First Points on the board!

So the rain finally stopped and the sun is out! Like many of you the gloom of the outdoors has been matched by the gloom indoors, waiting for the time I can finally cast out and start the Rod Race League!

My first port of call was the River Colne in Cowley, a River close to my heart from my Chub fishing days on the Boyer stretch in Denham. I had monitored the levels and colour of the water and today I felt hopeful that I had picked the perfect time.

River Colne spills into Little Britain Lake

I fished what could be called a back water of the Colne away from the still gushing current coming down mainstream. With the added depth I was at least expecting a small perch on the maggots. Two hours later and I hadn't a bite so I moved downstream where I know small fish hold up in the summer months. Again I fished away from the main flow but as before I hadn't any takers.

Calmer Back Water of the River Colne

Accepting defeat I moved on a short distance to the Slough Arm section of the Grand Union Canal where during the summer I had seen shoals of Roach by the hundred. Having never fished this section before I was hopeful when I plumbed the depth at around seven feet deep! I moved along for a couple of hundred yards but the fish were not biting!

Changing tactics and venue I drove to Harefield armed with my spinner targetting two of my most sought after Pbs, the Pike and Perch. When I tell you that my Pike PB is only 4lb 14oz you'd think that I don't catch many Pike, the truth is I do but I only end up with small jacks! For years I have tried for a double figure Pike and today was to be no different.

With the canal flowing like a river and the river strangely calm like a canal I started casting out into the middle of the river guiding my lure close to the dormant reed beds but with so many branches washed down from the recent weather I knew I was in for a tough time. Having cleared the river of some of the snags via my lure I finally felt a tug, followed by the vibration of a fish.....at last!

 Flowing Canal  Calm River

My only take turned out to be a Pike of 1lb 14oz from the River Colne in Harefield. I spoke with some locals who lived nearby and like the Cowley stretch of the River Colne the Polish had helped themselves and decimated the fish populations. Unlike it's brothers and sisters this Pike went back in and hopfully it's lesson learn't might keep it away from the dinner plate for a while yet!