Quest Baits Blog

Nature having repaired itself

In just 10 days time we can once again wet a line on the vast river system of this country. I for one am thankful we still retain a 3 month close season on our rivers to give both the fish a break and chance to spawn in peace as well as for the river banks to get on with repairing them selves and re-growing foliage.

I have been spending a lot of time this last week walking the rivers and have found some lovely surprises swimming around unmolested in their environment. The river systems of this country are some of the few places it is possible to find your own little bit of heaven. With so many anglers seemingly losing interest in flowing water in favour of what are in many cases heavily stocked still waters our rivers are starting to be neglected when it comes down to angling pressure. Yes, I know some stretches are flogged to death but for the angler prepared to do a little exploratory work then it doesn’t take too long to find decent angling possibilities away from the maddening crowd.

Whilst we have been so starved of rain I have been able to view swims and fish much easier than I have known before and have been feeding a few chub and barbel this last week. The information gained from being able to see into the swim will prove so highly valuable later in the season when the colour and floods return. I have found a few bits I had been unaware of before which absolutely scream out for a bait to be lowered

Baits and location established

in when the river is in flood.

With a little wet weather forecast this week and next, its possibly been my last chance of seeing the river in its water short skeletal state.

I now know both the Chub and the barbel are loving the Ghurkka Spice and Rahja Spice I have been feeding them so no worries about my bait or location when the season starts. All I need worry about now is not spooking them and presenting the hook bait in a manner they will accept.

My none fishing time has been put to great use and I have discovered more this last week about a new stretch I am going to fish than I would over a long period whilst actually fishing. If you haven’t checked out your usual spots whilst the river is low I urge you to go and look. You may just surprise yourself what a productive exercise it could be.

Best fishes

Shaun

This is where my angling career began - The River Erewash

What a lovely start to the day that was. It is something I always mean to do but never seem to get around to doing it and that is taking advantage of the close season and walking the river whilst it is particularly low and clear and whilst the fish have got used to being left alone for a while.

I tend to fish the rivers more during the winter period when very little can be seen but believe me a stroll down the river this morning has revealed as much to-day as I would probably learn all winter plus more.

I took a leaf out of my old Sea Trout and Salmon fishing days and made a point of walking along the skyline in bright clothes purposely wanting to spook the fish. With it being the close season I didn’t need to worry about upsetting other anglers and often the easiest way of spotting fish is to actually spook them from their comfortable resting points. Certainly I found 2 quite large chub in the tiniest of pools this morning, pools

I'll be back in the winter

that I have always walked by not realising there was a slightly deeper hole in the river bed. I can certainly imagine those fish sat there in the depths of winter whilst the main push of the river flows over their heads.

The river has changed as all rivers do. One of my spots I used to catch from is now looking very different under water than it used to and it is now little wonder why I struggled to get a bite last winter from the spot which had been so productive before. No longer does the flow go in the same way and subsequently what was a nice deep clear hole is now a bit of a silt trap.

Even the smallest rivers hold surprises

It dosn’t matter how well you think you know the river, get out there whilst it is at its lowest and clearest and see what you are actually fishing over. I must get back down with the chest waders whilst it is still wadeable and have a feel around with my feet and wading stick too. This gives so much more information than any amount of plumbing and lead dragging can ever do. These very short times spent looking now can prove absolutely priceless come the winter and it was so nice watching a couple of those fish bolt from their holes this morning. Two were of a size which surprised me. I know where I will be creeping back and literally lowering a bait in next winter that’s for sure. Hopefully there still won’t be an actual swim there then either.

Even the tiniest of rivers can throw up the odd surprise.

Happy exploring Shaun