31/10 Derwent

Phase 2 of the Derwent pike relocation project. Wednesday I fished 2 swims up from where I was today and released the 3 pike I caught into this swim. Today I caught 3 pike and released them into that swim. Only 1 decent perch of about 2lbs and that was on maggot when catching bait.

2 barbel later on both about 8lbs (17:15 and 18:30) and a 4lb chub. One barbel to each bait, sweet and savoury.

29/10 Derwent

Solved the mystery of my dissapearing landing net handles. It could well be Alzheimer's. I've been putting them in the wrong pocket of my holdall. The one pocket I didn't think of looking in. I now have 3 working landing net handles. Should last me a few weeks that lot.
Just the one small perch. Not fished that area for a few weeks. Time to give up on it for good I think, at least for this season, wasted too much time there.

27/10 Derwent

Same swim as Sunday to take advantage of the mild spell. Has been fished by someone else inbetween but gave it a go anyway.

Arrived to find no landing net in my holdall. Must be the early onset of Alzheimer's or something. I've now lost 2 landing net handles in a week. And broke about 3 more this season. And people say fishings cheap...

No perch but 3 pike, 2 to gudgeon and one to maggot trying to catch gudgeon. May have lost a perch but it was the only take that didnt hook up and didnt feel particularly big.

3 barbel at 18:45, 19:10 and 20:00, biggest 2 pictured but only about 6 and 8 1/2lbs. Did dabble with the sweet boilie (after meat lost 2-0 to fishmeal boilie) and it caught the 3rd and biggest fish.

24/10 Derwent

A little worse for wear due to too many beers the night before and a late start. Which was a shame as the fish were in the mood today. 5 perch in the 2 - 2 1/2lb range, 4 to gudgeon livebaits and just the one on a worm. 3 small pike, although I think pike 2 and pike 3 were the same fish. Also caught small perch and some gudgeon and 2 minnows. Lost a couple of fish that cam off including one at the end which could have been a big perch but I never saw it before it came off. Next time pike can go back in the next swim down.

22/10 Trent

One of my more prolific barbel stretches. Forgot landing net pole/ lost it last time out. Fortunately it wasn't required. Blanked.

21/10 Derwent

One of those 'spur of the moment' decisions to go fishing. Cast in about ten past 6, broke rod at quater to 7. Went home fishless at 9. Fortunately my Free Spirit Big River Barbel rod also comes with a quiver tip section. Shame I'l no longer have a matching pair. Might make my choice of Xmas present a bit easier though...

17/10 Derwent

Clear skies and sunshine did'nt fill me with confidence, turned out OK in the end. No trouble catching livebaits although the first 2 decent perch caught were on maggot when I was trying to catch livebaits...

The loudest man in the world then decided to set up the other side of the bush next to me. Just ridiculously noisy and casting an 87oz feeder every 6 seconds. So I moved.

One decent perch in the next swim, similar size to the biggest from the previous swim, about 2 1/2.

Lost a really good one and had a couple of good takes on gudgeon that never hooked up. Which was a shame. Only caught 1 pike though which was a bonus.

15/10 Trent

As has happened a few times this season, an early fish then nothing. Well apart from rain, weed and getting snagged. One barbel, about 7 or 8lbs at 18:35. Must make some spare hooklenths up to take with me next time. And try and fish for something else for a change.

13/10 Derwent

What with struggling a little on the Upper Trent a bit of late, thought I would have a change of plan. Alternate between catching fish on the 'Easy' Derwent and then next time out fishing the Trent and so on. Anyway, I blanked. Need another plan.

11/09 Trent

Nice to have a day off in the week, managed to play golf and go fishing. Slipped up a bit at the golf club though...bought a new putter.

Not sure if I can use the bad swim choice excuse again. 1 chublet and a small barbel (about 4lbs at 18:20). Probably should have fished a different swim though.

7/10 Trent

Saved from a blank by a late chub of about 3 1/2lbs. Surprised at how much the river had fallen, thats my excuse for ending up where I was anyway, was really expecting conditions to be much different.

04/10 Derwent

Shame it had to be on a Monday with everyone at work (me included) but well done Europe.

At least the wet weather has improved the fishing a little.

Started at 6 and lost something early although it didnt feel very big. 9lb 9oz barbel at 18:35, a slightly smaller one at 19:25 and 8 1/2lber at 21:00. A good time to call it a day.


In the 3 hours I was there the river must have fell about a foot. We need more rain.

02/10 Derwent

A rare thing this season - a bit of extra water in the rivers. Hooked a barbel after about 1/2 hour which I didn't land, reeling in to find a curly wurly bit at the end of the hooklength...oh the shame...bad knot, (k)not done that for a while.

Next bite (8pm) a small barbel, about 3-4lbs (pictured)which I was convinced would be about twice as big. Started raining about 9pm just as I caught my 2nd barbel, a 6lber.

Being an idiot I had took my brolly with me but left it in the car. After 1/2 hour of deliberating whether to make the walk back to the car and fetch it to continue fishing I was soaking wet so went home via the kebab shop.