Big fish: Weather making poor catches

The wet weather has put a bit of a dampener on the sport this month and going into one of the top fishing months prospects around the local venues remain mixed.

On the larger rivers increased current speed has made presentation very difficult and on many stretches of local Thames the fishing has been tricky to say the least.

Catches generally have been poor during the past week with only the backwaters and other sheltered areas showing any signs of form with perch the most reliable feeders.

Boat access has certainly helped a few anglers reach areas of slack water where the fishing has been easier and fish have been shoaled up and Andy Scott was one angler who took full advantage with a session around Temple.

Andy set up a float rod to present a variety of baits in an area of steady water out of the main push with a chubberstyle float carrying 4AAA shot on 5lb line through to a 4lb hooklength and size 14 hook. With bread, maggots, corn and worms as hook baits Andy tried a variety of different approaches and was rewarded with an excellent mixed bag of fish topped by a splendid Thames roach of 2lb 2oz.

In addition to the big redfin Andy netted perch to 2lb and chub to 2lb 8oz. Away from the Thames the smaller rivers have been in great shape and the best of the barbel fishing is beginning to show with fish to over 18lb from the Loddon and 17lb from the Kennet among the cream of the crop.

On St Patrick’s Stream there have been barbel caught from the upper and lower beats with the focus of activity around the Borough Marsh Stream - but the first big chub of the season have been starting to show with the report of a big summer fish of 6lb 3oz to Ray James who fished a pellet intended for barbel on a size 8 hook to 15lb coated braid and 10lb main line.

Ray targeted a steady glide between beds of weed and had the fish first cast after priming the swim with a couple of handfuls of small pellets.

On the stillwaters carp remain the main feeders with all of the local commercials in good shape including Royal Berkshire where schoolboy Kai Gregory netted a cracking common of 16lb 8oz which took his meat bait fished on a size 10 hook to 8lb line.

Kai presented the bait close to the island in Lake 2 with a PVA bag of diced meat and carp pellets as free offerings and beat the fish after a brief but lively fight.

To finish off this week advance news of a match for a very worthy cause which is taking place at the popular Farlow’s Match Lake at Ford Lane on Saturday September.

In aid of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity the event runs from 8am-4pm and there are prizes for the biggest individual fish as well as for the top total weight. For further information or to book a place contact organiser, Jean Jones, on 07957 443012.

Any anglers interested in contacting Ian Welsh can call him on 07780 755138 or send him an e-mail at ian@bigfishtrail.com