Almost there!

One of the small carp tempted by dog biscuits

It's been a quiet close season for me. My quest for tench never materialised and I barely wet a line. A couple of evening trips for some surface feeding carp threw up a few small fish but much of the last few weeks has seen me with one eye on the 16th. Whatever people say about the close season, there's no doubt that the 16th is evocative. For the river angler, optimism is high. With the tackle box refreshed, I'll be kicking off on the Avon before spending the first part of the weekend on the lower Severn. Hopefully, a barbel will find it's way to my net. After a dry few weeks, the last few days have seen biblical weather. The Avon has just started to rise so it'll be interesting to see what happens in the next day or so as this will dictate tactics for the season's start. Good luck if you're out on the banks.

Slow start but blank saved

The title says it all. After all the preparation and excitement the Warwickshire Avon failed to deliver. There had been a couple of small chub reported when I arrived at about 6pm but I was still confident that the last few hours might throw up a better fish. Despite fishing two rods, only a few sharp taps signalled the presence of fish. As light faded, I switched to meat and finally a positive indication hooked a chub approaching 2lb. Although the chub continued to crash on the surface after sunset, nothing else put in appearance and by 10.45 I was heading for home.

The first of many, I hope

Even though a barbel or better chub failed to show it was still great to be back on the river. The opening weeks are often slow as the fish adjust themselves to the influx of a new food source. In fact, I managed to hook a ball of tangled line from the riverbed and on closer inspection it was crawling with invertebrates. With so much natural food present in the river then it's no surprise that they're not queuing up to take a bait.  Anyway, onwards and upwards as I plot my next session for the weekend.

Let me know how your opening session went, hopefully it was more eventful than mine.

The wait is almost over

Only a few days remain before the most revered dates in the calendar, June 16th. This date marks the opening of the river season. Of course there was a time when coarse angling of all kinds had to wait patiently for this date but now only the rivers are bound by an enforced closure. Although there are many debates about the validity of a close season, I personally think it should remain. Yes, I might be a sentimental fool but I think it's a tradition worth keeping. Modern ways are all too eager to cast aside what has been in favour of new and better ways, but more often there are based on purely selfish or commercial reasons.

As for my opening day, work will obviously intervene. However, it won't keep me away. A few hours after work will see me plying my trade on the Warwickshire Avon. Typically, the anticipation and excitement of the season's opener fails to live up to expectation. I liken it to Christmas Eve, full of hope and expectation only to wake the next morning to a pair of socks. That said, angling is always a journey into the unknown. You are just one bite away from the fish you have yearned for and it's that yearning that keeps the hallowed June 16th a special date to the nation's river anglers.

I'm back on the barbel trail. Aside from a concerted effort on the Lower Severn in October, barbel didn't really feature on my agenda last year. I have a few changes  to my rigs and feeding habits to trial this season so we'll see if they impact on my catches. As for challenges, doubles are always welcome and no doubt a few will make an appearance. Perhaps I could target a barbel during every calendar month of the river season. I came close a few years ago but invariably weather and river conditions put this challenge in the lap of the gods. I'd also love to rediscover a Teme barbel and a big river perch. Big perch seem ten a penny these days but these fish are nearly always stillwater fish. A river perch for me would seem extra special.

So all that remains is to make my final preparations and hope for a bit of good fortune. All the best wherever you're fishing.

The glorious 16th, well no!

For the river anglers amongst us the 16th June still resonates in the angling calendar. The buzz of excitement, anticipation and new found optimism are all present together with the dreams of monsters from the deep. Being honest, I had very few of these emotions as Sunday's opening day approached. Life has been pretty hectic recently and before I knew it I was trying to prepare for the curtain raiser with very little time to do so. In fact, I don't think I had started a season with so little preparation but I still managed to find myself on the lower Severn at about 3pm on Sunday. 

Upon arrival, a chat with some of chaps hardly filled with me with excitement. Aside from a few bream most people were biteless. Nevertheless, I found a peg and determined to catch I had

Typical lower Severn but no glorious 16th

decided to fish maggot feeder and meat on the downstream rod. I at least had a plan! What happened next however seemed to encapsulate how life has been recently. I was just about to shut the boot of my car when my rods slipped. Unable to stop, I watched in horror as it slammed shut on them. The result, two broken rings and not part of the plan. Unperturbed, I set up avoiding those rings for fear of a line break. 

To cut a long story, about 6+ hours to be precise, I have nothing to report. When I mean nothing, I mean absolutely nothing. Not a tap, knock or even a damaged bait. Obviously disappointing as it was I was at least reassured to learn that the Severn as a whole appears to have been a wash out. Therefore, I'm going to assume it was one of those days rather then me performing like twit. A trip to the Warwickshire Avon tomorrow may confirm this, either way!

Feel free to comment or tell me of your opening day experiences, good or bad.