Yin and Yang on the Avon

[fullcreel]

Word had it that the Bristol Avon was looking fine after all the wet and snow we had had so far this year. So with hope JP and I made our way in the Glorious Gudgeon to Foxham, our club stretch upstream of the Peoples Republic of Chippenham, we met another club member Geoff up there. The river was very clear, the result of a week of heavy frosts, so we aimed for the deeper spots. I chose a swim I had seen in the summer, on a series of bends, and the winter floods had presented me with a raft to cast under.

This is it, I had a bait under the over hanging branches, and a maggot feeder upstream under a similar branch. Sadly after about two hours I had one nibbled maggie, so I spoke to Banana Steve, who fished this stretch in various matches many years ago, he suggested that I move downstream to the Jungle, this was the area where we did some work in the summer. It did look nice, making my way down there i passed JP, who was going for a pike, his stated ambition was to get two PB's on this trip, sadly he was also suffering from 'Straight Rod Syndrome'.

JP's swim
No joy downstream, Geoff had joined up with us and whilst he was sure that there were fish in his pitch, he also suffed a straight rod. As dusk fell we decided to head up to the Railway Pool, to spin for some of the perch in there, then spin our way down the river, starting at the weirpool, where we would also do some prebaiting for old bertie the barbel.
No joy in the RailWay Pool, but on our arrival at the weirpool I was happy to connect with this nice little jack, which saved me a blank.
Here's my jack.

JP on a mission hooked a decent fish, and it was one of those takes which live in the memory for decades to come, as the pike followed his spinner then took it under the rod tip.

It turned out to be a long lean and very muscular 12lb pike, very dense, a fast water fish, not flabby like some slower water or lake fish. JP was so chuffed that he sat on the bank later on a quaffed an ale.

Sadly Geoff had no pike, JP and settled in for a bit of barbel hunting, and despite the cold gave it a while, but as nets were freezing into surrealistic shapes, no fish came.
I was packing up, when my light rod, which had been set up for chub down stream rattled and the tip dived down, a strike met with very powerful resistance and something charged around like a mad thing. I think I had it on for a few minures, and JP got to see it, but it got into the very fast water at the tail of the weirpool, and sadly the hook link, which was a bit light, but it was the chub rod I was using gave way. JP said something about a good medium sized fish, but it was very dark and head torches are no the best. Damn, etc, well other words to be honest. Shame, but there is one weekend left in the seaon, and I am planning on going back there next sunday.

[Banana Steve]

I would like to say that i received a text this morning saying sevral times a word that rymes with rollocks. Great report Matt and shame about the lost fish

[ben lee]

well done guys good luck next week matt.

[pingu]

cracking report

well done jp lovely pike there
and unlucky matt, just think it will be an ounce or two heavier by next saturday

dave

[Simon N]

Well Done Matt, Good Report, Some Fine Pics. Shame On The Lost Fish, But A Nice Looking Pike JP.

[fullcreel]

Well, on the bright side of life, I learn't how much force that rod can take, and at what point a 4lb hooklink breaks at. Damn fine barbel/avon rod that, it was a ron thompson Spartan 12' Avon two tip. Will invest in some luminous tips this week, as old bertie likes to feed in the darkness me thinks, although bright weather had a hand in things.

[Lman]

nice report well done guys going to try and fish there next weekend last chance to get the mother of JP 12lb'r

[BaggieRich]

Well done gents. You'll get 'em next week.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

nice one lads

[rob@home]

Good report & nice pictures there guys
Too cold for me yesterday went over the field & practised my fly casting for a couple of hours instead but I do have friday off to have a last day on the royalty before the season finally comes to an end so hopefully....