Longest, bleakest winter for angling I can remember to be honest.
Usually in winter you can get bites on the rivers but the water is so cold it’s ridiculous.

In contrast I dont think West Yorkshire has been as bad as the last few years Ive fished quite a bit.

Dont think its been a particularly bad winter. Quite a bit more rain than normal but we have needed it in many places around the country. Not sure winters in its final throws just yet. Feb is usually a horrible month and we always get a bit of snow in March. So, think we still have another 4-6 weeks before we can feel confident that we are heading in to spring and consistant warmer weather. Think a few have got use to the mild winters we have had for the last few years and forgot what it was like in the past.

Got to agree with the last two posts, I,ve only missed one weekend since well before Xmas, and that was my choice. We’ve managed to keep lakes ice free, and by keeping an eye on the weather forecast and choosing to fish on the best day I’ve had a few fish and had some decent results.

JohnH and Geeps must be feeling a bit nesh!
Not too bad this year, a couple of years ago I bought an Airity, nearly went round the bend as it was a full month before I could use it as all the lakes had a lid on,if you remember fisheries lost fish because they were frozen for so long.
It’s mid Feb and only been iced off once this winter so far.

@TrueBlue wrote:

Dont think its been a particularly bad winter. Quite a bit more rain than normal but we have needed it in many places around the country. Not sure winters in its final throws just yet. Feb is usually a horrible month and we always get a bit of snow in March. So, think we still have another 4-6 weeks before we can feel confident that we are heading in to spring and consistant warmer weather. Think a few have got use to the mild winters we have had for the last few years and forgot what it was like in the past.

Care to list those places that needed greater than normal winter rainfall, after the wettest summer and autumn in over a century?

Winter will be on its way back this time next week anyhow.

Caster Rob, have a look at the stats for the underground water table and you will find that much the Midlands underground water table is still significantly below average or at notably low levels and thats after several record months of rain fall in the last year. Most areas now have average underground levels now. Shows how much the water levels needed topping up to just get the underground water table back to where it should be!.

If the rainfall is so intense and of such duration that it floods vast areas of the country instead of impacting upon the water table then it is not needed in that given area.

A farmer in the Welsh Borders (where GWLs have been low) isn’t going to want further rainfall when he’s already had so much that he can’t access drowning and starving livestock due to flooded roads and pastures.

There’s more to life than data and statistics, most of it goes on outside offices.

Thats just the wrong type of rain, Rob. Not sure we have had vast areas of flood in the past 12 months in this country. We have had some floods in places that have historcally been flooded but thats about it. Dont build houses next to rivers or on historical flood plains if you dont want to get your feet wet, lol

Maybe you missed this:

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-year-britain-flooded/4od

make sure you’re sitting down, it could be a bit of a shock!

I will say it again just for you, Rob. “We have had some floods in places that have historcally been flooded but thats about it. Dont build houses next to rivers or on historical flood plains if you dont want to get your feet wet”, lol

The plus side of the higher underground water levels is that the rivers might have some water in them this spring and summer instead of being very low or in some cases almost dry. Could be a great year on the rivers and a better chance of a bumper year for the stocks of some species.

talking bollards again TB – certainly local farmers often with main fields on hill slopes still flooded out – might certainly beg to differ with you.

Im not sure if its me thats getting older or the winters are getting colder and longer ( Im 73) but im sure there must be something in it as I feel it more now than I ever used to.I still get out as often as I can because it seems to me the older you get the faster the clock ticks so you golden oldies get your woolies on and give it your best shots. You never know how long you are going to keep going . Tight Lines.

It’s very easy to get into the habit of not going fishing, and the thought of sitting out for up to six hours in bad conditions is one of the main reasons not to go. I would suggest entering a winter league, then your committed to go, our league matches are every two weeks with opens in between. The league is very competitive, but at the same time friendly and fished by a good bunch of blokes (and one female) . You need to keep going to be able to compete, the venue has fished great this winter with some fantastic weights, although it can be peggy, the thought that its my turn next week to draw one of the fliers keeps me going, also doing your best from an average peg and gaining good points from it can keep you in contention. I personally have what I consider only one poor day this winter ( and that was fished in probably the best conditions). Choose venues that are not long pole dominated and fish methods that suit the conditions and there are some fish to be caught.

Enjoy.

As predicted, winter is back with a vengeance thanks to the penetrating easterly we are presently experiencing.
Current indications are that the change of month will coincide with a change in wind direction – to a northerly, with a long arctic draw.
This would lead to continued cold and predominantly dry conditions.
I can only hope those areas with diminishing GWLs that needed all that rain last year can withstand it.

I have kept warm and fit playing table tennis this winter so when the weather does turn I’ll be really up for it lol

I fished a local knock up on wednesday – still water bream feeder fishing. I was drawn facing into the wind and the chill cut like a knife. At the end of the 5 hours I was the only one left on that bank, but I will be back again on Sunday.
Is not part of the challenge of catching fish, especialy in match conditions, having to cope with the prevailing weather conditions?

yes of course it is but it is also about enjoying your sport sitting on the bank freezing my cods off for a bite or two just doesn’t do it for me anymore, having fished winter leagues done my ice breaking bit having turned 60 I think you feel the cold more, cold weather conditions are definately for the younger or really dedicated angler, at one time it would have been an enjoyable challenge however priorities change.

Im an old ****** but will be out saturday and sunday winter league ing it on a couple of canals for an odd bite. Working outdoors in all weathers for 30 odd years must make me imune to a bit of cold ? 😀

Dodge, I like yourself worked out doors for thirty odd years, I’ve got a nice cushy inside job now with loads of paid holidays. I’m looking forward to sitting out in the freezing cold for six hours tomorrow and I’m confident of a few fish, I can’t wait 🙂

Someone ought to tell these “midland farmers” how low the water table is and how much they needed that rain:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/23/weather-battered-farmers-hope-food-security-will-help

They’re only farmers so obviously know nothing about the state of the ground and such things.

Rob he could diversify and grow rice !

I said in my 1st post – Feb is usually a horrible month and we always get a bit of snow in March. So, think we still have another 4-6 weeks before we can feel confident that we are heading in to spring and consistant warmer weather.

I remember us getting snow on the night of June 16th in about 1987ish on Merseyside.

Last March was the second warmest March on record. So, dont expect 18 degrees for another month or 2.

The frogs in my pond have just started spawning today. Spring is defo on its way!

True blue your absolutely right on water aquifer levels below average in the midlands and parts of yorks, I couldn’t believe it!! however the west country, southern england and the north are above average levels, after sundays deluge were certainly to be a bit more in surplus lol

Mother nature has a funny way of re-addressing the balance, Fred. April showers soon. I will get my brolly, lol

It has not been all bad JohnH. Even this month there have been nice days. I saw the river season out with good double figures of grayling on a stick float – lovely sunny day with virtually no wind, but I did shiver uncontrollably while packing up LOL. This wednesday I won a local knockup with 32lb of stillwater bream on the feeder – yes it was snowing but tucked under the brolly with the tip going round was better than being sat in the office. No I know I haven’t mentioned all the gruellers but I really believe if you stay at home because of the wintery weather you are seriously missing out on some good days.

Never mind:

http://news.sky.com/story/1068530/weather-body-found-in-floods-rain-and-snow

it’s good for the GWL.

River wise extra water has been a nightmare for the most of last season.
Having suffered too much cabin feaver I decided to take my chances with the weather elements and booked last few days of the season off work.

Heres the best of two barbel caught when the water temps was hovering around 4c.
The other was around 5lb…but my hands were that cold i slipped her straight back 😉

That’s a topmouth gudgeon Pete!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂