The RIVER TRENT holds so many special memories for me – from travelling there from Sheffield with my granddad as a lad, to fishing matches and pleasure sessions as a young man while still living in the Steel City.
Now, in my fifties and having lived in Surrey half my life, it’s a special treat and mini adventure every time I get to fish the mighty river again. It’s also something I only manage to do once or twice a year, often involving day ticket stretches, careful planning, and plenty of anticipation.
GUNTHORPE LOCK is about as special as day ticket fishing on the Trent gets, because for £10 (see booking link below) you can access oxygen-rich water not far below a big weir, where truly MASSIVE barbel, chub, and fish of many different species are regularly caught. The conditions were far from ideal when I made my visit this summer, but the dream of landing a specimen fish, or indeed a new PB felt very real.
I finally arrived back in Gunthorpe – a lovely little place that I strongly associate with my granddad and fishing trips of my youth – just before what turned out to be the hottest day of the year, in the UK, but I knew it would be an emotional trip, no matter what happened with the fishing…
As always, sit back, relax, and enjoy.
THE MAGIC OF FISHING BOOK – https://rb.gy/tmqat4
TO BOOK A GUNTHORPE LOCK TICKET and for more details about the fishery and the fishing – https://swimbooker.com/fishery/11732
#fishing #anglinguk #coarsefishing #riverfishing #trent #barbelfishing #barbel #chubfishing #roachfishing #floatfishing #feederfishing
28 Comments
Another great video John, I love your dedication even when not catching. To hear you speak with such affection for your family living and unfortunately passed is truly heartwarming. Although my father nor son shared my love of fishing I’m really hoping I can inspire my grandchildren once I return to the banks in the coming years, and hopefully I can create some wonderful memories for them and a love of the outdoors and the riverbank. Thanks and keep up the good work. Your enthusiasm is infectious.
You take me back to my grandma, she was blind, but what a lady, she would sing, and sit there knitting, play the piano, just a real Londoner, my dads brothewas into
photography, and I myself run two photo groups with over 2000 members, work full time, and try to fish when I can, but finding time, well thats another story.
But I love fishing since the age of 7 years old.
strange ya dad never got the bug as you say
Yeh it can get pretty packed ,,,on the good spots I've seen folk waiting behind other angler, s to pack up ,waiting 24 hours 😮
i am 61. from sheffield . and the so called specialist approach is working at your fishing , not sitting behind 2 feeder/carp rods which is also enjoyable. just my opinion,
There is something special about your videos John. I love how you speak from the heart and share your memories. Clearly you have grown up with a very loving family, which has made you the man you are. What a wonderful privilege to have caught the bug of fishing from your grandad and having spent time and making memories with him. Personally I can go back to a place I fished as a kid, now 50 years on, and can recall being there with my brother and fishing friends and remembering special moments. These memories, I will always cherish.
All your videos are excellent m8
Superb, loved the storys you tell. I think this is your best yet, lost my dad 30 years ago , we had so many trips on the canal , miss him everyday to . Am crying watchin at the mo. I love your passion for angling i must go again great video thanks for sharing top notch,
Brilliant presenting, fellow Northerner, I feel fishing has become very strange, So called experts explaining how wild fish think, come on!! They are there to promote tackle companies. Please don't ever go to the dark side, you definitely capture the soul of fishing. Give yourself a big pat on the back.
wonderful again , thank you .
Just watching your video on the trent .it brings back Happy memories of when me and my brother and dad. I lost my mum 43 years ago, and my dad 34 years ago my brother 6 years ago. With you it's not all about match fishing. When we younger we fish on river in Wales river clwyd no course fish nearly all trout. Me and my brother were quite happy catching eels. Also I too I'm from Bolton. I don't fish matches no more. Your video brought back such lovely memories and happier times. Iam now in my 75th year. Never stop talking about your past it keeps things alive. ❤
You talk very fondly and eloquently of your lost family, really honest and likeable.
I'm a Sheffielder aswell, 56 now and still live here.
I was thinking, why don't you come home and do the 5 rivers challenge? (I know these "challenge" things are a bit old hat and cheesy now but this is a good one)…catch a trout from every river, Don, Sheaf, Rivelin, Loxley and Porter in a day. I think it's meant to be in daylight hours, it's tricky logistically and a bit of planning is required but achievable. I found the best way is with a simple bubble float and maggot in the smaller rivers and a small chubber or stick float for the Don.
Interesting to hear your recollections of your grandad and family John, they say grief is the price we pay for love. Remembering the happy times and honouring the memory of people who have passed is the best tribute you can make to those who helped bring you up and made you the kind person you clearly are!!. Sometimes the fish just aren't in the mood, but a great day, (and night), out on the river, cheers Peter.
The raw truth of fishing!! The fact you didn’t catch didn’t spoil the video for me, listening to you reminisce was very emotional & touching. We have a lot to thank the person who helped us start fishing, as I couldn’t imagine life without it. I’m sure you’ll be back on the Trent, & on a more favourable day, your wishes will be granted. Tight Lines John, & as always, another fantastic video. 👌🏻🎣
What a wonderful video. I too shed a few tears , as it brought back memories of loved ones lost. I had put away my fishing gear a few years ago, because after 40 years of specimen hunting and match fishing, the bombardment of social media with pictures of "scaley bangers" and the latest bait boats just meant there was no magic left for me. Then your channel popped upon my Youtube feed, and it awakened something in me that had been missing for some years. I'm glad to say that the gear has been dragged out of the lockup, and I'll be on the banks of my favourite rivers and lakes for the foreseeable future. I may even go up and fish the Trent. Thanks for the great content.
“‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
Lovely video fishing really does give you time to reflect about life and loved ones loved and lost very emotional stuff thanks for the upload really enjoyed it 👍
the trent at gunny used to always be hard in summer low water but there was a trick i used to do to catch barble carp chub even large roach . i was member of the NAA Notts angling ass we fish op bank from where u was fishing in the NAA IF U WAS 1ST THERE WE WOULD FREELINE MEAT OR CHEESE just above the weir and let the bait roll down the weir and the flow would take the bait right under the weir where there still water and the fish was always under there once that dryed up we would wade out 15 feet from our bank and free line meat cheese for some good chub of 5ib Boy those was the day's but that was 35yrs back now no pic from them day but i have most of the memerious in my head
Absolutely brilliant channel my favourite way of fishing stick float and centre pin I go on the broads fir two weeks early October so relaxing I'm Nottingham 64 I started with a fibre glass sea rod and a black Prince reel at trent Bridge steps with a little bobbin float catching gudgeon love your story off your grandfather and mother 😢 memories never forgotten ❤
Great video mate. Then I noticed my boat sailing by at the end of the video.the Trent is a amazing place.
Great video which reminded me of fishing the Trent around Nottingham with my late dad.
We have just come back from three days fishing at Gunthorpe. Small world and you have brought back some lovely memories. Thank you.
Its not all about the fish eh John,what a lovely place on the river,it's a pleasure just watching how you have filmed some lovely shots of nature at its prime ,ime sure you will be going again sometime when it's cooler eh,and yes John we've all got memories of absent friends and in those settings it's so easy for the mind to drift away,tite lines mate
Won't get anything whilst the foam is flowing
Yet another interesting video. You have the gift of a calming interesting voice. I'm sure you could read a telephone directory and make it sound interesting! I'm over here in Ireland with my son Stephen. He'll have some memories when I'm gone. At 81, he won't have long to wait!
I've been coming over here for over 50 years and I've never known the weather to be so bad for so long. Every day, rain and gales. and a little sun.
Anyway, 5 days to go.
You lose ne when you get a keepnet out John 😮
Awesome video as always John. Many thanks for sharing!😀👍
I love your videos.
Your story telling about the past is captivating
hey John if you like like curry there's a pretty good Indian restaurant next to the lock