Justin Grapes- A Long Winter

This entry was posted on 27th March, 2019

After what seems like ages I’ve finally got around to my next blog. I’ve got a lot to go over, from chubbing to fishing in sunnier and most definitely warmer places. I’ll try and keep it as short as possible and try not to bore you too much!

I started off my late autumn fishing with a spot of reservoir roach fishing. To start off with it was very prolific with lots of quality roach to a pound and a half on maggot feeder tactics, but as the water levels started to rise and the colder water was pumped in the action started to slow up. But, as the action slowed up, the roach started to get bigger and the big 2 lb + roach started to come out. In the end I managed to equal my PB with a stunning 2lb 8oz fish. But as it got colder and colder the bites dried up for me and my sights then turned to the chub.



Like most of the winter, the river levels were as low and clear as I’ve ever seen them, so it was going to make fishing in daylight hard. I was planning to do a lot more trotting in these conditions, but it would be weather and mainly wind dependant. To start off with things were consistent in the hours of darkness, with two or three chub coming in each short session, but with not many fish over the five pound mark. This season the rivers were getting a lot more attention then I had ever seen before as well which made short sessions a bit more difficult, especially when it came to finding the swims where someone hadn’t fished previously, but the fish kept coming. It wasn’t until after Christmas that I latched into a big Wensum chub, and on the float as well, which made it all the more special; at 6lb6oz it was a float caught PB.



At the end of January myself and good friends Darryn and Shaun were off to sunnier places, and we were going back to the Gambia after a 3 year lay off. We were going to a slightly different location this time so we were hoping it would be good enough for three smelly fishermen.

We were pleasantly surprised with the hotel, and the room looked big enough for three blokes and three lots of fishing tackle , and thank god, three single beds!

With the pre arranged transport picking us up at 9am the next morning we headed out for a well needed beer and some food. We had planned to fish a beach near Banjul on the first day; we knew it was going to be slow, but with the chance of a big fish. This beach fished well normally on the ebb so we were hopeful of some action. It was slow and only myself and Shaun caught small cassava. But there was a surprise with Shaun catching a cuttlefish, which is another first for us.

Day two we went in the opposite direction and fished a surf beach, but we had one problem! The driver had forgotten to say that his 4x4 truck wasn’t working and that meant we were a bit snookered on driving along the beach when the tide was in so we had to start at a beach we could get to by foot until the tide dropped enough for us to drive along the beach. We had a few small fish from this spot but we all wanted to get to the other spot, so were wishing the tide would go out quicker.



After what seemed like a week we got onto the beach and were off to the spot we wanted to get to in the first place. We got to a point where a river empties into the sea, and where we have had some great sport in the past. Things got off to a good start with Darryn latching into what looked to be a good fish; after a good fight he landed a good guitar fish at about 15+lb s. Shortly after Shaun beached a smaller guitar fish. Things were looking good, but that was the end of the action and after a hour of no action the weed came in and made it unfishable.



With the dilemma of having a rubbish 4x4, we decided to go back to the beach at Banjul to see if we could change our fortunes.

Every day we started with a trip to the fish market to get bait and food for the day. The two fish markets that we go to are always very colourful but not for the faint hearted, with lots of sights and smells. This year it was noticeable that the size of the fish coming in off the boats were considerably smaller than normal, and with the Chinese ships taking huge amounts of fish it was evident the stocks were taking a hit . With day three underway we were hoping for a few fish.

After a hour or so we had to move due to another couple of anglers one side and a Land Rover turning up the other side of us which didn’t go down well .

We had a few inquiries from cuttlefish but not much else so we retreated back to the hotel with our tails between our legs.

The next day the tide was low enough for us to drive on the beach to where the river empties at Sangyang. We started getting lots of action from sunpat straight away but we were all hoping the guitar fish made an appearance again before the weed arrived. To cut it short, they didn’t turn up but the weed did and that was that for another day.

Things didn’t improve over the last two days, and if it hadn't been for a few small fish from Denton Bridge in the last few hours it would have been a blank couple of days. With this trip being such poor fishing wise it left us in two minds on coming back . But all in all good fun was had, with plenty of laughs.



On arrival back in the cold UK it was going to be full steam ahead on the chub front until the end of the season. After a few days of trying to adjust to the cold weather I ventured out after work to try and catch me some chub. After a quiet few swims I dropped into a favourite swim which normally produces a fish or two. I normally try my first cast well away from where the feature is, just in case there are a few hungry chub about. Luckily there were, and after only about 5minutes the rod tip went around and a nice 4lb + chub was landed. So fingers crossed if I cast half way to the feature now I would get another chance, and again after about 5 minutes the tip was dancing and another chub was in the net.

Could it be a hat trick? The next cast went close to the feature and I sat back, confident I would get another bite and after 10 minutes I was in again,and safely landed another hard fighting Wensum chub. I did try one more cast further down the swim but with no action after 20 minutes I decided to move spots.



The next spot would probably be my last of the night as my eyes were starting to play tricks on me, so I cast to the middle of the river, where it gets deeper. I sat back and waited for what seemed like a hour and then out of the blue the tip slowly started to pull around, and on striking it felt like a good fish. After a nervous fight I landed what looked like a big chub. On closer inspection and weighing it was the same fish I had caught on the float gear, but an ounce heavier. I was a little gutted it was a repeat but it was still very welcome. The next few sessions I started to pick up some good sized chub, and on a couple of evening sessions I had three 5lb9oz chub in a row. The next evening session I dropped into a productive swim , but this swim can be tricky sometimes. But within 10 minutes of casting my cheese paste out I had a couple of plinks then more of a pull, so I struck and latched into what felt like a good fish from the off. As most of the chub do, it tried to shed the hook into the near side vegetation but luckily came out and slid into the net, and again this looked a good fish. On weighing her I was surprised to see the scales settle on 6lb 1oz and over the moon with another 6 for the album.



My next few evening sessions were slower, with there being a lot more otter activity on both of the stretches I was fishing I decided to try another stretch for the remainder of the season and on the second trip I had a result with another different 6 lb Wensum chub at an ounce over the magic weight.

The rest of the season was a bit of a damp squib really, but I still managed a few good 5lb+ chub which you can’t grumble about.



Just before the season finished my daughter asked if I could take her fishing, and if her friend could join us.So after a quick trip to Angling Direct to pick up a couple of £7 whips and a couple of ready made pole kits, I took them along to a spot which I know would be full of small fish to keep them entertained for a hour or so.

After showing my daughter's friend how to lift into the fish etc, they were under way and after a couple of minutes they had their first fish each, and this continued for ages. I couldn’t get them away in the end, with both of them really enjoying it.

I’m now really looking forward to the spring and warmer months, and hopefully the tench and bream gear will be out very soon. So until the next blog, tight lines, and let’s hope for a few PBs this spring .