How lucky to fish this most beautiful river, I recall many times fishing the Hampshire Avon at Ringwood and that was a privilege. I'm' now in my 90th year and need a comfortable seat now. Roving for me is a thing of the past.
Fantastic to hear from you, Mike - a really welcome comment and I’m glad to hear you’re still getting on the bank, albeit sitting down. I belong to a tiny club near my native Sheffield and we still fish a few matches each year - one of our members, Mal, has just turned 90 and not only is he still competing with us but he wins the odd one too! We call him Mussel Man as he always fishes with mussels as bait and sits it out for big carp 🐟
What a class video. So many familar locations in my local area. I have fished the itchen free stretch downstream many many times for pike perch chub grayling and trout. The causeway stretch is that day ticket? I have fished the test at Timsbury a few times. Full of trout. 2.5lb trout nearly every trot down in the right conditions. Some huge pike in both locations too. I had a 30lber follow my wobbled deadbait at Timsbury right to the edge then turn away at the last second. Not long after that the chef marco pierre white goes and catches a 30lber there. Probably the same fish! What a wonderful advert for the Hampshire countryside. Yes you are right about ollie. He is very helpful and knowledgeable. I have met him at fle his fishery a few times when taking the kids there for a fish. What an enjoyable watch. Thanks again for taking the time to make and edit this!
What a class comment is all I can say in response to that, John! 💙 A really nice read on Christmas Eve morning and really I’m glad you enjoyed it. I keep hearing about Timsbury and mean to give it a go sometime. As for that near miss with a monster pike… 😱😬 I was in pieces with the one in that video and didn’t even see it myself - I can only try to image how you felt after such a brush with a fish of a lifetime. I THINK it’s Ollie who has permission to take guests on the Causeway and I have never seen anyone else fishing it the two times I’ve been there with him, but don’t quote me on that as I’m not sure. Have a brilliant Christmas and cheers for now 🍻
Hi John, really enjoyed your video once again. Great fishing location, but, a little far to travel from your hometown of Sheffield. Look forward to any forthcoming vids mate
Cheers mate! Yep, a bit of a trek from Sheff - one benefit of living daaarn saaarf, although I do miss my home town and get back when I can. Cheers for a nice comment 🍻
As usual, another great interesting video for an old man (81) to watch in my living room on a Friday afternoon. I can tell I'm old when my 4 children are all older than the author of this video!
Haha, thanks as always, John (have I said before what a great name you have?) 😄 That must mean I’m still a young’un in some people’s eyes, including yours, but you’re only in your early 80s and I can sense the life and passion still remaining in your (always welcome) comments. I’m one of four by the way - the eldest. My siblings are all in Sheffield and none of them fish, but I love catching up with them when I can.
47.52 into this enjoyable video I saw the very spot I caught my large 2.5lb grayling - where the carriers meet out of memorial gardens. Fly fishing on very fast flowing rivers with overhanging trees all around takes a completely different style of fly fishing..... I will keep this to myself.
John yet another superb shared fishing adventure. A truly magical bit of water. My son lives in Southampton might have to take some fishing gear the next time I visit. Keep smashing out the fantastic content you deserve more subscribers the channel is fantastic. Tight lines buddy.🎣🎣
Many thanks, mate. I’m still coming to terms with the fact I’ve just passed 20k subs 🤯 Not bad for a part time hobby 😄 But as long as I can make the time at weekend and evenings, plus still enjoy it, I’ll try to keep going. Many thanks for the kind words and your son’s location sounds like a big opportunity! 🎣🐟 The link for booking the Itchen day ticket (right by Southampton) is in the vid description 👍
Thanks mate. Those rivers are also the stuff of legend (especially for a lad who grew up in South Yorkshire and therefore still some distance away). I’d love to fish ‘em some day - and film if I do - although it’s a long old drive from Surrey. Mind you, me and the Mrs had a long weekend in North Yorkshire and loved it, so maybe I’ll have to arrange another one and fit in some fishing… 🤔
Which stretches of the Swale, Nidd and Calder do you fish for grayling ? Are they club waters or available on day ticket ? I live just outside Leeds and will give these stretches a try if I can.
Absolutely beautiful.The magic of a chalkstream. I remember catching my first grayling from the Derwent. Trotting a wierpool right in the towncentre of Derby. Stay safe and thanks
Ah, in that case we both have fond memories of catching grayling from the Derwent! 💙😊 I still regret the fact I went to Derby University and never once went fishing while there - to the Derwent or the Trent?! What an idiot. I didn’t have anywhere to store my gear and, to be fair, enjoyed many other aspects of the city during those three years 🍻 They’re a special fish and I still remember gawping at the huge dorsal fin of my first grayling from Calver in the Peak District 😊
When those grayling get that dorsal fin in the current they don’t half give you a battle don’t they! Beautiful fish all of them. That sea trout was rather special and is one species I have yet to connect with. Just booked myself on a spey casting & salmon fishing course on the Deveron next April. Thanks for another great video.
My pleasure as always - particularly when I enjoy reading such comments as this. Yep, they are a special fish and a big grayling is a bit like a big roach or perch… mind blowing 🤯
Another smashing video John. Thanks for sharing. Not a part of the world I’m very familiar with. Your book arrived earlier in the week so just getting into that. Put me in mind of my early introduction to fishing at the age of 11. It was a purely by chance offer from one of Dads workmates of some tackle that started a lifetime passion. Unfortunately I didn’t benefit from a mentor so all self taught….interestingly I too went through a Birds custard powder phase!
Haha, everyone needs a custard phase! All self taught is impressive. How lucky was it that you got that spark you needed, as you say. Always a sign of a true angling addict when that’s all it takes - just that small leg up and you were off on a lifetime of adventure 🎣🐟 Many thanks for your custom with the book and I hope you enjoy it 🤞💙
Wonderful to see the chalkstreams being fished by you John. It is great to see all fishing interests being catered for, and allowed on these rivers... Those large trout will be stockies....I suspect. And the grayling in the chalk streams do like to shoal together in the open gravel runs....
Thanks mate. By the way, I have a reminder in my Outlook calendar to drop you a line and sort a beer when I’m back from hols! Yes, great that such ‘hallowed’ game water is made available to blokes from Sheffield, even if I had a to pay a bit. Totally worth it 👍 The Itchen is on a day ticket, too. Just needs booking in advance. Laters 🍻
Thanks Peter ☺️ Your comments mean a lot as always and this sort of feedback is fuel for the channel’s 🔥 And, yep, it was a great looking perch wasn’t it? I’m sure the bigger one would have been just as stunning if it hadn’t been mangled by the big pike! Still, it was a lucky escape and it got to fight again another day 👍
Really great video and loved seeing those stretches along with some lovely catches , the big grayling and the two perch were wonderful. Long format videos like this are SO good , I've not fished a chalk steam for over 40 years . I grew up in Kent and learned all my angling skills by spending my childhood fishing the river Darent which is another beautiful small river that runs over chalk . Really enjoyed watching , Tight lines and looking forward to the next episode already .
Thanks as always - really appreciate the ongoing support and it’s always nice (and a relief) to hear that an extra long vid is appreciated, rather than causing people to fall asleep 😴 Not that helping people to drift off would be an entirely bad thing 😄 🤔
VERY lucky, mate 👍😎🎣🐟 Just glad I can share it with the community and provide a bit of virtual access to others . It still surprises me they let a bloke from Sheffield have a fish 😄 Cheers for now.
Really enjoyed watching another of your great videos - love your enthusiasm, even for the minnow I had only got up for a wee and had a quick look at my notifications . . . . . . now just gone 4am ! Didnt want to pause it ( but I did briefly to make a brew to enjoy it with ) Thanks again Sir !
Haha, brilliant 😂 I had no idea I was providing late night entertainment like that and I’m glad you at least managed a brew. Yeah, minnows are still a bit of a novelty for me - never had one in all my years fishing around Sheffield and even my local rivers in Surrey seem devoid of them, so a bit of novelty for me 😄🐟 Thanks for a great comment 👍😎
Great video John. I too take a trip down the Test every year as a bit of a treat to myself to catch some of those stunning Grayling on the trusty pin. Nothing beats it.
Nice to see you using a J W Young Purist centrepin. I bought one about 15 years ago and it's still faultless. These days, I mainly use it for float fishing for carp and tench in the margins and really enjoy the direct feel of playing a big fish on it. Well done on the big grayling. Such beautiful fish.
Thanks ☺️ Yep, I tend to save it for special occasions and agree about the quality. I occasionally get a tiny bit of sand or grit in there and really wince when it starts grating a bit, but it usually spits it out soon enough and returns to the usual ‘silent spin’. When you get to play a special fish on it, too, that’s the icing on the cake 🎂
Wonderful watching this brought back many memories of fishing the river windrush as a youngster just wish the rivers were in tha same state now as they were then
Great video that brought back memories of the couple of years i had a syndicate ticket on the lower Itchen, I had a big barbel from the back of the keepers cottage and I also had a salmon that tried to jump over the bridge at the top of the weir. Where you fished below the bridge produced some big chub and the odd carp. We filmed further up with myself and Dean Macey for Tight lines as well for grayling. Lovely stretch of river and every day felt like a privilege to be there.Enjoy your holiday and your missing nothing on the Thames. Its still very high and I even spent 48 hours carp fishing. The less said about that the better. See you when you get home.
Cheers mate! Always good to hear from ya - on the channel or otherwise. Old Father must really be suffering for you to reach for yer carp rods and it’s a shame even that proved tricky. Love the angling history you bring to my current exploits and it seems you’ve fished most places and met many people, although you always show the same respect, enjoyment and pi$$ taking for all 😄 I still think about that time you were asked by someone at a talk you were giving, ‘what’s your favourite fish?’ and you apparently replied ‘the one that’s attached to the end of my line.’ That’s the way to do it, whether it’s a big barbel behind Keeper’s Cottage or a big slab that’s just ripped through your keepnet!
Getting very jealous of your fishing trips and all their surroundings John,what lovely looking Trout eh mate and them Perch look great also,who needs David Attenborough when we have you on TH-cam showing us all the best of the English countryside and Wildlife eh mate,Thank you Great video again John cheers,
Cheers mate! I may have said this before but it’s really only in the last year or so that I’ve realised how many brilliant places there are to fish within an hour of me (or an hour of Sheff when I’m back up there). Until then my day job and the kids have kept me busy 95% of the time, but I seem to have finally found some balance now 😊 Always happy to share when I can and I’ll take the Attenborough comment all day long!! Thanks again 💙
Another cracking video and lovely to see the varieties of fish coming from the streams. The colour of the Perch was amazing and a shame the Pike didn't make the final appearance. Thanks for sharing with us what was surely a magical couple of days. Paul.
Thanks Paul! Yep, magic couple of days and it just goes to show how good those rivers can be when they still throw up plenty of good fish despite some torrential rain all night and half the morning. Most of the rivers I fish would have been no good at all. Thanks for taking the time to comment 😊
About 6 weeks all being well. Hopefully by March 25 I'll be walking more than 100 yards & back caring for the wildlife , tending Surrey gardens & catching some fish. Again, thanks for the inspiration to be a better angler.
@@Smiffy830 Hi Smiffy, bin a while bud.. I noticed the knee update, great news, thought it may have been longer than that, so glad you finally have a date..👍 just want to wish you well Sir..😊😊
@@Smiffy830 I'm good thanks bud, getting over a really nasty cold and just trying to deal with a madman who's being terrible in the messages on one of my vids at the moment..🥴 There's always one..😒
Super couple of days out on two great chalk streams, what a privilege to fish there John. So many types of fish to try for with different methods, looked like there was a sea trout in the mix too, great fun so thanks for another angling treat, cheers Peter.
Thanks Peter and I totally agree! When I’ve done previous vids about places you have to pay a fair whack to access and fish, I’ve had a few comments from our angling friends in Canada or New Zealand - where the rivers are full of fish and also free to access for anyone - understandably saying it’s crazy to pay to fish anywhere. But we live in the UK and this is the reality of life and fishing on a small yet special island. I for one didn’t mind forking out to create some more magic memories (and be able to share them with others for free!) 👍😎🎣🐟
@@themagicoffishing That's why your channel is one of the best on utube, I'm sure your grandad would be smiling at your angling journey. Yes they are so lucky in the USA, Canada and in New Zealand, and I was lucky to fish on Vancouver island and catch some sockeye salmon which were bright bars of hard fighting silver, straight out of the sea.Tasted great too ha ha!!. Long way to go for fish and chips, but trip of a lifetime and back through the Rockies so wonderful scenery and memories of friendly people. Great places to go if you ever get the chance. Cheers till next time.
Another master class on how to bag up..! Amazingly coloured Perch.. Just bellow you at the start of the free stretch is the pool which has a tree sticking out of the water, great Trotting for Perch and Roach just bellow it, under the trees just above a pinch point created by another tree, definitely not in those conditions though. (Waiders needed even on a good day). Lovely spot lovely video.. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'s "hold on a mo" here's another ⭐⭐'s have to add um up separately nowadays..😂👍
MASSIVE thanks as always, Mucker - really glad we’ve connected and you seem to enjoy my vids as much as I enjoy yours. It doesn’t surprise me you know of good, free fishing in that neck of the woods, too, and those vids are on my to watch list. Also love the fact it’s not just barbel, or just pike, or just anything and you’re always generous with your info about all fish and fishing 👍👍👍👍👍😎
@@themagicoffishing I've fished that free stretch just below on the lower Itchen a few years ago and its a proper aquarium! Its got everything from massive carp, barbel and pike, through to huge roach, grayling, dace, trout & chub, and even sea fish like sea bass, mullet and flatfish on the right day! It's very tricky fishing but very rewarding
@@themagicoffishing Hi John, great vid again bud. Just to let you know your the only fishing channel i watch till the end, never normally watch much fishing on TH-cam, just sporadically (yes I did need to Google that spelling)..🤔 To find myself actually thinking about Friday on a Tuesday makes me think your definitely doing something right bud.. Gonna call it "TH-cam Friday" from now on..😁 Ps been waiting for the right moment to give you a massive shout out but I'm still posting stuff from early August.😂 didn't no you then.. Lol..🤣🤣
Wow, a dream couple of days fishing John. The test is a bucket list fishery for me. It looks so beautiful and for a relatively small river the flow is really strong. You really are living the dream buddy and catching some great fish to boot. Keep it up and keep the great videos coming, they always put a smile on my face, your passion and enthusiasm is infectious. 🎣🎣🎣
Thanks Graham, your comments always put a smile on my face, so we’re even 😊 If you ever seriously want to tick off the Test from your bucket list then drop me a line at themagicoffishing@gmail.com and I can put you in touch with Ollie about doing one of his guided days. He knows every inch and will put you on fish every time. The payment covers a day with him, the bait and access to the river of course. Cheers
That would be great if we did and lucky you for living even closer to those waters than I do (about an hour’s drive). The lower Itchen is available on a day ticket although it must be booked in advance and only at certain times of the year for coarse fishing as I’m sure you’ll be aware. I put the link in the video description. Cheers for now.
Great to watch this, an very well done, full of fun and detail, im clogged up with some photo meetups in London this coming weekend, so some extra money to be made, I run two groups with over 2000 members, so my fishing at the moment is on hold, all the best mate, tight lines.
Thanks as always Chris and I hope you get ‘em (the days AND the grayling)! My granddad and I used to catch them from the Derwent in Derbyshire as I mentioned in the video but a pounder was a decent fish for us and anything over two seems crazy to me. Special fish. Now if only I could manage a 2lb river roach…
Thanks you, I agree 😀🐟 Shame about the one that got ‘crunched’ by the pike but at least it survived and the whole thing added a bit of extra drama to the day! Thanks for taking the time to comment 👍🙏🎣🐟
What an amazing experience, John. Roving up and down the beautiful river with beautiful surroundings. Couldn’t ask for more. Like you said, must feel privileged 👍🏻🎣🍂
Definitely! And it’s only an hour’s drive from my gaff in Surrey. I discovered the Test for the first time a year ago and had no idea you can fish such special and famous game waters for coarse fish. The Itchen is on a day ticket too (link in vid description) although you do need to book in advance and out of the trout season of course. I hear it used to be even more prolific in terms of the numbers and size of fish, but I wasn’t complaining!
@@themagicoffishing Yeah sometimes i forget that it only takes an hour to get out in the countryside and holds lovely places like this. I need to do it more often when I get the time. Unlucky on that Pike too John, looked big with that bend on the rod!
Yeah, I’ve never seen a 3lb TC rod hooped over like that, or been attached (twice if you count when it had hold of the perch!) to a pike feeling that heavy before. It didn’t even seem to know it was hooked and was just hanging there until the single treble pulled. Ollie was possibly more gutted than me because he’d seen it and thought we might get to share a chalk stream giant with viewers. Ah well, we all need our stories about the one that got away 😬🐟
Please please please return those grayling quicker with little camera pose. They are very delicate and suffer if not returned quickly to the river.i.e as soon as unhooked. I speak from years of personal experience...
Thanks for sharing your experience, Wayne, and I have no doubt you are passionate about fish care, as am I. They are delicate fish as you say and they were well rested in the net immediately after capture and unhooking. For the two that were weighed they were then rested again before release. My piece to camera with the rested fish is 30 seconds and I do not feel this is excessive for any rested fish. If you feel it is then I would question why risk catching them in the first place, but I will certainly keep your advice in mind when next trying for grayling 👍
How lucky to fish this most beautiful river, I recall many times fishing the Hampshire Avon at Ringwood and that was a privilege. I'm' now in my 90th year and need a comfortable seat now. Roving for me is a thing of the past.
Fantastic to hear from you, Mike - a really welcome comment and I’m glad to hear you’re still getting on the bank, albeit sitting down. I belong to a tiny club near my native Sheffield and we still fish a few matches each year - one of our members, Mal, has just turned 90 and not only is he still competing with us but he wins the odd one too! We call him Mussel Man as he always fishes with mussels as bait and sits it out for big carp 🐟
What a class video.
So many familar locations in my local area.
I have fished the itchen free stretch downstream many many times for pike perch chub grayling and trout.
The causeway stretch is that day ticket?
I have fished the test at Timsbury a few times. Full of trout. 2.5lb trout nearly every trot down in the right conditions. Some huge pike in both locations too. I had a 30lber follow my wobbled deadbait at Timsbury right to the edge then turn away at the last second. Not long after that the chef marco pierre white goes and catches a 30lber there. Probably the same fish! What a wonderful advert for the Hampshire countryside.
Yes you are right about ollie. He is very helpful and knowledgeable. I have met him at fle his fishery a few times when taking the kids there for a fish. What an enjoyable watch. Thanks again for taking the time to make and edit this!
What a class comment is all I can say in response to that, John! 💙 A really nice read on Christmas Eve morning and really I’m glad you enjoyed it. I keep hearing about Timsbury and mean to give it a go sometime. As for that near miss with a monster pike… 😱😬 I was in pieces with the one in that video and didn’t even see it myself - I can only try to image how you felt after such a brush with a fish of a lifetime. I THINK it’s Ollie who has permission to take guests on the Causeway and I have never seen anyone else fishing it the two times I’ve been there with him, but don’t quote me on that as I’m not sure. Have a brilliant Christmas and cheers for now 🍻
Hi John, really enjoyed your video once again.
Great fishing location, but, a little far to travel from your hometown of Sheffield.
Look forward to any forthcoming vids mate
Cheers mate! Yep, a bit of a trek from Sheff - one benefit of living daaarn saaarf, although I do miss my home town and get back when I can. Cheers for a nice comment 🍻
You may remember me from a little while ago when you was fishing the trent at Gunthorpe.
I used to be Mel Aldgate's neighbour.
Tight lines buddy
As usual, another great interesting video for an old man (81) to watch in my living room on a Friday afternoon. I can tell I'm old when my 4 children are all older than the author of this video!
Haha, thanks as always, John (have I said before what a great name you have?) 😄 That must mean I’m still a young’un in some people’s eyes, including yours, but you’re only in your early 80s and I can sense the life and passion still remaining in your (always welcome) comments. I’m one of four by the way - the eldest. My siblings are all in Sheffield and none of them fish, but I love catching up with them when I can.
@@themagicoffishing The great John Wilson was the same age as me. Yes, you have mentioned my name earlier.
47.52 into this enjoyable video I saw the very spot I caught my large 2.5lb grayling - where the carriers meet out of memorial gardens. Fly fishing on very fast flowing rivers with overhanging trees all around takes a completely different style of fly fishing..... I will keep this to myself.
Ahhh, nice I could remind you of your own special capture - on the fly as well 🙌👏
John yet another superb shared fishing adventure. A truly magical bit of water. My son lives in Southampton might have to take some fishing gear the next time I visit. Keep smashing out the fantastic content you deserve more subscribers the channel is fantastic. Tight lines buddy.🎣🎣
Many thanks, mate. I’m still coming to terms with the fact I’ve just passed 20k subs 🤯 Not bad for a part time hobby 😄 But as long as I can make the time at weekend and evenings, plus still enjoy it, I’ll try to keep going. Many thanks for the kind words and your son’s location sounds like a big opportunity! 🎣🐟 The link for booking the Itchen day ticket (right by Southampton) is in the vid description 👍
some beautiful grayling there mate well done every go on the swale or nidd calder be good to see you on one of them mate tight lines.
Thanks mate. Those rivers are also the stuff of legend (especially for a lad who grew up in South Yorkshire and therefore still some distance away). I’d love to fish ‘em some day - and film if I do - although it’s a long old drive from Surrey. Mind you, me and the Mrs had a long weekend in North Yorkshire and loved it, so maybe I’ll have to arrange another one and fit in some fishing… 🤔
Which stretches of the Swale, Nidd and Calder do you fish for grayling ? Are they club waters or available on day ticket ? I live just outside Leeds and will give these stretches a try if I can.
Absolutely beautiful.The magic of a chalkstream.
I remember catching my first grayling from the Derwent. Trotting a wierpool right in the towncentre of Derby.
Stay safe and thanks
Ah, in that case we both have fond memories of catching grayling from the Derwent! 💙😊 I still regret the fact I went to Derby University and never once went fishing while there - to the Derwent or the Trent?! What an idiot. I didn’t have anywhere to store my gear and, to be fair, enjoyed many other aspects of the city during those three years 🍻 They’re a special fish and I still remember gawping at the huge dorsal fin of my first grayling from Calver in the Peak District 😊
When those grayling get that dorsal fin in the current they don’t half give you a battle don’t they! Beautiful fish all of them. That sea trout was rather special and is one species I have yet to connect with. Just booked myself on a spey casting & salmon fishing course on the Deveron next April. Thanks for another great video.
My pleasure as always - particularly when I enjoy reading such comments as this. Yep, they are a special fish and a big grayling is a bit like a big roach or perch… mind blowing 🤯
Another smashing video John. Thanks for sharing. Not a part of the world I’m very familiar with. Your book arrived earlier in the week so just getting into that. Put me in mind of my early introduction to fishing at the age of 11. It was a purely by chance offer from one of Dads workmates of some tackle that started a lifetime passion. Unfortunately I didn’t benefit from a mentor so all self taught….interestingly I too went through a Birds custard powder phase!
Haha, everyone needs a custard phase! All self taught is impressive. How lucky was it that you got that spark you needed, as you say. Always a sign of a true angling addict when that’s all it takes - just that small leg up and you were off on a lifetime of adventure 🎣🐟 Many thanks for your custom with the book and I hope you enjoy it 🤞💙
Wonderful to see the chalkstreams being fished by you John. It is great to see all fishing interests being catered for, and allowed on these rivers... Those large trout will be stockies....I suspect. And the grayling in the chalk streams do like to shoal together in the open gravel runs....
Thanks mate. By the way, I have a reminder in my Outlook calendar to drop you a line and sort a beer when I’m back from hols! Yes, great that such ‘hallowed’ game water is made available to blokes from Sheffield, even if I had a to pay a bit. Totally worth it 👍 The Itchen is on a day ticket, too. Just needs booking in advance. Laters 🍻
Hi John
What a stunning perch, beautiful colours.
Really enjoy your videos, please keep'um coming.
Thanks for sharing
Peter
Thanks Peter ☺️ Your comments mean a lot as always and this sort of feedback is fuel for the channel’s 🔥 And, yep, it was a great looking perch wasn’t it? I’m sure the bigger one would have been just as stunning if it hadn’t been mangled by the big pike! Still, it was a lucky escape and it got to fight again another day 👍
Really great video and loved seeing those stretches along with some lovely catches , the big grayling and the two perch were wonderful. Long format videos like this are SO good ,
I've not fished a chalk steam for over 40 years . I grew up in Kent and learned all my angling skills by spending my childhood fishing the river Darent which is another beautiful small river that runs over chalk . Really enjoyed watching , Tight lines and looking forward to the next episode already .
Thanks as always - really appreciate the ongoing support and it’s always nice (and a relief) to hear that an extra long vid is appreciated, rather than causing people to fall asleep 😴 Not that helping people to drift off would be an entirely bad thing 😄 🤔
Thanks for sharing again brillant video . Lovely location your so lucky to have them rivers to yourself, tight lines john.❤
VERY lucky, mate 👍😎🎣🐟 Just glad I can share it with the community and provide a bit of virtual access to others . It still surprises me they let a bloke from Sheffield have a fish 😄 Cheers for now.
Really enjoyed watching another of your great videos - love your enthusiasm, even for the minnow
I had only got up for a wee and had a quick look at my notifications . . . . . . now just gone 4am ! Didnt want to pause it ( but I did briefly to make a brew to enjoy it with )
Thanks again Sir !
Haha, brilliant 😂 I had no idea I was providing late night entertainment like that and I’m glad you at least managed a brew. Yeah, minnows are still a bit of a novelty for me - never had one in all my years fishing around Sheffield and even my local rivers in Surrey seem devoid of them, so a bit of novelty for me 😄🐟 Thanks for a great comment 👍😎
Great video John. I too take a trip down the Test every year as a bit of a treat to myself to catch some of those stunning Grayling on the trusty pin. Nothing beats it.
It sure is special and it’s nice to hear from someone else who has sampled it 😀 Thanks for the kind words about the vid 👌
Nice to see you using a J W Young Purist centrepin. I bought one about 15 years ago and it's still faultless. These days, I mainly use it for float fishing for carp and tench in the margins and really enjoy the direct feel of playing a big fish on it. Well done on the big grayling. Such beautiful fish.
Thanks ☺️ Yep, I tend to save it for special occasions and agree about the quality. I occasionally get a tiny bit of sand or grit in there and really wince when it starts grating a bit, but it usually spits it out soon enough and returns to the usual ‘silent spin’. When you get to play a special fish on it, too, that’s the icing on the cake 🎂
Wonderful watching this brought back many memories of fishing the river windrush as a youngster just wish the rivers were in tha same state now as they were then
Yeah, you and me both… 🥲 Some have got much better, of course, but many are now suffering badly.
Great video that brought back memories of the couple of years i had a syndicate ticket on the lower Itchen, I had a big barbel from the back of the keepers cottage and I also had a salmon that tried to jump over the bridge at the top of the weir. Where you fished below the bridge produced some big chub and the odd carp. We filmed further up with myself and Dean Macey for Tight lines as well for grayling. Lovely stretch of river and every day felt like a privilege to be there.Enjoy your holiday and your missing nothing on the Thames. Its still very high and I even spent 48 hours carp fishing. The less said about that the better. See you when you get home.
Cheers mate! Always good to hear from ya - on the channel or otherwise. Old Father must really be suffering for you to reach for yer carp rods and it’s a shame even that proved tricky. Love the angling history you bring to my current exploits and it seems you’ve fished most places and met many people, although you always show the same respect, enjoyment and pi$$ taking for all 😄 I still think about that time you were asked by someone at a talk you were giving, ‘what’s your favourite fish?’ and you apparently replied ‘the one that’s attached to the end of my line.’ That’s the way to do it, whether it’s a big barbel behind Keeper’s Cottage or a big slab that’s just ripped through your keepnet!
@@themagicoffishing no favourite at the moment because I’ve not had anything on the end of the line lol
Getting very jealous of your fishing trips and all their surroundings John,what lovely looking Trout eh mate and them Perch look great also,who needs David Attenborough when we have you on TH-cam showing us all the best of the English countryside and Wildlife eh mate,Thank you Great video again John cheers,
Cheers mate! I may have said this before but it’s really only in the last year or so that I’ve realised how many brilliant places there are to fish within an hour of me (or an hour of Sheff when I’m back up there). Until then my day job and the kids have kept me busy 95% of the time, but I seem to have finally found some balance now 😊 Always happy to share when I can and I’ll take the Attenborough comment all day long!! Thanks again 💙
Another cracking video and lovely to see the varieties of fish coming from the streams. The colour of the Perch was amazing and a shame the Pike didn't make the final appearance.
Thanks for sharing with us what was surely a magical couple of days.
Paul.
Thanks Paul! Yep, magic couple of days and it just goes to show how good those rivers can be when they still throw up plenty of good fish despite some torrential rain all night and half the morning. Most of the rivers I fish would have been no good at all. Thanks for taking the time to comment 😊
What a beautiful place to do anything , paint, read, photograph or a spot of fishing. Halcyon days, life that's worth living. Great stuff John.
Cheers Smiffy and I completely agree. It can’t be that long off your surgery and I’ll be keeping things crossed for ya 👍
About 6 weeks all being well. Hopefully by March 25 I'll be walking more than 100 yards & back caring for the wildlife , tending Surrey gardens & catching some fish. Again, thanks for the inspiration to be a better angler.
@@Smiffy830 Hi Smiffy, bin a while bud.. I noticed the knee update, great news, thought it may have been longer than that, so glad you finally have a date..👍 just want to wish you well Sir..😊😊
Hello Phil. Thank you sir. I just want it over & done with. How are you anyway?
@@Smiffy830 I'm good thanks bud, getting over a really nasty cold and just trying to deal with a madman who's being terrible in the messages on one of my vids at the moment..🥴 There's always one..😒
Super couple of days out on two great chalk streams, what a privilege to fish there John. So many types of fish to try for with different methods, looked like there was a sea trout in the mix too, great fun so thanks for another angling treat, cheers Peter.
Thanks Peter and I totally agree! When I’ve done previous vids about places you have to pay a fair whack to access and fish, I’ve had a few comments from our angling friends in Canada or New Zealand - where the rivers are full of fish and also free to access for anyone - understandably saying it’s crazy to pay to fish anywhere. But we live in the UK and this is the reality of life and fishing on a small yet special island. I for one didn’t mind forking out to create some more magic memories (and be able to share them with others for free!) 👍😎🎣🐟
@@themagicoffishing That's why your channel is one of the best on utube, I'm sure your grandad would be smiling at your angling journey. Yes they are so lucky in the USA, Canada and in New Zealand, and I was lucky to fish on Vancouver island and catch some sockeye salmon which were bright bars of hard fighting silver, straight out of the sea.Tasted great too ha ha!!. Long way to go for fish and chips, but trip of a lifetime and back through the Rockies so wonderful scenery and memories of friendly people. Great places to go if you ever get the chance. Cheers till next time.
Another master class on how to bag up..! Amazingly coloured Perch.. Just bellow you at the start of the free stretch is the pool which has a tree sticking out of the water, great Trotting for Perch and Roach just bellow it, under the trees just above a pinch point created by another tree, definitely not in those conditions though. (Waiders needed even on a good day). Lovely spot lovely video.. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'s "hold on a mo" here's another ⭐⭐'s have to add um up separately nowadays..😂👍
MASSIVE thanks as always, Mucker - really glad we’ve connected and you seem to enjoy my vids as much as I enjoy yours. It doesn’t surprise me you know of good, free fishing in that neck of the woods, too, and those vids are on my to watch list. Also love the fact it’s not just barbel, or just pike, or just anything and you’re always generous with your info about all fish and fishing 👍👍👍👍👍😎
@@themagicoffishing I've fished that free stretch just below on the lower Itchen a few years ago and its a proper aquarium! Its got everything from massive carp, barbel and pike, through to huge roach, grayling, dace, trout & chub, and even sea fish like sea bass, mullet and flatfish on the right day! It's very tricky fishing but very rewarding
@@themagicoffishing Hi John, great vid again bud. Just to let you know your the only fishing channel i watch till the end, never normally watch much fishing on TH-cam, just sporadically (yes I did need to Google that spelling)..🤔 To find myself actually thinking about Friday on a Tuesday makes me think your definitely doing something right bud.. Gonna call it "TH-cam Friday" from now on..😁 Ps been waiting for the right moment to give you a massive shout out but I'm still posting stuff from early August.😂 didn't no you then.. Lol..🤣🤣
@@the88tench3 couldn't of said it any better bud..👏 You gotta sneak up on um..😊👍
Wow, a dream couple of days fishing John. The test is a bucket list fishery for me. It looks so beautiful and for a relatively small river the flow is really strong. You really are living the dream buddy and catching some great fish to boot. Keep it up and keep the great videos coming, they always put a smile on my face, your passion and enthusiasm is infectious. 🎣🎣🎣
Thanks Graham, your comments always put a smile on my face, so we’re even 😊 If you ever seriously want to tick off the Test from your bucket list then drop me a line at themagicoffishing@gmail.com and I can put you in touch with Ollie about doing one of his guided days. He knows every inch and will put you on fish every time. The payment covers a day with him, the bait and access to the river of course. Cheers
I love not far from where you were yet I have only fished it once I really must get out more may be one day we bump into each other. Great video
That would be great if we did and lucky you for living even closer to those waters than I do (about an hour’s drive). The lower Itchen is available on a day ticket although it must be booked in advance and only at certain times of the year for coarse fishing as I’m sure you’ll be aware. I put the link in the video description. Cheers for now.
Great to watch this, an very well done, full of fun and detail, im clogged up with some photo meetups in London this coming weekend, so some extra money to be made,
I run two groups with over 2000 members, so my fishing at the moment is on hold, all the best mate, tight lines.
Some things are worth holding for, Clive - sounds interesting. All the best back atcha 👍🎣🐟
great watch, hoping for a couple of grayling days in November myself
Thanks as always Chris and I hope you get ‘em (the days AND the grayling)! My granddad and I used to catch them from the Derwent in Derbyshire as I mentioned in the video but a pounder was a decent fish for us and anything over two seems crazy to me. Special fish. Now if only I could manage a 2lb river roach…
Another awesome video.
Thank you.
Thanks 🙏😎😊🎣🐟
Absolutely stunning perch !
Thanks you, I agree 😀🐟 Shame about the one that got ‘crunched’ by the pike but at least it survived and the whole thing added a bit of extra drama to the day! Thanks for taking the time to comment 👍🙏🎣🐟
What an amazing experience, John. Roving up and down the beautiful river with beautiful surroundings. Couldn’t ask for more. Like you said, must feel privileged 👍🏻🎣🍂
Definitely! And it’s only an hour’s drive from my gaff in Surrey. I discovered the Test for the first time a year ago and had no idea you can fish such special and famous game waters for coarse fish. The Itchen is on a day ticket too (link in vid description) although you do need to book in advance and out of the trout season of course. I hear it used to be even more prolific in terms of the numbers and size of fish, but I wasn’t complaining!
@@themagicoffishing Yeah sometimes i forget that it only takes an hour to get out in the countryside and holds lovely places like this. I need to do it more often when I get the time. Unlucky on that Pike too John, looked big with that bend on the rod!
Im a big pike angler and was a big shame you lost that one! Looked to have some weight to it by the rod bend etc! Great vid tho mate !!
Yeah, I’ve never seen a 3lb TC rod hooped over like that, or been attached (twice if you count when it had hold of the perch!) to a pike feeling that heavy before. It didn’t even seem to know it was hooked and was just hanging there until the single treble pulled. Ollie was possibly more gutted than me because he’d seen it and thought we might get to share a chalk stream giant with viewers. Ah well, we all need our stories about the one that got away 😬🐟
Wow some great fishing
Cheers Mark! 👍🙏 I sure did enjoy myself 😎🎣🐟 Lucky man.
magical great vide keep them coming 👍
Cheers Roy - really appreciate you saying so ☺️👍
Great video, what stunning rivers. I guess the barbel are successfully breeding in both rivers?
Thanks! 🙏 Yes it seems they are on the Itchen at least - not sure about the Test.
you should be usuing barbless hooks fella.
Cheers
Please please please return those grayling quicker with little camera pose. They are very delicate and suffer if not returned quickly to the river.i.e as soon as unhooked. I speak from years of personal experience...
Thanks for sharing your experience, Wayne, and I have no doubt you are passionate about fish care, as am I. They are delicate fish as you say and they were well rested in the net immediately after capture and unhooking. For the two that were weighed they were then rested again before release. My piece to camera with the rested fish is 30 seconds and I do not feel this is excessive for any rested fish. If you feel it is then I would question why risk catching them in the first place, but I will certainly keep your advice in mind when next trying for grayling 👍
Nothink like a nice grayling about a pound in weight fried in butter with some bacon and sourdough bread!😂😅
Haha! 😜
Please spell check
🤷🏻
Huh?
I don’t know what ‘please spell check’ is referring to - that was all that the short comment I was replying to said.