kennet-and-avon

December 2025 part 2 – Must do better!

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So after returning from family duties in Yorkshire I headed off to Semmington to fish next to the pump again. The weather had changed from the days of heavy rain and was dry and very sunny so much so I fished from 10:20 to 12:40 when I had to pack up as I could no longer see my float with the sun and glare on the water, having stupidly left my sunglasses in the car! I decided to fish mainly worm and wanted to try out a couple of different shotting patterns and that is what happened apart from a couple of fish on maggot. I was fishing a 1g Blue with and 18 on the 0.10mm hooklength with the shot strung out at the start (proved to be the most productive) while various versions of bulk and droppers were tried as well. Two small balls of groundbait laced with chopped worm were introduced at the start and topped up with a small golf ball size when bites began to slow. The result was 17 roach,5 skimmers, 2 gudgeon and a solitary perch for a modest 3-12.

The following Tuesday sees me at my usual haunt- peg 10 at Bowood, fishing 9:45 to 11:45. Tackle was the usual with the pike rod not getting any attention despite the occasional scattering of fish. Groundbait was just two balls at the start and then loose feed with maggot on the hook.Nine roach, twenty rudd and two skimmers succumbing to my net which took the scales down to 1-10. To add insult as I packed up there was a huge pike strike just off the edge of the platform!

Christmas came and went but Sunday 28th sees me at the Pondtail for a short cold session between10 and 11:35 on the Frenzee waggler. I’ll just say I had a bite and missed it and leave it at that! I had a planned visit to Tunnel Barn Farm on the Monday as it was close to the wife’s friend in Coventry, who I was going to deliver some presents to. Car was packed ready for an early getaway however that all changed when the oven gave a loud bang and ceased working, fuses checked,etc… and it had definitely expired. So quick call to cancel the trip, tackle removed from car and Monday was spent sorting out a makeshift mini-oven and contacting a firm to come and sort us out, of course with it being the festive period it will be the New Year before anything is sorted!

We will see what the New Year brings, Happy New Year !

January 2025 Part 2 – where are the fish?

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Sunday 19th I venture to Bowood a bit later than usual and fished peg 7 as 9 and 10 had people on them. Fishing 10 until 12 I had not a single bob or any indication of fish in front of me! Wednesday I travelled down to Gatwick to pick up Gareth and family early on Thursday morning. Friday sees Gareth and I fish Bowood from 2pm until 4:10, me on 10 and Gareth on 9 (his choice of pegs) taking just whips and pike rods. This time at least we had some action, Gareth had 2 roach and a skimmer for 0-04 and I had 7 roach and 2 skimmers/blades for 0-07, no runs from pike but at least some bites! Saturday Gareth went to Rowde and found there was little water in the pound but managed to get a few roach and skimmers Sunday was teeming with rain and I declined the offer to go to the canal at Rowde with Gareth, who set off and came back a couple of hours later with tackle soaked but dry himself having had 3 roach and a pike of 7-15 with the pound now only a foot deep!.

Monday I acquired the exchange ticket and joined Gareth on the same pound at Rowde with a 4.5m whip and pike rod, this time the water was right up to the top but Gareth blanked and I had a solitary roach and a jack of 5-02.

Tuesday sees us back at Bowood from 12-2 in very muddy conditions with rain and wind, fortunately we travelled light with just whips and pike rods. This time I went on 9 and Gareth 10 and ended with similar catches to last time, I had 5 roach and a blade for 0-04 while Gareth had 0-08 with 7 roach and 2 blades (the fish were small!).

Wednesday back at Rowde for two hours, this time walking down to a further pound fishing peg 2 of the CT.again fishing for two hours with whips and pike rods except this time I took the light 10foot waggler rod. I ended up with no pike action but did get 3 roach, 2 skimmers, 2 perch and a gudgeon for approx 1-04. Gareth had 4 skimmers and two perch but also a jack of 3-13 on the whip taking his maggot bait.

Thursday, Gareth gets up early and fishes the first peg after the moorings at at Rowde, one cast ten minutes in the water and a pike of 5-13, job done he comes home!

Friday 31st Bowood 2pm to 4:30 usual pegs, me on 10. Whips and pike rods, it was a struggle I had 2 roach 0-04 (bigger than last time!) Gareth had 3 blades, a roach a rudd and a skimmer of 1-04 for a 1-12 total. Really Bowood is not fishing well at the moment and there seems to be a group of 8 cormorants present.

A quick explanation about the whips we have been using, I have been using the carbon 4.5m whip with a Chinese float waggler style at Bowood but a 3m one on the canal with a normal pole float, Gareth on the other hand has been using a cheaper 4m Chinese whip with a standard home-made pole float.

Before coming across for the visit Gareth had tried spinning in the local river and ended up with a crowd of about 50 people watching him as he played a rarity for the river a fish that we think is an asp.

They return to China after a quick visit to Newark on the 7th February so the blog will be back on track next month!