Bristol Avon blues

I fished the Bristol Avon for pike on Sunday, probably for the last time this season.  Rain in the morning had put colour in the water and lots of debris was floating downstream. Not ideal pike fishing conditions and so it proved.  I fished in several spots for 3 hours without a nibble. 

That was my longest pike fishing session of the winter and boy do my records reflect it.  I think just one fish over 10lb came to the net, which is very poor.  Next year, I’ll find more time to get to the river.

I did see a lovely rare bird for the first time in over 30- years – a water rail.  This member of the coot family sulks in reed beds and is very shy. The bird has a very distinctive body shape and beak and I was delighted as one crept under the rod tips. However, what I don’t understand is how come I haven’t seen them more often?  After all, I have spent a lot of the last 30 years also sulking around in reed beds.

Oh happy days, a plump fish from January this year.