Diary of an average angler

After blanking at the Clay Pit I decided to return to the rivers, choosing the Trout Stream as it had been kind to me on recent visits. The forecast was for an easterly wind with a low risk of rain, so I took a chance. This turned out to be a mistake, as the wind was strong and absolutely bitter. And to make things even less appealing, the stream was high and coloured. I started about midway along the stretch as I had done on earlier visits.

There was a bit of a delay trying to record my intro video on the iPhone. On the first attempt I had inadvertently set the video mode to 'time lapse', which reduced a couple of minutes to 7 seconds (!), which was of no use of course. And on two subsequent attempts the video self-cancelled the recording after a few seconds. I haven't a clue what was going on but I finally managed on the fourth attempt, interrupted by a passing helicopter. Not a good omen for the day!

When I finally made my way to the fishing position my chair had blown over, confirming the wind's ferocity. And then after my first cast, as I backed towards the chair, it had blown over again. Things weren't going well. Bites are often immediate, so I worried I might have missed one while I was sorting out the chair. I needn't have been concerned since over the following half an hour or so I didn't get a touch, while struggling to distinguish a bite from the wind that was bouncing the rod top around.

I had changed from bread flake to cheese paste with no effect and was at the point of moving on. As I retrieved the bait a pike grabbed it and ploughed off, bending the barbel rod into an impressive curve. The fight was actually fairly short-lived but then I realised that I probably couldn't get the fish in my landing net. There followed a frustrating 'yes it's in the net, no it's fallen out again' sequence when I was becoming convinced I wouldn't get it in. Finally, more by luck than intent, the fish had gone upstream and I netted it as it came back down with the flow. This worked because the current helped to keep the pike in the net.

After struggling to get the lump up the steep bank, my twist-lock landing net handle being at risk of slipping against the lock, I quickly weighed the fish and returned it. The barbless hook was in the outside edge of the lip and it was a marvel that it had stayed in. The pike weighed 9½ lbs.

After all the excitement of the pike I moved on to the next swim, a long glide where I had caught previously. I cast to the quieter side of a crease between the faster water to the right of the stream and slacker water on the left. This had proved successful in the past but not so on this occasion. I had started with my favourite bread flake and then changed to maggots, which were left over from my visit to the Clay Pit the previous week. But there was nothing doing. By this point the cold wind had chilled me and I decided to fish just one more spot up near the top of the stretch, again a swim where I had had success before.

On the way I spotted a swim that I hadn't noticed previously, which had been made accessible by somebody clearing the undergrowth. It was a tricky spot and I only stayed a short while with no success.

Arriving at the swim at the top of the stretch I realised that the flow was much heavier than on previous visits. This was a problem as the the slacker water was on the far bank and it would be difficult to hold the bait there against the midstream flow. I had earlier increased my link weight to two double SSG shot (equivalent to 4SSG) but I would have needed a flat weight to hold the far side of the stream. I was too cold to contemplate retackling so I persevered with the SSG link leger. I stayed for about half an hour during which time I didn't get a hint of a bite. At 1.00 pm I decided to pack up. Tackling down was a challenge as my hands were so cold that even simple tasks were proving difficult.

The pike had saved me from a blank but I was disappointed at not being able to tempt at least one chub. But I think it's fair to say that the conditions were against me.