David Fowler's Page

Started the new river season on the Cherwell and have had a few nice chub but the highlight was a very slow day last week when the only fish was a 5lb bream from a shallow swim on the far bank. Liquidised bread and flake on a size 10. As it was about 3ft deep it came to the surface on the strike and it thought it was a trout because as it tried to roll it launched itself out of the water.
Went to Clattercote yesterday and had 5 carp up to 13lbs, most on the method. Packed up when both rods went… Continue

Had a day on a local estate lake a week ago. Weather was cold but still so I float fished various deadbaits. Nothing on roach but a switch to a small joey brought a welcome 7lber. Then not a sniff for the next 5 hours. Well, at least there was one bend in the rod. That is until I tried wobbling and managed to go tree fishing! After a lengthy retrieval process of the trace I decided to head home.

Went out yesterday to the canal and decided to give the whole day over to spinning. I found… Continue

Planning my first pike trip for a few years and decided to make up my own traces. After checking out several sites such as the PAC etc, I bought some Drennan Soft Strand and their Slim Crimps (as recommended on the Soft Strand packing.) After 3 attempts I managed to get a trace right! The problem was the threading of the wire back through the crimp for the second time. How to get it through 3 times as suggested by some sites I don't know! I think I'll go back to the shop and get some normal crim… Continue

Bugger!
After 2 nights of heavy frost maybe I was being a little optimistic. Anyway, had the whole meadow to myself - except for the inquisitive cows and bullocks.
I covered several likely swims, slightly deeper holes and/or near bank trees/bushes etc. Nice new yellow-topped avon 10 x no. 4s fished about 4" off bottom to try to avoid the crays. Fed red maggots with half a lob on the size 10. Nothing for a couple of hours so scaled down step by step until I had 2 red maggots on size 16.… Continue

Heavy frost again overnight but I'm giving the Cherwell another go for the big perch which are reported there. Went last week but struggled, just bleeding crays (don't they crunch nicely!) and small chub. Still, after a chat with someone who has caught some very nice stripeys, I'll be changing tactics. Got a fresh pot of lobs and 2 pints of red maggots so just going to tackle up and adopt a roving approach.
Hope to report back - with pics if successful!!!!