Sub Zero Fishing

Evan and I called in for a half term fish at Exe Fishery.  The car thermometer showed 2C but when we got to the lake the wind was cutting across from the East driving the temperature well below freezing. And the fish to the bottom of the lake.

We started in the bottom corner with a light #4 rod but the wind was so strong we switched to #8 which is so heavy it copes with windy days really well.  We tried orange tadpoles,  black and green tadpoles, White Minkies, but the only thing we had were a few follows.

However it was the cold which made the fishing difficult.

In these conditions it is difficult to keep warm, while a full set of warm wind proof over clothes are good, it is difficult to keep to fingers warm, as the line is continually moving back and forth through them.

I finally caught the only fish we had that day a two and half pound rainbow which took an olive green nymph fished quickly on an intermediate line.

Ferreting and Devon Ditches

An invite from work saw the Botwood clan winding our way up to the edge of Exmoor on a sunny cold Saturday to try the ferrets out on a small holding.  The hedges were really difficult. We only had purse nets with us and, to be frank, this was useless.  Rabbits holes went through the banks and popped up inside six foot wide hedges.

We netted as many as we could get to and tried out Llinos' ferret.  This is a small polecat ferret, which is incredibly biddable, Llinos having spent so much time taming her down. You can see from the photo we also had barb to contend with.

 We worked our way round the hedges but never once made contact with a rabbit, so either someone else has been hunting here or disease has taken hold.

We used hemp nets which are far superior to the nylon nets often bought.  The nylon nets seem to be attracted to every brier and thorn in the hedge.  Every time we used one it came away in a tangled mess.

At least we got to work all the ferrets and had a good walk on a lovely day.

Winter Fishing

Is spring in the air? I felt the need to go fishing which usually  occurs in spring, perhaps the fact that I had been unable to hunt during the Christmas period had something to do with it.  On a cold blustery morning I threw the fishing tackle in the back of the car and wound my way up to Exe fishery.  I  have found this small fishery rather hit and miss, many like it because it is fairly easy to catch but that can be a draw back if fish will take at everything that lands on the water.  Today there were very few fishing, the weather having taken its toll, but I quite like these challenging conditions.

I started in the bottom corner  of the main large lake where the wind was driving all the flotsam,  I have found these areas to be good places to start as fish tend to pick at the edges and always seem to take well.  I was using a 4 weight rod and floating line as I like the fight with this light rod and nowhere on the lake is too deep so no need for any other lines.  I attached an orange nymph and cast in retrieving with sort jerks, nothing happened.  Often in cold and murky water I think the fish will wait for something slow moving and so having slowed my retrieve right down I had my first take, but as I got the net ready I let the line go slack and the fish came off.

I changed to an orange bodied goldhead and tried again.  After a few casts I hooked into a nice 3lb fish which fought very well on the light rod finally diving for the back to get rid of the hook, thankfully I was able to get the net under quickly.

After catching in one place I like to move on,  I always think it takes time for a patch of water to settle after a good fighting fish, and I like to work a large area search for fish rather than chuck and hope which so many seem to indulge in.  I fished quickly round the top of the lake which was quite shallow so I did not give it hat much attention and half way down the far  side.  Having not had a bite. I cast out and reeled in to move on, but of course this proved irresistible to a small rainbow who took the nymph with a real thump, having exhausted himself with the chase he came quickly to net.

I finished where I started and a nice 2lb rainbow took the slowly retrieved nymph and it was time for a pint in the local and home.

The drive of youth

In my youth I would walk miles to fish hunt and shoot, but the other day I stayed right  by a wonderful lake but didn't fish.  In my defence I had a load of books to read and it was cold and wet outside.  The worry is I am sure that even a few years ago I would have been out, at least in the dry spells and trying to fish.  Has age given me wisdom or just a love of ease? What a worrying thought.

Perhaps its just the long days that stick in my mind from the past.  The night my lurcher caught six hares in a night and I walked with them four miles back to the car, after walking for five hours lamping.  I was not much good in work the next day.

Hunting on the black mountains with hounds to get back to the van after a hard day up and down to find that hounds were missing and turning around to walk up the mountain again.  You know you have had a hard day when your legs cramp up when you try to drive home.

Wheel Chair Lamping

Driving up one of the lanes by the town of Bridgeport I saw a flashing light and slowed the car.  What a sight! Three lads with a fit keen looking lurcher, the surprise was one of the lads was in a wheel chair.  Country Sports have not been that easy for people in wheel chairs. One of the best sports has been fishing which has provided wheel chair boats to fish out of.  In fact these boats look even better than the normal rowing boats.

Lamping with a wheel chair does present several advantages, you have a really good game  carrier and some where to keep the spare battery, the disadvantages are that wheel chairs are really bad in fields.

Disastrous ferreting trip

Went out for the first ferreting trip of the season yesterday (15th September 2012)  My daughter was trying out her new ferret; a small jill with light polecat markings. To cut a long story short we found that the rabbit were still in cover and the buries were unused or so covered in brash that they could not be netted.  It was one of those places where there was any amount of  sign, but it just did not feel quite right.  Later I found out that horrible disease myxi was ravaging the area.

However  we turned our hand to foraging and gathered up slows, for slow gin and blackberry's and apples for hedgerow jelly. Below are the results.

Five and a half pounds of Hedgerow Jelly.  Great on toast.

The recipe I followed can be found at:

http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/blackberry-jelly-recipe

I had to simmer the jelly for a lot longer than the recipe said though.

Making a ferret carrying box

Building a ferret carrying box.

I tend to make solid things, 30 years ago I made a ferret box, its big, heavy and uncomfortable to carry, so when my daughter needed her own ferret box, I was determined to make her 'a really good one'. Surfing the net I found super pictures of ferret boxes, some better than others but very few instructions or plans for making your own. Plenty on ebay for a price. I eventually found a rough plan and adapted this to build my daughters carry box.

The Box finished up 15'' Long, 9'' in depth and 7.5'' in height. It had two compartments, and doors opening on the top. It also had a bow back which is supposed to make it more comfortable to carry.

The bow back I was assured from website reading can be achieved by using 3mm Ply. Do not buy ply it will not bend and will break! So much for websites. The following pictures show the development of the carry box. It did end up light and it is nice to carry.

The main construction uses 9mm exterior ply board which is glued and nailed at joints. The bow back was formed using thin tongue and groove (I used pine cladding) which gave the necessary give to form the bow.

First picture is of the top and bottom cut out using a jig saw, bow is 3'' deep at the middle point.

The picture below shows the various components laid out, it does also show the 3mm ply shortly to become fire wood when I tried to force it to bend.

I cut two small doors in the top of the board and attached hinges and fasteners.  I used the jig saw slowly lowering the blade onto the ply which then will cut through without having to make the usual pilot hole.

Last photo is of the completed box being tested by one of my ferrets.

 I am quite pleased with it.