Dropping the rainbow, Amesbury 16/6/2007

[mithrandir]

Well the first morning of the season dawned and I was chaffing at the bit to get out and do some real coarse fishing.

Alarm went at 4 am, and I rolled over and went back to sleep!!!

5-30 and I snap awake and think time to roll. Quick coffee and load the car and I am at my swim by 6-45.



Tactics for today were plain and simple, 1 pint of red maggots a small black top feeder and a quivertip rod. Tackle was 4 lb main line and size 18 hook to 2 lb nylon.

Catapulted a few maggots under the tree on the opposite bank whilst I set up, knowing that this was a favourite haunt of the Grayling last year. Whilst setting up I notice fish movement where I am feeding so I am feeling confident, even remembering to set the net up before I make my first cast, usually the kiss of death for my fishing expectations.

7-10 and the first splash of a maggot feeder going into the water on the shady bit under the tree which is clear gravel just behind some weeds, perfect positioning, what could possibly go wrong!

Luckily nothing !! and while I was tightening up the line I saw the tip give the characteristic knock pause knock, and then a heavy wiggle as a fish took the bait.

7-11 and I am playing the first fish of the new season and it did want to play to, I had forgotten the thrill of playing small fish on light tackle, the quivertip was bent over at 90 degrees and the fish was zigzagging away down stream. After a satisfying fight I reached out and placed my net under this 11 ½ oz brown trout, my first this year so 1.5 points in the species hunt too.



Whilst letting it recover in the landing net I catapulted a few more maggots into the swim to keep it active and after releasing it I re-baited and caste out again. Moments later I was into my second fish. This beats sitting behind a rod pod and buzzers for hours waiting for the action.

Soon my second trout of the day was in the net



Following the same procedure as before my third cast was taken almost immediately by this little fella, he kicked and played harder than the 2 trout before so I knew he was my other target fish of the day, Mr Grayling.



So another 1.5 points in the bank.

Next cast, next fish, another Grayling



So now 40 minutes of fishing into the season and I had 2 trout and 2 grayling under the belt already, 3 points banked and a smile on my face again.

I rested the swim and went to have a chat with the lad angling 30 yards up from me, he had managed a grayling so far that morning but was struggling to get the trout to take a worm on a waggler.

So after ½ an hours rest with the swim just getting a few maggots and no baits I set about fishing again. For the next hour it was the same as before, small trout and grayling falling for the feeder.

I decided that I did not want to kill the swim so I had a move down the other end of the river just where it turns from a syndicate water into the day ticket water I was on.

I also thought now was the time to try a waggler for a change. I messed around with the float fishing for half an hour but the flow was quite fast and bits of weed coming down were making it had work, I missed a couple of strikes and thought I would go back to feeder fishing.

This paid off as within a few minutes of putting the feeder out I had my first take in the new swim, another nice size trout.



Next fish I managed to lose as I snagged up on a bush whilst playing it. After another couple of small trout I got a fish on that played a lot harder, it was jumping and thrashing around, I got it to the edge of the net and could see a trout with a large red line up its side, a rainbow I think, but managed to drop it off the hook inches for the net!

What a plonker!!

Shortly after that it was time to head home for the fry up breakfast and write the report. 10 minutes after I got in the house the heavens opened and I thought that was timing, I have had the best of the day, got 15 fish landed, 2 species for the species hunt, lost a fish I have never had and did not expect in that water ( I can only think it has been stocked in the syndicate water for the fly fishermen ), and got home dry and still with time to go do a few bits and pieces.

Happy days.

Mike

[fishypaul]

enjoyable read mike,some lovely fish there mate,well done

[Norfolkboy]

I can't wait to get back out on the rivers now, nice one Mike.

[Banana Steve]

Well done Mike, looks like you had a cracking day.I am hoping to fish the river tomorrow afternoon till the evening{fingers crossed} once again well done.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Bloody well done on the fish - did the baliffs catch you hehe

[mithrandir]

Bailiffs???

I had my day ticket ( cost me a whole £3) and stayed in the boundaries of it by at least 3 feet. The river goes from a syndicate stretch to a day ticket stretch at the bridge over the A303.

I think I must be one of the few who buys a ticket but I have never had it checked.

[pingu]

cracking report and pics mike

looks a lovely spot

dave

[mithrandir]

I spoke to the guys in the local tackle shop today, and they reckon that the rainbow was an escaper from the flyfishing lakes nearby, they get quite a few caught there by all accounts, they get into the feeder streams when there is heavy rain and work their way into the avon.

[Twiddler]

Well done Mike some nice looking fish...I knew I should have stayed up for a little longer and join you ..oh well, might sneak a couple of hrs in before work one day this week see if some of the trout are tempted to take my bait

[MRG2000]

Nice fishin !!.....crackin report Mike ,well done..