Extreme fishing.

[Wild-Woman]

This morning, I decided to have a look at the sea wall along the Thames to see how the surge of water had affected any of it. The tide was indeed very high and the Thames very choppy with lots of cross currents and rips in the water.
I was very surprised, however, to see a line of anglers casting out, obviously enjoying their fishing. My question is (because I don't know anything about fishing) is whether a high rough tide like this brings in more fish or is it just the challenge to see if you can catch anything in such extreme conditions?
I wonder what any of them caught. I didn't hang around as it was somewhat blowy!

[mh68]

The simple answer would be that rough seas stir up more food,so better feeding opportunities for the fish. Extremely high tides can bring fish in closer too

Mark H

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Mark is spot on....same happens in ponds and rivers after flood conditions

[C C]

Agree. A good tide can get fish on the go. Cod love a big tide, and Bass like it big and rough. But it can be more to it than that. Every mark has its own conditions for fish. Some fish better high tide, some medium and so on.

I find when fishing the sea in full swing, you catch nothing but sea weed

[Wild-Woman]

Thanks for that fishing folk. I suppose, if the fish are about for food, then it's likely sea mammals eg seals etc could be after the fish.

[mh68]

Yes indeed, it sets off a chain reaction.The smaller fish begin feeding due to the increase in available food washed around by the currents,the predatory fish move in taking advantage of the preys preoccupation with feeding,and the larger predators like seals etc do the same.

Mark H

[coasty]

[

QUOTE=C C;195339]Agree. A good tide can get fish on the go. Cod love a big tide, and Bass like it big and rough. But it can be more to it than that. Every mark has its own conditions for fish. Some fish better high tide, some medium and so on.

You have it dead right there.. The anglers would be positioned there because experience has taught them that under those conditions thats where the food and therefore the fish will be,,,,

[fisherontheriver]

I recently watched a show (accidental angler) where the fisher man was trying to catch a wild brown trout within the M25 ring. It was quiet detailed in the history of the changes to the river patterns of London.
Also the conservation work that is going into the river systems and how the river systems are improving all the time. Salmon and Sea Trout are returning to the Tames.
He did achieve his aim but it took him a full week to do it travelling all around London he caught one wild brown trout under one of the M25 fly over’s. They are there just need help to return. London still holds the south East record for the larges wild brown trout weighing over 4Lbs. with work it could do it again the potential is there.

[ceterach]

The Thames and its tributaries around London have been transformed over the past thirty years.Salmon and Sea Trout have been running the Thames for quite a few years now. Furthermore in South London you can catch Brown Trout within a few miles of the City.

Got to be one of the success stories for conservation. Just hope Thames Water can stop their own pollution folowing heavy rain.

[coasty]

[quote]

Originally Posted by fisherontheriver

I recently watched a show (accidental angler) where the fisher man was trying to catch a wild brown trout within the M25 ring. It was quiet detailed in the history of the changes to the river patterns of London.

I watched that too,,, Interesting program, A few large northern towns have town centre riversThat are moving in that directon, The Don in sheffield was the most polluted river in Europe now it has good fish populations

[fisherontheriver]

There is a lot of good work being done on a lot of rivers UK wide. Most of the time it is done by volunteers. Some of the work done has without a doubt save a lot of rivers and canals from turning into either muddy streams or dried up river beds with the odd entry from the local super market.
There is a problem with the local drainage systems not being able to cope with heavy rain and washing effluent into the rivers during those times. I think the water companies are concentrating on trying to get all the clean water they produce to its required location and that getting the dirty water away is less of a priority.
The general public have much to answer for. There is a display in the aquarium in London of things taken out of the Tames things you would not believe.
The potential is there for all rivers to be full of fish just some thought from us all could do this. What a boost to local economy it would be. For example every rod caught salmon in Scotland puts £500 into the local economy.

[coasty]

I rather fear that there is just to much pressure on natural resources in our small country. I spend time in France each year,,, There is a town in the Loire vally we visit regularly. The local river a tributory of the Loire flows through the town centre you can watch carp of 10kg plus and barbel of 5 kg swimming in the beatiful clear waters right in the town centre,,,

[mh68]

Originally Posted by coasty

I rather fear that there is just to much pressure on natural resources in our small country. I spend time in France each year,,, There is a town in the Loire vally we visit regularly. The local river a tributory of the Loire flows through the town centre you can watch carp of 10kg plus and barbel of 5 kg swimming in the beatiful clear waters right in the town centre,,,

Increasing pressure is one of the reasons I packed in fishing Coasty.Its very difficult to find true peace and quiet, plus some species dont handle angling pressure well at all.You`d be surprised how many uk carp anglers visit France and Spain though...sadly taking their lager lout attitude with them in some cases

Mark H

[coasty]

well I agree and disagree,,, I mainly fly fish and am lucky to be in a club that has a comparitively unpolt river to fish,, I hate the commercial fisheries that are stuffed with overwieght rainbows that are easy pickings,,, A fishing trip enjoyment is,, 50% been out there in the country, 20% the wildlife and nature I see. 10% company of my dog. 10% company of fellow anglers. 5% deceiving a fish to ris to a fy I have tied myself, and 5 % the actual capture...

I fish abroad every year and yes there are lager louts but also people that share my type of enjoyment

[mh68]

Well, in my case, concentrating on pike fishing, angling pressure was(and is) more detrimental - they dont handle pressure well at all.Waters get ruined by the ignorant minority.Add to that the cost of travelling (no decent pike fishing locally) and it wasnt viable to continue.Agree about the outdoors/wildlife experiences being part of the whole thing...so i hung onto those and ditched the fishing
Youre very fortunate having stretches of river like that mate, hope it stays that way for you

Mark H

[fisherontheriver]

Coasty I have to agree with you on the enjoyment of fishing %’s I fly fish to and tie my own. I have the joy of being able to fish a chalk stream (Frank Sawyers beat of the Wiltshire Avon) an amazing stretch of river with a fanatic history.
But Have To disagree on the location of GOD’s Country. I’m sorry but it has always been and always will be WALES. LOL
If you ever travel down this way contact me ill try to get you a day ticket.

[coasty]

Originally Posted by fisherontheriver

But Have To disagree on the location of GOD’s Country. I’m sorry but it has always been and always will be WALES. LOL
If you ever travel down this way contact me ill try to get you a day ticket.

I am sure you are wrong about the location of Gods country , we should consult a higher authority so I will ask her when I get home tonight,,,

Your offer of a DT is most generous and should you ever head this way then please tell me as the same applies , However my home water does not have the lofty history that yours does.,. I have PM`d you a link to my club website and you can see it is very different to the type of water you fish,,,,,
Tight Lines...

[mh68]

Theres been a local news report this morning of 2 anglers refusing to be airlifted off Tynemouth pier due to the heavy seas.2 other anglers were lifted to safety but the 2 remaining refused and stated they were going to wait for low tide to make their exit.(waves crashing over the pier halfway along during rough seas prevent a safe exit during high tides). The fishing must be good if theyre prepared to risk their lives like that

mark H

[aquarian31]

The program on Tv last week about the angler trying to catch a brown trout from rivers within the M25 orbital was really well researched.
Its brought home the fact that the Water companies (Thames Water )and the associated Home counties Water Abstraction schemes have all but destroyed the Chalk streams that would be beautiful wildlife habitat if the natural water supplies were returned to normal flow levels and not ravaged by over abstraction as is definitely the case at the moment.
This would mean that water supplies would have to be obtained from alternative sources that are not so damaging and harmful to the Underground water Aquifiers as at present by being over abstracted and pumped out to satisfy the demand for such unneccessary luxuries as garden sprinklers and yuppy swimming pools.

Fly tipping and dumping of shopping trolleys ( Do you know that it costs some £75 per trolley for all of us on our Tesco, Sainsbury's etc and other big stores food bills to replace a trolley dumped in a river ) is the biggest enviromental crime that afflicts our rivers nationwide and its most often angling conservation organisations that are working all the time with landowners and riaprian angling clubs to improve the riverbank habitat, often at great cost and very often receives little financial help or recognition from the general public for this work.
Very Recently, the River Wandle was wiped out over a great deal of its London length by Thames Water's admitted negligence and who have yet again escaped serious prosecution

I think it worthwhile posting below links for fellow forum readers to read and make your mind up as to the hard work done and undertaken by anglers to protect the riverbanks and habitat that they enjoy as part of their sport and what the unsuspecting public take for granted by default.

Welcome to the ACA
This the Anglers representative body that takes private prosecutions against polluters and anyone can join if you value our rivers
The Salmon & Trout Association
the angling liason body that deals with the goverment on matters of river conservation and game fisheries.

If anyone sees damage being done to our rivers the best course of action is to immediately call the Environment Agency on its Environment Crime HOTLINE Number 0800 807060 and give them all the details of what you saw and any vehicles involved...... the best thing too is its confidential !
You never know you may just save rivers and land from being badly polluted someday

[coasty]

Originally Posted by aquarian31

The program on Tv last week about the angler trying to catch a brown trout from rivers within the M25 orbital was really well researched.


I think it worthwhile posting below links for fellow forum readers to read and make your mind up as to the hard work done and undertaken by anglers to protect the riverbanks and habitat that they enjoy as part of their sport and what the unsuspecting public take for granted by default.

Welcome to the ACA
This the Anglers representative body that takes private prosecutions against polluters and anyone can join if you value our rivers
The Salmon & Trout Association
the angling liason body that deals with the goverment on matters of river conservation and game fisheries.

Good morning Aquarian and welcome to the forum. The program you refer to was interesting and your comments are absolutely right. However I dont think that most of the public have a clue as to the amount of effort made by Angling bodies , and I dont believe they ever will.

I would like to add one link that others may like to view its an organisation that I am a member of. The Wild trout trust

Wild Trout Trust

The WTT acts as a catalyst in stimulating hands-on, in-the-water, habitat-improvement projects at a grass-roots level, effectively helping others to help themselves in the most cost-effective and efficient way. Any individual or organisation responsible for a wild trout population - riparian owner, fishing club, community volunteer group, another charity, etc - anywhere in the UK or Ireland, can call on the Trust for help, advice and support.

[dog stone]

A bit off topic I know, but as a boy, I grew up on a small farm in Cornwall, at the weekends and school holidays I used to help with the milking, (15 Guernsey+Jersey cows), it would be one of my jobs to take the churns in the linkbox down to the stand at the end of the lane. Often, half way down the lane I would stick a worm on a couple of static lines I had tied to branches along the stream that ran through our farm. After dropping off the churns and waiting for the milk waggon and taking back the empties I would go back to the lines and more often than not a nice brown trout or maybe even two would be waiting, breakfast heaven. About 10yrs ago I took my children back to the place where I grew up, it is a farm no longer, the fields are rank and horsesick(it seems that all people want fields nowadays are for horses and ponies), the stream which was a live giving artery that ran through the farm is no more, all due to water extraction higher up the valley. I left me feeling very sad.