Angling-Adventures.co.uk

On the Thursday morning i got up and was greeted with  rain, last thing we needed for our trip up to the Wensum. with this in mind i loaded some extra carp gear just in case.

Loaded up i was off to pick up my two mates Barry and his son-in-law Billy. an hour and a half later we arrived at Taverham as we crossed the bridge to our surprise the river was in good condition. So straight into the local shops about half a mile away to get some food shopping. The village it's self has a Tesco express a pub called the silver fox a Chinese and a fish and chip shop all recommended.

With that all done down to the mill. We were met there by the warden who showed us around the accommodation. There is men and women's showers and toilets a fully equipped Kitchen a lounge with leather reclining sofas colour tv and a play station for the sad ones amongst us. There are 6 rooms with 2 single beds in each and a table and wardrobe and very comfortable and roomy.

Once we sorted our gear out it was getting to late to fish so decided instead to have a look and pick some swims. Apart from the main river there is a back water and upper stretch of the river above the weir which was running a lot slower looked very inviting indeed.

 

Swims sorted it was off up to the pub for some much needed refreshment ( a few beers and a Chinese) and to plan our attack for the next day.

Friday morning 7.30 and with head like a concert block and eyes like a werewolf crawled out of me pit and opened the curtains to see the river had risen 2 foot over night the last thing we needed, the one thing i dont like is fishing a rising river.

 

After breakfast the 2 others decided to give the river a go i decided to have a chat with Darren in the shop about the lake. He informed me that the lake was only free from ice on the Monday and had not been fished for a while as it had been frozen for a week or two. Still i said better than the river so he told me peg 43 would be my best bet casting parallel to the bank to an over hanging tree where there is a gravel bar. Bait wise he said that he would use a 15mm Nash whisky pop up popped of the bottom by 10" from the lead. a tactic that has worked for him in these conditions especially as the water was gin clear.

so off i trot over to the lake found the swim so i set up a pop up rig and also a bottom rig with a 15mm Quantum fish fruit boilie to size 8 hooks to 15lb carp silk and attached a small pva mesh filled with a few pellets and couple of crushed boilies.

After a biteless few hours it was time to call on the help of rick so a few texts and a phone call i was advised to change to fluro. with in 20 mins of the change over i had a couple of short beeps on the buzzer for the bottom bait then nothing dam was it a line bite??? A few mins later buzz buzz then nothing so i got up and looked at the rod. i noticed the tip was shaking. now many of you seasoned carp Carp anglers would of hit this, well i Know that now, being a match man and used to looking at a fine quiver tip when it goes round its on. I didnt know that it ment the fish was trying to shake the hook now did I dohhh!

another Call to rick and said what had happened and plank came back the reply you hit them ones he says. so he advised a few rig adjustment shorten the hook link which i did. the next couple of hours turned cold and nothing happened. So packed up and went to see how the 2 lads were doing on the river. I meet up with Billy on the back water he was fishing cheese paste in a little back eddy. He informed me he had 2 bites missed one and the other was from a Pike which took the paste. I packed my gear in room and went to see Barry who was fishing a swim called the skip swim. Know this swim i was in last year and i hooked and lost the biggest barbel i have ever seen grrrrr. He had 3 small Roach and a chub of about a pound on caster. Night was drawing in so i helped the lads back to base and a brew up shower and off for you guessed it beer and another Chinese.

Saturday saw a sharp overnight frost and river still up not looking good for the day so back into see Darren in the shop. This time i opted for some Nash scoopex squid liver robin red and trundle over to the lake only to find it frozen over. The only place to fish was where i was yesterday. i stuck with the 2 fluro hook links and done the same as day before but with different bait.

Now observation here on how stupid seagulls are. thee lake frozen and one seagull  walking over the ice and must see a small fish under it so what's it do. Yep tries to grab it and smacks its beak on the ice. not once but 4 to 5 times before it flew off.

unfortunately that was the only excitement that day no bites what so ever. A call to the lads who were persevering on the river and they had not had a touch. so time to call it a day for this time round so packed up and back to watch the football and to get ready for some more refreshments and oh yes a Chinese and early night as we are home next day.

Conclusion

even though we had very little reward  this fishery throws up some cracking just this time conditions were against us. the accommodation was excellent and the help from Darren and Simon the wardens was fantastic and couldn't do enough for you. better luck next year