Alistair, that is what I love to hear! Brilliant 🤩 Although there are well documented issues with sewage and water quality along the river, the fish stocks are healthy in many areas based on my recent experience and a fair bit of hearsay. Hope you enjoy it 🎣🐟👍
Neil is a decent bloke. He's not afraid to tell fellow anglers what pegs the big Thames fish have been caught from. That said, a few of the Goring anglers weren't too happy when Neil named a specific peg where the big Barbel lumps have been caught from. I say well done Neil and thanks for sharing the info you know. Of the many years of fishing this exact stretch, I never once hooked into a barbel....plenty of bream though and of decent weights too.
Totally agree. He’s a grumpy sod at times and likes to wind me up, but a brilliant angler who loves all kinds of fishing and wants to see others do well, too, not just land a few lumps for himself and send the pics out to the world. He’s a great laugh and I hope to do a bit more fishing with him now we’ve met. He’s a mine of information and knows so many people from his time in the trade. There are always a few people unhappy about something in the angling world, and I do get it, but I’d much rather be like Neil and try to help other people enjoy their fishing 🎣🐟😎 Thanks very much for watching and commenting 👍 Love the username 😂
Lovely video glad I found your content. I for one can certainly relate to similar things and different disciplines of fishing especially with having children and bringing them up. Great you've found the thames now and are enjoying it.
I’ve been watching your videos with my wife for the last few weeks and we both absolutely love your channel. I kept forgetting to subscribe but I just did it 😊 What we like most about your videos is how peaceful and relaxing they are. No loud music tracks, no shouting.. fish on fish on and lots of lovely wildlife shots. Just how I remember fishing before the big carp industry hit the Angling world and before the world caught mobile phone disease !
Lovely to hear 💙😊 Thanks for taking the time to subscribe (after all my pleas! 😄) and thanks, too for taking the time to comment - welcome to anytime 👍 There’s a lot of negative bullsh*t on the t’internet (as Peter Kay once called it) but on the channel I’m all about the peace, relaxation and 💙👍
No way?! A 30 (well, a MID 30 should I say!) from a weirpool?? I cannot imagine the fight… 🤯 That’s easily bigger than my biggest still water carp. Must have been a special fish, nice work 🍻😎🎣🐟
I used to regularly fish the Thames back in the 1950s when you had to fish to the Thames size limits, 8" for roach, 10" for perch and 7" for bleak, you weren't allowed to keep anything smaller. The almost universal method was one or maybe two rod lengths out with heavier tackle, no hook smaller than a size 12, never waded. We didn't loose fed, it just attracted the small stuff. Bread was always the best bait but hemp worked well. Although you had a good day we would have been a bit disappointed, no roach over the 1lb and certainly nothing over 1•5lb. Would have expected such fish back then. Really enjoyed the video, thanks, good luck.
Thanks Tony! Love that bit of angling history although it’s reminded me how much harder the truly big roach are to find in this day and age! Also the idea of not even having to feed - just knowing there were quality fish waiting for a bait 🤯 Again, thanks for watching and leaving such a great comment - welcome to do so again anytime 👍🎣🐟
Tight lines! Make sure you have your book with you - as you would anyway, but there is also a code in there that you need for the gate (access is from 7.30am to 9pm I believe).
Great videos! A man who loves the allure of the river and trotting! Its the not knowing when you strike and the wild beauty that does it for me, Try the tidal stretch sometime, a little more difficult but some quality fish to be had,
Many thanks for commenting and the recommendation! I used to fish the tidal Trent a bit and know the fish stocks can be quality in such areas. There is just SO much I need and want to try in the world of fishing and never enough time! 😬😄 Thanks again for stopping by and you’re welcome to leave more comments on the channel anytime 👍🎣🐟
Wow, first time fishing the Thames! I used to fish regularly between Datchet and Henley from knee high to a grasshopper well into adult! My outstanding memory, and really odd, was catching gudgeon in the middle of Windsor, by the old railway bridge. It was middle of winter, so, so cold, snow on the ground. It was a totally magical session! There were a few bleak in the catch but the gudgeon, on a whip, were so much fun! Have bagged up on lots of bream to 8lb, some stunning pike to 20lb, big roach. Such a variety of fish!
Can’t wait to explore more and I quite agree that a gudgeon is an underrated fish when you’re just after bites. You get some clonkers in big rivers and they’re a beautiful little fish. I’ve got fond memories of catching them from the farm pond that I grew up fishing near Sheffield and they were always a nice surprise in amongst the stunted roach.
What a great days fishing for you John,bet it won't be long before your next trip eh mate,all lovely looking fish and what great looking surroundings. I love the sound of weir in your ear it's great int it, well done ,.
Totally, mate! Aside from the planes it was like being hypnotised (I imagine) - stood in the water with the roar of the weir. Catching was a bonus 👍🐟 Thanks as always for your support 💙🤗🙏🎣
I know how much you enjoyed your day on the big river. I,m glad the 1000 text you sent me finally got you down there.Next time we fish the river I'll bring the rifle to sort out that bloody drone. Cracking bit of water for your stick float fishing so I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. All we have got to do is sort you out a few chub and barbel. Oh by the way you can catch the chub and barbel during the day and you don't need a bivvy and bed chair. If your not scared of the dark I will take you for an evenings big roach fishing on the feeders and its even closer to home than Old Windsor. Oh and don't worry i've got a night sight for the rifle so the drone won't be safe even in the dark. Great vlog mate.
Thanks as always, mate and it means a lot that you enjoyed a vid about one of your old haunts. My sincere thanks again for pushing me to give it a go and I do hope we get to fish the river together before too long. I’d love to catch a big fish of any species from the river. Don’t worry, the drone was used for all of 10 mins while no-one else was fishing, so you can keep your ammunition 😄
Lovely put together video bud, Pleasure to watch..😊 You may of been on the Thames same time as me. Chertsey for me though.😁👍 Had to delete main Camera footage co's of a broken 3.5mm Jack so understand about noise issues..😕 The background noise didn't effect ya vid either bud..👍Lovely..
Coming from you (only recently discovered), that’s made my evening 💙😎🤗🙏 Thanks so much for the kind words - and again for your brilliant and selfless videos about where to fish the Thames for free. I’ve been busy with work today, but also watching what few vids of yours that I could fit in at lunch and dropping stars all over Google Maps 😂🤯 It’s a coincidence, too, because my next video due out this Friday was shot on the Dezzy Cut (tipped off by an angling mate) and focuses on the fact it’s free fishing! I promise I didn’t nick the idea off you as I hadn’t yet found your channel 😄
@@themagicoffishing Desborough Cuts one of my favourites. Can't wait to see it bud..😊 All good on the free Fishing thing.. Lol..😂 Just to let you know, a subscriber of mine 4 days ago caught lots of Perch around 1lb up to 2.5lb where i mentioned about Dropshoting amongst the tree's in the 2nd part of my Walton vid, worms a banger there as well. Park in the last car park on the left before the exit Bridge. Here's the link if ya interested ua-cam.com/video/5bOtK-_05d4/v-deo.htmlsi=CfHIYtGgq7qW1CSL Old video that had a copyright hit which spoiled the end a bit. I was a noob then..😆 First vid of me actually fishing the Thames out Friday as well hopefully, still editing..😢😊
I bet! Glad I could help you enjoy some happy memories of the river. I associate Waterloo with commuting into work from Woking! Thanks for commenting 🙏👍
great watch, cracking roach/dace. i moved to bournemouth area 35 yrs ago, but still really miss fishing the thames! my old schoolteacher was bill rushmer, and as said below, well worth looking up his vids. tight lines
That’s amazing 🤩 Taught at school by Bill Rushmer! I’m proud to say his comment about my book, The Magic of Fishing, was used on the first print edition. Not that I ever met him, never mind was TAUGHT by him. What a story. Love it. Tight lines right back at you 🎣
Hope you do - I used to like fishing the Soar on occasion with the Sheffield Juniors Squad but as soon as I got my first car it was often the Trent I would head for! Thanks for commenting 👍🎣🐟😎
I used to fish that stretch when it belonged to the civil service club the good thing is there almost no boats on its unusal for the Thames! It is possible to get right down onto the weir its a well hidden swim but worth seeking out.
Cheers Gary 👍🙏😎 That’s what I keep hearing - the right spot, right time, and maybe right tactics and bait, and it’s hard to beat. I haven’t even tried for the big perch or bream I keep heading about yet, never mind chub, barbel… What a river to grow up fishing and learning your craft on. I can’t image many venue would feel daunting after that experience.
I really enjoy your calming videos. Keep it up. Living near the new forest i have the Dorset Stour and Hampshire avon 25 mins away so never fished the Thames. I really enjoy fishing the float or pole or feeder for quality roach. I always heard medley on the Thames was good and that would be 1.5 hours away. I am tempted. The call of the Dorset Stour is too strong at the moment. I have been spoilt this summer fishing the river quoile and river erne in northern ireland on holiday. Both were full of quality roach or hybrìds. Ever fished in northern ireland john? I really enjoy your calm way of speaking and accent. Very easy to listen to well done.
Many thanks! I’m yet to fish the Stour and would love to one day. Love the New Forest and have walked in the area a few times. Also stayed at a campsite with memorable name of Sandy Balls one summer! Think I managed a short fishing session from memory but didn’t get lucky. Thanks for the lovely comment 👍
Great day's fishing. Just a thought. I find that a lot of silvers lose scales when kept in the same net of perch, so I release the perch immediately after capture
Thanks! And an interesting observation on the keepnet front - I can definitely imagine that would be the case with smaller silvers. Might give that some thought and follow your lead there (when not in matches). Cheers for now 👍
What an absolutely great days fishing in a lovely spot John. I hear you've become a plane spotter now😂😁. So good to see you trotting with a centrepin, such a relaxing way to fish, the stamp of roach are great, hope you fish the Thames again soon, cheers Peter.(subscribed since you fished the boat pool by Christchurch priory!!)ha ha. I'm the proud owner of a heritage John Wilson centrepin, and visited the factory in Studley near Redditch where I spoke to the man that made it, don't forget a drop of oil occasionally, brilliant reel for trotting, well done.
Ah that’s a brilliant comment, Peter, many thanks 🙏😊 I was ‘pinless’ for many years and hadn’t used one since I was a young man… I must confess it was the incredibly hard process of separation and divorce that led me to treat myself to that Young’s reel, some decade or more ago, but it’s only recently I’ve had the time to fish with it much and I do love it! The local Wey isn’t quite fast enough to pull line and it was a treat to fish the Thames with it 🎣 Thanks for sticking with me since the Bridge Pool special! 🙏🤗
@@themagicoffishing You are very welcome John, I would recommend trying the Nottingham cast if you want to fish a little further out, not difficult to master either. My dark green heritage reel by John Wilson always reminds me of the great man, a great angler and promoter of our sport. Keep the videos coming, I enjoy the nature bits and even the drone shots, cheers Peter.
What a cracking net of fish. Will definitely be giving it a go there as i also have the FAS membership. What sort of depth of water did you have on the stick line out of interest?
Glad to hear it! Although we will need to let all this rain get out the river first… I had a walk around Weybridge the other day and it was ripping through at a really dangerous level. I imagine it may be a week or two before it’s anything like normal, fishable level again. Even the local river Wey was no good this week - almost over the banks. I would say I was fishing in about 6-7ft off the rod tip or maybe a rod length out. I could wade up to my knees in that spot but then it shelved off very quickly! Hope you have a great time whenever you do give it a go (it’s been very quiet on the three visits I’ve made so far) 🎣🐟🤞👍
Thanks Mike! I look forward to fishing out. I feel kinda lucky enjoying my roach fishing as they are so often left alone on commercials and rivers these days. A 2lb river roach has always been a dream of mine… 🤞🐟
Hello mate welcome to the Thames, great video as always, I have not been for a while but all being well next week on the Thames for the Roach on the whip, but have brought a new car, all the best, its a really moody river for sure but if there on, can be amazing.
Thanks Clive! I feel like I’m part of a club now - beyond Farnham I mean 😄 It was a special day and I can’t wait to get back when chance… 🤞🎣🐟 Hope you have a grand session, too, if you’re on there soon.
hi mate, i know im a bit late to the video. i'm also a FAS member and funnily enough Trevor is in my family. i tried fishing this exact stretch the other day and no matter how hard i tried, i just couldn't hold bottom ? any advice is appreciated TIA.
Never too late to a TMOF video! Thanks for the watch and the comment 👍 I’ve not been back to that spot for a couple of months but it was raining a LOT in late Sept and early October, so I can only imagine - like many rivers around the country - it was ‘flying through’ when you landed there? Bad luck with the timing if so, as there is very little us anglers can do about really hard conditions like that. I know a few keen Thames anglers and they’ve all been saying the river has been unfishable for a while. The best bet is to wait until it’s ’fining down’ a bit and the level is getting back to normal. You can check for river levels online or wait for at least a week of dry weather. Unfortunately the windows of really good fishing can be fickle in autumn and winter - the rivers need some fresh water after the summer but when there’s too much rain it can ruin the fishing for a while. Otherwise, I’d suggest bigger leads (anglers I know use up to 6oz or more when the Thames is high) and fish closer in, almost in the margins, and the river is high. Tight lines and I hope you get to visit when conditions are better. It’s been dry so far this week… 🤞
Well, I just returned from a blank session on my local reservoir. very early start to avoid the heat and hope for a fish or two. Too hot, too soon, 35 degrees at 11am, far better retreat at lunchtime and grab a cold one on the way home! 🙂
I’m starting to think about a cold one myself… 🍻🥵☀️ Tough on the res - especially when you made the effort to get up nice and early. 35C at 11 is nuts but I can well believe it.
I love all things aviation, and fishing there or Finch farm would test my loyalties to the limit.... LOL All I've come to expect from your videos, peace in an upside down life. Look up Bill Rushmer for reliable tips on catching big bream on the Thames. He's had hundreds of them. You'll not a nicer man anywhere. His wife is a true treasure too, not to mention a fine angler herself. Take care my friend. TTFN
Haha, yeah, I felt like I was close to getting an even more severe haircut at times, but they weren’t continually taking off over my head by any means. I gather they rotate them depending on wind direction but then I’m sure you’ll know much more about that than me! It’s funny, I already know a little of Bill Rushmer and agree he’s a top bloke. Obviously used to read his stuff in the Angler’s Mail but then he was kind enough to read a draft copy of my book and then provide a lovely comment about it for publication 💙🥰 I believe he moved even further south a few years back and I should drop him another line - thanks for the nudge. Thanks as always for your comment 🙏🤗
You were talking about the Perch, try Hampton Court, between there and Walton on Thames, there is plenty of nice Perch to be had, I grew up fishing Walton on Thames, try Twickenham for sea trout
Bloody ell, you’re sharp eyed! Yes, I did for about the first half-hour 😂 The rod was already set up in a sleeve and I think I was so excited to get going I missed that cock up for a while. 😄
Haha, brilliant, thanks 🙏😊 I will now feel guilty everytime I sit down on a river 😄 But I agree you can’t beat wading in a big river! 👌👍😎 Thanks for a great comment 💙
Hello again John, I messaged you a few weeks ago regarding you fishing the Punt in Christchurch and told you about the time my brother and I fished there for 2 consecutive days. I have also fished the Thames at Old Windsor a lot of years back directly opposite Elton, and had a field day there. My question to you is what would you prefer for a days fishing,,, the Thames or Christchurch? Difficult choice ? Barry
Hiya Barry! I remember and you’re welcome to comment on this channel anytime 🤗 👍 It’s especially nice when I learn some people who enjoyed the Christchurch vid - my most popular film by a country mile so far - are still enjoying some of the stuff from elsewhere 👍 That is indeed a tricky question and for the moment I’d have to say the Bridge Pool, for the variety and size of fish, plus the stunning surroundings and lack of low flying planes, but that is after just one session on the Thames, which I reckon will prove itself to have a few of its own remarkable spots now I’ve got started 🎣
Out of intetest what was the water quality like? I always used to think of the Thames as a dirty river. Now sadly all the rivets seem to be dirty. Last summer i got a very nasty bug i suspect e coli after fishing or from food poisoning. Have you ever been ill afyet river fishing? Keep up the duper videos. I first watched the bridge pool video but have also enjoyed this one and on the trent and am about to subscribe
Many thanks for the subscription and a kind comment, John 🙏👍🤗 Glad you’re enjoying the videos. Yes the Thames is unfortunately not renowned for clean water, much like most of our waterways these days, and I now take a little spray bottle of alcohol in my tackle bag - using it before I eat anything to be on the safe side. It’s a sad state of affairs but at least the fish stocks seem to doing OK in the Thames despite the water companies’ repeated failures to protect the environment. I’m sorry to hear you got ill. I was once sick after fishing a lake (stood in the water) earlier this year, but it’s hard to say if that was from a bug in the water of pure coincidence.
Haha, yeah I probably have - although it always goes back up by a few notches whenever I’m back in the Steel City 👍😄 I can’t win - get called a southerner up there and still a northern monkey down here 😂 Thanks for commenting 💙 It’s the 15ft - stunning rod in my humble opinion 👍👌
Yes you can't win whatever accent you've got,got the acolytes in 15and17 stunning rods for the Trent where we fish.by the way the caythorpe video was spot on ,it's where me and my mate fish ,it's solid .🎣👍
There are a few points I will make in response to this comment... Firstly, I have complete respect for myself, and find it a little strange that you would take time to imply that I’m somehow letting myself or even pin angling down. If that’s your main conclusion from watching me enjoy a fantastic day’s river fishing then I find that a little sad. Secondly, the way you spool (and indeed fish) a pin is completely personal, as with most aspects of our great sport. There are those who prefer bottom exit and those who prefer top, but I must say, having watched some renowned pin anglers on the Trent - the river where stick float fishing was evolved by some of river angling’s greatest ever proponents - bottom was usually the preference. Following a quick bit of online research, renowned specimen angler Phil Spinks uses a pin for trotting in this video - ua-cam.com/video/DsWjESpqRA0/v-deo.html - with the line coming off the bottom, so presumably he has no self respect either? Or see this very detailed and authoritative article on fishing the pin from barbel.co.uk - barbel.co.uk/site/articles/pin/fish_cpin_bfwstyle.htm#12. To quote from that piece: “Second consideration is whether to have this line coming off the bottom of the reel (furthest from the rod, requiring anti-clockwise rotation to retrieve line) which I consider the normal, or to have the line coming off the top of the reel (nearest to the rod, requiring clockwise rotation to retrieve line) which is less common but used by some.” All I’m saying is there is no right or wrong way although, if anything, your preference goes against the norm, so maybe ‘live and let live’ rather than suggesting that I don’t know what I’m doing 🤷🏻 Long may you enjoy your own pin fishing and tight lines 🎣🐟
Thames mead along the wall down in the water salmon run up the edge 50 60 lb down from woodpecker close beside a water feature looks like canal down thier big concrete walls river below massiv salmon
I haven’t fished the Thames for probably 40 years and your video has inspired me to have another go!
Alistair, that is what I love to hear! Brilliant 🤩 Although there are well documented issues with sewage and water quality along the river, the fish stocks are healthy in many areas based on my recent experience and a fair bit of hearsay. Hope you enjoy it 🎣🐟👍
Brings back memories from john Wilson when anyone mentions purple loosestrife.
Haha, I’ll definitely take that! Thanks 🙏💙
I learnt to fish ( self taught) on the thames around 12years old at Bermondsey, now 71 , miss the thames as haven’t lived in London for 45 years😢
Sorry to hear that but you must have some great memories! Thanks for taking the time to comment and I’m glad you enjoyed the trip down memory lane 👍🎣
Neil is a decent bloke. He's not afraid to tell fellow anglers what pegs the big Thames fish have been caught from. That said, a few of the Goring anglers weren't too happy when Neil named a specific peg where the big Barbel lumps have been caught from. I say well done Neil and thanks for sharing the info you know. Of the many years of fishing this exact stretch, I never once hooked into a barbel....plenty of bream though and of decent weights too.
Totally agree. He’s a grumpy sod at times and likes to wind me up, but a brilliant angler who loves all kinds of fishing and wants to see others do well, too, not just land a few lumps for himself and send the pics out to the world. He’s a great laugh and I hope to do a bit more fishing with him now we’ve met. He’s a mine of information and knows so many people from his time in the trade. There are always a few people unhappy about something in the angling world, and I do get it, but I’d much rather be like Neil and try to help other people enjoy their fishing 🎣🐟😎 Thanks very much for watching and commenting 👍 Love the username 😂
Fishing doesn’t get any better John , great video thank you
Ahhh, many thanks, David! That means a lot 💙🙏🎣
Lovely video glad I found your content. I for one can certainly relate to similar things and different disciplines of fishing especially with having children and bringing them up. Great you've found the thames now and are enjoying it.
Glad you’ve found it too and welcome aboard - feel free to comment again anytime. Cheers 🍻
I’ve been watching your videos with my wife for the last few weeks and we both absolutely love your channel.
I kept forgetting to subscribe but I just did it 😊
What we like most about your videos is how peaceful and relaxing they are. No loud music tracks, no shouting.. fish on fish on and lots of lovely wildlife shots. Just how I remember fishing before the big carp industry hit the Angling world and before the world caught mobile phone disease !
Lovely to hear 💙😊 Thanks for taking the time to subscribe (after all my pleas! 😄) and thanks, too for taking the time to comment - welcome to anytime 👍 There’s a lot of negative bullsh*t on the t’internet (as Peter Kay once called it) but on the channel I’m all about the peace, relaxation and 💙👍
Had my Thames PB carp from old Windsor weir when CSAS ran it. 34.08 Common.
No way?! A 30 (well, a MID 30 should I say!) from a weirpool?? I cannot imagine the fight… 🤯 That’s easily bigger than my biggest still water carp. Must have been a special fish, nice work 🍻😎🎣🐟
I used to regularly fish the Thames back in the 1950s when you had to fish to the Thames size limits, 8" for roach, 10" for perch and 7" for bleak, you weren't allowed to keep anything smaller. The almost universal method was one or maybe two rod lengths out with heavier tackle, no hook smaller than a size 12, never waded. We didn't loose fed, it just attracted the small stuff. Bread was always the best bait but hemp worked well. Although you had a good day we would have been a bit disappointed, no roach over the 1lb and certainly nothing over 1•5lb. Would have expected such fish back then. Really enjoyed the video, thanks, good luck.
Thanks Tony! Love that bit of angling history although it’s reminded me how much harder the truly big roach are to find in this day and age! Also the idea of not even having to feed - just knowing there were quality fish waiting for a bait 🤯 Again, thanks for watching and leaving such a great comment - welcome to do so again anytime 👍🎣🐟
I love the Thames I have seen people catching carp and barbel at the Thames in Hampton court.
That’s the dream for me… 😀 Fished it just this week but only small stuff. One day… 🎣🐟 Thanks for commenting 👍😎
I'm a member of Farnham I will give this a go looks nice good video.
Tight lines! Make sure you have your book with you - as you would anyway, but there is also a code in there that you need for the gate (access is from 7.30am to 9pm I believe).
Yet another interesting video. Wetting my line on Sunday morning. Can't wait!. Well done.
Enjoy! Thanks and tight lines 🎣🤗🐟
Great videos! A man who loves the allure of the river and trotting! Its the not knowing when you strike and the wild beauty that does it for me, Try the tidal stretch sometime, a little more difficult but some quality fish to be had,
Many thanks for commenting and the recommendation! I used to fish the tidal Trent a bit and know the fish stocks can be quality in such areas. There is just SO much I need and want to try in the world of fishing and never enough time! 😬😄 Thanks again for stopping by and you’re welcome to leave more comments on the channel anytime 👍🎣🐟
Wow, first time fishing the Thames! I used to fish regularly between Datchet and Henley from knee high to a grasshopper well into adult! My outstanding memory, and really odd, was catching gudgeon in the middle of Windsor, by the old railway bridge. It was middle of winter, so, so cold, snow on the ground. It was a totally magical session! There were a few bleak in the catch but the gudgeon, on a whip, were so much fun! Have bagged up on lots of bream to 8lb, some stunning pike to 20lb, big roach. Such a variety of fish!
Can’t wait to explore more and I quite agree that a gudgeon is an underrated fish when you’re just after bites. You get some clonkers in big rivers and they’re a beautiful little fish. I’ve got fond memories of catching them from the farm pond that I grew up fishing near Sheffield and they were always a nice surprise in amongst the stunted roach.
Another cracking days fishing for you John. Great video again. 👍
Thanks Graham, appreciate it 🤗👍🙏
What a great days fishing for you John,bet it won't be long before your next trip eh mate,all lovely looking fish and what great looking surroundings. I love the sound of weir in your ear it's great int it, well done ,.
Totally, mate! Aside from the planes it was like being hypnotised (I imagine) - stood in the water with the roar of the weir. Catching was a bonus 👍🐟 Thanks as always for your support 💙🤗🙏🎣
I know how much you enjoyed your day on the big river. I,m glad the 1000 text you sent me finally got you down there.Next time we fish the river I'll bring the rifle to sort out that bloody drone. Cracking bit of water for your stick float fishing so I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. All we have got to do is sort you out a few chub and barbel.
Oh by the way you can catch the chub and barbel during the day and you don't need a bivvy and bed chair. If your not scared of the dark I will take you for an evenings big roach fishing on the feeders and its even closer to home than Old Windsor. Oh and don't worry i've got a night sight for the rifle so the drone won't be safe even in the dark.
Great vlog mate.
Thanks as always, mate and it means a lot that you enjoyed a vid about one of your old haunts. My sincere thanks again for pushing me to give it a go and I do hope we get to fish the river together before too long. I’d love to catch a big fish of any species from the river. Don’t worry, the drone was used for all of 10 mins while no-one else was fishing, so you can keep your ammunition 😄
Lovely put together video bud, Pleasure to watch..😊 You may of been on the Thames same time as me. Chertsey for me though.😁👍 Had to delete main Camera footage co's of a broken 3.5mm Jack so understand about noise issues..😕 The background noise didn't effect ya vid either bud..👍Lovely..
Coming from you (only recently discovered), that’s made my evening 💙😎🤗🙏 Thanks so much for the kind words - and again for your brilliant and selfless videos about where to fish the Thames for free. I’ve been busy with work today, but also watching what few vids of yours that I could fit in at lunch and dropping stars all over Google Maps 😂🤯 It’s a coincidence, too, because my next video due out this Friday was shot on the Dezzy Cut (tipped off by an angling mate) and focuses on the fact it’s free fishing! I promise I didn’t nick the idea off you as I hadn’t yet found your channel 😄
@@themagicoffishing Desborough Cuts one of my favourites. Can't wait to see it bud..😊 All good on the free Fishing thing.. Lol..😂 Just to let you know, a subscriber of mine 4 days ago caught lots of Perch around 1lb up to 2.5lb where i mentioned about Dropshoting amongst the tree's in the 2nd part of my Walton vid, worms a banger there as well. Park in the last car park on the left before the exit Bridge. Here's the link if ya interested ua-cam.com/video/5bOtK-_05d4/v-deo.htmlsi=CfHIYtGgq7qW1CSL Old video that had a copyright hit which spoiled the end a bit. I was a noob then..😆 First vid of me actually fishing the Thames out Friday as well hopefully, still editing..😢😊
Another great video John, and somewhere I must visit for myself one day to tick the ole bucket list :)
Thanks for sharing
Paul.
Many thanks, Paul 💙 I can’t count myself as an expert after one trip but can throughly recommend it!
I used to fish that spot at Windsor in the early 70s friends and me would get the 1st train out of Waterloo. Happy days❤
I bet! Glad I could help you enjoy some happy memories of the river. I associate Waterloo with commuting into work from Woking! Thanks for commenting 🙏👍
@@themagicoffishing i live in Waterloo the concrete jungle. Going to Windsor was another world to us❤️
great watch, cracking roach/dace. i moved to bournemouth area 35 yrs ago, but still really miss fishing the thames! my old schoolteacher was bill rushmer, and as said below, well worth looking up his vids. tight lines
That’s amazing 🤩 Taught at school by Bill Rushmer! I’m proud to say his comment about my book, The Magic of Fishing, was used on the first print edition. Not that I ever met him, never mind was TAUGHT by him. What a story. Love it. Tight lines right back at you 🎣
Looks great there have only ever fished my local river soar and canal hopefully when I get a car I will venture a bit further to the trent.
Hope you do - I used to like fishing the Soar on occasion with the Sheffield Juniors Squad but as soon as I got my first car it was often the Trent I would head for! Thanks for commenting 👍🎣🐟😎
Lovely little spot that mate!! Great little vid as well pal. Well fished.
Many thanks, mate! Cheers 🍻
I used to fish that stretch when it belonged to the civil service club the good thing is there almost no boats on its unusal for the Thames! It is possible to get right down onto the weir its a well hidden swim but worth seeking out.
Yep, there were virtually no boats all day - maybe a couple, which both realised their error, turned around and went back.
Learnt to fish on the thames around Richmond best fishing ever when u get it right
Cheers Gary 👍🙏😎 That’s what I keep hearing - the right spot, right time, and maybe right tactics and bait, and it’s hard to beat. I haven’t even tried for the big perch or bream I keep heading about yet, never mind chub, barbel… What a river to grow up fishing and learning your craft on. I can’t image many venue would feel daunting after that experience.
@@themagicoffishing for the big bream used to fish just before teddington lock or Kingston had some big bags there also
I really enjoy your calming videos. Keep it up. Living near the new forest i have the Dorset Stour and Hampshire avon 25 mins away so never fished the Thames. I really enjoy fishing the float or pole or feeder for quality roach. I always heard medley on the Thames was good and that would be 1.5 hours away. I am tempted. The call of the Dorset Stour is too strong at the moment. I have been spoilt this summer fishing the river quoile and river erne in northern ireland on holiday. Both were full of quality roach or hybrìds. Ever fished in northern ireland john? I really enjoy your calm way of speaking and accent. Very easy to listen to well done.
Many thanks! I’m yet to fish the Stour and would love to one day. Love the New Forest and have walked in the area a few times. Also stayed at a campsite with memorable name of Sandy Balls one summer! Think I managed a short fishing session from memory but didn’t get lucky. Thanks for the lovely comment 👍
Great day's fishing. Just a thought. I find that a lot of silvers lose scales when kept in the same net of perch, so I release the perch immediately after capture
Thanks! And an interesting observation on the keepnet front - I can definitely imagine that would be the case with smaller silvers. Might give that some thought and follow your lead there (when not in matches). Cheers for now 👍
What an absolutely great days fishing in a lovely spot John. I hear you've become a plane spotter now😂😁. So good to see you trotting with a centrepin, such a relaxing way to fish, the stamp of roach are great, hope you fish the Thames again soon, cheers Peter.(subscribed since you fished the boat pool by Christchurch priory!!)ha ha. I'm the proud owner of a heritage John Wilson centrepin, and visited the factory in Studley near Redditch where I spoke to the man that made it, don't forget a drop of oil occasionally, brilliant reel for trotting, well done.
Ah that’s a brilliant comment, Peter, many thanks 🙏😊 I was ‘pinless’ for many years and hadn’t used one since I was a young man… I must confess it was the incredibly hard process of separation and divorce that led me to treat myself to that Young’s reel, some decade or more ago, but it’s only recently I’ve had the time to fish with it much and I do love it! The local Wey isn’t quite fast enough to pull line and it was a treat to fish the Thames with it 🎣 Thanks for sticking with me since the Bridge Pool special! 🙏🤗
@@themagicoffishing You are very welcome John, I would recommend trying the Nottingham cast if you want to fish a little further out, not difficult to master either. My dark green heritage reel by John Wilson always reminds me of the great man, a great angler and promoter of our sport. Keep the videos coming, I enjoy the nature bits and even the drone shots, cheers Peter.
What a cracking net of fish. Will definitely be giving it a go there as i also have the FAS membership. What sort of depth of water did you have on the stick line out of interest?
Glad to hear it! Although we will need to let all this rain get out the river first… I had a walk around Weybridge the other day and it was ripping through at a really dangerous level. I imagine it may be a week or two before it’s anything like normal, fishable level again. Even the local river Wey was no good this week - almost over the banks. I would say I was fishing in about 6-7ft off the rod tip or maybe a rod length out. I could wade up to my knees in that spot but then it shelved off very quickly! Hope you have a great time whenever you do give it a go (it’s been very quiet on the three visits I’ve made so far) 🎣🐟🤞👍
Great day on the river John, I see you tried the Robin Red pellets which I mentioned in an earlier, excellent bait to have in your bag.
Mark, what can I say… I was inspired to give ‘em a go! And had a few nice roach as you saw🐟 Thanks 🙏
a great day-roach are the dominant species on many Thames stetches.
Thanks Mike! I look forward to fishing out. I feel kinda lucky enjoying my roach fishing as they are so often left alone on commercials and rivers these days. A 2lb river roach has always been a dream of mine… 🤞🐟
@themagicoffishing Definitely in the Thames it did a 2lb 10oz one a little while ago and that was on pellet.
Great vid mate
Thanks for taking the time to say that, fella, it makes all the effort worthwhile 👍😎
Hello mate welcome to the Thames, great video as always, I have not been for a while but all being well next week on the Thames for the Roach on the whip, but have brought a new car,
all the best, its a really moody river for sure but if there on, can be amazing.
Thanks Clive! I feel like I’m part of a club now - beyond Farnham I mean 😄 It was a special day and I can’t wait to get back when chance… 🤞🎣🐟 Hope you have a grand session, too, if you’re on there soon.
hi mate, i know im a bit late to the video. i'm also a FAS member and funnily enough Trevor is in my family. i tried fishing this exact stretch the other day and no matter how hard i tried, i just couldn't hold bottom ? any advice is appreciated TIA.
Never too late to a TMOF video! Thanks for the watch and the comment 👍 I’ve not been back to that spot for a couple of months but it was raining a LOT in late Sept and early October, so I can only imagine - like many rivers around the country - it was ‘flying through’ when you landed there? Bad luck with the timing if so, as there is very little us anglers can do about really hard conditions like that. I know a few keen Thames anglers and they’ve all been saying the river has been unfishable for a while. The best bet is to wait until it’s ’fining down’ a bit and the level is getting back to normal. You can check for river levels online or wait for at least a week of dry weather. Unfortunately the windows of really good fishing can be fickle in autumn and winter - the rivers need some fresh water after the summer but when there’s too much rain it can ruin the fishing for a while. Otherwise, I’d suggest bigger leads (anglers I know use up to 6oz or more when the Thames is high) and fish closer in, almost in the margins, and the river is high. Tight lines and I hope you get to visit when conditions are better. It’s been dry so far this week… 🤞
Well, I just returned from a blank session on my local reservoir. very early start to avoid the heat and hope for a fish or two. Too hot, too soon, 35 degrees at 11am, far better retreat at lunchtime and grab a cold one on the way home! 🙂
I’m starting to think about a cold one myself… 🍻🥵☀️ Tough on the res - especially when you made the effort to get up nice and early. 35C at 11 is nuts but I can well believe it.
Good choice John, I would choose the same,,,,,,,, plus you can get a Cream Tea 100 yards from the punt, ha ha
Haha, every scone counts 😄
I love all things aviation, and fishing there or Finch farm would test my loyalties to the limit.... LOL
All I've come to expect from your videos, peace in an upside down life.
Look up Bill Rushmer for reliable tips on catching big bream on the Thames. He's had hundreds of them. You'll not a nicer man anywhere. His wife is a true treasure too, not to mention a fine angler herself.
Take care my friend. TTFN
Haha, yeah, I felt like I was close to getting an even more severe haircut at times, but they weren’t continually taking off over my head by any means. I gather they rotate them depending on wind direction but then I’m sure you’ll know much more about that than me! It’s funny, I already know a little of Bill Rushmer and agree he’s a top bloke. Obviously used to read his stuff in the Angler’s Mail but then he was kind enough to read a draft copy of my book and then provide a lovely comment about it for publication 💙🥰 I believe he moved even further south a few years back and I should drop him another line - thanks for the nudge. Thanks as always for your comment 🙏🤗
You were talking about the Perch, try Hampton Court, between there and Walton on Thames, there is plenty of nice Perch to be had, I grew up fishing Walton on Thames, try Twickenham for sea trout
Appreciate the advice and I do love my perch! Is it free or day ticket fishing where you are referring to around Hampton Court and Walton on Thames?
Enjoyed the vid, did you have your line wrapped around the rod, between eyes on the tip section?
Bloody ell, you’re sharp eyed! Yes, I did for about the first half-hour 😂 The rod was already set up in a sleeve and I think I was so excited to get going I missed that cock up for a while. 😄
That's proper fishing. Better than watching blokes sitting on a box in the river (lazy gits). Well done m8. Really enjoyed watching that.
Haha, brilliant, thanks 🙏😊 I will now feel guilty everytime I sit down on a river 😄 But I agree you can’t beat wading in a big river! 👌👍😎 Thanks for a great comment 💙
Fishing carp puddles a,nt fishing.
Hello again John, I messaged you a few weeks ago regarding you fishing the Punt in Christchurch and told you about the time my brother and I fished there for 2 consecutive days. I have also fished the Thames at Old Windsor a lot of years back directly opposite Elton, and had a field day there.
My question to you is what would you prefer for a days fishing,,, the Thames or Christchurch? Difficult choice ? Barry
Hiya Barry! I remember and you’re welcome to comment on this channel anytime 🤗 👍 It’s especially nice when I learn some people who enjoyed the Christchurch vid - my most popular film by a country mile so far - are still enjoying some of the stuff from elsewhere 👍 That is indeed a tricky question and for the moment I’d have to say the Bridge Pool, for the variety and size of fish, plus the stunning surroundings and lack of low flying planes, but that is after just one session on the Thames, which I reckon will prove itself to have a few of its own remarkable spots now I’ve got started 🎣
Out of intetest what was the water quality like? I always used to think of the Thames as a dirty river. Now sadly all the rivets seem to be dirty. Last summer i got a very nasty bug i suspect e coli after fishing or from food poisoning. Have you ever been ill afyet river fishing? Keep up the duper videos. I first watched the bridge pool video but have also enjoyed this one and on the trent and am about to subscribe
Many thanks for the subscription and a kind comment, John 🙏👍🤗 Glad you’re enjoying the videos. Yes the Thames is unfortunately not renowned for clean water, much like most of our waterways these days, and I now take a little spray bottle of alcohol in my tackle bag - using it before I eat anything to be on the safe side. It’s a sad state of affairs but at least the fish stocks seem to doing OK in the Thames despite the water companies’ repeated failures to protect the environment. I’m sorry to hear you got ill. I was once sick after fishing a lake (stood in the water) earlier this year, but it’s hard to say if that was from a bug in the water of pure coincidence.
Thank you but only after 5 minutes know one owns the Thames
Fair point 👍
Cracking video John,you've lost your Sheffield accent after all those years down south. Is that the 17 foot acolyte you're using mate?.🎣🐟
Haha, yeah I probably have - although it always goes back up by a few notches whenever I’m back in the Steel City 👍😄 I can’t win - get called a southerner up there and still a northern monkey down here 😂 Thanks for commenting 💙 It’s the 15ft - stunning rod in my humble opinion 👍👌
Yes you can't win whatever accent you've got,got the acolytes in 15and17 stunning rods for the Trent where we fish.by the way the caythorpe video was spot on ,it's where me and my mate fish ,it's solid .🎣👍
Id love a theams barbel
Me too 🤗
Just stick with hemp and caster.
I had most fish on corn as the bleak were wiping me out on maggots but I didn’t have any caster with me and will give it a go on there at some point 👍
I climb ofer fence at Albert bidge and fish dis weirs for free good but deap.
Very deep!
Half an hour of talking and seeing the same fish i can catch in the small pond in my even smaller town.
Ha! Well thanks for taking the time to watch and comment anyway. Hope you find content more to your liking elsewhere on UA-cam.
Thames sorry 😂
Guessed it 😄
Please wet your hands BEFORE you touch a fish, not to do so burns the protective slime off the fish, harms them and leads to disease and suffering.
I do, David 👍
Sorry mate but no self respecting center pin angler would be seen dead fishing a pin reel with the line coming of the bottom of the reel.
There are a few points I will make in response to this comment...
Firstly, I have complete respect for myself, and find it a little strange that you would take time to imply that I’m somehow letting myself or even pin angling down. If that’s your main conclusion from watching me enjoy a fantastic day’s river fishing then I find that a little sad.
Secondly, the way you spool (and indeed fish) a pin is completely personal, as with most aspects of our great sport. There are those who prefer bottom exit and those who prefer top, but I must say, having watched some renowned pin anglers on the Trent - the river where stick float fishing was evolved by some of river angling’s greatest ever proponents - bottom was usually the preference.
Following a quick bit of online research, renowned specimen angler Phil Spinks uses a pin for trotting in this video - ua-cam.com/video/DsWjESpqRA0/v-deo.html - with the line coming off the bottom, so presumably he has no self respect either?
Or see this very detailed and authoritative article on fishing the pin from barbel.co.uk - barbel.co.uk/site/articles/pin/fish_cpin_bfwstyle.htm#12.
To quote from that piece: “Second consideration is whether to have this line coming off the bottom of the reel (furthest from the rod, requiring anti-clockwise rotation to retrieve line) which I consider the normal, or to have the line coming off the top of the reel (nearest to the rod, requiring clockwise rotation to retrieve line) which is less common but used by some.”
All I’m saying is there is no right or wrong way although, if anything, your preference goes against the norm, so maybe ‘live and let live’ rather than suggesting that I don’t know what I’m doing 🤷🏻
Long may you enjoy your own pin fishing and tight lines 🎣🐟
He’s fishing for himself not other self respecting anything.
Thames mead along the wall down in the water salmon run up the edge 50 60 lb down from woodpecker close beside a water feature looks like canal down thier big concrete walls river below massiv salmon
Sounds amazing 🤩