Quest Baits Blog

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

It’s about so much more than just catching fish! I took this photo on the lovely River Teme, many years ago.

I was talking to a mate of mine the other day (a good match angler) and it brought home to me how we all derive different pleasures from angling. To him it was all about the competition and the sheer numbers and weights of fish, obvious really, has this is what is needed to win matches. To me angling pleasure comes from something totally different. After being an angler for over 35 years the need to equate everything to numbers has long since gone. It’s more about ‘just being there’. It’ easy to get drawn into the numbers game and easy to lose sight of why we actually go fishing.

I do like to fish for larger than average fish (for my area) but that only comes from the many years of fishing and thus building my way up from catching smaller fish. To get the most enjoyment I need to be on the right venue and to be catching ‘on my own terms’.

One thing I try to avoid is ‘over pressured’ stretches of river or lakes, unfortunately the presence of bigger than average size fish tends to bring with it loads of fish chasers and swim jumpers and at times a total lack of angling etiquette. I fished one of these stretches (on a small river) a couple of times about a month ago. continue reading…

Finally managed to get out for a few hours this afternoon. I’ve been getting a little stir crazy not being able to wet a line but with the week-end totally put aside for the Brentwood Carp Show which was cancelled I found myself with some spare time to get out.

With snow falling from the sky my neighbours must have thought I was a little silly loading my gear up in the Land Rover but you know what it’s like a man has to do what a man has to do….

continue reading…

Well France like the UK has been in the grips of a cold and icy Winter since virtually the turn of the year. Many stillwaters have been frozen on and off and even on the occasions when they are clear the air temperatures and general precipitation, added to the liberal sprinkling of snow over northern Europe, have meant that all but the very brave have stayed at home.

We received an e-mail from French field tester Bruno Medou, who has turned his attentions to the rivers.

This is in fact a great way to bag the odd bonus winter fish. The river carp unlike their lake bound brethren have little choice but to remain active and thus feed during the colder months.

By selecting backwaters, slacker stretches and perhaps even flooded zones you can often find feeding carp. If the fish are feeding they are catchable.

Most of his sessions have been simple over nighters, but the fish have been cooperative in conditions where you wouldn’t even be able to cast a line in a lake.

The advantage also of the colder dryer weather is that so far few of the northern French rivers have seen any significant flood water. Levels have risen and fallen fairly quickly.

So if your local lake is frozen over, don’t give up – try the river instead!

By Jamie Simpson;

Friday 12th December and another quick overnighter on the Trent was on the cards.

Having had to abort the session the previous Friday after just half an hour due to high water levels and a large amount of debris being carried through, I was more than keen to get back down for another session.  All seemed right, the level was only about a foot up on summer levels and the water clarity was reasonable.

I was cast out within minutes and was more than happy with the spots as I have had a few fish from them this season.

I feel that knowing the area you are fishing is vital if you are only there for a limited period and it is almost dark when you arrive.  Due to this I always have my rods ready with hookbaits on when I arrive and leave my leads in a side pocket of my rucksack along with my buzzer bars.

One problem you get with the river is that the topography changes over the years and snags can get moved every time the high levels and floods come.  Even existing snags change and get more branches etc attached to them, so feeling the lead down is vital even if you think the spots are clear. continue reading…

Martin Vaughan wrote:

I’m off to Spain next week to fish the river guadiana (the orellano). Being a bit of a novice I’m after any advice you can offer on rigs. What coated braid would u recommend, length of leadcore & hooklink ? Its a guided trip with Extrema Fishing and all i have to supply is end tackle so any tips or advice
would be gratefully appreciated.

Hi Martin,

I assume you will be targeting Carp rather than Catfish. Not knowing the river in question makes answering a bit vague but here goes.

I would certainly recommend a strong braided hooklink such as 25lb Silkworm or similar, if you prefer coated braid then you won’t go far wrong with Korda Hybrid.  In my experience river carp certainly aren’t rig shy and basic heavy gauge set ups will suffice. 

I would use hooklinks of at least 18″ and about 4ft leadcore leaders.  Assuming the reels are supplied then I would imagine they will be spooled up with line around 18lb.

Hookwise I would suggest size4 minimum and would recommend either Korda LongshankX (tough as old boots) or Rigsbiz R2 hooks. 

There is no need for clever blowback rigs or even shrink tubing as a basic no knot knot will be fine.

continue reading…