Fishing over the Christmas Break

[Banana Steve]

This Christmas had arrived faster than expected, and with two weeks off, I had planned to go fishing every other day! Well that was the plan, with very cold days and a very warm bed I struggled to get up early. However, I did manage to out a few times over the break. I went to Todber on the 20th of December, the Nadder on the following Saturday the 27th and I returned to the Nadder on the 3rd of Jan.

Todber was the first days of the cold weather in this area. However the fishing was fairly good, I caught quite well, some nice brown goldfish and F1 carp. I was even introduced to some nice Roach and Rudd. Fullcrell popped down to see me and gave me some of his home made paste to try; this produced some better size fish. Over all I enjoyed the day and looking forward to fishing there again.
Cold day at Todber

The Average size Brown Goldfish

The Average size Roach

A Better Roach

A Good Size Rudd

Matt’s Homemade Paste and some new shop pellets, both these produced good fish


The following Saturday saw me at the river Nadder with very cold conditions and a wind blowing from the east, I wasn’t holding out for much luck, I set up two rods, my new acquired Traverse X Classic for the stick, and my Silstar Wand, as I went to take a picture of the swim I realized that I had left my camera at home. Any ho, my first trot down the stretch produced a slight knock on the float, uncertain that I may have caught the bottom I allowed the float to carry on, and then a second knock, I struck and felt the movement of a fish and after a good scrap a Brown Trout of 10 – 12 ozs was landed. For next 20 mins I managed two more Trout and a Chub of around the 1lb mark. But as the time wore on and I had only been fishing for around 30mins both my hands were freezing and I couldn’t carry on with the stick, so I went onto the Wand, in search for a better fish or two. I landed a few more brown trout and after half an hour or so I went back onto the Stick. But after an hour I was so cold I knocked it on the head. My own fault for taking any gloves.

The following Saturday the 3rd I was back at the Nadder, this time I brought my gloves. I set myself up as the same as the previous week. As with the previous week, I started on the stick, but this time the bites were a lot slower to come, in fact I had 8 bites in the whole time I was there. However, each one was a different species, so that gave me a good start in the species hunt. Like the previous Saturday the temperature became so cold that after 3hrs I had enough. But I did manage some points, so I was very happy with the result.
Grayling, Chub, Minnow, Dace, Gudgeon. Total = 7.5 points.
Grayling (Not a very good Photo)

Chub

Minnow

Gudgeon

Dace

My Swim

Here’s looking forward to a good season.

[Portland Pirate]

Good start to 2009 Steve.
I had hoped to get out before returning back to work, but alas it was not to be.

[BaggieRich]

Well done Steve. Good way to start the year.

[Twiddler]

Nice start to the New Year Steve, shame I got my blue smarties mixed up with Mike;s Viagra(lol) and ended up with a stiff neck, would have loved to join you to fish the Nadder for the first time.

[Banana Steve]

Originally Posted by Twiddler

Nice start to the New Year Steve, shame I got my blue smarties mixed up with Mike;s Viagra(lol) and ended up with a stiff neck, would have loved to join you to fish the Nadder for the first time.

I shall fishing there again in a few weeks, hopefully when the weather warms up

[fullcreel]

well done on the Nadder sessions, that swim is a good one, but also a cold one, it gets no winter sun. I have had some wonderful fishing in cold weather, just upstream of the bridge, there is a long trot and if you have some 'animal' tackle with you, try putting a small feeder just under the bridge. I've lost a few beasts there. Probably big chub or one of then carp that live there. There are some barbel in that stretch too.
Todber responded well to the paste, which will be availiable soon, from Steve's Tackle in Warminster, under the name 'Matt's Magic No 2'.

[pingu]

nice one steve

dave

[fishypaul]

nice mixture there steve well done mate

[Norfolkboy]

Can't complain with 7.5 points to start the year Steve, well done

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well done mate