Back on the perch

It seemed to be over in a flash. The river season is well and truly closed now and it's time to look elsewhere. I've had a little dabble on the canal and already had some success. At first the pike seemed interested but the more I fished, it seemed it was follow after follow rather than takes. Most of the pike seemed to be eyeing up the lures as potential love interests rather than food. At one spot I had nine follows in half an hour. Time to go look somewhere else then.

So I knocked up a couple of light traces, pulled out my shiny new Gunki rucksack and off I went. It was nice to be out with the light lures again. Throwing big lures all day can be a bit tiring but the little stuff is just a flick of the wrist. I had a quick look at the usual locks and bridges but I just wanted to be off. Toddling off down the canal in search of the big old stripey. I wanted a fish but I also just wanted to be off. Somewhere different and a bit more chilled out. No pressure on myself to catch a pike, just go light lure fishing. Luckily I even managed to watch the eclipse through filtering clouds and watery reflections. I know eventually my perch fishing turns in to a hard slog, either when I go searching for a big lump or when the rivers feel like they have been shut forever. The canals get a bit boring for me by the time June comes along so for now I'm making the most of it all being a bit fresh.

First big perch of 2015 - Rapala jointed shad rap

My first session I didn't know where to start. Would the perch be in a tight spot somewhere or all spread out along the canal. I didn't really care, I fancied a walk anyway so off I went. Tough going to be honest but then eventually I got a thump and the rod bent round in familiar fashion and I felt the darting lunges of a decent perch. It was a good two pounder and first decent perch of the year. I decided to pop it back in the landing net and have a few more casts before weighing and photographing the fish. As most people know, it's always worth a few more chucks in the same spot any big perch comes from as they often hang about in groups. Bloody hell the rod smacked round again and I was in, but before I knew what had happened it was off. Damn, that could have been two lumps in the net at the same time. I lobbed the Rapala jointed shad rap back out and it was nailed again. After the first few seconds it went on a couple of lunges and I was thinking jack pike but then I wasn't so sure. No flash of a pike in shallow water and I was convinced I had a big perch on, even bigger than the one in the net and the one that got off. Bugger, the hooks pulled and this one was gone too. I reckon my drag wasn't loose enough. When a big perch goes on a run it should be pulling a bit of line off the reel, and this one couldn't. I reckon the hooks pulled because of that so keep that in mind perch lovers. A bit gutted I'd missed an opportunity of an even bigger perch and also the fact that I could have had three big perch in my net in less than five minutes. You win some you lose some. I managed to pick up another perch later, not quite big enough or fat enough to be a two. I've no idea what the first one weighed as I had a right mix up with my scales. I thought I had them in my bag, but they weren't there. I decided to peg the net and run 300m to the car for them. I did that, blowing out of my arse too having run that length in wellies. Upon checking the car the scales weren't there so I had to go all the way back. I had to put the fish back, knowing it was a big two but how big I wasn't sure. Never mind. May be it was a good thing that bigger perch got away. Later on, back at the car I found those scales and they were exactly where I was supposed to have looked.

A plan to go elsewhere was thwarted as upon arrival I was already beaten to the spot by three or four other anglers. So I upped sticks and carted myself off somewhere I'd fished earlier in the week. I'd seen some pike, caught one about eleven pound on a Buster Jerk and seen a few more. I thought I'd give them another go and see If I could get one of them to take this time. Sometimes that's what happens. One day they're a bit fussy, the next time you go they hammer the lure. Also as was the case this time, sometimes they're in the same bloody mood as last time your fished. With time running out before work and my Buster jerk darting left and right I caught a glimpse of something following. A few more taps of the rod and then a pause. I felt a pull so set the hooks and I was in. Panic, get the net! Jesus Christ it's a big fat perch. A big fat perch just came up and nailed my jerk bait. Awesome! Having searched all morning for a big perch, caught a decent one but lost a lump on the light gear I then go and bag the one I wanted on a proper pikers lure and at 3lb 6oz it was big enough to take it.

Perch on Buster jerk - 3lb 6oz

Ady was in the mood for perch. Pike fishing was behind us and he was ready for a stripey, especially after getting phone calls from me about my nice fish. So the weekend meant we were on it and this time he was bringing a mate. One of his buddies Dan, who is more of a carper, fancied a go at this ultra light game just for a change. The chance of a big perch being the attraction as is the case with many this past twelve months as big perch fever has swept the nation. Dan had no gear and didn't really know what to do with the lures so it was starting from scratch. Not always easy when you are fishing with two perch hungry, hundred mile an hour well drilled lure boys. Me and Ady fish together loads and know what to do and even what each other are thinking when it comes to fishing. So it was as hard for Dan to try to keep up as it was for us to try and slow down. It wasn't the easiest day to learn the ropes in the end though. The smaller perch weren't anywhere to be seen, which we were hoping would help him get off the mark. It then turned out that the bigger perch weren't showing either and after a few hours we were fish less. I'd missed a near two, and had a couple of jack follows but that was it for our efforts. We headed back for the car but half way there we fancied a chuck again and within a few minutes Ady was shouting for the net. On his tarty new lure rod he was playing a big perch and the Christening of the rod was complete as the net slid under a super 3lb 6oz perch. The second 3lber to us this week, and we've only just got back in to this perch bashing, what a start.

3lb 6oz perch - Rapala X rap shad

The fishing continued to be tough and another long trek and loads of water covered with not much to show for it at all. But as is always the case, you have to keep going as it only takes one cast to land a fish and before long it was time for another. Again, the shout came from Ady and he was in to a good perch. This one went 2lb 10oz and was another good looking fish.

2lb 10oz perch - Rapala x rap shad

Lunch time came and went, stretch after stretch of canal was covered but we couldn't find any shoals of perch willing to give us some fun and more importantly get Dan his first ever proper perch. We ended up miles from our starting point and we finally got some smaller perch fun though it was slow paced compared to the usual summer time madness. It was getting late in the day and it was looking like we were going to fail with our attempt to get Dan a new pb. Then out of nowhere four or five half decent perch, pushing a pound or so came darting in at his shad rap lure. A quick pluck from a couple of perch but then it was over as the lure was lifted out of the water. I had on a tiny 2 inch curly tail Zman GrubZ lure so gave him my rod. He dropped the lure in the spot where the fish had gone back down and gave a few jigs of the lure and then thump, he was in. It was a tight spot but Ady was quick with the net and it was in. We'd done it. A new pb for Dan and a super one too. A right little fatty of a perch at 2lb 5oz and probably 2lb bigger than he'd ever had before. A great way to finish the session. Hopefully the start of a good bit of ultra light fun over the next few months.

Dan with a new pb perch at 2lb 5oz - Zman GrubZ

Making a perch video, can't stop catching pike.

I work shifts, earlies, days and then afternoons. I love my early shift as I used to do twelve hour shifts from 6am so now an eight hour shift from 6am is an absolute doddle, plus I can often fish afterwards. Days is usually crap, especially in winter as it's dark before and after work. Afternoons is pants, but at least I get to go fishing on a morning so it has it's perk. I was due a week of afternoons but various things happened and I ended up swapping shifts and just doing two lates, which meant two days fishing. I'll talk about the first day here, but the second day out needs a post all to itself!

I get plenty of messages on my various pages and a young lad named Lewis was asking about ultra light fishing, braid choice, lures and the rest and also commented on how he liked my ultra light videos. So I thought I needed to make another one and on Wednesday that was the plan. We all get a little confused at what lures to buy as everyone always says you need this, you need that and then we end up with all sorts, much of which is just another version of something else. Soft shads and a few cranks and you're away. I love the jointed Rapala shad rap and suggested Lewis get a couple of those. I set off fishing with the intention of catching some perch on that lure, I had to prove it works.

I wasn't up super early and arrived at the canal for just before 9am. By heck it was grand weather again and so the shorts stayed on and my legs got some air to them. Probably not a good idea as I'd also get bit to death by all manner of blood sucking insects but never mind. I was trying to keep cool so also travelled as light as I could. Hardly any lures and not much else but my net.

I was out for perch with the hope that a decent one would show it's head. I'd not fished here for a while so no idea what to expect. Turned out I couldn't find any perch because the pike kept showing their heads. I love pike on the light gear, it's great fun. I think I lost one and ended up with five including one which was about 12lb, a nice chunky fish in good condition. My ultra light perch video wasn't going too well.

Pike on jointed rapala shad rap

I wasn't complaining one bit. It was great fun catching pike. I had a couple of spectacular hits and that's why i love lure fishing. Everything about it all is fantastic and whether it's tiny lures or big lumps of wood you can expect a pike to be along soon to add to the thrills. But I needed a perch, there had to be one somewhere and then eventually I got a hit, and the fight was something different, this wasn't a pike. I knew it was a perch, and a decent one at that. I'm trying to think of a way to explain the fight but can't. No lunges like a pike, no ten foot dash in one second like old esox. The tiny perch do a little dance and shake themselves about as much as possible. The bigger ones do the same, but you can feel a bit of weight to them as they shake their head about trying to throw them hooks. As the perch came in to view I hoped that those head shakes wouldn't shed the hooks. A perch battle always seems to last forever when often they are over pretty quick. Usually because you shit yourself at the thought of losing a big perch and so the net is forced under it it at the first chance you get. I still do that. The fight was over and I finally had a big perch to show Lewis.  Job done with a 2lb 12oz perch in the net. It was the last fish of my session and I headed back to the car and ate my lunch as I drove to work for the dreaded afternoon shift. I know i've said it before though. These afternoon shifts aren't so bad.

Perch on jointed Rapala shad rap

The video

Video updates.

I just thought I'd share my last few video updates on here just in case any of you lot have missed them. I'm trying to keep them a little bit different each time so it's not just the same thing all the time though eventually I guess it might just be me and Woody catching more fish, and then some more. Where I can though I'll try to keep it fresh if I can manage to be creative enough.

Anyway this first video was posted up to my Youtube page about over a month or so ago and it's just a bunch of pike action shots, slow motions and just general spectacular stuff that happens when pike fishing. It's why I do it.

Next we have one of my best productions to date. Out with Woody on his boat there's a few fish and some few high speed boating fun. A short fast and loud video for those with a short attention span like my kids, and probably most other peoples kids too.

 

Then we have a little video from a few weeks back where I went off on my own to a new bit of water looking for a few fish. I had no idea what to expect as I'd not even scouted out the place before. I was met with a hot day, peace and quiet with a few fish to the ultra light rod and the trusty Kopyto shad.

Finally we have another boat ultra light video with a few more fish caught and a few laughs on top. It won't be a box office smash but it shows what we get up to through the summer while we wait for proper piking weather, not this hot and sweaty crap we have right now. What's all that about?

I'd not really thought about it until recently, but it's nearly here.

Yes it's not too far off at all. We're now in to June by a few days, which means it's not long at all until we can finally fish the rivers again. I enjoy the canals for a while, it's a change and it gives me a break from chucking big lures as I mostly just take out the ultra light rod. But when it gets to about now I start to get the urge to throw a big jerk bait.

This time of year the canal fishing starts to annoy me. My local ponds aren't the best either. On the shallow canals there's a mass of weed taking over so little cranks are a nightmare to fish. Half the casts are ruined before they start because they hit some bit of weed a foot below the surface. Add to that some sunshine and the boaters are out in full force. The annoying weed becomes even more annoying than you could ever believe. It's whipped up and thrown around making sub surface lures a waste of time. At the weekend we were catching fish on a small canal but by about half ten the boaters were out and after the fourth or fifth went past we had to come up with a plan B. Add to that further that the canal then turns a murky dark colour from all the mud that's chucked up and we're left pulling our hair out. However if you can get on them before the boats are out, or late evening when they have calmed down and all the mud and weed has settled down you can manage to get some fun using surface frogs. We've already picked up a couple of fish using this method and when the pike are in full, mental swing taking frogs off the top it's amazing fun.


If you haven't tried it yet, get yourself a medium lure outfit, some braid of around 40lb with a suitable wire trace and a couple of surface frogs. Decent makes that I've used are the Koppers Live Target and the Spro BronzeEye frogs. Both virtually identical and perfect in my opinion. You can fish waters you previously thought were out of bounds. Where the weed has taken over or a mass of lilies covering the surface you can cast these weedless frogs over the top and bring it right through everything. Slowly twitching the frog from one lilly to the next, stopping it on a pad and then giving it a few twitches through the next tiny clearing. Don't expect a take in the clearing though. Nah, none of that. These pike are mental when they're hitting the frogs and they'll smash right up through the weed and pads and you'll miss the first half a dozen fish just gawping at what you just saw. Honestly, this fishing is nerve racking, edge of the seat poo your pants stuff. You'll be left amazed, amused, confused and frustrated but when you finally hook one you'll have as big a smile on your face with a three pound jack as you would with a new pb.

Spro BronzeEye frog

Perfect for frogging

So what else pisses me off this time of year. Other anglers that's who. It's mostly just me, I don't like seeing others on the bank as I like it all to myself. Some canals at this time of year are full of pole fishermen and the general match angler. Some chaps you can chat to and pass the time of day but some of them are a right set of miserable old bleeders. Jesus Christ, apologies if you're one of the decent match lads but for those that are of the arrogant wanker type, kiss my hairy balls. You get right on my tits. Another reason I hate fishing the canals right now. The times I've been out over the last few months in miserable rain and wind, caught a few fish and right enjoyed myself but as soon as the sun is out all these folk come out to play. I swear one of these days I'm hitting the canals on my push bike and I'm riding straight through those thousand pound poles and off in to the distant sunset.

Is my frustration coming out? Can you tell I'm ready for some solitary pike fishing on smelly rivers no one fishes? Frig me, I can't wait.

MH custom lures Alphabet

So last weekend me and my buddy were out as usual trying to think of somewhere to catch a few fish. The tiny canal was the starting point and we had a few fish. I just had the ultra light rod while Woody also brought a second rod which he put a frog on. He fancied a dabble to see if he could wangle one out and after a few follows and fish missing the lure he eventually snagged one. However it was the MH Alphabet crank that did the trick. After a pike charged out a few times only to refuse the frog, he quickly made the switch and the pike took the alphabet first pass. A little later after some perseverance he finally had his first on a frog this year and it got us thinking a little more about using them. I wasn't having much luck until I put on small jerkbait. It was one I picked up in a second hand shop, hand painted by someone but it looked to me like a small Salmo Slider. At least I was using jerk baits and I enjoyed that and then not long in to it I bagged a jack. Then a little later I put on a Rapture Swimmy I'd had sent to me by Lure Lounge to try out. A soft lure with a diving lip. One of those soft lure swimbaits that you just know will bag some fish and I had a jack in no time at all. The canal muddied up not long after that so we had to go elsewhere and this also meant a change of tactics.

Rapture Swimmy

On the new canal it was jigging and small cranks. A much larger canal with more depth, less weed and loads of match men. Oh heaven! It was after lunch time now and we'd lost interest in serious fishing and just had a play around. I don't know how it came about but we ended up trying to catch fish on every lure in our box. If we caught on a Kopyto we switched to a Rapala and when we caught on that, on went a Yogi. In the end we'd caught fish on about twelve or thirteen lures. Proving that it's often not the lure but what you do with it. It was good to have a mess around and catch some fish, light hearted fun and a good bit of sport. We've a few more weekends to get through and this week we'll be trying to think of something or somewhere to go that'll keep us beaming and not just going through the motions. Lure fishing for us is meant to be fun. We love to catch the river monster or the huge spiky dorsal Sargent but in between those sessions we just like to have some fun.

Not long now.

Savage Gear Manic shrimp

Relax Kopyto shad

Tungsten jig

Rapture Vibra Shad

Rapala Jointed shad rap

Highs and lows.

Thought I'd round up the week a bit. It's been one of mainly highs with a massive downer at the end. Fish wise I've caught a few and social media wise I've done pretty good. Going right back to last Sunday and the Epic pike take I actually had a few more fish that day which I didn't write about. I was chucking the 2 inch Kopyto shad around in the hope of perch and spotted some chub cruising the surface but every time I cast at them they ignored the shad. I kept picking up small perch but never found any bigger stripeys in the swim, may be they're not there? Casting around trying to find out where the fish were I got a whack and the rod bent double. I wasn't filming at the time but quickly switched on the camera to capture the majority of the battle and a decent low double pike. This time of year the pike are strong as hell and put in a fight and this fish gave me a good run for my money but with a steady approach I eventually got it in my undersized net. I'd only brought the perching net so the fish only just squeezed in. If you follow my Facebook or Youtube you might have seen this already but if not here's the fishy video below.

That was actually the first pike of the day with another four esox coming in total. One more to a kopyto and the others to free lined livebait as I wrote in the last entry. I did lose a couple of pike too which I didn't manage to set the hooks in to but that was to be expected on an ultra light rod. Back on the Kopytos I'd had a few more perch and spotted loads of bleak and small chub cruising the surface with those bigger chub evading me, at least two I'd guess with one a little bit bigger than the other. I'd kind of given up on them and was slow retrieving the shad, no jerks or pauses just a slow as possible motion. It was whacked again and all though at first I couldn't help think it was a pike it wasn't long before I realised I'd finally hooked a chub. Camera switched on quickly as again I wasn't even ready to film. It turned out to be a nice fish pushing 4lb but not quite there I guessed. I put it back and not long after swapped banks, crossing over at the lock gates. This gave me another angle to cast the lures and no sooner had I started my first slow retrieve it was smacked again. You'd think by now I'd have had the GoPro suckered to my forehead but no, silly arse had it in the bag so had to whip it out and catch the last bit of battle with what turned out to be the bigger of the two chub I'd seen and this chub went four and a half pounds, super fish. I reckon I'd just dropped on this spot at a perfect moment, fish of all sizes everywhere in a mass feeding frenzy. If only all fishing was that easy. The tiny Kopyto was simple tactic to use but it bagged up, wire trace and the lot. Just shows that pike, perch and chub don't care about a bit of wire. If you want to see the chub action watch the video below.

So midweek I had some spare time in the evening a couple of days. I could go back but fancied a change of scenery. Somewhere different that would throw up a new set of challenges for me. I do get bored easily and don't always go for the easy option. I arrived at the new canal to find it crystal clear. Not usually the best for lure fishing I find when you add the bright sunshine on top. It was nice to be out though after busy days art work and being alone with mile after mile of canal and not another person let alone angler in sight was great. I set off up canal with all the gear and no sooner had I gone 100m a massive cloud came over. A cold wind came in and the sky turned dark. A distant rumble of thunder had me on alert. When I looked around, the highest object around seemed to be me. I didn't fancy conducting electricity down my two rods so sharpishly headed back to the car. I chucked the gear in and sat watching as the rain lashed down and the storm gave me some fantastic viewing. I wish I'd have had time to set the GoPro up as I might have got some great footage, especially a couple of the strikes which went horizontally across the sky. Proper wow moments.

When the storm past, a good twenty five minutes later I was back out and back to where I'd left off before. Again I carted loads of gear which had be casting the rapala first then having a chuck with a heavy jerkbait before moving on. This was hard work, especially when the cold front moved off to be replaced with flat calm, blue skies and scorching hot sun. I was sweating buckets now and after a good haul and no fish I about turned and went back to the car. I was now heading for a massive blank and had to figure out how to save the day. Everything went back in the car all except a couple of items. Of course a rod, the ultra light set up was chosen and one lure. My trusty 7cm jointed Rapala shad rap. Rather than bright colour I'd chosen a more natural light blue and white version. I left the net, lure box and bag, scales and even the camera. The only other item were a pair of long nosed pliers in the back pocket and off I went.

I kept seeing fish, some nice perch were about but they were not interested. They were settled on the canal bed and even knocking them on the head wouldn't interest them. I think they had already had a feed and were just sat digesting their food. If I could find a jack though he might help me save a blank before I finally had a bit of interest but it was a half hearted take from a 1lb plus perch who wouldn't come back for another go. When it seemed like I was running out of time and water I spotted a movement. A single chub was cruising the surface coming towards me. I cast past it and brought the lure right across it's path and as soon as the chub saw my lure it darted straight for it. The blank was saved with a fish about 2lb. This was then followed up by a take in the deep channel in the middle of the canal with what turned out to be a super looking 2lb stripey. A great result in the end and I went home happy. Pictures taken on the iPhone.

Chub - Rapala Jointed shad rap

Perch - Rapala jointed shad rap

I was out again the next day but where to? Should I go to where I had so much success or back to the hard grind and crystal clear waters? I chose the hard grind, I guess I'm a sucker for punishment. I had a crack with the Rapala again but after an hour or more of no joy I decided it was time for a change. The tactic often worked but it wasn't really now so I went for the Kopyto, though a 2.5inch bright green effort. Often I was casting out and just bringing it in but then I would also mix it up with bottom bouncing and even really, really slow retrieve along the bottom. Trying to puff up a cloud of dust to interest something. By the time I was back at the car I'd probably fished a good 500m of bank in total for no reward, not even a pluck. Today I would blank for sure. Tail between my legs I was nearly at the car and was going to avoid the starting spot and just go home but I gave it one last go. Five perch in total with this the pick of the fish. Luck? Skill? I'd say just perseverance in the end.

Perch - Relax Kopyto

This week I had a few fantastic offers via other fishing related folk on the internet. One is a rather generous offer to fish with a total stranger, but no doubt fantastic bloke, some time in the future. One I won't say much more on just now, only that when it happens I'll gladly tell the story as it will be a fantastic experience. Another was interest in my Youtube video making and fishing skills combined. Another that when it comes off you'll be the first to know. Someone with awesome skills and that I can't wait to work alongside. Then finally late this week an offer of sponsorship for my Youtube videos. There's a new lure shop out there with the name of Lure Lounge and my videos will feature a little plug for his website. While very new, it only opened on Friday, there is already a good stock of lures. Some well known such as Savage Gear and some not so well known to us here in the UK but it seems the lures he is stocking are well known in places such as the US and Australia for starters. That is part of his plan, to bring in and supply not just the easy to get hold of lures but stuff we often struggle to find. So get yourself over to LureLounge.co.uk and have a browse. There's already a bit of variety and some interesting looking lures to try so next time you're needing a lure fix grab some gear from Lure Lounge.


Finally, after a great week of all things fishing for me I ended with a fishing free weekend. I was planning to get out with Woody somewhere, if only to catch a bit of sun. But right at the end of the week I was dealt a massive blow when my best mate suddenly fell ill. My best mate, like many of you lot too no doubt, was my dog Poppy. A real character and genuine, perfect, family loving dog. An absolute gem of a mate and one I am going to miss deeply. RIP Popples.

Poppy

What to do when the rivers close?

With the rivers closed me and Woody decided for a steady session on the canals trying to find some perch. We know that they are nice and fat now, so could be a big fish or two if we're lucky but we also know that every man and his dog are at them. With the light gear we wanted some light fun but we also took the jerk bait rods just in case as there's a couple of locations along the way that throw up pike and we can't resist them sometimes.

We started at a lock, obvious feature, and the first few flicks produced nothing so we moved on and had a crack around some boats, always a good feature if you can find them. The odd tap but nothing to start with so we got up and personal, dropping the kopytos right in the gaps between closely moored up boats. It's only a matter of time before we get a fish or someone from inside a boat comes out and has a whine. I dropped in a tight spot that Woody was in and just dropped the kopyto below the rod tip, I jigged once and it was nailed by a plump fat perch possibly touching two pound, though I never weighed it. As is the case when me and Woody are fishing, as one guy is playing a fish he points to the same spot and the other one drops in. You never know, often there is another perch or two hanging about. His kopyto was nailed instantly and a fat perch, busting at the seems was in the net. Smaller, just over a pound maybe but fat as hell. We're off!

Tactics carried on the same, in and around the next boats but only the odd small perch showed and after a while we were making or way back to the car, time to try a new spot we thought. As we neared the car, out pops an old woman from within her boat. In a loud, aggressive and damn right disrespectful manner she shouts "those better not come anywhere near this boat!"  while pointing and gesturing. We weren't anywhere near it and hadn't been. I replied with "good morning to you too my love" to which she barked back more aggressive crap. Again I said "good morning to you too love, how about you speak to us in a proper manner and raise your concerns, you might be pleasantly surprised at the response." She was just a miserable old git that thought she was lady somebody. After more words she threatened us with the old, "I'm phoning the police" to which me and Woody chuckled. There really was no need for the way she had handled this. She proceeded to explain to the 999 operator that she "was ever so sorry to trouble you" and that there were two fisherman and she had asked "nicely" to leave. Blah blah blah and then she finished with thank you. We were in trouble. Actually I kindly explained to the lady she had forgotten to tell the police where we all were. It would take her ten minutes to explain our location and she'd forgot to do that. Her act of pretending to phone the police didn't intimidate anyone and didn't fool us. We were on our way anyway so not long after toddled off. The police never did turn up. Some people really do need to learn how to speak to their fellow human beings.

We jigged a couple of other likely looking spots but never found any fish so we had to keep going to another spot we knew about. On this spot we fancied some pike and perch so took the light and heavy gear. Switching between both and trying our luck where we fancied it, leap frogging each other and swapping rods when something made us do it. We were both at one point throwing squirrelly burts (big pike jerk baits) about. We know there are often pike about and expected a take any time soon. There's also some nice perch along here and Woody commented, "I bet a big perch would take that burt easily" to which I agreed. Less than a couple of minutes later something smacked the burt. I struck and missed, cursed my luck but then said "I actually think that was a perch mate". It wasn't a big smack like a pike, so I cast straight back at it and brought the burt through and then bang, fish on! "I'm in" and Woody looked across and saw a jack, turned away and then heard me shout "get the net". When he looked back he saw the stripes, it wasn't a jack as he'd thought, so threw down his rod and came running with the net. In no time the perch was scooped up and safely in the net. Two super sized grins to match the super sized perch in the net. We jumped around like idiots, hugged each other and danced, it was like something off a Disney film. I'd stupidly brought the jerk bait bag and the net was too big to weigh the perch accurately so Woody watched the fish in the net while I ran back to the car, which was frigging miles away. About 50 yards short of the car I found a carrier bag hanging in a tree, that will do, so I then hot footed it back. We weighed the perch and I was gobsmacked when it went 3lb 6oz, what a result.

The "burt"

I stuck with the burt but can't remember if Woody was still doing the same. Fifty yards up I had another smack and this time it was a jack of about 6lbs. Finally a pike, by now I expected we'd had a couple of jacks. I guess they weren't at home today. Still with the burt I was bringing it in and as it neared my rod tip I could have sworn I saw something. I just stopped the burt below the rod tip and it ever so slowly started to rise. Whatever it was below was now not just a trick of the light rippling over the waves, it was a fish coming up and then I saw it. Another bloody great big perch. I didn't know what to do and it all was slow motion until finally the perch saw me, turned and dived back down. Holy cow, they love burts today.

Savage Gear Low Rider

We hit another jigging spot but again nothing produced so we turned back around and headed back to the car. We wanted food and drink now but couldn't walk past all that water without fishing. Woody had a small rapala on and was aiming for perch while I decided to stay fifty yard behind him and thrash the water with big lures, a Savage Gear 19cm low rider. From nowhere my lure was smacked and in seconds I saw another big perch on the end of my line. Woody was miles away with the net so I just scooped it up in one hand. It was a good two and after more smiles and amazement the fish was put back without a photo for some strange reason. I hope I don't sound like some snobby angler who doesn't like two's!(edit - grabbed a screen shot from a video I took)

Back out in front and Woody was thrashing the water with his rapala and then he got the hit, heart thumping moment, wondering what it was only for a jack of about five pounds to emerge. An enjoyable catch but not when you are only thinking of big perch at that moment. Then finally he had a bang and a fight he'd been waiting for and when we scooped up the 2lb 6oz fish we were well happy, another super fish.

We made it back to the car and I had my pasty with Woody his cat food/tuna thingamy bob and a drink to get us some energy back in. It was after midday now so we still had a bit of time to fish and set off in search of more.


A new spot produced a hit, a brief tussle and then what I thought was a perch shook the hooks free. A bit gutting but at least we knew we were on to fish again. A little further along all of a sudden all hell breaks loose. We were both fishing in the same spot. We both had small rapala shad raps on and casting at the same spot, a foot or two at most apart. Woody shouts "fish" and within a second I shout "double!". He was in to a big perch and he thought I meant I was in to a double figure pike, but in fact I too was in to a good perch. The net was nearer me and I whipped it under my fish. Woody had the foresight to have brought his pike boat net, so while my fish lay safe inside the net Woody worked his perch towards and at the last second I dipped one end and scooped up his perch too. A double hook up and two super perch sat in the net.

We danced around again like idiots. We've had double hook ups before but nothing in this league. The perch were unhooked and then rested in the net while we sorted scales and cameras. It doesn't really matter the weight, the fish today were fantastic but it is nice to know a weight as guessing can be way off. Woodys fish went 2lb 7oz, fatter than it looks there and then my fish was in the bag for a weigh and it went 3lb 5oz. Feck off, you're kidding me, another three!

Firetiger Rapala jointed shad rap

Covering more water we knew there was a chance of something else, hopefully another nice perch or two. Even a couple of ones and twos would be fantastic but after a bit of water covered nothing more came so when we reached a good distance we about turned and headed for home. We tried a few new things but then got back to the rapalas and back in to the same pattern of leap frogging and hitting any spot that shouted out to us. Three quarters of the way back and now fast running out of water it was nearly time to pack up and go home. However there was to be one last piece of magic to come. Woody was a little in front of me, twenty yards or so but his lure was towards me, and then all of a sudden, "I'm in" he yelped. I whipped in my lure and dashed up the bank with the net. I drew level with the fish and then saw it, a good lump with dark stripes and awesome spikes standing tall. I don't think Woody quite knew how big a perch it was just yet and I beckoned him to just angle the fish toward me, then scooped it up with the large net. This was another superb fish and at 3lb 7oz was the biggest today and a fantastic end to a storming day out. We had a couple of smaller fish, Woody one over a pound but that was it. We were happy and it was time to go home. Two jacks, a good sprinkle of 6oz to over a pound perch, five twos and three, three pound super stripeys. Another top day and one to remember. Missing the rivers much?

Eventful adventure but the target fish escaped us

Yesterday I went out with Woody to a new river, to me at leastanyway. He phoned me mid week to ask if I fancied an adventure. Silly question as I love going new places. He then dropped it to me where it was, and mentioned the zed word, Zander. I don't know what I was more excited about, the brand new river or the chance of a zed. I was a bit giddy for the rest of the week.

I arrived at Woodys house at around 5:20am. It's the first time I'd been to his house and I managed to find it on the second pass, his house is tucked in a little cul-de-sac off the main road. I pulled in to find the road was tiny so I had to spin the car around, half in someone's drive. At least at that time no one would see me. I then struggled to park as the small road was full of cars, plus Woodys car and boat but I found a space next to a fence. his house lights were on and then Woody popped his head out of the front door. He invited me in, we had a quick brew and he also plonked in front of me his iPad and a video of Matt Hayes from Youtube. A great video and it got the juices flowing for certain. We chucked my gear in his car and then I moved mine around to another spot where Woody said it would be better and then we were off. A good couple of hour drive was in front of us, which I don't mind though the only problem with this is it's fishing time wasted. We'd just have to work harder to make the most of our time when we got there. We'd only been on the road an hour when Woody got a call from his missus Becky to tell him that I'd been slagged off on Facebook for parking on a private drive, that I was this far from getting a ticket from the local self proclaimed wannabe traffic warden. Ha ha, some people are sad. They need to get fishing in their lives and chill the feck out! A bit of drama to start with but the day was going to have more events than a few saddos on Facebook. Straight on to drama number two. We were plodding along the motorway when out of the corner of my eye I see a low flying Wood pigeon. They are often a bit slack as it is but this one had decided to low fly across the motorway. At the last second it swerved to miss the car on our outside in the middle lane. It missed the drivers window by a fraction, up and over that car, but the wind and slipstream caused of that just car sucked it back down the other side and then straight in to the drivers window of our car. Of course Woody hadn't seen it and it had him shitting his pants, to my amusement of course. His window was also open about three inches, how funny would it have been if that thing had flown straight in? Me and Woody frantically doing our best to stop Tike from running around the car trying to catch a pigeon, ha ha!

Pulling up to the boat launch we were now excited. But our first thoughts after checking out what the river looked like were that the ramp was a little steep and the funny angle meant there wasn't much room for mistake as if we got it wrong the trailer would run off the edge of a tight angled, steep short ramp. First attempt saw us slightly wrong and so we had to get the car up the ramp again. The wheels span and it didn't look good, arse cheeks squeezed firmly and it was back for another run up. This time we got it right and I shoved the boat off. All aboard and we were all set for our little adventure though we both knew that getting out might be a little tricky especially if we get some rain later in the day.

We had a little troll of the light lures a few hundred meters down to the bottom of this stretch of river. There was a weir and also some lock gates which we wanted to have a jig around and that's where we were heading. I wasn't targeting a zander, the new river was enough excitement for me but I would love to catch one. Woody had zeds on the brain and wanted to get us both in on the fish, obviously any zed for me was a pb and that was his target. We pulled up at a fishy looking spot and got on with tying up the boat. Woody dropped down a kopyto and started to make it dance. There was a knock and his rod tip was bent and he was in to a fish. Is it a zander? We couldn't help but think that way as it's all we'd talked about. I grabbed the net and watched as the fish kept yanking away and putting a bend in the rod. We were in a small area and there wasn't much room so often the fish was under the boat, even the rod was bent under the boat sometimes so we never saw the fish which just added to the excitement. Eventually up it popped,  a small jack. Grrr! We both knew that there was far more chance of us catching our usual prey of pike and perch but you can't help getting excited at the thought of something different. Jigging this spot we picked up a few perch also before moving off thirty yard or so to jig another bit. Again more perch until we moved the next thirty yard where the fish finder showed a mass of black, a ball of fish? This ball seemed to move around so we knew something was here. The something turned in to more perch, they were everywhere. Small ones, half decent ones right up to around ten ounce or so. There must surely be a bigger perch or two here but after half an hour or so it went quiet and we'd not found them.

The plan now was for a steady troll up river to see what was ahead of us. We knew it was a half decent stretch but that we would cover it easily in the time we had so we wanted to get up it, see what fish we could pick up and then target the weir at the other end. There was a very strong flow to the river and this meant it was a bit of a struggle for the boat going up stream. A bit of wind had picked up which added to this but we didn't mind too much as we've fished in worse and caught. It was a little slow but we did keep picking up the odd perch and then every now and again a small pike. We expected to see more anglers on the bank but there was only a handful up to now. They can be a hazard to us trolling as often they are tucked in to some bushes out of sight. We come past trolling out our long lines, they have a couple of rods out and long lines out and then we all end up in a pickle if the lines cross. As we passed one angler, we were sure we were far enough away for this not to happen. But I had a knock which turned out to be nothing other than something on my line that wasn't a fish. As I started to bring my lure in I saw fishing line. I looked across to the bank angler and he wasn't grabbing for his rods at least. I ended up pulling in about sixty yards of strong line with a feeder on the end but no hook link. How the hell this had happened I don't know. The rig looked new and also like it had been done by someone who knew what he was doing. I tied up all the line into a ball and chucked it in my bag to get rid of later.

With the weir in sight, we'd not fared too well and thought we should have had more fish but didn't know why we hadn't. Anyway now we had the lock gates and the weir to have a go at. There were a couple of anglers around which meant we couldn't fish all of the weir but the lock was fair game and this is where we went first. I moored us up and we got to fishing a fast bit of water around the gates, with a couple of slack spots off it including a good slack right at the gates though we weren't quite on that bit yet. Woody was in to a perch in no time which was a bit better than what we'd been having though of nothing of notable size. I too got in to the perch and again a half decent one at that. I got Woody to take a photo since by now I was thinking we were having a slow day and I needed something for the blog at least.

Having given this bit of water some stick we decided to give the gates some hammer but this meant getting up close with the boat and holding in the slack water. Sat afloat just before the lock gates we both looked up and the gates were huge. We passed comment on how we needed to stay sharp and get out of there if we thought there was to be a boat coming our way as we wouldn't want to be there when the gates opened. Jigging around we picked up more perch including a few half decent fish, similar sized as before. There was then a strange noise. I can't actually remember what I heard, a squeal, an alarm, someone banging drums. I can just remember me and Woody looking at each other. I think we both thought, what the fuck? We both also then thought, there's a boat in that lock. I presume most people know why and how a lock gate works but just to highlight on the important bit. We were below the lock gates. If those gates were closed and full of water a boat from upstream can enter, then be lowered and come out our side on the downstream section. However the gates don't just open as that would be thousands of gallons of water being thrown out and a boat riding a massive wave. Instead the water comes out below and lowers the craft gently. Problem being, we were right where the water came out. All of a sudden the water below us started to bubble and boil. We were already getting our rods in at the point we heard the alarm but we were too slow. The boat started to move around and as Woody tried to put the power on and get us out it had little affect. We were riding a massive boil of water, it was churning up at an immense rate and we were in the shit. Apart from panic there wasn't much I could do except panic though I was also watching the back end of the boat to keep an eye out for bubbling water coming up and over the lowest point of the boat. Woody could only panic as he tried to get some control of the boat and some control over himself as he panicked. We finally were out of it after a combination of the boat taking us out and the water forcing us out, though we both know that it was way more the part of the water. You can laugh after an event like that but at the time it was very much arse clenching time. Make note if you are a boat fisherman for future reference.

Very windy day on the river

Next we had a go at the weir. We tried to get as close as was safe, especially with thoughts of our last episode very fresh in our heads. We tried in vain to get in and fish some of the faster water and any slacks but the force was too much and after a while we gave up. We fished plenty of the area with little success to be honest and eventually made our way back downstream, trolling as we went along. We actually started to pick up a few fish and downstream we seemed to be getting more fish than we did coming upstream. We also noted it was far easier to get the lures down than before and that the boat was hardly having to do anything, on minimum revs and we were fishing much better like this. The only thing against us now was the wind from before was now much much worse. In fact we might have been better with a sail than a motor. I took some photos to try and show how bad it actually was but even this picture doesn't look as rough. At least us going with it all instead of against it all was a little easier. We kept on trolling the light lures and as we passed a tree Woody was doing something, I can't quite remember what, maybe getting a sausage roll. He had his rod wedged in his legs to free up his hands. I just managed to look up at the right point as his rod was smacked by something and arched right over. Woody frantically grabbed the rod and it was fish on. Immediately he knew something was different and I wound in my lure and grabbed the net. As the fish came close we both spotted a huge chub. We knew we had a chance of one here and finally we had it. The fish wasn't finished and it wasn't quite ready for the net. I mentioned the current on this river was strong earlier but didn't really say how strong. I also mentioned the wind by now was strong and again hadn't really emphasised the point. We were steadily speedily drifting and as the chub came close it made one last dash, right under the boat and right under the propeller. Woody cut the engine but was fractionally too late and the fish was off and not only that his line was caught in the prop. I dropped anchor so that we could safely sort out the mess but the anchor did little except slow us down, it wouldn't bed in to anything because presumably the river bed was just soft. At one point it held up and we were actually ok but then next time I looked we were off again. We were pushed downstream at an alarming rate, easily a couple hundred meters but at least we weren't right in the middle and there was no other boat traffic about. We got sorted about a hundred metres up from a couple of bank anglers. There wouldn't have been much we could do as we drifted past, trolling the anchor and pulling in their rods!

Getting back to fishing we decided to give a bit of a stretch some stick with a new tactic. By now, even with the strong current and winds Woody had seemingly mastered it to a degree at least. We had some sense of control as we drifted down and our new tactic was to drift and throw jerk baits in all the likely looking weedy spots, under over hangs, slack spots anywhere and everywhere. However this turned out to be pretty fruitless with just one jack to the boat. So back to trolling again we picked up the odd fish and before long we were nearly back at the bottom of the stretch. We'd been back up certain stretches along the way so it wasn't just a straight return trip and so now it was late afternoon. It was time to hit the lock gates we'd had a bit of fun with the perch this morning in the hope something decent might be there.

Mooring up it was to be the same tactics, simply jigging our kopytos. I cast out and slowly started to twitch it back. Typically in perch fashion I felt a nip, then another and then Bang! "I'm in mate" I said and then in no time it turned to "it's a decent perch I reckon." Woody was sorting the net just in case while I had a bit of a battle with something on the other end of the line. As it got close it then went mental and my rod was bent double. Still confident it was a perch by the fight I was now thinking BIG perch. It then came up and gave us a flash of spikes and stripes and we knew it was good. You can now add the usual knee trembling moments you get when you see a big perch on the end of your line. The next time it came up it was in the net, result! Another brute of a perch to the boat after last week when Woody grabbed one just short of three. I didn't think it was quite three but it was a long fish and Woody sorted the scales out while I unhooked and then left it in the net to get some oxygen. It went 2lb 12oz and I was chuffed with that.


After some trophy shots I thought I'd put the fish back in the net to make sure it was fine. As I turned a voice from a moored up canal boat asked "what fish was that?". A lady and he man were sat having a cup of tea on their moored up canal boat and I'd not even noticed them before. With my attention distracted I lost co-ordination somehow and as I went to put the fish in the net I slipped and nearly went in head first. The fish went in the net and I clung to the side of the boat with just half my arm getting wet. Jeez, can we have any more dramas? We told the lady it was a perch and she chuckled at me nearly falling in and then watched on as we put the fish back and then proceeded to catch more perch though none anywhere near as big. Moving on and mooring up in another bit we pretty much chilled out for a bit. We were in a sun trap, out of the raging wind and current and it was actually quit nice now, though just in this corner. We weren't particularly catching much but it was good to just relax a little. I was casting around the kopyto, often you'll bump the bottom and you have to work out if it was the bottom, weed, or a fish. As my kopyto came to the surface it was missing a tail. I must have had a nip from something so I put on a new lure and cast out in hope of a fish. As I did so spotted Tike take a snap at the lure as it swung past his nose. Having watched him do this through the day I was now wondering if it was a fish that had bit my lure in half or the crazy dog. When I asked him him declined to comment. Hmm?

Back to trolling we gave the lower stretch a bit of stick and got a few more fish out. Woody hooked in to something half decent, especially on the light gear which after a good scrap turned out to be a pike of seven or eight pound which was a good way to finish the day. By now the wind was mental and any up stream travel was a little rough and wet. As he turned to make a last attempt for home came the final drama of the day. Woody's cap went flying off as the wind took a hold and before we knew it was drifting off yards away. Coming up behind us was a large canal boat which was actually tramming quite fast and heading for the hat. Woody span the boat and cranked the motor to full speed. I jumped and grabbed the net and we sped off to intercept the hat before the canal boat sent it to the depths. I had to treat this netting job as a 4lb perch or an any sized zander, there had to be no mistake and I had just one shot at it. Get in, as we sped past I scooped it up and Woodys Rapala Cap was saved. We now just had the tricky task of getting the boat back up the ramp. We decided to empty everything out of the boat and leave it to one side to save on weight. Second attempt and we were lined up nicely and we winched on the boat. As Woody let off the clutch, the wheels span briefly but we were off and up. I reckon it was mainly down to me though since I also put my shoulder in to it giving the car a helpful nudge. As most of you will have seen I'm naturally a big lad and it's my natural strength that played the big part. The car was loaded up and we were on our way, with Woodys Cap clamped firmly in the boat's fish finder clamp flapping away to dry off in the breeze as we went. We talked about our day, the positives and the negatives and the lack of zander action which was a pity. We weren't too disappointed but it was a shame as I've never even seen one up close. We might have to do some more homework and go off in search of them again in the near future.

2lb 12oz perch

Going fishing - a matter of life and death?

Beautiful perch

Well what an eventful day. Sometimes you have the urge, a need to go fishing and it feels like a life and death thing, the pull is so strong. At least that's how it feels to us fisherman anyway but today we were about to prove that sometimes it really is about life and death.

I've been out on the boat again with Woody for more ultra light fun in the hope of some perch. On that front it was a success with around seventy fish to the boat between us, though that figure is an estimate as we had far too much happening to keep track of fish numbers. It's nice to have an idea of fish numbers as it gives you an idea how the day went but to me and Woody it's not something we're chasing, there's no figure we're after before we start we just want a few fish and some laughs. Today we got plenty more than we'd planned.

We had the boat in the water for not long after 6am but when Woody tried to start the engine it was a struggle. He'd just had a tinker with the engine adding a new pull cord in the week and it seems something wasn't quite right, it seemed too short even though he measured it against the old one. Something to keep him busy in between the next outing but at least now he managed to get it going after a  just a few pulls. It was a cool morning considering the weather we've been having and we were both looking forward to the sun breaking through. In the mean time we picked up a few fish in a steady start to the day. Actually, I had just one perch while Woody had around ten. It just shows that lure choice can be a big factor. Neither of us think it's anything much more than the depth the lure gets down to and we reckon Woody was getting his lures deeper than I was. I either needed to change lures or hope for some shallower water. I knew the lure I had on gets to 14ft and there's plenty of water to come at that depth for me to pick up some fish, plus plenty of fishing time so I was confident I'd catch a few eventually.

Finally it was my turn and I hit a purple patch where I bagged ten fish in quick succession along a short stretch of boats. The fishing seemed good here and we had a couple of runs over it and picked up more fish. While passing a couple of boats, a couple of old chaps decided they wanted to talk down to us. What is it with some people? These chaps had large boats, obviously a bit of money and had lived a while but it doesn't mean they are superior to us insignificants. Most old chaps are spot on but sometimes you get a pair who think they own the river and that you're a nobody, an idiot and have no right to be here. "Can you troll further away from the boats?" one clever sod asked as we passed. Sensing the tone the question was delivered in I bluntly said "No". He then gave us a lecture on how if we hooked a fish it would go under his boat and get tangled in his prop. I assured him it wouldn't but he still harped on. Woody gave him a few words and we carried on what we were doing, trolling along the boats. His mate then piped up "just leave it you're wasting your time, some people just haven't got a clue". My god, some people think they're so superior to everyone else.

Woody chasing snotties

The fish were mostly perch, probably 80% of them the rest were pike all except for one fish. Woody just loves a bream on the lures. I don't know how he does it but he's always snagging one in the back. Actually I do know why, Woody is good at getting the lure down right to the bottom of the river and I think this is why he bags a bream more than anyone else. We grabbed a few pike from "like a pike but smaller" size to about probably 7lb and when you add a few of these in every now and again it adds for some good fun. I also managed to capture these couple of shots below of Tike watching as Woody plays a pike.

So we weren't doing too bad by now. It's mid morning and we're confident it'll be a fish filled day. We round a corner to an area we sometimes pull up so Tike can get out and have a drink and a pee, on a sand bank which is also a spot for people having picnics, throwing sticks for their dog and also very popular when it's sunny for people swimming. Obviously the sand bank is what draws them here. As we come round we can see a bloke/lad sat on the right bank in just his shorts. He's talking to a girl/young lady swimming in the river. She's about 30 yards from him maybe a shade more and she's 15 yards or more from the left bank. We can make out that he's asking her if she's ok and it looks as though she's treading water. I start to real in my lure, hook it on to the rod and stick it in to the holder. Woody is sensing the same thing and he gets his rod in. By now we can see the young lady is treading water but she's not comfortable, her head is facing up, her chin is up, her arms are not relaxed. The lad sat on the bank says "I'm coming" but he would be way too late. As if we've done this before, I turn and make my way to the front of the boat as Woody cranks up the speed of the boat. The young lady has a look of "what the hell?" panic and relief as we pull up by her. I reach out my hand and lift her and she grabs hold of the boat and then Woody guides us all gently to the side. She explains she's not the best swimmer and is getting some practice. "This isn't the place to practice" I say and Woody adds that the river is "28feet deep here love". The boyfriend has made it across the river now and we leave them to recover. She was a little embarrassed and relieved at the same time but we didn't hang around as there were fish to be caught. Chatting about it afterwards me and Woody couldn't believe it to be honest. I say it so many times about catching fish, but this really was right place right time. Had we been a minute earlier or later that could have been very nasty and thinking back now, I actually caught a fish 50 metres back round the corner. Had that been a big fish or a bad hook up that slowed us down or had we not even caught that fish that would have changed everything. Only this past week two girls have tragically died while swimming in a river during this hot weather.

Still shell shocked we'd only travelled fifteen metres before we had another moment to remember. The time is only 10:10am as I've checked the photo data just now. Some people spend their Saturdays morning fishing on a boat while others, well....

We reckon that this couple had been here a while, probably all night by the looks of the bottles in the sand. There is also a good chance the lass we rescued and her boyfriend were part of the group, as I did suggest to Woody before seeing this, that she might have been a bit tipsy.

Back to fishing and we continued to catch. Many of the perch were up to around the one pound mark with the odd fish a bit better. Some of the perch were stunning creatures and we couldn't help but admire them. They are a handsome fish and the bigger they get the more impressive they get. I hooked a fish which I first called a small pike but as it came close it turned in to a decent perch. I reckon it was pushing two pound though Woody wasn't being generous and only gave me a pound and three quarters. However we will never know since Woody quickly knocked it off the hooks before we could get a look, which suggests to me it was blatant sabotage on his part and indicates it was definitely a two for me! We had a couple of double hook ups including one not far from where I'd just caught that sabotaged fish. This area turned out to be a good spot and we went over it and back over it a few times adding to our perch tally. Strangely today we didn't do too well jigging for perch. We had a go on this spot, armed with the knowledge that perch were here and feeding. We just couldn't buy a bite though which was strange. We were just about to pack up the jigs and get back trolling when I got a good knock. If this was a perch it was a right lump and Woody braced himself and got ready to knock it off the hooks. It turned out to be a pike in the end but it had him worried I''ll tell ya.

We had one last scare of the day when the boat cut out and then wouldn't start. It seems that pull cord certainly does need sorting and for a while we were left slowly drifting down the river as Woody tried time and time to get it to kick in. We eventually were offered a tow by a passing boat, there are still plenty of good people about who are there to offer help. I'd just caught the rope and we had just started to be towed when Woody finally got the engine to fire up again. Saying our thank yous, we were back off under our own steam and fishing again. A few more fish were had before we were finally back at the launch and another good day afloat had finished. Today was one of those days where I was so glad to have been fishing. The fishing was good, the company and banter was too but the best thing was knowing that we had been in the right place at the right time and there wasn't another tragic news story.