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

Fishing the Earl of Harrington 5th Annual Facebook Match. The first session of the month was on 6 May, and I was back on the Earl at Woodrows for a good day's fishing for anything. Unfortunately, none of the baits I used tempted the Carp just under the surface, or any other species to feed. However, I didn’t feel too frustrated as I was in a very nice, peaceful spot; under a hazy sky with temperatures around 20 degrees and only one other angler caught a fish. The fish did st

Ducklings at Mill Dam. On 5 April I was back at Beechwood Fisheries for the first session of the month, fishing on mixed maggots and bread, catching plenty of Roach of all sizes on the maggots and a few on bread. A really nice, sunny spring day, with some cloud and light winds, with temperatures reaching 14 degrees, and the last cast of the day resulted in a nice, fat Carp of around 5 pounds. On 19 April, with my Earl annual ticket in hand, I was back at Mill Dam for the fi

The biggest Roach I've caught on the cut so far, weighing about a pound on 2 March. I went back to Willington on 8 March for a few hours of drop-shot fishing, but the water was very cloudy, and it had been cold the night before, so I didn't even get a nibble! On 16 March I was at a very quiet - just me and one other angler - Springwood Fishery on a nice Spring-like day, 9 degrees and sunny and I had a busy but relaxing day catching loads of small Roach and a few good-sized

Ice on the Trent & Mersey canal at Willington. Three perch, one of which was about a pound, and a skimmer Bream graced my landing net on 9 February on a sunny, chilly and windy afternoon at Willington, where the temperatures eventually reached about 6°C. On 17 February I was back at Willington; it had been -4°C during the night, and when I arrived there was a layer of ice on the water, and although the sun was shining, it was only a few degrees above freezing with a slight b

It was my birthday this month, and my partner made me some gingerbread fish! Happy New Year, fellow piscators and temperatures have really dropped now. It’s feeling more like January. On 7 January I was back at Swarkstone Lock where I first fished last year and blanked a few times. Determined to catch something. I was disappointed when the initially calm winds and light rain quickly turned into driving rain and 20 miles per hour winds. After only three unfruitful casts, I sou

On 7 December, I was back at Mill Dam for a few hours in the afternoon and lost a few, what felt like Bream. Another day when the fish just weren’t interested; next time they might be jumping on my hook! There's building work taking place nearby, and some branches that had come down in the recent heavy winds were being cut up with a chainsaw. On 14 December, back at Willington in very mild conditions for this time of year, 9 degrees. I had a nice mixed bag of Perch, Bream, G

A vintage ad for Lucky Lures, also used by Pacific Alaska Airways. On 3 November I blanked at Springwood, but I had a nice few hours at Mill Dam on 6 November and caught Perch, one of which was nearly a pound, the biggest I’ve landed there. It rained, but it was very mild. At Beechwood on 10 November I did pretty well in very mild conditions and caught several Perch, a few Roach and two Carp of about 4lb each. A friend of a friend took me to fish the Bridge Inn Pond on 19

Back at Woodrows on 1 October and although it was a nice few hours, I didn’t catch anything. On 9 October at Willington, the temperatures were in the mid-teens. It was a really nice afternoon catching Perch, one of which was 11 inches long and a Bream on red maggot and worm. Back at Willington on 14 October, I’m really enjoying the canal, and getting the hang of the different depths and managing to find the fish. Plenty of Perch on this occasion, again on worms. I fished Th

September had a slow start, but better than the end of August. On 2 September I fished in sunshine and showers at Mill Dam and caught Rudd, small Perch and Bream, but at least I didn’t blank. Back on the cut at Willington on 7 September I found a nice swim between two boats and caught several Perch on maggots and worms. After a bit of practice and reading on the canal, I’m getting better, and I really enjoy the environment. A few days later, on 9 September at Willington, I