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The Mersey Venture, this was a fishing trip we had planed for way back last November. At this time of the year the Mersey is good for Cod. The venue would be decided by the tides, big tides the south side of the Mersey favours the venues, shorter tides then it is the Liverpool side.
Asking our local contacts what would favour our chances, the answer came back that 24ft was to be on the 23rd January. Now knowing this we decided that Mariners Wharf would be our venue on the day, but there are lots of other venues that we could have chosen. We do know that this venue has thrown up some good Cod in the past.
The area has good car parking and it is only a short level walk to the point we would fish. This venue is one that also favoured for the less able, but still in with a great chance, for anyone, of landing that PB Cod.
On the day it would be a pick up from my house at 3am, with a 130mile trip to Liverpool. M1, A50, A500, M6 then the M62 straight into Liverpool. At this time in the morning the roads are not too busy which makes the trip so easy, 2hrs estimated.
Arriving in Liverpool our fist call would be to McDonalds, for that wake up cappuccinos and a bit of breakfast. Only thing we arrived to early to get a sit down breaky, so we settled for the drive through pick up.
Now refreshed we headed, just around the corner to the Mariner, then into the car park where we would unpack and head to our base for the day. Still dark but this venue is well lit up, you could fish here 24 hrs if the tides were right.
Settling down we soon had our rods and end tackle ready, into the Mersey baited rigs were cast. Short or long casts do not matter here, at times the fish come right up to the wall. I use 2 rods, one for distance the other a lob in to the water.
It was not to long when Phil was into a fish, a likkle codling, not knowing it at the time, this was going to be the sort of fishing we would encounter for the rest of the day. Ever optimists we were thinking of some of the fish we call Cod, 6lk+, would be out there.
Those little rattles, hit and miss, coming regular but only the likkle codling were showing. Things changed for while when likkle Whiting were showing. The light was now dawning and the bites started dropping off.
We were enveloped in a cloud of fog, no site of the other side of the Mersey. Hopefully this would clear later to give us a view of the full picture.
The morning was moving on, with the odd angler taking their position along the river walkway. The morning greetings with the vocals “you lads have picked the best spot”. This is where the Local Golden Knowledge comes from. Internet friends, who I am often in contact with, and sometimes fish with, are always there to give the latest reports. This will always give us the advantage after travelling such distances, even though I am the UK Top Blanker.
Here I am waiting for that elusive double figure Cod to rattle my rod.
We were suddenly approached by loads of anglers, where they came from I do not know, as if a bus load had arrived, The Coral Club from Skelmesdale were to have one of their match days. We were now going to see hopefully a good stance of fish retrieved.
Good cracc was amongst our new friends for the day, but the fishing was not to improve. Small codling and whiting were to be the only fish, not even an odd likkle flattie.
The fog came and returned at various times rolling in from the west. It was cold and damp, but we were dressed for it. High tide was at 4pm and still we looked for the bigger Cod to turn up, it was not to be.
This was to be the largest fish of the day, Cliff with one of many codling.
With the tide reaching its top, even the little bites died off. Then the tide changed, the ebb was to run like an express, weed and lines being pulled from their points, 5pm it was time to say lets clear up and head for the car park.
The walk back with other anglers, and the stories were similar, no great Cod today. I did think how were the Coral Club to choose their man of the day, with such little sized codling and whiting landed, and all fish were returned. I suppose they have a measuring system and with lots of likkel fish the inches do add up.
Saying our farewell we headed out of the mariner, with the heater on full blast. We did stop on the road into town, for some of Liverpool’s offering of Fish n Chips. We were not disappointed.
Unfortunately our trip back home was not without its incident, the car gave us problem. Being a diesel, very reliable, this car has taken us to many fishing venues all over the country. When putting his foot down, Cliff was experiencing the car not responding. The glow plug light would come on, so we would pull up. The car would idle with what felt like no problem. Switching the ignition off, then restarting the car would act normal.
Time after time the car would do the same so we would pull up, switch off then restart. I am not a mechanic but it felt like fuel starvation, not electrical. On diesels are there different fuel jets, idle and acceleration!!! Cliff will take the car into the garage on Monday, is there any mechanics out there that could shed some light on this problem.
What ever the problems and lack of any memorable fish we did enjoy our Mersey Venture.
Asking our local contacts what would favour our chances, the answer came back that 24ft was to be on the 23rd January. Now knowing this we decided that Mariners Wharf would be our venue on the day, but there are lots of other venues that we could have chosen. We do know that this venue has thrown up some good Cod in the past.
The area has good car parking and it is only a short level walk to the point we would fish. This venue is one that also favoured for the less able, but still in with a great chance, for anyone, of landing that PB Cod.
On the day it would be a pick up from my house at 3am, with a 130mile trip to Liverpool. M1, A50, A500, M6 then the M62 straight into Liverpool. At this time in the morning the roads are not too busy which makes the trip so easy, 2hrs estimated.
Arriving in Liverpool our fist call would be to McDonalds, for that wake up cappuccinos and a bit of breakfast. Only thing we arrived to early to get a sit down breaky, so we settled for the drive through pick up.
Now refreshed we headed, just around the corner to the Mariner, then into the car park where we would unpack and head to our base for the day. Still dark but this venue is well lit up, you could fish here 24 hrs if the tides were right.
Settling down we soon had our rods and end tackle ready, into the Mersey baited rigs were cast. Short or long casts do not matter here, at times the fish come right up to the wall. I use 2 rods, one for distance the other a lob in to the water.
It was not to long when Phil was into a fish, a likkle codling, not knowing it at the time, this was going to be the sort of fishing we would encounter for the rest of the day. Ever optimists we were thinking of some of the fish we call Cod, 6lk+, would be out there.
Those little rattles, hit and miss, coming regular but only the likkle codling were showing. Things changed for while when likkle Whiting were showing. The light was now dawning and the bites started dropping off.
We were enveloped in a cloud of fog, no site of the other side of the Mersey. Hopefully this would clear later to give us a view of the full picture.
The morning was moving on, with the odd angler taking their position along the river walkway. The morning greetings with the vocals “you lads have picked the best spot”. This is where the Local Golden Knowledge comes from. Internet friends, who I am often in contact with, and sometimes fish with, are always there to give the latest reports. This will always give us the advantage after travelling such distances, even though I am the UK Top Blanker.
Here I am waiting for that elusive double figure Cod to rattle my rod.
We were suddenly approached by loads of anglers, where they came from I do not know, as if a bus load had arrived, The Coral Club from Skelmesdale were to have one of their match days. We were now going to see hopefully a good stance of fish retrieved.
Good cracc was amongst our new friends for the day, but the fishing was not to improve. Small codling and whiting were to be the only fish, not even an odd likkle flattie.
The fog came and returned at various times rolling in from the west. It was cold and damp, but we were dressed for it. High tide was at 4pm and still we looked for the bigger Cod to turn up, it was not to be.
This was to be the largest fish of the day, Cliff with one of many codling.
With the tide reaching its top, even the little bites died off. Then the tide changed, the ebb was to run like an express, weed and lines being pulled from their points, 5pm it was time to say lets clear up and head for the car park.
The walk back with other anglers, and the stories were similar, no great Cod today. I did think how were the Coral Club to choose their man of the day, with such little sized codling and whiting landed, and all fish were returned. I suppose they have a measuring system and with lots of likkel fish the inches do add up.
Saying our farewell we headed out of the mariner, with the heater on full blast. We did stop on the road into town, for some of Liverpool’s offering of Fish n Chips. We were not disappointed.
Unfortunately our trip back home was not without its incident, the car gave us problem. Being a diesel, very reliable, this car has taken us to many fishing venues all over the country. When putting his foot down, Cliff was experiencing the car not responding. The glow plug light would come on, so we would pull up. The car would idle with what felt like no problem. Switching the ignition off, then restarting the car would act normal.
Time after time the car would do the same so we would pull up, switch off then restart. I am not a mechanic but it felt like fuel starvation, not electrical. On diesels are there different fuel jets, idle and acceleration!!! Cliff will take the car into the garage on Monday, is there any mechanics out there that could shed some light on this problem.
What ever the problems and lack of any memorable fish we did enjoy our Mersey Venture.
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