18th September -Chris and Malcolm Turnbull

Chris Turnbull with the first bass of the day

It had recently been my great honour to be approached for my guiding services by the angling journalist and wildlife and angling artist Chris Turnbull. To understand why I was so honoured, you would have to know a little more about the man himself. Chris was (and still is) an avid freshwater specimen hunter in the days when there were still very many challenges in freshwater fishing. Before the widescale spread of carp fisheries, in the days when the Bronze Bream record was still 10lb 2oz, Chris was out there, working it all out, and sharing his adventures and discoveries by way of the written word. But the work he is porobably best known for, is his amazing art (http://www.christurnbullart.com). He has worked with, and contributed with his art, to some of the greatest angling publications to come out of a printers workshop. And in doing so, he has also worked with some of fishings greatest legends. In short, Chris is all about the fishing, as is his brother Malcom. So whatever the outcome, I would be fishing with two true brothers of the obsession. And I must admit, I pushed the session to the limits that only fish obsessed people can endure, to try to achieve the monster bass that would have made the session even more memorable...........

The day began with a session on the upper reaches of the Ouse estuary. Although the marina might have offered morein the way of takes, this spot has produced some very good fish, and the asthetics of the area more enjoyable. Plus, the added advantage of the fishing being not too much different to trotting for chub on a slow moving river, I wouldnt have to work to hard as Chris was already a master of this technique. Malcolm had elected to wander the banks on the fly, a previously very succesful method as the river is choked with fry, which often brings the bass wandering in. First run through on the float, and Chris had the first fish of the day, pictured above.

Second fish of the day

A few trots later, and the farmer stopped by to say hello, and to advise us that we might like to re-locate to the other bank as 70 full up dairy cows would soon be driven through to the milking sheds. Who were we to argue the wisdomn of his words. We re-located, and continued fishing. As the tide dropped away, Chris set the hooks into a second fish, pictured, and shortly afterwards, the biggest fish of the day, although because I am a clotz, I neglected to take a picture of it.

Chinese Mitten Crab

As we were fishing, Chris spotted a large crab making its way upriver. From its bulk, it looked like a large shore crab, carrying a female about to shed its shell underneath, so I got the net around it. What we discovered on hauling it to the bank, was that it was a Chinese mitten crab, something I have heard a lot about, although this was my first "in the flesh" experience with one. I remembered reading that it was an illegal alien, wanted in conncetion with burrowing in river banks, making them prone to collapse in winter floods. And that it can live happily in freshwater, where fish eggs amongst other things are its diet. With fragile spawning beds of Lamprey, Shad and Sea trout only a few miles upstream, I would urge people finding them to do as I did, despatch it under the heel of your boot. Please also report any found to the Fisheries recreation and biodiversity department, via the Environment agency main switchboard 08708 506506

With the tide dropping away, we relocated to a spot near the river mouth where I was hopeful Malcolm and Chris would find a few fish as the ebb tide eased, and the new flood began. After settling them in, I shot off to bag pouting, ready for the night tide, and a session on the open beach to use them as bait. On metting up with the guys, I heard it wasnt to be. Normally, if the fishing is going to be good at that spot, there are plenty of fish showing themselves. But the guys had hardly seen a ripple, and no fish offered themselves up. Still, the pouting had been kind, we had plenty of bait, and it was onwards and upwards. With renewed confidence we stepped out onto the shingle of Brighton beach.

Wasnt to be though. We fished the tide up, and the tide down, and not so much as once did the live pouting get intercepted by bass. Brutally dissapointing, with no results, we said our goodbyes, and headed off for our respective dwellings. Chris and Malcolm were still in the area for another couple of days, and were keen to put the techniques gleaned into practice once again, before Chris returned to Norwich, and Malcolm to his home in Germany. So, I was totally made up when I got a call through from Chris, to say that amongst several fish lost, Malcolm had, during a session near their digs in Seaford, landed a fish of 10lb 6oz. Pictured below, all I can say is well done Malcolm, for persevering with such a wonderful reward. And well done to both of you, for surviving a pretty hardcore session with Fishyrob......!! I look forward to the pleasure of doing it all again soon!!

Malcolm Turnbul and his 10lb 6oz well earned bass