tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36118303910433449362024-03-13T21:30:59.234+00:00The Fishing DiariesTHE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comBlogger302125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-64629412918725378352011-09-04T21:02:00.005+01:002011-09-06T13:31:42.052+01:00Very low levels and fast rising water<div style="text-align: justify;">As I lay my tackle on the ground, I was rather taken aback as I observed the level of the river.<br /><br />The lowest I've ever seen in in fact. It was obvious to see that if I was to catch a Barbel tonight I'd have to take into account the fish welfare, as trying to land it normally by the bank would result in a beached fish.<br /><br />I'd set up, and had a coffee so I meandered over to see how Allan was getting on. "I don't fancy it tonight mate" and with that my rod bent over and line peeled off at some fair pace. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pfffffftt</span>! What do I know eh? By recent standards it was a smallish Barbel of 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lb's</span> or so had taken my bait.<br /><br />This session wasn't exactly as busy as my last one, I did have 5 runs though, three of which I managed to land (That snag is still there) 9lb was the biggest of the night.<br /><br />Allan was staring a blank in the face, pack up was looming large, when thankfully one of his rods sprang to life and a Barbel of 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lb's</span> or so was landed. Well done mate!<br /><br />It amazes me as to how fast the river can rise and fall during a session. By the time we came to pack up the water was up about three feet. <br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8lb </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lE15hfCHAISqthwFyUhQVstDaHSkVPWT0u1t_VRXyuXGFDz54Jpq-_FAdo8QSEe_J-nFKQAb97E1UrTM429qOCtv1xbaS-RK8dlgrDUK5ydn-3UGlc3Wexlh7c1qL1sN1X7XQ5AlPGjO/s1600/DSCF5317.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lE15hfCHAISqthwFyUhQVstDaHSkVPWT0u1t_VRXyuXGFDz54Jpq-_FAdo8QSEe_J-nFKQAb97E1UrTM429qOCtv1xbaS-RK8dlgrDUK5ydn-3UGlc3Wexlh7c1qL1sN1X7XQ5AlPGjO/s320/DSCF5317.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649217555276578162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Allan's last minute catch</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCdZ21lejcJn4kwIAUJ9y5yxMLWAdBCmO4IYGgTshvWJzPE2lq1Dam6y1lRiIbK_tTnnp6nF34ZVCVtxM5FHdNIkHaHo05fB4kphtXv9IjvWAfAk7VjgFOfzLJlekh924MRG7E60HDhe4/s1600/DSCF5323.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCdZ21lejcJn4kwIAUJ9y5yxMLWAdBCmO4IYGgTshvWJzPE2lq1Dam6y1lRiIbK_tTnnp6nF34ZVCVtxM5FHdNIkHaHo05fB4kphtXv9IjvWAfAk7VjgFOfzLJlekh924MRG7E60HDhe4/s320/DSCF5323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649218396230868722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">9lb </span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFnwBYA9jVsj0Kfo8cmOMCi0-QbBokoexEmkQ5cwWjN0X-swCoczbvCTzpBOp7NCTdeva1KJrOnSae8YjNxDfMg6NZ-692r-uc940JZBIPYX3pmA_7-75u5Wx-WJfYkb53f0fC7gFbkV3/s1600/DSCF5320.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFnwBYA9jVsj0Kfo8cmOMCi0-QbBokoexEmkQ5cwWjN0X-swCoczbvCTzpBOp7NCTdeva1KJrOnSae8YjNxDfMg6NZ-692r-uc940JZBIPYX3pmA_7-75u5Wx-WJfYkb53f0fC7gFbkV3/s320/DSCF5320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649217989149007618" border="0" /></a>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-15945505033524206122011-08-28T23:40:00.019+01:002011-09-06T12:28:46.883+01:00A frantic nights fishing<div style="text-align: justify;">Little did I know what I was in store for as I packed the gear in to Panto's car and headed to the river.<br /><br />Tonight was one of those nights that you can only dream of (Well for me at least)<br /><br />Once again I was to find the river in low conditions, though I have to say now that previous catch results haven't left me worried when I'm greeted by the river running lacking water.<br /><br />I was to have my rod bent over in no less than 14 occasions tonight. I managed to land 9 of them. The ones that got away unfortunately made good use of a snag that has appeared in my favoured swim. A passing tree moved on by the previous floods perhaps? Nevertheless it's a bugger of a snag and once the fish has found it, it's nigh on impossible to retrieve it out of there.<br /><br />I broke two PB's again. My new Barbel PB is 9lb 8oz and I also have a new Chub PB of 5lb 7oz. To say I was pleased with tonight's fishing would be an understatement. <br /><br />In comparison Panto had a wretched night's fishing. Indeed he only managed to land the one Barbel. The fish god's were not favouring him on this session. I'm sure he will turn it around next time ;)<br /><br />I'm still chasing that double, but I'm not bothered that it hasn't come yet, as by the crikey I'm having some great fun looking for it. <br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The one that started it all off</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhP1PinHaWI2T_tKWZaD4UpOJjdCWUU0XQYtzv1xXk6vM4BvZ25RnY1JTDFtODS5oz7sZBVZM33aYERi99YblH97rjtgCV_cD_wfiM8EylnNtFi_kEDuJlUunWu4rOFhw4DLKlpLZgkB2/s1600/DSCF5297.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhP1PinHaWI2T_tKWZaD4UpOJjdCWUU0XQYtzv1xXk6vM4BvZ25RnY1JTDFtODS5oz7sZBVZM33aYERi99YblH97rjtgCV_cD_wfiM8EylnNtFi_kEDuJlUunWu4rOFhw4DLKlpLZgkB2/s320/DSCF5297.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649194604365348242" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The new PB Barbel 9lb 8oz </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bmByc5PwjqglgUrAJcmvaw8LrHwWJJKPPD6ntYmZ5i7AqvJpU4g0-oD2N5aZ_rvRqF3fK3O3JR369yl2yuU3CDYMJMnuaccAV-VZcxnhyphenhyphenu53JmUpTUmm6As8ZiNfLqZpj5X8cqTsBcZd/s1600/DSCF5314.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bmByc5PwjqglgUrAJcmvaw8LrHwWJJKPPD6ntYmZ5i7AqvJpU4g0-oD2N5aZ_rvRqF3fK3O3JR369yl2yuU3CDYMJMnuaccAV-VZcxnhyphenhyphenu53JmUpTUmm6As8ZiNfLqZpj5X8cqTsBcZd/s320/DSCF5314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649201095794070642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">9lb</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2J4HJJ9Ak0xJWAbNTFVLVMYkvaUmbUnStKKmI_fxxZxdxNrXxEGmZAQu5X9EyYXCHBgBafXCm1jsdbwStnwLV3PvVb-so2YPPMaBjpCSSispBXAbB9gSWt_wefuCiud8lFTFLhO04mC0/s1600/DSCF5311.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2J4HJJ9Ak0xJWAbNTFVLVMYkvaUmbUnStKKmI_fxxZxdxNrXxEGmZAQu5X9EyYXCHBgBafXCm1jsdbwStnwLV3PvVb-so2YPPMaBjpCSSispBXAbB9gSWt_wefuCiud8lFTFLhO04mC0/s320/DSCF5311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649198781226202546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">8lb</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7dkvpR1XEBe0vsTQeHNEsDFU0If_pegvunxC9v35On-rWStF7rKd46iku94b_EHk6oejU2bog9J1kCeKqvKbXYwE225liFkfFzhtABTumeYGzvBuCkuTbUa3BhsfArits4WwUwwIFJEq/s1600/DSCF5303.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7dkvpR1XEBe0vsTQeHNEsDFU0If_pegvunxC9v35On-rWStF7rKd46iku94b_EHk6oejU2bog9J1kCeKqvKbXYwE225liFkfFzhtABTumeYGzvBuCkuTbUa3BhsfArits4WwUwwIFJEq/s320/DSCF5303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649196980407337362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">A new Pb Chub, but not for long</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLIpM-PhvcoMRxLIPzvIPvPL42mHHHNTk2Idw8SrtfJKIwEsJ_qX9qnTo9zoVq1k7nFVhzJUg-O47ViYoMgavX-deuLr4E47gMaMT9mVB2i6rFdcElw1uow2FFdjUgz90JcoQP5e09iOd/s1600/DSCF5300.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLIpM-PhvcoMRxLIPzvIPvPL42mHHHNTk2Idw8SrtfJKIwEsJ_qX9qnTo9zoVq1k7nFVhzJUg-O47ViYoMgavX-deuLr4E47gMaMT9mVB2i6rFdcElw1uow2FFdjUgz90JcoQP5e09iOd/s320/DSCF5300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649196022372179986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">5lb 7oz Chub the new PB </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy-peFsSagxPEtrWRXIQL2BZhfygGiVecA3Y3C-hRwi8xyKREwkczi0lNOZ8G5eLCzA6iOgDjxdm3eYqklbuupXM1T9U2C2W1z0X9czaiFPEvw_wtcpe5xHH0dh57n2GQAnq6d4c-ErP4/s1600/DSCF5316.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy-peFsSagxPEtrWRXIQL2BZhfygGiVecA3Y3C-hRwi8xyKREwkczi0lNOZ8G5eLCzA6iOgDjxdm3eYqklbuupXM1T9U2C2W1z0X9czaiFPEvw_wtcpe5xHH0dh57n2GQAnq6d4c-ErP4/s320/DSCF5316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649201919522112546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Panto's catch!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2fm6b9R_Ruqnsn4HIzYfUC8G7dKkCeK5xJKJPOK7dUZ9ajrUwcdkPbZ687mlLn_5P9Y4zy-oY2ectz40W_t3Bp7fkCjJvTvPm6_7LBf5-SMLz7DzCyPmR7UScoEZ2SdJExRWxnxH6ROp/s1600/DSCF5309.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2fm6b9R_Ruqnsn4HIzYfUC8G7dKkCeK5xJKJPOK7dUZ9ajrUwcdkPbZ687mlLn_5P9Y4zy-oY2ectz40W_t3Bp7fkCjJvTvPm6_7LBf5-SMLz7DzCyPmR7UScoEZ2SdJExRWxnxH6ROp/s320/DSCF5309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649197854193041234" border="0" /></a>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-15830078021139801872011-08-28T23:40:00.010+01:002011-09-06T11:35:40.068+01:00Sharing the spoils<div style="text-align: justify;">Myself and Allan once again made our pilgrimage to the river. The river was low and not carrying much water.<br /><br />It was a nice warm August night and the conditions felt right. I had a feeling that we would bag up and that's exactly what happened. Twelve Barbel to 9lb were landed and we shared the spoils by landing 6 fish each.<br /><br />I managed to beat my Barbel PB by an ounce. So my new record currently stands at 9lb.]<br /><br />A great nights fishing and I wouldn't argue if we had more like that<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Allan gets amongst the fish</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rBPOYbMCqs6WRS3vj3Fa_uLOXwJ2pZQJdJJJ7SS2etHuJVGvy_6NIPwvW4vlI0M9g4UljFjpcDu_z0Kifg9NuqRXn_7sOB18z0Fw0f_00K89yiFet0jBe2aSCCYChUW0ldzXLVNdMGu8/s1600/DSCF5287.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2rBPOYbMCqs6WRS3vj3Fa_uLOXwJ2pZQJdJJJ7SS2etHuJVGvy_6NIPwvW4vlI0M9g4UljFjpcDu_z0Kifg9NuqRXn_7sOB18z0Fw0f_00K89yiFet0jBe2aSCCYChUW0ldzXLVNdMGu8/s320/DSCF5287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649190189037719298" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDl18cxKvGL4vUiPIlLrOQh0KBGwp1ltd09c2lZK7MT1v5XMscGtVjeg5fC9zWJAWbdRHGpUdXOOomscKEhDYz8PF-SrzDe9D7RYUMBs37r_WawlyTJz1Dcii84orxjWP6U0L7qqmu1a2/s1600/DSCF5274.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDl18cxKvGL4vUiPIlLrOQh0KBGwp1ltd09c2lZK7MT1v5XMscGtVjeg5fC9zWJAWbdRHGpUdXOOomscKEhDYz8PF-SrzDe9D7RYUMBs37r_WawlyTJz1Dcii84orxjWP6U0L7qqmu1a2/s320/DSCF5274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649188885316375010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My new PB Barbel 9lb</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKoDKen8PHbGDFA6dFZTbyI3cLaROM1HM98ovS80wNKG_-16bC0j2l9Sn-zyR92dwZ8PTXjbtN9t8WjXlCfLZf4Qt7hwR-a8CLJLphbs55CbtpPkFUVDZuo3J72GSmzuDBenKwxy78u6y/s1600/DSCF5278.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKoDKen8PHbGDFA6dFZTbyI3cLaROM1HM98ovS80wNKG_-16bC0j2l9Sn-zyR92dwZ8PTXjbtN9t8WjXlCfLZf4Qt7hwR-a8CLJLphbs55CbtpPkFUVDZuo3J72GSmzuDBenKwxy78u6y/s320/DSCF5278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649189531721664898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I seem to be enjoying myself </span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgupZm89jE4-FAC5qtYTBhxeE1Q_eJU9YsTNva7agHi8h0mzkmzdrEz9m2pTjerk9dbudL7nnB5Wj8h_5ng73aHWlk2AeqI6ZnKdVcQHoL7BLDeb0EIv7dRvHpnC2-_1RxJKoBnjk57w5/s1600/DSCF5289.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgupZm89jE4-FAC5qtYTBhxeE1Q_eJU9YsTNva7agHi8h0mzkmzdrEz9m2pTjerk9dbudL7nnB5Wj8h_5ng73aHWlk2AeqI6ZnKdVcQHoL7BLDeb0EIv7dRvHpnC2-_1RxJKoBnjk57w5/s320/DSCF5289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649190719191893762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iu751FYXbK5wPZffSH2KdKmCWnf_xNTN07m10UX4-AsT81RL09IPos5EPGmBTXI3jRM0HRxP1ZMYFQDxvIu8qXoYFHBV3Vh0ehWAdaucUl8SkzVi_gTKIvDFmGNvT3EVKjIAUsAdUSFK/s1600/DSCF5270.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iu751FYXbK5wPZffSH2KdKmCWnf_xNTN07m10UX4-AsT81RL09IPos5EPGmBTXI3jRM0HRxP1ZMYFQDxvIu8qXoYFHBV3Vh0ehWAdaucUl8SkzVi_gTKIvDFmGNvT3EVKjIAUsAdUSFK/s320/DSCF5270.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649188324380506018" border="0" /></a>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-63004420044607550082011-08-07T16:58:00.005+01:002011-09-06T11:10:23.948+01:00The 45 minute feeding window<div style="text-align: justify;">Allan and I once again made our way to the river. I was expecting the water to be low, too low in fact. I was wrong. It was starting to rise and was up around a foot since our visit a couple of days previously.<br /><br />The rising river soon started to cause us problems. As the water started to rise it lifted a large bed of weed that would inconveniently find our lines with ease.<br /><br />There was only one thing for it. We had to move, a bit of a hassle, but it had to be done.<br /><br />Darkness was approaching and there hadn't been so much as a beep on the alarms. Suddenly Allan was in! I was left with the honours of netting his fish. I'd just readied the net in the water when his other rod was off. Oh dear! A dilemma. There was no other option than me having to take the rod.. A good fish ans I was into a hard fighting Barbel of around 8lb. Allan's other fish... a Barbel of around 4lb. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Oooops</span></span>! :D<br /><br />The heavens decided to open, and I mean open, it absolutely lashed it down. I was seeking refuge in my day shelter when I caught sight of Allan with another Barbel. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bastid</span></span>! This was technically his third fish. Due to the fact that it was still raining and heavily at that, we didn't bother with a photo. Where was my action? Was I looking at a blank? I did what any angler in my situation would do. I started to sulk and indeed question what the hell I was doing on a bank side in the middle of the night in monsoon like weather?<br /><br />When I got a take and suddenly I loved fishing all over again, and being out in the rain was fun.<br /><br />I had a good bend in the rod, so I knew I had a Barbel at the other end. A fish of around 7lb was photographed (just so there was something to look at on the blog) and released back to where it came from.<br /><br />...and that was that. The rain got heavier and heavier and neither of us could muster another take. The feeding window tonight lasted less than 45 minutes, and was a little later than normal.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The blank saver!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5dn__7HkHCrdhel23wxaKAVaZH6-_cVKwdI4Ocsqx1dy8F3M1ceK4qIwN9Q168QUQonrF3uZrhcER7Jww-YsOj6dUXHS_Jl90R1OKZHhX_RKQ24rQ6d4T6KhUfRA7btTjWYmDdhme5n5/s1600/DSCF5262.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5dn__7HkHCrdhel23wxaKAVaZH6-_cVKwdI4Ocsqx1dy8F3M1ceK4qIwN9Q168QUQonrF3uZrhcER7Jww-YsOj6dUXHS_Jl90R1OKZHhX_RKQ24rQ6d4T6KhUfRA7btTjWYmDdhme5n5/s320/DSCF5262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649184589285913762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-52454837938951597322011-07-25T11:50:00.017+01:002011-08-02T23:17:37.745+01:00Three trips to the river<div style="text-align: justify;">Trying to find time to blog in the summer holidays is proving to be a somewhat difficult task... Still here I am finally grabbing a few minutes to myself to hammer out my musings.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trip one:</span><br /><br />I paid a surprise visit to Ben. The only run between us both came at 10:30pm. I'd landed a Barbel of 8lb 12oz. A record shaker for me, but my current PB of 8lb 15oz stayed intact.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trip Two :</span><br /><br />A new section of river was on the cards for myself and Allan today. We'd started to become a little, how should I say?... Creatures of habit? Comfortable in our pegs? Frightened of trying somewhere different in case we blanked? Yes I'll go with the latter.<br /><br />So we made way to a new stretch and we were rather excited, though perhaps not too expectant in our new venue.<br /><br />We were kept waiting right until last light before we caught. I was into a good fish, it was darting all over the place, when disaster... The hook pulled! I was gutted! I'd lost a good un'. I slinked back into my chair a deflated man, in other words I'd gone off to sulk. I'd possibly blown my chance to land a Barbel.<br /><br />A couple of hours later and Allan was in, he had a fair old bend in the rod, I called that he was about to land his new P.B. I was right. He'd managed to land his first Barbel into double figures. 10lb 5oz a cracking fish that mate. Well done!<br /><br />Not too long later he was in again. I was rather taken aback by his capture. A 8lb 5oz Bream left us both with our jaws on the floor. Wow! I'd rather catch a double figured Bream than a Barbel any day. I have a feeling one of us may just do that this season.<br /><br />The Barbel weren't finished with yet. Allan landed a couple more and I had a mad action packed few minutes that saved the day. I was playing my right hand rod when my left hand rod screamed off. Thankfully both fish were landed.<br /><br />I was also to catch my first ever river Bream, not as big as Al's but another P.B for me. at 6lb 10oz I wasn't for complaining. I was pleased to see this one slip into the net.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trip Three :</span><br /><br />Back to the river, a late start, we haven't had much rain and as such the river was running low, very low in fact. We decided to increase the chance of catching by fishing an area that holds a little more water.<br /><br />I had a pretty good session, I landed four Barbel in total. No whoppers the biggest was a little under 8 and half pounds. The novelty of photographing catches seems to be wearing off. I only posed with a couple of 8+ fish. I'm still looking for that elusive double. As for Allan, well I was very surprised that he blanked on this trip. Unlucky mate. (Although after your last session, I have one thing to say... GOOD!) :)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back on the Barbel</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DyX8mCT5bX1fZIE9qOV_3-ObsPISvXr7MOPd-qoOlBYe_NNgVcbheh3mqdt-0JU9-UfbNl5s7x8X-ksGe4ULhhiDUPBVgiaWw-rwFcxziHVzyu0g691XlZmmNCdoNftd-u5EtaVdUan6/s1600/DSCF5238.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DyX8mCT5bX1fZIE9qOV_3-ObsPISvXr7MOPd-qoOlBYe_NNgVcbheh3mqdt-0JU9-UfbNl5s7x8X-ksGe4ULhhiDUPBVgiaWw-rwFcxziHVzyu0g691XlZmmNCdoNftd-u5EtaVdUan6/s320/DSCF5238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636372557449865330" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6lb 10oz wild river Barbel</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB35q4e7AoGeYZ-5Y4mh04VJgeJ1lwO03OOL2g4o0Zha7hraR1fyC5cYUlajM57HLK4WiXkTtplGIdsksJwWBh7wb2872HrnUns0a88cDzieYdL32qjZzbYZ9R7zvvtJAGKVDUaAmdc7t/s1600/DSCF5249.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB35q4e7AoGeYZ-5Y4mh04VJgeJ1lwO03OOL2g4o0Zha7hraR1fyC5cYUlajM57HLK4WiXkTtplGIdsksJwWBh7wb2872HrnUns0a88cDzieYdL32qjZzbYZ9R7zvvtJAGKVDUaAmdc7t/s320/DSCF5249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636372979424876354" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10lb 5oz Barbel the first double</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLeZMCDf_RjMuXxqIWwbONVZvdPd99JZjs1K12lsAeM-wWxbKwNEhLeztV8aCfQYRRVYPQulpQED-jIISLFD9ZvOlef38n_IkLLd7C8q_CGAp3uqlLxuWEn2hHJgZGIH79qKAPSVYQXne/s1600/DSCF5229.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDLeZMCDf_RjMuXxqIWwbONVZvdPd99JZjs1K12lsAeM-wWxbKwNEhLeztV8aCfQYRRVYPQulpQED-jIISLFD9ZvOlef38n_IkLLd7C8q_CGAp3uqlLxuWEn2hHJgZGIH79qKAPSVYQXne/s320/DSCF5229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636371465609927906" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Al's 8lb 5oz Bream</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdURqAmsryN8k2Hnquq4NdAD_zMf0KHmSz_uiJGvRlGas6U2vKtwY_3bvxK4dByBtypc4tS81SV2J-kCLGgsaxWe6AdQhuRRioLwehqLxK1kCOlEC27cP8ysfHV9XUP_Z-MRS7b-8pyueY/s1600/DSCF5234.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdURqAmsryN8k2Hnquq4NdAD_zMf0KHmSz_uiJGvRlGas6U2vKtwY_3bvxK4dByBtypc4tS81SV2J-kCLGgsaxWe6AdQhuRRioLwehqLxK1kCOlEC27cP8ysfHV9XUP_Z-MRS7b-8pyueY/s320/DSCF5234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636371931968171666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">8lb+ Seem to be catching a few of these </span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_qe6Gxno0u5xPTkfGFcPi0VraPRouAsu5sUOv-h5sSduSoCZPt6gc4gt40rXuA94IbOAmQsEcPVxl5sM2HThZ0udmSiLk2HiJg-zS7OgCfHfADx87-qxEhVuZ2mneb12ef34GbE-igjd/s1600/DSCF5256.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_qe6Gxno0u5xPTkfGFcPi0VraPRouAsu5sUOv-h5sSduSoCZPt6gc4gt40rXuA94IbOAmQsEcPVxl5sM2HThZ0udmSiLk2HiJg-zS7OgCfHfADx87-qxEhVuZ2mneb12ef34GbE-igjd/s320/DSCF5256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636379258067468818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-53821405808602151832011-07-19T13:22:00.006+01:002011-07-19T22:43:26.436+01:00Fishing in the floodI just can't keep away from the river at the moment. A trip with Ben was organised and we arrived by the river some time after 7 O'clock in the evening.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The river was high and carrying a lot of water, a daunting sight if there ever was one. I had to increase the weight on my rigs to 6oz to hold bottom. There was a lot of debris floating by which kept snagging up on my line. My Barbel rods are only 1.5lb TC and were hardly perfect for the task ahead. Note to self... Take Carp rods as back up in future.<br /><br />I cast out my right hand rod under my feet. I'd probably cast five times within the space of only half on hour. I gave up on using PVA as it was just being wasted. I trudged up to my day shelter and plonked myself into my chair, folded my arms and proceeded to sulk! I doubted that I was going to catch at all in these conditions.<br /><br />I'd no sooner sat down and assumed the 'sulking position' when my recently re-cast rod almost bent double such was the voracity of the take. A nice battle ensued and yet another PB Barbel was landed. 8lb 15oz. I'm getting closer and closer to the magical double.<br /><br />That was the only fish of the night, and was caught on MC Boilie<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8lb 15oz</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5x3wwFBZp1sS063i8C5SzQKrKJ81UJR9QT0vaf9NQoL7bFcu8YypM0LCubjzoZhq4cQbAUdbQV8Frd4iscwPCZXBk_d3ioNkofZGhwVcyaoAC18CbiCimwtnr3qafW3LQShpPonJnDwfW/s1600/DSCF5209.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5x3wwFBZp1sS063i8C5SzQKrKJ81UJR9QT0vaf9NQoL7bFcu8YypM0LCubjzoZhq4cQbAUdbQV8Frd4iscwPCZXBk_d3ioNkofZGhwVcyaoAC18CbiCimwtnr3qafW3LQShpPonJnDwfW/s320/DSCF5209.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631181577415041890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-13282191995476280212011-07-17T13:14:00.015+01:002011-07-17T18:21:23.783+01:00A trip to the river...<div style="text-align: justify;">Back to the river for myself and Allan today. We headed beck to the same area as the previous week. Our quarry was of course to be Barbel.<br /><br />We arrived mid afternoon to find the river low and flowing at a slow pace.<br /><br />I'd craftily made up my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">PVA</span> bags at home so I was soon set up and fishing.<br /><br />By 6pm the water had risen by at least a foot, an encouraging sign that we may be in for a good nights fishing - the fish would most definitely move about with some fresh water about the place.<br /><br />Night fall..<br /><br />It was just creeping dark, I had been watching a Mink going about it's business I'd just missed a cracking photo opportunity (due to the camera not focusing quickly enough) when I was into my first Barbel of the session. A tremendously violent take that near enough dragged my rod off it's stand gave me a clue that I was into a good fish. As I'm new to the world 0f Barbel fishing almost every fish I catch at the moment is a new PB. Which <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">incidentally</span> I managed to break four times tonight. 7lb 6oz, 8lb 6oz, 8lb 8oz and finally the biggest of the night at 8lb 9oz. I even managed to catch 2 Chub worth weighing. The biggest of them was 4lb 8oz another PB.<br /><br />It took Allan a little while to get off the mark tonight, at one point I have to confess I feared he may even blank! But thankfully he managed to pull it back, Landing 3 Barbel in total. One of 5lb 9oz, 6lb 4oz and PB Barbel of 7lb. He even beat my new Chub record by landing one at 5lb.<br /><br />All fish were caught on MC (3) and SGLM (7) baits.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Allan's PB Chub</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0JI38OhGGp_hi5ncP5hU19M6iClirWXuP2I8vmpWYOHdsyXObcwsZb37_ewCo7wtlohlHwRsdwhtjggUZHlP3t8H2eaKc6vrT4zYDJ20hr47e1kLWKQxhpzfaFHqhZ0-Of5rI4gejrmm/s1600/DSCF5203.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0JI38OhGGp_hi5ncP5hU19M6iClirWXuP2I8vmpWYOHdsyXObcwsZb37_ewCo7wtlohlHwRsdwhtjggUZHlP3t8H2eaKc6vrT4zYDJ20hr47e1kLWKQxhpzfaFHqhZ0-Of5rI4gejrmm/s320/DSCF5203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630311348684492866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndGs1mqZWdJN_2Mv8B2o08sOaO9uRSQailXsxtjvCQUmhWuApt99oYMgbE8sD-kQOKAe8dapVJNqiK_NQpwMi_2SHoC6RcdWUmYXfLqrrBCcxedZn1RWVqQX4xkzFJzUR-qlQE_w6cTW4/s1600/DSCF5201.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndGs1mqZWdJN_2Mv8B2o08sOaO9uRSQailXsxtjvCQUmhWuApt99oYMgbE8sD-kQOKAe8dapVJNqiK_NQpwMi_2SHoC6RcdWUmYXfLqrrBCcxedZn1RWVqQX4xkzFJzUR-qlQE_w6cTW4/s320/DSCF5201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630310959750393186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf2s4iZ2z89F6AKACN9-EztbKewTgFc4HmwDkP3RAYJM3vPWLJy_sduAbXvPGZDZk038HdkFhs52gzjyPGa9sVvjnUy7CcpNnwLnTAg0U8mH5clUZy8NjOUbLqT1FvVr8vv-hA5Qm4D4C/s1600/DSCF5199.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHf2s4iZ2z89F6AKACN9-EztbKewTgFc4HmwDkP3RAYJM3vPWLJy_sduAbXvPGZDZk038HdkFhs52gzjyPGa9sVvjnUy7CcpNnwLnTAg0U8mH5clUZy8NjOUbLqT1FvVr8vv-hA5Qm4D4C/s320/DSCF5199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630310745692292018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Al's Record Barbel</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">7lb</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH92hPkgSGf-7SOQzasowVOSU25sCD4udpGDEl0dtqyMscR5qWQ3bQscWuH3Xlzww7Nk4Gdh-UfIprspMod7-dFrOZj1HgwFTLO4anhUHBrnEFEDu_lkuoW8-ksR4EnKNO5R5U_0SVwhF/s1600/DSCF5193.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDH92hPkgSGf-7SOQzasowVOSU25sCD4udpGDEl0dtqyMscR5qWQ3bQscWuH3Xlzww7Nk4Gdh-UfIprspMod7-dFrOZj1HgwFTLO4anhUHBrnEFEDu_lkuoW8-ksR4EnKNO5R5U_0SVwhF/s320/DSCF5193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630310289366103122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjQImghnU_AK-rDgw3g-3neC4DGOPMG2Wxa1Aezcd-8A22zCGJHapEn7ATvPTMy8YcrlD854yA3ui9s807r-yAlEI2wkhVw5Sx6-TzMmfuNRcCZBNA1Ngq5SusqOigzo5Z0nrsIf9zHNt/s1600/DSCF5202.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjQImghnU_AK-rDgw3g-3neC4DGOPMG2Wxa1Aezcd-8A22zCGJHapEn7ATvPTMy8YcrlD854yA3ui9s807r-yAlEI2wkhVw5Sx6-TzMmfuNRcCZBNA1Ngq5SusqOigzo5Z0nrsIf9zHNt/s320/DSCF5202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630311153345361090" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMdWXJiOFNm2Bp-YjA8O7783qGJ3T9gWUczHiMHZSTBqtNkCJts6IWPIdxqPXIWCUBkNcBl_Co5gqyfeUmihhGnPXY_-GahqvvFbsxufraRLs39J4MEpSO4EL9E9Ka787O00kZOSpM0oM/s1600/DSCF5197.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMdWXJiOFNm2Bp-YjA8O7783qGJ3T9gWUczHiMHZSTBqtNkCJts6IWPIdxqPXIWCUBkNcBl_Co5gqyfeUmihhGnPXY_-GahqvvFbsxufraRLs39J4MEpSO4EL9E9Ka787O00kZOSpM0oM/s320/DSCF5197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630310484987686066" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My biggest Barbel so far 8lb 9oz</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLRhtUA5VQkTKT2XNcrBNwaXn2ROzyjzAVRBbf-9tgetRk_2gEFokdHq3ZwRBTI3UmcyLk_O6-RbRt4GxJI_tNm9SFPJO6CZaWvnYOX7SjOu_4BkERIpHp0QgXe0h2oUFdjj1HTIegaId/s1600/DSCF5190.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLRhtUA5VQkTKT2XNcrBNwaXn2ROzyjzAVRBbf-9tgetRk_2gEFokdHq3ZwRBTI3UmcyLk_O6-RbRt4GxJI_tNm9SFPJO6CZaWvnYOX7SjOu_4BkERIpHp0QgXe0h2oUFdjj1HTIegaId/s320/DSCF5190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630310069790495378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxAcFMpE0oB4Nz_ECsx6P5QhCNPRasZOcwBrr-7qJPRJqM09ucL_tCU1IwdOev_X4v7pVdoaNugTDi4A1pcq_q42cuAlcWEXpJ-Kg2WHLu6FkxCIM2ejYcoyCELeoQuUkbTJWkw7GF4I5/s1600/DSCF5189.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxAcFMpE0oB4Nz_ECsx6P5QhCNPRasZOcwBrr-7qJPRJqM09ucL_tCU1IwdOev_X4v7pVdoaNugTDi4A1pcq_q42cuAlcWEXpJ-Kg2WHLu6FkxCIM2ejYcoyCELeoQuUkbTJWkw7GF4I5/s320/DSCF5189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630309840264105394" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My record shaking Chub 4lb 8oz</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMai7XRd_REg94RxmyQ2u4KEC6KWW7c66SihFu0imv8Fe2G6A4O-9Mf2zPWg1K6BpmYcw1aRlqkpR8N3htqdo7v7DowMT7qJyXbdzSPjRnJLOzohyXf_vmaWpitCax52qY3b4IouWVXVgv/s1600/DSCF5187.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMai7XRd_REg94RxmyQ2u4KEC6KWW7c66SihFu0imv8Fe2G6A4O-9Mf2zPWg1K6BpmYcw1aRlqkpR8N3htqdo7v7DowMT7qJyXbdzSPjRnJLOzohyXf_vmaWpitCax52qY3b4IouWVXVgv/s320/DSCF5187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630309620343507442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">8lb 8oz</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPchBTAMxlKQN_GF8EpE-_yU0LSDnzoA2KtNY4UEcVeLKdcYycZAzxDi7B2IHpmOcg4Dw4kSkTtRExY3bgOSDflFBbLs8vIzwg4h6TrTkQIFr2riO-CJMyoW1RCMSJTirQhYCu2oJAuRj/s1600/DSCF5183.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPchBTAMxlKQN_GF8EpE-_yU0LSDnzoA2KtNY4UEcVeLKdcYycZAzxDi7B2IHpmOcg4Dw4kSkTtRExY3bgOSDflFBbLs8vIzwg4h6TrTkQIFr2riO-CJMyoW1RCMSJTirQhYCu2oJAuRj/s320/DSCF5183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630309369671052434" border="0" /></a>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-80066286246482570872011-07-12T19:56:00.003+01:002011-07-12T22:45:19.973+01:00River Barbel<div style="text-align: justify;">It was time for Allan and I to have our first Barbel session of the season. The water was coloured and up a little. But not racing through. The conditions were probably perfect. I'm no expert at judging this water and I confess I have a lot to learn.<br /><br />There is an air of excitement when trying your hand out a new water and a new species, and I was dying to start fishing. <br /><br />I fished two rods with Coltswold baits 'The One' as my choice of boilie. After around an hour of fishing my left hand rod bent over and my reel stripped line at a good pace. A Barbel and no mistake had taken one of my baits. The fight was amazing and after one session it's fair to say if you'll excuse the pun that 'I'm hooked'<br /><br />A few hours later I had another take, this time on the right hand rod and the bait was wrapped in paste. Unmistakeably another Barbel, a bit bigger than the last one and certainly a new PB.<br /><br /><br />No fish for Allan today, which was a shame as I'd liked him to have experienced the 'Barbel fight'<br /><br />I'm sure we will be back on there very soon.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">A black swan -<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I've not come across too many of these in my time</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLK8yN8ypzknzPuK1lDqgXK21Pra7NZtkOsz8NVGHXbp6-ljZe-Toa4vAau_WeMr081Be4zuXcxnr6698hAkEpkzrT-1_64WY-_rxKC1tCXizcP3GMyMO_a8NBvTPNsBtjI7TtCMOq84c/s1600/DSCF5159.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLK8yN8ypzknzPuK1lDqgXK21Pra7NZtkOsz8NVGHXbp6-ljZe-Toa4vAau_WeMr081Be4zuXcxnr6698hAkEpkzrT-1_64WY-_rxKC1tCXizcP3GMyMO_a8NBvTPNsBtjI7TtCMOq84c/s320/DSCF5159.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628543704130986786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My first Barbel of the season</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFEM8_hvJjI63GFqhIBC0VcKZyvPKXzYCT7XaFFl5Gu8lLmc2acl-N4rOEyeAnqwD9HPTBM4lZTsir7wzp6tkULh_z9NtQuRvQTFDBEabfW7v0WJMMYzTB9cemFJqDLOI7vzhkULOPkrp/s1600/DSCF5167.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFEM8_hvJjI63GFqhIBC0VcKZyvPKXzYCT7XaFFl5Gu8lLmc2acl-N4rOEyeAnqwD9HPTBM4lZTsir7wzp6tkULh_z9NtQuRvQTFDBEabfW7v0WJMMYzTB9cemFJqDLOI7vzhkULOPkrp/s320/DSCF5167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628542447383056610" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7lb 2oz P.B Barbel</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywfEn0oTlULpRMTrs4NY1MVmhO8DpX2ErfWpr-eonpx0rFi-qpCGBA85oofRo0HbI95siflYZlPQWZB0Qqc_m2Rj26bhI3CM-j-cQwho76XVsspm1bN4cB2BmjmG-22zo7nUV20WzCc5L/s1600/DSCF5172.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywfEn0oTlULpRMTrs4NY1MVmhO8DpX2ErfWpr-eonpx0rFi-qpCGBA85oofRo0HbI95siflYZlPQWZB0Qqc_m2Rj26bhI3CM-j-cQwho76XVsspm1bN4cB2BmjmG-22zo7nUV20WzCc5L/s320/DSCF5172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628542922983880994" border="0" /></a>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-24399726901270564042011-07-10T09:00:00.010+01:002011-07-12T19:56:27.213+01:00Night and day Carping<div style="text-align: justify;">Once again I find myself having to catch up with the blogging. The reason behind the absence isn't down to procrastination I suppose it's more down to the fact that with the late nights I'm returning home far too late to be bothered hammering out my musings on a keyboard.<br /><br />To the fishing... I've been Carping quite a bit of late. A few day sessions here and there. I also did two nights on a water which produced me one fish, a two toned mirror of 13lb 2oz. Not the best of sessions but a lot better than a blank.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sScbyAOgY1Rlumuo1MqL-GpQRnWVqPHOaIu3w7-XyGz-2nfIzZ16UrDVIGi3cuRSmFTrAXRa3ZxC7h337zZ61t0620oSGQKLbFcbNWfU_pypEhkpmYJ6Jyp2svwcV1hjx9HAlC0-yAPm/s1600/DSCF5140.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sScbyAOgY1Rlumuo1MqL-GpQRnWVqPHOaIu3w7-XyGz-2nfIzZ16UrDVIGi3cuRSmFTrAXRa3ZxC7h337zZ61t0620oSGQKLbFcbNWfU_pypEhkpmYJ6Jyp2svwcV1hjx9HAlC0-yAPm/s320/DSCF5140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628535394533921122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjZDGhRYidISimuzfkHENpFuCWssvtCkcplJMM-eXzzZhwA1IB7d7IsU-UnID5QIjOyBTfSmaxjbD0LIAOjHk2_wVYIBhCVHrm3OvdskF0aarBOAXknkDqeSGru8OkQhi3aYOd-D8MSkb/s1600/DSCF5143.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjZDGhRYidISimuzfkHENpFuCWssvtCkcplJMM-eXzzZhwA1IB7d7IsU-UnID5QIjOyBTfSmaxjbD0LIAOjHk2_wVYIBhCVHrm3OvdskF0aarBOAXknkDqeSGru8OkQhi3aYOd-D8MSkb/s320/DSCF5143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628535760034486722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX_o4XkTQHwfWaMtuAgurhOXP9n80TovN2kEDp6phDH2boaok_7NSmwHo_uXSun-o4lCj4_nqck_qCnc8_PIqQOe5dChv3N-cYcZsGAYmDQgb7sGzIAknu4mwjKH8JhisfS6LybigqINq/s1600/DSCF5144.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX_o4XkTQHwfWaMtuAgurhOXP9n80TovN2kEDp6phDH2boaok_7NSmwHo_uXSun-o4lCj4_nqck_qCnc8_PIqQOe5dChv3N-cYcZsGAYmDQgb7sGzIAknu4mwjKH8JhisfS6LybigqINq/s320/DSCF5144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628536799267534210" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAk5pP4T1xsMlcjGs8PfpxphnepS9OSzT3aCn7JjYknW4xqRtZtGsCzshufmpL0C8c_eqMqhvijBv1G0lMr7IzbI7iSUMy-bzcc24ZkwGGgIo44UCVIhk7jA6hhSzmY_dg3AO63WP01kF/s1600/DSCF5139.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAk5pP4T1xsMlcjGs8PfpxphnepS9OSzT3aCn7JjYknW4xqRtZtGsCzshufmpL0C8c_eqMqhvijBv1G0lMr7IzbI7iSUMy-bzcc24ZkwGGgIo44UCVIhk7jA6hhSzmY_dg3AO63WP01kF/s320/DSCF5139.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628534787847909570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzyTJxQAzrXT_EVfOLpX0eyZP1iWWN5SJh0vCPCh7EdmOwB0e-eKy3pJqG9W9-D3tDOIE6_4FMxk-ZXvrzqPMo6Mwif13BIasvB1u-W-neFyXZEd2ltZ6jta2Ijz2cujQSMicw-1O25e6/s1600/DSCF5151.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOzyTJxQAzrXT_EVfOLpX0eyZP1iWWN5SJh0vCPCh7EdmOwB0e-eKy3pJqG9W9-D3tDOIE6_4FMxk-ZXvrzqPMo6Mwif13BIasvB1u-W-neFyXZEd2ltZ6jta2Ijz2cujQSMicw-1O25e6/s320/DSCF5151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628538307069295842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV4J7aEnyN-y07kdXVkeaR3pngwOsitbp7w4-AZQqIRGyCqLM-5QfzW6BfQhk5lpLJ1EwAjiD3w7usl7jLNejoIDmbIxByXgj5OEelvLJOaBodlbo74S7kT-Zw4irNygnU68tHcONGpv7/s1600/DSCF5147.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiV4J7aEnyN-y07kdXVkeaR3pngwOsitbp7w4-AZQqIRGyCqLM-5QfzW6BfQhk5lpLJ1EwAjiD3w7usl7jLNejoIDmbIxByXgj5OEelvLJOaBodlbo74S7kT-Zw4irNygnU68tHcONGpv7/s320/DSCF5147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628537438214497010" border="0" /></a></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-39389015442585112182011-06-17T13:15:00.005+01:002011-07-12T19:17:25.283+01:00The opening dayIt was here. June 16th and the opening day of the river season. Myself, Allan and Panto headed to the drains. An early start was in order and arriving at our pegs at day break ensured a full days fishing.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The fishing started well. I was into a Bream with 2 minutes of casting. A good sign for things to come? Well actually no it wasn't. The opening day for me was absolutely dire. I managed to catch around 6 fish the whole day. I really struggled to get so much as a bite. Allan and Panto caught a few tench between them, if I'm not mistaken I think Allan ended up with four Tench in total. Panto caught the fish of the day, a Pike of 14lb's fell to a single maggot. I'd suspect that as he was fishing the method that he'd tethered a small Roach or Skimmer, the Pike had taken the fish. Nevertheless he did very well to land it on only 6lb line. It put up a hell of a fight too. Good angling!<br /><br />I had two runs on a Pike rod both of which resulted in drop runs.<br /><br />To be honest I'm glad that the opening day is done and dusted now. It often doesn't live up to it's name. I have the whole season to look forward to now and I'm planning to catch some decent Barbel and Carp over the coming months.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Allan's Tench</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ukYA1tZsPnlJeEcvD6yP97Wmlf3pP75OCzBGoWNmiaLevOirrTnpU7rd72UhtyhYYbWbaASbZi-K3f5bsCWStQorEgey7W0cQfgJtFqcUWbyLUlu05Ts8K8h_Q2ERY7MCo2_tFr-1EdF/s1600/DSCF5134.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ukYA1tZsPnlJeEcvD6yP97Wmlf3pP75OCzBGoWNmiaLevOirrTnpU7rd72UhtyhYYbWbaASbZi-K3f5bsCWStQorEgey7W0cQfgJtFqcUWbyLUlu05Ts8K8h_Q2ERY7MCo2_tFr-1EdF/s320/DSCF5134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628530452997802834" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Panto's catch of the day</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iSPY48Z4LgJIvzP6QDWenDY7QTYhJa6HF7wpG2lf1attDI5kYaCc42prttRBIHUrZIEUBLf7Futih8LNKfL110AhBVZ07sTYmbnhIW4qk2Lk6kkAaC5Wxtf66sP3IsqFimDw-yAVI-k5/s1600/DSCF5130.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iSPY48Z4LgJIvzP6QDWenDY7QTYhJa6HF7wpG2lf1attDI5kYaCc42prttRBIHUrZIEUBLf7Futih8LNKfL110AhBVZ07sTYmbnhIW4qk2Lk6kkAaC5Wxtf66sP3IsqFimDw-yAVI-k5/s320/DSCF5130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628529960538906690" border="0" /></a></div></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-31447240036083915612011-06-14T10:04:00.008+01:002011-06-14T18:44:36.678+01:00Knowledge is key<span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday:</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The weather was god damn awful today. You just wouldn't believe that it was the 12<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span></span> of June. Blustery winds accompanied by pelting rain would put pay to many a fishing session. I had other ideas! This would be perfect weather for a spot of carping. Firstly the weather would keep the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">noddies</span></span> off the bank and secondly there was no way the Carp would be basking cockily on the surface.<br /><br />I arrived at the venue for just after 12:30. Now I have to confess I do have a favourite peg on this water, and my bottom lip went a bit when I could see that there was someone already on it. Given my late start I should hardly have been surprised.<br /><br />I enquired to the man that was sitting in 'my peg' as to how it was fishing? He revealed that he had been on the water since 5:10am and as yet hadn't caught a fish. I was quite taken a back by this, as I was sure that they would feed today, yes it was cold - but the water was very warm.<br /><br />Still sulking, I chose the next peg, put up my day shelter and set up my rod on the method. I cast out towards a prominent feature. Ten minutes later I was weighing a 15lb 2oz Common (At the time of writing this is my second biggest Carp) soon followed by another Common of 10lb 2oz. I'm sure 'my peg' pinching friend was left scratching his head. I finished the session with four Carp in total a 9lb Mirror and a 11lb 4oz Common came just on pack up.<br /><br />Now I'm not trying to make myself out to be a great angler, far from it. The point behind the above anecdote is that sometimes a little knowledge about what techniques and baits are working on a water are an absolute must - and can most definitely be the difference between sat behind motionless rods or catching fish.<br /><br />For the record... I didn't spill the beans about my bait ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday:</span><br /><br />Back to the same venue. I was supposed to be doing some chores with 'Her in doors' but a last minute reprieve from she that must be obeyed was music to my ears. The van was soon packed and I wheel spun out of the drive before she changed her mind.<br /><br />The fishing however was slow, very slow...I was catching plenty of Bream, but the Carp were not for showing. (notice I'm becoming a little expectant) Several hours went by before I finally had my moment. A welcomed blank saver by that of a lovely golden looking common of around 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">lb's</span></span>. Another 2 Carp followed - all of them being around the same weight.<br /><br />No doubles were caught today so I couldn't be bothered with self takes. Instead I opted to photograph a little mouse that kept me company during my session. I affectionately <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">referred</span> to him as Mickey. :D<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scraper Double</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkmkLfdGWAcr784ADhyphenhyphenIv_lpW9DJ_B7jYVnU1kHZt8IPp-DULawnMnZAFeCSIrQ6GchGD7UM6FzSCQDYeTEQYDNrArdOyyOznm__36GuDXs7fCREBjrywzCuD8p8dOHXN0VcdDVeq22-f/s1600/DSCF5091.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkmkLfdGWAcr784ADhyphenhyphenIv_lpW9DJ_B7jYVnU1kHZt8IPp-DULawnMnZAFeCSIrQ6GchGD7UM6FzSCQDYeTEQYDNrArdOyyOznm__36GuDXs7fCREBjrywzCuD8p8dOHXN0VcdDVeq22-f/s320/DSCF5091.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618107728035459874" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">15lb 2oz</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqelnuL0Knu44Y-M5-g1LTT8tq1JfWma6asKn2mGaMy5cfbRxKKuWicBAQx1JuPW-bQe6P25blIddGrE1jXcXeSr9pYeYtrNrGD1O9IvmnaFnIO5HUYrJJp-qW-iyZrjg2Z-ZnDGbfuL0/s1600/DSCF5090.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqelnuL0Knu44Y-M5-g1LTT8tq1JfWma6asKn2mGaMy5cfbRxKKuWicBAQx1JuPW-bQe6P25blIddGrE1jXcXeSr9pYeYtrNrGD1O9IvmnaFnIO5HUYrJJp-qW-iyZrjg2Z-ZnDGbfuL0/s320/DSCF5090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618102914818533202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">last knockings</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">11lb 4oz</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjpYFsRVhZ2rubkroIA2rN54fjmdogfCqNiKVV0pOnmZIBavVlcYoJF2YGg8Y6eqLdsgrKY8FejTB2A_po4v5ZeIMOkUnBAhC22H7ZAtMUIoKFJwD058lDyXpaG01ssMlF9Rcg23UuUxK/s1600/DSCF5094.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimjpYFsRVhZ2rubkroIA2rN54fjmdogfCqNiKVV0pOnmZIBavVlcYoJF2YGg8Y6eqLdsgrKY8FejTB2A_po4v5ZeIMOkUnBAhC22H7ZAtMUIoKFJwD058lDyXpaG01ssMlF9Rcg23UuUxK/s320/DSCF5094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618122937996220050" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mickey!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZonhQqpto9AV7ep5kN3HVyJOKcb09mZN7ljdng4cAeQ2fw0FimTutg86D0ucZy27wmRueQ_grU0fr20sWoMOtKMo73j0EwHqCmbNY72ChgWJhRbhVD6pKSKATVMVniOepZB-3me6rzYf/s1600/DSCF5101.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZonhQqpto9AV7ep5kN3HVyJOKcb09mZN7ljdng4cAeQ2fw0FimTutg86D0ucZy27wmRueQ_grU0fr20sWoMOtKMo73j0EwHqCmbNY72ChgWJhRbhVD6pKSKATVMVniOepZB-3me6rzYf/s320/DSCF5101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618110495062465810" border="0" /></a></div></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-30394982284495136682011-05-30T20:34:00.016+01:002011-06-08T14:22:11.004+01:00Cyprinus carpio<span style="font-weight: bold;">Another catch up!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I've been putting a good few hours into Carping recently. I've had a few sessions here and there, and I've banked a good few fish along the way. A fair amount of doubles and a few smaller fish too boot! I even managed to catch a new pb. At 16lb I'm still a little way off catching my first 20.<br /><br />All fish were caught on the the 'method' Some have been caught on light gear, 8lb line and 6lb hook length, and a few have been caught on purpose Carp gear.<br /><br />I've been experimenting with various baits until I found a combination which was absolutely deadly. It can be hard to move off a bait when you've started to get results on it. Indeed why change it if it's working for you and you're landing fish? But that's exactly what I did.<br /><br />The night before my last session I went to my local river and observed some Chub. I took it upon myself to take them some food and I threw in some free offerings. I had a selection of around half a dozen baits and I what I witnessed was truly fascinating. There was one bait in particular that they homed in on. They would suck up the bait and quickly blow it out - repeating the process two or three times, before finally losing interest and leaving it. Soon enough another fish would come along and the ritual was repeated. Interestingly after quarter of an hour or so and up until the point when I left - the bait was still there. So of course this got me thinking! Would the Carp on the water I was to fish the next day do the same? There was only one way to find out...<br /><br />I'd had two fish landed before I decided to experiment. A very hard fighting Ghost Carp of around 6 to 7lb's and a Common 5lb's or there abouts fell to my old faithful cocktail.<br /><br />The new bait was hair rigged and had been in the water not 5 minutes when my rod screamed off. Something had fallen for it. That something was a 12 and a half pound Common. An hour or so later and I was in again. A smaller common perhaps a scraper double was landed.<br /><br />Unfortunately the weather turned from perfect overcast conditions as the sun came out. This killed the fishing as all the Carp came to the surface. Fishing off the top on this water is banned. Alas I had to spend the rest of the day watching the fish rather than catching them. <br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Allan's 7lb+ Common</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP1WT-jf7fU1AJo-6gyH-xfZXEPrMAZf1aVIR_Rqh7aLjMW_pDcHgs5an_bc8PGKyLSG4ai4Oo2SCsVf0p6NKLzHudxDZ7oNUP9uBQdlhA9F-5aG2syOK2AwMfO8oQxHhRTgFN57Kr82p/s1600/DSCF5052.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP1WT-jf7fU1AJo-6gyH-xfZXEPrMAZf1aVIR_Rqh7aLjMW_pDcHgs5an_bc8PGKyLSG4ai4Oo2SCsVf0p6NKLzHudxDZ7oNUP9uBQdlhA9F-5aG2syOK2AwMfO8oQxHhRTgFN57Kr82p/s320/DSCF5052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615829406147419042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpWcTj-Ui97w04YxRMm-MWuaA8EVUbBuCer1skYylCOnXqbl-k4_eQ6_JfD9RnVzIeOvs66UZDN7gxLy1xpaUOoPCByVESEdrhxKvmCfSRyyd-ay_QW_TFCtmcniy-LYJIw2tA5V0vZKB/s1600/DSCF5063.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOpWcTj-Ui97w04YxRMm-MWuaA8EVUbBuCer1skYylCOnXqbl-k4_eQ6_JfD9RnVzIeOvs66UZDN7gxLy1xpaUOoPCByVESEdrhxKvmCfSRyyd-ay_QW_TFCtmcniy-LYJIw2tA5V0vZKB/s320/DSCF5063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615830970578458866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsB9ioM0TAA1c7ygaglYu7bYKd7UAjtuQYIEJlAAeUOcEVvUtd49Reo8hYZeXgtlUxsADdJmvLGneXsB1mcFSrSngThz8IUnN5I9DQJ0w4G-stH5htKK3gsTs48bPILdQ2zPiEDalbygt/s1600/DSCF5087.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsB9ioM0TAA1c7ygaglYu7bYKd7UAjtuQYIEJlAAeUOcEVvUtd49Reo8hYZeXgtlUxsADdJmvLGneXsB1mcFSrSngThz8IUnN5I9DQJ0w4G-stH5htKK3gsTs48bPILdQ2zPiEDalbygt/s320/DSCF5087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615834892557985282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2W0XO8vJlljdOEMtLaDwCDlz_odbmxRHL6XJhbsdc052MAn_yCRRbByvYD_0uHHh86qohcMW_-8V6dcX4G3iKaylFd4orAILfwpjpAV5PezltrV9lp83qd7qGO9sCRcz0h41ZGTn8ysLa/s1600/DSCF5054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2W0XO8vJlljdOEMtLaDwCDlz_odbmxRHL6XJhbsdc052MAn_yCRRbByvYD_0uHHh86qohcMW_-8V6dcX4G3iKaylFd4orAILfwpjpAV5PezltrV9lp83qd7qGO9sCRcz0h41ZGTn8ysLa/s320/DSCF5054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615830027837352386" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12lb 8oz. The worse self take ever? Possibly :)</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiATra-9OaROUmE7F_AiPF59MHbtdXyGVyKsfnlhGi-DbI5AgQpyX423ZoIKnzTH8T61gmm2ufHmRWkdbFF3i9d76e0TFwtcpmW8MAWSM1Ctt-K3we8gcPdTx_D2CkNzUJW2BFcrWZqNi4/s1600/DSCF5086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiATra-9OaROUmE7F_AiPF59MHbtdXyGVyKsfnlhGi-DbI5AgQpyX423ZoIKnzTH8T61gmm2ufHmRWkdbFF3i9d76e0TFwtcpmW8MAWSM1Ctt-K3we8gcPdTx_D2CkNzUJW2BFcrWZqNi4/s320/DSCF5086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615834125991843842" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The hard fighting Ghostie</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmGCZF_Y-PvnuYiUgEDT6Qo60L5MbYW1eduzrKgA5qhgNG79aZ2NdUU3cApnwPGnoUh4g6xLJIQFM9uhyphenhyphenYDy9sRd8SSwd4qOIrOKJh0fhRfJgewaOxMA8J2WH3ixcEc8SdmMiqFjadCcW/s1600/DSCF5080.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmGCZF_Y-PvnuYiUgEDT6Qo60L5MbYW1eduzrKgA5qhgNG79aZ2NdUU3cApnwPGnoUh4g6xLJIQFM9uhyphenhyphenYDy9sRd8SSwd4qOIrOKJh0fhRfJgewaOxMA8J2WH3ixcEc8SdmMiqFjadCcW/s320/DSCF5080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615832556325396018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">13lb +</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mirror</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9io3nSRQZzhP9FEK3wbj0s-flDqGZGufWp4quCVbM3SghRMtQJ5BXLRY3q2i23pRBHCZlODHRTsC6_59kfgHHWVVX77wIFnHDSYMGD9UtoS8SM8SDoC0ZTAeDsLxzkuy0CzU7RkLEx2Kk/s1600/DSCF5078.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9io3nSRQZzhP9FEK3wbj0s-flDqGZGufWp4quCVbM3SghRMtQJ5BXLRY3q2i23pRBHCZlODHRTsC6_59kfgHHWVVX77wIFnHDSYMGD9UtoS8SM8SDoC0ZTAeDsLxzkuy0CzU7RkLEx2Kk/s320/DSCF5078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615831625855562690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">16lb Common and a new PB</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVUUPxyf_GGlnBpbJLm-Acq3TtX9OMseT0NWdhviSFslGrIVk9Ezs2WYSrpvJk5b608nXT2Zn6wO8s73v3GpHUhsKduAv7PxNy25n9DB54mKfEZ3Gb_ptTRlszTYBnpjcpXWDuQNPxcPd/s1600/DSCF5061.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVUUPxyf_GGlnBpbJLm-Acq3TtX9OMseT0NWdhviSFslGrIVk9Ezs2WYSrpvJk5b608nXT2Zn6wO8s73v3GpHUhsKduAv7PxNy25n9DB54mKfEZ3Gb_ptTRlszTYBnpjcpXWDuQNPxcPd/s320/DSCF5061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615830455391191362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A cheeky visitor </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_f73_0cJP4mondDS6_03ivXjZqVXlmEIgFhtCufUhi2DQrxl6vQ9fRnAW0gU6_ZlpIYs6Ye8sjug2q9nx3pDgkHh9c8oT_xAXzFWvtM814DC5nzLuAPH3GfijSOHRqlteBUsmiuoB_l6B/s1600/DSCF5089.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_f73_0cJP4mondDS6_03ivXjZqVXlmEIgFhtCufUhi2DQrxl6vQ9fRnAW0gU6_ZlpIYs6Ye8sjug2q9nx3pDgkHh9c8oT_xAXzFWvtM814DC5nzLuAPH3GfijSOHRqlteBUsmiuoB_l6B/s320/DSCF5089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615836385538519522" border="0" /></a><br /></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-86348219509932092992011-05-20T13:40:00.005+01:002011-05-20T14:05:36.934+01:00If it's broke, then fix it!<div style="text-align: justify;">I planned a days fishing on my local canal today. It's been a while since I've fished it so it was about time I gave it a try. Allan had a day off work so he decided to join me. The last time I fished the canal I managed to snap my number 4 pole section. Still out of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">commission</span> I had little choice than to fish the tip. The bites <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">were</span> slow, very slow in fact. In around an hour and a half worth of fishing I'd managed to catch a Perch of just under a pound and Allan had managed to tempt a lonely Roach.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The fish were not biting and the clock was ticking, what to do? With the knowledge that the club matches weren't producing big weights. 3lb odd I'm told was the winning bag recently. We decided to make the bold decision to pack up and head to a different venue, not something that I do too often. We travelled to a lake that is likely to provide a little sport.. and it did just that.<br /><br />Allan was the first to catch and he landed a stunning Ghost Carp of 11lb 6oz a cracking fish, a new Carp P.B for Al.<br /><br />It was packing up time, Allan was long gone, and in a 'just one last cast' act of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">desperation</span> I managed to sneak a Carp into the landing net. A cracking fish of 11lb 14oz and a great fighter made the wait all the worth while. There is no more fun to be had than catching decent Carp on a 3/4oz tip<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The 11lb 6oz Ghost Carp</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y0qG4SeNKiIW4FUF3lnl2YV7ZXpkUOTCFbISltMshN21DkbGRGuyEw9pnv-LI9nyvzu4STPm_LKuzfMneAEFTngEvz2iSMr2FDcJnTz7A47-iHXDgd82Ox7kbx-o7v3QQa0YYl9rx8a0/s1600/DSCF5042.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2y0qG4SeNKiIW4FUF3lnl2YV7ZXpkUOTCFbISltMshN21DkbGRGuyEw9pnv-LI9nyvzu4STPm_LKuzfMneAEFTngEvz2iSMr2FDcJnTz7A47-iHXDgd82Ox7kbx-o7v3QQa0YYl9rx8a0/s320/DSCF5042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608782383730327794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">My 11lb 14oz</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFPi-yr1BeayEv6g0RyeoBztM-YZIryj6tkBpVle-X4XADFYWgmzaMJG1JaTwQyQYiCP7t2eIcbW8U3UkWgitRcRBzrfC64pf85sWSzTr0bcTnFGYE2gu5fXGeGWBZ06W2Gvi7SPIZetB/s1600/DSCF5048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFPi-yr1BeayEv6g0RyeoBztM-YZIryj6tkBpVle-X4XADFYWgmzaMJG1JaTwQyQYiCP7t2eIcbW8U3UkWgitRcRBzrfC64pf85sWSzTr0bcTnFGYE2gu5fXGeGWBZ06W2Gvi7SPIZetB/s320/DSCF5048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608782707271714466" border="0" /></a></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-85856371285569616302011-05-16T14:57:00.006+01:002011-05-17T12:52:04.758+01:00A bit of a catch up<div style="text-align: justify;">I've managed to grace the bank a few times over the past few weeks and I've fished a couple of different venues along the way. I can tell you this much though, I'm dying for the river season to start. Not too long to go now little under a month in fact. I'll be putting a bit of an effort in to catch Barbel and large Chub this year, both species I have not given enough of my time to target. I'll more than likely open my season targeting Tench and Bream, it's a bit of a tradition of mine that I wish not to break. The reports below are in no particular order.<br /><br />The stand out session of late was when myself and Panto had an early start on a Bream and Tench water. We had devastating results. I finished the session with 30 Bream (The average stamp being around 4 to 5 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lb's</span>) 4 Tench to 5lb+ and a Roach around a pound. Easily catching over 100lb of fish. Panto finished with 19 Bream and 9 Tench. What a session! <br /><br />A short session for Carp on the tip, didn't leave me disappointed. I caught a Common of around 10lb for my troubles. Catching Carp on the tip is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">awesome</span>, this one put up such a fight it bent the hook, thankfully I didn't lose the fish.<br /><br />A trip to a difficult private water produced a few Perch for me to just under a pound and a Bream of 4lb 10oz. Allan did a little better landing a good few Bream to five pounds and a stunning Rudd of 2lb 1oz. That's a great fish and a complete surprise from this venue.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">10lb Common </span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFNb1QbB2T_wWsdL0OgdIShoh2iE9N8N6Q3QUipHdkHsKN1MPe9yhCZJeQkWDVLq5rQYc-7UkfHptaJ_QBZEuVs64FvesAzRDu4MpMNjqX4AscOlTEQpqzK0VG_kfwxYJwF-vLY-xFiCu/s1600/DSCF5012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFNb1QbB2T_wWsdL0OgdIShoh2iE9N8N6Q3QUipHdkHsKN1MPe9yhCZJeQkWDVLq5rQYc-7UkfHptaJ_QBZEuVs64FvesAzRDu4MpMNjqX4AscOlTEQpqzK0VG_kfwxYJwF-vLY-xFiCu/s320/DSCF5012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607646078492634626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">4lb 10oz Bream</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv5kaOfLMd51S2JwaSpdC1dbRYXwyftTHOoCJcbpTk-Y6i91Iog1OoV-Av1ZiimfSLcEAZpXJQwHndO0CH5fU6R7Lim8NO-tzuI-m8hUKixkJ7OKxPVATsVtbWCN5lsdwD_nlXknLyQGQ/s1600/DSCF5016.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv5kaOfLMd51S2JwaSpdC1dbRYXwyftTHOoCJcbpTk-Y6i91Iog1OoV-Av1ZiimfSLcEAZpXJQwHndO0CH5fU6R7Lim8NO-tzuI-m8hUKixkJ7OKxPVATsVtbWCN5lsdwD_nlXknLyQGQ/s320/DSCF5016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607646659070471730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ruddy Hell! 2lb 1oz</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8RciJ-p0QDx7wwYRz_q7xBMNTxFzQROvgNHDonq-_IR1s7Gbo6EVsXLc7S68WoWwkT4DJ_F1W-mA1BDAJwoOB1M7w2-gGjuD0z2U2espxYd1f1au5GOF6gDYgxWz_ea3e8npJX1ct-aG/s1600/DSCF5017.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8RciJ-p0QDx7wwYRz_q7xBMNTxFzQROvgNHDonq-_IR1s7Gbo6EVsXLc7S68WoWwkT4DJ_F1W-mA1BDAJwoOB1M7w2-gGjuD0z2U2espxYd1f1au5GOF6gDYgxWz_ea3e8npJX1ct-aG/s320/DSCF5017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607647073356043538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The best Perch of the day.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Fzr5_sZ7q3ql32XjPG1FiOZTDSqSdOyhcok1iU8SsqvpCDjnWYWxM9XyCIaMXC9c-_D9HKgwLVJgA7HOM4QMQ-L8NleHPjB48851_SnWakNCOsmj7iHYZw04GC5Fzqy-KvPPQI_1VLf2/s1600/DSCF5013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Fzr5_sZ7q3ql32XjPG1FiOZTDSqSdOyhcok1iU8SsqvpCDjnWYWxM9XyCIaMXC9c-_D9HKgwLVJgA7HOM4QMQ-L8NleHPjB48851_SnWakNCOsmj7iHYZw04GC5Fzqy-KvPPQI_1VLf2/s320/DSCF5013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607646404934895602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">One of a few double hook <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">up's</span> for myself and the P' unit</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05YTy5XXaTNLSnGS4QA4qfHGzZiHuF4lLoTomyXEL3NLRlIYvxkfBf0wWjR9XqThNd1vtjo0JruoPIC-pOOfyfyGbyjh3XyR6xWBN3JK4kuQB7di87n9M2bfOQJzFpwDuyhuRkB2e_hd9/s1600/DSCF50388.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05YTy5XXaTNLSnGS4QA4qfHGzZiHuF4lLoTomyXEL3NLRlIYvxkfBf0wWjR9XqThNd1vtjo0JruoPIC-pOOfyfyGbyjh3XyR6xWBN3JK4kuQB7di87n9M2bfOQJzFpwDuyhuRkB2e_hd9/s320/DSCF50388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607647871101222466" border="0" /></a><br /></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-30932756858745599222011-04-28T11:17:00.010+01:002011-04-29T11:20:37.921+01:00Jukes first boated Fish<div style="text-align: left;">When I set the alarm for 2:15 am that can only mean one thing. A day's fishing on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Juke</span> with Ben was a foot.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />We arrived at the water just as day was breaking. As we are becoming more familiar with the water we have started to name the various swims that we fish. Some of which will not make any sense to anyone but myself and Ben. I will refer to them throughout the blogging as they will make a valuable reference tool for years to come.<br /><br />We anchored up in 26 Bay and sat it out for a few hours. We fished 2 dead baits each and cast various lures in the area. Nothing came to the lures, but one of Ben's floats signalled a take. Wow! Was this to be the first fish to be boated on the new boat? Both our hearts were racing as the float started to move off. I readied the net... Then it stopped. The Pike had dropped the bait. Damn! We concluded that it must have been a small Jack Pike, the bait was a fair sized Mackerel, too big for the rooting Jack.<br /><br />A couple more swims were tried and early afternoon we dropped anchor at Seagull Island. We'd been there perhaps half an hour when my float started bobbing. Yes! I was in! I struck the take and a positive resistance confirmed that indeed I had a fish on. We were fishing over 20ft of water and it was an amazing sight to see her as she came up to the surface. I'm not used to catching Pike in 'gin clear' water. The first fish on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Juke</span> weighed 10lb 10oz. Not a bad start to our boating adventues.<br /><br />Ben has some great video footage of her going back into the water. I'll post that as soon.<br /><br />We finished off the session with a bit of trolling. A good way to learn the water and to find features, depths and drop offs etc. Ben even had a take. Alas it came off. Time to read up all about Trolling for our next visit then.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The first boated Pike. 10lb 10oz </span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjEdazncG1YopUIOUaicmJFeCYgwRD0MFzUPckD56HUtTmnd0tyF_yVRJz5LTYM1CHlZK_PcnseAx0dTAxjGP06bzn8vkprVzPjx-54J9suAO9_w7-ozBR0V6wKQM6gR2IHpRUhCshOHY/s1600/220508_10150176766132268_553087267_6696675_5823846_o.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjEdazncG1YopUIOUaicmJFeCYgwRD0MFzUPckD56HUtTmnd0tyF_yVRJz5LTYM1CHlZK_PcnseAx0dTAxjGP06bzn8vkprVzPjx-54J9suAO9_w7-ozBR0V6wKQM6gR2IHpRUhCshOHY/s320/220508_10150176766132268_553087267_6696675_5823846_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600594084687558978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A very low flying Chinook Helicopter</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9Z9zUGkW8gX0ImOsy5iTEZ0I_Tr5_G-Bsy58BGwp4niUQyqznW8WAK1pS9Eg6-tJvFogo9mRzlZLStQiqfirE0PQheq7dx2qdds8dQwXxxGsXg1IEO7Tc1U2BjTMWXvmAIugbp56Nj0U/s1600/218968_10150177166702268_553087267_6700353_5856393_o.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9Z9zUGkW8gX0ImOsy5iTEZ0I_Tr5_G-Bsy58BGwp4niUQyqznW8WAK1pS9Eg6-tJvFogo9mRzlZLStQiqfirE0PQheq7dx2qdds8dQwXxxGsXg1IEO7Tc1U2BjTMWXvmAIugbp56Nj0U/s320/218968_10150177166702268_553087267_6700353_5856393_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600594452729044434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back she goes</span><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzHo8ZciArBvZPHXgoNyBfQ5uf0Kq2HmHzPibYIjBnE60I4IgjIl3nao5nAsDaSYsqS61I7K4QR86soHoMLgw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-43967409570691986932011-04-26T08:48:00.006+01:002011-04-26T19:12:21.562+01:00Three PB's in a day<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bank Holiday Monday</span><br /><br />I had a few options of when and where to go fishing this weekend, eventually I chose to fish for Tench. Some will argue that it's too early for this particular species. They're wrong! Why hold back on catching them? They come to no harm being fished for at this time of year. They're just waking up from their winter slumber, and once located they will provide a great days sport.<br /><br />A visit to the water the week before resulted in a disappointing session. I managed to catch just one Tench and two Bream. <span style="font-style: italic;">(I never thought I'd regard a session where I caught a 5+ Tench and two Bream over 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lb's</span> a disappointment</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">perhaps I'm becoming a little expect</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ant)</span> The Tench were feeding but not on the side of the lake that I was at. I watched the water throughout the day and one peg in particular was doing the business. That would be the peg I'd head to on my next visit.<br /><br /><br />Bank holiday Monday! A foolish day to be going fishing? The thought had crossed my mind, but rather surprisingly the water wasn't full of anglers.<br /><br />I was set up in my swim before sunrise ready to catch the early morning Tench feeding. As daylight appeared it became apparent that there was a thick fog surrounding the area. <br /><br />As the fog lifted, the sun finally managed to make an appearance. Within a couple of minutes of the glaring sun hitting the lake I was in to my first Tench. A coincidence? I'd say not. The fog must have been putting them off the feed. A theory perhaps backed up by the fact that as I was playing my fish, my other rod was screaming off. I'd sat there for three hours with nothing to show and suddenly I was in to two at the same time.<br /><br />I landed both fish, a brace of 5lb Tench. Things were looking up. I cast the tip rod to mid water and picked up what I thought was a Bream. I couldn't believe my eyes when I netted a stunning Roach of 1lb 7oz. A new PB Roach for me and by some margin too. I was delighted with this catch and I was thankful that it came on the tip rod and not the ledger rod, as it made the catch a little more special.<br /><br />The Tench fed steadily throughout the day and I ended up with a record haul of 12 Tench in total and an average stamp of around 5lb +<br /><br />The biggest Tench of the day was a right old lump of 7lb 4oz. I'd managed to beat my old Tench PB by 1lb 7oz. Another catch made all the sweeter as it also came on the tip.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The 1lb 7oz Roach </span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYLRgx93L8YCMTeG_n2AIXcu35sC-5LIAljeT4bucqCdlDrZcBIKehSPnazZOUq942DLfHZxYJ0yPYFxT6nvsbWY233hqFZhs3_QLr7KEbvKodvsPvEwBU0NMSn_bgwld42imheKy81Ep/s1600/DSCF4990.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYLRgx93L8YCMTeG_n2AIXcu35sC-5LIAljeT4bucqCdlDrZcBIKehSPnazZOUq942DLfHZxYJ0yPYFxT6nvsbWY233hqFZhs3_QLr7KEbvKodvsPvEwBU0NMSn_bgwld42imheKy81Ep/s320/DSCF4990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599940482561005650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The 5lb Brace</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTKnGQRxhl4CYSN0YMbBUvkgYXt9QG9iBaB7iLhKy4OLBj1drBGovmJm3oY2Nj3YxOUVbFxsYbt6bDPmm2UsoKJaG_6A-7EuVr1jhaa3YahZKHQlAMVyXVxG1y0-o0lW0BxJsxi3YPdjS/s1600/DSCF4986.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTKnGQRxhl4CYSN0YMbBUvkgYXt9QG9iBaB7iLhKy4OLBj1drBGovmJm3oY2Nj3YxOUVbFxsYbt6bDPmm2UsoKJaG_6A-7EuVr1jhaa3YahZKHQlAMVyXVxG1y0-o0lW0BxJsxi3YPdjS/s320/DSCF4986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599939655694974802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">7lb 4oz and a new PB</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl6CONjA9eo7K_czNpIsmLsCZcabdCLQi12MuK2fYTn9a2q-PnAxPa0iKBJMxpzznL69SDAF80fDvP-4OAl2OAm98CbIbV1TUODlJ6wEafByHoAcb2rwBU9Ko6Ws5UXy_bGuhdqhUfZqa/s1600/DSCF4999.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfl6CONjA9eo7K_czNpIsmLsCZcabdCLQi12MuK2fYTn9a2q-PnAxPa0iKBJMxpzznL69SDAF80fDvP-4OAl2OAm98CbIbV1TUODlJ6wEafByHoAcb2rwBU9Ko6Ws5UXy_bGuhdqhUfZqa/s320/DSCF4999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599943238447667922" border="0" /></a>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-74817243554437525712011-04-22T22:53:00.008+01:002011-04-23T11:45:19.112+01:00A very Good Friday Carping on the tip<div style="text-align: justify;">Good Friday was here and although I couldn't take the whole day off work, I would have chance to fit a good few hours fishing in. I made my way to a water that contains some good Carp and Tench.<br /><br />The weather was absolutely scorching today, easily above 70 Fahrenheit . The kiss of death for any fishing session if you ask me.<br /><br />I fished on the Greys G-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tec</span> 9ft 6" Bomb rod on bread flake. I was getting bites but wasn't connecting anything. I was obviously suffering to the hands of smaller fish. After a few frustrating hours I'd had enough so switched over to the method.<br /><br />I was sweltering in the burning heat, cursing to myself that I hadn't gone fishing earlier in the morning, more likely when the fish were feeding!<br /><br />Eventually after several hours my rod wrapped around and I was in to a good fish, it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">felt</span> a good lump too. On light tackle it took me a good 10 minutes to land. I was pretty happy to see a rather nice looking Common Carp of 12lb 2oz land in the net.<br /><br />My first Carp of the year but not the last as two more followed, the second 6lb+ and the third a very hard fighting Mirror Carp weighing 10lb.<br /><br />What great fun Catching Carp on the tip is, until today I'd never caught a Carp on the tip before. I'll definitely be having another go at them soon. <br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12lb 2oz Common Carp</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXwtevcwanxYOqn9Ior4RTmn07fMsaN1zqZTTjexcPAbFr2D79sKD9r9uQ-h5zSoW6Tb0QLiw9KuTxgZcLpSoh40NKJ7zWD5fKDCiKKeyzIH046OlImcJy4mHMaBj6zy1DC0ipxXapC0V/s1600/DSCF4977.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSXwtevcwanxYOqn9Ior4RTmn07fMsaN1zqZTTjexcPAbFr2D79sKD9r9uQ-h5zSoW6Tb0QLiw9KuTxgZcLpSoh40NKJ7zWD5fKDCiKKeyzIH046OlImcJy4mHMaBj6zy1DC0ipxXapC0V/s320/DSCF4977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598530802341731138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">6lb 5oz</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI88QR4FtJEXaJZG5ZXwZy5_aKjM5MtOmgMzzlgE1Mo-v7ZkWwZRxElIAIqD2enDEp7zC340XuL4XlTYQrU56uiiG6y7c_Yp9YLKobo3MpIC9_NNIlgt3GBh9GCOuqUrW2KQSH1hoiTfz/s1600/DSCF4978.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI88QR4FtJEXaJZG5ZXwZy5_aKjM5MtOmgMzzlgE1Mo-v7ZkWwZRxElIAIqD2enDEp7zC340XuL4XlTYQrU56uiiG6y7c_Yp9YLKobo3MpIC9_NNIlgt3GBh9GCOuqUrW2KQSH1hoiTfz/s320/DSCF4978.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598699720113367042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">10lb Mirror Carp</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9pgtQJPukJxd06seT4XvPS91FPlLm46IdiNm6qqm1SU1DdDKEtrbRa_7myboOjt1NXK23A6wP5VMdPsxa-kmEa1sb6V0_NaG-BHxwSZ8-hC4Is6dEDgpkB7kCKyBcK3EoyQQSQhUkGCn/s1600/DSCF4983.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9pgtQJPukJxd06seT4XvPS91FPlLm46IdiNm6qqm1SU1DdDKEtrbRa_7myboOjt1NXK23A6wP5VMdPsxa-kmEa1sb6V0_NaG-BHxwSZ8-hC4Is6dEDgpkB7kCKyBcK3EoyQQSQhUkGCn/s320/DSCF4983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598530554127208690" border="0" /></a>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-76694277418813849262011-04-18T23:28:00.005+01:002011-04-19T00:02:54.010+01:00A Bream and an unintentional Pike<div style="text-align: justify;">I asked Allan as to where his preferred fishing destination would be for this Saturday's session. And he chose well. We headed for the first time this year to the Bream water.<br /><br />We arrived just after dinner and our intentions were to fish it an hour or two into dark.<br /><br />The fishing was steady but not prolific, I caught a few Roach and Skimmers. If I remember rightly I think I ended up with 21 fish on the day, Allan fared a little better with 27 or so. The Bream were a no show, although around 10pm Allan landed a cracking fish of 5lb 2oz. They say Bream feed in shoals and once you catch one if they stay on your bait you'll catch them all. Well not on this occasion, as this was the only Bream of the session.<br /><br />My session wasn't without incident. There was a opportunist Pike striking at the Roach as I was putting them back in the water. I'd say that throughout the day it had snaffled around 6 of my fish. Finally the inevitable happened, as I was bringing a fish in, the Pike struck and and my tip rod bent over double as it tried to make off with it's free meal. During the fight I'd managed to hook the Pike in it's scissors. The Battle was cut short by Allan's swift netting skills. The Pike was around 5lb. It looked like it had been in the wars a little. Scars from recent spawning activities I'd wager.<br /><br />I just can't seem to be able to get away from these them there Pike!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The 5lb 2oz Bream</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEvrKiPzLSnAJvlkv-_2THpZoIwSYM865PhmfeJx7pjYan3mcLboJc7cXyHIPkDaMx8VDCfOnqLd4Eo5D_8r7CCHsK7G7AAJn_gVAlay7prnxCdqF3yyVVj2NKp0Dyv6-jVyoXizXQM6F/s1600/DSCF4961.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEvrKiPzLSnAJvlkv-_2THpZoIwSYM865PhmfeJx7pjYan3mcLboJc7cXyHIPkDaMx8VDCfOnqLd4Eo5D_8r7CCHsK7G7AAJn_gVAlay7prnxCdqF3yyVVj2NKp0Dyv6-jVyoXizXQM6F/s320/DSCF4961.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597060688720259746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The probably 5lb Pike</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsazDdOaEOXp2hrB1tsohQAtTrSpW1rmd1ghZQYWHVRkVRL5K6PbaxFtE1b2AKTJkzC-7XhymOH1hhJ5c3NeUOVwrJRWAr4UPSHpRd0JeTgwZE249LKocpdybTWoQfLGfOXiw_UcramLQ/s1600/DSCF4958.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsazDdOaEOXp2hrB1tsohQAtTrSpW1rmd1ghZQYWHVRkVRL5K6PbaxFtE1b2AKTJkzC-7XhymOH1hhJ5c3NeUOVwrJRWAr4UPSHpRd0JeTgwZE249LKocpdybTWoQfLGfOXiw_UcramLQ/s320/DSCF4958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597059160889501714" border="0" /></a><br /></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-58378510814482387252011-04-18T21:54:00.005+01:002011-04-18T23:25:45.365+01:00Meet Juke<div style="text-align: justify;">Since the very first time I ever cast a rod with my friend Ben, the subject of owning a boat has been touched upon many times. At the end of last year the opportunity for Ben to finally own a boat of his own came along, and his long time dream had at last come to fruition.<br /><br />Ben has worked tirelessly over the last few months <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fettling</span></span> the boat. There is a saying amongst boat owners <span style="font-style: italic;">"A boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money into" </span> This is perhaps a saying that Ben would almost certainly agree with. The list of purchases he's had to make before launching <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Juke</span></span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">unenviable</span>. Anchors, rope, chain, battery, floor matting, life jackets, electric motor, tow bar are to name just a few.<br /><br />Thursday the 14TH April was to be the day that we would finally launch <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Juke</span></span>. We headed on to a large glacial water and went about exploring various bays and swims and checking depths with the on board fish finder. We found a few decent areas to fish and went about casting lures. We didn't catch anything but we weren't too bothered as today was more about learning boat craft than catching fish... Hopefully that will come on our next trip.<br /><br />We had a great day exploring the water, and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. As we came into shore Ben was the first to disembark, as he stepped out of the boat he lost his footing and disappeared out of sight (I'm laughing so much I'm struggling to write this) fully submerged he came back up absolutely soaking, making a mockery of the fact that he was wearing waders :D<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />GOOD!</span><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ben and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Juke</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-YrMxVs5NnEbwLGWK-CAVhhMBRah1IsQJe2QFCuyy5g_IBTEQcxSA1WjiZqUJGXmNxijTz20UAaKlSDpQ1S0cNaPrBNFAoi4Wt1QCCXuuwo2b0cmptB40-YA4HCKHVlhXQAvqtxwCCLK/s1600/DSCF4951.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-YrMxVs5NnEbwLGWK-CAVhhMBRah1IsQJe2QFCuyy5g_IBTEQcxSA1WjiZqUJGXmNxijTz20UAaKlSDpQ1S0cNaPrBNFAoi4Wt1QCCXuuwo2b0cmptB40-YA4HCKHVlhXQAvqtxwCCLK/s320/DSCF4951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597030631674981634" border="0" /></a>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-67530538490084174742011-04-10T09:43:00.006+01:002011-04-10T15:01:53.520+01:00Spoons are not just for desserts<div style="text-align: justify;">The Piking rods are hung up in the garage and I probably won't be bringing them out until late August beginning of September. Some may argue that October 1st is the traditional day of the start of the Piking season. However given that most waters will be in flood in November and the possibility that December through to January the waters will probably be frozen over, the Piking season is somewhat cut short by the elements.<br /><br />Having said that the nights are getting longer, and the opportunity to head to a water to cast a few lures is almost too hard to resist.<br /><br />I called Allan and suggested we head to a private water to see if we could tempt a Pike or two, foolishly he was agreeable.<br /><br />The water we fished is pretty large and there are a few bays that hold a good head of bait fish. What self respecting Pike wouldn't set up home there?<br /><br />I tried several lures but eventually chose a kuusamo spoon which Gord had talked me in to buying. (<span style="font-style: italic;">which I haven't paid him for yet. I'm sure he's losing a bit of sleep over this, no seriously he will be losing sleep over it, he's reminded me to pay him for it I'd say no less than six occasions.)</span><br /><br />Spoons are often neglected on waters in favour of more 'in vogue' lures such as replicant's and Rapala's. My personal best Pike of 26 lb fell to a spoon. The flash of steel caught by the overhead sun as it cuts though the water is often far too a temptation for a Pike laying in ambush to resist.<br /><br />A point soon proven by the fact that the only fish caught on this session fell to a spoon.<br /><br />A Pike of around 6lb a little battle scarred probably from the rituals of recent spawning activities put a nice bend in the Jerkbait rod.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Just couldn't resist the sp</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">oon</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0VE2dWDzuwM9Tnv1hCD5DSYqlrjeoBTEai01WxcknJAhDS214s0ZjDKtrgLma7HEI_OXDMwpf43BIYk28z5d0p7vUmlMWlvKP3vcscMuhmWbMgUto11OzPPjfefaxwsQAP6SIgTewq6a/s1600/DSCF4929.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0VE2dWDzuwM9Tnv1hCD5DSYqlrjeoBTEai01WxcknJAhDS214s0ZjDKtrgLma7HEI_OXDMwpf43BIYk28z5d0p7vUmlMWlvKP3vcscMuhmWbMgUto11OzPPjfefaxwsQAP6SIgTewq6a/s320/DSCF4929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593891031942519762" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The kuusamo 'Professor' spoon</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AILWJqec-kH-TOUQN4-9KJh6vMNjQc0PGw_u1ymUJbBjPLBzyeGC2fZKU1vGUeU4mH2oCYiagB1l11ahFa58ao2OB-qJS5yQix8vHmaoJR17hJvWCJnoz2iJ36ll-ck3vHemX76zzeHm/s1600/DSCF4946.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AILWJqec-kH-TOUQN4-9KJh6vMNjQc0PGw_u1ymUJbBjPLBzyeGC2fZKU1vGUeU4mH2oCYiagB1l11ahFa58ao2OB-qJS5yQix8vHmaoJR17hJvWCJnoz2iJ36ll-ck3vHemX76zzeHm/s320/DSCF4946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593954435461132146" border="0" /></a></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-10969671483350689582011-04-09T16:33:00.004+01:002011-04-10T11:14:34.922+01:00Bagging up time!<div style="text-align: justify;">I'm becoming a little <span class="hw">disillusioned</span> with the world of blogging. The reasons for now I shan't go in to. It's even crossed my mind to finish blogging altogether. However I have been putting quite a few fish on the bank of late, so I felt inspired to write a little report.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />My first Carping night fishing trip of the year, produced 3 decent sized Bream all of which were around the 4lb mark. No Carp on this trip. Panto fared a little better by landing two Carp around 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">lb's</span>.<br /><br />I also fished a local lake and fished the Method, two Tench and one Chub provided a little sport, but on the whole it was a quiet session.<br /><br />An early visit to a favoured Tench water wasn't the most porductive of sessions, although I did land one Tench of 5lb 8oz and a Pike of around a pound took a liking to my ledgered hook bait.<br /><br />On a better note, the fish on the canal have well and truly woken up, no longer am I scrapping around in the reeds with bread punch hoping to catch a few small Roach.<br /><br />I headed to my local stretch on Thursday, the weather was overcast and there was a light breeze causing a light ripple on the water.<br /><br />It's a great sign of how the session is going to fish when you have a fish in the net within the first minute of fishing.<br /><br />I caught a good head of Skimmers, Roach, Bream and even the odd Gudgeon, which were recently stocked in this water.<br /></div><br />I finished the day with just over 14lb of fish, I even took the trouble to count them there were 53 in total.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>I'll be heading back there in the next week or so hoping for a big bag of Bronze Bream.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wakey! Wakey!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo1Zy9hY7eR7bx-Dj6cx5dlezPF6WykbSKaNl9ZUsp_YLXdJp61Pzu8fNWdeQ8NOIlhqC5WASSeUoaM8qB5tApS0QdU2yuE4ewlH0rBlQb10Y4th4m1dI6l2dDO5VfPBkcmCU5Sw6Touh/s1600/DSCF4917.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimo1Zy9hY7eR7bx-Dj6cx5dlezPF6WykbSKaNl9ZUsp_YLXdJp61Pzu8fNWdeQ8NOIlhqC5WASSeUoaM8qB5tApS0QdU2yuE4ewlH0rBlQb10Y4th4m1dI6l2dDO5VfPBkcmCU5Sw6Touh/s320/DSCF4917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593895952714207394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">First bag up of the year</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0xDZ45e4QD7ZyGD6VRl4RH7whekWLywkxlgk53cFr-v0j7c1w3UKCqhntUMh6SV85syH3r5DTI-U-iCJSts70A2J35ojTbYV0-1CzQ3py2llDE-7umoMqyUE5MgIuKvy9ZvpTfCyildB/s1600/207286_10150160263822268_553087267_6544280_2447855_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK0xDZ45e4QD7ZyGD6VRl4RH7whekWLywkxlgk53cFr-v0j7c1w3UKCqhntUMh6SV85syH3r5DTI-U-iCJSts70A2J35ojTbYV0-1CzQ3py2llDE-7umoMqyUE5MgIuKvy9ZvpTfCyildB/s320/207286_10150160263822268_553087267_6544280_2447855_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593616210284625346" border="0" /></a></div></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-10276500736490229182011-03-27T17:22:00.006+01:002011-03-29T07:56:57.406+01:00The late bird doesn't catch the worm!A tip session on a private lake that holds some decent sized fish was on the cards today. I arranged a time with Panto and Allan that at first was 6 O'clock then changed to 7 and finally stopped on 8am.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />The water at this time of the year is very peggy, the majority of the fish seem to hold in one particular bay, accessible by only three pegs. It would seem that a few people have worked this out for themselves, thus there is usally a clamber to the hot pegs.<br /><br />As I arrived and made way to the area I could see that two anglers had beaten us to the swims.<br /><br />I was annoyed at myself for not making the effort of getting out of bed sooner. I said we'd struggle to get bites and that we did. Allan fished the Pole and didn't get a bite. the whole session. I fished the the tip which produced nothing! The ledger rod saved me a blank by catching a Skimmer of around a pound, better than a blank I suppose.<br /><br />Panto, fished one of the hot pegs on the Pole and caught quite a few small fish. Q.E.D!<br /><br />The trip wasn't a complete waste of time though as I observed some nice Long - tailed Tits, one of which I managed photograph.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Long tailed- Tit</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZD8GrVrykq02feHmFKDYOUd4N64m2CmGIQUpHaDv7hrGLdYnfpwqutya0FePE2VfVbRWQureTYHvIWIN7Ybe2iwM177URoMW2rzXOYgeHGhLPmiuHZ7meY2SLfWc92-G5dUxDg1huNKK/s1600/DSCF4913.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZD8GrVrykq02feHmFKDYOUd4N64m2CmGIQUpHaDv7hrGLdYnfpwqutya0FePE2VfVbRWQureTYHvIWIN7Ybe2iwM177URoMW2rzXOYgeHGhLPmiuHZ7meY2SLfWc92-G5dUxDg1huNKK/s320/DSCF4913.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588803147597412834" border="0" /></a></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-34785398226753237772011-03-24T20:42:00.009+00:002011-03-27T18:19:50.003+01:00Time for the tip<div style="text-align: justify;">The Pike rods are packed away and it was time to blow the cobwebs off the tip rod. This is what I love about fishing - just as one door closes another one opens.<br /><br />A sunrise session on a misty lake was a fine start to a new campaign. It was time to see if I could catch a Tench or Bream awakening from it's winter slumber. I fished the Tip and I also ledgered one rod on a bite alarm.<br /><br />There wasn't too much sign of life on the water, spare some inquisitive fry hanging around the margins.<br /><br />The tip rod wasn't responding too well on the maggot feeder, in around two hours of fishing only one Roach made an appearance.<br /><br />The ledger rod was better, three fish came in total. The first a Bream around 3lb's followed by one slightly bigger at perhaps 5lb's. Then came my first Tench of the year. I took the trouble to weigh this one, 4lb 2oz not a bad fish.<br /><br />As this rod was producing I switched the tip rod over to the same bait. It lay motionless for around an hour when I got a whacking take. I hit into it and felt a good weight at the end, a hard fighting Tench led me a merry dance.<br /><br />I'd forgotten just how well these little fella's can fight, pound for pound they'll give any fish a run for their money and at 5lb 6oz it was a decent sized fish, certainly worth unzipping the Reubens from their pouch. A good days fishing, and it was nice to be back on the tip, to me that means one thing... Summer is coming!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">5lb Bream</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiT7O9O_5TzNd9csIQ3FK8eLs-6YaH8LJ-W4AlQhi02B2BQg-S9Pots3TL5egjM5LTxadLx8F7v8KRe_cy_Uw5pb3luZGM8df9Bs5JYPK8QtKlqIb8F18i0XyoDHrWdFBcaU1VJkAyTNaL/s1600/DSCF4902.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiT7O9O_5TzNd9csIQ3FK8eLs-6YaH8LJ-W4AlQhi02B2BQg-S9Pots3TL5egjM5LTxadLx8F7v8KRe_cy_Uw5pb3luZGM8df9Bs5JYPK8QtKlqIb8F18i0XyoDHrWdFBcaU1VJkAyTNaL/s320/DSCF4902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588806686843538418" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">First tench of the year</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhKOVHXvRx3tIByZzcnWQtWPfV2nQUuKngKcIZ6E_clev5_pNdTUBcnyhfCcydBUhMSMay-oYeicaLakz7aLDPWKBkiDSLIRYGO4O71_qufqC93iWI_-M3DnH0W0okhL1mNVN4hFkO8kF/s1600/DSCF4904.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhKOVHXvRx3tIByZzcnWQtWPfV2nQUuKngKcIZ6E_clev5_pNdTUBcnyhfCcydBUhMSMay-oYeicaLakz7aLDPWKBkiDSLIRYGO4O71_qufqC93iWI_-M3DnH0W0okhL1mNVN4hFkO8kF/s320/DSCF4904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588807282821799906" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Immaculate 5lb 6oz</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpr2SHG_bdtu2wQ8JkhOl5NSpjJcpMCUtCBPsc8OSEmVSZfxp6OIkUrdqAvsmvoTrbr0q99R6uXx-JOphUjOnsrZu5DWl_3CKTPmuRBIHtX_jsFT67APCE9DF7px9UtyN8GJbSpPSgdbs/s1600/DSCF4906.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpr2SHG_bdtu2wQ8JkhOl5NSpjJcpMCUtCBPsc8OSEmVSZfxp6OIkUrdqAvsmvoTrbr0q99R6uXx-JOphUjOnsrZu5DWl_3CKTPmuRBIHtX_jsFT67APCE9DF7px9UtyN8GJbSpPSgdbs/s320/DSCF4906.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588808143290154578" border="0" /></a>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-60851091836411779742011-03-15T08:30:00.010+00:002011-03-16T00:06:03.598+00:00The toss of a coin<div style="text-align: justify;">Well it was here, the final day of the river season. Myself and Panto were to make the most of this nostalgic day by meeting up at day break. We both had our eyes on an area we wanted to fish. In the interest of fairness and sportsmanship we decided to let fate decide our positions. The winner of a coin toss would not be able to decided where to fish but would be given the 'Hot Peg' A twenty pence piece was tossed into the air and Panto called heads. It was tails! The peg was mine. A forlorn Panto trudged off to the next swim. The peg choice indeed proved to be critical.<br /><br />The action came fast and furious. In around three hours I landed a total of 5 fish to 11lb's, they were mostly small Pike between 5 and 8lb's but they were still giving the rod a good bend. I stayed until dusk hoping to catch a decent Perch but they didn't show. Panto was left cursing his luck as his only fish of the day was a tiny Pike of around 10oz.<br /><br />I'd seen the season out in style, in under a week I'd netted a total of 15 Pike, nearly half of which were doubles. I will look back at this season with great fondness. I've taken numerous canal doubles to 16lb 4oz, and my new Sluice PB of 17lb 6oz won't be forgotten in a hurry. I've had a great haul of Pike over the last few months and It's been great fun catching them. I've had some great laughs with my mates along the way, and at the end of the day, that's what it's about isn't it? <br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The first of five</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd33Ipr2kHFGN22gkOTD5jO1Blfy6SKaKkKCBymi97-47uZp1Nl7Ua-40puHtRJ97LErxUy2svzknGqj67xRY1beN_i8EUFfB2yE-vgCQx3h3Rql1hA_rI1zxGeQWqu30dd2WiuI8Jw6zc/s1600/DSCF4899.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd33Ipr2kHFGN22gkOTD5jO1Blfy6SKaKkKCBymi97-47uZp1Nl7Ua-40puHtRJ97LErxUy2svzknGqj67xRY1beN_i8EUFfB2yE-vgCQx3h3Rql1hA_rI1zxGeQWqu30dd2WiuI8Jw6zc/s320/DSCF4899.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584459656628233442" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The last double of the season</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbyO3-hvxUWnBn9MtvrVZGGI1nYg8YTvCrc71sNEFLHAoTz92cjBUUfct5CQJqPhqz1y5m9r3C7N37wqZ-n8zwNn39DNtTAzvJKHKz9mlZNQzefU15VzE7s58j2ltpQKXe-yHiZMX_5It/s1600/DSCF4896crop.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbyO3-hvxUWnBn9MtvrVZGGI1nYg8YTvCrc71sNEFLHAoTz92cjBUUfct5CQJqPhqz1y5m9r3C7N37wqZ-n8zwNn39DNtTAzvJKHKz9mlZNQzefU15VzE7s58j2ltpQKXe-yHiZMX_5It/s320/DSCF4896crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584457535328122962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A leeched up Pike<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fUT5-a002Q46impIq43Iur9_4jkpOhqwg-CmOUHCM9syIyr1XADLFq16pW6v5kzn4YPHgkpjmjHlaHTTmOq3k0fkYEYxrdhj24EwUzyX3Is9JSwmz4E2GXVtknsf8LscLCtlMVnb7TfJ/s1600/SDC11606.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fUT5-a002Q46impIq43Iur9_4jkpOhqwg-CmOUHCM9syIyr1XADLFq16pW6v5kzn4YPHgkpjmjHlaHTTmOq3k0fkYEYxrdhj24EwUzyX3Is9JSwmz4E2GXVtknsf8LscLCtlMVnb7TfJ/s320/SDC11606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584460758856367634" border="0" /></a></span>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3611830391043344936.post-82129816521285604002011-03-12T20:31:00.003+00:002011-03-15T23:38:17.844+00:00At the double!<div style="text-align: justify;">It was Allan's turn to try his luck at landing a specimen Pike today. We met up at out agreed location at 7am. We settled on an area and after an hour I got itchy feet. It doesn't feel right here mate, We have to move. We saddled up like pit ponies and walked to a more favored stretch.<br /><br />Within 10 minutes of recasting our baits on to the area we'd both landed Pike.<br /><br />Allan was the first to catch, a nice double of around 11lb was his reward for moving. We were just congratulating ourselves in making the effort of upping sticks when I heard an almighty splash, I saw fish scatter and fry jump for their lives, my float disappeared into the murky depths with some gusto, this had to be one of the most violent takes that I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Another nice Pike just 2oz's shy of 13lb. I was a happy man as this was my sixth double of the week.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Allan's back!</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3Mn2P_8U0uAGelgF8_if3XI-_xYgnmZvr1-UACkNRULxEl00u_YLYwqeHP4bEnjYUZi1HNok_94wFnuiiLx2XSI918lnKXgKkYhiJnf1gAWq-qFt-k-WlIWpqIwrASFAIG_WPjKIUUUY/s1600/DSCF4887.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3Mn2P_8U0uAGelgF8_if3XI-_xYgnmZvr1-UACkNRULxEl00u_YLYwqeHP4bEnjYUZi1HNok_94wFnuiiLx2XSI918lnKXgKkYhiJnf1gAWq-qFt-k-WlIWpqIwrASFAIG_WPjKIUUUY/s320/DSCF4887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584453362968344882" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12lb 14oz</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMh2laE41Vs1vQ6hy5307icLzw-TkzCH-_HLAi02GDSsIrWpSy_tRfZha7oJUUr5qezZx53JcdGrtyI9PeIe_yH8aumyf1yc4bet5IXEQ9TVjbNxDwfxFFtn5w8jWi2fmu3d4bI7Q8SxGE/s1600/DSCF4889.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMh2laE41Vs1vQ6hy5307icLzw-TkzCH-_HLAi02GDSsIrWpSy_tRfZha7oJUUr5qezZx53JcdGrtyI9PeIe_yH8aumyf1yc4bet5IXEQ9TVjbNxDwfxFFtn5w8jWi2fmu3d4bI7Q8SxGE/s320/DSCF4889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584454536162386514" border="0" /></a><br /></div>THE PIKERhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01789972123399288259noreply@blogger.com