Use your loaf for INSTANT winter bites 🍞🎣🐟

[@peterlocke5204]

Happy New year John, raised all our spirits in the 'bleak midwinter'!!Cheers Peter.

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks Peter, your comments always raise my spirits too 💙 Winter IS pretty bleak at times but that weekend away proved there can be some beautiful light too 👌👍🎣🐟

[@fishingtailfilms]

The Blackwater is such a nice river John and trotting a piece of flake on the float is such a great way to catch chub. Another lovely video and all the best for 2025 👍🎣🐟

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks Russ! I keep meaning to try and plan a trip with you but with a combination of work, family stuff and some pre-existing fishing plans of my own, it’s not happening just yet. I like staying up to speed with you on YT in the meantime though 👍🎣🐟

[@fishingtailfilms]

@ Hi John, I am sure we can sort a trip out between us in 2025. Busy times for sure 👍🎣

[@PinreelPaul]

Great start to the new year John and always a treat as you say to catch on the first and last cast of a session.. Here's to plenty more of those ! Cheers Paul.

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks Paul 👍💙 I can’t remember the last time that happened to me on a natural venue 😂 Heading out in the frost tomorrow and I’ll be happy with one bite 🥶😄🤞🐟 Have a great weekend

[@grahammclean7842]

A very productive 3 hours in wintertime, thoroughly enjoyable video John on a lovely river. It’s enough to warm the cockles and spur us fellow anglers into getting on the bank too. A very happy new year to you and yours and all your followers. Tight lines everyone. 🎣🎣🎣

[@themagicoffishing]

And the same to you, Graham, nice to kick off 2025 with a few fish and another lovely comment from you! 🤗 I really do appreciate your ongoing support and encouragement - a pillar of TMOF community!

[@UNCLETOEKNEE]

Lovely video once again John - great footage and great fishing ! Really heavy frost here at the seaside last night, havnt even opened my curtains so this was a warming treat to watch

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks as always Uncletoeknee (love that username 💙😂). Funnily enough, I’m close to the sea myself this evening and have just got back from a proper 🥶 one. It was fractionally milder than the last few days have been in Surrey - and there’s proper snow in Sheffield - but that was a long day 😂 Hope the recovery is coming along and glad to be providing the entertainment or relaxation into 2025 👍

[@BobDouce]

Winter, bread and chub the perfect combination to keep the blues at bay. 🧔 👍

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers Bob and I know what you mean about winter blues 🥶 Such short days and most of them now back at work 😒 Glad you enjoyed and I’ll try to bring more entertainment soon ☺️🎣🐟

[@anthonydixon4470]

Happy New Year to you and your family, Finally finished reading your book, took a long time because it brought back lots of personal memories and has inspired me to start fishing again. Thanks for the films and the inspiration from your book. All the best for the new year.

[@themagicoffishing]

That is the BEST kind of comment to read - especially at the end of a long and cold fishing weekend when I’m feeling knackered and in need of an early night 💙 I never set out to inspire anyone, more to share and try to explain the magic of fishing, which has been so important to me, and if it’s got you fishing again that is a special bonus 🎣🐟 Really glad to hear it - and that you enjoy the channel - and thanks for taking the time to say so 🤗

[@peterdobrijevic3107]

What a great start to the new year. Happy New Year John.

[@themagicoffishing]

Thank you, Peter, and the same to you! May you have a happy and slimy (in the best possible way) 2025! 🎣🐟🐟🐟🐟

[@BrianE2507-x2i]

I just LOVE these videos ..They really are quite perfect not sure if you realise how good you're channel is..What a absolute plesure..❤❤❤

[@themagicoffishing]

Well, Brian; what can I say - I just love that comment! Really put a smile on my face after a longish drive. Hugely appreciate you saying so and I hope you keep enjoying what I manage to do. Thanks again 💙🎣🐟

[@pauledwards6470]

Nice filming again thanks John,lovely settings again eh mate looks like your having better weather than us up here in Derbyshire ,some nice fish there for you,happy new year to you all mate.

[@themagicoffishing]

And a happy new year to you, too, mate! Good to see you on the channel in 2025! I’ve seen pics from my family of the snow in the Peaks this weekend and, yep, avoided in down south even if there was a week of freezing nights. Combined with a lot of rain, it made for tricky fishing today, but I was somewhere a bit special and caught a few nice fish, so hopefully another nice winter vid to look forward to 👍 Cheers for now mate

[@neilwayte517]

Nice one mate. I hope this weekends trip goes well.

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers mate. The scenery and the history are on point, my angling not so much 😂 But I have another crack of the whip tomorrow and can’t wait to go again 💪🥶🎣🐟🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

[@jamespigott6628]

Happy New Year John Good start to 2025, a fish first cast. Proper winter fishing! Went out last weekend and managed a couple of graying but it was bitterly cold then the snow arrived! No fishing this weekend, still white over and temperatures struggling to get above freezing. I received a copy of your book for Christmas 👍great read. Always good to get a fish on your last cast🤣

[@themagicoffishing]

Haha, definitely! That’s why we have so many of them - so we can try to ensure there’s a fish on the last case - but I really wasn’t expecting that bonus fish. Glad you’ve got the book and I truly hope you enjoy it - let me know in the comments of a future vid. I’ve seen family pics of the snow in Sheffield but I escaped the white stuff AND went fishing this weekend - should be a great video in the future I hope… 🎣🐟 Cheers for now

[@tom3127]

Great video John happy new year im a member i must try that river and bread,looks a nice location.

[@themagicoffishing]

Hiya Tom and HNY to you too! This is the time of year for setting new goals - not that you need them to enjoy your fishing, but giving the Blackwater a first try sounds like a good’un. Tight lines for when you get there and maybe we’ll meet on the banks of a FAS water someday. Cheers for now.

[@scottlipscombe]

Thanks for the video :) I enjoyed that :) Nice Chub. Mellow video, sat indoors with a cuppa and my feet up. God i miss fishing.. can't wait to get back at it.. too cold for me right now :)

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers Scott 🤗 Really appreciate you saying so - especially after I’ve just got back from a reeeeaaally cold session that made that short chub trip feel positively balmy 😄🥶 Beautiful scenery though 👌 This KZbin lark certainly provides me with impetus to get out when I might previously have stuck the kettle on 😂

[@scottlipscombe]

@@themagicoffishing Keep up your great videos.. but please don't freeze to death fishing :)

[@cliveeariss880]

Happy new year John, and tight lines all year round, all being well I have a wander along the river mole Sunday, searching for a Chub lol ,

[@themagicoffishing]

Good luck Clive - I’m heading out for chub this weekend too… Bit of an adventure ‘down south’ but it ain’t exactly mild is it?! I think chub and pike might be my best hope but we will see… 🤞🤞🎣🐟

[@BlackBottomFloats]

HNY John! Another great vid. I can't wait to get out and copy your tactics! Just gotta find a spare minute!!!

[@themagicoffishing]

HNY mate 🍻 (or at least cheers with a Coke as I promised Rachel I’d do half of dry January - school boy error 😣). I sincerely hope you find the time to give bread a go, presumably suspended under one of your miniature works of art, and bag a fish into the bargain. Winter can be a massively demoralising and surprisingly - just occasionally - rewarding time to get out the house and wet a line. Here’s to a 2025 full of fish, beer, varnish, bites, subscribers, nice comments and time off work 😃

[@BlackBottomFloats]

@themagicoffishing Thanks John. Wise words!! ❤️🎣❤️

[@johnwilson7174]

Happy new year John. I missed my armchair fishing video last Friday but glad to see you put one back today. Great video to watch on an ice-cold day up here in Lancashire. As other subscribers have said, always good videos without "head- banging" music over them. Your channel gets better every time I see the videos. Kee it up.

[@themagicoffishing]

John, if anyone’s keeping me on my fishing toes, it’s you my friend! Can’t promise that won’t be the only blank Friday this year - work is relentless at the moment and the weather is challenging to say the least - but I will do my best to keep the Friday fishing films coming 🤞🎣🐟 Lovely to see you pop up in the comments as always and I bet you’re already starting to think about the Emerald Isle ☘️🎣🐟

[@johnwilson7174]

@@themagicoffishing Thank you. Yes, Ireland is calling. We've booked the accommodation for late April.

[@MUCKER671]

Another masterclass in winter fishing, a great day from start to finish "literally". Good to see you found time for your passion bud. Im literally fishing vicariously through your videos at the moment, lovely jubbly John..👏❄️ I recon you could find a fish in a Vegan salad my friend..😊 What a star or ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ i should say..😉 Ps the (shoutout) vid should be out tomorrow 1pm ish if the KZbin app plays fare tonight.🤞 3rd times a charm.. Great work as per John..👏👏😊

[@themagicoffishing]

Oh Phil… If only you’d seen me struggling today 🥶😆 Let’s just say it was the most vegan of salads 😂 But we know it’s not all about catching and you hopefully saw my comment on your own cracking ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ offering, which I enjoyed by the water’s edge after coming to terms with the fact I needed to enjoy someone else catching a fish! 🎣 🐟 Thank god fishing is SO much more than boring bites and fffff-lovely fish eh? Thanks again for a wonderful comment and a blush inducing shout out on your channel. You should rebrand to Mucker Magic and there would be no law suit from yours truly 👍

[@MUCKER671]

@themagicoffishing Most vegan of salads Lol..🤣 So you are human after all, was getting worried.😁 Blanks happen to the best of us bud, i mean look at me..🤣🤣 Lucky the views are nice..😉 Wait, what, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'s for me, blimey wonder what ill get for bagging up.? As always the pleasures all mine John..

[@davidleigh2573]

Happy New Year John. I love Friday. Croissants and coffee in the morning and then magical fishing at lunch time. What a good session. I always think that Chub look like a proper fish designed by an Angler. As an aside you were already aware that my Christmas table present was your wonderful book. Planning to read a chapter a day, jusyt couldn't put it down. So descriptive, nostalgic and heartwarming. Read it cover to cover in two sittings Mr Yates would be proud of you.. Thank you John for provoking long forgotten memories. Stay safe and thank you again.

[@themagicoffishing]

Wow, that brightened up my workday! Thanks as always and I’m so pleased you enjoyed the book - only sorry it didn’t last longer 😄 I completely agree about the look of chub and hope I might have chance of more (or one would be nice) this weekend… I remember catching my first one on the Trent as a young lad and couldn’t get over gigantic it was in comparison to a roach or perch. They were the carp of the day to me back then. Still love catching them now and you get a lovely heavy fight without the craziness and heart attacks of barbel!

[@markymarkthelabman7639]

Another great video John 👍I finished reading your book over the holidays which was excellent

[@themagicoffishing]

Ah thanks, a doubly delightful comment to receive. Really glad you enjoyed the book and I hope you feel the channel continues in the same spirit. I may not be a young’un any more but I can still feel like a kid when I’m back on the bank. The magic still burns bright! ✨ 🎣🐟 Thanks again 💙

[@Walsallgrower]

Great little session John, of course you are right with the bread. See you on the next episode...🎣

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks buddy! I don’t use it enough! Too much of a caster/hemp/maggot/worm man, but that was a good reminder for me ☺️🎣🐟 Cheers for now

[@NorthWalesPiscator]

Happy New Year John and a happy Friday. Not been able to get out on the banks as the weather has been proper winter stuff up here so far. Seems a bit fairer down your neck of the woods. Great video you cannot beat catching Chub. I remember a session I had as a teenager on the Trent the river was up a couple of foot but receding,caught loads either on bread or a chunk of a Dairy Lea triangle. Cannot wait to see what adventures you get up to this year. As usual tight lines matey.🎣🎣🎣

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers mate and the same to you! I managed to sneak that little session in before a load of rain and arctic temperatures hit (and a return to work), and it’s been a proper dose of winter since. Having said that, I’m planing a special little trip this weekend and cannot wait to see if I can manage something bigger… 🤞🎣👍 Might help make up for commuting to ‘half a dry January’ but it ain’t gonna be warm 🥶

[@JamesPilgrim-ql2to]

Nice one John, good to see you out again 👍 oh and my daughter gave me your book at Xmas, along with the Ghost’y one you recommended, so it’s reading not fishing at the moment 😜

[@themagicoffishing]

Brilliant - what a thoughtful daughter! I hope you enjoy and they are both books that can be dipped into, one chapter a night or whatever. Let me know what you think of one or both on a future video when you get round to trying them. Glad you enjoyed this video and I hope to bring more in 2025. Got an Arctic feeling mission planned for tomorrow in fact… 🥶

[@matt01506]

We all like the anticipation of what a big meaty bait nailed on the deck can bring, but there is something "pure" about trotting. If i could only use 2 baits ever again, it would be bread and worm. I love the scenery in this video, but i am always happy to see the first daffodils ! GREAT VIDEO AS ALWAYS. (dont forget to like and subscribe folks)

[@themagicoffishing]

Many thanks Matt! I’m in agreement on baits too, if we’re talking hook baits only - I do love to loose feed with maggots or casters too 😀 Appreciate another lovely comment 👍🎣🐟

[@markjoyce1720]

just a lovely video and you used the right analogy sweet, tight lines well done and thank you sir.

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks for a sweet comment - much appreciated! 👍🎣🐟

[@DanFlint-m7d]

Hi John, thank you for another amazing video on a cracking little river. May I ask where you parked and started this session, might need to give it a go 😊

[@themagicoffishing]

Hiya Dan, massively appreciate those kind words and glad you enjoyed it 👍 I parked in the main car park, just through the gate for the Yateley South complex. maps.app.goo.gl/HxYdryoEQYfQ7Dwa7?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy If you walk away from the gate to the right you see a small bridge over the river and then turn right for a lot of the fishing up that way. Or if you walk to the left / straight away from the gate you see Summer Pit and I started that session alongside that. The river bends around the back of Sunmer Pit and it’s wider and a bit deeper there, but the stretch isn’t as long as the one up to the right by the Match Lake and Copse Lake. Tight lines 🎣

[@71highstorrs]

The swims are like the one's I fish on the river Don in Attercliffe, although don't pull out any Chub normally Grayling and Trout but still very grateful to catch on these grim days. Loved the book by the way and had me in tears about your Grandad, very similar to my experiences with mine. I was the eldest grandson so go spoilt by my grandad god bless him. Another good video cheers.

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks mate, that comment means a lot 💙 Yep, I always write from the heart and I remember shedding a few tears myself when recalling the last year or two when my hero was still around - and trying to describe it. I also know what you mean by comparisons with the Don - that’s what it takes me back to when I’ve been on the Blackwater a couple of times so far. I used to fish it out at Stocksbridge as a young lad. I do love my big rivers like the Trent but I’m getting back into small rivers and stream fishing recently too 👍

[@robhill645]

Nice video again … you did well there from some unfancied spots … you should have come on the FAS trotting tuition in November and learnt about the hot spots! See you on the Test in 2 weeks

[@themagicoffishing]

Haha, I need all the help I can get with hotspots, Rob! Managed to find some at Throop today though 👌👍 Can’t wait for the chalk stream trip - I’ve got a hardcore work week away beforehand so will be a relieved man by the time we get to trot!

[@hermanuslambo7252]

A bit late, but never the less, a very happy New Year John with lots off happy fishing events!

[@themagicoffishing]

Never too late! Well, maybe beyond January… 😄🤔 Good to hear from you as always and the same to you 🍻

[@laytonrim1489]

Great session! You should try this on the river Alne or Arrow

[@themagicoffishing]

Never fished either 😮 But would love to try more rivers in the future (especially when I finally retire from work and have more time!). Thanks for the tip 👍🎣🐟

[@alanmiller259]

My favourite style of fishing… I see the centrepin didn’t make it out with you! btw I was given your book for Christmas and look forward to reading it.

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks Alan - for another lovely comment and for the custom with my book 💙 I hope you enjoy it and let me know with a comment on a future video. I will refund you if not 😉😄 I need to use bread more often. The beloved Purist II pin has recently been on holiday back to its makers (Youngs) who kindly offered to give it a service after a few folks at home commented on the slightly wonky noise it had started making in a previous video! Although I’m quite happy trotting with a fixed spool too. Cheers for now

[@BarneyTrent]

Only available in 320p anyone else? Happy new year John

[@themagicoffishing]

Many thanks BarneyTrent and the same to you 🍻🎣🐟👍 P.S. not sure about the resolution issue, sorry 🤷🏻 Filmed as usual, so hopefully a one off glitch

[@BarneyTrent]

Your other videos are showing at the higher 1080p. Perhaps a KZbin premium glitch with my account. Same issue over several devices, Macbook, Android phone etc. Main thing is you had a good session with obliging Chub. Great content as always 👍🏼

[@tonynorris9139]

Seventy years back, when I started fishing - my father gave me a membership to the Farnborough Angling Club (Bill Raisen was in charge then), the Blackwater was more descriptive than merely a name. It was polluted so much that it was sterile, it flowed around the back of Aldershot to emerge as a fetid sludge. Possibly the only part of the Blackwater system to hold life was Cove Brook, Farnborough had the rights in those days. When Hall &Co. excavated all the pits along the Blackwater valley - Frimley, Sandhurst, Yateley and Arborfield - they were all adjacent to the river. Anglers put buckets full of small stuff, perch and roach in the river at the end of the day. I am so pleased to see that the river has come alive again.

[@themagicoffishing]

That’s a truly heartwarming story to read after another freezing day on the bank 🥶🎣 Brilliant! We hear so much bad news about our rivers these days and no doubt they are facing all kinds of threats, but it’s good to remind ourselves that some things have got much better. Thanks to the thoughtful actions of anglers back in the day 👏

[@tonynorris9139]

@@themagicoffishing P.S. There is mention in some comments about barbel. FYI some small barbel were introduced into the Whitewater (I think by Thames Conservancy) up near Heckfield where it merges with the River Hart, before they join the Blackwater - now called Long River. I don't think it was possible for barbel to come up stream from the Thames via the Loddon because of the weir at Twyford. Though there were barbel below the weir back in the 60's. Anyway...continued good luck

[@garybuss9897]

Some clonking chub John brilliant as always

[@themagicoffishing]

Thanks mate! I’d love ti catch one bigger this weekend - just come even further south on a bit of an angling adventure but it ain’t very warm! 🥶 Thanks for another lovely comment 💙

[@eynonr1]

Wel done John, lovely video and my favourite stretch of river on the FAS ticket. I bought a 10ft Acolyte just to fish there as the branches can be a nightmare. May I ask why you didn’t use the pin though this time?

[@themagicoffishing]

Hello there! Good to see you back in the comments 👍 Yep, I can see why you like that stretch. Only fished it twice but it makes a nice change from the Wey (with Woking and District, as much as I love those stretches) and genuinely feels a bit like fishing a chalk stream! Clear, narrow, varied, pacey - and plenty of fish it seems. I’m intrigued by stories of big sea trout and barbel too. Takes me back to some of the small rivers of Sheffield, as I mentioned in my first vid on there, and I still haven’t made it to the top of the stretch. 10ft Acolyte… Sounds like a dream rod for there!👌 I’m already wondering if I can spare ANOTHER £180-220 and add to my ever growing ‘crackalyte’ collection 🤔 Might go for a comprise - 11 or 12ft - but 10 sounds spot on for that one stretch… Will take on an extra paper round 👍

[@eynonr1]

@ I would take the stories of sea trout and big barbel with a pinch of salt. The odd Barbel do get caught but only small ones and they are pretty rare through that stretch. As for another rod though, always a sensible purchase, an investment even! The same goes for centre pins too! Enjoy your fishing and best wishes for 2025.

[@watkiad]

Another great video! I’m curious as to why you used a fixed spool reel rather than your ‘pin?

[@themagicoffishing]

Hello and thanks for the lovely comment 👍 My treasured pin has been on a holiday up to Youngs, as one or two folks at home commented that it sounded a little noisy in a previous vid and I had to agree. It’s gone for a service at Youngs 👍

[@watkiad]

@ My Okumas are due some TLC soon too!

[@surreypiscator]

I keep forgetting about the blackwater - there's a couple of free stretches about too

[@themagicoffishing]

Yes I keep hearing about those areas and am intrigued, but I suppose once I’ve paid my subs money I’m keen to get value for money (which I definitely have in my first season with FAS!). Tight lines if you give them a go - I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the numbers of fish in the river since giving it a couple of tries and it’s nice, simple angling.

[@garethjamesplunkett]

nice

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers 👍

[@marcharley6465]

If I could only use one bait, it would be bread. The different options for hook bait (punch, flake, popped up or floating crust)and loose feed (punch crumb, liquidised or mashed) are varied and so many species will readily take it. I use it all year round on my local canal. A small pinch of flake on a size 14 hook and liquidised bread in a feeder will catch me the larger roach as well as the bream and chub.

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers. I keep meaning to do more canal fishing (they’re a bit busy on the towpaths round Woking) and I keep meaning to use bread more in pursuit of my dream fish - 2+ roach! I do love perch as well but you’re right, there aren’t many fish that won’t take bread and that session was a good reminder to me of how effective it can be.

[@johncoombs3128]

Can’t beat mashed bread,try some powdered cheese in with the mix,and garlic salt too.

[@themagicoffishing]

Will do, John! Always use garlic in my cheesepaste (and other pastes) so I obviously need to try it with bread too 👍👌🐟 Thanks for the comment and the tip 🙏🎣

[@andrewwrightson5483]

Happy New Year and tight lines for 2025!

[@themagicoffishing]

Many thanks and the same to you! 🎣

[@julianmounser3241]

Try mincemeat.

[@themagicoffishing]

Do you know what, since watching a recent NuFish video with Mick Vials landing some whoppers on the Trent I’ve been keen to give it a go at some point! Hopefully before the end of the season 🤞🎣🐟👍

[@JesusSavesJohn3verse16]

Hope your well 😊 The Lord’s love + grace be with you His Hope + peace, in Life, and beyond the grave Hope you are all well and resting in Jesus saving love + grace 😊 Warmest Love + blessing’s friends 😊

[@themagicoffishing]

Thank you

[@JesusSavesJohn3verse16]

@ bless you sir 😊 Hope you have a wonderful week, my friend 😊

[@Smiffy830]

Great session John , simple & effective, that's me all day long. I'm itching to get out now, inspirational Friday viewing. 🐟🪱🎣👍

[@themagicoffishing]

Cheers mate, it’s been my one successful trip so far this year and I squeezed it in before returning to the daily grind, but very enjoyable as you say. Hoping to get down south on a secret mission this weekend but touch and go with river levels and freezing temps!

[@Smiffy830]

I tried the Wey at Guildford last Monday but constantly getting harassed by kayaks, every 10 minutes. Temperature seems to he on the up after tomorrow, balmy 9 degrees for next week. Might have a go nearer Godalming. Hope you get out on southerly waters. Cheers John👍