DES TAYLOR “I’m making up for lost time!”
Summer fishing is on the way and I’m up for everything!
IT’S HARD to believe, but sooner or later all those hard spring days spent fishing in lousy weather will be forgotten and summer species will start to feed in earnest.
But remember, there are species to fish for other than just barbel or carp. I’m always astounded when anglers tell me they are bored with fishing for carp using two or three rods and buzzers, only to go barbel fishing “for a change” when the only difference is, the rods are poked high in the air rather than parallel with the water.
There are so many other species and so many different venues to try this summer. I know some of you don’t care for bream but I love them, and I’ve spent many happy hours on rivers and stillwaters in England and Ireland catching this interesting species.
And I don’t just mean big ones – putting together a big catch of bream is very satisfying too. I’ve had more than my fair share of 100lb-plus bags, which is a lot of fish and – some would say – a lot of slime!
Another great way to pass a summer’s day is to trot a river with maggots for anything that swims. I enjoy fishing the upper reaches where chub, dace, grayling, trout and even the odd minnow will take the float under, making the heart beat a little faster. But last year one of the highlights was fishing Christchurch harbour with my friend John Chester. This fishery is at the very bottom end of two river systems, where the Avon and Stour meet the sea, and we were catching roach one a chuck, none of them over halfa-pound but still great sport. By the end of the session I felt as though I had really fished and worked hard for my bites.
One thing I must get back into this year is drop shotting and jig fishing on rivers. For the last couple of summers I’ve passed it by, why I don’t know, because it’s such an active technique and teaches you so much as you walk and cast into every likelylooking spot. You’ll find gravel bars, silty bottoms, smooth glides and snag-ridden areas, all of which will not only help you in your quest for predators, but reveal potential swims for all the other river species. And don’t be surprised if you pick up the odd carp, bream, roach or even tench while drop shotting. My “walking the worm” method – drop shotting with a worm on the hook instead of a rubber lure – can catch all manner of fish at any time of the year.
Unlike the carp angler who fishes only one water, or the barbel angler who sticks to a particular weir pool on the Trent, you’ll never be bored if you mix up your species and travel to find them. A change of scenery, enjoying the wildlife, the fish and all that nature has to offer, is great for the spirits.
The pandemic has taught us anglers that we’ve missed far more than just the fish, and now that we can get out on the banks again, who can blame us for making up for lost time?