"My Fishy Tales June 2003"

by Malcolm Clarke

'This is part 1 of my diary that I kept of my fishing season 2003/2004'

June

Opening Day

New season here at last it feels great to be back on the river, new swim, new bait even some new expectations
maybe a 15lber this season (well we all have dreams). Three hours into fishing without so much as a sucked maggot and the sun blazing down, decide it's time to make a move. Promised myself I will try this swim again when conditions are not so bright as I'm sure it holds a Boris or two.

Make my way over to a more popular location just to P*** myself off seeing what the other lads are catching, could not believe my luck, to find only one other angler there, and more to the point no one in what is a favourite swim of mine. So quickly returned to the car for my gear, expecting sport to be a bit slow with the intense heat and bright conditions was happy to pass the time chatting to a new face on the river a chap by the name of John, seems quite knowledgeable about the Taff but not this stretch.

Did not have to wait as long as expected for what was to be my first Boris of the season, this being a small one of around  4lb, but just to have the feel of a Barbel on the end of the rod again made up for any lack in size.  
Next cast and straight away into what feels like a better fish, with John still being in attendance think I'm going to have some competition for this swim in the future. This proved to be a slightly better fish at 6lb plus.

Said my goodbyes to John and no doubt will see him again as he said he looks in on BFW so told him to join and start posting.
Within 10 minuets of John leaving I'm into a much better fish that gave a tremendous account of itself and on landing it looked all the world to be an opening day double, on weighing the fish I can't believe my thoughts as I'm somewhat disappointed that this fish is not a double. The disappointment did not last long as on the very next cast into what once again feels another good fish, and after what seemed like hours with the excitement of the fight and still intense heat, I began to win the battle, only for the hook to pull as the fish made what was surely going to be it's last dive for freedom.
Felt for sure this one would have made double figures, however no disappointment this time, just pure excitement and anticipation as to what this season just might bring.
Made a quick note in sketch book to remind me first day and over an hour and half late going home, but after today's excitement who cares, knew for sure the wife would understand, as the grin on my face will tell her just what an opening day I've had. 

Tuesday 17/06/03

OK second day of the season and time to give the second swim above the road bridge a try, bloody hell should have listened to Ray he told me Mike and him had bugger all last season up here. Make a quick note in sketch book, "only lasted 2 hours today before deciding to move", must give these areas more time but maybe later in the season.

Decisions, decisions do I take the easy option and return to the same swim as yesterday as I'm sure there's a biggie waiting in there with my name on, or do I try one of the other swims that has seen a bit of pre-season feed.
Decide to drive to new location, and see who's fishing and then make up my mind, This is unbelievable! second day of the season and not another soul on the bank. Decide to give one of the swims lower down from yesterdays a try.10 minutes after casting in, I'm into what feels a good fish, after a tremendous scrap I slip the net under what once again is going to be close to a first double of the season. Well not quite at 9lb 6oz but this time no disappointment just want this luck to last the season. Next cast is sent tight to the far bank under the willow bush, no sooner than the rod is placed in the rest it flew round and once again I find myself doing battle with what feels a good fish.

This fish gave a tremendous account of itself, which left me somewhat wondering about the spawning situation here on the Taff as most fish are somewhat lethargic after spawning, but only the first fish of the season had shown any signs of recent spawning activity.
Well once again a fish in the net that's going to push close to the 10lb barrier, YES only the second day of a new season and a double settling for 10lb 2oz but hard to hold the scales steady in the excitement.

Think I might make the local paper tomorrow but unfortunately not for my fishing, thought it would be nice to have a picture of what was my first double of the season.
Noticed a group of cyclist coming down the footpath so quickly got the camera out and when the cyclist were near enough, ran up the bank with camera in hand to ask if one of them would assist and take a photo.
Must have frightened the life out of them, as it was a young couple out with there son, and to suddenly be confronted by a bare-chested bloke in his shorts and wellie's, who appears out of the undergrowth, did not go down too well with dad.
Quickly ushering his wife and son around himself he began shouting obscenities at me along the lines of P*** off you pervert, get out of here you fat B******. Now I know the area is frequented by all manor of undesirables and I've put on a bit of weight of late but please I only wanted a picture taken.

Had to settle for a picture on the unhooking mat which is not the best of arrangements but still if the last 2 days are anything to go by, should be plenty of more opportunities for some good pictures, shit shouldn't have thought that now I know my luck will change, either way can't wait for Sunday next chance to get out.

Sunday 22/06/03

Up at 3.15 am must be bloody mad, day off and all that, but at least I knew no one else will be on the river for a few hours. Decided to fish the swim I had fished on opening day, where I had pulled out of what felt a good fish. Still dark when I got to the river and fond it a pain getting sorted as the banks are wet, and slippery as hell from the dew.

As it's easy to introduce feed in this swim by hand introduced 3 good size balls of pellet mix and expecting things to happen straight away poured my third cup of coffee of the morning along with the obligatory 3 panadol (bloody wine) before casting in.
Was I to be disappointed sat there for best part of 3 hours with nothing more than the usual plucks and pulls from small fish and my first eel of the season.

Noticed around 8 am a Barbel moving in and out of the rocks straight in front of me, so put a few balls of pellet mix just to the right of the rocks to try and entice it out. Changed bait from maggot and casters to pellet and began to set up a second rod which was to be placed where I could see the fish moving between the rocks.
Before I had chance to finish setting up, the first rod flew round and line began screaming off the reel, by the time I had put the other rod down the fish had got amongst the rocks in mid-river.
Slowly but surely I managed to coax the fish out from amongst these rocks and once in open water she came to the net without too much trouble, a nice fish that weighed 9lb 7oz and in perfect condition.

Thinking there may be more to be had, quickly put a couple of  new pellets on and placed the bait in the usual position when fishing this swim, sure enough still could not get the second rod set up as no sooner was the rod in the rest than it swung round and once again I'm into a good fish.
Whilst playing this fish the mobile rings but it can wait as I've more important things on my mind, after a good battle I slip the net under a good fish and once again the mobile rings. On answering find it to be the wife "just checking how your doing she asked" tell her I've had two in the last ten minutes and hope to have 1 or 2 more as whilst talking spotted the large one just on the edge of the rocks in front of me.

Slipped the fish which was a tad bigger than the previous one at 9lb 9oz into the water at the back of the pool so's not too disturb the fish in front of me which was now showing with more regularity.
Finished setting up the second rod before putting the other back out as this would allow that side of the pool to settle down. This was a simple link ledger set-up as it would need no more than a flick to get the bait where I wanted it, so with just 3 AAA and a couple of pellets the bait was flicked out and allowed to drag round until coming to rest against the largest of the rocks in front of me.

With this now in position put the other rod in the usual place and settled down with a cuppa, did not have to wait long before the rod in the the usual place swung into action, this was turning out to be some morning's fishing after what seemed like an eternity, (as all the time this fish was on I was expecting the other rod to leap into play)  I brought another good Barbel to the waiting net. 
Quickly unhooking the fish and weighing it I was not to be disappointed with yet again another 9lb plus fish, whilst holding the fish in the water for it to regain it's control noticed a few little plucks on the other rod. Checked time to see it was 10.30 so decided not to put the other rod back out as I was due to pack away around this time. 
Once again a few little knocks on the end of the rod, as it was now past my packing in time picked up rod and decided to strike on next indication of what may or may not be a bite. 

The Ferociousness of the bite made up my mind for me as the rod was pulled down towards the water 
SHIT! Why do you always have to miss the best ones as I found myself well and truly snagged on the bottom, thinking of pulling for a break when hang on a minute snag's don't shake there bloody head, realizing I had a fish on I quickly tried to control my excitement at what just might be the one I was after. 
No matter how much pressure I put on the fish it just was not going to budge from his home amongst the rocks, it then became apparent that I had made a dreadful mistake in choice of rods for where I was fishing. 

Instead of using my Shimano Barbel Power rod which just might have given me the extra oomph to move the fish away from both the bottom and those bloody rocks, I had chosen to use my cheapy Ron Thompson which although landing fish up to 12 .6 last season in open water situations it just did not have the build to allow me to exert anywhere near the amount of pressure to move this bottom hugging fish away from it's home. 
All of a sudden whoosh as the 3 triple A shot, flew past my head as the hook pulled free, stood still just looking at where the fish had been thinking just how big this fish might be, made up my mind there and then that another rod was the order of the day. 
Left the bank with mixed emotions slightly disappointed having lost what was a good fish, but also full of excitement as I know that not only is there something big in this swim, but it can be caught.

Tuesday 24/06/03

Armed with just purchased new rod would be easy to head straight back to the swim where I know lies a big one, but will save that one for the early morning shift. Decided to go lower down river and see what's available strange this all the publicity and the number of good fish being caught and still only the one chap on the river fishing.
This turned out to be Ian so after a quick chat, he informed me he had caught a couple of Barbel having fished most of the day and that they were still moving about.

Before starting to fish Chris turned up not to fish but just to check on how the fishing is going, so sat there chatting away whilst we both watched the 2 rods that I had set up.
With that I turned around to answer a question Chris had just asked when Chris let out a cry "Look Out" on turning round I could see the Greys prodigy rod I had just bought flying through the air into the water, fortunately the water here is quite shallow so was able to wade in up to my knees and grab the rod before it got into the deeper water and probably be gone for good.

This led to the catching of a six pound plus Boris, which was nice on a new rod and first time using it but not the ideal way. Put new bait on and cast to the far bank, but before I could sit myself down the rod flew round and once again a decent fish was on. After a decent scrap Chris done the honours and landed it for me, at 9lb plus it did not quite make the double mark but never the less once again a good fish.
Chris said his goodbyes and mentioned if  I'm out tomorrow he'll see me over here, as he had seen enough to convince him to have a go.

Did not have to wait that long after Chris had departed for my next bite and this led to a fish of a similar size as the one before, would have been nice to have stayed a bit longer as I know this great start to the season can't last and I'm sure a few more could have been had tonight, still hopefully will get out again tomorrow.

Wednesday 25/06/03

Arrived at the river today to be greeted by Ray who had been there from early morn and had managed to winkle out 3 nice Barbel, unfortunately Ray was more or less due to pack away but did make arrangements to get together sometime next week. Not long after starting to fish Chris and his mate turned up who decided to fish just up above me, this meant between us there were 6 rods out.

Well it just had to happen not a single touch all day/night for any of us, this is typical of the river, the conditions were just the same as the previous couple of sessions and Ray had caught from the same area earlier in the day but then for some unknown reason they just switch off.
Just hope this is only a temporally setback and not one of those usual disappearing acts that the river Taff Barbel have a habit of doing.

Sunday 29/06/03

Once again I find I've got the river all to myself, you can't beat these early morning sessions find the fishing to be at it's best and the peace and quite brings out the wildlife like no other time. After Wednesdays blank hope to get back to catching and think a 5 am start will give me the best chance, after setting up both rods and getting myself sorted sat down with a cup of coffee to watch what was a beautiful dawn breaking over the river, only to be interrupted by what was a better sight/sound that being the baitrunner screaming and the rod moving around in that ark that only Boris can produce.

After a decent scrap the net was slipped under a Barbel around the 8lb mark, this makes it worth while getting up so early on my day off. Within 10 minutes of returning the fish to the water I find myself into another good fish that was not quite as big as the previous one but still most welcomed as any Barbel is.

The swim then went dead and being too lazy to move to a new swim sat there doing my best not to doze off when my peace was interrupted by an old friend from last season, this friend might not be everybody's favourite animal being a mink, but over the seasons have found him good company on these early morning sessions when the fishing is slow. Whilst fishing last season found myself snagged up with a decent size eel no further than a rod length out, when minky jumped of the rocks and swam to the snagged eel and succeeded in removing it from my line, suppose whilst he's eating eels he's not eating Boris.

Was now getting close to packing up time and was a bit disappointed not too have had any more Barbel, when I decided to use some of the disco coloured maggots I had mistakenly been given by the shop owners daughter the day before.
So with 6 bright purple maggots on the hook cast out for what was going to be my last cast of the day, did not have time to place the rod in the rest before it was nearly pulled out of my hand, was I to be shocked on landing the culprit. As it turned out not to be a Barbel as I had expected but a decent size chub, that on weighing proved to be a new PB at 6lb 2oz, so once again it was time to leave after a most enjoyable session, boy I hope this luck of mine can last a season.

by Malcolm Clarke

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