December 29th Bristol Avon Great Somerfords

So I arranged this fishing meet over the festive season just to get out and stretch the legs a little on the Upper Bristol Avon. The membership of the association is mostly fluff chuckers which I include myself in at times!!! So I was not surprised at the turn out,  five in total. It must have been the prize money of £500 for the most fish caught and £300 for the largest which really got them out onto the banks.

Most had the right idea and stayed at home. The temperatures had increased to 4c in the morning from the -4c for the last few days. Snow was still in the fields. I had looked at the Avon lower down the previous morning and it was crystal clear so I was completely surprised at the brown torrent of water that greeted us at 8am in the morning. Knowing it was going to be difficult everyone decided to trudge to the further end of the fishery and work our way downstream.

The whole morning nobody had a bite let alone catching a fish. However as the afternoon wore on we all lined up like a proper fishing match along the bank and caught a few roach, chub, roach and gudgeon. They just switched on. However the river slowed a little and the colour started to drop out.

First prize went to Pete with 5 roach and 2 dace

Dave had the largest a monster chub of 8oz.

Most were caught on swimfeeder, Dave though caught by laying on and using the float as indication.

Ivor fished by our flow deflectors which should help the river improve by giving sanctuary to the small fry.

Many thanks goes to Mark Everard who lives in the village for his help in putting these in.

Chris caught a few and Ivor caught after returning later in the day. I caught a couple of fish a roach and a dace, that saved the blank. 

The roach looked in good condition and were very bright in colour rather than the washed out colour of flooded winter conditions where they are normally dull.

The mist gathered on the river as the day progressed due to the difference in temperature of air and water. The air temperature finished at 7c as we packed up at 4.30pm