Big Fish Column: A return to normality

Last week finally saw some sort of return to normality in the angling, and indeed wider, world as the weather finally broke and delivered us some real hints that spring might just be on the way.

As far as the fishing was concerned a couple of tackle dealers of my acquaintance reported the most customers since the back end of last summer and colleagues towards the south coast reported shortages of maggots as anglers in their hundreds got out again for the first time in weeks if not months!

Although it was indeed very pleasant to be out, the fishing was still reported to be a little on the patchy side on the rivers although returns from the stillwaters were much better with fish, including carp, beginning to feed hard.

On the rivers there were some huge barbel reported including a couple of different fish over 18lb from the Kennet, but as far as local anglers are concerned the best was a fish of 12lb 14oz to Big Fish Column regular Dave McManus who fished the Kennet at Theale.

Dave presented a 10mm prawn flavoured boilie wrapped in paste in conjunction with a PVA bag stuffed with chopped boilies and hemp. A free-running 2oz lead on 10lb line with a 12lb braided hooklength and size nine hook completed the set up, which he flicked into a straight glide above a snag. The big fish came without warning in the middle of a spell of bright early afternoon sunshine and he followed it with a fish of around the 7lb mark at dusk.

Despite massively increased water temperatures, the local barbel fishing was not easy and the rivers are still not quite in shape after the rigours of freezing and flooding; many anglers still citing residual salt as the reason.

Perch and chub were slightly more obliging than the barbel and Howard Yates reported a lovely catch of stripeys from Bourne End where he floated fished lobworms in a slack adjacent to cover. Presenting a large wriggler on a size eight hook direct to 4lb line with a regular baiting of chopped worm in cloud groundbait, Howard caught fish to 2lb 12oz steadily all day with just the occasional lull in action during sunny spells. Emptying his keepnet at the end of the session he counted 23 perch with eight of them topping 2lb.

With the perch approaching their peak weights for the season there are likely to be some exceptional fish caught during the next three weeks with the Thames as good a venue as anywhere to get among them. Also well worth a look is the Kennet and Kennet & Avon Canal and stillwater venues such as Royal Berkshire.

Like the barbel, the chub were not quite having it for much of last week despite the water being a perfect height and colour. The best reported to me was a fish of 5lb 12oz which came from Upper St Patrick’s Stream to the legered cheesepaste offered by Twyford rod Kerry Jefferies who took it as part of a three-fish catch on a size eight hook to 6lb line with a light link leger.

Weather permitting it is finally gearing up to be a decent run in to the end of the river season. Sport on the stillwaters has already started to shift into top gear with a full round up of catches and results in the column next week.

Any anglers wishing to report catches may contact me on 07780 755138 or ian@bigfishtrail.com