At the double!

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.

Within 10 minutes of recasting our baits on to the area we'd both landed Pike.

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.

Allan's back!

12lb 14oz

Panto has the last laugh!

Four days of the fishing season left and the chance for another session was not to be missed. I'd arranged to meet up with Panto, who I'd wager was still kicking himself for missing out on the previous days action.

Panto is no fool and had wasted little time in setting up on the peg that had produced fish for me the day before. I don't blame him I'd have done the same.

When I arrived at the swim I asked the dreaded question "Have you had owt?" I braced myself for the answer... "Yep two fish, both around 8 or 9 pounds"

But he'd done something that I couldn't believe, just as I got there he'd leapfrogged off the peg leaving it empty. What was he thinking? I thought, and as quick as a flash I jumped on it.

Ten minutes later I was in and Panto was left as sick as a parrot as I landed my first double of the day 14lb 2oz. Was it the same 14 that I'd had a couple of days previously? After checking the photographs at home I can confirm that they're actually different fish.

Another 20 minutes went by and I was in again from the same spot, another double and Panto was as white as a sheet.

Dont' worry mate your time will come...


Well lets just say that never a truer word was spoken, and indeed his time did come. I'm afraid at this point I'm not at liberty to discuss the events. I will do a follow on report in a month or so. Watch this space!

14lb 2oz

11lb 14oz
Scraper Double

The day Gordy was late for fishing!

As I slept in my bed last night I could hear the wind causing a commotion, the gates to the back garden were thudding against the side of the house, the gutters hummed a haunting tune under the stress of a menacing wind. This wasn't good news as I wanted to sneak a few hours fishing in the morning before work.

My fears of abandoning the session were not eased as when I eventually dared to peek out the window, it was absolutely chucking it down and blowing a gale. Damn it! I wasn't for fishing in that. I had though arranged to meet Gord this morning and when he phoned me we somehow managed to talk each other into still going despite the weather.

I'd set off and was making way to the Sluice when Gord phoned again. "I'm not fishing in that Matt, I've changed my mind" I pulled the van over, questioned my own sanity and almost turned back. No! I'd come this far, the gear was in the van and I'd set off already. The Pirate declared that if I was fishing it then he'd come too. Almost as quick as it was over the session then was back on.

I arrived at my peg well ahead of my fishing companion. I had the area to myself so I set about setting the rods up. My third rod was just about baited up and in the water when my left hand float indicated a bite. My reaction was that of glee as my indecision's on whether or not to fish this morning had paid off almost immediately upon my arrival. I wound down on to the slack line and set the hooks, I was met with some hefty resistance, what the hell had I hooked into here? I knew I was into a big fish because she wasn't for showing. A battle ensued and what seemed like around half an hour was probably in reality around a minute.

I finally raised her head out of the water. When she slipped into the net I took one look at her girth and guessed she was around 16lb. I zeroed the scales and watched the needle come to a stop on 17lb 6oz. What a result! A new Sluice PB and all I could think was 'Thank god I didn't turn back'

The Swashbuckling Pirate arrived just in time to take the snaps. Good old Gordie I knew he had his uses ;)

I stayed for a few hours just in case there was something else lurking in the depths, and there was, alas it was just a rooting tooting Jack of around 2lb's.

So a day of what if's and might have beens that has a happy ending. Oh and I'm still smiling to myself about that fish :D

17lb 6oz

The big girls are here!

Thursday:

An early morning meet up with Panto on the drains was arranged. I say early morning by that I mean 8am. Hardly the crack of dawn was it?

We decided to leap frog rather than stay static. A tactic that sort of paid off. Panto was the first to catch and within around 10 minutes of setting up. A plump Pike of just over 11lb followed by a small Jack 20 minutes or so later left me wanting. In fact I was left wanting for a good six hours or so before my float bobbed under and went out of sight. I too had caught a plump Pike, she was full of spawn perhaps adding a couple of pounds to her normal weight. Pre spawning she'd probably weigh around 8 or 9 lbs, laden with eggs she was 10lb 4oz. I had a couple of dropped runs probably by Perch but other than that there was no more action for myself or JP.

Panto's double

The fish that saved the day!

Friday:

I arranged a session on the sluice with Paddy. The fishing conditions were absolutely terrible. The water was chocolate brown and was pumping very hard. Needless to say we didn't catch. We packed up a little early with our tails between our legs. Maybe next time eh mate? :)

Saturday:

Myself and Allan decided to give the drains a rest today. I suspected that the Sluice would be busy, I didn't fancy being part of a crowd so a trip to the canal and fishing on the pole was my preference.

I made my way to one of my favourite pegs and set out for the Roach on bread punch. It's fair to say that the fishing got a little bit competitive between myself and Allan and when we checked the keep nets at the end I'd just pipped him 30-25. I'll say one thing, I'm going to be in for some trouncing by Allan on the pole this season. Despite his shovel sized hands and sausage fingers he's pretty damn good at this pole fishing lark!

I also set out for Perch today, I caught a couple of Pike and just the one Perch of around half a pound, not the biggest of specimens but it's a start.

Hopefully they'll get bigger!

Sunday:

Another trip to the canal fishing for Roach and to target Perch. What a contrast to the day before, I really struggled to get a bite on the pole. I fished the whole day and managed just the 8 Roach. This could mostly be down to the wind that was blowing the pole all over the place, somewhat hindering the presentation of the bread punch.

The Perch rod caught me three Pike, the biggest was around 6 pounds, Squeaky bum time on light line and a sticky clutch but bloomin great fun!





Tuesday:

The end of the fishing season is drawing ever near, with that in mind I couldn't help having a short session on the drains today. It was a decision that I was to be thankful for later.

My first fish came after around half an hour of setting up. I was sat starring at my floats watching debris sailing past me and wondering if I'd even catch at all today when my middle float shot under the surface and was away. A hefty lump at the end of my line tugged a bit and stayed deep but if I'm honest it didn't put up the biggest of fights. At 14lb 4oz it was a good fish, so I wasn't for complaining. Another fish of around 5lb soon followed, albeit a lot smaller but it gave me a much better fight.

The Pike were not done feeding just yet, another double as fat as a barrel and resembling a puffer fish was landed, and just before pack up a Pike of around 7 pounds ended the days fishing just nicely.

I'm pretty sure that if I was able to stay and fish the whole day the blogging would not have finished here. I had fatherly duties to attend to and I wasn't wanting to be on the end of an ear bashing from a disgruntled 8 year old if I was late for the school run.

14lb 4oz

The Puffer fish

Some fishing!

I've fished a few times over the last week, I thought it was about time I blogged about it.

Last week I had my first pole session of the year on the Canal. I was please with the results. I caught around 20 Roach during my shortish session. I also landed a couple of Pike, neither of which I could be bothered to take the camera out for.

FRIDAY:

It was time for me to give the drains another bash. A phone call to Panto the night before had inspired me to get back on the Sluice. The River fishing season is nearing it's end, time to cram a few sessions in.

I decided to fish one swim and stay there for the duration. I had five runs and landed three Pike in total. The biggest Pike being around 8lb's or so. Not a bad session albeit a short one.

SATURDAY:

Back to the drains, and foolishly I decided to fish the same peg as the day before. The result? A painful blank. Panto fared a little better by landing the only fish of the day, a Pike of between 7 and 8lb's

SUNDAY:

An early start and a new venue for myself and Panto. I dusted the tip fishing gear down and tried my luck at catching a few silvers. I had a few bites but only landed one Roach for my troubles. As for the Pike both myself and Panto were left wanting. A tough and bitterly cold day with little to show for it. I think we will head back there in a few weeks when the weather has warmed up a little. It's a long way to go for a one ounce Roach.

The comfort zone... When out fishing a new venue I often touch upon the subject of the 'Comfort Zone' by this I mean that it can be a bit of a wretch trying unknown waters especially if the fishing is slow. If I'd fished one of my regular waters today I'd have probably caught. The attraction of catching an upper 20 though is certainly an incentive to try my luck on a different venue.

MONDAY:

Back to the drains. The conditions were far from perfect. The water was chocolate brown and pumping a little too fast for my liking. I was here now though so I decided to fish it anyway.

A changed tactic today, I opted for the leap frogging technique. I figured that if I was to stand any chance of catching I'd probably have to drop a bait on a Pikes nose. After around 5 hours of fishing and 200 yards of moving swims I did just that. Finally one of my Pike bungs slipped under and I was in! A good fighting fish of around 9 and a half pounds made all my efforts worth while. I was optimistic of another take, but it didn't come. I was treated to a passing visitor whilst on the bank today, a Barn Owl came within a few feet of where I was fishing. It's a regular caller to this area, but this is as close as it's ever got to me. I just about managed to grab a couple of photo's of the occasion.

Friday's Pike

Panto's fish of the day
When the fishing's slow...

Don't ask!

Monday's Pike

A passing Barn Owl

Daddy! You're in!

A couple of weeks ago my little girl said to me.. . "Dad, do you know I've never seen you catch a Pike" Well I ask you! If that isn't a challenge then I don't know what is?

It was a really mild February day today, good fishing conditions and hopefully I'd be able to show her a Pike or Two.

Given that Ellie is only 8 years old, keeping her entertained and free from boredom would be a task in itself. I was hoping then that the action would come thick and fast. Within 5 minutes Ellie was already asking when the Pike would come. Thankfully within half an hour of setting up a rooting Jack called by and the pressure of catching was lifted.

I was stunned to see her hold the Pike with absolutely no fear whatsoever, indeed I'd say she held the Pike better than most Pikers. The photograph is below, judge for yourself :)

During our Piking session we landed a total of 5 Pike, mostly Jacks but a 7lb 6oz and 8lb 8oz Pike were the pick of the bunch.

The 8lb 8oz Pike was a familiar capture, in fact it's the third time that I seen this Pike in as many weeks. Allan was the first to capture it but regretfully it wasn't weighed, at the time we guessed the weight to be around 7 and a half to 8 pounds. The last time I caught it the scales topped 9lb 2oz. It's interesting to see the fluctuation in weight over a short period of time.

We had a great day's fishing and I shouldn't think it will be too long before I can talk her in to coming again. :)

The smile says it all

Held like a pro


One for Daddy

When the wind blows...

The weather report for today wasn't making for good reading. I opened the curtains this morning with a little trepidation as to what I may see. Gusting winds and rain were promised but as I peeked outside and observed the sun and blue skies. It seemed that the forecasters looked to have gotten it wrong.

Now I don't mind fishing in most conditions but high winds are certainly my least favourite. I'm convinced that winds and choppy conditions put the Pike off the feed especially on the drains and canals that I fish. My catch rates in high winds certainly back up my theory.

As I arrived at my swim there was a gentle breeze but nothing more. My first rod was baited up with a ledgered Mackerel, incredibly it was only a couple of minutes after casting in that the float was under and away on it's travels. What followed was scrap with a Pike that fought like the devil. These are the moments as to why I come fishing in the first place, that connection with a hard fighting fish is hard to explain unless you've actually experienced it. Well that's what I tell people who ask me as to why I spend half my life staring at a plastic mostly motionless floats for a hobby.

Once landed due to it's long length I thought the fish looked bigger than it actually was. I was surprised to see the needle on the scales stop at 10lb 2oz. Another canal double so I wasn't for complaining, it's not too long ago that I was chasing my first canal double. Since then I've had a fair few and long may that continue.

The morning was still calm a few non threatening scattered clouds hovered above. A buzzard circled over head, an awesome sight easily distinguished by it's vocal call, sadly too high up for me to capture a photo worth publishing on the blog. A Reed Bunting darted past several times, but this little chap was too fast and constantly on the move to have time to pose for a picture.

During the morning 2 more Pike were landed, both of them Jacks and both came on suspended Roach.

And then it the wind came... It grew stronger throughout the morning reaching speeds of 30+mph. As I'd predicted once the gusts came, the runs stopped. Packing up early and going home for a Coffee was too much of a temptation to resist!

A hard fighting double