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Be extra careful out there!

B

Barry Garwood

Senior Member & Supporter
Hello everyone, conditions look good for a bite but with current wind/river levels, please be careful! try not to fish alone, one slip could be very costly, the banks are very dodgy!
 
I planned to go yesterday for the night. However there was something telling me i shouldnt stay. Im glad i didnt stay it could have been very costly as the river burst its bank at around midnight at which id have probably been in the bivvy with the door shut. (I always go with my gut instinct). The peg i fished could have quite easily cost me dearly!!!
 
The whole of the Tidal Trent has been on flood alert since midday yesterday. No need to rely on gut instinct. ;)
 
Yep, had the option to go the Kennet this weekend but to a stretch I've not fished before. I won't be going. Best to stick with rivers, stretches and swims you know very well when the rivers are this full / dangerous.
 
If you do venture out then make sure someone knows where you are going and an approximation of what time you are coming back.

I have given my wife a list of all the fishery bailiff's phone numbers in case i do not come home when i have told her.

Good luck out there, it looks awful at the moment.
 
A Timely Warning - Walking Stick Saves Angler
The day started off as any other fishing trip, Dave Whyte and myself looked forward to escaping from all the Christmas frazzle by catching a chub or two, have a few mugs of tea and no doubt talk about the Test series so abysmally lost. We had the stretch to ourselves with the choice of swims, finding it difficult to walk with my MS, I chose a car park swim while Dave decided to fish the next swim downstream. Having erected my brolly I sat behind it sheltered from the gale force wind sweeping across Lancashire, putting together my rod and reel etc. I was disturbed by a sound what I thought was a branch brushing against the brolly, looking around I spotted Dave up to his chest in the river that was carrying an extra three feet of water. The noise I heard, I was later to learn was a muffled “Help Martin” from Dave.
Dave is a big lad fourteen plus stone and wearing all his winter clothing including a one piece suit, moon boots with a big rucksack on his back that probably weighed twenty or more pounds. I quickly realised he was in danger of going under or pushed downstream should he move back another foot where the river dropped around 12 feet deep. It’s amazing how quickly ones previous training and adrenaline kicks in. The only option I had was to try and get in a position so that I too wouldn’t end up in the water but help my friend. I reversed my walking stick so the handle was extended towards Dave who managed to grab hold, exerting all my strength he was slowly pulled inch by inch closer to the bank, but there was nothing for him to grab hold of. Digging my heels in the soft bank I slowly pulled him to where I could get his rucksack off his shoulders. Not an easy task when one is trying not to end up in the water but I eventually succeeded, at one time I thought of using my knife to cut the bag free.
Once the bag was free I dragged it away from the water’s edge, then set about trying to move myself a few inches further up the bank so I could then try and drag Dave onto the bank with him gripping my walking stick. It was tough going all the time I was aware of hypothermia setting in. Eventually he was out on the bank then slowly dragged himself back to the car which was just a few yards away. Having got rid of his wet clothes except long johns, I told him to get in the car, switch on the ignition and heater at full strength. Packing all his wet clothing and gear in the vehicle, I then realised I was fifteen miles from home, I quickly called another friend Brendan Ince asking him if he could collect me about six o’clock in the evening, he agreed. I told Dave, “drive straight home I have a lift” Without Brendan’s help it would be another thirty miles driving for Dave before he got in a hot shower. No way could I allow that to happen. Thankfully it was just a ducking, but it could have been a disaster. So take care on those slippery banks.
 
Well done indeed Martin, how frightning that must have been for you both.
The River Stour here at Throop is completely under water, all you can see is water for miles, it looks like one gigantic lake.
This makes it safe for our anglers because its impossible to get onto the river bank.
Be patient lads and make sure it's safe before you venture out, and please be aware of the washed out banks that leaves an overhang.
Brian.
 
good peice martin

it was taken from a different site,and the length of river where it happened has good banks on the whole,so it shows us all how much care must be taken at all times, on another note an angler that a few of us no(dead ken) parked his car 20yrds from the bank on a normal day when he came back no car or bank the lot had gone undercut bank could have gone at any time, keep your eyes open,and safe fishing.
 
Was planning a trip to throop beat 2 soon, i think i will give a miss and stick to the lakes after some perch.
 
Over 20 feet of bank gone in a day!
dave-taylor-albums-wey-picture4861-scan0026.jpg

Take Care.;)
 
Yes, the boy did good, met him a few times at some of Ronnie Buss's shindigs.
The Wey is a bit like the Lodden, not without it's problems, but is home to a few big lunks.
I've got loads of good photos of the Wey, and am in the proccess of uploading them to my profile page.

Edit...Photos done
 
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