Thames: Get Your Tares Out

[TF_Katarino]

8 of us fished a skivers knock up at Wallingford today. After messing about on the pole, switched to a topper at 25-30 yds with hemp and tare, result was 14-10-0 of Roach (and a few skimmers!), all sitting on my ar$e in a parrot cage. There was also a 13-10 and a big 11 (he gave me an hours start and switched after watching for 10 minutes). The Roach are back, they are having it and it will even get better in the weeks ahead, some of them were still a bit rough on the hand.

[TF_Paddy]

Howya Kat – you may need to explain “Topper” for all these commies!! ~clap
The Severn still needs alot of water on at the moment and still needs a good wash through to get some colour in it. We aint bothered with it yet! May think about a spot of Barby bashing if it dont change soon.
Are you still having a go were we had that TF match a few years back (Runneymead i think???)

[TF_Katarino]

Hey Paddy! Everyone knows about crowquill avons these days don’t they? 😉 It’s a lovely simple way of fishing when the wind is right.

Yes, still fishing Runneymede and hoping to make this years (when is it someone?). Last year fished a bit hard but the year before we nearly caught it right apart from wind. Hathers had a nice day catching 18lb of Roach on the wag and even a mug like me managed 10lb.

Some of the lads on the match today are up on the Severn begining of September. Is the peg at the back of the island at Highley still a flyer? Mal Storey put me on to it years back and I was telling them about it….. “It’s a long walk but….” “But” was worth it 😉

[TF_Paddy]

I personally like all of Highley to be honest with you. I know where that pegs is on the island, but have never fished it. Are you still getting up to the Midlands? If you are, I’ll take you for a days Roach fishing when it gets cold, There are some of the best Roach that i have ever seen and caught if your up for it (not river though), or alternatively, theres a day on the Severn?

[TF_Katarino]

be interested on a day on the Severn but first week in month is always a bit awkward due work (I might be able to nick a day).

I want a ‘natural’ 2lb river Roach. I don’t want to cheat and go to the Test or somewhere like that.

God knows, Mal Storey tried to help, put me on to Ribbesford, hot pegs at Stourport and I found some superb glides myself where I had big bags and plenty of 1-10’s, 1-12’s. My mates have had them from Thames, Runneymede throws them up as does Child Beale and Donnington but not for me, so give me a shout when the weather/river level/colour hit right and I’ll be there.

[TF_Paddy]

mmmmmmmmmmm, me and Stan are still putting lots of time into the Severn and have been for years!
In my honest opinion, you stand a by far better chance on the Wye, not the Severn.
We take a trip down there (Hereford for a weekend) every December. On the 15th of last year we fished opposite the rowing club at Belmont and Stan had 76lb of Roach, Chubb, and Dace. My day consisted of probably the best red letter day ever by way of 2 Roach at exactly the same weight of 2lb 2oz and another at 2lb 4oz. All 3 were weighed on 2 seperate sets of scales and witnessed. Boy, did we get lashed that night!!!!
Stourport seems to kick up plenty of Roach in the 1lb to 1lb 5 or 6oz bracket and in all these years, neither of us have done a 2. We have had more 3lb Perch trying to find the elusive 2lb Roach! It is as though they are just not there at that size.
I will get back to you nearer the time and by that i mean November/December and we will have more Knowledge of what is happening at that point.
Ps, Ironbridge is just as frustrating!!!!

[TF_caster robParticipant]

Evening Roy.

If you were at Ribbesford you were on the best stretch of the Severn for roach IMO.

About ten years ago I was fortunate enough to have two 2lb+ fish in one session. It was a September day and the river was still basically in summer-mode as I fished the upstream shallower stretch, so they were a nice surprise indeed.

Pike are the biggest problem when catching them (assuming the river’s right) but they seem to ensure the fittest survive and grow so, as ever, nature knows best.

[TF_Waggler]

Can’t wait to get on the Thames at Sandford this Sunday. I’ve heard they are having the hemp and tares as well. Up on the Severn this Friday as well. Any tips!

[TF_Katarino]

Let me know, I’ll wangle a day somehow.

Donnington down here is infuriating, there was a match acouple of years ago had (if I remember correctly) 8 x 2lb-ers weighed in. I’ve seen 2lb Roach landed there and at medley but not for me. Burghfield Mill on the Kennet had them, not for me, (milomadness might pop up now telling us about his) 😉

It’s a millstone around my neck, the biggest I’ve ever had was caught on silkweed from Pershore weir in the summer of ’76. It went 1-15+ on two sets of spring balances that when tested weighed a 2lb bag of sugar and a 2lb scales weight smack on. It was fantastic fishing but I wish it had had a few more gobfulls of weed……

[TF_Paddy]

Ribbesford is a shadow of what it was 10 years ago Rob, Whilst last season was probably one of the worst we can remember for Roach fishing on the stretches we go on, But the year prior to that, probably one of the best!
There is a nice little secret worth knowing though, so if your thinking of dropping down this way – let me know and I’ll tell ya!

[TF_caster robParticipant]

Waggler: try a rain dance.

[TF_Katarino]

@Waggler wrote:

Can’t wait to get on the Thames at Sandford this Sunday. I’ve heard they are having the hemp and tares as well. Up on the Severn this Friday as well. Any tips!

You after Barbel or Roach? If you want barbel give that peg I mentioned on the BAA water at Highley a crack. You’ll find it on google earth, right bank (down) as river runs off the back of island. There is a hole…… and it’s full. Take a platform as you won’t get a bankstick in and if you end up piling stones in 2000 years archaeologists are going to think you were practising some weird religion 😉

[TF_caster robParticipant]

@Paddy wrote:

Ribbesford is a shadow of what it was 10 years ago Rob, Whilst last season was probably one of the worst we can remember for Roach fishing on the stretches we go on, But the year prior to that, probably one of the best!
There is a nice little secret worth knowing though, so if your thinking of dropping down this way – let me know and I’ll tell ya!

Cheers Pad, probably not till about September time.

As for last season, after November it was dry and very cold, hardly ideal in my book.

[TF_Waggler]

lol

They’ve got to have it sooner or later
Thanks Roy. Not sure where we are going yet. Can I Pm you before Friday!

[TF_Paddy]

14 replies on a river thread!!!!!!!!!!Some sort of record???? With more than 3 posters – a very rare occasion indeed.

[TF_Katarino]

@caster rob wrote:

Evening Roy.

If you were at Ribbesford you were on the best stretch of the Severn for roach IMO.

About ten years ago I was fortunate enough to have two 2lb+ fish in one session. It was a September day and the river was still basically in summer-mode as I fished the upstream shallower stretch, so they were a nice surprise indeed.

Pike are the biggest problem when catching them (assuming the river’s right) but they seem to ensure the fittest survive and grow so, as ever, nature knows best.

Evening Rob. Talking of Pike reminds me of a session I had at bottom of the Spinney at Quatford/Hampton Loade. I was wading on edge of rock ledge and playing a 4lb+ Barbel on float gear when the BIGGEST Pike I’ve ever seen in my life came up for a look. I was reminded of Max Winters Denmark classic, “if that comes on the bank I’m getting in the water”. A couple of months later there was a picture in the angling press of two 30+ Pike caught from “a midlands river”. I knew exactly where that pic was taken.

[TF_Katarino]

@Waggler wrote:

lol

They’ve got to have it sooner or later
Thanks Roy. Not sure where we are going yet. Can I Pm you before Friday!

Sure mate but Paddy will be more up to date than me and Mal Storey and his team were always stars in my book. If they can put you on them they will.

[TF_Waggler]

Thanks guys.

[TF_Paddy]

If its Roach Waggler, i would not bother at the moment to be honest, but Barbel, that is different. The British Legion water at Bridgnorth is fishing its nuts off and so is the Coalport stretch down stream of the brewery, opposite the Rowley and District waters. Predictably, pellet feeders with pellet on either the band or or on the lassoo doing the trick.

[TF_caster robParticipant]

There’s some real big pike in that river alright.

The only thing that startles me more than a pike nearly pulling the rod in is when it’s really quiet, you’re concentrating as hard as you can, eyes bulging, body tensed , easing an over-shotted, over-depth, float through the swim, then, suddenly, with absolutely no warning whatsoever, a bloody huge silver-tourist hurtles skywards and lands with an almighty splash about 15 or so yards away from you.

Some people think I carry a change of clothes in case I fall in!

[TF_caster robParticipant]

@Paddy wrote:

14 replies on a river thread!!!!!!!!!!Some sort of record???? With more than 3 posters – a very rare occasion indeed.

Sssshhh Pad or they’ll all start.

LOL

[TF_Katarino]

Funnily enough I never saw that on middle Severn but on the odd occassions I fished Lower Lode down at Tewksbury I saw loads.

Whilst we on subject of Severn, what happened with the GUAA at Lower Lode? I was there last summer and it was a bloody mess with no one fishing. It used to be brilliant for Bream/Roach/Hybrids with 100 peg sell outs.

[TF_Paddy]

@caster rob wrote:

@Paddy wrote:

14 replies on a river thread!!!!!!!!!!Some sort of record???? With more than 3 posters – a very rare occasion indeed.

Sssshhh Pad or they’ll all start.

LOL

He he he, I’ll wait till they have all gone to bed, then delete it!!
No need to worry though Rob as there is no comfort soaked bog roll, no comfort soaked toilets, or even comfort soaked car parks directly behind the cows in the fields, so unless farmers start to sell bacon and egg sambo’s next to the stile’s between the meadows, i reckon we should be ok.

[TF_caster robParticipant]

LOL Pad.

Sorry can’t answer Roy about Lower Lode.

I don’t fish that far down river.

[TF_Paddy]

Forgot all about the GUAA, I’ll ask in the morning and let you know.

[TF_caster robParticipant]

Enjoyed the reminiscing.

Night gents.

[TF_Katarino]

Did you fish it back then Paddy? The one match I fished people (including me) were tipping back 20+ bags. I pleasure fished it and had 80+ of Bream and a 40+ bag of everything known to man, also nearly got wiped out by a ‘spring’ tide but that’s another story. Fantastic fishing.

[TF_Fordy]

Lower Thames Champs is on September 18 this year.

Hope the river is actually moving a bit this time……

[TF_Croydon_Dave]

If we push you in at Laleham, then that should do the trick Fordy 😉

Seriously, I am going to the Thames 2nite after work, last Saturday had a good hour session using maggot catching dog roach, perch and dace.

May opt for worm and caster instead of hemp and tares though!

[TF_Waggler]

Fished our club match today at Sandford. 28lb won it on the hemp/tares/casters all roach. 2nd 18lb and I popped up 3rd with 14lb. Clonking great roach everywhere today. Happy days

[TF_The Runner]

Looking good- I’m at Dorchester next weekend & will be armed with plenty of seed..

[TF_jwb]

Fished bottom end of Medley today, couldn’t catch on the seed but shedloads of roach, hybrids, skimmers and perch on caster~clap

[TF_Katarino]

Sounds like a right aquarium John. Wallingford down from the bridge is all skimmers at present but upstream is Roach City. Have another mid week knock up coming soon and can’t wait.

Hoping Mickyd will run his Medley midweeker this year as well *hint hint Mick*

[TF_dave brittain]

I’ll second the Wye for big roach as I had two 2lb fish on my first visit with plenty of fish to 1 1/2 lbs.

My only concern is over the last few years there haven’t been as many big roach showing.

Best months will be late Oct early Nov.

[TF_The Runner]

Harder than expected at Dorchester today- I won it with 11-15 on the tare from 3 below the Thame mouth, but couldn’t line them up at all. Not tare sized fish either, mostly 2 to 3 oz, but anything else on the hook and you got a micro bleak every time

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