​The water froze on our lines as we retrieved each cast causing icicles to form in the eyes on the rods.  They in turn caused the line to cast at a 90-degree angle is not cleared before casting the next time.  Hilarious to see.  I thought that I had captured the phenomenon but sadly the wind and cold resulted in a blur.

Obviously, our conclusion, Beat 1 has been "overfed" recently by the visiting and local fishermen on the river.  No knocks despite fishing with roach and lure, but a good time was had . The sun shone brilliantly on the other side of the river creating beautiful colours.  

We were tucked low on the river bank to the farthest point, out of the wind.  We could hear the wind howling above us and see the effect of it on the river.  There was a reverse current coming up the river; amazing the force.  

Much river weed and twigs were cleared.  I "cleverly" caught a mussel shell atop my roach.

Onward and upward until next week.

​And a good time was had by all! Winter fishing, Sunday 18 February, by 7am, on the Red Lion Hotel stretch of the River Wye.  It was cold but our hearts were warm in anticipation of catching the "big one".  Only one month earlier, a lovely 25 pound 9 ounce pike was caught by Paul at The Kingfishers' favourite beat. 

So on Sunday, armed with dead bait we cast our rods and waited and waited and waited for four hours.  Enjoying a bit of banter and coffee and biscuits.  At 11am a lovely pike followed Panda's line to the river bank.  Panda decided to change tactics and set up two rods with lures.  Chris and Sarah continued with dead bait, while Panda cast with a lure.  Bam!  A beautiful Jack Pike took Panda's lure.  Such excitement!  Panda played "Jack" to the river bank.  Sarah on "net" and Chris with "tools" to extract the hook with "surgical precision".

Jan, as always, then arrived with coffee and biscuits.  What is not to like???  Everything stops for coffee to appreciate "paradise".  Panda then had a wander, thinking of possibly moving "camp".  Sarah took up the lure.  Chris remaining convinced that the "roach" would entice the next catch.  Just when you think you have it all figured out, (little) bam!  Sarah, thinking it was more river weed followed the gentle knock and pulled in "mama" pike.  Excitement again. Jan shouting, "Way to go, Sis!".  All captured by our cerebral cameras.  Panda on "net".  Chris, experienced hook extractor on "tools".  Team work.

We decided that was enough fun for the morning and headed back to the Red Lion by 1pm for all to ask "have you really been out fishing this morning in the cold?".