FISH GALORE! Exclusive chalk stream fishing in a brutal storm

[@AnEverydayAngler]

When you commented “you know what catching out of season trout was like” I know no what you mean. Great video.

[@themagicoffishing]

Hahaha, thanks! Yes, it’s terrible because it’s so enjoyable but you feel a bit guilty! As you said in your great vid, all you can do is get them back as quickly as possible but there were some real beasts around that morning! 🐟 And they can lower your chances of a grayling or other species by bombing all over the swim of course 😄😬 Imagine if roach or dace fought like that…!

[@themagicoffishing]

P.S. It’s incredible we’ve now put out similar vids on the same week twice and I promise you I’m not stalking you 😄 First we both fished the blackwater and then the test… Must be a case of great minds think alike 👍

[@AnEverydayAngler]

@@themagicoffishingmust be the case. I watched your Marsh Farm vid the other day and have decided to join Godalming again as it’s been a few years. Still fish Marsh here and there but having a key just means first light and into the night. Either that or Farnham Angling again.

[@JimCinUK]

Even in the most challenging conditions you manage to haul them out! Top fisherman - well done. Beautiful river & lovely seeing & hearing those geese as well.

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers mate! It was easy fishing to be fair, well, aside from the conditions!!! They were anything but 😄

[@BlackBottomFloats]

A man for ALL seasons! No such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing choices... You lucky man! ❤️🎣❤️

[@themagicoffishing]

I kept trying to tell myself that, all day, mate 😂 But it seems even Gortex wasn’t quite up to the job that morning! Only my legs, underneath waders, stayed completely dry! 💦 Thanks as always for your support and it won’t be too long until the days get even longer and evening sessions become possible in addition to weekends. Those wagglers won’t fish themselves…

[@BlackBottomFloats]

@themagicoffishing Bring it on!! 🥳

[@davidleigh2573]

Fishing at it's purest, despite the horrific weather conditions. I felt the cold a rain just watching you. The river gods gave you respect and rewarded you with some beautiful fish. Thank you for making the effort, whilst I sit it out tying rigs and praying for an increase in temperature. Stay safe and thanks

[@themagicoffishing]

Haha, thank you very much as always, David and may your rig tying and prayers be a success 🙏 I’m certainly getting a bit tired of winter already, although we’re done with January this weekend and I will try to get out again… 🤞🎣🐟

[@johnwilson7174]

Glad you braved the weather to give people like me my Friday entertainment in my warm house. At least you were rewarded for your efforts with some very nice fish. Yet another excellent video in terrible conditions. I hope that when you're my age, someone else will make good videos for you to watch.

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks John and I was glad to bring you plenty of fishing action this weekend, after last week’s detour into a tackle shop 😊 All the better for knowing you enjoyed it. Cheers 🍻

[@Walsallgrower]

Thank you for braving what looked like an horrendous day on the bank John. Some beautiful fish on that stretch. 🎣

[@themagicoffishing]

I’d like to say my pleasure, but it wasn’t completely pleasurable as you saw 😂 Still, no regrets and plenty of fish - glad I could share 👍🎣🐟

[@KeithWatkins-k3m]

Great video, really enjoyed all the suffering. 😊 keep up the good work.

[@themagicoffishing]

Hahaha, thanks Keith! 👍🥶🎣

[@NorthWalesPiscator]

Dedication there John most of us would have jacked it in once the rain kicked in proper. Some lovely fish caught despite the horrendous weather. Hope you managed to dry out on the drive home. Tight lines buddy 🎣🎣🎣

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks my friend, it was a bit hardcore 🥶😂 Memorable stuff though 👍🎣

[@pauledwards6470]

A nice time there for you jhon,what a brave man going out in that weather well done mate,pleased you caught some fish its years since ive had Grayling but i dont do much river fishing now, lets hope the weather picks up for us lads thats not so brave eh mate,tite lines

[@themagicoffishing]

Haha, thanks mate! I didn’t feel too brave at the time but managed to enjoyed myself as you saw 👍 It’s not always easy this winter fishing lark so it was nice to get some bites and a bend in the rod that day 🎣🐟👌

[@jamespigott6628]

Shocking conditions but fantastic fishing. What a great start to the year you are having. Some lovely fish,like you said, anything over a pound is a specimen around here.

[@themagicoffishing]

Do you know what, you are right! I’ve also suffered 2-3 blanks but when I consider the successes and the videos I’ve managed to put out since Christmas it’s a been a cracking start to the year, fishjng some famous rivers and catching a fair few fish! Thanks for pointing that out as it doesn’t always feels easy 😄💙🎣🐟

[@jamespigott6628]

Brilliant few weeks fishing. In January 😂😂👍

[@Nathan-lj4ds]

Nice to see a man on KZbin who can fish

[@themagicoffishing]

Ahhhh, thanks Nathan! That’s made me smile this morning. I do me best 😊 Thanks for the comment mate 👍🎣🐟

[@mickgrundy4615]

Loved it john, wow it must be black wi fish.!your so lucky to fish such a river, thanks for sharing again, good angling mate, ❤❤

[@themagicoffishing]

Totally agree - VERY lucky! Love black with fish 😂 I used to say that when we caught more than 2-3 as kids!

[@PinreelPaul]

My gosh John !!!! Rather you than me my friend on a day like that ! .. Hats off to you though for braving the elements and having some lovely fish in horrendous conditions. Mde me shudder just watching at the rain battering down on you. Thanks for the excitement and the odd giggle, knowing I was warm and cozy here with a cuppa :) Here's to your next adventure ! Cheers Paul. 🎣🐟🎣

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks Paul! Yes it definitely felt like another adventure 😄👍🎣 Memorable for all kinds of reasons and when I was editing the footage I was thinking ‘what’s the problem? Loads of fish!’ But you can’t quite feel the shivers through the camera, or see the maggots drowning in my waist feed pouch as it kept filling up with torrential rain 😂😬🥶 Still a great experience though 👍🎣🐟

[@cliveeariss880]

Hello John, nice to see your new adventure, and a growing channel, well I'm off again to the river Wey once again to try and stop three blanks in a row lol lol, target Chub, i have bread, cheese, and a strong cheese special, so fingers crossed, as always all the best mate, great job.

[@themagicoffishing]

I might be doing just the same tomorrow! Tight lines mate (for both of us) 🤞🎣

[@cliveeariss880]

@@themagicoffishing Well John hope you better than me, I say no more mate, all the best.

[@peterwisebooks]

Great video as ever John. Those Test carriers can be great for grayling - I fished at Wherwell a few times.

[@themagicoffishing]

It was incredible, fishing wise. I’ve heard of Wherwell but never been. Thanks for a great comment, Peter 🙏💙🎣

[@robhill645]

Good to meet you on Sunday I was the last one to pack up at about 3.30 … must have been mad but kept catching those 2lb plus grayling so ignoring the weather! Still trying to get my gear dry for another go on different Test stretch on Monday coming You’re right as well with comments re Farnham Angling …. Great value club

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers Rob - it was great to meet you at the start, too, and I had a feeling you were still out there representing when I decided I’d had enough! ✊💪🎣 I can only imagine how good and enjoyable that place would be to fish in more gentle conditions! 🤯 Let’s hope we may get to find out in the future… 🤞

[@JamesPilgrim-ql2to]

Hey, John what a coincidence, I had been reading the Peter Wise book you once recommended and had just read the story of The Lady OF The Stream ! I turned on the TV and saw this vid from you and you were catching these lovely ladies. Loved it 👍👍

[@themagicoffishing]

Brilliant 🤩 A double whammy! They are special fish and I don’t get to try for them very often (although I keep hearing rumours of grayling in the upper reaches of my local River Wey. Need to have a go before the end of the season…

[@peterwisebooks]

Hope you're enjoying my book so far, James!

[@garybuss9897]

What a nice load of silver bars John worth going through the pain barrier for😂

[@themagicoffishing]

Hahaha, thanks Gary! And a lot of trout! Not that I mind them at all, but I wasn’t supposed to be catching them of course…! Cheers 🍻

[@MUCKER671]

Testing The Test in Testing conditions and winning..! Yup as expected, emptying the river again then John.👏 Clonkers, wind, rain, Mic problems and running for shelter, sounds like a normal day out for a KZbinr.😂 Great spot fished well Sir.! Timsbury Manors me favourite spot on the test, day ticket.👍And yes before you say it, i do get around alot..😊 Easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'s for your dedication and generosity in doing this for everyone to enjoy bud..!

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks mate 🙏😊💙🎣 That was what we call ‘pushing the boundaries’ of YT filming 😂 Just lucky the fish were so numerous and in the mood. Might be relegated back to the Wey this weekend, if I can get out… 🤞

[@chrisfogg8018]

Great video John and good to meet you. I fished till about 3.30 when the rain got through my usually waterproof salopettes and jacket. If you fancy a Frome trip, let me know.

[@themagicoffishing]

‘Usually waterproof’… Love it 😄 I think that weather tested the best of our winter gear and only my waders remained 100% waterproof! Impressed with 3.30pm 👏✊🎣 The fishing was phenomenal and I only wish the weather had allowed for a few more chats on the bank.

[@UNCLETOEKNEE]

Wonderful to watch, ( with my heating on and still wearing 4layers indoors ! ) Braver man than me Sir ! Still not fished since October but am hoping there may be a day or two before the end of the season John ( My club membership is going to more than double next season so am going to have to carefully consider if I can afford it, or spend my pennies on a few day tickets instead ) Thanku

[@themagicoffishing]

It was partially a case of it being a pre-booked and special trip - not sure I’d have ventured out that day otherwise 😂 Blimey, it’s not often a club doubles its fees?! That’s nuts. Spring will be in the air before we know it… 🥶🤞🤞🤞🎣🐟

[@UNCLETOEKNEE]

@@themagicoffishing am really looking forward to some warmer weather - I might have mis spoken, they are not actually doubling the fees, they are doing away with the discount for rivers only membership - I am not interested in fishing stock ponds for carp

[@DJONES8610]

What a lovely place to fish John. Never caught a Grayling but always wanted to after seeing a picture of one in my fishing book as a kid. Still not got around to trying for one but I hope I make it happen in the near future. Very enjoyable and great angling in those conditions 👍

[@themagicoffishing]

Really worth it if you get the chance, mate! I went years without, after moving south and not doing half as much fishing as I was up in Sheffield, but it seems I’m not that far from a few hotspots and even the local Wey is supposed to have a few in the upper reaches. They have the feel of roach or dace - the silvery scales - but with the fighting power of a trout or chub, and those amazing dorsal fins on the males… 👌🐟 One of the blokes there is obsessed with them and targets biggies on the Frome in Dorset - he said they are as rare as hens teeth but he’s had quite a few 3lb+ fish over the years 🤯

[@DJONES8610]

@themagicoffishing I grew up and live in Cambridgeshire in the Fens so naturally i grew up targeting Pike Zander and Perch along the drains. Absolutely love it plus the Chub fishing not to far away from where I live. Going after Grayling will be an adventure for sure. Will definitely make it a few day trip away from home to target them. Will be something I'm really looking forward to mate.

[@Edge-of-Reason]

​@@DJONES8610I to grew up in the fens (Ely), still visit and fish regularly and love it. However I now live in central belt in Scotland so grayling are a thing. Do it as soon as you get a chance. They are special

[@DJONES8610]

@Edge-of-Reason some really good fishing to be had in Ely. It's on my list. I will have to do some research on the best place and time of year to catch them. Will make a trip out of it. Thanks 👍

[@Smiffy830]

Superb John! I've never caught Greyling, how beautifully marked they are with a dorsal fin like a sailfish. You're hands must've been stinging from that cold rain, my hands were clenched watching. But, when you're catching fish of such quality it's always worth the pain. Are you out over this weekend?

[@themagicoffishing]

It was pretty epic, in all senses of the word, mate! Everything was drenched and I was shivering by the end - and there were still a few hours of fishing left when I had to admit defeat! Think one fellow angler made it until 3pm but others had enough by midday. Tough but enjoyable overall 😄 Thinking I might try a bit a of roving this weekend if the rain last night hasn’t pushed levels up too much. Maybe have another go for chub…

[@Smiffy830]

@themagicoffishing Yes, I was going tomorrow but going to see in laws for lunch, so Sunday on the Wey navigation practising with the centre pin father in law kindly gave me. I did a reccy on the Bourne at the meads earlier this week but it was pushing through too fast for 1st time trotting that reel. Tightest of lines whatever you decide.

[@eynonr1]

Most enjoyable, although I thought you Northern lads were made of stronger stuff - you are acclimatising into a Southerner! All joking aside more so to try and video it all too. Lovely stretch of water and I have fished the Test a number of times and last time was lucky enough to have a brace of two's. I have always found that sweetcorn sorted the better fish out.

[@themagicoffishing]

Hahaha, I can’t fight that really, but I do have the excuse that I’ve now lived down south longer than I spent in Sheffield (not sure how that’s happened?! 🤯). And quite right to point out that fishing AND filming in such conditions was no pushover 😂🎣 Thanks as always for your support 👍🙏

[@eynonr1]

@@themagicoffishing You'll be wearing Tweed soon!

[@themagicoffishing]

😂

[@neilwayte517]

I thought you Northerners were tough.Shame the weather wasn't better for you.

[@themagicoffishing]

Yes I keep thinking how amazing it would have been with calmer weather and being able to fish all day! As you know, I was back on the bank the following day although, with it being a day off work, it was way better than the alternative despite more tough conditions! That’s another vid for another day… 😊

[@craiggough3272]

I will be useing my 14ft whisker kevlar for my trotting this year on river aire

[@themagicoffishing]

That’s a beauty of a rod. Not held one for some time but it’s a classic. Would love the fish the Aire some time and if I’m ever up your way I will have to remember to drop you a line on here!

[@craiggough3272]

@themagicoffishing I use old gear I've still got amorphous 13 stick float special this year I'm useing centre pin 4.1.4

[@cliveeariss880]

Used to be Grayling in the Wey, back in the late 70s

[@themagicoffishing]

So I keep hearing, Clive! In fact I keep hearing there MIGHT be one or two around now in the upper stretches, but perhaps that’s wishful thinking 🎣🙏

[@timothysmart8528]

Fishing with maggots on the Test is not ‘fishing’. It’s ‘catching’

[@themagicoffishing]

Haha, it’s a shame you begrudge me one day of catching when I spend the vast majority of my time fishing (and making vids)!