WHY did I wait 25 YEARS?! Finally fishing the River Thames

Since leaving my hometown of Sheffield around 25 years ago, I've been living in Surrey, working hard and raising a family. I've been a member of several angling clubs and enjoyed all kinds of fishing around the Woking area and beyond - but for some reason I'd never got round to fishing the magnificent River Thames!

After meeting a Thames fishing addict and joining Farnham Angling Society, which gave me access to a lovely stretch of the river near Old Windsor, I ran out of excuses and finally enjoyed this fish-packed, summer's day on the bank.

Fishing a combination of pellet feeder and trotting with a stick float, I was blown away by the numbers of quality roach, perch and dace, while also knowing that much bigger fish reside below the foaming weir.

Let's just say I was left wondering why I'd left it so long to try the Thames and it certainly won't be long until I'm back on the river! It's another chilled video from The Magic of Fishing, so sit back, relax and enjoy...

#fishing #anglinguk #riverthames #riverfishing #roachfishing #feederfishing #floatfishing #perch #roach #dace #trotting #traditionalfishing #coarsefishing

[FXPD]

Had my Thames PB carp from old Windsor weir when CSAS ran it. 34.08 Common.

[watkiad]

I haven’t fished the Thames for probably 40 years and your video has inspired me to have another go!

[andymoss]

Brings back memories from john Wilson when anyone mentions purple loosestrife.

[Paul.anoldangler]

I learnt to fish ( self taught) on the thames around 12years old at Bermondsey, now 71, miss the thames as haven’t lived in London for 45 years😢

[kikupafuss]

Neil is a decent bloke. He's not afraid to tell fellow anglers what pegs the big Thames fish have been caught from. That said, a few of the Goring anglers weren't too happy when Neil named a specific peg where the big Barbel lumps have been caught from. I say well done Neil and thanks for sharing the info you know. Of the many years of fishing this exact stretch, I never once hooked into a barbel....plenty of bream though and of decent weights too.

[jonkennard]

Lovely video glad I found your content. I for one can certainly relate to similar things and different disciplines of fishing especially with having children and bringing them up. Great you've found the thames now and are enjoying it.

[tom]

I'm a member of Farnham I will give this a go looks nice good video.

[davidcook]

Fishing doesn’t get any better John, great video thank you

[johnwilson]

Yet another interesting video. Wetting my line on Sunday morning. Can't wait!. Well done.

[themysticalshedsessions]

I’ve been watching your videos with my wife for the last few weeks and we both absolutely love your channel.
I kept forgetting to subscribe but I just did it 😊
What we like most about your videos is how peaceful and relaxing they are. No loud music tracks, no shouting.. fish on fish on and lots of lovely wildlife shots. Just how I remember fishing before the big carp industry hit the Angling world and before the world caught mobile phone disease !

[tonycamplin]

I used to regularly fish the Thames back in the 1950s when you had to fish to the Thames size limits, 8" for roach, 10" for perch and 7" for bleak, you weren't allowed to keep anything smaller. The almost universal method was one or maybe two rod lengths out with heavier tackle, no hook smaller than a size 12, never waded. We didn't loose fed, it just attracted the small stuff. Bread was always the best bait but hemp worked well. Although you had a good day we would have been a bit disappointed, no roach over the 1lb and certainly nothing over 1•5lb. Would have expected such fish back then. Really enjoyed the video, thanks, good luck.

[PinreelPaul]

Another great video John, and somewhere I must visit for myself one day to tick the ole bucket list :)

Thanks for sharing
Paul.

[philiphayward]

Great videos! A man who loves the allure of the river and trotting! Its the not knowing when you strike and the wild beauty that does it for me, Try the tidal stretch sometime, a little more difficult but some quality fish to be had,

[akwamarsunzal]

Wow, first time fishing the Thames! I used to fish regularly between Datchet and Henley from knee high to a grasshopper well into adult! My outstanding memory, and really odd, was catching gudgeon in the middle of Windsor, by the old railway bridge. It was middle of winter, so, so cold, snow on the ground. It was a totally magical session! There were a few bleak in the catch but the gudgeon, on a whip, were so much fun! Have bagged up on lots of bream to 8lb, some stunning pike to 20lb, big roach. Such a variety of fish!

[pauledwards]

What a great days fishing for you John, bet it won't be long before your next trip eh mate, all lovely looking fish and what great looking surroundings. I love the sound of weir in your ear it's great int it, well done, .

[grahammclean]

Another cracking days fishing for you John. Great video again. 👍

[neilwayte]

I know how much you enjoyed your day on the big river. I, m glad the 1000 text you sent me finally got you down there.Next time we fish the river I'll bring the rifle to sort out that bloody drone. Cracking bit of water for your stick float fishing so I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. All we have got to do is sort you out a few chub and barbel.
Oh by the way you can catch the chub and barbel during the day and you don't need a bivvy and bed chair. If your not scared of the dark I will take you for an evenings big roach fishing on the feeders and its even closer to home than Old Windsor. Oh and don't worry i've got a night sight for the rifle so the drone won't be safe even in the dark.
Great vlog mate.

[markbaldwin]

great watch, cracking roach/dace. i moved to bournemouth area 35 yrs ago, but still really miss fishing the thames! my old schoolteacher was bill rushmer, and as said below, well worth looking up his vids. tight lines

[MUCKER]

Lovely put together video bud, Pleasure to watch..😊 You may of been on the Thames same time as me. Chertsey for me though.😁👍 Had to delete main Camera footage co's of a broken 3.5mm Jack so understand about noise issues..😕 The background noise didn't effect ya vid either bud..👍Lovely..

[samdieselpower]

Lovely little spot that mate!! Great little vid as well pal. Well fished.