A Day On The Thames (Richmond) with Ray Clarke

 

Ray came to pick me up at my house at around 6am. There had only been car I had seen across my road all morning, and it passed my house a couple of times before stopping opposite the drive. I then saw a figure come out of the car and walk towards me, it was ray. He approached whilst I waiting at my side gate with my tackle ready for the day. "Get here alright?" was the first question asked, and with acknowledgement, we were off.

 

Things were packed, the boot was loaded and the journey was on. OFF TO RICHMOND WE WERE!  Despite the fact that it was so cold the moisture you breathed out near enough froze in mid air!

 

After the drive through London and a good old chinwag during the trip - we finally arrived at Richmond, at around 6:30/ 6:40am. He parked up by the river and we went off for a venture to see where the best place to fish looked. The temperature recorded at first was -5 Degrees Celsius and we were greeted with a frosty nature scene, a VERY frosty one at that...

 

 

But it still made for a good photo!

 

We'd found the 2 swims Ray was looking for. A couple of swims next to each other where we could fish on steps, as apposed to a steep decline in the bank which would have left you in the freezing cold water! "What do you think of here then Ash" he asked and without hesitation I agreed that this would be a nice place to set up.

 

The rods were set sooner than you could say "stick out your keepnet mate!" and bait for the day were -

 

Maggots, (both live and dead)
Lupins/Hempseed (thanks to Ray for that one)
A sweet method mix groundbait,
Pellet,
And corn

 

I was set, and before I could even set out my stick float, all I hear is "ASH! IM IN!" - My hopes were high on seeing a nice fish come out, and it was!...A chub of about a pound and a bit

 

"THE ACTION SHOT!"

 

 

I then decided to give my feeder a couple of re-casts and Ray then came over to inspect my float set up. As I don't often fish rivers, I also took this day as a learning curve to my fishing experiences and I have learnt a LOT from it.

 

With the new rig set up, and a few tips from RAY - I was ready.

 

...The fish were not unfortunately ready to feed for me!

 

But Ray on the other hand, was doing very well! The weather had warmed up to a toasty -3 degrees Celsius and another chub had been netted by Ray.

 

Things were not looking all that in my swim but it actually didn't bother me as I am fishing a completely new place to me, with the roach record holder at that! So no complaints at all!  Plus, I'm seeing a load of fish coming out, as long with my first ever chub I've ever physically seen.

 

As the day went on, the fishing got very slow - if only the fishing were as fast as the river's flow then we'd be laughing!

 

Again, he had had another bite on the float and this time it was nice! At first whilst watching, he says to me "A chub I think, but I'm not too sure, could be a bream, it's not fighting much" - and then it gave a bit of wellie! "Ok it's bigger than I thought" was the immediate response, and when netted - a brilliant looking 7lbs 2oz bream was put in the keepnet!

Later on Ray had stuck out a feeder downstream with worm baited on a size 12 hook and in the net a couple of casts later goes another bream of about 4lbs.

 

Whilst there's me gazing on in amazement  behind him watching these amazing pristine fish get netted.

 

The fishing had later died and Ray took his net out for all to see - and what an impressive net it was - 3 chub and 2 bream... 

We then decided to move upstream a bit more as there was nothing more being produced from the swims - and we have it a go there until about 1pm

 

(insert funny caption here!)

The fish weren't having it... and on that - it was time to go.

 

A great day and a nice cold one at that.

 

Many thanks go to Ray Clarke for taking me up there and showing me a lot of new things to do with river fishing, set ups, and how certain things about rivers can affect the fishes feeding habits etc.

 

I'm just going to have to show you how to fish the glade now mate!

 

And on that, that's the end!

 

 

 

Thanks for reading all!
Tight lines!
Ash