General

Well its mid March and  its time to start doing the usual end of season clean up. With the River season drawing to close take the time to clean up you tackle bags and ensure you have all the required items for next season.

 

At the end of the month new EA rod licenses will start so please don’t forget to renew. I did a few weeks ago using the telephone and the process was simple I’m just waiting for the license to arrive in the post.  You can also renew online. The rod license details can can be found at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/fishing/31497.aspx

 

For those of you with club memberships don’t forget to check your renewal date or like me you do everything as a last minute panic and struggle to find the cash

Here at fishing fools we are looking forward to another new season on the river in June but with the weather warming  we will be out on the lakes looking to bag some good fish maybe I’ll get that double figure Carp I have bee waiting for for so long

 

Any way good luck for the new season and see you soon.

In another Fishing Fools First, and in the wake of the Hantsweb awards, it seems the interview we had with Judy Goodlet from BBC Radio Solent got aired today at 11am.

 

For any one who missed it, you can listen again to our Radio Broadcast  ... Blimey do we really sound like that

Well what an exciting day  After months of judging, and shortlisting Fishing Fools finally attended the 7th Hantsweb Awards ceremony at the splendid venue of INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium in Winchester.  After a morning session of Coffee and Danish pastries (+3),  and the obligatory stint on the amazing array of interactive science displays it was down to the nitty gritty of the awards.  We were nominated in the category of "Best Special Interest Website" along with "Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust" and "Matt and Cat's Isle of Wight Easting Out Guide" (Was very exciting to actually meet the faces behind the top secret Matt and Cat ).  Well as you can imagine, it was sweaty palms time, while waiting for the results to be called out in our category ! For which we are completely chuffed to bit's to have received the runner's up award  We really didn't expect to get this far, considering we run the site in our spare time and fund it on left over beer money (not much :D ) Thanks have to go to Hampshire County Council for running theses awards to support and recognise good web practice and innovation - Fishing Fools will definitely be entering again next year to see if we can be one of the coveted winning sites.

I was fishing a few weeks ago on the Throop, it was a cold day and the fish just weren't biting and this gave me some time to reflect. Whilst sitting back and relaxing watching my quiver tip I noticed the scenery around me and realised that fishing wasn't just about fishing but it was also about getting to know our natural surrounding.

Since starting fishing not only have I caught fish but I have spend time walking around lakes and up and down rivers on some occasions more than 6 miles so I hopefully and getting fitter with all this walking. Whilst walking I am carrying a huge bag of bat which is rather heavy.

I have found out that Robins love maggots and swans love any bait going. But One of the most interesting things I have seen was a number of Kingfishers nesting on the Throop and what a great thing it was to see. Growing up it was very rare to see Kingfishers but I have seen the blue and red flashes almost every time I am on a river.

So for those of you that have never fished get out there and you may find that you find a lot of new and exciting adventures can be had. 

any way see you soon

Well what can I say, it's been a very hard November for fishing - the weather has been absolutely atrocious with storms and heavy rains, and it's made getting out on to the rivers really traitorous ! I suppose just your typical British Winter  My recent session was down on the river Avon in west Hampshire, fishing maggots on a size 16 hook, while trotting the float down stream - I have never been fishing and found it so hard to get a bite ! there was just no interest in my juicy maggot's, and despite trying various stretches of the river, I managed to pull nothing out that session... and this meant my first blank in nearly 11 months ! On the plus side, I got to try out some new salopettes aka ski pants, that I purchased for coping with the cold weather and rain - for the £20 I paid for them, they did the job admirably - they kept me really nice and warm, and despite the torrent of rain I remained dry.. so top tip, skip looking for the professional fishing trousers in camo for £100+ your best of buying good quality ski / walking wear at less then half the price.