Dear Ron, and all,
Just a few thoughts on Trent fishing from myself.
It is true on average these days, that the great catches of roach and chub made by the feeder anglers throughout the 70's and 80's are no longer with us. Many reasons have been attributed for this apparent downturn. Too clearer water, Cormorant predation, being the favourite two.
I'm not sure myself what the reasons are. But there can be no doubting, that anglers can no longer take for granted that they are going to catch a netfull of chub from the Trent in the day time, irrespective of the venue or stretch as they could have done a few years back. But does this mean that the chub or the roach are no longer there to be caught? Absolutely not. All species continue to breed prolifically in the Trent. So breeding is not a problem.
The thing is, the River Trent has developed into a bit of a Chameleon river in terms of its daylight traits as opposed to how the river fishes in the hours of darkness. Why this is I dont strictly know. Perhaps something that the cormorants relentless presence has brought about, or the clearer water, but one thing is certain, fish in the night and your catch rates will go up dramatically for most intended course species.
But of course, not everyone either wants, or is able, to fish throughout the night. But even so, I still honestly believe that some excellent fishing generally, with some amazing "red letter day" catches are easily possible for the "average" angler in the daylight hours as well as in the hours of darkness.
All who know me, know that I am a barbel only angler now a days. By "barbel only", I mean I preffer to catch barbel. The reality of course, is anything but that because in the normal course of events I catch bream, chub, roach, eels, tench, perch, dace, carp and even a few nice trout accidentally in my barbel fishing endevours. As such, these accidental species always remind me of exactly what there is out there in the Trent to be caught. Trent pike fishing is vertually untapped.
Ron Clay has suggested to me a few weeks back that I should do an article for the "Angling Star" so as to perhaps dispel certain myths concerning River Trent course fishing. Those myths generally being, that the fishing on the Trent is "crap" to coin a popular descriptive.
I do feel though, that one article goes no where near towards explaining and demonstrating in a practical matter, the fantastic fishing there is to be had on the River Trent. Also, as a side issue, but one that I care for passionately, our open to all river fishing clubs could do with a "leg up" in terms of getting more anglers to return too our rivers once more.
So, I will indeed do the article for the Angling Star this year as Ron suggested. But as I said, one article goes no where near enough to showing others just how good the course fishing on the River Trent is. So the season after this one, I fully intend to target many of the other species apart from barbel. I will write an article for each species targetted going over location, bait, tactics etc and send each one to Graham in turn so he can place them in the articles section on Fishing Magic. (providing they are up to scratch that is)
Then, all will know the reality of just what "IS" possible from giving the River Trent a second look.
And I might even chuck in one or two photographs that will definitely surprise a few in the big barbel fishing world!!
Know what I mean Ron?
Regards,
Lee.
