Martin Bowler’s Adventures

Our man goes in search of spring specimens... will he catch for the cameras?

ILOVE spring, when everything seems to happen at once.

Blink, and suddenly the grey country landscape is garbed in 50 shades of green. Angling opportunities come thick and fast – the hardest part is choosing what to do next.

Tench are an obvious draw, but I try to save them for mid-May when their feeding frenzy is in full swing. It’s silly after all these years, but just writing this I’m getting excited at the thought of a cauldron of bubbles bursting all around my waggler as it gently waves in the fin wash.

A bite is almost nailed on, and the anticipation of a strike and the scream of a centrepin reel makes my heart race.

Don’t assume, though, that fishing this early in the season is easy – species other than carp can prove surprisingly tricky to tempt.

Roach are well worth thinking about, as post-winter they’re in perfect condition and have yet to spawn. With each passing day they’ll move closer to the margins, and what better way to spend a spring evening than casting a float in their direction? In my experience the tackle can be fairly robust right now – 4lb mainline and a 13ft rod are perfect. To search the entire water column, a waggler shotted shirt button-style can’t be beaten.

Maggots are a good hookbait but casters are in another league, and no roach can resist these crunchy morsels on the drop. Bites only become more positive as dusk arrives – and now that the days are longer, evening roach fishing is the perfect pursuit. Would you rather watch Coronation Street or guide a big redfin over the net?

It’s no contest…

CARP, CHUB… SALMON

So far this spring carp have taken up a fair chunk of my time, not that I mind – I genuinely love all species.

Stillwater chub have already been added to my portfolio this season, and with a couple of big ‘sixes’ I can’t complain – but more of that next week. Salmon are my treat species, probably the only fish I can pursue