Getting it right

The first part of this is a post that I'd kept in my draft folder, because it got superseded by the arrival of my Micro Moths book. It was written as a follow up to my previous effort - "Doing it right"
               

PART I (Wednesday 8th July 2015)





Time has come to focus my thoughts - if I am really serious about this tench challenge? I've spent quite a lot of time speaking with Benno and Simon about my ideas, they've offered a few suggestions but, if I'm honest, they're not what I'm comfortable with. Method feeders/rigs are undeniably effective, but way outside my scope and as for using plastic sweetcorn, never in my thinking . If this project is to work, then the tactics I use must be those with which I am familiar. It is very true that I've adapted my angling, since my return, to embrace much of the terminal tackle advancements that are now available. However, since I seek fulfilment before any other consideration, I will continue to pursue my targets in a manner which will deliver maximum enjoyment. Not, for me, the ruthless efficiency of a "Maddock-esque" technician, but instead, a Fred J. Taylor/Dick Walker countryman's appreciation of the finer aspects of the gentle art.
Am I kidding myself, harking back to a romantic idyll that is now long past? No, I don't think so; right from the very off, there is absolutely no way that I'm spending time (I never have) watching a red-tipped, porcupine quill dithering about above patches of frothy bubbles before it sails off beneath the oily surface of some tranquil backwater. My tench fishing background, was fired by such tales but, is based around my experiences just before and beyond the first double figure fish from Wilstone Res. Float fishing is for purists, not romantics, I will happily await the call an electronic alarm to indicate a bite - just as I did all those years ago!



These memories are the driving force for my tench quest - is it possible for me to recreate this image?
 Granted; the background will be totally different - but the species remain as impressive as ever.

 As a kid, I remember my envy when I discovered that a guy had caught an eel (a couple of pounds at best!) from the Grand Union Canal, just opposite "Rose's Lime Juice" - there won't be many reading this stuff who'll have any idea where this was? It was in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, the Watford side of Two Waters  - eels were scarce, if not incredibly rare, in the waters of that county - this was back in 1970. I have never heard of a single specimen being taken from the Tring complex? In East Kent 2015, eels play a central role in all my angling, I detest the bloody things - but they are an indication of the superb water treatment standards that Southern Water PLC are delivering to the region. It doesn't matter if I'm barbel fishing the Stour or piking on the RMC - all year round, eels are a bloody pain! In order to combat these slimy pests, I've had to completely rethink my strategies. Bread/maggot cocktails or lobworms are completely out of the equation, along with halibut pellets, shredded tuna and luncheon meat. These, good for nothing, bait munching, pests have dictated my approach, yet again. It's vegetables or nothing, if I'm not to be continually bothered by slimy interlopers. Fortunately, I do have a plan - the basis for which is due to my library containing so many old books. Fred J. Taylor (Fishing for Tench - ISBN 0-09-138691-8) has steered my thought process and I might just have a key to unlock this angling puzzle? Benno is also enthused by this project and we should get out, over the weekend, for another session. I have a couple of venues that I'd like to try, out on The Ash Levels - let's wait and see how this develops.
I've already decided that centre-pins will replace the Mitchells and have made some very major changes to my "munger" which, hopefully, will further improve my chances. Our kitchen is full of the aroma of curried chick peas, and the hemp awaits similar treatment. With a little luck, I should be able to get out and bait up a couple of drains, on Friday morning? Terminal rigs, bait and hook sizes are, very much, an integral, evolutionary, process within the project. I'll happily refine each and every aspect as the learning process unfolds. My landing net choice is now my 42 inch carp net and Alan Brown handle, complete with float, not that silly 24 inch oval barbel lark and 10 ft Boss "Weight Lifter". The enjoyment is driven by the fact that I've absolutely no idea what I'm fishing for? When allied with the barbel and carp challenges, in The Stour, I am hopeful that 2015/16 season will prove to be a memorable one?

PART II (Friday 10th July 2015)

It was around 02.00 hrs that I left the bungalow and made my way into the darkness, headed for a baiting up session at a couple of venues. I got two, likely looking, spots sorted before moving on to another drain. The light was beginning to show, in the eastern sky, and there was quite a lot of fish activity in my selected swim, so I decided to have a couple of hours "dangling", as there was no point going back home - Bev wouldn't thank me for causing further interruption to her beauty sleep!

What a great decision? At 04.40 hrs I had a screaming take on my left hand rod (chick peas) and, after an epic scrap, slid my 42" net under a magnificent old warrior, of a Common Carp, which span the needle, of the Avon dial, around to 20 lbs 10 oz. The first twenty to grace my landing net since Feb 1984 - was I happy? Delirious might be a better summary of my emotional state.

 

Quite simply the most beautiful carp I've ever caught - truly magnificent!

I thought about ringing Benno, but knew he had a heavy work schedule and wouldn't be able to get across to witness the fish. So I basked in the early morning sunshine - reliving every nerve tingling "twang" as the line pinged off of the numerous lily-pads that the carp visited. I scribbled copious notes in my diary and kept a regular trickle of bait going into the swim. I had already decided that 06.15 hrs was when I would pack up and attempt to get some selfie's, with the carp, when the other rod was away (06.05 hrs) This time it was a far more routine affair, as I battled with another carp which lacked the brute power of my previous capture. At 12 lbs 6 oz, it was a beautiful "fully scaled" mirror - although I initially thought it might be a tench, such was the difference in the bite and the fight!

 

What a stunning looking fish. It might only be small, but who cares?
I wouldn't mind betting that it had never seen a camera before then!

These drains are completely un-tapped, quite what else awaits my discovery is unknown - just how I like it. Still no sign of a tench, but there wasn't really any sign of a carp - just fishy activity in the swim. It can't be too long before it all comes together.



I'm going to have some fun with this?

Just as I was leaving for work, yesterday afternoon, the postman knocked on the door and handed me my, much awaited, package. Within the cardboard carton was my copy of Micro moths of Great Britain & Ireland - whoopee!

I'm getting quite a collection of images of the smaller visitors to the MV trap, so with a little bit of luck, and much required assistance, I may just start to unravel some of the mysteries posed by this highly varied bunch of insects? The accompanying photos are of moths which turned up last night.

Coleophora sp. (trifolii ?)

I'm not too sure that my quest for knowledge will get me far; already I'm discovering that the requirement for gen. det. data in order to clinch the id remains the preferred option to this group.
What century are we living in? I still have the opportunity to push myself into new areas of discovery, even though I'm unwilling to use this id methodology. A greater understanding of the family group characteristics will be a good first step!

Doing it right

I'm still "buzzing" after the capture of that magnificent carp on Sunday evening. So, OK, it's not the biggest carp I've ever caught, or even the biggest carp I've landed in 2015 - but it means so much more than that. To have captured such a beautiful wild carp, in the circumstances I did, is why I go fishing. The only thing that would have put the cherry on the cake is if I'd have done it using a centre-pin!

Oh! Go on then, just one more. As if I need to apologise for using another image?

But I do have one observation which I missed when making my post, yesterday morning. I had stated that I'd gone tench fishing. Reading back through my post and looking at my bait choices it is obvious that it was carp which were my target, yet knowing that tench will respond to these methods and tactics. I have become, without realising it, a carp angler - my mentality fully geared up to the demands of these fantastic fish. Darren Roberts posted a very nice comment, to which I have responded, basically stating that the eel I landed would make his season. Bizarre, they just ruin mine; whatever the size (just kidding!). I spent yesterday afternoon/evening on a manual packing bay, filling 1 ltr bottles with flushing solvent (printers stuff?) - therefore I had plenty of time to think about what I'd written and what I need to change to get back to the purpose of my project; to catch a tench from the drains of the East Kent Marshes. I am in a very fortunate position in having contact with many of the land owners around the area and, as such, permission to go birding/fishing along many miles of these untapped venues. True Marco Polo stuff, which brings its' own reward. Yes, I am fishing blind for the most part, but I have freedom of choice with my swim selection and every fish that graces my net will be unknown to me, it's photo isn't adorning the wall in Dragon Carp - well not until after I've landed it?

Yet another seven from tench angling "Mecca"

There is absolutely no way that I'm able to turn back time and relive the Wilstone years. True, I can continue to seek enjoyment by using the rods and reels of that era, but it will never be the same for umpteen reasons. The role that modern terminal tackle plays in todays angling is monumental, the quality and reliability of the latest manufacturing processes ensuring quality that was unachievable in the 1980/90's. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this and have come to the conclusion that if tench really are my target, then I will need to refine my approach? Under no circumstances can I use the Wilstone tactics - eels would think I'd opened a McDonald's swim-through. Worms and maggots would be a recipe for disaster in these venues, so particles it will be - get rid of the pellets also, Tuna flakes are completely out of the equation, although I might just be able to get away with casters? Something for me to experiment with over the next few weeks.

There are mile upon mile of these drains out on the marshes - none of them see an angler from one year to the next!
The carp will never make 30 lbs, the tench will probably be small and they don't contain any barbel - so they're
not worth the attention of the vast majority of angling clones?  Long may it continue!

I've been reading up about our old particle choices and think that there could be some mileage in these long forgotten baits? Black-eyed peas, maples and haricot beans would all be suited to the challenge ahead, modern flavour/colour enhancement providing limitless combinations - and they're cheap! I've got several drains within 15 minutes drive, which I can pre-bait on a regular basis - who knows what might happen?

A wet net

I'd every intention to get back to the river, this evening, but a call from Benno, who was lure fishing with Luke and Chris, in Canterbury, warned me of some up-stream weed cutting and the resultant debris that was flowing downstream. A good enough excuse, if one were needed, to resort to my plan C - tench fishing on the East Kent Marshes.

My bait was already prepared and stored in the garden (my) freezer; left over from my recent trip down to the river. All it required was to remove it and allow to defrost - not a problem in the current conditions! I left home around 17.30 hrs but, due to access restrictions, did not arrive at my chosen swim much before 19.00 hrs - that's some walk. The drain hasn't seen any angling activity, which was obvious by the luxuriant bankside vegetation. Lily pads and extensive aquatic weed beds, in crystal clear water, made it a very picturesque scene, although finding and preparing a swim was a little problematic.

I eventually settled on a swim, casting a small lead around to establish the condition of the bottom and the extent of the weed growth. Once done, I proceeded to go through the routine of introducing my "munger" which consisted of nothing more than hemp and sweetcorn! Two Duncan Kay's, fitted out with Mitchell 300's were assembled and baits cast out onto my spots. Curried chick peas on the left hand rod, a neutral buoyancy 14 mm halibut pellet/flouro pop-up combi on the right. I've purchased some new buzzer bars, my aging Gardner ones being well past their sell-by date. I set about getting a few shots of my gear, but got distracted by several small patches of bubbles appearing over my baited areas. Some time after 20.00 hrs I was on the phone to Benno, talking about this and that when the left hand alarm screamed into action as the indicator smashed up to the rod. "I'm in - ring you back in a minute!" as I threw my phone down and grabbed the rod. The fish went nuts, careering through lily-pads, the line cutting through the stems of these wild plants, like cheese wire. It took three attempts to get the fish into my waiting net - wrong choice? A stunning Common Carp which tipped the scales at 18 lbs 2 oz! It had probably never seen a hook, it was absolutely pristine, beautifully dark, almost like it had been carved out of wood - a sensational creature. I did my best to get a record shot, but failed to do the fish true justice, my auto focus isn't much cop on timer delay.

A stunning fish which has probably never seen a hook before?
Just a little disappointed that my photos don't do the carp full justice - it was immaculate.

I continued to fish through to 23.30 hrs with just one more bite, this time on the pellet. A nice slow lift on the indicator, my strike being met by firm resistance - a sodding eel of 3 lbs 6 oz being my reward. I have to admit that it was quite an impressive creature and I did get a quick shot as it lay on my weigh sling. Still don't like the bloody things!

Well that was it; a superb first session after tench! I still haven't seen one, but I went through the ritual of depositing the remainder of my bait into my swim before I departed. I will be back there very shortly, for another bash, that's for sure.

Migrant moths

One of the outstanding features of the blogging network is the ability to instantly disseminate information; to share opinions and experiences with other, like-minded individuals. Over a period, as a blogger, you discover a bunch of other bloggers who become cyber friends. You follow their blogs and empathise with their highs and lows - you might even pass comment on occasion?  Then there are the specialist websites - designed to provide news and/or assist with identification of various species, bird, insect or plant, etc. We all have our favourites just as we do in all other aspects of our lives - football team, music and reading material for instance.

Bird-cherry Ermine

My re-discovery of the enjoyment of garden moth trapping seems to have coincided with another very good year for moth migration? By perusing the various contributors news, it is possible to keep track of what's been going on at a local and national level. The Bordered Straw influx has come to an end, whilst the remarkable arrival of Red-necked Footmen has probably peaked? 31 at Folkestone Warren (1st July) must have been spectacular, indeed! Here in my little Dumpton garden, it would appear that I am still attracting good numbers of moths, that are absent from the Folkestone and Sandwich areas? Diamond Backs are still very plentiful, yet only occurring in dribs and drabs elsewhere. Dark Sword-grass haven't been mentioned lately on any of my regularly visited sites, yet I am recording them nightly, so are they breeding locally? Silver Y numbers fluctuate between 0 - 15 depending upon the conditions, but also, I feel, the demise of the Red Valerian impacts on the numbers I record. When the garden Buddleia gets flowering, then I'll get some very high counts again. Small Mottled Willows have been recorded on several nights, two being the best count on the 3rd July.



Dark Sword-grass

I can't wait for the arrival of my Micro Moths of Great Britain & Ireland - there is so much more awaiting my discovery and this book might assist me in a way that www.UKMoths is unable. Surely Diamond Backs can't be the only micro migrant? Of course they're not, I'd almost forgotten Rush Veneer - because I haven't seen one for so long! For all of those who follow this nonsense, due to the angling content, I'm off out with the rods this evening. I am going back to the drain for a dabble after tench. I won't catch any less than I do whilst sat at my laptop, however, with my camera gear to hand and some superb scenery, I'll have something to blog about tomorrow morning, before I head off to work.

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana) - a species which was easily identified using the superb web facility UKMoths

This little rascal remains un-id'd due to my complete lack of knowledge. I don't have the first idea where to start
looking on UKMoths, so the arrival of my new book should ease this problem and allow me to
gain an insight into the various family groups?

Might make two Steve's smile?

We had an intensive downpour, with accompanying thunderstorms, overnight - the 125w MV stood up to the ordeal and has delivered another superb crop of moths. Two Small Mottled Willows, another Red-necked Footman and the first Oak Eggar of 2015, amongst the egg boxes, along with several other new, for the year, species. My copy of Micro Moths of Great Britain & Ireland has been ordered from Amazon and should be with me by mid-week. Poplar and Privet Hawks have also turned up in the passed few days, taking the garden year list of Sphingidae (Hawkmoths) to a very respectable seven species. I have only got Pine and Convolvulus to add, in order to make the complete set for our little Dumpton dominion. (However, Striped, Bedstraw and Spurge have been taken in garden traps within a mile of our bungalow - there is still potential for new species!) Green Silver-lines and Common Emerald were also additions for the list - green is the colour!

Common Emerald

I'm sat indoors, listening to Duran Duran's 1982 album - Rio, what's happening to me? I'm actually enjoying it! Yesterday I watched (again) a documentary about the life, and music, of Gerry Rafferty. Earlier I had used the i-player to listen to a Radio 5 interview with Paul Gascoigne. Uncanny parallels between these two incredibly gifted individuals - they are victims of human frailty, the undeniable power of addiction over intelligence and reason. There is absolutely no doubt that both are masters of their crafts, Gerry sadly succumbed to his alcohol problem, Gazza seems to be doing his best to come to terms with his own battle - good luck guy, you've given an awful lot of kids something to dream about; that goal against Scotland; something else. So where's this latest "Wrathall waffle" going?

Green Silver-lines

My final trip to Sandwich Coarse Fishery, just before the start of the season, was to be enhanced by the chance meeting with a lady, Janet, who was camping (in a Renault camper van?) and out enjoying an evening stroll with her dog, Aimee. As she approached my swim, she enquired how I was getting on? I don't understand why, or how, but we quickly established that we had many basic life rules which were shared. At some time during the conversation (it lasted a long time - 30 minutes plus) I made the statement "the World is a truly fucked up place!" Janet wasn't having this, her reply being far more reasoned. "It's not the World, it's the people in it, who are fucked up!" We spoke about the greed culture, about the healing power of natural history and the incredibly destructive influence that religious zealots are applying to modern society. It was a fantastic experience, to speak so openly with a complete stranger. I doubt if we'll ever meet again, but can honestly say that it is an encounter that has impacted upon my own outlook, in a very positive manner. Janet had a hobby manufacturing pens - which she makes from scratch. If anyone, out there, knows this lady, please let her know that I am very grateful for her input into my own slant on the world.

23 spikes of this Broomrape sp. were counted in this small area of rough ground.

So, here I am, the Duran Duran album coming to an end. I have to make a walk across Ramsgate to meet up with Bev, at Debbie's house. There are twenty-three spikes of a Broomrape sp. (Tall Broomrape - my best guess?) growing on a small patch of rough ground. I remember back to the days of Sandwich Bay Obs and the search for Clove-scented Broomrape along the dunes beside the bay and spending time, with Bill Pegram, looking for Pasque Flowers in the Chilterns. The fact that I've even bothered to mention these plants is testament to the way my own journey has developed as others have contributed their ideas to my own thinking processes. Steve Coates and Steve Gale - I owe you a beer? (I knew that there was a link with Gerry and Gazza somewhere!)

This can't be right?

In June 1995, Tony Harman visited my home, in Ash, and examined a bunch of moths that I'd been unable to id. At this stage, I'd only been trapping for a year, and regularly screwed up even the most obvious noctuid's! (No change there then?) He proceeded to reel off a stream of names, cross referencing them with a specimen number, and plate, in the original Skinner. This he did off pat - so well did he know his way around that book. A squeal of delight was heard when he came across a pot containing a Red-necked Footman. Wow! What had we trapped that could possibly excite such an experienced lepidopterist as he? I feel sure, but haven't looked back through my files, this was the first decent (read scarce/notable?) moth that I'd knowingly trapped?
That little moth was key, as the enjoyment of moth trapping un-folded. I obtained a generator and had several different mobile traps which I took to a wide variety of habitats within Kent then, later, across the Channel to the woodlands and marshes of Northern France and Brittany. Great times, often spent in the company of Craig Sammells and Perry Haines - almost as crazy as the "Fenland Years" Looking at the up-dated version of Skinner - I have trapped nine species which are depicted on Plate 43, only Tree Lichen Beauty and Cypress Carpet in the UK. In all those years, since that fateful day, I have never taken another Red-necked Footman (although I have been shown several which have graced the traps of other local moth-ers!) So; imagine my delight when I discovered one, which I duly potted, as I turned off the trap this morning before heading across to the factory. My shift was a painfully slow ordeal, thanks to an equipment malfunction, but I survived and got back home just in time to drive across to Goodnestone, with Bev and Emily, to visit Sarah-Jayne and co - it was Evlyn's 2nd birthday on the 1st. Thus, it was well after 18.00 hrs that I finally got the chance to examine the contents of the trap. Well over 600 moths were present on the egg boxes, 3 Dark Sword-grass, 13 Silver Y and 20+ Diamond Backs suggesting that there had been some immigration. At least six new species for the year list ( plus lots of un-id'd micros) and the added bonus of a further two Red-necked Footmen! A new garden record, fourteen years into the project, wow! All of a sudden, I couldn't give a toss about not recording Bordered Straw, in 2015, I've taken three Red-necks in a single night - it can't get much better than this from where I sit.

An extraordinary sight, on Thanet - three Red-necked Footman in one night

It has been a rather strange period, all round, with this spell of high temperatures. Siskins flying west, are almost a daily occurrence, with two decked Lapwings, this morning, and a steady trickle of Common Swifts heading south. The garden Red Valerian has almost finished flowering, so Humming-bird Hawkmoths haven't been recorded all that regularly, just one yesterday afternoon.
Meadow Pipits have started to reappear around Newland's - I really don't know what is going on, but I'm very glad that it is!