30/06 Derwent

A similar start to last season, catching barbel but no big ones. The wandering approach again, lost a fish before catching one in the same swim 5 mins later, about 7lb again at 20:50. Also one chub but the barbel were still spawning on the shallows.

26/06 Derwent

A lot of walking for little reward, a chub of about 3lb to be precise. Good tanning weather though.

24/06 Derwent

Tried the more static approach due to the impending rain which started 1/2 hour after I arrived. Took a bit longer for the fish to arrive, about 3 hours then caught a chub and 2 barbel. Chub about 4 1/2 (but quite a long and empty fish) and both barbel about 8lb (22:00 and 22:20). Have since found my isotopes so can maybe stay a bit later now if I want.

21/06 Derwent

Nice to finally get OTM with my first barbel of the season, 8lb 5oz @ 19:10. Only other action was a foul hooked gudgeon and a small perch on a spinner. The riverbanks are looking considerably greener than they did a few months back.

18/06 Derwent

Had the stretch to myself, the only other guy there was leaving as I arrived, thought it was going to be busy on the 1st weekend of the season. Had a wander about with a lure rod but just a few follows from small perch before settling down for a couple of hours with the barbel gear. A chub, a roach and a bream on corn, nothing on pellet.

16/06 Trent

Ended up just fishing a few hours in the afternoon, nothing too serious just nice to be back on the river. A mixture of dace, roach, bleak and perch on the maggot feeder whilst the meat rod just caught me a few pieces of weed. Was quiet all round on the stretch, glad I took the maggots.

Closed Season Update

Probably done about as much fishing in the whole of the closed season as I do in a week sometimes during the river season. Played lots of golf though...

3 trips to one fishery which has produced some very good perch. Not to me though, just small perch, carp, bream and roach.

One tench fishing session, caught one tench.

One visit to the commercial I perch fished last closed season...quite productive for perch, caught a few but again, no big ones. Apparently the place did a 5lber this year as well!

As usual the tench had a liking for my prawns, the last of which fancied its chances against my match rod and took me all round the swim, tangled up with my livebait rod in the process and leaving me with the choice of tackling up both rods again or going home. I went home.

Apparently the fishing season starts on 16th june this year.