Midnight At Throop!

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

So, at last, the river close season is nearly over. Tomorrow will see me drive down to the Dorset Stour at Throop and celebrate the opening in a bit of style (I hope). For one night only members can get on the water at 8pm Sunday and start fishing at Midnight.

I aim to be there around 6pm and meet up with a few like minded guys. We'll have a bit of a "social" with a small barbeque and a couple of beers. It's the first time I've done this on the rivers for many years and I'm really looking forward to it.

On certain other venues there will be an almighty race to get "the best swims" and the fittest, strongest and **&%$$ will get there first! But at Throop, it promises to be a little bit different. First in the queue will get first choice etc etc with no messing around and at least the effort put in by some will be rewarded. I don't expect to be anywhere near the head of the queue but there's plenty of room on this splendid fishery which I know pretty well and will be happy to walk a bit to find a good spot.

The fishing is obviously important but "the 16th" is still a special day in my book and it will be nice to get back on the moving stuff! Having said that, one or two of these will be nice:



After all, I've just spent a small fortune on new gear and a flash new rucksack to put it all in! Supposedly to make it easier to be "mobile" but it weighs a ton

Wish me luck!

[Banana Steve]

Catch one for me Neil, Good luck and have fun

[fishypaul]

best of luck neil

[Twiddler]

Ohhh how I wish I could be there too....good luck and tight lines Partner, I have no doubt you will catch a whopper again

[pingu]

have a good one neil, looking forward to report already

dave

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Good luck mate

[Norfolkboy]

Good luck mate, look forward to hearing how you get on this season

[Catfish Virgin (Still!)]

Originally Posted by Catfish Virgin (Still!)

The fishing is obviously important but "the 16th" is still a special day in my book and it will be nice to get back on the moving stuff!

Who said that?

Didn't catch a lot, just a 3lb+ chub and a 2lb+ bream, both just after 2:30am when the very bright moon finally dropped down below the horizon. Not too successful but it was a good trip and it was nice to return to the rivers.

I arrived earlier than expected at around 5pm so had a look around at some of the upper parts from the public footpath, the remainder of the fishery is locked behind gates before "kick off". River looked in good condition, slightly up on normal levels and a hint of colour, very promising.

Finally drove down to the School Bridge area expecting to join a queue but only found two others patiently waiting! All three of us had a bit of treat as Chris, the Fishery Manager, invited us to walk the stretch with him as he changed the padlocks on the various gates to the fishery (all members have the key but it only works in season!).

Chris with his two assistants:



The river looking downstream from "School Bridge":



This gentle stroll was a real pleasure and enabled me to sort out which swim I would start in. The two lads in the queue before me were heading for a particular area so they were happy. "Problem" was, that only left me about 4 miles of double banked fishery to choose from!

"Barbel Corner" - Should've picked this area!



"The Wendy House" - Should definately have picked this one! The "dark shape" (centre left on the gravel) is a HUGE chub!



"Boulder Weir" (now christened "Twiddlers Dream") - Looks a bit different in summer. Very indecisive at this point but, yes, definately should have ended up here!



But finally chose to settle in "Glen's Weir" (a popular early season, absolutely cast iron guarantee of a double figure barbel swim!):



But first the barbeque! A very pleasant couple of hours:



Midnight came and went, apart from the occasional bat flying into my line and the two fish mentioned earlier, it was very quiet! Dawn was misty and quite chilly!:



It seems several good barbel and chub were landed from the upstream areas (see above photos! ) but very little was caught from the area I was in.

Still, it was good day out with a difference and I learnt a bit more about this superb venue. I also stopped off at Ringwood to have a walk around the one club stretch of the Avon that's open (the rest don't open until July at the earliest) and have found yet more water I definately want to fish!

[Greenheart]

Looks like you had a good night & good company Neil. I'm sure the Barbel can wait for another day. Nics pics too.

[Twiddler]

Wow, the stretches certainly look different in summer....sounds like you had a great 'opening day of the season', even if the barbel didn't show for you but I have no doubt you will get them very very soon.