The Sessions - Dec 2022
Keep going until the end!
I finished last month’s piece after another brilliant Trent session and a real red letter month with lots of big Barbel, big Crucians and two bonus 30 plus Carp, what a brilliant months fishing.
December was looking difficult with very little time to fish due to work and family commitments but I was looking forward to the time I could fit in.
3 December 2022 – River Trent, Collingham
Winter had certainly arrived with day time temps down to 7 degrees and cold nights, the day was cloudy with a chilly north easterly wind, we’d had lots of rain but the river level had dropped to 1.10m so I knew I’d be able to fish most areas. I drove up late morning and started to look round, despite the colder weather there was still a few people out and the first three areas I looked at were too busy for me so after a bit of thought I drove to the area where I started the season, it was empty and looked good which was perfect.
The river level was to the top of the swim so I wouldn’t need to climb down to land fish but the bank was treacherous, very muddy and slippery, so the first job was to break up lots of dead nettles and tread them into the mud, this was going well until I somehow cut my finger open quite badly on one of the nettles and it would not stop bleeding. I wrapped it in toilet roll but that soon filled with blood, so I tried two wet wipes and they seemed to do the trick and got it under control.
I was fishing by 15:00 needing 8oz leads to hold with both rods on Pandemic hard hookers and I put a spread of BBB and Pandemic through the swim.
The left hand rod went straight away with an average 7 plus fish but a good start all the same. Another fish at 8 plus was landed two hours later and I was thinking I was in for a good trip but that soon changed…..
4 December 2022
It had started raining in the evening and did not stop all night, I’d not been feeling well with the start of the chesty cough everyone has had this winter and it really took hold, I was feeling rough and just wanted to go home. I had another fish at 8 plus in the night and a Chub at first light but it was very wet and horrible and the bank was really bad and like a skating ring.
I set myself season targets and this years were; 1- 100 doubles, 2- a 12 plus for each month of the season, and 3- an 18 plus from the Trent. I’d already achieved target 1 with over 150 doubles so far and I was well on for target 2 so I really wanted a 12 plus this trip as I knew I wouldn’t get many chances to get out fishing. So I made myself pack the swim down and drive round to my favourite day flood peg.
I was fishing again by 10:20 after driving round and barrowing down the field in the rain. The day was miserable, wet and cold and I only had one fish, another at 8 plus before packing up on dark to drive home.
21 December 2022 – River Trent, Cromwell
I’d been quite ill and would not have been able to fish but the big freeze contributed to that any way with bitterly cold weather. The area I live in had experienced lots of snow and temps down to -7 degrees, something we had not experienced for years so any chance of a Barbel was lost whilst it was that cold.
A walk along the River Ouse
I’m always tracking the weather and river levels to plan sessions when I can and the break happened on 18 Dec where it literally went from -7 to 15 degrees overnight, absolutely crazy and some people think global warming isn’t a thing……
I knew it would take a few days for the salt, ice and snow to wash into the river and start to flush through so I booked two days of work and drove up on the 21 Dec after work to meet Ian.
I arrived at 21:00, the level was 1.39m and highly coloured but we knew where we could fish safely and I set up in the dark, Ian was already fishing and caught two as I was setting up. I could hold with 8oz and both rods were baited with Pandemic Hard hookers.
22 December 2022
My night passed without a touch, Ian fared better with five fish but had to go home first thing and was gone when I got up at first light. I’d had trouble holding bottom with lots of leaves coming down so decided on a move to my day flood peg for the day, it’s a lot of hassle but brilliant when it pays off.
I was fishing again by 10:40 and had a take straight away landing a fish at 10-12 and thought I was in for a red letter day. But it wasn’t to be, I put in a lot of effort in the rain with static baits and rolling meat and packed up for another move on dark.
I had planned to fish a certain peg on Cromwell but could see head torches in the swim so had to have a rethink. As I was walking to the van the fog came down and I could hardly see a thing, I loaded the van and had a dangerous drive to Winthorpe and walked to the swims I wanted to fish. Visibility was so bad I couldn’t find the swims, I had to walk to the rivers edge and then go walk each way to find them only to find people as mad as me out fishing. Back to the van and I drove to Sutton, visibility there was even worse due it being so open and I very nearly drove into the river from the hard standing area, I walked to the swim only to find an angler there who was finishing shortly. I was going to stay but due to the fog I could not see my near or far bank markers to find the spot I fish too, I didn’t want to pub chuck so went back to the van and dove back to Cromwell and ended up in the same swim as the previous night.
The level had dropped slightly so I hoped there would be less leaves coming down and upped the leads to 10oz to make sure.
23 December 2022
I had one take just after midnight with a 10-01 tripping up and that was it, a lot of effort for little return but it does pay off in the long run. After a stunning sunrise I packed up at 08:00 before the forecast rain set in feeling very disappointed as I didn’t think I get another chance to fish until the New Year and target 2 was gone for another season.
31 December 2022 - River Trent, Collingham
We had a lovely xmas at home and I worked the days in between finishing on 30th; I’d been tracking the weather and with crazy temps for December, a mild week with lots of wind and rain, I knew I had a last chance of a 12 plus if I could get out. Julie is always supportive of my fishing and knew I wanted to go so with a promise of being back early evening I got up at 03:30 and drove up for a day session.
The river level was up again at 1.43m so I knew where I wanted to be and barrowed down the field in the rain and started fishing at 07:30. My water proofs are now no longer waterproof and I was wet through, fortunately it was quite a mild day so I wasn’t too cold and got the kettle on.
Both rods were on Pandemic hard hookers with BBB and Pandemic through the swim. The rain was non-stop but the day started well with three fish before 10:00, a single, a 10-09 and 10-13.
By 15:00 I’d only had two more, another single and a 10-00, despite a lot of effort with static baits and rolling meat. The level had dropped slightly and I noticed a knew flat spot appear in the flow, from previous experience I knew this was worth investigating and reeled in one rod and flicked it out onto the flat spot. I don’t know what causes these and I have walked out to the area and know there in no depth disparity but I have found they produce fish so don’t ignore them in your fishing.
15:05 – straight away the rod was away with another double at 10-02, a real confidence booster.
15:30 – the rod went again with a high 9 and I topped the spot up with a few BBB each time.
15:50 – the rod went again with another double at 11-09, and it was at this point I thought it was not going to happen, despite the early drive, the wet weather and a lot of effort I was not destined to catch the 12 plus, I had an hour at best before I had to leave and made a short video that I posed on FB, I wasn’t giving up but reality was hitting home….
16:20 – I was packing the swim down with the rods out for the last cast when the same rod went again, this one felt different and I kind of knew this was the moment, I don’t often get nervous with fish but I did with this one, but it all went to plan and it went in the net. When I lifted it out of the water I wasn’t sure, I was thinking high eleven and was elated when the scales read 12-03 and had a little dance on the bank, again I’d followed my instincts and it had paid off, target 2 was back on.
16:30 – I’d flicked the rod out again while I packed down the shelter and it went again, I didn’t think it was a good fish and bullied it in as I was soaked through and wanted to head home, it woke up in the margins but was coaxed into the net and was a brilliant way to finish a great years fishing with a 15-05.
I drove home very happy and had a lovely evening at home with Julie and Tash, drinking and playing silly games.
Happy New Year everyone and I hope it brings you everything you wish for.
Thanks for supporting my website and following my fishing exploits, it’s been a brilliant fishing year and I hope for an even better 2023.
Until next month, tight lines and be lucky 😃
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