BIG FISH COLUMN: Heavy weed makes fishing hard work

The local rivers continue to suffer dreadfully from a lack of water and it is looking increasingly like we might endure the first frosts before we see the first floods; a situation which is likely to make for very challenging fishing throughout the early part of the autumn.

Clear water and surprisingly heavy weed growth on many venues have conspired to make the fishing hard work and catches continue to be rather muted although chub are beginning to make an appearance in greater numbers on the smaller rivers and are likely to remain the prime target species if the current conditions persist.

The first frosts will start to impact upon stillwater sport and although the stillwaters are better insulated than the rivers and will retain their heat for much longer, there are already signs of sport slowing down in response to temperatures dipping at the end of last week and beginning of this.

With the development of well-managed, high-stock density commercial pools, stillwater sport rarely dies out totally throughout the colder months - freeze-overs excepted - and although catches are beginning to fade a little there is still plenty to keep commercial customers smiling.

Over at Woolwich Green, Furze Platt angler Geoff Savin alternated between the waggler and the method feeder to put together an excellent catch of carp with 15 fish to 8lb during a recent session.

Geoff took most of his catch on the feeder with Dynamite SwimStim green groundbait laced with grated luncheon meat and a cube of meat on a size 12 hook to 6lb line, but he picked up a couple of fish close in on waggler and corn too when the feeder line went quiet.

Geoff’s fishing mate, Bill Adams, stuck with the method approach and employed a fine fishmeal mix laced with micro pellets and a pellet hookbait to take a dozen fish to 8lb in the adjoining peg with his bait fished on a size 14 hook to 5lb line.

The carp and silvers continue to feed at Royal Berkshire where Andy Hull enjoyed a great session on Lake One with five carp to 14lb from the island margin on a pellet hookbait.

Andy presented his bait on a size 10 barbless hook to 8lb line with a running lead rig and reported that anglers fishing the float in the pegs either side of him were catching plenty of ‘landing net-sized’ roach.

The fishery has a terrific reputation for quality winter roach fishing and the current results bode very well indeed for the months ahead.

To report catches contact me on 07780 755138 or ian@bigfishtrail.com