Away from the Rivers~



Away from the rivers, I turned back the clock over 20 years and took a trip to Toft Newton reservoir near Market Rasen Lincolnshire. I had previously heard how this concrete bowl fishery was providing excellent sport coupled with fishery manager Jason Foster at the helm. I have known Jason since my last visit all those years ago and thought it was time to renew acquaintances again. Traveling to the fishery, thoughts entered my mind of days long ago of grinding out efforts of catching my first limit watched carefully by Jason or Matt who were bailiffs at the time.. Also while they were laughing at my incompetence (I was a learner by the way) I kept a weary eye on Guinness the German Shepherd dog and my sandwiches!! A lovely dog that was a credit to the breed but still did his job in keeping unwanted visitors at bay! Alas, he now rests adjacent to the visitor car park where his headstone cross is inscribed 'Guinness'.... bless him.

On entering the ticket office cum tackle shop, I was now greeted by an older version of Jason!.. He was busy gutting trout ready for smoking ... something Toft readily does for anglers at a small fee.... First thing he says to me is "You look old"!! Ha ha... Thanks! says I and we shook hands once he cleaned trout slime from his..

A brief chat about days 'gone by' and I was instructed to fish along the boat ramp side towards the 'Black pipe' ... where the cold wind was comfortably behind my back... So, off I trundle up the steps for my first view for many a year of the reservoir... and decided to fish this near shore clockwise instead.. I just fancied fishing this empty bank...

The first line I came to was an intermediate... good choice as the wind would blow a floater all over the surface with little control and loads of line mending to connect to taking fish... I set this up with 8lbs Jim Vincent Fluoroflex straight through with 2 droppers 6 feet apart. On this went a small unwieghted black nymph on point and two buzzers above this... I started fishing just below the steps and took a yard step down the bank after every retrieve.. within 10 casts (10 yards) I was into my first fish! A lengthy battle ensued... did this fish go or what??... I gave it the old heave ho! letting it know I was boss and with this it leapt from the water showing a magnificent full tailed 4-5lb bar of silver 2 finger salute as it slipped from my barbless hook!...

I worked this shore hard... helped by no other angler below me which allowed me to keep on the move... It often amuses me that many bank anglers will set up stall in one place all day.... waiting for trout to come to them... I say, keep moving.. Find the fish.. imagine being in a drifting boat... if you come across fish, drift over them again...If on the bank, stay on them til things 'dry up' then continue on you travels..

After around a dozen fish I watched a figure walking around the reservoir from the other side..... I knew he was seeing me catch and quite rightly wanted some of the action on this opposite bank... But to my amazement he plonked himself directly below me within 15 yards.... knowing I was working down the bank... Arrrragh!!

I cast out.. reeled in and walked past him... asked if he had caught owt before he joined me to which he replied "No....I have only seen two fish caught on the other bank... He enquired what I had been using etc... and I carried on down the bank from him explaining the need to keep moving.. 'If you get the chance'??

Before I reached the bottom 'corner' of the reservoir I released over 20 hard fighting trout... all beautifully conditioned and well worth the journey just before the thunderous clouds opened up with hail stones as big as thumb nails... Once this cleared, sport generally slowed down for me... more anglers were now on the same bank and they had their share of sport... Giving it a couple more hours and half a dozen trout.. slipping the hook... it was time to call it a day.. But I shall return.. Especially for the open bank match in June where a £1000 is up for grabs to the winner... See you there!