06/09/2026 - Bassing in Exmouth

Didn't get out much over the summer - high temperatures and low river levels prompting local clubs to enforce fishing bans being one of the reasons. Had nearly three weeks in France as well, where temperatures peaked in the early evenings in the low forties. We therefore limited our excursions to the relative cool of the mornings and spent the afternoons back at the cottage sat around our makeshift pool and spa complex taking in plenty of liquid refreshment. In amongst the sight-seeing I managed several trips out on the local River Charente in the kayak or on the paddleboard.With it being low and gin clear it was like like looking into an aquarium - saw roach and gudgeon, big chub and perch, shoals of coral-finned barbel and bream, carp exploding out of the margins and even two wels catfish with heads as big as my paddle that, in contrast, barely twitched as I passed over them. Certainly made me re-think about taking some tackle over next time. Arrived back in the UK just as some…