Testing times at Testwood Pools

Testing times at Testwood Pools

The day that I look forward too each year but unfortunately our day booked comes when the weather is as bad as it can be. Hoping the river would have a green tinge to it we really knew it was going to have a shit brown tinge to it and this was the case. The upper river was up a few feet and within this was going to be oil and salt from the roads laid down a few days before to combat the coldest night of the year. Joy. This wasn’t the only problem as we arrived in drizzle, temperatures just hovering above freezing, an ever increasing N/W (downstream) wind and a tide that was a few feet below high and dropping. Without boring you with too many details, the clouds soon dispersed leaving us to try and trot into the sun whilst doing our best to control a float in a howling downstream wind, turbulent water and whilst having numb fingers. Come midday I had put a dozen fish in the net split evenly between grayling to a pound and sea trout to maybe 6lb. Alan had a similar return. After a brew and lunch in the hut we headed back, yet it was even harder. I think Alan had two trout whist sitting it out on the feeder for a big roach whist I added a further seven fish to my tally which at least included a coarse fish, a 6oz dace. I fished until I couldn’t see the float no more and we both agreed that there was no reason to add to our pain of fishing one of the finest and diverse fisheries in the country anymore in what can only be described as the worst conditions of all. It’s these days that make us better anglers and although it was painful at times and sad that we couldn’t make the most of our time there, we both truly enjoyed it and look forward to revenge next year. Thanks Alan.