Highlights of my 2018-19 Fishing Season

I managed to win the IAC Species Race this season despite not getting my joker points (Rainbow Trout), I also topped the Personal Bests Improvment Competition courtesy of six new personal best captures, all modest fish by many peoples standards, but improvements for me. I had ambitions in a third competition The IAC All Rounder Challenge but despite topping the Best Fish Challenge section I could only manage second place overall.

New Personal Bests

Rainbow Trout 3lb

Carp 16lb

Roach 1lb 8oz

Tench 6lb 2oz

Silver Bream 1lb

Eel 4lb 3oz

The season started well when on Monday, May 14, 2018 I visited the Bacon Factory Pond at Sherburn in search of a decent Eel and a nice specimen of 4lb 3oz fell to my Legered Dead Bleak.

On Wednesday, July 18, 2018 I Trotted Maggot on the Yorkshire Ouse at Nun Monkton catching a good number of Silver Bream best 1lb.

On Wednesday, August 22, 2018 I visited Knotford Lagoon for the first time and bucking the usual trend for fishing at distance, Pole fished a Worm & Maggot Cocktail netting numerous Perch and a fine Tench of 6lb 2oz

Thursday, October 18, 2018, during a week's sojourn down in Nottinghamshire in the caravan, I fluked a nice Roach of 1lb 8oz whilst Barbel fishing.

Friday, September 21, 2018 saw me fishing a private lake in Herefordshire, courtesy of mate Geoff Maynard as his fishery at Llanthomas was flooded due to a very swollen River Wye. Geoff showed me the going method, which was free lined bread out near the lily pads and I managed 3 Carp best just 16lb

Tuesday, February 26, 2019 saw me trying for a double figure Rainbow Trout at Leighton Reservoir but the best I could capture was a 3lb'er, which was pleasing nevertheless given I'm very much a fly fishing beginner.

Trips Away

Oxford Trip, early May

Rainbow Trout 3lb 12oz

Rainbow Trout 2lb 8oz

Pike 7lb 6oz

Carp 11lb 6oz

Tench 4lb 13oz

My first trip away of the year saw me take the caravan down to Oxford, a new fishing location for me. This location was initially prompted by a generous offer of free fly fishing tuition by Alan Tompkins at Farmoor Reservoir which, having still not caught a Trout on fly after over a year of trying, I was badly in need of. I decided to make a week of it and fish a few local locations to make the long trip worthwhile. A variety of fish were captured including Tench to 4lb 13oz and new pole caught personal bests of Carp to 11lb 6oz and a surprise Pike of 7lb 6oz. The Trout fishing went well at Farmoor, especially as fishery manager Will Barnard waived the cost of tickets for myself, Geoff Maynard and Alan Tomkins. Alan was late due to traffic and Geoff even later but it is a long way from Hay on Wye. Meanwhile I already got myself a Trout first cast and managed a few more to 2lb 8oz. Geoff had the best of the day at 3lb 12oz. The tuition went well and with more practice I may even become competent.

Marsh Farm and Llanthomas, July

Chub 3lb 4oz

Dace 5oz

Crucian 2lb 6oz

Tench 4lb 12oz

My longest trip of the year, a week in early July at Marsh Farm in Surrey followed by another week on the Wye at Geoff Maynard's Llanthomas fishery above Hay on Wye. As in the previous year's trip there was a heat wave which meant shade was the primary requisite when choosing a swim although as the first day at Marsh Farm was the annual IAC fish-in pegs were drawn and assigned. My draw wasn't a good one and I struggled but the remainder of the week I could choose my swim and plenty of Tench to 4lb 12oz and Crucians to 2lb 6oz were put in the net.

The week passed very quickly and soon it was time to pack up the caravan and drive over to Wales to fish Llanthomas. The river was on its bones so Barbel were probably not on the menu and the canoes would be a pain during the middle of the day however I'd brought plenty of maggots so amused myself trotting for Dace to 5oz and Chub to 3lb plus. The tradiitional walk into Hay on Tuesday evening for open mike night at The Globe saw me entertained by a variety of local musicians including fishery owner Geoff.

I'll be back again and having joined Goldalming Angling Club this year I'm looking forward to tackling Johnson's Lake at Marsh Farm, the home of record Crucians.

Llanthomas, September

Geoff Carp

Carp 13lb 4oz

Barbel 9lb 2oz

Chub 4lb

September came round and it was time for my biannual trip to the Wye and, as usual on my September trip, I took the rain with me. At first I took advantage of the conditions catching good numbers of Chub to 4lb and Barbel upto 9lb 2oz. Later in the week the rain proved too much for the Wye and it broke its banks. However all was not lost as Geoff had a backup plan involving a local Reverend's private lake, which held a good head of Carp and gave me the chance of beating my modest personal best of 14lb 5oz. This was itself a Wye caught fish from way back in 2008 when I used to fish Letton Court. The day proved to be a successful one once we found a route to the lake which avoided any flooded roads. I was introduced to a new method involving freelining bread 'parcels' which worked well and a good number of Carp were caught to 16lb.

Middle Trent, October

Pike 5lb 9oz

Barbel 7lb 12oz

Chub 4lb 14oz

I'd neglected the Trent so far this season so it was down to the Middle Trent near Newark for a week. My primary focus was a Zander for the species race but a few Barbel are always welcome. The conditions weren't good with a low clear river but by fishing into dark some good catches are always possible on this stretch. I did struggle this year but did manage to get a few Barbel and Chub. As always a trip to the old Trent, guested by local mate Tim, was a highlight where I managed to lose a Barbel on light trotting tackle and was bothered by marauding Pike, one of which graced my net. I also guested Leeds ASA stalwart Dave Rushton for a session but we couldn't tempt a Barbel on this occasion however I did manage a nice Roach.

Remainder of October to December

I didn't fish at all during this period, mainly due to circumstances I had little control over, and it was January 2019 before I started my Grayling campaign

January to March 2019

Grayling 1lb 10oz

Grayling were hard to come by however and for much of the time the rivers were at or below normal summer level. The average size of the few Grayling caught was up a little to around the 1lb mark and the best I could manage was 1lb 10oz, some way short of my 2lb target.
February saw me down in Southampton for the weekend for the annual IAC fish-in on the Lower Itchen Fishery. Unfortunately heavy rain meant the River Itchen was out of sorts and we struggled, although a number of Grayling were caught despite the conditions.

I only managed the one fly fishing session for my joker Rainbow Trout at Leighton Reservoir as windy weather during the last few weeks of the season meant it wasn't feasible for a beginner like me. The last week of my season was pretty much written off by stormy weather and a crocked back.

Looking forward to May already !!