So then not long now till RIVERS OPEN..

Who's going to be out? Where?...Lets get a thread going.

I will be trying down hoe Mill, Paper Mill lock area and a few more. After Perch, Roach, Bream and well All sorts shall we say.

So...Lets get this river season going.

i will go to the Roding if its not too low, stalking chub

Hi
I have been over the roding raking swims for the new season and pulled out some weed with 2 crays, stoneloach and bullheads. There were lots of different size small fish jumping last night, so they beat the minus tempertures and floods. I don't target any 1 species as long its not pike or minnows I am happy. May go on the 15th fishing 1 min past midnight but it won't be the stretch I look after which opens at 6am till 10pm. I like evening fishing at passingford when you can increase your chances.

Hmmmmmmmmm!!!!
I'm in two or three mind's as to where to start.
Hoe Mill is looking really nice but it's tricky to work out if you can fish
the Millpool.
The Speeney at Beeleigh is looking quite nice further up with lots
of fish activity PLUS two beatifully marked out swims ideal for a spot of nightfishing.
There's also Whetmead Nature Reserve stretch of the River Blackwater in Witham which is totally underated and last but not least Blue Mills stretch of the Blackwater.
Either way I cannot wait until dusk to see the bobbing go screaming to the top and smash into it.
Ah the sound and smell of the weirpool!!!!!
Blimey you've got me going now.
DAve

I've already started pre-baiting on the Chelmer and looking forward to the start of the season.
The water is so clear at the moment that you can see the fish very easily. Seen plenty of big Carp, Chub and Bream and some of these stand out even more because of their spawning wounds

Dave when you say it's tricky to know if you can fish the Weirpool at Hoe Mill are you asking if you're aloud too? If so yes you can or do you mean tricky because of all the weed growth or something?

Oh and on the downside it seems that the river season starts early for some!? saw someone walking along with his rod and net yesterday and two other guys on the Sunday so whilst it's nice to think that the fish haven't seen a fisherman's hook for 3 months chances are plenty of fish already have... so annoying!

jim may have seen a hook but not felt it, most i come across are pretty clueless and would struggle on a commercial let alone a river. the rain lifted the level up about 50mm .yesterday it was 0.32m and today may get to it lowest height of 0.29m. i dont like the weir at passingford mill but it keeps the level from falling below 0.29m.

Good luck to all you river fishermen. I think you will need it this season.

Must admit the two younger guys I saw on Sunday looked pretty clueless but the old fella I saw Tuesday was using a centre pin which would usually indicate someone a bit more clued up!

It does open your eyes a bit though...
If anglers are willing to fish out of season in clear view of people!! How many more must take the risk of having no rod license being that its far less obvious or detectable?

JimBream...Where have you seen them carp. That's something i would love this season along with some quality perch and bream.

Going to be quivver tipping a lot for the perch and bream, Trotting for the roach and maybe ledgering for the carp

Hi all,right JIm I am referring to some of the signs on trees that
have become unreadable due to getting wet.
They mention something about fishing but obviously can't be read.
Mr Carpdude you must try the Speeney which is situated at Beeleigh
as it contains all your criteria.
I don't fish for carp but have had a 12.5lb Mirror out of that stretch.
There are large Perch and Bream in that stretch.
It's looking quite good at the moment but when the cabbage and weed take off it may become unfishable.
Still worth a look.
I'll possibly start the season down there.
I've just bought a load of new tacle including two reels and two new feeder rods so quivertipping is a must.
Oh the excitement then the disappointment.HaHa.

Dave I’m not too sure about the signs you are referring too but either way you won’t have any problems fishing the millpool or backwater weir at Hoe Mill although I suspect you may struggle to secure the Millpool platform on first day of the season unless you get there really early.

Carpdude all I can say is that now is a very good time to walk the canal as you can see right down into the water especially if the sun is shinning and during early evening when there is less glare on the surface. Even if you don’t see many fish it will still give you a good idea of the river bed and different features etc..

I rarely hold back with any info and will happily disclose where I’ve seen all these carp sightings (7 carp in the last two visits) but this will have to wait until after June 16th so as not to add to the risk of losing my swim on the first day of the season as I’ve already put a lot of time into raking, baiting and gone to the trouble of taking the day of work etc… but I will gladly give a full report after my session along with location

Anyway I actually picked my swim long before any fish sightings as the water was very coloured at the time so just because I’m seeing lots of fish now its clear - I’m only really walking my stretch at the moment so chances are you will see carp anywhere along the canal if you keep you’re eyes peeled

good luck jim
hope it dont go pear shaped like it did with the angling times boys who also filmed the whole lot in 6 parts on prebaitng then blanked on the big night gofishing.co.uk. that was on the welland , i think the chelmer might be more forgiving

Good luck to you too Andy assuming you will be on the Roding?

Looks like a wet stormy start to the season if the weather report is anything to go by?

Not too worried though as long as the waters not pushing through at a rate of knots like the year before last, makes it very hard when you got debris and weed constantly collecting round you're line and feeder

It's bloody typical!!!!
I've spent more money on gear this past month than I have for years with one thing in mind,but it's not going to be.
It looks like I'll try my luck chub fishing on the Blackwater unless
a miracle happens.