Rixton Clay Pits - 10th Feb 2013

After a lure fishing approach last week, I thought I would give it a go with a deadbait tactic. My initial approach was to travel light and use a roving tactics. I got the lake and it was cold and about 1degree it was also raining. I set up on the first swim at the far end of the lake closest the car park. This peg has a multitude of swims to chose from, due to the excessive rain I decided to stick to this area for the day and see what I could achieve. I learnt that there is a channel about 40 yards out about 5 yards wide and is about 2ft deeper than most areas of the lake. The top end of the lake seems to be level with a depth of 6ft or so. I fished close to the tree lined islands, rushes, margins and open water and in the channel I discovered but with no success. The weather was bitterly cold with a easterly breeze and Icey rain not perfect conditions. Still feel a roving approach would be the best option.

Rixton clay pits 2nd Feb 2013

Was looking forward to visiting this water after attempting to fish a few weeks early but was stopped due to it being surprisingly froze. Decided to fish spinners and lures and with the whole lake and every swim looking like they would hold fish I was definitely confident of catching. It was a cold bright day and the water was very coloured. I decided bright coloured lure or spinners would be the key. The whole lake was fished and I tried several lures or spinners at each swim but it was tough going. Eventually a swim or bay which had tree islands about 20metres out and two small inlets right and left of the bay eventually produced the first fish about 4pm. It was only a small jack about 2lb caught on a rainbow Mepps spinner. Learnt a lot more about the lake and fishable swims. Will try a deadbait approach next week.

River Gowey 13th jan 2013

Wasn't planing on fishing here but, due to every lake being froze I'd thought I would give it a go. Being only a small river I thought the best approach would be to use a Mepps spinner. The water coloured and I would say the river was dropping after a few days of flood water. The flow was quick and there wasn't any great looking pike swims to go at. Approximately 3/4 of mile downstream I found a nice looking swim, it's was a small S bend with a water inlet. After a few casts I hit my first fish, unluckly it slipped the hook. A few more casts and no success so moved down stream for a while with little success, I returned back to the spot were I lost a fish and after a few casts a was in again. I can't be sure if it was the same fish but was of similar size. This time landed and approximately a small jack of about 3lb. A walked back upstream but no joy. Interesting river and may take the time in autumn to chubb and roach fish.