Opening Day

Ah, the Glorious 16th. The day when grown men get over-excited about the possibility of catching a fish from a river for the first time in three months and set the alarm for stupid o'clock.

In fact, the alarm didn't even go off. I woke up, turned over and it was 03:58. Two minutes to spare. By 4:15am I was on the banks of the River Mersey. A magical time to be out.

I was not the only thing alive on the riverbank. So were the mosquitos. Apparently my blood is like crack to mozzies, and I was attacked from the second I got near the water's edge. Not the kind of bites I was looking for.

I kept on the move, avoiding the bloodsuckers, trying different spots, flicking 2" lures along the margins and bumping them along the bottom. I was getting some nibbles, but not really any positive takes. 

Eventually, after scaling right down, the river gave me my first fish of the season, a tiny perch. 

Then a few casts later, another. 

And by then it was time to head back home for work. Job done. For the first season in at least a dozen, my first fish of the season wasn't a chub!

On the way back, it was nice to hear, and for once see some reed warblers on the Mersey. Even managed to get a photo.

Think I'll have a lie-in tomorrow...

Back with a brace

First post this year.
 
Fishing opportunities have been few and far between with my new family responsibilities.  But yesterday with the wife and baby happy on the sofa, and all my chores done, I dusted off the lure rod and headed for the canal for a short evening session.

First thing I noticed was how good the canal was looking. Perfectly still, lots of good vegetation growth, both in the water and on the bank.
 

I started with the faithful curlytail, black body with a pink tail, on a 2 gram head. Straight away I was getting a few nibbles down the edge, and then a really positive take. This felt good. Surprisingly good. Out came the folding landing net, and after a short scrap I was holding a proper perch. I didn't weigh it, but I'd guess at least a pound and a half. Brilliant start! 

A passing kayaker very kindly helped me with a photo. He turned out to be a fisherman too, and was very interested in my jelly lures, so I gave him a few to try. Spread the word I say, there's 26 miles of canal here with hardly anyone on it.

Moving along the towpath, and I started picking up regular dumpy perch. Loads of micro perch were following my lures, and times I had 4 or 5 of them chasing and nipping at the tail.

So, I started to play around with slightly bigger lures in the hope of sorting out a better stamp of fish. It sort of worked, as the tiny fish didn't seem to follow them, but I was still picking up the 1-2oz fellas.

Time flew by, and with the sun dipping at the horizon, I knew there was only time for a few last casts.

With all of the tow-path side already covered, I started chucking a bright white 2" shad across the canal, and bumping it back along the bottom. After about 10 casts, the line pulled tight and I had another fight on my hands. Good fun on a 6' ultralight lure rod, and soon I was slipping the net under another 1lb+ fish. I weighed this one - 1lb 6oz. Tidy.

There's always time for one last cast, but I shouldn't have bothered as a pike stole my lure and jighead. Nevermind, I'll be back for him another day.

Result:
A brace of 1lb+ perch, half a dozen small fish.

Great session and good prep for the river season opening next week!