Mr Crabtree at Allestree Park Lake!

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 catching plenty of Perch and some Roach and Skimmer Bream. I’d definitely go back there as it was nice and quiet and maybe next time I’ll go further down where there were more overhanging trees and features to find fish. It may also be a good place to go in winter if the tow paths are not too muddy!

On July 16 I took part in another Earl fishing match, this time in fancy dress on Allestree Park Lake. I was dressed as Mr Crabtree using my vintage 10’ ledger rod and Mitchell 300 fishing a float close in the reeds. I caught a Perch first cast which I thought was a great start and then nothing for the remaining six hours of the match! I tried close in on the float, further out on a ledger, maggots, sweetcorn and bread and although I was getting knocks I didn’t get any bites. The winner of the match was a few pegs away and caught 3.6lb of Silvers including a nice Roach weighing just over a pound. I really like Allestree Park Lake and it’s somewhere else I want to go back and fish regularly.

I was back at Willington on the canal on July 18 fishing under a moored narrow boat where some Skimmer Bream, Roach and Perch were sheltering and took my maggot hook bait throughout the day.

July 29 at Mill Dam for the first time since the match back on 6 May, this time I did much better during a late afternoon session catching small Skimmers and Roach and then about 6pm some larger fish including a Perch and a nice Tench started feeding.