Sunday December 18th 2011

Weather    Temp -3c Start , Snow shower pm, Temp never got above +2c

Venue       Barton Turf Staithe (Change of venue)

As the weather had been forecast freezing temps and the chance of snow, we decided a land based session may be the better option. Neil and Dean were joining me today so it seemed to take an age to load the car with everything except the kitchen sink. I collected Dean around 6am and then Neil half an hour later and set off to our chosen venue, Gunton Lake. After a Thirty minute drive on fairly icy roads we arrived to find the gates locked. 
A quick re think and we was on our way across country to the Wroxham area where we would have several choices all fairly close to each other. We looked in at Barton Turf and the Staithe was empty and looked ice free so we all agree to give it a try. We were soon set up at around 8am and within 10 minutes Neil has had some interest in his ledgered Smelt. As the line snakes off he hits the rod but misses the fish, coming back with only a slightly marked bait. He repositions it back into the same spot and had another run within 10  mins which resulted in a lovely 8lb Fish. After unhooking and returning the fish, he re used the Smelt yet again and only has to wait another 10 minutes for his next run. This fish put up a decent scrap but was soon netted and after sorting out the mess of landing net, trace and fish, resulted in a new Pb for Neil at exactly 13lbs.

Neils  new Pb 13-0

No sooner had this fish been returned, he then has a run on his float fished sardine. This turns out to be a small Jack of about 4lbs. All this activity has been in 45 minute period. Deans 2 rods and my ledgered Lamprey have remained untouched. Ive also been trying with a float rod, looking for a Live bait. Although there are a few fish "Topping" in the basin, i cant get a bite.

At around 9:15 Deans bottom bait is picked up but the run stops almost instantly. The bait is checked and re cast. 

Its a good hour with no other interest on any of the rods, so i decide to have a walk round the other side of the basin to have a look at the swims. I leave Dean watching my rod and im just about as far away as i can get when the two way radio tells me that my Lamprey has been taken and Dean is into a fish.

I get back just in time to help land and unhook another decent Pike. Again this fish spins and twists once landed and takes some sorting out the net ending up in a ball. These fish seem to have more energy on the bank than in the water ! The fish is safely unhooked and weighed.

This is another new Pb for dean this time, the fish going 12lbs, on MY rod !!!

Deans new Pb   12-0 

With all the rods checked and re positioned, i get started on the days lunch, good old Bacon rolls. Just as the smell of the bacon starts drifting down the bank we get a few flakes of snow, so the brolly goes up over the cooker and i get the kettle on too. Is it just me or does Bacon taste so much better cooked outside on a cold day ?

We fish on for another hour and a half but nothing materialises so we decide to start packing up before the next snow starts. Although ive gone "Fishless" today ive enjoyed the new venue and being on dry land for a change. 

Im also pleased for both Neil and Dean as they are fairly new to this sort of fishing, both breaking their Pbs in consecutive weeks. We start to load the "Disco" with all our stuff and seem to have more gear and less room than when we started !

Where's that kitchen sink

Sunday 11th December 2011

Weather +7c Light s/w winds Forecast rain 3pm onwards


Venue  River Yare Surlingham Bend & Outfall


With a much milder than expected start to the day we load the boat at about half Six and get the whips out to collect some live baits. Something is not quite right as 25 minutes later, neither of us has had a single bite ! There are small fish "Topping" in the marina but for some reason, not feeding. Finally after about 40 mins Neil catches a small roach and we start to get bites. Ive switched to a worm hook bait to try for some perch. I also start to get bites but the Perch are TOO BIG for baits at up to a pound and a half, good fishing in its own right.

Too Big For Bait ?

Eventually we have enough baits and set off for Surlingham. Apart from Two anglers on Bramerton Common there are few people about and even less boats. We moor up close to the reeds just about 200 yards upstream from the Surlingham Ferry and both put out one dead and one live bait out. Although it looks perfect, we don't get any signs at all. We stick it out for Two hours, the only sign of any life was when an Otter swam past the boat, underwater, leaving the tell tale trail of bubbles behind. It surfaces about 50 yards to our left before climbing out and disappearing. That makes our mind up to move to our normal back up area, the outfall.

SURLINGHAM     BEND

Once we are settled in there at 11:30am the lunch goes on together with a fresh brew. Again we both fish one dead and another live on our rods. Neil has only just finished eating when his float slides off, The braid pulls tight and he winds down and sets the hooks. Nothing ! As is normal when this happens, he positions another bait straight back in the same spot. My live bait then goes and i wait a few seconds longer before hitting it. The fish gives two sharp kicks and it too is off. I leave the bait out where it was dropped and its taken straight away, this time its hooked and landed ok. A 4lb jack the culprit.
Neil changes his live bait rig to a "Roving" set up to explore more of the river. As the bait is trotted through in several different areas he gets a nice positive take and run. This fish gives a good account of itself and is netted first time and boated. It goes 12lb 8oz on the scales and is Neils new PB.

 Neils  12lb 8oz PB

We fish on until around half One when it starts getting very "Grey" up above. The rain comes a little earlier than forecast and we decide to pack up and head back before we get a real soaking. As i reel in my live bait rod, there is a small fish already hooked. I easily bring it to the side of the boat and manage to unhook it in the water and release it straight back (about 5lbs).
It was a shame Surlingham did not produce but its another area we will re visit in the future.