Blown off the Fens

[Vagabond]

We visited relatives in the East Midlands last week, so no fishing for a bit, but we did have plans for a session on the Fens on the way back, seeking "guess what" for the species hunt.

We had tickets for the south bank of the Gt Ouse, and as we drove down south towards our venue we noticed the wind was getting stronger, with sheets of lashing rain. The weather forecast said it would get worse, so we realised conditions would be a bit hairy, but just how hairy we found out as soon as we arrived.

Wednesday Aug 22nd will go down in history as the strongest northerly gale ever to hit the fens in August. Being on the south bank, the northerly gale was straight in our teeth. The only consolation was that there was a lull in the rain showers whilst we set up. Just look at the angle of those flags and reeds!



Float fishing for the big roach, which is what I had hoped to do, was out of the question, so I set up a light paternoster to fish the near shelf, whilst Certhia was going to sit behind a fish bait legered out in the main channel.

I fished lobworms on the paternoster. It was intriguing to see a half-ounce weight standing out almost horizontally from the rod tip as I prepared to cast!

Bite detection was difficult. Despite putting the rod tip in the water, the wind whipped the rod to and fro continuously. Driving rain straight in our faces added to the difficulties. However, I did detect a tremor, and soon had a perch on the bank. Others followed, a dozen in all, the best about half a pound.



One of the perch (pictured above) had lost a few scales just below the second dorsal fin - no teeth gashes, so not down to a pike. It looked like an attack by a bigger perch or by a "you know what" - so at least Certhia was fishing in the right place.

The rain now intensified, as if that were possible, and so did the wind. Certhia had had no bites, and my perch were no longer obliging.

Definitely time to pack up for an early lunch. We did, walked back to the van and put our gear inside, stripped off the waterproofs and were ready for lunch.

By some strange coincidence we seemed to have parked in a pub car-park , so in for a pint of Guinness - followed by a large bowl of hot onion soup each, and then lunch. Certhia had a huge pile of sausage, peas and mash, whilst I had ordered spare ribs - a fortunate choice - they arrived as a whole rack, covered with thick barbeque sauce, with chips and onion salad. Twelve ribs in all (Certhia pinched one) and absolutely delicious.

Twelve perch against the odds, and twelve spare ribs - not a bad day in the end.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Man that looks really tough gooing so well done on the perch

Great read and pics

[perch_king]

well donemate but that looked hard going

[Norfolkboy]

Some tough conditions there, Dave. Well done on the fish caught

[Greenheart]

Well done on catching some well earned fish in some difficult conditions mate.

[Twiddler]

Respect for sticking it out in those conditions.....it was well worth it by the sound of it, well done to you and Certhia

[fishypaul]

you did well to catch anything in those conditions,most people would have stayed at home,

[Rob M]

Well done!