stevetheangler

Monday, 1st July I set off at 0600 for what will hopefully be my first of many river trips in the forthcoming 2025-2026 season, my destination being the River Severn at Blackstone (near Bewdley), a stretch under the control of the Birmingham Anglers Association which can be accessed by membership card only having given up sales of day tickets a few years ago largely due to litter problems arising from day anglers :(

Being vaguely familiar with the stretch from a few years ago I elected to fish the downstream albeit an area I’d not actually fished but had viewed on those previous visits and knew the water was slower and deeper here.

I was lucky to find an easily accessible peg too… most Middle Severn pegs seem to be on steep banks via steps cut in but this peg, albeit a just a dirt track was more like a ramp, possibly even get a wheelchair (with good brakes!) down there with a nice flatish area to fish from about 4 foot above water level (as it was on the day, obviously varies day by day with river levels). See pics…

So, today wasn’t a barrow day – just took my trolley (not needed as parking directly above the swim), my 3-rod quiver with 3 rods (a short/light leger rod with 8lb main line for margin fishing, a 12’ quiver tip rod with 8lb line for more general fishing and my heftier barbell rod with 12lb main line) plus banksticks, a bag of baits (maggot, worm, meat and cheese) and a bag of food and drink … and a rucksack holding all my end tackle requirements and unhooking mat. Also my chair and landing net.

I only fished with the quivertip rod all day long (0730 first cast, 1430 final retrieve) using a 40g square feeder loaded with my usual mish/mash feed and initially a bait of 2-3 dendro worms held on the barbless size 6 hook by 2 or 3 centre hooked maggots.

The day was warm but thankfully the blazing sun of the previous day was curtained by a cloud covered sky and so although it was still very warm at least I was spared the grilling! And a slight breeze also helped …

So almost from the start I was getting rod top activity from minor trembles to tip pulls. And I soon discovered what seemed to be a ‘hot spot’ (well, hot to the touch would probably be more truthful) about 1/3 of the way out and just slightly downstream which usually produced ‘results’ (referenced to rod tip movements not fish produced LOL) usually within a minute or two of the feeder landing… casting longer or above/below seemed to be dead even after waiting 30 minutes or more. However, I was unable to connect with anything.

At 1030 I tried a change of bait to a cube of mature cheddar cheese – back in the 70’s I found this a great barbel and chub bait – but after an half hour or so biteless I switched back over to worm on a smaller size 10 hook – and again the knocks came… but no fish … and then I decided to touch leger … with the result I actually made a connection … and after a spirited fight (against 8lb line and a 40g feeder) … a daddy ruffe, as we call them around here, approaching an estimated weight of nearly 1.5oz was successfully landed! LOL.. Actually I was quite chuffed with it, a favourite small species of mine and not as common now as they once were … and also the first fish I’ve had in what seems like a eternity!

Not long afterwards it was time to head home as I wanted to stop off to recce a small river that I’ve fished in the past (River Stour) and thinking of needing to be visited again in the future. However, since my last time there things have changed – a fish pass installed next to a weir and a car parking area now created in the field whereas parking was previously in a roadside layby. After inspection it all looks good.. some changes needed to my usual way of access to ‘my’ preferred swim but think that its actually better…

PLANS

Not sure – Monday and Tuesday I have appointments so it will be a Thursday or Friday session if I get out next week.

A few bits of tackle tinkering to be done if I don’t anyway :)