The List 2010

So another year ends, as always plenty to look back on and laugh about, situations to reflect on, and happy memories to smile about.
"The List 2010" ended with my species count of 23 being pipped by Tonys 24, with Phil getting a very respectable 19. I found i had an increased workload from September onwards and to be honest getting out fishing regularly hasnt been that easy over the last few months. My record of 24 remains intact - though I've no doubt any of us could easily have beaten it given a little effort.
Highlights of the year, well of course it has to be the big brown from the Irwell, closely followed by the Schelley from the lakes. That said, I think the time spent on the riverbank with pals new and old, and the laughs we've shared together are far more important than catching fish.

After all our sport is angling not catching.

Tis Lucias birthday tomorrow so were off to Wales for couple of days break (fishing rods not allowed) so happy new year to you all.

Bolton Fly Tyers

Commencing 7pm Tuesday the 4th Jan 2011, Bolton Fly Tying Club are starting a series of demonstration/instruction evenings for budding fly tyers.

The series will start off with a demonstration of tying simple buzzer patterns, followed by the opportunity to have a go at tying some of your own afterwards.

I''ve been going on an off for the last couple of years, and think its a great way to keep involved in fishing related activity during the dark winter months.

In addition to the tying, the club also host visiting speakers and tying demonstrations, as well as organising a series of trips to local still and moving water venues.

Take a look at their website http://boltonflytyers.blogspot.com the club meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday every month at the Beehive Pub in Horwich, and welcomes anyone with an interest in fishing and fly tying.

I'd Rather Be Fishing

Snow, Ice, Christmas duties and a heavy dose of flu have all conspired to keep me house bound for the last week or so.
I felt slightly more chipper this evening, and was soon fingers and thumbs at the vice.

They might not be pretty - but they work.

Through A Hole In The Ice

I arranged to meet Paul at 11am on Kingfisher Lodge and by the time I arrived he had very kindly made a hole in the ice just big enough for two.

Fishing a short flick tip whip, a size 22 hook, 0.08mm hooklength and a dotted down float i set about winkling out a few roach to use for wobbled dead baits later in the winter.

The very subtle differences in between our rigs made amazing differences in our catch rates with Paul initially catching about 5 fish to every one of mine, even though our floats were less than three feet apart. Once i added another section of pole and fished in slightly deeper water, with my hook bait an inch above the deck, I immediately started to up the numbers i was catching. Paul by this time was fishing a few inches over depth and found his bites starting to tail off.

Swapping between pinkies, punch and casters and experimenting with different presentations we caught steadily for a few hours until the cold had numbed my toes.

Our joint catch of fish was less impressive than it should have been as a hole in the keep net meant that we were fishing a form of catch and release.


A good little session - though most of the fish were too small to be of any use as wobblers.

Mooching About

With the snow beginning to melt, and most of the local still waters frozen solid I was hard pushed to find somewhere to fish today, and when I did find some clear water only fished half heartedly.

I've found fishing in melt water is rarely productive, but as always I enjoy getting about and about and fishing is only a bonus activity on days such as today.

First off was a quick visit to the rochdale canal in the city centre, but this was still heavily iced. So a quick drive down to Pomona Quays on the ship canal found some open clear water. It was still misty and bitterly cold - even this heron couldn't be bothered to fly off and let me approach to within only a couple of yards.

Nothing doing on the ship canal, so another short drive took us over to Salford Quays- which as you can see had a fair covering of ice.
No sign of any pike and getting ever colder, we took another short drive over to Brindle Heath Lagoons - where the ice was really thick.
Then off towards home, but not before stopping off to have a walk around drinkwater park and Kingfisher Lodge, taking in a little bit of the Irwell on the way back to the car.

Brrrrrrrr