Bad luck comes in threes

It was the MNTFA Pitsford Bank competition and it didn't start too well when on only my second cast my rod snapped on the back cast - more about that later. At lunchtime I got on my bike and cycled round the water having a few chats when half way round I got a puncture - a great walk back to the car. Lastly as I was gutting my fish the knife sliced through my thumb - the same colour as my buzzers!

I managed to shake off all of that and still come 6th and have the best fish of the day prize for a 3lb 5oz rainbow - nice and overwintered!

I started off at the Pines with Don Moore and Phil, the wind was very light to start but got up as the day went on. Phil was on fire again and had the first fish on a bloodworm after we saw at least 3 fish rise in front of us. I also changed to bloodworm and buzzers and managed to catch two fish on a red buzzer including my best fish. It showed promise up to lunch but then went very quiet.

After i had walked back to my car and still nothing doing on the pines I made my way up to stone barn bay. I was greeted by Powie and Mick O'farrel waving to say they were packing up and I could have their spot. Very kind, Mick had actually had his limit by half past eleven. I started on the floater but nothing doing and thought i would copy so on went the di3 and a black and green booby.

1st cast out and I was hooked into a nice stockie, that's better! I managed to catch 5 in the next hour and lost a couple, it was great sport. It's surprising how easy it is when the fish are in front of you but it's bloody hard finding them. I sweated on the last 10 minutes to catch my last but the fish had moved off.

A couple of spots down though Seumas had bagged up and gave his spot to Graham Haywood who had another 3 to get. He managed to get his last fish on the last cast of the match and let out a great roar! It was the first limit he had caught and a major milestone especially having won the most ducks competition last year. Brilliant!

As you can see from the photo below he is staring at his bag of fish and can't quite believe how many there are.



The weigh in was surprising how many fish had been caught and it was obvious Phil and I had chosen the wrong spot to start. Graham was in Third Place and Mick in second but Ash cooper managed to win with a great bag of fish caught on a cats whisker from Sailing Club Bank. Well done!

Key controversy

There has been some interesting debate on Fly forums website around whether a day ticket fisherman should be able to have a key to the gates in the same way as a season ticket holder at Pitsford.

This only seems fair and would be the best solution. It must feel naff walking along the banks to a spot when a car beats you there. I guess there are more and more pensioners fishing these days and it is not always possible to walk the distances to get to the fish.

Fortunately most of the main hotspots on pitsford these days are easily walkable. In fact a mate of mine refuses a key and prefers the walk to keep fit.

The water has to cater for many users and there is a restriction on the number of cars that are allowed round. With many cyclists and walkers - including me - on the road we have to be responsible.

Not only this but Nathan has to control it. With notices in the lodge on how to use the locks correctly and regular reminders of the care to be taken we are an easy target and need to keep this to an absolute minimum. As a season ticket holder Nathan holds your address and phone number and can issue warnings. If needed there is always the threat of taking the season ticket away. He does not have this control over day ticket holders and while the majority would act responsibly if there is no deterrent then the minority would not.

Over the first few days the locks appear to have been abused by both day ticket holders and season ticket holders. The gates need to remain locked at all times and if a day ticket holder is let in you need to be very clear and take ownership on how they can get out.

I will discuss with Nathan if opening day next year can be an exception and everyone have the same access.

Phil bags up again

Yes it was the "Elinor Experts" opportunity to show me how to fish properly again and he has me almost converted to fishing bloodworms.



It was always going to be all or nothing for me but thought I would have a relaxing day and enjoy it any way. To help my feet I took my boat box with me and fitted in a dream with all the other old boys sitting down and fishing. They do feel better for not being in cold water all day!

It all started ominously when we hadn't hadn't had a pull I decided to go back to the car and while I was gone Phil had one on a buzzer. With nothing else doing we moved up to the top end and fished the bank next to the canal. There were a few catching but only in key positions on the point or in the bay.

Still fishless at 2pm I knew it was going to be one of those days so sod it! I went for a walk around Titchmarsh reserve to take my mind off it. When I returned though Phil had already banked another 3 on a bloodworm. I could say i didn't believe him but when the guys around started asking for me to leave again if he hadn't caught he must have paid them handsomely.

If the fish were here a different mindset was needed so I went positive and back to my Pitsford technique of a pea and blob. It wasn't too long and I could feel tap, tap, tap and as I left it static off it went. It wasn't big but it saves me from blanking and it was very grateful and soon un-hooked and swimming free again.



Phil managed another and by now the place was emptying - all going home for tea. I'm not if it was me wanting to catch more or Phil feeling sorry for me but we weren't going home yet! The two guys on the point were off and both of us jumped in for a last flurry. Phil had another and lost a few and that was it I had to concede and borrow a bloodworm. It was hardly on the line a couple of casts and I was into my second.

The fish seemed to move off so we decided to call it a night. With the pattern in my mind I'm going to be tying bloodworms later this week!

Fish all over

I don't seem to be quite in the groove at the moment. There are people bagging up but I'm not one of them. Having said that I am still only fishing 2 or 3 hours so really I'm doing fine.

Steve had given me a text to say he was on the Pines so I headed there at lunchtime today just as he popped in the spot that someone had bagged up earlier. I took up a spot on the point of the creek and table bay and started with the di5 and booby. It didn't feel right so I set up with what I was comfortable with - a green pea and orange blob on a floater. I counted it down and first two pulls and my first fish.



I thought this was going to be it but i struggled on and managed another couple before my feet were aching - must take my box next time! Well with fish off sailing club, the pines and bog bay the fish really are all over.

Steve persevered on without success but he won't be put off and I'm sure he will be back tomorrow. For me I fancy a change of scenery at Elinor tomorrow, either that or Phil wants to catch a bag full again!

Sailing Club Bank

It seemed like a pensioners day out off the Sailing Club Bank, apart from Mark and me. It was a very strong westerly and although it started gently when the wind picked up it was pretty much the only place on the water that was fishing.

Mick foster and Graham were already there when I arrived and in prime position on the point into Brixworth bay. Yesterday with the wind blowing off the bank you could get to the fish from a number of positions but today with a strong right to left it was much more difficult. They finished with about 4 each so it was not too easy.

Phil was next to them and started confident but as the wind increased it became more difficult and decided to go and try North Farm shore without success.

As he left I popped in his place and not long after had one on a di5 and a booby fished slow, but that was it. No other interest or takes was enough for me and I let Grant take over my spot. Mark just started to catch before i left as he took over Grahams spot and had 2 on a damsel on a floater.

This re-affirmed my thoughts that most of the time they are on the bottom but when cruising they are only 6 to 8 foot down.

It was a glorious sunny morning and a pleasure to be out but the weather is not all with us at the moment.

Pitsford Opening Day

I still remember in my younger days a crowd of us meeting at the Haddon's in Pitsford a meal, few beers, a good laugh followed by camping overnight in the pines waiting for it to get light. many times we had our first fish just as it got light and bagged up and back home for lunchtime. You had to be there at that time otherwise you couldn't get a spot.

Well I wasn't there that early this morning and I didn't bag up as quick as that but I did struggle to find a spot as the banks were lined with anglers.



I thought the fish would be over on duffers, bog bay etc. this year and as the wind was off that bank it was ideal. However as it appears the fish are well spread out all down to the Gorse bank, off bog bay, Sailing club bank and down to the gravels.

I settled on the far side of Stilton point looking into pig stream and although the wind was right to left (probably why i got a spot) it was gentle and casting was ok. Later it actually felt as though it had turned to come off that bank.

It was cold and the fish were lethargic but a shoal did keep running up this bank keeping the anglers well entertained with a few fish. There was also a shoal well off Stilton point but deep.

My main tactic for the day was the same as the guy that had bagged up before me off Stilton point using a midge tip line, black and green gold head on the point and an orange blob on the dropper. It was left for about 40 seconds and then returned with a figure of eight and short sharp pulls. The takes come on the drop but also when the shoal went past close in.

There were also the usual methods and a number of people were also catching on intermediates and the usual di3 and black and green with long slow pulls.

There were some decent fish around and of the three fish I had one of them was over 3lb.

Phil had joined me and at first it was like fishing in a boat but we did spread out. We were catch at about the same rate but after i got snapped up I thought that would do for the day and before I could pack my kit in the car he had another 2. He had 4 when I left but hope he could bag up.

Steve had a tough of the dropsy's and his had dropped off but hopefully his perseverance would have paid off in the end.

Apart from getting cold and wet it was a successful enjoyable day and nice to catch a few fish to start the season.

MNTFA Chairman

It was the MNTFA AGM last night and as much as I pushed for someone to come forward there were no takers and it was me that was voted in as the new Chairman.

In some ways I am quite looking forward to it. Recently there has been a small change in the way fishing is seen. More people coming along to the beginners courses, an outdoor/countryside culture shift and the establishment of the Angling Trust which is all starting to shift perceptions. Clubs themselves though are still not what everyone needs these days but if it remains social and improves our sport then there has to be a place.

Visit us at www.mntfa.co.uk

Too cold for me

Having sorted out my AW season ticket I thought I would take a look at Ravensthorpe today but that's all it ended up being, along with a few others by the look of the boats still in dock.



It was a lovely bright day with the sun out but a sharp frost overnight had left most of the water frozen. However with the sun now out it was thawing fast and would probably quite nice this afternoon.



I thought I would have a walk first but on closer inspection the water is coloured and there were no flies about. The odd boat was catching but no one off the bank. I think it was one of those days where if you were standing over a shoal and fishing slow and deep you could be bagging up. Alternatively you could be up to your knees in freezing cold water being blown by a cold easterly, a bit too cold for me today!!