Mr Crabtree At Allestree Park Lake!

Mr Crabtree 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 may also be a good place to go in winter if the towpaths 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 was a great start, then nothing for the remaining six hours. I tried close in on the float, further out on a leger, 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 again.

I was back at Willington on July 18, fishing under a moored narrowboat 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. Then, about 6pm, some larger fish, including a Perch and a nice Tench, started feeding.