Can you fish at Walt Disney World? The Pecheur can! (A lost post)

Excited for my jollies and meeting Micky Mouse and all the burgers I can eat, but really my mind was set on Mr BigMouth Billy Bass. We arrived at the resort after a pukka flight after being upgraded to premium economy for free, my eyes lit up as fish were topping everywhere in the canal systems. Unfortunately you're not allowed to fish it but we found 'the fishing hole,' a large aerated arm of the canal stocked full of bass, bluegill and catfish. It was $4 for an half hours fishing which included a laughable cane pole armed with about 20lb line and a float and hook suitable for shark fishing, and a tub of worms or hotdog chunks. Luckily I'd brought my rovex travel quiver and dived right into the bluegill with hookable pellets. Like my usual fishing over there, all the Yanks were looking at me like hows he doing that and start to fish on top of me. A few days in after turning back into a little kid and topping up my ginger tan, I was back to my little haunt. Getting bored of the bluegill I fished out a treble and free line one under the jetty and within two minutes a bass flew out and gobbled it up. Chuffed to bits and manged to land half a dozen doing this. With the fishing bug really kicked in and looking into every bit of water in the parks, which were rammed with fish, I thought I'd do abit of poaching as it saved a few dollars. Waiting till the night I snuck under a bridge and set up a starlight and hit the fish straight off including some small catfish. Trying not to move so I wasn't caught by security or scaring kids into thinking theres a troll under the bridge and screaming the place down, I found hard but extremly fun.

 

 

The Mrs wanted to go to the local mall so we took a well earned break from the busy parks. When we got there I found out there was a Bass Pro Shops a fishing and hunting shop the size of Costco! We spent half the day in there, marveling at the giant tank in the middle with double figure bass, catfish, tarpon and a few commons to about 20lb, yes there are carp in florida!

In our hotel we found out you could book a bass excursion in one of the massive disney waters, we booked it there and then! The following morning we were up at 6 to be picked up with the water looking stunning with mist rising everywhere. We set off on the speedboat buzzin our tits off, and rigged up some rubber worms and jigged them in the shallow bays. In the two hours I manged to land 11 bass and our guide 5.

 We had a couple of days left and revelled up the sun and amazing food, knowing we were coming back to Manchester, and the dread for me that at home I'd actually have to work for fish.

The glory of the Irwell!

Having fishing the river for a while now I believe I have unlocked some of its secrets. From a few selected swims I've managed to pluck out these beauties.

 

A nice chunky chub.

4lb 5oz Chub.

4lb Chub.

 

5lb 1oz Chub.

 

5lb 3oz brownie.

 

Nice canal pike from Piccadilly Basin.

I've never chased pike on the Irwell but my first outing rewarded me with this chunky jackie.

Bits and bobs

 I've not been out that much lately but here are some
good fish I've managed to pluck out. The chub on the video was just pushing 5lb it also had some beautiful orange scales dotted about.

 Clonking brownies like these are always a nice surprise on the Irwell, taking you all over the river and battling with all they're might. 

This is urban fishing! The river Medlock  just off Whitworth Street in town. I'd been hoping to fish this for ages only just finding a way down to the bank. The bend here is a big deep hole about 5-6 ft deep but the rest of the river is only about 2ft, a great holding spot boasting big chub and millions of gudgeon, which are always a pleasure to catch.

Stakehill Lodges

I used to fish here all the time when I was younger. I started on the third pond as its full of f1s. I had a few out and couple of rudd on the feeder, the float just wasn't up to it.

 Bites were drying up so I moved to the first pond and it was a good move. First cast to the far bank my tip wrapped round to this big bream, followed up with two carp around 2lb. A nice skimmer and a roach popped up next then it was back to float as some rudd started topping in front of me. Sprinkling maggots in I got them feeding then it was one a chuck, I stopped counting after 20 there were bloody loads! Such a good fishery missed from when it was on my doorstep.

A good end to the season

The season was coming to end, so I changed my week off at work, little to my girlfriends liking as we had made plans but I had to get on the river. My first trip was off to the River Roch, to a lovely looking swim on a smooth bend. I only stayed for a for a few hours and managed to pluck out this chub at 2lb 15oz on the maggot feeder.

Next on the agenda was a trip with the Meddy Man. We set off at half 8 and arrived at a tried and tested swim by Dave, but after fourty mins or so there was no sign of life. The next move took us into to vale where after good wait and whole lot of feeding we finally broke into some fish. Dave got this lovely chub at just over two nd half pound and a couple more nice trout, caught on the stick n'all.

My fish was a good trout which weighed 2lb 1oz, and it had some pulling power, then I missed another fish which pulled my rod of the rest. We moved further upsteam but with no luck. The river has still not recoverd from a pollution incident, but there are some beautiful looking spots.

After realising I should have kept my last few maggots, I decieded to have an hour on the Irwell. Armed with a tub of fresh lobs I waded into my favourite swim and set my stick off downsteam. Not expecting to catch after about ten trots through the float dipped thinking it was snagged only to see a small brownie leap skyward. It put up a good tug and went home happy I'd landed something. I need to get better with my self-timer!

Of on the next trip, I met up with Phil and headed to the Roch. We started at a weir, which had to have a fish or two, but the river was very low and not muched showed. Phil had a small trout at about half a pound and I caught a small chub of about a pound and half, above the weir. We moved on to a swim that normally is banker and attacked it with our sticks. We must of fed a good couple of pints but after two hours we gave up, everything was perfect, I guess it was just one of them days. The Irwell was our last port of call, but on the way I showed Phil the Medlock. We had a little pop for twenty mins, and what a good choice! I caught these three one after another. The chub was a belter but it had an unfortunate scar on its back, still it fought like a train. The light was fading when we got to the Irwell but we still had a good fourty mins left. We got straight in and got the maggots flowing and it wasn't long before I was into a fish. After a good scrap this beast made it to net. It was a good 5lb+ but the battery in my scales must of been dying as it was settling at 3lb, it was not 3lb! A great end to a great day.

On the wednesday I went back down to the Irwell for an hour and managed this chunky brownie. A good fish on the last day of the season.

A special thanks to David Parr and Phil Clayton, I appreciate it very much.

What are these monsters?

I always have a little look at the Irwell, on my back from the canal, at the Marriot hotel. Theres a disused lock there which the fish use as a shelter when the rivers up. I got there as it was just dark and the river was alive! Fish were rising everywhere and some were massive. I dunno what the trout are eating at this time of year and the weird thing is they're only topping at the hotel nowhere else up or down stream maybe there's bugs coming off it, maybe from the kitchen!  I had a little go for 10 mins but nothing, trying everything from trotting maggots and floating bread.

Pike fishing the old river

 

The club set up a day of pike fishing on the old river in Irlam. I've never fished it before and was suprised when I landed two pike. Apparently the water was badly polluted a few years and killed everything off, but over a dozen pike were pulled out. The water seems full of fish for the pike to thrive, its nice to see nature having a comeback. I caught both fish on a float fish rudd midwater and were very lively.

A good week off

I've just had a week off and I promised myself I would wet a line a few times. The canal in town was my first port of call to flip a few lures about. I landed a fish of around 5-6lb behind the bridgewater hall. Theres a fountain in the basin here so the water is very aerated and the pike really dance. The only other intrest I had was down castlefield outside the gym. There are two small arms where barges park up, they were crammed full of small roach. Something was having a pop at em, whether it was a small jack or some nice perch but they weren't interested in my arsenal of lures. I had another go the next day and managed two follows up at Piccadilly basin. I managed to spot a tiny pike under a twig, it was no longer than my finger, I ended up watching it for about ten minutes.

On the Wednesday I met Dave (The Meddy Man) for my first session at clayton vale. The river was up and barely fishable but we stuck it out. I was lucky enough to pull out this brownie of about 2lb but no luck for David. I'll definitely back here when the rivers calmed down.

It was back to the canal on friday and fished a little swim at potato wharf. I only stayed for a couple of hours but managed to win half a dozen small roach and a chunky dace.

Saturday made me venture to drinkwater park to rake some weed out with the club. Check out salfordfriendlyanglers.blogspot.com

This post is abit late due to trouble with my internet.