Preparing For The New Season... Ade kiddell

This entry was posted on 15th May, 2017

Out here in France we don't have a river close season. Apart from a few months (Feb to May) for predators, it’s possible to fish all year round. The close season in the UK is antiquated and complicated it needs a total overhaul, I my opinion. The rivers need time to recover, of course, but all the time us anglers are missing from the banks, the commarants and otters have it all to themselves and they sure don't adhere to the close season!

The fishing here in France has been good despite the weather, which has been changeable. A few weeks ago we were in the mid 20s and expecting a nice warm spring but then the cold winds started and we even had snow at Easter – perhaps we shouldn't ignore the statistic that says it’s more likely to snow at Easter than at Christmas! It has finally warmed up again and it’s now around 15-20 degrees on a daily basis, although that bad news is we need rain and some low pressure to move in; the rivers need rain which comes with some low pressure and fishing always improves with low pressure.

We have had varied guests over the last few weeks who have been catching plenty but two anglers in particular, Mark and Nick who where with us for a few days, certainly got among the fish with over 50 barbel as well as plenty of bream and chub. Mark also found two 30lb plus carp so went back to his home, close to the Swiss-French border, a happy guy. They both followed the same feeder and bait approach but used their years of experience to locate likely fish holding areas and their results proved old fashioned water craft is one of the best weapons in an angler’s armoury.



So, with only a month to go before the glorious 16th, UK river anglers should be starting to think about the first few weeks of the season. It’s good to get out on the bank with a good set of polaroids looking for likely areas. Observing spawning fish can be fascinating but mapping out swims and looking for fish holding areas can make all the difference come the start of the season. Knowledge learnt now about swims can be invaluable once the season starts – that’s what gives some anglers the edge as they build up a picture of the river and particular swims in their mind, recording it in a notebook or on their phone. A good pair of polarised glasses is essential for any angler; personally, if I don't wear them, I get a headache and need an early bath! Even on the dullest of days, the glare from the water can be a problem so I use glasses designed for duller conditions as, even in the winter, they prevent headaches caused by squinting.

Now is also a great time to give the gear a service. I like to check over rods for loose or damaged eyes – paying attention to the ceramic liner – and a magnifier will help check for cracks or chips which, if ignored, will damage line in use. I also recommend that you wipe over rod blanks and apply a little wax car polish, you will surprised how even a scruffy old rod can be transformed with a bit of TLC!

Reels need to be wiped over, too. Unless you are confident, I wouldn't suggest opening them up completely, but a good wipe over and a spot of machine oil on bail arms and handles etc will keep them in good order. Spools need checking for damage to the lip and also it's also a good time to change reel lines. Strip any old line and dispose of it safely (making sure to chop it so as not to harm wildlife) then re-spool with new line. If I ask a hundred anglers what way to correctly spool a reel I would get 100 different answers but, for me, I like to put the spool in a bucket of water and with the reel on a butt section slowly wind the line under slight tension onto the reel. A little trick: if the line is for feeder fishing then soak a piece of rag in washing up liquid and wind the line through the rag, in use the line will sink like a stone with little effort.



Have a check through bait buckets and tubs, too, and discard anything that isn't 100%. After all, why reduce your chances of a good catch by using old and tainted bait? Pay particular attention to your hookbaits!

Terminal tackle wise, check your hooks are all ok. If, in the last session of the season, the gear was put away wet, chances are poorly packed hooks might be rusty. Hook links material also needs checking and a good sort through the tackle box should soon have everything ready for the new campaign.

Bivvies, umbrellas and clothing need a check over and a spray of waterproofer might be needed; seams and fasteners are often areas that leak so give them a bit of extra attention. Make sure, if you do spray items, they are given plenty of time to dry before you pack them away as the fumes given off by the waterproofer can be harmful. Along with shelters, nets stored in outside buildings can be damaged by rodents and a good check over after the lay off will prevent a ruined session! Storing items that are prone to damage in rodent proof containers is a good idea and can save a lot of money in the long term.

I suppose I am lucky in that I can wet a line on the river anytime I want but I still miss that anticipation of the 16th June and that first fish of the new season. Don't forget to get your gear ready so you can maximise time spent on the bank and avoid the risk of ruining a session by failing to prepare. Remember: fail to prepare then prepare to fail.