The hunger ? Yes, that fire in your belly, bordering on obsession when you've got to fish whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Until I mentioned the words "species hunt" to Cocksy in January I didn't really have much enthusiasm for freshwater fishing, the salt water stuff had taken over almost entirely.
I'd almost forgotten what it was like trotting a float down a winter river or watching an orange pike float bob before slipping away or seeing a chub pull the quiver round as dusk settles on the river.
Almost forgotten, but not quite and now I've got that huge hunger back for it. Well, for everything really. The fact it's spring helps too.
I wandered along a beautiful little stream running through a wood the other day, dead quiet apart from birdsong.
It's full of wild brown trout in stunning condition, with a few dace, roach and chub thrown in too. Oh and loads of minnows.
I was actually after gudgeon and ruffe for the species hunt, but they have so far remained elusive. I'll just have to have another go, eh ?
Little nine foot rod and a bobber float with maggots or worms trotted down the stream resulted in trout, roach, minnows and little chub, lovely bit of fishing.
I've had a couple pike sessions with The Mighty Turdster on the river too and had fish on the last three occasions. Only short sessions but good sport with fish 5-10lb.
Whist piking, I've seen several big swirls near the snags which I didn't think were pike, so one evening went back with the quiver rod to see if I could catch the culprit.
Well, I was actually hoping for a ruffe ( yes, again ), so fished quite light with a cage feeder and 16 hook to 2lb line. Worm and maggots were tried with only a few small roach the result and surprising at dusk it went totally dead.
I thought I'd have one cast with a big bit of bread to see if there was a chub about. Thankfully I changed to heavier gear and half a minute later I was into a much bigger fish which turned out to be a real brute of a chub.
Feed that hunger Boi. 'Minimised' travel from 29th which is even better. Too late for the Fens but I'd say everywhere else is fairish game.
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