an afternoon out of our holiday. and I got the chance to fish my secret lake in Wessex again; this time with a ‘secret’ bait.

Picture of a lake covered with water lillies
Picture of a Crucian Carp in a vintage landing net along side a split cane fishing rod
Picture of a Crucian Carp in a vintage landing net along side a split cane fishing rod
Picture of a Crucian Carp in a vintage landing net along side a split cane fishing rod

This particular lake proved troublesome all 2015 season; as I did not catch a single fish all year. This summer day was a real treat, catching numerous Crucian Carp; great fun!

To top it all, I was able to christen yet another ‘Edgar Sealey’ rod.

Allotment 2016

Beans!

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I’ve never attempted to grow beans before, and they seem to, so far, been very easy to grow.

Picture of flowers on a broad bean plant

With a variety of beans for drying and French, dwarf and climbing beans.

I had been advised that growing beans along-side peas keeps the birds off and so far it has worked rather well with only a few pea pods being attacked.

Allotment 2016

Giant Onions take two

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After failing miserably with the giant onions last year, I seem to be having a little success this. Nearly all the seedlings sprouted and I don’t think I lost any. I planted them out at the end of May and they are fattening up quite nicely.

Picture of a one pound coin against a giant onion
Picture of rows of giant onions
Picture of a raised bed of giant onions
Picture of a raised bed of onions that have been damaged

Although, my main crop of Sturon that I planted as sets looks like it has been sprayed with weedkiller accidently by the neighbour. Very disappointed, but part of having to share an allotment I guess.

Allotment 2016

First Fruits

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Although we have had some great rhubarb from the allotment this year, these are really the first fruits of the season.

Picture of bunch of radish and strawberries in a wooden trug
Picture of a bunch of Radish on a chopping board

Fresh picked are some of the strawberries from the plants that I split up earlier in the season. A lot are quite small, but there are still some corkers in there.

I have grown radish before, but I have never grown this variety. There are loads to come, and I am today going to sow a second, and perhaps a third row they are that nice.

Allotment 2016

Christening

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Christening, more like a baptism of fire.

Today I fished my local pond for the first time this season. I took along with me a new rod that I have just had made up from a blank. A rather superb Fred J. Taylor Roach Rod. My aim was to catch a Tench.

However, my lake is full of Carp, they were certainly in evidence today, cruising about in the hot sunshine just below the surface.

Picture of a double figure Mirror Carp in a vintage landing net with a split cane Fred J Taylor fishing rod and Allcocks Aerial Popular fishing reel

I set out a single grain of corn with one swan shot just about one rod length out into the margins.

Some time passed and bubbles around the float showed that fish were definitely feeding today. The float swayed side-to-side but never went under.

I reeled in and reset the hook length making it a little shorter. After around ten minutes away shot the float and the reel sang its rasping tune. I was hoping for a Tench but instead I had hooked one of the lakes ‘zoo creatures’. It put up one heck of a fight and it took all my courage with my new rod to stop it reaching snags in the middle of the lake.

Eventually I won the day but I hope I do not hook too many of these Carp on this rod.

Fishing 2016

Midsummer Madness

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I have been very fortunate to get to fish another secret lake in deepest Wessex.

This midsummer day brought warm overcast conditions. Perfect fishing weather.

Picture of a Crucian Carp in a vintage Ash loop landing net with a split cane Edgar Sealey fishing rod and Allcocks Aerial Popular fishing reel.
Picture of a Crucian Carp in a vintage Ash loop landing net with a split cane Edgar Sealey fishing rod and Allcocks Aerial Popular fishing reel.
Picture of a Dragon fly fitting on the cork handle of a fishing rod

I lost count of the Rudd I caught, nice ones too. I was very fortunate to land these two Crucians while being kept company by all the dragon flies around the lake.

Fishing 2016

River Interlude

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It is not often that I get to do a spot of river fishing so I was very pleased to get the opportunity.

Picture of a Damsel fly on a blade of grass
Picture of a Damsel fly on a blade of grass

Trotting a quill float down a river must be one of the most pleasurable techniques in fishing. Armed with a couple of slices of bread I fished bread flake for the Roach and Dace.

Great to see the Damsel flies. Something I have not seen for some years. Close up they are almost alien.

Fishing 2016

The Glorious 16th

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This year I have been very fortunate to have been offered the opportunity to become a member of another very secret lake in darkest Wessex.

Picture of a Crucian Carp in a vintage Ash loop landing net with a Mark IV split cane fishing rod and Allcocks Aerial Popular fishing reel
Picture of a Tench in a vintage Ash loop fishing net

Driving overnight, I arrived at the lake around 11:30. Walking round the lake I looked for signs of feeding fish; there were many. I introduced myself to a couple of members who were fishing the bottom lake. Nice bunch of chaps.

I set up on the top lake, and settled down after a very long drive. It was not long before I had landed a couple of cracking Roach. Although I was very pleased with my catch of Roach, I knew that the bottom lake was famous for its Crucian Carp. I was eager to see if I could catch one on the opening day of the course fishing season.

Setting up in a corner away from everyone else, I made myself comfortable, opened my flask of tea which was luke warm, but perfectly drinkable.

From the colour of the clouds above, it was evident that a storm was brewing and I could hear the distant rumbles of thunder.

I could not believe it when as soon as my float entered the water, I would mend the line then I would be into a fish immediately. Catching well over ten lovely Rudd, I suddenly hooked something far more substantial and put up a good fight,  rolled on its side as a bream does and gave up. As I drew it up through he surface and towards the net it turned out to be my very first giant Crucian Carp, just like a huge bar of gold. Stupidly I did not weigh it, but it was well over 2lbs. I fished on for a few more hours watching storm after storm pass by without getting a single drop of rain and suddenly I hooked a train! It made for every lily pad in the vicinity until I finally had it under control. I was absolutely over-the-moon to land a Tench of around two and a half ponds on the very first day of the course fishing season. My favourite species, and a classic summer fish. Not only had I not caught a Tench all last season, but this cracker was caught on a brand new, and in mint condition Edgar Sealey Floatcaster that I was using for the first time.

Was this all a dream?

Allotment 2016

Planting Out The Giants!

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Amazingly, this year the giant onion seeds have done very well indeed. I think I have only lost around 5 plants as opposed to last season when I lost a lot. maybe the sprinkling in cinnamon really does work to stave off infections.

Drilling larger holes in the black plastic I planted the young plants with more “rootgrow”.  Hopefully the black plastic will keep the raised bed warm and keep moisture in the soil also.

Allotment 2016

Beans

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After enquiring how to protect your peas, I was advised to grow beans along-side them which in turn distract the birds from the peas. I’m a sucker for trying things out.

Building wig-wam structures from canes, I hope to train these beans up them and grow my peas up the insides of these structures. Again, we will have to see the results and see if the experiments works

Allotment 2016

First Spuds

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It really makes you think when you plant the first spuds that spring is on the way. It certainly is. The bushes and some trees have the first flush of that acid lime-like green in their leaves.

Again planting my favourite first early ‘Arran Pilot’. I seem to have only got two rows out of the bag this year. I wonder if I have planted them closer than usual?

Great to see them in, even if I only got two rows out of them. Il wait some time before I consider planting any of the other varieties in order to avoid a glut of spuds.

Allotment 2016

Drilling Onions – Quite Literally

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I have been trying to find a way for a while now of growing onions with no need to weed. It is such a pain having to be very careful between sets with the hoe, and inevitably I catch the odd one or two.

Seeing how professionals’ grow some veg through a membrane, I had an idea of trying to do the same with onions sets.

Before laying down the black plastic, I had dug in lots and lots of chicken manure. This black membrane is also breathable, and infact lets water through but stops weeds in their tracks. It also warms the soil up tremendously and keeps in moisture stopping evaporation.

I have had to construct a number of slats simply to weight the membrane down so the wind does not get in underneath and lift up. I will have to watch out for slugs doing this, but lets see if I can grow maintenance free onions this year.

Oh, and the variety, is as usual ‘Sturon’ that I normally set away in cells in the greenhouse.