Video

Good question ~ and even though I haven't landed one on it yet it seemed to manage a Jack of about 4lbs until it bit me off. This is the "fast" version which I presume refers to the action and it does seem to have a fine and responsive top but is quite firm in the butt section. I wouldn't want to tackle anything over 4 - 6lbs in still water but it would probably survive a heavier scrap as long as you were willing to play the fish out. In my limited opinion I would suggest a 10 - 12lbs Fish would about the max it could take without becoming over-loaded. The majority of canal pike do seem to be around this size but I may test the theory later in the season as this venue can produce the occasional beast well over 20lbs ~ that would be interesting ~ if anyone has landed something big on one of these I'd be interested to know..... Thanks for your interest.

@wyeme9047 I have the hto hooligan in the 5 to 20 g and the shimano vengeance in 3 to 21 g and that sounds like a rod of similar capability . In terms of getting bitten off I use a wire trace of 6kg or 13 pounds when pike are present . I am not surprised there are big pike in that venue , its a very big canal and reminds me of the Exeter ship canal .

Hi Collin, it seems like you had a good trip and Aramstone didn't fail to live up to it's reputation and delivered the goods as always. I fish this venue on a weekly basis throughout the entire year, even when it's in flood and we cast into the trench just inside the gate "field fishing", and I have to say that it's rare to blank; no matter what season, there is always something that will tighten your line! See you on the bank soon.....

Thanks, it was a bit of a botch job as the first day was unexpected and not well recorded. Day two was a bit of a let down but, having thought about it, the water was coloured when the bigger fish were feeding but clear when they were not... Is this the case with Zander? That they take better in murky conditions? Any advise appreciated.....

They have come in through the Severn?

Presumably, yes. I remember watching Matt Hayes and "Sir Michael" fishing for them from a boat near Tewkesbury many years ago and that was before they showed up in the canal. The numbers in both waters are now very high which will, I should imagine, reduce the average size even though there does seem to be a vast amount of bait fish in the canal so this may prove to be an advantage to the occasional angler as access is so much easier than the Severn. There is a lot of pressure on some areas, near Gloucester, but with 16+ miles of canal, it should be easy to find a quieter spot; as I did!

@wyeme9047 is the canal stocked with baitfish or is it just a prolific place in that regard ? I am in South Wales and a trip over on a day ticket and a few nights bed and breakfast is my idea of a nice holiday rather than baking in the Spanish sun 😆

That's what I was hoping for but I think my tactics were all wrong. I just got it into my head that there had to be something in those creeks!!!

I hadn't thought of that! Thanks and I'll give it a go next time. I will also take a fly rod..... Ever the optimist.. :)

Well yes, a F/C is a good holder of a fish but......... As we are bound by local bylaws to use single barbless hooks they will throw them if they get airborne or you let them have slack line. Trust me, I've lost more than I've landed ever since this rule was introduced! However, necessity has bred innovation and at least one supplier, Gary Evans of Newport and Cardiff, has introduced a split-ring to mount the hook. This not only allows you to easily replace hooks but also articulates the joint which appears to prevent the weight of the lure pulling the hook loose as it can flex more easily. I'm not sure that came across right but I know I've had greater success with these! As for adrenalin and over excited? Isn't that the point? :)

Thanks, it was easy enough to get the fish in but, with the wash over the Croy, that last bit was tricky!

Sadly, I don't. Which is odd because I have to cross it to get to the Wye!

@@wyeme9047 I moved to Shropshire last year from Birmingham and it's pretty local to me now, you can see the Salmon jumping the weir in Shrewsbury apparently, would love to target them as I've never caught one before!! Apart from a single Parr whilst in Wales

I'm not familiar with the situation regarding Salmon on the Severn but I think that areas like weirs are out of bounds for fishing as they get bottled up there but you should be able to find out from the Environment Agency website or by asking at a tackle shop local to the area; I'm a great supporter of our high-street stores simply because they have local knowledge! Let me know if you find some fishing and I'll join you with the cameras as well as a rod or two!!

@@wyeme9047 shall definitely be looking into it mate, would love a trip down your way sometime and try on the Wye!! Only fished it in mid Wales for trout myself

Joining the Wye Salmon Association (£10) gets you free access to some of the best beats on the river, this one included. Yes you are restricted to only two visits to each in a season but then, with seven to choose from, that's fourteen days fishing! Let me know if you are able to come this way and I can sort something out for you....

Sort of. In fact, the fish I saw following the lure wasn't the one that took it! A second came up from under the bank and snatched it away..... Hence my confusion, the one I was watching went off one way but my line was screaming off in a completely different direction!! Isn't fishing fun?

Looks like you’ve got them fighting over you now, Lawrence! sometimes though it’s deceptive because they turn after they’ve taken it for a follow

Yes it is, well spotted. However, they are as accurate as "measuring" a fish and guessing the weight and absolutely useless if you can't read the scale without your glasses! I now have these very accurate and easy to read, but also slim enough to go in a pocket, Reuben Heaton scales which I find ideal. Oh, and I used to work for Billy Smart's Circus in my youth and I can tell you that Clowns are very talented people, so I'll take that as a compliment, thanks....

40 days, [according to Stan], just 40 days to the start of the new season? Soon be Barbel time ~ but Salmon still coming up the river too? To be honest, when the Barbel start to show up I fish the fly for Salmo early in the mornings but switch to Barbel on the float gear as the sun gets on the water..... What a tough life!

Thanks Neil. Yes, the plastic debate! I must admit that I was loathed to remove it when I knew that I was going to be using this rod for a bit of Sea Fishing on the East Coast and you know how stinky those baits can be! Well, I've done that now so I think that I'll take your advice, [even though this rod was only £60 from Glasgow Angling], and take it off now. Tight lines, Lawrence

Great vid bud , if you are getting the flying C’s off Lynn he supplies Woodys in Hereford

Wow, yes..... Well there you go folks, get to Woodys in Hereford as these F/C's are by far the best made and heavier than any others I've been able to find at 23g, 28g and even 35g; you need these to cope with the, sometimes, heavy flows in the Wye. Anything lighter comes around too fast and too shallow! Stan always calls in on Lynn at the start of the season to stock up so, if you are fishing Aramstone, he will have some in the Hut, [next to the whisky] !

What fixed spool reel would you match up with that rod ?

I think I'd still use my Shimano Stradic C5000 that I now keep as a back-up. Not that it isn't as good as the Multiplier, just that I'm enjoying using something a little different. And I love the hum it makes when casting! The one thing that I have learnt about any reel for Salmon, [Fly fishing or Spinning], is that whatever you use it's the smoothness of the drag that counts; when they turn and run the reel has to give line evenly or they will be off!

Thank you 👍 This was the easiest video I've ever made; hardly any editing at all as everything happened as if it was scripted !

I had contemplated live baiting a small pout or whiting but didn't catch one quite small enough. Live Sand Smelt = Rocking Horse Poo; you're lucky to have a source!! But I've used them back on the Gower when we could net them off the rocks in the 1970's..... Haven't even seen one in the sea for years...

Please see below.

Yes it is, sadly. But the Salmon (and almost all other species of fish) seem to manage all right; as they don't have much choice really! It's just about everything else that lives in and around the river that suffers. The aquatic invertebrates are hit by the amount of filth covering the gravel beds, the Swans staple food supply of aquatic weed is supressed by the algae blooms, (the number of birds on this 2 mile stretch went from 83 to 3 in one season and all the cygnets died as they cannot digest anything else), and it's advisable to wash your hands before eating or drinking; but people still swim and paddle in it! Having said that, the pollution effect is most noticeable during the summer months whereas it's in less clement weather conditions that we get the surface water run-off that turns the river chocolate brown. The feeder streams, Ithon, Lugg and Monnow being the worst culprits. Then we have the biggest polluter of them all, the dumping of raw sewage. And this problem could be easily solved by upgrading and improving the system but this would mean spending a lot of money. Re-nationalising the Water Industry may be an option as we pay for it anyway? A long-winded reply perhaps but I hope it answers your, very relevant, question. Should you wish to know more or even get involved, then you could join the Wye Salmon Association....

Thank you! Cheers!

Thanks a lot!

Thanks and yes it did have a couple of lice on it..

Glad you enjoyed it and I will make sure I have some proper cameras set up next time!!

Thanks Martin. Hull is an area of the UK Coast I've never fished so I think it's time I travelled further north...

Ah yes, the ice cream specialists. At least you got your priorities right! Is it always as tough as this? I've been back a couple of times this week to try different methods but the wind and waves have made seeing bites almost impossible. My third trip, yesterday, resulted in a few better Bass, lots of Pout, a couple of Doggies and an enormous (40cm) Whiting! I will have to come back in the summer for a late evening or early morning float session. See you on the beach and I'll get a round of 99's in.....

Well talk about two Nations separated by a common language! :) It looks like the U.S.A. is ahead of Europe again by phasing out the Rampage range in favour of the Battalion, Carnage and Prevail rods. Also, we rate our rods by length and casting weight (in grams just to be bloody awkward) but you prefer line weights like fly rods over here.... All I can suggest is that you look at something that will perform best with a lighter lead, I think you call them sinkers or bombs, around the 90 gram or 3 ounce. This gives you distance but a lighter touch when fishing for those species that prefer not to have gear crashing down on them! I would send a link if I could but I think that the Penn website is your best bet to identify the rod you want. Whatever you decide to get, I wish you "tight lines"....

Very true Richard. The alternative would be to have a good guide/ghillie :)

Ah yes, that important little item that someone forgot to pack; well spotted!

We are lucky here on the Wye as there always seem to be some Barbel under the cover of the trees and bushes in the margins; see other video "Searching for Barbel and Chub", but flood water tends to push more into the banks in late summer and autumn. Even in this heavy rain, a friend of mine managed three Barbel to 10lbs on Christmas Day!

It is for coarse and game fishing by contacting Stan Turner on 07899 903744 But the Pike fishing is limited so as not to put too much pressure on them and is usually offered to those who have fished the venue before!. Under certain circumstances there are also limitations when targeting the Barbel and Salmon, with a complete halt when temperatures get too high or there is an algae bloom in summer. Tight lines...

Excellent news, I will drop it in sometime next week.. (Hopefully with news on that big pike too)!

Thanks for that. The conditions on the Wye this year have been exceptional will all the rain. Double figure Barbel are coming out every day all over the catchment, four to six good sized fish per session, per rod, are the average at Aramstone this month ~ August!! I can't wait to see what September brings as this is the month for the "Monsters". :)

@@wyeme9047 I've got 5 days at the red lion, do you think it would be worth trying Aramstone, is it far away from the RLion

The Red Lion, Moccas Fishery, is really good fishing when the conditions are right; a bit of water on and, preferably, some rain in the wind. If it gets hot and sunny with a dropping river you may struggle to connect with any numbers of Barbel unless you fish early or late in the day. In under the shade of the quite few trees can work but there will be a lot of Chub in those swims too. The Moccas is a prime Salmon section with long runs, cutting curves and pools to hold fish en route, (a happy hunting ground for Silver Tourist), but for Coarse anglers Aramstone is quite different in it's character to R/L in that it has deeper sections and a lot more tree cover which will hold fish in brighter conditions. So the river and weather conditions will decide but they are not that far apart at all; 30mins. down a very pleasant country road so, if you get no luck in the morning, pop over and see Stan Turner for an afternoon/evening session before returning to the snug at the Red Lion!! Email if you need to...

Thanks for the positive feedback Paul, just don't watch one of my early Pike vids; a poor choice in music it seems but we live and learn eh?

A common occurrence on the Wye this season, 2023, the numbers of Chub have gone through the roof and they are getting bigger too!

Sorry, I think the adrenalin rush from that big fish was too much..... We are going after the even bigger ones this weekend, 25/26th Nov. 2023, now that the river is "just right" so get your ear-plugs ready :)

You should give it a go, if you're able, as the area caters well for visiting anglers!

@@wyeme9047 I fished the Wye a few weeks ago for the first time. I'm mad keen to revisit soon.

You are very welcome

Glad you enjoyed it, any ideas for the next one??

@@wyeme9047 consider taking a youngster or a novice with you, you have a good talent for being descriptive, informative and quietly inspirational, I've done some teaching in the past (not fishing) and I've found that trying to teach brings out elements of the task that would change the lives of those watching your videos, correcting their mistakes and encouraging them by suggesting the little tweaks, will make them more successful and and be the icing on the cake for those who feel they are close to success. Nothing can pass on your obvious years of practice and self discovery, but for learning, those watching and new to the sport would appreciate this, I'm sure. Please consider this as an idea. Respectfully suggested.

Nice idea and worth looking into, thanks. I'm looking forward to teaching my grandson but he's still a little young to take on a river, [safety and his mother would fret], she learnt at the local gravel pit; but I had to bait the hook and remove the fish :) I've always enjoyed connecting with people and passing on what I've learned with many years as an army instructor. Mostly trying to prevent youngsters getting themselves hurt, exploited or lost..... "Listen to the Officer but confirm with the Sergeant"... I'll give your suggestion some thought.

Yes, weird that almost all the bites are very light. It was years before I realised that sometimes just a tremor was a fish :)

Glad you liked it and thanks for the positive comment; I'll do another when something different crops up..

Glad you enjoy it!

Thanks for your comment and yes, a 1.25tc rod would be ideal for this. Enough grunt to handle those Thames monsters; I've never had one myself but I have spotted a few up here in Gloucestershire :)

@wyeme9047 thanks for your reply. They really are few and far between up here on the upper thames and only tend to get caught by a few lads very late at night so I'm hoping a roving approach will help give me a better chance. Tight lines and looking forward to the next video 👍

Inspiring...

Many thanks!