First of the season

April passed by without wetting a line, still busy though, cleaning gear from last season, sorting tackle, servicing reels and recceing waters for the coming season.

An old battle with the mice has recommenced, after my neighbour moved and took their cats with them! Hopefully I can keep on top of them without having to get a cat as I don't think the dog will be too pleased.

14mm halibut pellet did the trick

Recces

Having joined a new club with a vast number of waters under their control, I've been putting the time in this closed season walking the banks, gaining some good info on these new stretches with a Deeper fish finder.

I've carried out detailed recces on 5 new stretches and also a familiar stretch I've never had any success on. I'm hoping these recces will help with my chub, barbel and pike targets this coming season.

I'm also thinking about joining a club that has access to a few Lincolnshire drains and some water on the tidal Trent. I haven't made my mind up yet, the club is reasonably priced so even if I do join and only fish a few times it will save some day ticket money when I have the odd trip away from my local waters.

Targets

This time of year is usually very quiet in terms of actually getting on the bank and this year is no different.

Water temps are still very low up here so there’s no point in trying for eels, tench or any other species I tend to fish for in the spring. Working plenty and busy with the kids over Easter so I don’t have much spare time anyway.

I haven’t got any real plans for the close season, maybe the odd night for the eels or trying to up my perch p.b I’m still undecided.....

I will be spending some time walking the river banks, carrying out recces for future sessions. I changed one of my clubs this year so have access to a lot of water I have never visited yet, over 30 stretches on a number of different rivers. I’ll only probably fish a handful of these stretches each season depending on what species I’m targeting at the time, so I can see it taking a long time to work my way these waters.

Targets

Last season I had focused on catching a double figure barbel from a new river, a 6lb plus chub from a certain local river and as always chasing that 20lb plus pike.

I managed the barbel target catching four doubles on my two visits to the Trent. No doubt one of the easiest rivers in the country to catch a double from and a complete contrast in difficultly in comparison to my local waters. 

11.01 and 10.07lb

10.14 and 10.05lb 

On the chub front, I never really got going as I only managed 2 sessions specifically after chub on the targeted river. I caught on both occasions with fish to 5lb 3oz. If I had pulled my finger out and had a few more sessions I reckon I might of broken the 6lb barrier on this river as I have access to some cracking stretches for chub.

5.03lb a seasons best

Chasing a 20lb pike has been a real ball breaker over the last few years, concentrating on my local river probably hasn’t helped the cause. 

My local river is definitely hard going for pike, usually I am happy to avoid a blank with a jack, catching a double is a very good day and a brace of doubles or an upper double is usually the highlight of the season. I generally catch one mid to upper double each season and usually my numbers of fish compare well to others that target pike on this river. 

This season was hard going but I stuck with it and caught 6 local doubles to 18.02lb.

Spending the vast majority of my pike sessions on this river is definitely prolonging that search for a twenty as I have access to easier waters. However I like the thought of catching my first twenty from my local river, which I have fished from being a young boy.

2018/19 targets

The same again, a double figure barbel from a new river, a six pound chub from a specific river and that twenty, roll on the 16th!