session report – The Masterblanker

A quick video – pike fishing at Thorney Weir

Well recently I haven’t been able to get out much which is really frustrating hence there has been a hiatus on this blog ( have just realized its been 7 years since I posted a blog… wow). One of the places I have been fishing is strictly no publicity hence there haven’t been many updates however i thought I would put up this video I made at Thorney Weir. No real pike to speak of but it was an entertaining walk around the lake complex.

Another quick video in the setting sun

I will try to get some of the drone footage I have taken of some of the lakes up as well soon

Just a quick update.. pike and pike and pike

just a quick note to let you know where I have been and the blog has been really very quiet. Sorry about this I have either been doing DIY on my new house or working. But Now I have been back on the bank again and I am having some success.

I have been hitting the pike in “The Mets” lake part of the Thorney Weir syndicate complex. And apart from not having any large fish I have not been doing too badly numbers wise with not a blank in sight so far. Indeed on a recent session I managed to get 2 in the net at the same time. Continue reading “Just a quick update.. pike and pike and pike”

Off to the Archer lake Social

Blog has been pretty quiet recently as I have only been fishing once in the last 6 weeks due to illness. Anyway hopefully early next week there will be a blog article on the antics and fish from the yearly Archer Lake Social. Wish me luck as I set off for ooooop north at stupid o’clock tomorrow morning and will be there till Sunday.

Until next week

edit – due to unforeseen circumstances was the social that never was for me

a really quick one from today

Following my theme of cloth cap and ancient tackle, I popped down to a small commercial pool today with my brand new Andrew Field floats ( yes I had to get some more as they are simply gorgeous) to try them out. I had quite a few fish on bread ( see an up coming post) but the real stars of the show were the fish landed on my heritage setup. The prettiest of the lot ( managed about 10 in the morning) was this 8lb odd mirror. Nice because it was plainly obvious that it doesn’t get landed all that much and looking at the size of its tail I wonder if this the reason. The fish went like a steam train and my apologies for the pic but the fish wouldn’t quieten down for a photo. Enjoy ..

Upcoming posts on

Buying a hand made float for your daughter and how to make glugged bread sticks.

the return of bread

following my previous post about using fox arma mesh to fish with a whole load of new / old baits I thought I would give a quick update from this weekend. This weekends session on Thorney Weir whilst a blank was interesting as it did prove a point in that you can fish bread in Arma Mesh and get it to last over night. Gone are the days that you would have to re cast every 30 mins if you had bread on the hook. Gone also is the notion that you can’t fish bread at distance. I put a 3oz lead well in excess of 100 yards and the meshed bread was perfectly fine.

Some of the bread pellets looked a little muddy as I was experimenting with meshed lob worms… not recommended the worms crawl out eventually 🙂 Continue reading “the return of bread”

It is not the size that matters

Sometimes it is not the size that matters but sometimes the method of capture. I had wanted to catch a double figure carp on my Bruce and Walker Mk4 ever since I purchased it and now that I have a full set of Andrew Field floats I had just the chance. I quick trip down to a small commercial near where I live and 1st cast landed this beauty. She pulled the scales fown to 11lb once the sling was taken off and was well deserved.

Bait… well nothing at all. I was just testing the float at my feet to get the correct shotting on the float and the hook picked up a ball of chod from the bottom. Carp grabbed the chod ( and my hook) when I dropped it back in the water. Continue reading “It is not the size that matters”

The view from the swim – ThorneyWeir

Just off to thorneyweir for a few days. I much prefer fishing midweek so as i had the chance (thanks Una) i thought i would grab it with both hands. There are (or were) fish over at least 1 rod so i am hoping for my 1st thorney carp soonish. If i manage to winkle one out i will drop a message here.

Actually, hold the presses, a pike just hammered some poor roach right in my swim. At least something likes my bait.

Brett Island in the spring

Well just back from a 2 day blank on the Mets where I had my very own island for the weekend. The only other place where you can get a private island with 2 swims for the price of a season ticket to the Thorney Weir / Mets complex ? yep it is Necker island, and it is a little bit pricier but the weather is better 🙂 Anyway I decided to ensconce myself on the island as it gave me perfect access to the lightning tree. Continue reading “Brett Island in the spring”

Pike success from the Mets and a tip for carp anglers

Well it has been a white n coming but I finally felt that I was at home around the Mets. I have been a member of the Mets / Thorney complex for a year and apart from taking some nice photo’s of the place I have not done a lot else. well that changed this weekend. I decided that after I had dropped my wife off at Heathrow I would pop down for a couple of hours with the lure rod to see what was up. Continue reading “Pike success from the Mets and a tip for carp anglers”