Roach Fishing Peanut Vs The Casterman - A Silver Doller Race !!!!!!!

Well . . .

Today myself and

" The Casterman "

hit the river together for a long overdue roach session on the waggler which is l method we both have a lot to learn !!!!!

( An old pic. )

I had a slightly new waggler model I wanted to try and Casterman was itching for a good bag

of roach.

 ( his favourite fish )

We arrived at the river at 7.30. The first thing I did was mix the ground bait, bread crumb, PV1, corn, hemp and a little sprinkling of something special and we were ready to rock and roll.

We had four orange sized balls of ground bait each to start with .

All these went in about four rod lengths out.

I had a 3AAA waggler to try initially.
Most of the shot around the base of the float then 3 no 6's three quarters of the way down, then 2 no6's, 2 no 8's and one no 8,
followed by the hook which was a size 18s Matrix silver fish Pole hook.
These hooks are brilliant for small fish.

( Inserted Feather Inlay Waggler )

I found the depth to be about 14 foot deep and found it a challenge fishing a this depth to say the least.

I had about two pints of hemp and maggot as loose feed . . . . .

After a biteless hour the red tip of my inserted waggler plunged under and I was playing my first roach of the day. It was a good fish of around 6 oz. A beautiful fin perfect fish and I never took and individual.pic of any off them !!!!!!!

( What a clown !!!!!  😠)

" I would be happy

 to keep these coming
all day " 

I mumbled.

" I'm in Casterman"

I shouted.

 I got the thumbs up of my mate and we both got down to our own little match.

My swim was a lot more exposed than Castermans and I had a lot of trouble with presentation.
The wind started blowing in my face and I was struggling to catapult my bait out to my swim. The wind was also tangling up my rig which was really annoying.
It will be the slider on that peg next time for me I think.
😠😠😠

After an hour and a half the steady trickle of maggot and hemp got the roach feeding reasonably well
The were absolutely fin perfect fish,
averaging
6 oz.

The Acolyte and Abu 506 performed superbly. No complaints there.

The waggler performed great also, heavy enough to get me where I wanted to be, sensitive enough to register small knocks from cagey roach  until the wind increased and I had to use an older heavier version which took 5 AAA plus.

The bites started picking up again . . . . .
Not quite a
" Bite A Chuck "
but it kept me thinking and change the rig about to induce more bites.

This carried on for most of the day.
I would catch a run of five or six fish ......
then the swim would die.
It could be due to the fact that there was a cormorant in our swims for most of the day. . . .
but what can you do !!!!!!!!!!!
😔
Another line of thought would be that the fish have moved up in the water and were taking the bait on the drop in the first third of the water table.

WRONG !!!!!!!!

I thought that too and tried all the tricks that I know to increase my catch rate. . . .

NOWT !!!!

Not a bite !!!

While I was messing around experimenting
The Casterman was building up a health lead !!!!!!

He was on the straight waggler fishing over depth at twelve feet deep which is ok when you have a 15 ft rod.
I had a 14 foot rod and wasn't on the bottom and didn't have any sliding kit or beads with me as I was told I would not need them........... !!!!

Derek was not to know.
He had info on his peg and I was fishing blind.

No matter what I tried I new I would never catch up the old
" Irwell Master " !!!!!
I have done him on a few occasions when we eventually get out together. . . . .

BUT NOT THIS TIME !!!!!!!

I well and truly got my arse smacked !!!!

I weighed in with 10 lb 2 oz

Good stamp these.
😊
( My landing net is 26 inches long and the waggler is about 6 inches  )

Casterman with 16 lb 6 oz !!!!!!!!!

( Life in the old dog yet ay Derek !!!! )

A few pics for the blog and a few for us then it was time to pack up the kit and get home. Casterman very kindly offered to drive me for the day which was very kind of him.
I will reciprocate next time pal.

I have still loads to learn but love the challenges.

The Ribble will have my attention this winter.
( I need that big perch Andrew Boyne )
😉
but I will get back here to practise my slider fishing.
Another method I am not that familiar with.

A great day Derek.

We must do it again & soon with

Salford Pete
&
 Ribble Pete
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

TTFN

Peanut

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