The River Bourne

On Sunday the 4th of July 2010 I decided to try some barbel fishing on the small Thames tributary River Bourne. On my Chertsey ticket a small stretch of the river is included so it would be worth seeing what the river held. I had heard of barbel to 10lb being caught and some rather large roach that have escaped from the many surrounding gravel pits during floods but in reality the majority of fish in the river are small.

Equipped with some maggots, spicy luncheon meat and some sweetcorn I headed down the M25 to Chertsey. It was an extremely hot day and when I arrived I noticed how Small the river really was in summer. The water was no more than 2ft at is deepest and some places I could literately step over to the other side of the bank. With the help of my Polaroids I could clearly see the bottom of the river.

After an hour of so of looking I finally found a chub of around 2-3lb moving in and out of the current feeding. I flicked a small cube of luncheon meat in front of the fish and drifted it down the current. As soon as the bait touched the water the chub was off and darted down stream. (great start). I moved to the other side of the bridge where a large tree was blocking the river and a small deeper pool had formed (pictured left). As I peered down I caught sight of a large fish 6-8lb. I was sure that it was a barbel not just because of the size but the way it was holding in the fast current. I lowered some sweetcorn down and it hovered over it before turning away and leaving the swim. Following this I moved down stream further and got excited when I saw what I thought were three big barbel. I lowered my sweetcorn down once again and one fished moved over it sucked it in and I struck. I was In!!! As soon as the fish was hooked I knew something was wrong as there was no fight or powerful run in which barbel are notorious for. It floated to the top and I realised that it was a bream of around 7lb gutted. I netted i and put it straight back amazed that bream that size would be in fast flowing shallow water. I came to the conclusion they were escapees from the surrounding gravel pits.

I decided to explore the other side of the bridge and try and find some better fish. After being stung by stinging nettles thousands of times I eventually found a clearing where I could fish from. It was ridiculously tight but I could see fish. There were four bream and one good chub. I flicked out a peice of meat in front of the chub and in the crystal clear water I saw him pick it up and I struck. A fight commenced and he was safely in the net and at around 2 and half pounds I was relatively happy. Chub pictured right.

The rest of the day was unsuccessful with just a small perch to show for my efforts. I can see how the river can be good for fishing but believe I was fishing it in the wrong conditions. The barbel may venture down that far from the Thames but on rare occasions. I will go back to the River Bourne as It runs adjacent to my Chertsey Lake but will fish it in the winter when the water level rises. Not the best days fishing but it was nice to explore a new river.

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First session of the 2010 season on the River Eden

It was great to get back to the river after a long closed season. I decided to go down to the river Eden for the afternoon to try catch a few chub. I was slightly worried about the current stock of the Eden due to the sighting of an otter last season. I headed down to my usual starting swim in the free stretch carrying a loaf of bread and spicy luncheon meat. The river was very shallow and overgrown making most of the swims in-accessible. I flick my bread fake out beyond the sunken Lilly's close to where I saw a fish move. On the second cast the rod tip wrapped around and I was in. After a powerful run the fish tired quickly and I netted it first time. It was huge and pulled my new Rubens around to 5lb 2oz and a new personal best. Little did I know that I would be in for the session of a lifetime. After this fish the swim became quite so I decided to move. The weather was hot with a cool breeze and so I decided to fish the weir pools. I don't usually fish the weirs as they normally contain the smaller chub collecting food in the current but because It was a hot day I presumed that the fish would be in these colder oxygenated areas. Above left: 3lb chub from the weir on spicy luncheon meat. I managed a small fish from the weir before deciding to fish the other weir further up-stream which is slightly deeper. On my first cast with a piece of luncheon meat on a size 8 longshank the rod bent around and I was in. This continued on for about an hour and I caught 14 chub from this one weir. It was amazing fishing with at least nine over 3lb one of about 4lb and four of about 2lb. Right: The weir in which I had fourteen chub
After catching an amazing amount of goo sized chub from the weir I decided to go back to the other weir and fish the deeper water. I dropped my bait out 2 feet in front of me and within seconds I was in. This continued and I caught another 6 or so chub. One went 4lb and the others around three. To top the day off I saw some chub in the shallow water surfacing. I threw in some bread crust and they surfaced again. I decided to take the lead shot of my mainline and float bread crust trotting it down the current. I missed a few bites when finally one surfaced and I was in. The fish was only around 2lb but catching one on the surface must be the ultimate way to catch chub. What a day. Above left a 3lb weir chub and above right the swim from which I caught the 5lb 2oz personal best. Right: a 4lb chub caught two feet from the bank. Below: My PB chub 5lb 2oz. All these pics were self takes and many of the other pics had half my head cut off!!!!!!!!!


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Spring tench session

After a three day blank at Chertsey I decided I needed a bend in my rod so I set of to Beaver Farm Fishery to catch tench. I am not a big fan of the venue but the small pond right at the back of the complex holds some good tench and is usually fisherman free. I called my mate Karl and headed for a quick half day session in poor tench conditions. The North East wind was still bringing in the cold weather but it was more a bit of fun than serious fishing. The pond is very small but holds some large tench to 11lb plus quite a few back up 5lb ders. Tactics would be basic waggler set up with 6lb line straight through to a size 10 specialist hook. Bait would be luncheon meat and sweetcorn, a tench favourite. Karl was the first to catch and he landed a couple of small roach and a small tench from the swim next to be. I decided to fish a small patch of reeds in the middle of the pond which were constantly knocking about where the tench were moving through them. At about 12.00 the float finally slid away and I was in. I landed a small but perfectly formed tench of around 2-3lb. It put up a great fight on light tackle and reminded me of what tench fishing is all about. Cant wait to do some more tench fishing this summer at some gravel pits I have in mind. I will keep you posted.

3rd Session at Chertsey

My third session at Chertsey came about quickly. I planned to use the same rigs that I had previously caught the common on during my last trip. The session was to be a long three day trip. On my first night I caught a bream which woke me up at 2am (yuk). The session passed quickly and another bream went in the net and on the last day a double figure pike caught on a boilie!!!!!!!!. It was one of those sessions that didn't go to plan and I felt that I wasn't fishing at my best. As soon as I arrived the south westerly wind changed to a north east which brought the bad cold weather with it. I settled in the swim that I had previously caught my common which was a mistake. It seemed as though the fish were holding up in the deeper water. Steve the bailiff had a great 26lb common so they were still on the feed. I hope to get back down there as soon as possible so will update you on my next trip.

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14/08/10

Completed a two day session on Chertsey. Fished the furtest swim from the car park and blanked. Decided to have a go for the roach and caught a few to about 6oz. I was really hoping a 2lbder would pick up my sweetcorn but it did not happen. Cant wait to get back there are winkle out another carp.

Chertsey 2nd session

After my first session and blank on Chertsey I decided on a different approach. Both rods were to be rigged up with hinged stiff rigs on leadcore leaders with fluro pop ups. I arrived at the lake Friday around 2pm and made my way round the right bank. I decided to settle in a swim that overlooks M3 (lovely) . The topography in my swim was uniform and I was fishing in 5ft of gin clear water. I walked around and gathered some information from the syndicate members on where the carp were showing etc. I flicked out both rods feeling down the leads until I hit solid ground, this was followed by 20 trigga ice baits scattered into the ripples that the lead had left.

At around 7pm whilst looking out over the water for fish a carp rolled over my left hand rod. In anticipation I hovered my had over the rod expecting a take. 15 minutes later the it screamed off and I engaged th

e bait runner to have the horrible sensation of slack line. I was gutted to think I had missed out on my first elusive Chertsey carp. All I could put It down to was that the carp had been nicked in the mouth and the hook had pulled. Back the rod went on the same spot. During the night I had a take on my other rod which resulted in a bream of around 8lb (It even took my baitrunner!!!).

The next day dawned and I re-thought my tactics. It was a hot day and the carp were cruising around on top, a floater rod was quickly set up and my right rod reeled in. Whilst in the swim next door trying for a take on the surface my delkim screamed for help so dropping my tea I ran to my swim, engaged my baitrunner and was attached to my first Chertsey carp. The carp scrapped hard for the first part of the fight and then surrendered to my net. She didn't go in first time which caused a bit of panic but eventually she was mine. The fish was a common of around 22lb but the size wasn't what excited me (I and the other members estimated the weight as my scales had broken on a previous trip) . The carp was long, dark bronze with a heart shaped tale, an immaculate fish. I had trouble taking pics as all the other members were on the other side of the lake so I chanced some self shots. Luckily after cutting my head of on the self takes a member arrived and took some great pics (cheers mate). On only my second session I had bagged one of the elusive fish that swim in Chertsey. From what I had herd no other fish had been out that week so It was a right result. Common pic above left

The next night quickly went by with only a couple of liners. On the last day of my session Terry Hearn was back at the lake. He had a fully scaled mirror on his last trip and he congratulated me on my catch commenting on the low stock of carp the water held and what a great fish it was (top man). That was to be the second highlight that concluded my trip. Hopefully next time I write this I will have had a 30 + Tight Lines

1st Chertsey session

My ticket arrived for Chertsey on the 2nd April. I could not wait to get down there for my first session and was soon getting prepared. New leadcore leaders were attached to my mainline and some new rigs tied up. My bait for the spring would be Nutribaits trigga ice a favourite for when the weather warms up. The stock is still unknow as the lake has been closed for two years following maintenance works. The big mirror however was out on the second day of the season to a guy named Oz at 43lb 10oz. There are some big commons in the lake that should be pussing 40lb if not over. The lake also contains some specimen roach, tench, bream, crucian carp and rudd so there are many possibilities for a great catch. The river Bourne runs behind the lake an offers barbel to double figures, carp, roach and chub so as a whole the ticket offers everything. I settled in at the shallow bay end of the lake and fished with small 8mm fluro peach pop ups on chod rigs.

Right ( The River Bourne)

The night passed un-eventful but I managed to find out some information on the lake and had a good look around to familiarise myself with the new water. Just as it was getting dark a man walked into my swim who I instantly recognised as Terry Hearn. I am a big fan of Terry Hearn and have read both his books cover to cover (a few times). He has done so much in carp fishing and has caught some of the most elusive carp that swim in English waters. In the morning I reeled in the rods and walked to Terrys swim where I had a good chat with him about his book and possible target fish for the future. Hes a great bloke, I wish him all the best in his fishing and Im sure there are many more big fish to fall to his rods. So in summary no fish but a great session. I will be back down there in a week or two for a longer session.

Below (Me and Terry Hearn)

5lb Eden Chub March 2010

Since my capture of a stunning 4lb + chub I have been back to the river Eden to try and beat my new PB. I must have done around fifteen more sessions on the river until last week when the season came to an end. During these sessions I had been unable to update my blog due to family commitments and work but now had some time to write about my trips. Since I smashed my PB with a 4lb 10oz chub on bread I have caught three more 4lb ders. (4lb 8oz bottom left, 4lb 1oz, 4lb 6oz) all fell to lob worm on a longshank korda hook held on the bottom with two swan split shot.

Equipped with my new 9ft mach 1 Shakespeare feeder rod I traveled to the Eden on Saturday 14th March one day before the close season hoping to beat my PB. I had some lob worms on me and decided to fish the other side of the bridge where I had not done a lot of fishing. I must have walked around two miles flicking in my bait into every snaggy swim that looked like it held chub but with no luck. I caught a good perch of around a pound but no chub, it was just a matter of finding them. On my way back to the bridge from my long walk I fished the swims again. On one swim a tree had fallen and completely blocked the river creating a great holding area for chub. Chucking my bait close to the snags my rod instantly bent around and after a good fight I landed a 3lb chub. (No one to take the picture tho). Just before the capture of the chub I landed a pike upstream which somehow didn't break my line. I estimated it at around 7lb and it put up a great fight on light tackle but was not the target species.

I continued to fish the river back to the road and decided to drive to the other side which I usually fish. Slipping into a swim that usually produces I manage to catch a fish of around 2lb. My favourite swim was taken at this time and so I continued fishing down the river. There was a man on the other corner swim who after talking to confirmed he was the angler fishing my favourite corner swim and he explained that he had now moved as there was no sign of any fish. I gathered my equipment and headed around to the swim where the anglers colleague who he was fishing with advised me they had put some bait in (hopefully not ground bait I thought). I cast out as usual close to the left hand snags 15 ft out or so and waited for a bite. Within five minutes the rod tip twitched and the line went slack. I reeled in to regain the tension but the line went slack again so I reeled in and connected with a decent fish. After a great fight in which the fish tried every trick in the book I had a 4lb chub in the net RESULT! Usually I find once I have caught a fish from a swim it goes quiet for a while and I usually like to leave it and come back but today I had fished all other available swims and it was getting late so i decided to re-cast. After 15 minutes or so the rod repeated its previous actions and I was into what I though was a pike. It tried to snag me up numerous times and had so much power. After a few surges I caught a glimpse of a chub and I realised I was attached to a truly great fish. After an amazingly strong fight the chub was in the net. It was truly massive and I thought it may have gone 6lb. It went 5lb (pic below) on the dot and although looked bigger I was well chuffed. Cant wait to get back to the river next winter. Chub rods away now and carp rods out. I have just received my ticket for Chertsey Cemex lake and have plans to fish Twynersh. (carp and roach). I will update you on these sessions and let you know what the summer brings. Please check out the video of my 5lb chub below.

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