Happy New Year,

Let us hope 2022 is a better year than 2021. Especially in relation to the COVID Pandemic which saw the rise of the Delta and Omicron Variants, Booster Jabs and all the pressures that came along with it.

Given that there have been reports of Otters at Dormston BAA Pool and along the River Severn the fishing is getting harder. All Twats are encouraged to begin identifying places to fish, go on have a google around and see what you can find? Send your suggestions to ED.

Potential Places to visit this year are:

Kingsnordley between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth

Bells Mill Stourbridge

Cuttle Mill Sutton Coldfield and they have 2 lakes in France! I Like the Chalet Lake Near Mets.

Sion Farm Chaddesley Corbett

Others for Consideration may be?

The Bowl Syndicate Lake £400 per Year one for Martin he's loaded.

Blackfords Membership required?

Morton Springs? May be worth Enquiring?

Fosters Fisheries Membership Required?

If you find any other places that interest you drop ED a line!

Best Wishes and Tight Lines for 2022

Remember Knowledge is key, if you only have a "Hammer" in your "Toolbox" everything around you is a "Nail"!

More Venues to consider? Let Ed know what you think?

Have we considered Joining KDAA Kidderminster and District Angling Association

2 Lakes near Pershore

5 Top Fishing Venues in Shropshire?

https://www.lakefishabil.co.uk/ French Carp Lake Brittany France? Martins Suggestion!

Birch Grove Shropshire

27th March 2022 1 Fish does it again!

Martin Spent the day at Barston Lakes where he took 1 fish! about 1lb. (it is nice to see he is living the dream and living up to his nickname " 1 Fish"). I guess he needs all the Practice he can get?

Martin claims he only went to "Bed-in" the new line on his reels in readiness for Clearwater in May.

I hope he catches more than 1 Fish there? If he doesn't It can only be put down to incompetence? I've heard he has been busy with preparations making up D Rigs, Hair Rigs, Ronnie Rigs etc. BUT KICKERS Mart? Really??? KEEP IT SIMPLE LAD!

Martin reported he has been practising his casting and can now hit "well over 100 yards".

Martin also reported that the Magnetic Rod Butt holders that he and Berty have bought work really well! He praised them up big time. New Direction Tackle I believe.

27th March 2022 The Eagle has Landed.

Robert (Bob) has arrived at Clearwater Lakes on route home from a tour around the warmer climate of Spain. He has a camper and will drive!

He has stopped off at Clearwater for a bit of fishing before he makes his way back to Blighty.

The Lads going to Clearwater in May (Rob Steve and Martin) are pleased to have a man in France and are hoping he can gleam some local intelligence which will prove useful for their trip. Martin wants pictures of the Bivvy space in peg 1, But any general intel will be useful! Steve is hoping for peg 10 and Rob wants peg 7.

On the 28th March 2022, Rob has nothing to report!

The 29th However sees Our man Rob join the 50+ Club with a 51lb and a bit! Mirror Carp from Peg 10. 9:30 am give or take an hour. I think I'm right in saying his first fish of the day, and what a fish it is!

I heard on the grape vine that a celebratory drink was in order in the form of a can of Strongbow! Just to settle the excitement of course, Rob reported it didn't seem that big when playing it in but when it hit the scales he began shaking!

CONGRATULATIONS MATE! from all the TWATS this is a well deserved PB . Good things come to those who bait!

It's huge Rob! You can see he can hardly lift it! He is the 3rd member of the team to make it to the 50+ Club!

Rob and Steve have been reported as saying " it's nice to have another 50+ Club Member and this picture makes us proud to be TWATS"

Message to Martin: Come on "1 Fish" DON'T Let the Team down, No Pressure Mart But May 2022 is your chance and it could be your first Run Fingers Crossed.

ED

This is an early Post on Robert's great catch. Hopefully, there will be an update and full catch report later in the week.

Ali must have been overwhelmed and absolutely made up to meet such a legend as our Martin!

1 Fish (Martin) managed to get hold of a "Onemorecast" hat and Ali is a decent sort of bloke who has signed for him!

Ali is quoted as saying it was an "absolute pleasure to meet you finally mate. A great laugh and your smiles light up a room" Heart Emoji Thumbs up Emoji.

A Real bromance is developing. Martin is quoted as saying "I love my new hat tho"

Ed has learnt that despite martin promising to bring back bags of freebies for the lads he did in fact return empty-handed? What a TWAT!

@onemorecast @alihamidi #onemorecast #alihamidi #martinmeakin1

25th April 2022

It seems Martin Has purchased a Ridgemonkey Bait Boat (Hunter 750)

So this Months Competition is to NAME the Boat!

So far suggestions include:

The Brummy Baiter,

Young un's Yacht,

More Gear Still No Idea,

TWAT's Trawler,

Martin's Monkey, Martin's Monkey Spanking Boat,

Magic the Beans,

Rob suggested Martin is gonna be like Sir Francis Drake? Steven thinks He's more like Charlie Drake?

You Decide? Suggestions to Ed in the usual way! The Winner gets a pint of Diesel!

31,04,22 House Pool Kingsnordley Nr Bridgenorth "On the Bank"

1st April sees Rob, Mart and Steve meet up for the first time in a while at Kingsnordley House pool.

Arriving at dawn the lads are first on the pool and grab the top end of the pool left from the car park. It was cold first thing but warmed up a bit later in the day after lunchtime.

Steve is trying cheesy garlic boilies to the left of the pic above Martin is using Krill boilies to the far side with pellet to add to the attraction while Rob is using Bloodworm boilies to the tip of the island near some reeds and sweetcorn with chickpea on the hair in his nearside margin.

Martin also took this opportunity to launch his new not yet out-of-the-box Ridgemonkey Hunter 750 Bait boat. Which he has named " Martins Monkey Boat" Really? There must be a better name than this?

Rob catches first from the tip of the island circa 8 to 10lb carp which bumped off at the net! SO IT DON'T COUNT"

Steve takes an 8 to 10lber and so does Martin in an all too brief flurry of action around breakfast time. It's a long wait before Rob gets a run which takes him straight into the snags and he loses it? DOH! Martin takes another 8 to 10lb later in the afternoon.

On the plus side, it was nice for the lads to get their hands on and have a good look at the Ridgemonky Hunter 750 Boat. Rob is "jel" he really wants one and is quoted as saying "it does look a compact nice bit of Kit!"

A discussion on casting distances took place where Martin was confident and stated he could hit the gate in the distance which using google maps Steve measured to 140Yards. Rob was not convinced. The Peg at the corner of the lake was measured to be 98 Yards

Late afternoon sees the others booked on the lake pack up and leave so the lads spend some time giving Martin some casting tuition. His cast seems to veer Right over distance. and after a little time looking at his stance and techniques, martin is casting straighter and could achieve a distance of around 90 maybe 95 yards which will be just fine for the upcoming trip to clearwater in France at the end of May!

Note from ED: 140 Yards Mart? My Ar**! Your bivvy is the place for dreaming. Rob you're a BLANKER!

TWATS on Tour 2022 Clearwater Lakes France

In Plymouth Martin suggested a game a pool on the Ferry? Now you know why he is a member of the team! TWAT!

Arriving on Saturday morning after a little shopping for Martin en route the lads take a walk up the lake to show Martin the choice of pegs he has. This is his first time at Clearwater. A warm afternoon with plenty of fish on show and lots of wildlife was seen.

Steve had already chosen Peg 10 and Rob had already chosen peg 7 prior to leaving the UK. Martin decided on Peg 1

The first two days saw warm overcast skies with sunny periods and plenty of fish were banked. From Tuesday evening things began to change with some chilly winds from the northeast and northwest seeming to affect the catch rate which slowed considerably. (Course it could also have been incompetence). The change in weather brought increasing cold rain showers and some hail on one occasion and the rest of the week saw mostly overcast skies and showery rain. It was dry for the last day (Friday) and the lads did manage to pack up in the dry.

The catch report, in brief, is as follows:

Steve in peg 10 took 14 fish, four 40+ fish with a 43,1/2lb being the best of them! (40lb, 42lb, 43lb and 43,1/2lb) He took two Catfish around 30lb, two common's 30lb the best and the rest were Mirror carp.

Using house baits Crab boilies seemed to be working for Steve although the two biggest 40s fell to the Fruit boilies

Martin in Peg 1 took 23 fish. The highlight of his week came on the last night landing a 58lb Mirror (Scarface) One x 50+ at 58lb, Three x 40s (45lb, 42lb, 5oz, and a 41. Most of the others were high 20's to high 30's. Martin saw his PB fall many times during the week. He arrived with a PB of 32lb. He also took a number of firsts including his first Catfish, and his first Grassy and he even hooked a jack pike while retrieving his boilie unfortunately, he didn't land it!

Notable fish were his 58lb Mirror, a 42,1/2lb Common, a 28lb Grassy of course his first Cat. Unfortunately, Martin's records were a bit sparse in key information for a full report at this time. He did spend time up in peg 8 where he took 4 fish 38lb being the best from the top of the lake. (thank you to Frank for sharing information with Rob as to where to place a bait). Martin did land some very special Fish!

Martin was mainly feeding house baits (boilies and particle Mix) using his own popups on the hair. Pineapple did well, as did the Atlantic Heat, Glugs were in abundance and Martin made very good use of his Ridgemonkey bait boat.

Rob is so impressed with this little boat he's thinking of buying one

Rob in peg 7 took 23 fish, four 50+ (51lbs, 51lbs, 53:1/2lbs and a 54lb to equal his PB. He took four 40+ (42lbs, 42lbs, 43lbs and a 44:1/2lbs. 12 fish between 30lbs and 40lbs 2 twenty's and a 19:1/2 All Rob's fish were taken on house boilies both Crab and Fruit boilies, the Crab just about edging the fruit boilie by a couple.

Rob only fished 2 rods after the first night both at distance opposite the peg. He found his nearside margin swim resulted in the fish getting to the snags before he could get to the rod so he stopped fishing this spot.

Rob reported that all his fish were a battle, they knew where the snags were and headed towards them in all but one case. In fact, some of his fish visited all four corners of his swim before they finally succumb to the net.

Three of Rob's 50+ fish fell to a Crab Boilie while the biggest 54lb fell to a Fruity Boilie. (Nothing added nothing taken away) Rob's entire baiting strategy was based on his 12/8 approach! 12 Boilies fired in after each cast and another 8 every two hours after that! This light baiting approach really seemed to work for him!

The hospitality at Clearwater was excellent so a big "Thank You" to Stuart and Emily for looking after us. Stuart lent Steve a set of Scales after his packed up! He collected Bread for Martin from the local shop. Stuart was there when you needed him, not seen when you didn't! Happy to chat at meal times down at the farmhouse.

Rob was able to get up to and back from Peg 7 during the week and had taken a loan of a mountain bike which turned the hike into a short ride! This he felt was a great addition to the lake!

The evening meal package was both filling and tasty and so much better than cooking yourself! (Thanks Emily) Rob and Steve would also like to pass their "Thanks" to Martin who cooked them a Sausage Baguette breakfast or a Burger Bap brunch on at least 3 occasions, this was very much appreciated and made a nice change from their own planned snacks. Veggie Sausage beats a Pop-Tart any day!

One question they have is where does Martin put it all? He eats like he hasn't for a week and must have hollow legs!

Notable Moments , no fishing trip is complete without a few stories to tell?

Rob is thinking of opening a tackle repair shop, he trod on his landing net handle and needed to do a repair, this meant shortening his handle to around 4 feet, he also broke both his catapults and needed to do a fix on the bank side with limited resources. Later Rob's landing Net failed to result in him needing the lend one from Martin. THANK YOU, Mart!

Rob also made the schoolboy error of leaving his bait bag unzipped one evening only to wake and find 2kg of boilies missing? Was it a Deer, was it a wild Bore? Birdlife maybe? Answers on a postcard the winner gets a pint of diesel (£1:99 a litre in Exeter when filling up on the way home!) Alternatively, you can opt for a 4-foot landing net handle?

Martin was in peg 6 one evening during a social couple of hours, he stuck his polarised glasses on top of his hat only to use the said hat to swipe away an insect and the process flick his sunglasses into the lake? Why?? well, he had caught a fish with no eyes (blind) earlier in the week? The lads did wonder if they would catchy a fish wearing Martin's glasses? I bet he didn't see that unfolding? Even if he did see them sink!

Steve picked up a Tic at the later end of the week, the little blighter was having a feed on his leg! Steve removed the said pest and as far as we know is OK, however, we are not sure how the Tic is doing?? Still, this experience is something to tick (Tic LOL) off his bucket list! Steve also reported issues with his landing net, landing one or two fish with no pole! Rod in one hand and just the net in the other! I guess he likes a challenge?

Both Rob and Steve will be shopping for new Landing nets on their return!

This week saw some great teamwork between the lads, helping each other out when required.

The banter was given and received all in good spirit and trust me there was plenty of it.

Martin joins the 50+ Plus club with that Stunning 58lb Mirror WELL DONE Martin! You are a star!

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Search: clearwaterlakes5 ON INSTAGRAM

I'm sure this won't be the last trip to Clearwater Lakes Brittany France!

25,6,22 Erdington Brook Section Rv Severn

Arriving at around 4:30 in the afternoon it's a dry walk-in, but some showers are expected later.

Rob sets up his first rod and casts it in and before he can set up his second rod there's a take and Rob lands a 7lb Barble, Rob cast back in his second take is just seconds away and a 1lb Chub both taken on a Cheesy garlic 15mm boilie.

His second rod is in just 5 mins after this and he takes a 3lb Chub on a krill boilie. He begins to think he's in for an epic session.

The BAA Bailiff stops and chats to Robbie stating he hasn't known another Barble coming out so far today!

Meanwhile, Steve is taking his first chub of the session at 2lb

The early promise soon wains and the action is slow up to around 10 pm and pretty much stopped after that!

Rob Takes 8 Fish in this session 6 chub 3:1/2lb the biggest and 2 Barble 7 and 5 lbs respectively.

Steve takes a total of 7 Fish including 3 Barble 7, 5 and 8lbs (fish of the day) 2 Chub at 2lb and 2 x Bream about 3lb but as Steve quite rightly pointed out Bream don't count! Steve's Barble fall to Halibut Pellet.

Heavy shower for 20 mins at around 11 pm makes walking out at 2 am wet underfoot.

The lads are reasonably happy given that it is early in the season and they know the river takes a while to get to the point it's fishing really well. They both agree they can't wait for a hot sticky summer's night as this is when it seems to fish best!

Steve lost no kit for a change, but Robbie was 3 feeders and hook links down. 1 to a vicious take that snapped on the take and the other 2 to snagged feeders stuck in the rocks or fallen branches that hide below the surface.

Still it beats watching re-runs of Columbo?

29/06/22 Pleasant Surprise for 2022

Rumours have been circulating that Robert and his huge camper van have been spotted along the banks of the River Severn in the mighty woo (Worcestershire)?

It turns out the rumours are true. Sat at home one day Chris (Rob's much better half) says to Rob " whisk me off somewhere exotic?" It turns out Rob's idea of exotic is a midweek break at Lincomb Lock, Stourport on Severn. (Because he knows how to spoil a woman) I can see the attraction for Rob given somewhere to fish and the Rose and Crown is within walking distance! Is this what Chris had in mind?

Talking of the Rose and Crown our Berty met up with them both this evening (29,6,22) for a quick a pint and catch up! Berty reported it was great to see them both, Chris was looking radiant as always! It has been 3 years since the two bobs met face to face mainly due to COVID 19 and the pandemic! Berty stated it was a pleasant surprise and after 4 x 50lb Plus Fish at Clearwater he didn't think his year would get any better, but it did today!

It seems Rob has been fishing the weir at Lincomb using Bronzed Maggots (explains the yellow hands) and has enjoyed some reasonable sport. It certainly beats DIY or watching re-runs of Columbo on TV.

The fish may not have been huge specimens but they all counted, Rob was surprised by the number of perch in attendance.

Rob reported

Wednesday morning was quiet with a total of 16 perch and a few skimmers to make up his bag!

Thursday morning started with a bang (more slight bump really) as my first fish was a skimmer but the perch soon found my bait and I found myself "bagging" prickly piscine during the morning session. I even needed to use my landing net on a few "monsters" at about 1lb each! Too heavy to swing in!

Rob was clearly having fun on the river, and in a state of mindfulness reported reminiscing of times gone by, Clearwater Lakes and even thinking about Bob James and Chris Yates holding a Gudgeon Match a Redmire.

There's nothing wrong with a Gudgeon Match! because sometimes it's not about the Monsters but more about the moment! I guess that's the thing about fishing " makes you wonder so much but worry so little?"

Let's hoped they make a return trip to the Woo and a TWATS Social can be arranged! Tight Lines Robert! Keep up the good work! ED.

9,7,22 The Gage Pool 24 hours.

Rob and Steve head to Kingsnordley Fisheries for a 24-hour session on the Gage Pool!

Arriving late morning they choose a double peg at the top of the lake as their preferred peg is taken

The aim of this session is to bag a first Sturgeon although Catfish and Carp are also welcome. The general approach is going to be meat and pellet in the nearside margin. Boilies or meat are cast out at a distance or near to the island tip.

The session begins and they have a few runs which when struck into, there is nothing there?

They decide the way forward is to reduce the size of the hook and step down to a size 8 hook.

This seems to work for rob who takes the first carp of the session at around 10 lbs he goes on to take 2 more at about 5 lbs each and one around 12lbs. The lads admit to guessing the weights in the interest of getting these small carp back in the water as soon as possible given it is a really hot day!

Both are fishing 1 rod down the edge in their margin and the other out to the island in front of them!

The water at this end of the lake is shallow, 2 feet deep in the main.

Those in the preferred peg pack up and leave, so the lads scramble to change pegs! The Sunken boat swim can be seen in the picture titled Steve's Swim above. Look for the Sunken boat showing at about 1 pm in the top of the picture.

Steve takes 2 small bream which don't count A carp and 2 Sturgeon his first sturgeon is 9lb plus and his second biggest of the session is weighed at 12lb 4oz. All 3 caught using Meat down the margin on a bed of carp pellet!

Mission Accomplished

Unfortunately The lads did not get a photograph of Steve's bigger catch and ultimately the fish of the session. They were in fact convinced there would be more caught and hoped for some bigger fish at dawn. They were hoping for a daylight picture, but alas dawn saw a quiet spell and no more fish were taken this session.

The lads pack up a little earlier than planned to avoid carrying kit out in the heat of the day. It was 18 or 19 degrees at 9:30 am with high twenty's forecast!

Still a very successful trip lads well done! this certainly was a "Mission Accomplished". ED

29,7,2022 Erdington Brook Section BAA

With their lines in by 4:15 pm, Steve gets a run in the Barrier Swim after being in the water for just 1 minute. The Barbel in question is lost at the sandbank just 10 feet out. The water is lower than normal given the dry spell which has recently been evident across the county.

Steve takes another Barbel at 6lb 9oz just half an hour later, this gives him the opportunity to try out his new scales. He has a little wait until 21:14 before he takes his next fish at 7lb which is followed by a chub at 21:35.

His next fish another Chub is taken at 23:40. This is Steve's last fish.

Rob is sitting in the powerlines swim frustrated by not even taking a knock until 23:45 when both his rods bend over at the same time and he banks a 2lb and a 1lb Chub the only two fish he takes throughout the session.

It is a hot sticky night never feeling cold even at and after dark. There is some discussion around "what is going on" as this section of the River Severn usually produces well. Both the Chub and the Barbel appear to have moved on or be off feeding and it really is a mystery. The lads agree to try a few spots downstream on their next trip out maybe Arley or Trimpley even if it is just for a change of scenery.

Still, it beats sitting at home in front of the box watching re-runs of Columbo!

20,8,2022 Arley River Servern.

The lads head upstream of Arley for an afternoon and early evening fishing. Sharing a peg for a bit of a social!

Pellet and Boilies on the hair with a caged feeder is the general approach. Steve takes a small fish to begin and later takes a Perch which was a little bit of a surprise, it weighed in at about 6oz and was the Perch of the session!

Mind you Steve did start to panic he might loose the trophy for biggest Perch when Rob's rod began to dance and twitch. Steve was safe this first fish for Rob was a Chub at about 1lb taken on his right hand rod. There was a little wait for the next fish, nearly 8pm when Rob's right hand rod doubled over and line was being stripped. Steve began to worry about that Perch trophy but he needn't have it turned out to be a Barbel at about 6lbs.

Steve breathed a sigh of relief and the lads decided to pack up at this point and head off home!

Bob does Brittany again! Aug 2022

Late Aug early September 2022 sees Rob back at Clearwater Lakes. You just can't keep him away!

Prior to the trip, Rob sends a WhatsApp message to our Berty stating "I don't think I've ever been so fired up about going to France in my life.... Absolutely Buzzing. Let's see what happens from Saturday onwards. I have the lake to myself."

Rob is hoping for a huge Common Carp! 40lb plus is the target he is setting himself! I guess Rob is also hoping to hook that big kitty as there is unfinished business there. Rob is convinced that Cat won't get the better of him twice. Yeah Right, ask Steve, Berty and many others who have hooked it on more than one occasion. A 6lb Test curve rod and 60lb line may help but don't count on it!

His crossing (25th Aug) was calm although sleeping on a seat in the bar meant he rolled off the ferry somewhat tired.

Could be worse he could have rolled off the seat! LOL and after arriving at the lake he spent a couple of hours down on Mill Lake where he got off the mark landing a few low double-figure commons before retiring to a bar in Rostrenen for a rehydration session.

Mind you not everything was going Rob's way the bar had no Strongbow! Rob was growling. Berty was crying with laughter, reminding Rob PPPPPP!

In Rob's defence, it's a poor show when the bars in France don't realise that TWATS are finely tuned athletes with very specific nutritional and hydration needs. Especially if they are to perform to their very best!

Hers a thought? Rob from Birmingham is in an Irish Bar in a French town and is part of an English Fishing Team. He's a fine example of multicultural integration., Well Done Rob!

Day 2, Peg 10 Rob reports "Fish 1 Fisherman 0" Oh dear, See what happens when you don't hydrate appropriately!

Berty decides he'll do all he can to help (even though he is at home in blighty) and in an effort to support Rob he performs a Shamanic Dance Ritual which involves large amounts of Whisky! The idea is to send "Good Vibes" "Ju Ju" to Rob in Brittany.

It must have worked as on 28th Aug, Day 3: 8:30 am ish Rob takes a 31.5lb "Common Carp" from Peg 10. and later that same day he takes a 46lb Mirror Carp.

Rob finishes this day with a loss reporting the fish ran towards him and spat the hook! Reports from Clearwater suggest there was some choice language and mild stropping going on. LOL. I bet there was!

29th Aug Day 4 Sees Rob back in Peg 10 Fishing towards Peg 9.

He takes a 36lb Mirror and a 42lb leather later in the day! Using 20mm Strawberry Crush "Pink" Boilies. These are big baits to Rob. The weather is bright sunshine, red hot heat. Rob thinks there is no way he'll catch anymore.

A 39 & 3/4lb and 47lb on the bank say differently, Imagin what might have happened if Rob had been seriously fishing! LOL.

Rob's first thought when seeing the 47lb hit the back of the net was "it's a 50lber" they can be deceptive when in the water. Still, a 47lb Carp is still a good fish in anyone's book.

After a good day on Peg 10, he was back to the pub for a session "Rehydrating!" Good Lad!

Rob is now planning a couple of sessions on Mill Lake maybe, before finishing the week with a few sessions up at the top of Spring Lake. He fancies trying his luck in the newly remodelled Peg 7. This peg has been made safer and pictures can be seen on the Clearwater Instagram feed "clearwaterlakes5" Clearwater are seeking your views if you would like to make a comment!

I'm sure our Berty would sit there again! LOL. This is now his favourite Peg!

Friday 2/9/22 Rob is back in this Peg (7) for a few hours, hoping for one more bite. Given that Martin took Scarface on the last night of the trip in May, it just goes to prove that while your line is in the water there's a possibility and a chance of a PB.

Alas, no more fish were taken on this short session in peg 7.

All TWAT's know, that even a bad day fishing is better than a good day at Work! To put it another way, there is no such thing as a bad day fishing!

Rob is reporting a very successful trip, he's spent a few days (3) down on Mill Lake in his favourite spot and a few days up on the main Spring Lake where he has taken 7 fish 4 x 30lb plus and 3 x 40lb plus which ain't a bad return at all. 47lb's being the best fish of his trip to Clearwater. Imagine what he could do fishing 24/7 instead of his preferred, part-time, limited hours, relaxed approach.

To quote Frank Sinatra " He does it his way" and enjoys it!

I guess this means Rob will have to arrange a return trip if he wants to add a 40lb plus Mirror Carp to his trophy list.

Keep it up Rob, Safe trip home! PS Check the stowage on your RV, People smuggling is illegal in the UK! ED.

River Teme Eastham Bridge 17/9/2022

Rob Sets up near the corner peg where the river turns sharp left and notes on the walk down that only a few spots are being used. Most pegs are overgrown and have no signs of being used in recent times.

He loses kit on his first cast (trees are an issue) so tries again and sits in the chosen peg for about an hour. When it's time for a recast he finds he is snagged on the bottom and loses more kit. On his walk back upstream he sees a shoal of chub in a very shallow peg (15 or so fish just enjoying the sun). Rob at least knows there are still some decent fish in the River Teme. Pitty he now has no feeders to use and in fact, only has his Pike rod available!

After trying one more spot on the way back to the car park arrives with just his pike baits to try and chooses the peg above steve closer to the bridge he puts one near and one far side of the river.

Time passes with no takes, late on in the session steve did get one run, but it snapped him soon after picking up his rod! Doh!

What a pair of blankers, but in Steve's words, "it beats sitting in watching re-runs of Columbo!"

A Note from ED " If your gonna fish the River Teme expect to lose your kit! TAKE PLENTY!

Fish in the news!

Many thanks to Steve for sending me a link to a very interesting article he found in the news regarding the: Ancient eel migration mystery unravelled

I encourage all members to follow the link above, read the article, and further their understanding of this amazing fish.

And for those who wish another article can be found here! Follow the link below.

The Utterly Engrossing Search for the Origin of Eels

if you do hook into one of these fish, please treat it with care and respect. Catch and Release is the TWATS policy. Catch and release means, releasing the fish safely minimising any stress to the creature. it should be no worse off than it was before it picked up your baited hook.

If you're ever at the bank with our Rob and you catch an Eel ask him to show you the ancient shamanic art of "Eel whispering". You are sure to be amazed at this technique for handling eels safely.

"and away"

Thanks, ED

Ps Liz Truss resigns and there is yet another leadership contest to be undertaken. The markets are spooked, there is a cost of living crisis, and inflation is at a record high.

Given the fact that there is political unrest both nationally and around the world at present. I would just like to reassure members of my intention to remain in post and bring stability to role!

Ed.