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First Trout

theretroangler

Feb 28, 2017

2 min read

Updated: Sep 8

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, with temperatures 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 Perch quickly and regularly, along with one Skimmer.

On 17 February I was on the River Derwent, with my Mitchell 410 and Daiwa leger rod at a peg I'd not fished before. With maggots and worms for hook bait and hemp for loose feed, I fished a leger with a size 12 hook loaded with reds. After a few hours of changing the hook bait from maggots to worms, then back to maggots, and regularly feeding maggots and hemp, my spool screamed away. I'd been distracted by a Robin I was feeding, and after the initial shock of getting a bite, I reeled in what I thought was a Chub.

After reeling in more, I thought I'd hooked a Roach, but to my surprise, in my landing net was my first Trout. I put the little Brownie back and celebrated with a cup of tea before casting out, and after a few more hours without another bite, it was time to pack up.

My Nephew lives nearby and kindly brought me a mug of tea to end a great river session on a still, mild day with temperatures reaching double figures. Thanks, Dave, for the brew.

A few days later, on 20 February after work, I had an afternoon session on the canal at Swakestone. I legered leftover maggots and worms and, after a very slow start, managed a few Perch and Roach.

Temperatures reached a very mild 15 degrees, then the wind picked up, and as the fishing was slow for me and two others nearby, I packed up and went to have a look at where the old Derby Canal once was.

A signpost near what was the entrance to the Derby Canal.

The first bridge over the Derby Canal at Swakestone. You can see boats in the marina on the other side of the bridge where the canal would have been.

This picture shows Swakestone Marina and what would have been the entrance to Derby Canal.

A picture of Swakestone Lock and the old lock keeper's cottage.

Swakestone Lock at Swakeston.

The day after Storm Doris brought wind and rain, I went to Birch House Lakes for the first time in about two years. It was a mild day with temperatures around 10 degrees, and it felt quite warm when the sun came out as the wind had dropped from the day before.

I fished worm and reds over some breadcrumb groundbait, and it wasn't long before I landed several Gudgeon, Perch and Roach. The session continued with more Perch, a few Bream, and more Gudgeon. A good day's fishing, and I even saw some fish topping for the first time this year, which is a sign spring is on its way.