Below the lock at Stenson Bubble. Encouraged by my visit to Stenson Bubble the week before, with all the fish activity during a Pike fishing session, I went back on 2 April with a pint of maggots. After setting up my Redmayne & Todd rod, Ambidex 2 reel and waggler. I loose-fed mixed maggots and noticed fish activity straight away. A Perch was the first fish of the session, followed by plenty of Roach and Skimmers. The best session of the year so far. A flask of tea, sunshine,

A Mill Dam Bream just under 3lb. Well it's turning out to be fishing sessions of firsts. Last month, my first Brown Trout and this month my PB Bream, just shy of 3lb. I went to Mill Dam on 6 March, and although the sky was clear, the water was very cloudy and higher than usual. After just a few casts with good old reds, my float moved slowly across the water and then disappeared, and I was into a fish which turned out to be my only bite of the session. It didn't take long to

Fishing began early this month on 3 February at Findern, with my Mitchell 300 reel and Daiwa Matchman MKII rod. I fished the waggler with a size 16 hook on the deck. The weather felt almost spring-like, as temperatures were around nine degrees. However, as the cloud and wind increased, the day felt more like winter again. Bait was hemp, red maggots and some worms. I was into the small Perch quickly and regularly, along with one Skimmer. On 17 February I was on the River Derwe

A small Chub from the cut. Happy New Year, one and all, tight lines for 2017. My first session of the year was on 7 January on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Willington. I fished a waggler with my Redmayne & Todd cane rod and Ambidex 2 reel. It was quite a mild day, around 9 degrees with hardly any wind, and after a slow start, the Perch started feeding on maggots and worms over maggots and hemp. I also slipped my landing net under several Bream and a small Chub during a pleasan

River Derwent at Darley Abbey. The first session of the month was on 2 December at Findern, where the temperature was around 6 degrees after a few frosty nights earlier in the week. I caught a few small Perch during a short session on worms. I blanked on the River Derwent at Darley Abbey on 8 December using cheese paste for Chub and worms. Cheese isn't a method I've used before, and although the weather was really mild, I didn't see any signs of fish. It was a really nice, p

Due to work and other commitments, my first session of the month wasn't until 14 November. After watching the weather for a few days and having some time in the afternoon, I went back to the canal at Findern where I hadn't been since the summer. I had a good few hours and caught Roach and loads of Perch. I blanked at Mill Dam during a short session on 18 November and thought I should have gone Pike fishing due to all the Jacks chasing the coarse fish. Then, on 25 November, I

This month's fishing began on 3 October on the canal at Willington, fishing with my Redmayne & Todd cane rod, this time with my Mitchell 300, which has more weight than my Ambidex 2, so the rod felt more balanced. It was another pleasant session - even though temperatures had dropped about 10 degrees since my previous session - and I landed some good-sized Roach Skimmers and Perch. On 10 October I had a day off work and felt like a change. I hadn't been Carp fishing for a wh

On the first day of September, I was back on the River Derwent, this time at Darley Abbey to put into practice some of the lessons I learned at Borrowash a few weeks ago. I had a good session catching plenty of Minnows and Roach. I also saw a Kingfisher and Water Vole at a lovely spot on the river. On 7 September, feeling a bit adventurous, I tried legering boilies on the canal at Willington in an attempt to catch something a bit bigger. Unfortunately, nothing big came alon

Kev Hales showing me how it's done on the Derwent. August 4 at Beechwood with a mate, who was after the Carp on his hair-rigged Polish sausage, which worked well and saw him catch some nice fish. I caught plenty of Roach, Rudd and a few Carp from 2½-4lb. On the evening of 10 August, I fished on the River Derwent, having a lesson with Kev Hales, Clive and John (Alfreton Angling), along with fellow Earl member, Tim Baker. We got some great tips and caught Dace, Roach small Ch

Mr Crabtree goes fishing without Peter! The only session in June - which is why I have added it to July’s post - was on 6 June at a stretch of canal in Findern which I’d not fished before. I had a great day under clear blue skies with temperatures in the low twenties. I caught plenty of Perch, Roach and Skimmer Bream. I’d definitely go back there as it was nice and quiet, and maybe next time I’ll go down where there are more overhanging trees and features to find fish. It ma