Early birds & worms

[Jolly Piscator]

Sometimes you just get a
feeling about a good session before it starts , that's how I felt last night about today's trip to a stretch of the Frome (Somerset). I felt confident that if I could get to the river early enough my efforts would be rewarded.
Now, I'm better known for my late finishes than my early starts , but today ,on a Sunday , someone who struggles to get to work before 9:30 was up at six and fishing by 8 am !
The rod for today's mission was a lovely little 9' split cane float rod which I've fitted with a threaded to ring to take a quiver tip , the result being an ultra light ledger rod perfect for winter river fishing. I admit I teamed this up with a new-fangled Okuma fixed spool to aid casting, Ok , I could have used an old Intrepid or Mitchell but if I can't use centrepin it's nice to have the smoothness of a modern reel.
Favered bait in the fairly clear water conditions was good old fashioned bread flake with crumb in a feeder.
The river looked lovely in the early morning light with that alluring bluey green tinge that probably only occurs at this time of year . I decided to start at swim just upstream of a huge floating raft that covered half the width of the river. I was sure it must be home to some good fish and a cage- feeder full of fresh bread crumb should lure them out .
First cast and a missed bite was encouraging , second cast brought a small chub. A few casts & several missed bites later the homemade quiver tip arched over in a much slower and deliberate way than the stabbing bites I was missing & put down to chubblets. I stuck into the satisfaction of some resistance and a fine roach came to the net . Then another , then a frustrating series of missed bites and a lost , but of course 'better ' fish . So to stop the rot I cast further out , beyond the raft into the faster water midstream . The change tactics worked and a fine roach of about 1/2 lb came to the net , not a whopper but the best I've had for some time . Minutes later another similar fish was banked , followed by ..... Nothing ... The bites dried up completely . Soon my mind began to drift off in a more perchy direction so I picked up my rod and followed it downstream . Off came flake & feeder , on went lob & bomb .
Like I said , I had a feeling this would be a good morning & it had been, the weather was mild & I'd had some good fish on a new stretch of river with a bait I rarely use . However , this morning I was in for a treat .
Second cast , the bait had been in the water about five minutes when the tip pulled firmly round , I didn't miss this one and soon knew I was into the best fish yet , the sold feel and head shaking lead me to believe it was a good chub but as bright red fins splashed the surface and emerald and jet stripes flashed briefly I'm sure a huge grin must have appeared on my face . I love perch but I've not had a good one for ages . He came to the net fairly easily , just as well , for he was so lightly hooked in the scissors, but this morning the river gods were smiling on me and the biggest perch I've had for thirty years ( Ok , only about five of those actually fishing ) was mine . Of course I had to put a number to it , just a shade under two pounds . But like all special fish the whole of its being was far greater than the sum of it's pounds.
I fished on for a while , roving and Matt joined me for a bit but I knew I wouldn't top that and only a small roach & perch where t follow.
I left the Frome feeling very happy , a great session and a great fish from a stretch I look forward to fishing again through the year , just hope I get that special 'knowing feeling' again soon , who knows it could even get me on the bank by sunrise !
Hopfully Matt (fullcreel) will have pics on his report .

[SIMPLE MAN]

Nice fish mate lets hope the piccies do it justice

[pingu]

nice session

dave

[headless]

Well done mate, cant wait for the pics

Darrell

[fullcreel]

JP's going to have to resend the perch pic, 'phone seems to have eaten it.

[BoldBear]

Great report, well done, look forward to seeing the pics

[fullcreel]

Here's JP's perch, got to loose a few points for not having its dorsal fin nice and erect for its portrait, JP, uo'll have to catch the snr Srn't Maj Stripey and get him to knock the others into shape.

[Jolly Piscator]

[quote=fullcreel;220421]Here's JP's perch, got to loose a few points for not having its dorsal fin nice and erect for its portrait,

Ah, yes you're quite right Fullcreel .
Alas, had my photographer been on the bank in the morning not 'observing' his own early birds bouncing up the hill I'm sure the picture would have been much better .

[fishypaul]

thats a nice perch JP

[barbelblanker]

Great report on a great session, well done. What a cracking Perch.