Dead carp at the Leg O Mutton near Barnes

Tags

Carp, Environment Agency, Nature, Poaching, Pollution, Reserve

It was reported to me earlier today that over 20 dead carp some in double figures were found at the Leg ‘O’ Mutton nature reserve near Barnes just off the Lonsdale Road.

Having observed these fish earlier in the year I was aware that they had been targeted by fishermen or rather poachers who fish for them late at night. Having found baited long lines discarded in the undergrowth nearby one can only draw a conclusion to act of premeditated abuse of the local bye-laws.

On this occasion pollution seems to be the cause of so many casualties. It’s hard to accept that these graceful fish and the large head of carp that swam in the margins are all but now wiped out. Further investigation is needed by the Environment Agency.

Thanks to one of my followers who alerted me to this situation and for the featured images.

Images courtesy of James (Jim Jim).

 

Fishing forecast….

Tags

Bass, Beach, Black, Brighton, Fishing, Lug, Storm, Tide

Fishing forecast

A strong wind pushed the surf into the pebble beach along the Brighton seafront. Ideal conditions for a bit if bass fishing but alas I was without a rod or any tackle.

Rachid, reeling in.

Having some time to spare I decided to take some fresh sea air and walked along the pebbles beach listening to the crashing waves. I could see at a distance one fisherman, he would turn out to be a most charming character of North African decent, his dark terracotta toned skin illuminated by the late afternoon sun.

Having started up conversation with this gentleman I noticed the quality of his hand-made rigs made with amazing attention to detail. We spoke for some time and whilst doing so we observed the top of his rod indicate a slow take but a positive strike of a juvenile sea bass that had taken the offering of a black lug.

In the eye of the storm

We seem to feel comfortable in conversation and agreed to stay in touch, clearly I know I can learn from this seasoned fisherman and look forward to doing so in the near future.

If conditions and tides are similar I can sea some good bass or cod fishing on the horizon so keep your eye out on the fishing forecast.

Market day….

Tags

Books, Car Boot, Farmers Market, Fishing, Grayling, Vintage, Winchester

Today was Market Day, every Saturday I help out my good friend Will Smith with his Barn Bacon stall at our local farmers market in Barnes SW13.

With darker mornings we stalled out before 8am selling a range of fresh cuts, Pork Pies, Scotch Eggs, honey glazed hams, breaded hams and our finest range of pork sausages and cured bacon. It was to turn out to be a busy day.

Halfway through the day a local antiques dealer from Wandsworth dropped by the stall to see if we were interested in buying a metal cockerel for the farm shop. In conversation it came about that her other half was a writer for several top fly fishing titles and a fishing guide, so you can guess where the conversation went. After a catch up on trading antiques and that she had a copy of a sought after cocktail book the conversation reverted back to fishing.

She asked as to what sort of fishing I did and made a point that her the half was a purist, purist in what I thought? Fly fishing was the answer, to that statement I fully understand as that is where I started.

Well, after a couple of pints of Ringwood Bitter in our local this evening I’m going to sift through a batch of old Trout & Salmon magazines to read articles by her husband.

After another day with no fishing on the cards I intend to trot a float in search of Grayling on the Itchen near Winchester tomorrow, but only after having dropped into the big car boot sales near Guildford on off the A3 in search of vintage clothing, tackle and fishing books.

The long good Friday…

Tags

Barbel, Film, Fishing, Giles, Nature, Whisky

Sadly my time isn’t my own these days but I’m thankful for the continued workload.

Having travelled to Holland earlier in the week and then once back in blighty set off up the M40 to Coventry I realise that I haven’t had the time to listened to the water, the birds or smell the autumn air more importantly not been able to pick a rod up and have time to fish.

After a long day catching up on correspondence, emails and a couple of odd jobs I can finally settle down to night of watching a DVD but also to browse the pages of a couple of books that arrived this week. One title I have been keen to read is the Nature of Barbel by Nick Giles, a signed first edition copy found on an online auction site.

With the dark nights already hear it will be an opportunity to catch up on a few books, films and drams of Whisky by the fire.

Way of the pike

Tags

Angling Ways, Autumn, Books, Fishing, Float, pike

As golden leaves float along the coloured water, hidden deep beneath the surface and under a fallen tree is a large predatory fish. It’s that time of year again when large floats are used in order to catch pike.

Box of vintage pike bungs

A recent visit to a car boot resulted in two opportune finds, the first a fist full of gazette style pike floats and a copy of Angling Ways. The book was recently featured on fellow wordpress blog TheTuesdaySwim as illustrations featuring a pike were used to introduce the season of pike fishing.

Earlier in the summer I saw two rather large pike caught from a backwater of the Thames near Sunbury. Idling away the afternoon in a bunch of reeds a 13lb pike decided to make off with a piece of spicy sausage that was cast out in order to tempt a large chub. As the bait came to rest through the crystal clear water a dark shadow emerged,its mottled flanks and golden belly flashed in the dappled sunlight as it took the bait and turned. On the same day another pike fractionally
smaller made light work of engaging with a small silver fish as it was being reeled in, easy pickings for these hunters of the deep.

With the knowledge of where these fish lay in wait to ambush, I think a visit armed with a good cane rod, strong fixed spool reel and traffic light coloured bung may result in some sport. The season to be fearful is upon us.

Tackle for sale…

Tags

Adnams, Angling, Rebellion, Rum, Sea, Southwold

Southwold Angling

Having been behind the wheel for nearly 9 hours and crossed several counties I end up back in SW13.

Beach huts at Southwold

Earlier in the day I set off to Southwold the home of Adnams the brewer in order to present the brands I represent being Sloane’s Dry Gin, Rebellion Spiced Rum and a few others. Southwold is a picturesque town set on the Suffolk Coast and with a heritage linked to the sea. Upon entering this town steeped in maritime history I came across Southwold Angling and Pet Store which as a business was up for sale.

Like most fishermen I suffer from ‘anglingitis’ an inherent disorder of having to stop at every tackle shop in order to check that all I have in my tackle bag is current and should any new device, lure, fly, rod or reel be checked out and if so be purchased to add the large amount of piscatorial items I own.

On the issue of ‘Stuff’ my good friend or rather blog associate TheTuesdaySwim has discussed this point in a recent post but I will add to this over the next few days. Like most fisherman, her in doors has an issue over the amount of ‘stuff’ I accumulate . However the reference to shoes and handbags is wearing thin, especially in light that it is now the winter season and a new pair of boots are sought after…

As it transpired the Southwold Angling shop was up for sale as a going concern. For those wishing to fish here it is important to know that the shop closes at 1pm on a Wednesday and is closed on a Sunday, however a good range of bait is stocked.

The shore at Southwold

Like the old saying ‘Time and Tide Waits For No Man’, today was one of those days. High Tide was around 1pm and I didn’t have time to try chucking out a bit of rag or lug in search of a flat fish or predatory bass. What was good to know was that Southwold was fishing well.

After a meeting at the brewery I drove to the beach and checked out the tide and lay of the land in order to return and fish this wonderful location. Ahead of me was another 3 hour drive so a quick beer at the end of the journey in my local the Coach and Horses was a fitting end to a busy day.