Crabbing in Norfolk

Tags

B James & Sons, Bass Fishing, Blue Sky, Cley, Cley The Crab, Fens, Lord Nelson, Norfolk, Pike fishing., Salthouse, Tilley Lamp, Wells-Next-The-Sea, Woodforde's Wherry

It’s that time of the year when I take refuge in Norfolk, a time to draw on my creative spirit, a time to watch the endless blue sky and time to stand by the harbour wall in Wells-next-the Sea and go crabbing with my son.

Like a wound up coil spring in a clockwork tin toy his excitement has been hard to contain, in fact he’s been packing his bag for days. Eager every morning to rise but disappointed to learn that there are a few days to wait before we depart, the excitement you can see in his eyes.

It will be a few days away for me to focus all my time on my young son sadly his older brother wont be with us, but it will be a boys only holiday.  The time will be spent walking in the pine woods, along the endless beaches and  hours spent lowering down and pulling up a crabbing net…I can’t wait.

The other thing we will be doing is fishing for bass at Salthouse and some fishing on the Fens for esox lucius to try out the lures kindly sent by Paul Adams. A multitude of rods, reels, floats and other fishing paraphernalia will accompany us. I will pack my B James Perfection and my B James MK IV Compound Taper 10ft rod plus a beachcaster and a spinning rod, somehow I have to fit a bike in the car, all the bags, a couple of duvets plus a young child.

I sense a trip to the Albatross which is moored in the harbour at Wells, there I can enjoy an early evening pint of Woodforde’s Wherry whilst his lordship plunders the depths in search of ‘Cley the Cromer Crab’. For sure a stop off at The Lord Nelson at Burnham Thorpe will be in order after a day of fishing the fens.

One other thing we will do is have a rummage at the local bric-a-brac sale where on previous visits good reels and rods have been found. On the last visit we picked up an old Tilley Lamp which will be making a return journey, hopefully we can get it working.

A Bronze Medal…for fishing at Little Britain

Tags

1951 Boat Festival, 2012 Summer Olympics, Bow, Bronze medal, Environment Agency, Fishing, Flounder, Gold medal, Hillingdon Borough Council, Lea Navigation System, Leigh & Westcliff Amateur Angling Society, National Federation Of Sea Anglers, Olympic, Olympic Games, Olympics, The Environment Agency

Just over a week ago my young son entered a competition at the Little Britain Lake in Hillingdon. In an earlier post I mentioned about an open day which was hosted by Hillingdon Borough Council, The Environment Agency and the members of several local fishing clubs.

A Bronze Medal For Fishing

Having completed his allocated hour slot fishing peg ‘J’ on the River Colne he recorded a catch return of 6 fish and posted it in the returns box. A week later we were pleasantly surprised to find he was rewarded with a bronze medal for his efforts. This is the first prize my son has won for fishing.

On the subject of medals with the Olympics being hosted over the next few days it was interesting to find recently a beautiful sculptured bronze medal presented in 1951 at the Leigh & Westcliff Amateur Angling Society Boat Festival to N. H. Fox for their catch of a Flounder that weighed in at  2lb 1oz. N. H. Fox was also to be found to be a Life Member of the National Federation of Sea Anglers.

National Federation Of Sea Anglers Bronze Medallion 1951

With the Olympics fielding shooting, archery and whitewater canoeing is there not a place in the Olympics for a spot of fishing, especially when during the construction of the Olympic Park some of the Bow back waters were netted and the fish removed and placed in the Lea Navigation System.

Paul Adams, hand-made lures are a work of art…

Tags

Artwork, Bass, Bass Fishing, Chartreues Lure, Far East, Fast Sinking Lure, Fish, Fishing lure, Floating Lure, Hand-Made, Liverpool, Lures, Norfolk, Paul Adams Lures, pike, Shopping

Montana John Floating Lure by Paul Adams

Having recently been researching lures for bass fishing I came across a gentleman from Liverpool who makes what can only be described as lures that are works of art.

Paul Adams Hybrid Casting Lure

Paul Adams has been making hand-made lures on an artisanal scale, each hand crafted, hand painted and born from his passion about fishing. I found Paul’s lures last year when reviewing the lure market and with so many lures coming in from the Far East it was good to find the art of lure making still alive in the UK.

Paul Adams Hand-Made Lures

Paul has a video that shows how he creates these works of art, crafted out of resin, balsa or Scots Pine then painstakingly prepared and painted then finally coated in a high gloss epoxy coating. Each lure is as individual as a Zebra for these are truly hand crafted and not mass manufactured. Every lure is balanced and tested and then finally numbered and signed by Paul.

See http://hand-made-lures.myshopify.com/ also homeluremaking.blogspot.co.uk

A floating hand-made balsa and epoxy lure by Paul Adams

The range of lures Paul makes covers floating/shallow diving and his fast sinking 29g Hybrid Casting Spoon the latter being an innovative development.

Paul recently sent me some lures to try out, his Montana John ‘Perch’ pattern and a large Pine Wobbler made of Scots Pine and Epoxy would definitely attract predatory fish. One other 14g floating lure he sent was in Chartreuse with a red under belly this one I felt would be good for bass as well as pike.

I guess the ultimate test will be to put these in the water so with a trip to Norfolk on the cards for next week I hope to be able to update this post with a catch report.

Hand Made Lures by Paul Adams logo courtesy of Paul Adams

If nothing else you should buy yourself a couple of these lures from Paul if not more as these lures are works of art much in the same vein as some of the UK top float makers.

Gloriana and the Olympic flame

Tags

2012 Summer Olympics, Gloriana, Hampton Court Palace, Olympic Flame, Olympic Torch, Olympics, River Thames

Gloriana with the Olympic flame near Barnes

At just a fraction after 10.20am the royal barge Gloriana passed beneath Barnes Bridge, onwards to the Tower of London and then to the Olympic Stadium.

In her resplendent glory this vessel was rowed at speed past the hundreds of people lining the Thames tow path from Hampton Court Palace.

In typical style the weather broke and droplets fell from the sky much the same as for the Queens Jubilee but this didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowds made up of children, mothers and a few fathers that had  taken time off to share this occasion with their families.

Read more about todays event at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19000238 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/olympicsvideo/9431324/Gloriana-carries-London-2012-Olympic-flame-down-Thames.html

May the games begin…I’m going fishing!

A trip to the edge…

Tags

Captain Hook, efgeeco, Efgeeco Seat Box, Fish, Hackney Marshes, Hatfield, Peter Pan, Pike fishing., Pike Float, river lea, Shopping, Tottenham, Vintage Tackle Boxes, White Hart Lane, Wood Green

Efgeeco Seat Box

I took an early evening trip to the edge of metropolis in order to pick up two Efgeeco tackle boxes. Each box was in good condition and one retained its contents, possibly untouched since the late sixties.

What was interesting was the fact that these boxes were owned by a gentleman from Tottenham N17. I could imagine this gentleman fishing the Lea, sat on these iconic green canvas boxes.

The contents of one of the boxes were as follows, 3 pike floats with matching pilots , pike gag,homemade bank sticks, 1 rubber rod button, 1 rod spike, 2 clear plastic boxes containing a pike plug,spinner, several packets of  ‘Goldcrest’ Jardine Snap Tackle hooks from The Redrill Co. Ltd, Collingwood Road Tottenham, 3 wooden line winders, 4 Old Holborn tobacco tins containing hooks, rubber seat legs, feeders and a mirror for budgerigars.

Also found in the boxes were 3 keep nets, 2 reel pouches, 2 spare spools (possibly for an Ambidex 1), a gaff hook or Captain Hook’s spare and finally a black Sou’Wester.

Efgeeco products

The most touching part of this find was the fact that it all took me back to my early childhood when I grew up in Wood Green and fishing on the Lea with my Grandfather near Hackney Marshes came flooding back.

I have a new project in mind so I’m collecting as many of these old tackle boxes as I can lay my hands on, follow my blog to read more about this project as it develops.

Fly or maggot…

Tags

Barnes, Environment Agency, Fish, Fisherman, Hillingdon, Maggot, Outdoors, Recreation, River Colne, River Thames

It’s been a few days since I wrote my last post. With summer at last giving us the warmth we would expect for July it has been a dash to the river each day to make the most of the good conditions.

Jeff, ledgering on the Thames

The ‘Barnes Four’ is now heading towards the ‘Dirty Dozen’ as more fishermen join us on the shore each evening as the stretch of river near Barnes Bridge seems to teem with fish at last.

Evening rise, fishing the Thames near Barnes

Each fisherman had their individual set up, some were trotting, others ledgering and a couple of us were using light fly rods. Dace and roach seem to be species caught with the occasional chub. On maggot a good bream was caught.

On Sunday we took my young son to Hillingdon to an open day at Little Britain Lake where the local fishing clubs, Environment Agency and Hillingdon Council hosted a day to give children the opportunity to fish the River Colne. All tackle was provided and at each peg a seasoned angler was there to help and tutor each child and adult. This annual event that was well managed is one not to be missed.

Esox lucius and the lost floats…

Tags

Drennan Night Lights, esox lucius, High Tide, Low Tide, Middy 30 Plus Pike Slider Float 10g, Pike fishing., Pike Slider Float, Sunbury, thames, The Creek

I’m not sure where this week has gone but I’m looking forward to a spot of fishing at the weekend. I think I will head to the Creek and see if I can temp our dear friend Esox Lucius from the swim by the crooked tree.

Lost and found, a Middy 30 Plus Pike Slider Float and another un-named float with a night light

From the recent finds along the river at low and high tide I can see that several other fishermen have been after our stealthy predator from the number of lost pike floats I have found. Earlier this morning at low tide whilst walking along the Thames I found a float with a small Drennan night-light attached. Later in the day on the high tide another pike float was to be found at the water’s edge this time an olive and yellow 30 Plus Vision Pike Slider 10g.

This week I have found three pike slider floats, they could all do with a touch up of paint here and there and a good varnish but make welcome additions to the tackle box.

I can’t help thinking about how or why these floats found themselves to within feet of each other and if Esox manage to take hook, line and sinker and ultimately the float as well. Is there a large predator out there lurking in the shadows that is playing a game with our fellow fishers…

It may be worth while checking the outgoing tide to see if any more floats reveal themselves from old father Thames’s locker.

Under leaden skies…

Tags

Beetroot, Chard, Cooking, Float, Game, Grill, pike, Recipe, Rocket, Shakespeare Tackle, Zander

Another day of leaden skies, will summer ever show itself.

Found near Hammersmith Bridge, a Shakespeare Pike Slider float

There is little to report from the river today other than from the Thames ‘locker of lost and found’, in amongst the reeds a lonely Shakespeare float, it’s flourescent yellow top giving it away from the flotsam and jetsam that surrounded it.

I recently purchased a few old cook books with some good recipes for game. Today was one of those days to look up a recipe or two. In one book were some interesting recipes for salmon, sewin, pike, zander and carp.

On Sunday morning whilst the sun shone we took a walk along Duke Meadows. What I did see growing on the towpath was wild rocket and clumps of horseradish, the latter being a prolific invader of our countryside. Interesting enough not many people know what it is and mistake the leaves for dock leaves. It’s only when you look at the gnarled root at the base of the leaves and pull your nail across the rough brown root will you get that unforgettable smell.

Having found these two wild ingredients it reminded me of a good summer recipe for either pike or zander. The other ingredient that makes this dish is beetroot, one of the best summer vegetables that I feel is under used. If you have the opportunity to catch either a young ‘jack’ pike or a zander and you’re camping by a river this is a great way to dine on what you catch.

All you need to marinade the fish with before you grill it is some olive oil, salt , pepper and the juice of a couple of lemons.

Grilled pike or zander with beetroot, rocket and horseradish.

1 3-4lb zander or pike, 2 medium cooked beetroot, 4oz of horseradish (preferably fresh root),juice of 2 lemons, a good handful of rocket,4fl oz of olive oil, Malvan salt, pepper and some cornstarch.

Peel and slice the beetroot into thin slices, combine the olive oil, salt and pepper and marinade with the beetroot.

Trim the horseradish into thin sticks, coat with the cornstarch and fry until golden brown and lightly salt them.

If out on the river bank, grill the fish skin side down over a fire on wire rack or wrap in foil with a tablespoon of marinade. Grate some horseradish over the wild rocket and toss with some remaining marinade. Place the rocket leaves on each plate and put the fish on top, finish of with the sliced beetroot and top with horseradish chips.

Over the coming weeks I post a few other recipes up such as pike burgers, carp with cherries, trout with watercress sauce, sea-trout wrapped in swiss chard and salmon with cucumber cream.

The Barnes Four…

Tags

Abu 1044, Barnes Bridge, Chub, Dace, Ground Bait, John Wilson 10ft Float Rod, Roach, Stag Brewery, Trotting

As the sun started to set so did the tide start to return. Having fished with the tide still heading out there were few takes but as the tide was on the turn there seem to be more interest in the bait presented.

Three of ‘The Barnes Four’

I now refer to the usual congregation of fishers as ‘The Barnes Four’,made up of Brian, Eddie, Jeff and myself. All of us pitch up within minutes of each other yet all of us fish in a different way. One thing that is common between us is the use of an Abu 1044 closed faced reel, for the simple reason that the wind seems to howl along this stretch of the river, even on a calm day there seems to be a channel of wind that blows down from the Stag Brewery as if it bounces off the malting building.

Brian opened up the days catches with a few good roach, Jeff hooked into a nice c hub and Eddie landed a good bream. As for me, well a few sharp takes took me by surprise and my float was being taken swiftly in the current that I had little chance to strike.

Eddies was fishing with a recent eBay purchase of a nice light 10ft John Wilson Float Rod which he reportedly paid only £10 for plus postage. This rod was ideal for fishing under Barnes Bridge with, where fishing no more than 12-14ft in the margins is all you need to do. The only issue is the occasional snags of rocks and subsurface debris that comes in with each tide. At around 7.30 I departed the fishing party to return home to cook supper, by 9.00pm I found myself back by the water to hear tales of the ones that got away and of those that landed in the net. The water turned to an inky black like squid ink and patches of vermilion red and purple filled the river with the colours of a summer evening, few of those have we seen his year.

With the last cast from Eddie ‘The Barnes Four’ packed up and headed home even though a pint in the White Hart seemed tempting.

Which carp rod…

Tags

Allcocks & Co, B James, Carp Fishing, Chapman 550, Chapmans of Ware, Dennis Pye 700, Ealing, Redditch, Richard Walker MK IV Carp Rod, Superb Carp, Vintage Cane Rods, Ware

Having never really been into carp fishing I now find myself fascinated by it. More from the point of the vintage rods that seem to cause such a stir. Over the last few days I have been reading up about Allcocks, Chapman and B. James, three of the most talked about manufacturers of cane carp rods.

Being the owner of a B. James Kennet Perfection rod I can with hand on heart say that the B. James rods are made from fine cane and feel great in the hand. I have never had the pleasure of fishing with a Chapman 500, 550 or Chapman ‘Dennis Pye 700′, furthermore the classic Richard Walker MK IV Carp Rod. What I did miss this week was acquiring a B. James Richard Walker IV Avon rod that was for sale on eBay. Without having seen it in the flesh it was difficult to decide how much to bid on it but in the end it went for no more than a meal for two with a bottle of wine in an average restaurant! I know which one I would rather have had, at least with the rod the pleasure would have been more memorable.

I have seen several Allcocks & Co Superb Carp rods at car boots but they have been complete restoration projects. What I did see last time out at Chiswick car boot fair was an Allcocks & Co Lucky Strike, the one used by Chris Yates in the Passion For Angling series.

I would be good to hear back from any committed Carp fisher as to what they think is the better of the three key manufacturers. There is a bias towards B. James made rods as it is a common thought that they used better quality cane than Chapman of Ware.

Chapman was established in the late 40’s by Charles and Ronald Chapman and traded as R. Chapman & Co of Ware. Throughout the 50’s and 60’s Chapman created a range of innovative rods, they were the first company to offer the British Angler five-strip bamboo coarse rods.

With over 50 years of and after three generations of tackle making under their belt Chapman rods are sought after by collectors and traditionalist. If you watch eBay you’ll see them change hands at a premium and vintage tackle vendors are asking £250-300 for a good rod.

The B. James of Ealing rods with their trade mark whippings do look the part on the river bank and again vintage tackle dealers will ask a premium for a good Richard Walker MK IV carp rod, you can expect to pay £395 for a very good condition rod, and if you buy an Avon similar to the one I missed out on this week you’ll be looking at £450 and upwards…

So what makes a good cane carp rod. Most are built to a similar specification, some are 3 piece and other 2, average length is 10′ – 10’ 4”, with the butt section between 24-30”. I personally feel the quality of the finishing on the B.James rods better, their honey coloured cane and deep red whipping stylish. I have seen a few recently restored and offered with green whippings.

I do believe there are other good custom-built rods out there so what I would say is try before you buy and don’t just be led by the bias of the market, also there are some rods out there being sold that are either shorter than the original spec so a tell-tale sign that the tip was broken or glossed over so you can’t be sure of the quality of the lamination of the cane.

For more information see http://www.chapmanblanks.co.uk

The debate will continue for some time but it would be good to hear your views so feel free to comment. Also if you know of other worthy cane rods to be placed in the carp rod hall of fame, please tell.