Effort equals reward

Heard it loads of times, said so myself plenty. Sometimes you forget and expect it to just happen. Sometimes you forget and go home without giving that one last push. Sometimes you push harder than ever but it just doesn't happen and you're thinking, "effort equals naff all" so stop kidding. Fishing can be full of clichés and a roller coaster of emotions at times.


I usually save a few days holiday to the back end of the year, just in case there's a kids school panto to go to or something along those lines. Seems this happens less now my two are older, which has left me with a couple of days holiday still to take before the end of the year. "If you don't take them, you'll lose them" claims the boss, who probably rolls a few over in to next year. So when to use them? I need to put them in a week or two early so I get the nod, but then that means it will most probably piss it down just before and I'll be sat at home bored stiff all day, watching the river levels on line and trying to work out if 14 feet of extra water in is still worth a go. My other major problem with putting in a days holiday is everyone seems to find out and then ask me to take them to the airport, baby sit, wait for the postman and all sorts and my day or two off is ruined. The Mrs doesn't mean to, but to make sure she didn't let it slip that I had a few days booked off I didn't even tell her until the night before. Need to know basis, and I felt no one except me needed to know.

I was up at two hours before light which meant I was surfing the web, checking the weather and river levels one last time. It had to have rained up in the hills, it always does when I have the day off. But no, all is well and apart from a bit of blustery wind I should be fine. Turned out to be pretty mild and even though I'd dropped one layer I still had another too many on, which meant I was stashing layers of clothing along the river bank. No one hardly comes here so I was sure they would be still there when I got back. Looking back along the bank from a distance it wasn't that easy to spot my camouflage gear, hopefully I'd remember where I'd left it.

Wow, some of these swims look spectacular. If there isn't a fish in here I'll eat my hat. The hat tasted a bit dry and like cardboard. Jesus fecking Christ I'm knackered here, where are all the fish? The bank is covered in soft mud, I'm having to climb down and then back up to get to each swim. I put my bag on the floor and the next time I look around it's rolled down the bank. As I clamber back up the bank the mud is sticking to my boots and I'm now carrying an extra two stone on my feet. Who's bright idea was it to book the day off work? It would be easier at work. I look back at where I started out and it's a bloody long way back to the car. Head down I trundle on, struggling with slippery bank side and scraping more mud off the boots. I was giving each swim a good go, with trusted lures both big and small. Smaller first just to try and find any fish before chucking a lump in to see if the pike were about. Effort equals reward my arse.

I headed back to the car. It seemed to take me ages. I usually walk pretty fast but paced myself or I just knew that by the time I got back I would be shattered. All this gear, all these layers of clothes and it's stupidly mild for a winters day. Finally I was at the car and I was down to my boxers. The thermal under layers were off and I was now down to my fighting weight. I sat in the car and necked a full bottle of coke, all the time trying to hatch a plan. As I drove I was eating and the plan was still hatching. I was at the point where I didn't have a clue what to do. I didn't feel confident in any of the local spots I'd been fishing and pretty much nearly threw the towel in. For a moment I was Sandra Bullock, "stay on or get off, stay on or get off?" and then Keanu finally made the call and I was off to my next spot.

I hadn't fished here in a good while. I picked up the pike rod and went to catch a pike, I was determined now. Food and drink had refreshed me and I was ready to go at it full speed again. There was a bit of a shallow pool, probably about four feet deep just off some fast water. Typical ambush spot in the summer but would a pike be here now? First cast through and something rolled on my lure and by the looks of it, a pretty decent sized fish. I flicked back out my trusty Squirrelly Burt and as it came past the same spot the water erupted again and for a brief second I didn't feel anything. Was the pike on or just doing another half arsed hit. I felt the smallest amount of tension start to build in my line and I lifted the rod in to the fish. It thrashed and rolled before I quickly slid the net under a really well marked fish. Get in, finally a fish!

17lb pike - Musky Mania Squirrelly Burt

So a fish in the bag and I was feeling good again. Amazing that just one fish is all it takes. I'd have taken a jack but a fat seventeen pounder has me bouncing. Not for too long though as I'm back struggling up and down steep muddy bank sides and for the next hour I'm having no more luck. Just ahead where the river comes towards a bend there's a bit of a decent slack. That will do me I'll have a few chucks here and then see how I feel. I can at least have a rest, food and drink and then ponder whether to keep going or make my way back. I've no idea of the time by now but I can tell there's probably a couple hours of day light left at most. With a half hour walk at least back to the car, then a drive to a new spot, I'd need to get it right or I would be wasting these last two hours of daylight. Forget that for now, let's have a chuck in here and see what happens first. It looks a decent spot to me anyway.

14lb pike - Musky Mania Squirrelly Burt

What a super looking fish. Nailed the Burt after two or three casts. Top result, I'm over the moon now. The mornings hard graft for nothing was well behind me now and I was throwing lures with a smile again. A feisty little jack smacked my lure and went mental before a bigger fish smacked my Burt and this time it was a fish of around twelve pound. Three pike in three casts now from this spot and who knows what else is in. I switched lures and put on the Savage Gear line thru trout. After about eight casts and nothing I popped the Burt back on and it was only a few casts more before I got a tap on the rod. I missed it but not long after I had one and then another and before long I'd done about four more fish, one being about twelve pound and then another stunner at fourteen. What a day, what a cracking finish and I couldn't ask for any more.

14lb pike - Musky Mania Squirrelly Burt

This swim produced loads of fish for me, but I'd also had a follow from something that was bigger. It came in and turned away as I lifted the Burt out. Was I too quick? Would it have taken if I'd ave left it there? I'll never know and I didn't let it bother me. I might be re-living the moment in my head that night or thinking about it at work all week but for now I was just focussing on the lure and where it was in the water. Casting out to the flow and letting it slowly sink and then bringing it back at different angles to cover the whole swim. The rod went solid and immediately I knew. "Big fish, BIG FISH!". I still panic. It's all part of the buzz for me. That initial whack, a brief moment in time where everything is a blur before finally you realise what just hit. When it's a big girl, it's a mixture of emotions. I was loving this. I saw her and knew she was big, knew she was a twenty and I couldn't help but be in awe. It thrashed on the surface once, before diving towards my feet, then turned to go back out and slowly rose to the surface once more. Wow, what a moment. The gills flared and she shook her head again, what a fantastic sight. The net only just got her in and I was buzzing, absolutely buzzing. Effort does equal reward.

23lb pike - Musky Mania Squirrelly Burt

23lb pike - Musky Mania Squirrelly Burt

23lb pike - Musky Mania Squirrelly Burt

Here's the video from the full day. It has to be my best video to date by a mile. Takes you on my roller coaster ride and finishes in spectacular fashion. A memory for me to cherish and share with everyone thanks to the GoPro. Watch it, I guarantee you will love it.

Can't stop catching pike. Didn't I just say that?

So on to my second afternoon shift and more importantly, the fishing that comes before it. What fishing? What am I going to be doing? I had no idea and didn't have any one particular thing on my mind. I hate that. Often it turns in to doing something and then wishing I hadn't done that and done something else instead. Worst thing you can do is be caught in two minds or indecisive. I didn't bother setting the alarm but was still up at just turning 6am. I came down stairs, made a brew and sat looking at the interweb thingy. May be something will inspire me or I'll get an idea. At half eight I was still sat looking at the screen with my brew long since gone. I was in one of them can't be arsed moods. If I'm not careful I'm going to waste my morning. Our lass nudged me for a lift to work so with my fishing clobber on I dropped her off and then kept driving. First junction comes up, left or right? Next junction, left or right? I was making this up as I went along. I narrowed it down to a couple of places and then the next junction was the decider. Some dawdling twat on the inside lane made me choose the outside lane, it was settled.

On arrival I was still in ultra light mode and grabbed the gear without thinking. Because I'd had all those pike the other day  from the canal and had net problems, I chose the pike net this time. I know they are in here but never really given them much attention. I chucked a Burt in my bag also and grabbed the pike rod too. Not the best thing to do because for one, you have more stuff to carry and I'm forever juggling it all and then secondly I don't concentrate on one thing and always think the other lures would work. You need to stick to one style and make it happen, switching lure styles and making sure you have covered it all. After ten minutes with the ultra light gear I'd had one small perch. The piker in me was saying "get the Burt out, get the Burt out". Where were the perch? had all the big pike eaten them? I bet this peg is full of huge pike. Now I'm not focused on my perch fishing. Am I purposely trying to fuck up this morning or what with all this indecision?

I grabbed the pike rod and stuck on my clown of a Burt. I cast up the bank one way, then the other, nothing. This Burt is set up lovely, so it stops and then slowly dips its nose and then starts to slowly sink. The amount of time you can keep this lure in the water with each cast is fantastic. Time in the water is better than time out of the water. A couple of taps and then let it sink a little. If there are pike about, that rattle is sending out the message and one will be along very shortly. Another short tap and the Burt screamed out once more. There was something in distress and a pike was on it's way to find out what.

I saw a flash as the lighter underside of a pike turned and hit my lure, and in a fraction of a second the line was tightening. I reacted and the rod bent, I was in. There was a tail swipe on the surface and then the pike headed for the bottom ripping off some line. I felt like I was fishing blind having lost my polaroid glasses a week ago and not yet replacing them. I wasn't too sure how big this fish was but it felt strong. A few big tail swipes down low had the fish moving right in front of me from one side to the other but still no sight of the thing. As I put some pressure on, this lunge was stopped and the fish started to rise, as it touched the surface I was greeted with a nice lump. She didn't like it, thrashed her tail and shot across the surface. I think that was the last surge and I maneuvered her towards my net. A superb result and easily a good double.

Pike on Squirrely Burt

I slipped the big lass back and tossed out the Burt again, this time in a different direction. A few taps to make my Burt scream and then I let it hang. Another scream and again it was hit. The rod bent, there was an explosion on the surface but this time It stayed up near the surface. I could see this pike and it wasn't getting it's head down as I worked to get it in the net. A pike of about 9lb which I unhooked in the water. I lobbed the Burt back to the spot where the bigger fish came from. As if I was going to be lucky enough for another lump to be lurking there! I gave the rod a big tap and then just left it, Burt slowly sinking and out of sight. There was the tinniest of twitches on my line and I instinctively struck. The bend in the rod told me I was right to do so. Again this fish dived down and apart from a good bend I had no idea how big this fish might go. This fish went right across me as the other had before, and then as I bent in to it even more to turn it round the pike had other ideas. The spool span and line ripped out, this was a strong fish. I claimed back a bit more line and again a powerful surge ripped more line off. The first time I saw the pike it broke the surface and then with another surge it took line and headed deep again, though this time i think we both knew that was to be it's last lunge. This was another super fish and another big double, slightly bigger than the first fish.

 

Pike on Squirrely Burt

 It was now about ten to ten, I'd been here less than an hour and I'd had my fill of fish. I was soaked through from kneeling on the wet grass. A few casts later and I was ready for off. I'd cover much of the swim and was confident that the screams of my Burt were being ignored. I could have move off down stream, I could have moved to a new water but I was happy, happy with that result.



Here's a short video of the two big fish. Only a minute long as the footage captured wasn't fantastic, but you get a good close up look at them so that at least is worth sharing.

The last fish - The video

Here we are folks, my big lump caught on film to finish the season in style, all ready for you to enjoy. I didn't quite get 100 subscribers, no where near but at 60 now and just notched up 2000 total views. My lad says you should release something on youtube at certain mile stones, so that seems like a couple of good milestones to me. Hope you all enjoy.

Link to youtube video

The last fish

Happy with my last big fish capture, the eighteen pounder, I didn't really make plans to get out in the final week of the river season. Monday came and went and I didn't even bother getting out. Working the 6am-2pm shift I could have grabbed some quality time but instead went home and cut the grass in the glorious sunshine. I think I forced myself to fish a few too many times during the winter and that's not me, I prefer to go when I get that urge. Tuesday was something similar, bright blue skies forecast and I had no plans.

My thoughts started to switch to what I would do in the close season and I was thinking of all the places I needed to visit. Some of the places I'd not been to in ages so I have no idea of where the fish will be hiding up. The more I thought about fishing the more it made me want to go. It wasn't too long in to my shift when I got the urge so text the wife to tell her I wouldn't be home while dark. With the clear blue skies I didn't fancy the river for pike, but thought I could may be give it a go a little later as the sun was starting to go down. So instead I thought about some perch fun, but for some reason I then thought about something completely different.

If I could find some perch, what about using a few as live baits? I'd spoken to Woody and suggested we do this before on a certain spot but we never had a good crack at the river and didn't get around to it. If I caught some I could use them, if not I'd just switch to the original plan of a last hour big lure session. I finished my shift but had to go home to get the bait rod and my bucket so it was about half two when I got fishing. Finding the perch might prove a bit tricky though.

Half an hour and not so much as pluck. I was travelling light in case I had to carry a bucket of water back, no camera and no net just a handful of kopytos and my pliers. Out of nowhere I got a tap on the rod and then the rod bent and I was playing a perch. It fought hard on the little rod but I didn't think much of it, and then as it came up I saw a nice perch which was about a pound in weight. I'd never caught such a big perch in this spot and couldn't believe it. I couldn't use this one, even though I knew a pike would have no problem swallowing it in one go. The fish went back and I cast around a few times again. Tipy tap, bang! The rod was bent again and this time it felt bigger, what the hell? I had no net and had to get right down on my knees to hand land this perch, which was easily two pound. You have got to be kidding me! I was only after tiddlers. Another half hour passed and finally I'd bagged a few small perch, five in total and I felt that was enough to give me a chance of a fish or two.

The bait rod was set up with a simple float set about six inch above my 18 inch trace. I wanted the bait to cover the swims but also knew that there are varying depths and a few snags about and didn't want to have my bait tangled up in a sunken branch. Much of the water is about six feet deep and so any pike would know the live bait was there, usually my lures only work that depth too and that works a treat.

The first bait went out on the edge of some fast water, just in the slack. It moved around a bit but never went to far, just perfect. I was using larger hooks than you might when dead baiting and my plan was to set the hooks fast on the smaller perch which were about five or six inch long. A simple meal for any pike. If the hooks didn't stick then it might be a small fish, I was confident any trophy sized fish would have the whole perch in their mouth and I could strike early. It wasn't long before I had my first bit of interest and the float slid under. I bent in to the fish to feel a bit of resistance and immediately thought it was a double. The video camera was rolling and when it came in to view I was happy, a nice fish which went fourteen pounds. I turned the camera off and it beeped once. Wait a minute, it is three beeps for "stop" and one for "record." Aah you tit you've missed the action.

Second bait back out and in the same spot. Again not too long to wait and it slid under. I wound down and hit it, but the hooks came flying back at me. Let's all say it was a small jack just to make me feel better. I never felt too much so will never know anyway.

Third small bait out and it was out quite some time. Eventually the bait died on me and so I quickly changed the rig a little to use the dead perch in a sink and draw method. Twitching it back In I thought I saw a shadow and then the shadow emerged in the distance. It looked a good sized fish, but I left the bait there for a while and it never touched it. I decided to leave the spot and moved further down, twitching the bait, sink and draw all over the swim. Nothing else happened so I used my last small live bait and after two or three minutes I'd had another pike at ten pounds. I was now left with a small dead perch and one larger perch of around a half pound. I had saved this larger bait, I was going to put it back where I'd seen that big pike follow earlier.


I lobbed the bait back in the same spot I'd seen the fish, well more where I thought I'd pulled the pike in from. My GoPro was mounted on my head mount but to save battery I had it on stand by. I knew now that one beep would tell me it was recording, no mess ups this time if the float goes. The float went under twice as the perch struggled but then it settled and just slowly drifted a few feet from the spot it landed in. About thirty seconds later, less than a minute anyway, the float went under and stayed under and they way it went under told me it was a fish. Especially since there was now a large boil as the surface water moved beside my float.

One beep, I was recording. A brief pause, I knew the bait was bigger so just gave it a few extra seconds. The slack line was taken up so I hand fed a little more off and as the line started to tighten again I decided it was time. I hit the fish and the hooks seemed to stick, at the same time I nearly went arse over tit on a log. I felt a bit of good force and then realised my net was fifteen yards up the bank and so made my way towards it, keeping my eye on the fish but not putting too much pressure on. Walking with the rod, a bit of tension on the spool and then the fish bolting in the other direction could end up with too much force on the hooks so taking it steady as I made my way to the net was a good idea I felt.  At the net I was now settled and concentrating more on what me and the fish were doing, testing my clutch every now and again. First glimpse at distance and the fish looked pretty good. I dare not say it, but it looked a high double easy.

I worked the fish closer, it saw me and turned away taking line. This one isn't ready yet so I patiently kept on playing the fish. As the fish came up again I saw the top treble in thin air, then caught a glimpse of the other treble. It was only hooked lightly and so I backed off the drag even more, slightly too much at one point. I don't like messing too much with the drag during a fight as you can over tighten or loosen too much which can cost you but I had no option but to play it safe. Another reason is I will then forget to set the drag and the next fish could be a disaster.

The battle wasn't explosive, the fish stayed just below the surface for most of the fight but gave plenty of strong runs and had me panicking a couple of times. I turned the fish and finally it was coming towards me. I dipped the net and pushed it out as I worked the fish in. A brief resistance from the fish but finally it was in the net and immediately I knew I had done a twenty. On the mat the hooks were already free so I just cut the line and lobbed the trace to one side out of the way. I wasn't going to be doing any more fishing tonight after this. No more baits, the sun was starting to go down and I had a definite twenty in my hands. I knew there was a bit more to add to that and the scales eventually settled at 23lb 8oz. I grabbed some photos and put the fish back in the water  and as I watched her sail away in to the depths I couldn't believe I'd done a twenty on my last fish of my last pike session of the season.

Don't forget to subscribe to my youtube channel. The video of all the action is nearly complete so subscribe to see as soon as it's released. Thanks!

Good luck to anyone out tomorrow, and I really do hope a few of you can drop on something special. You're own target, your own bundle of fun and hand full of joy. Good luck, tight lines and thanks for reading!

That feeling you get on a Tuesday when you bagged a twenty ealrier in the day.

I don't believe it to be honest, I went and bagged a twenty. I think my own blog writing last night inspired me to get out today after work for the last few hours. Never did I expect the result I got though. If you've been stuck in most of the winter now is the time, make the time, to get out and have one last crack. You never know what could happen. Good luck and tight lines.

There will be a full blog update here soon detailing, and a full video of the fish and story on my Youtube channel. But in the mean time, this is a blatant plug for my youtube channel. Please pass it on to your fishing buddies, like and subscribe and when I think the time is right I'll release the video for you all to enjoy. I currently have 56 subscribers. My son, a youtube fan (not of my channel though) says that for my 100th subscriber I am supposed to do something special. Well let's see if we can hit that magic mark and the epic video will be up.

That feeling on a Monday when you a bagged a twenty at the weekend.

We're getting there folks. We're getting to that point where we can't fish the rivers any more. Just when everything is fat and plump, just when the rivers are starting to get in to a good condition some bugger goes and pulls the plug on it. It seems to happen like this every year, and then it seems like a really long way off before we can get back on it again.

So it's a mad rush for all to get on the rivers this week and try and get one last fish. As a piker it's the last chance to get that one last river twenty, that's the fish we all are chasing, all accept me. No I haven't already bagged one if that's what you were thinking. I finished work today at 2pm, the sun was shining and I had plenty of time to get some river fishing in but what did I do? I went home and cut the grass, it's growing like mad if you haven't noticed. I fixed the shed window too as the last nasty winds we had gave it a bit of a battering. A bit of a tidy up but I left some jobs for late, the closed season will be a long one. I then settled down with a pot of tea to watch the DVD of my team snatching victory in the very last second of the game. Work this morning was with a smile, a bounce, and lots of energy. The last time I felt like that on a Monday morning was when I'd landed a twenty at the weekend.

Last weekend I didn't even fish the river, I was out with a few forum lads who had booked a lake for a lure social. Most of them where new to the sport, some hadn't caught or even seen a pike before so I went as the "experienced" angler. It was hard work, crystal clear water and apart from a few follows not much happened. I reckon the place had seen a bit of lure action, despite the owner telling us it didn't get fished for pike. Every pike that followed was hesitant, and on a place that is not pressured at least a few jacks will smash the first lure they see. We didn't fail though in our quest. There was a follow from a couple of pike and two of the lads were trying to entice one. I passed my polaroids to Nick so he could see the action as he didn't have any and then I stuck on the reliable rainbow lip lure and wobbled it in. I couldn't see the pike or the lure and then Nick commented that the pike was following one of our lures, and then I realised it was following my lure. Both lure and pike came in to view but I had ran out of water, so I showed them a trick. Lure hanging right below the rod tip, a foot from the edge of the water and the pike sat face to face with the lure suspended a foot off the bottom. They were spellbound at this point, and I explained that you should never be in a rush to lift the lure out of the water. "Watch this" and I gave the smallest of flicks of the rod tip, the lure moved slightly and the pike smashed it. Don't let a pike think, let instinct take over. Not a monster but it was a fantastic sight to see and the lads were buzzing, plus we got to show them how to handle a pike so that when they bag a fish they can do it with confidence. We nipped off to a canal at the end and all bagged a couple of perch so no blanks. I also later got a message this week from Dave who was over the moon at catching two pike on the lures now he was confident that what he had been doing before was right all along. He just needed to put his lure in front of a hungry pike.



This Sunday saw me helping out at the Selby region PAC teach in day, as Mark Green had asked if I could get down and pass on some knowledge on lure fishing. It was a crazy March day, and the planned frosty fishing session with extra layers was instead met by glorious sunshine. It was a good turn out and a good few lads were keen to learn about lure fishing and I was glad to help. Too many things to talk about and too many questions for us to get fishing with the lures but I think those that came were happy with my mumblings. I tried to focus a little on the lighter lures as that is what has kicked off big style this last year or so in this country. Most of the lads weren't the serious pike fishermen, throwing huge plastics and jerks, so I just gave them a glimpse of that part. I think in the end about four fish came out to baits, so it was good that some of the new pikers got to have a close look at a pike and everything to do with handling. After my latest hook up the other day though, obviously I took a back seat for that demo!

You're not going to bag a twenty at this rate pal, you need to get some serious piking done. But that's not my aim, I class myself as a pleasure angler, a pleasure piker. I do love the big girl sat on my knee but I hate the hard grind of chasing one. You can dig back through this blog and often the general message about my fishing is, little and often. I enjoy getting out, armed with a few lures and the aim of catching a fish. Many times I blank, some times I get the result but that's how I like to approach things. It keeps it casual and keeps me away from the hard slog. Despite dropping on some good fish over the last few years I don't get about too much and I'm pretty new to this piking game, serious piking anyway, so I don't have stacks of waters to go at.

I had no plans at all to fish on Saturday, the wife and kids had far too many plans for me to even consider a small session. I resigned myself to a day of shopping. School shoes, party outfits, living room furnishings. Why doesn't she just order the stuff off the net and get it delivered to work like I do? Hell the day was that bad I even suggested taking the mother in law along, she's not that bad if I'm honest. Looking back, may be I did harbour a sliver of hope of getting out on the bank later in the day as I used a few time saving ideas. I used the in car sat nav to get me to all the locations as quickly as possible, gave a few words of encouragement and agreed at the first item they all wanted to buy. I was home for half two and when the wife asked "are you off fishing now?" there was only ever going to be one answer.

I love these off the cuff, spur of the moment sessions. No plans, no pressure to catch whatever I get is a bonus. It can be a fish, being outdoors, watching the sunset, anything and everything. Just anything on these little sessions is what it's all about for me. I just fished without thinking of anything and was just glad to be out.

There was a big swirl at my lure and I was in. The swirl gave me great hope as the water moved look decent, though within no time I saw a flash of tail and it looked like a jack. I'll take that, a fish is a fish. I moved the net closer to the water as I wasn't going to risk another self hook up if anything on this landing looked dodgy. I gave the fish some pressure to get it in and the jack gave me some back, going off on a typical crazy jack surge. I gave more, the pike gave more and after the third pass in front of me of the pike going up then downstream then back up, I was now hoping for a half decent double. Slightly more excited to see the fish, a little more effort was made to get the fishes head up and this just made the fish fight even more. Hold on a minute this is a good fish. As it neared the bank I was definitely netting this pike, an upper double easy and it doesn't matter where the hooks are it's going in the net for safety and as I pull the tail over the lip of the net I'm beaming. Super super fish. Most probably the last river pike of my season. I can't spake!

Glorious start to the new campaign

I've been told my old nickname of Golden balls is now to be changed to Platinum balls.

I was up at 4am, on the bank for 4:15am and by 4:30am I'd shifted a mass of thistles and nettles from my peg. Now to throw a few lures and see what's about. I was expecting a mass of hungry jacks throwing themselves at the lure, as was the case this time last season. Twenty minutes went by and nothing.



I edged upstream, teasing the lure through a few more areas that normally produce, but again nothing was even showing. Thoughts of a bad start jump in and then back out of my head and I tell myself it's still early yet and turn my focus back on to working the lure.

I'm down to one final swim that I figured I wouldn't have hit for at least an hour or more but after forty minutes I'm already there. It's shallow and snaggy here so I keep the lure, my 19cm SG rainbow lip lure, up high in the water. The water is slightly coloured after a bit of rain yesterday. Out of the darkness comes a head. It seemed like slow motion though before I know it I've connected and the battle has started.

My first thoughts are to avoid the known snags so all I'm doing is keeping her head up so she can't get her nose down into anything nasty. Once past the snags I then take a look at the fish and  congratulate myself on a great start to the season with a good double. But then as she comes closer I have to ditch that and instead I'm telling myself it's a twenty, I know it's a twenty.

A spawned out twenty one pound pike. A cracking fish still though and I'm left with a spring in my step and a massive smile. It's great to be back on the river and even better to drop on a fish like this. Over the next hour I manage to miss three jacks, one possibly a low double. I move off to another stretch of river where nothing shows. Plans to tackle more water are met with cars that look like they belong to anglers and since I'm now struggling with lethargy from my recent bit of man flu I decide to call it a day. Maybe I'll get out later this evening if I find some energy but I'm not wasting what little I have to get to a river bank that is already full of anglers. I'll leave them to it, good luck.

Sending her back

right place, right time.....and the right ghillie to put you on it

I got a chance today to get out with my mate, Mr Woodchucker. With the constant floods on the rivers we're all having (are we still talking about floods?) just getting on one has been tough. Working all week and then come weekend it's a wash out. Well it was snow melt that was still running through the river systems this time and it was touch and go whether to stick to the river as planned or jack it in totally and go somewhere completely different. After some lengthy phone calls, texts and the rest, Woody just took the plunge and opted for a day afloat. There's always a chance of a fish anyway but I reckon Woody simply wanted to get out on the river for a day.

We had to have a change of plan, at least on my part anyway. Being mainly a lure-a-holic meant I don't often change things but the river was no where near ready for results on lures so I had to sort myself some dead bait gear out. Saturday was spent sorting it all out and trying to think of what I might need and ended up with me twisting up some new traces ready for Sundays assault. We'd planned to meet early but I was awake even earlier and at 4am I was sat in the living room finishing off setting up the rod which I'd forgot to do the night before. That's why I couldn't sleep then, I must have known something was missing.

I met up with Woody, his mascot dog Tike, got the boat hitched up and all the gear in his car. We were hoping to be on the river for around 7am as with the days finally starting to start and finish earlier/later we wanted to make the most of it. The drive to the river was a spectacular one in itself, mist rolling across fields as the sun began to rise on the horizon. We were both excited at the thought of a day that was to be pleasing on the eye. It's great catching fish but when you can do it in surroundings that look the part too it makes a day even more memorable. We arrived at the boat launch to find a slippery, icy, mud ramp. It looked quite dicey but we got the boat in and were away. There was a bit of colour to the water still and there was also a good bit of pull to it. Today we'd have to find some slacks to drop the baits in. Luckily my ghillie for the day was already expecting this and had a good few spots ready to drop in on. We set off for the first slack hole and as we made the way up river already it was promising something special.

As we pulled up towards our first spot the signs were good. Plenty of fish in the area showing up on the fish finder and a grebe busily working away diving down for a mouth full of silvers. Our slack bit of water had gathered a bit of ice, so we knew this bit of water would be somewhere the fish would be hanging out. We tested the depth and set up our stop nots so that the baits would be sat just right, stuck a dead fish on and cast out. Lamprey, herring and mackerel tail were the weapons of choice for starters.

Owning a boat is something I have found myself thinking more and more about, though funds aren't anywhere near enough and I know from speaking with other boat owners that you need more than you think you need, so I'm a long way off captaining my own vessel. I'm relatively new anyway to serious pike fishing so I've lots to learn and catch up on and in any case, a boat doesn't guarantee you any more or bigger fish. You still have to know you are doing and probably even more so from what little i've seen of boat fishing. The captains job is much more complicated than that of passenger, who apart from the odd job now and again just has to sit there and be guided all day. It's all right for some innit! I just had to sit there and be taken to the fish. I was with a man who knew where to look and how to tackle these places and I was going to be parked right on these spots and even told how to go about wangling one out.

"We'll put a bait there, one there and you should chuck yours there mate," explained Woody. He already had his rods in before I'd finished faffing with my own, then realising it wasn't quite rigged up correctly so quickly having to change it, cut my macky tail and then finally lob it out. We also fancied this spot might hold a perch or two so set about jigging about the area to see if any where around. We were busy breaking up lose bits of ice and scouring the area with the ultra light gear when suddenly my float just vanished. I quickly put the light lure rod down and picked up the bait rod, winding in the bit of slack line ready to set the hooks. The float had come back up but was bobbing about a bit and so I asked Woody what he thought. "You think I should go for it now mate" to which he gave me the nod. Fish on!

This was a good start, the bait hadn't been in the water no more than ten minutes and already I was in to a fish. There was a decent bend in the rod but when quizzed I couldn't say for sure how big the fish was because it was the first fish on my bait rod, and this bait rod felt like a big long bendy thing compared to my small jerk bait rod. There was a bit of solid resistance but I wasn't too sure. We were generally chatting as I leisurely played the fish, Woody sorting the net out then I got a glimpse. "Fuck's sake Woody get the net!" I'd seen the fish and knew it was a nice fish, mid double at a quick guess, though may be deep down I knew it was to be something else. The fish gave a couple of lunges, I faffed with a long bendy rod and fancy new baitrunner reel before finally lifting the fishes head up and sliding it towards the net where Woody scooped it up.

I'd not really seen the fish that much, and to be honest I also tried to ignore the fact it was a lump, telling myself It's "just" a nice high double. Now I don't mean that to sound big headed, in fact I mean it to be quite the opposite. I've not long since had a nice lump out of the rivers and so now I was feeling that it wasn't going to be happening again. I just came out for a steady fishing session, good company and to learn off someone far more experienced than me. Despite me suggesting the fish was just a nice fish, maybe even hoping it was "just" a high double, Woody was having none of it. "It's a twenty is this mate" to which I told him to "Fuck off, it can't be".

Woody unhooked the fish in the net for me while I sorted the camera. I then held the net while my guide for the day set about zeroing the scales with the weigh sling on. As Woody lifted the fish I told myself this fish might be 19lb 6oz, no idea where I got that figure from. If I'm honest it wasn't a guess at the fish more me trying hard to believe I hadn't gone and caught another twenty.

"Twenty two pound, bang on mate" I was told.

I still haven't got a clue how I felt. One of the weirdest feelings ever. Absolutely over the moon to catch a fish as big and as beautiful as this beast. Yet I couldn't help thinking I'd had more than my fair share of good fish recently. I know that for top pike anglers this is nothing but for someone like me who isn't chasing twenties to get two in my last three sessions is ridiculous. Add to that we'd been here ten minutes, and add to that I'd been picked up and dropped on the spot by my mate who had planned the trip, planned the style of attack, planned the peg we'd be in and had even spoke of the chance of a lump despite conditions not being so good. Shit, I hope he doesn't bill me for this, those pro' ghillies charge a right lump.

Hat's off to Mr Woodchucker for that one anyway, a very big thank you from me!


So we obviously stayed here a while longer. I think we picked up a jack and a missed run next and were weighing up the options. You can sit it out in the hope more fish are here or you can move. If you sit it out you might not get anything where a move might see you drop on a fish again in ten minutes, but then again you might be moving away from a good spot only to drop on a blank spot. You just have to go for it and make a call and live with it. We sat it out a bit longer and were rewarded when another float was bobbing away, Woody was in.

It took a while before we got a glimpse of the fish so that gave us hope that it had some weight about it and when it finally showed it's head we were pleasantly surprised as it was another fat fish. I wished it had been another twenty to the boat but that wasn't to be. I want to be there when someone else catches one and I want to share their joy as that's not happened to me yet. Getting out with mates is about enjoying each others moments and that's something I'm enjoying. A quick photo or two and a quick weigh and the fish went back, though we'd need not bothered weighing the fish as Woody predicted 15lb 7oz and it was bang on that. I doubt we'd been fishing an hour by now so the results meant there was no way we were going to move.

We picked up another couple of fish, nothing major just the usual jacks and I also managed to get a good bend in the rod only for the hooks to fling out/not set properly. We finally decided it was time to move on and set about searching for a new slack spot. Again, bait finder and grebe were a good indicator as to where the fish were. This spot was much deeper and so we had to quickly adjust the set ups but it wasn't too long before we were happy and confident of our chances of a fish or two. however it was hard going though this time. We would be verging on moving when one of us would finally get a take, only for it to be a jack. We stuck it out a while longer only for the same result. We bagged a few fish before moving off again and eventually planning on dropping on our first peg on the way back.

However our fishing was interrupted when we had to come to the aid of a pleasure boat drifting aimlessly along the river, and three people looking slightly puzzled, embarrassed and cold. It seems they were new to boats and were having engine trouble. We pulled up along side and Woody proceeded to give them some basic tuition, re routed some pipe work and then set them off on their way with a now working engine.

Time was knocking on now but we still had time to drop on our last swim for the day but that proved not so successful this time round with just one jack and a dropped run to show. Last light and the witching hour only saw to stir thoughts in our mind of big fish on the feed but this wasn't to be and we headed off back home.

For me, an absolutely belting day. Words can't describe it (wait, I think words did just describe it as I've just wrote a blog). Again another big thanks to Woody for taking me out and dropping me on a right lump If only it was so easy to repay with a lump in return.

Ghillie dog Tike

So glad I didn't stay at home

I love it when I haven't got time to go out and fish. That usually means I get out anyway some how or other. Today I was at the rugby in the afternoon and had to nip to the supermarket before that, but the supermarkets are lazy on a Sunday and don't always open until nearly midday so as I finished off my morning cup of tea, I just made a spur of the moment decision and went for it. I knew a spot on my way which I could give a go and it's promised a decent fish for some time. The river was running off nice and the colour was dropping out of it too which gave me confidence as often the fish are on the feed now.

I chucked around and had two fish hit my lures but neither stuck which was a shame. I then switched lures and put on the 40cm Real eel and not too long after fish on. It turned out to be a jack of around 8lb and as I took a quick photo I then realised it had some line hanging out of its mouth. I've never had to deal with a deep hooked fish before and when I looked inside the trace was well down. Though when I say trace, that is the wrong description to be honest as it wasn't long enough at all. It looked like a six inch shop bought lure trace with a single treble hook on the clip! I pulled on the trace hoping the stomach would open up and I could get to work but nothing budged. The hooks were holding the stomach closed and this fish would surely die if it went back like this. It took me nearly an hour to get the hook out. I needed an extra hand, one to hold the mouth open, one to pull the hook towards me out of the flesh and then one to cut the treble. I had to keep putting the fish back for some oxygen and for me to get a breather too. I was determined this fish would live and I kept at it until eventually I manipulated the last bit of hook in to position and cut it free. I then had to sit with the fish for what seemed like forever, but this fish was going back alive. Finally with more and more signs of life the fish gave enough back to give me enough encouragement to let it go. I was very happy and so glad I'd decided to get out today. Had I sat chilling at home that jack would have died sometime soon.

With very little time left I considered going to the supermarket. I knew I had to go but I can never resist one last cast. I lobbed the eel back out and as it got to around fifteen feet from the bank it went solid. I put some bend in the rod and made my way to a point where I could unhook the fish in the water. As I got there the fish came up and I was scrambling back up the bank for my landing net. This fish is huge! I kept the fishes head up and tried my best to stop it getting back to the depths and then got in position with the net. It turned one more time and gave a surge but I turned it again before it got too much chance and then I quickly shoved the net under and up and the fish was mine.

I was gob smacked. The fish was something else and I couldn't believe how fat it was. I weighed her, got a few quick photos and then put her back, checking she too hadn't got a trace down her throat first. Here she is, a 25lb river pike on a lure!

Catch up blog - Slow two weeks ends in nice mid double.

I've not been out a great deal this last few weeks. The river has been up, down, up down (repeat to fade). I really wanted to have a good bash on the river before the colder, slower months came in but the rain made my peg a right old mess. I really should have just gone somewhere else, there's plenty of water for me to try but I didn't have the enthusiasm for it and instead opted to try my luck for ten minutes here, twenty minutes there, on the river no matter what condition it was like. Mostly it's been full of rubbish, murky brown and a waste of space but me being me I still had a go because you never know.

A few weeks ago I took Neil with me to my peg in the hope of a bit of action but not a great deal happened. Neil had one fish hit and then shake the lure before he could get a grip of what it was. I then had a follow before finally hooking a fish. I guestimated 6-7lb at the time but as Neil says it was probably a little bigger.Good bit of fun but a pity we didn't get a bit more action. Gorgeous pike though!

I then had my little spell of bad river conditions and little to no fishing and what bit I did I wasn't even hopeful of anything. Still, just to prove theories wrong, on the odd occasion I did get a hit or two from pike so they were still about and hitting lures in the wrong text book conditions. One of the days I was in Morrissons and ended up buying some sprats and a few mackerel. The next morning I had an hour before work with them tied to something called a float, which moves about and goes under if a pike gets a hold of the bait. What a strange way to fish this is? Not a great deal happened but I did manage a small jack of about 3 or 4lb so it was a bit of a success. I might try it again one day who knows. However I need something to do while I'm stood at the side of the river watching my float. I ended up taking photos of random things to amuse myself and pass the time. I managed a Facebook style photo. All that was missing was me pouting my lips and giving it the big V and I'd have been a right cool dude, or just looked even more of a twat like everyone else who does that over and over on Facebook (repeat to fade again).

Winter hat is out

One of the local noddies?

With this weekend approaching I was keen to get out and do a bit of serious fishing. I then got a message from Matt asking if I wanted to get out for a session and so we opted for Sunday, but wrote off the rivers since we didn't want to have those plans ruined by more rain. Instead we decided to make use of the free time to go exploring a little. We'd got some water we wanted to check out, some canals, drains and rivers and so we met up bright and early (poor choice of words) at half past five. It was absolutely pitch black and there was a nice fog rolling around. Navigating the small roads at this time with thick fog made for fun in itself. A couple of times I drove right past the turn off and had to go back to find it. We also managed to find a small bridge that was our only crossing for miles blocked off as men were working on it (Sunday morning at half five?) We eventually made it to our start point and it was still dark, but within five minutes or so we could see the light was winning that battle over dark and fog and we could see enough to fish so off we went.

We were fishing the ultra lite set ups and Matt stuck on a kopyto lure while I opted for a small SG lip lure thinking we'd have a good chance of finding out what was in the water. Within minutes Matt had a take on the drop which caught him by surprise and he missed it but next cast or so he was in and it was putting up a good fight. But what was it, small pike or another decent perch? I pushed out the net ready for what ever it was and as it came to the surface we were surprised but very happy with the catch. It was a chub of about 3lb and a great start. Not too long after and Matt had another fish take the kopyto and would you believe it, another decent chub probably a little smaller but still pushing 3lb. I'll save the trophy shots for Matt on his blog write up but I took this photo of him releasing one of the chub and like it so I'm showing it off.

I quickly switched to the kopytos and then as I walked up to the next peg I scared a small jack out of the shallows, then first cast had another small jack hit my lure and shake itself free before finally I managed to hook in to one and land it. A small fish but at least it was me off the mark. I also then had a tiny pike hit the lure right in the edge but it flicked itself free. We thought we were in for a bumper day but it went quiet then and we didn't get much more. We continued to go exploring and finding out what was further along, trying a few casts when we felt we might pick up a fish. It was tough going but it was still early so plenty of time to drop on a fish or two. The fog still hadn't subsided and we could only see a hundred metres or so in front. We knew eventually we needed to be on the opposite bank but had no idea where we might be able to cross and with our view distance cut short we just had to put our heads down and get on with it until we dropped on a bridge. We finally made the cross over and then worked our way towards the next lock where we were sure there would be some perch action and we were right. No big stripeys but we had some fun catching a few small perch with the odd larger one of half a pound to three quarters mixed in. Matt had been suffering a little with hot then cold spells and was obviously starting off with something that'll have him cuddling under a blanket and having the missus take care of him for the next week. We decided we'd covered lots of ground and so made the call to go back to where we'd started, to have another bash and then get in the car and head back home. We passed a small cafe and I suggested Matt get a warm drink inside him but he told me he was ok as he had a flask in his bag. Back at our starting peg Matt then got out his flask for a warm up drink, but dropped the flask shattering the glass inside. It hadn't even lasted 24 hours with him as he'd only bought it the day before!


Back at our start off peg it was much more quiet than before but Matt managed to pull out a small pike which took his species tally for the day to three on the lures. We set off home but still had one last bash at a canal lock we passed on the way though yet again nothing showed. I dropped Matt off sometime after late lunch time where he probably fell in to the house and then fell fast asleep, with probably not much sympathy from the missus either. It was a good session and we learnt plenty. I'm sure we'll target those chub again and the water we covered should do better for the perch at least when it's a little warmer, we'll be back.

I headed home, but on the way couldn't get the thought of trying my luck at my local river out of my head and the car seemed to go there in auto pilot. I decided to take both light and heavy set ups and started off with the kopytos to see what was about. I soon hooked a small jack of about four pound which put up a great scrap before finally shaking free just short of the net. Not quite a notch on the bed post but a good bit of fun anyway. I flicked through a few lures before finally getting the heavy lures out. I tried the real eel first and had one take. I saw the pike grab the lure but my hooks didn't stick in to anything. I tried a few more casts and then put on a lip lure in blue/silver. I then had a pike follow three times and hit the lure three times and I managed to miss it each time. I've no idea why, just guess that lady luck wasn't on my side then. I kept at it covering the water over and over even though I felt I'd missed my chances. Finally I had a take and this time it stuck, and not only did it stick but it took about twenty yards of line with it. Jet powered pike on board, hold tight! It then made a sharp turn and then launched itself well clear of the water and I could see I had on a good fish. It crashed back in to the water and then went in to a death role, wrapping itself up in braid and then unfortunately the fight was over. I didn't lose the fish, it just couldn't do anything by now as there was so much line around it. I then had to pull it in backwards but luckily not too far as I could reach out with my telescopic net. The hooks came out easily but the line was a right old mess so I just cut it off. I wasn't faffing about risking harm to me or the fish.

Well worth my time calling in on my way home, you never know what's in store on this patch. Had lady luck shone on me one more time I could well have had another good double because ten minutes later I had another take, felt the tug and saw the fish but the hooks pulled. Shame because that was another good fish and who knows what it might have weighed. Can't grumble though and I'm happy with the day and the finish to it.

Fifteen pounds bonus fish

EDIT- i've just realised this fish is a repeat capture. I caught it three weeks ago in the same spot and it's put on half a pound. It fought like a demon back then and I named it The Brute, and today it put up a massive scrap again until it got tangled in line. What a fish, what a fish!

The Brute goes back to fight another day.

2012 pike tally

Doubles 32

Total 206

Largest 22.5lb
Twenties - 2
Bonus Perch 54
Largest 3lb 12oz
Bonus chub - 1

River wash out

What a shame this last week has been another river wash out as far as my pike lure fishing has been concerned. Rain, rain, rain and the river has been up and down and then back up again before you can even cast a line out. So my fishing this last week has been limited and I haven't got a great deal to write about. I did feel the need to put something here though which I'm hoping is a post to draw a line under the recent bad weather. I did manage to catch a few fish, one small perch and three pike which actually brings my pike tally for the year so far to two hundred. I've no idea if that is good or bad since I've never counted them before but it gives me something to think about of the next few years at least.

I somehow forgot to photograph the 200th fish, but it was only a tiddler of not even two pounds but at least I did get a trophy shot of a fish I caught from the river in between crazy levels.The river had been really high and then subsided, and I got out first chance. The bank was covered in debris, logs, bottles you name it. I couldn't even get a good spot to stand up on where I normally go. To make it even worse the bank was covered in two inch of silty mud which added to my troubles trying to stay stood up. Not a great deal happened but I did get a fish follow my firetiger real eel. I couldn't persuade it to take so left the spot half an hour or so and then cast into the same spot with my trusty rainbow lip lure. I figured the action of the lip lure might this time do the business and the pike took first cast. It put up one hell of a titanic battle and gave me great pleasure but the battle wasn't even over on the bank and I struggled for a picture as the fish just kept on fighting. A muddy and bloody fight for me in the end but I'm glad I at least got something to keep from this encounter with a truly fantastic brute of a fish.

Fourteen pound brute

I'm hopeful of a trip or two this week for the odd hour. I actually resisted the urge to get out today and gave the river a rest. It wasn't too far off a fishable level, the colour was getting better and I probably could have wangled at least a fish out as I'm sure the pike are ready for a feed. Instead I did something I don't normally do and I know it will give me the urge to get out next week. I had a lazy, boring Sunday doing nothing. I know what I'm doing tomorrow now.

2012 pike tally
Doubles 31
Total 200

Largest 22.5lb
Twenties - 2
Bonus Perch 49
Largest 3lb 12oz
Bonus chub - 1

It's what keeps us going back

I've not forgot about fishing or blogging even, i've been having a kind of regroup and a rethink and also a bit of wondering "what if?" You see, I so very nearly had another monster.

Firetiger Reel Eel engulfed

It's been a steady week, the weather not helping my bit of river and then the few times i've made it out most things have seemed to be working against me. For lure fishing, often a bit extra brown murky water with flotsam and jetsam all over the shop is a bit off putting for the pike and they seem to want to get their heads down out of the way. I still like to have at least a half hour whenever I can though, because you never quite know what can happen. I've managed to winkle a few fish out and had I bagged all the takes I'd have doubled the tally easy but as is the case in lure fishing you don't win them all.



I've probably managed to get out about five times in total since the weekend, all short sessions which includes a blank or two. A couple other sessions I managed a fish and one of them I got five and in one tiny session of fifteen minutes I missed two fish before finally getting lucky on the third, which was a nice way to celebrate my birthday.

A birthday pike

I haven't spent hours and hours on the bank and I'm happy with the results, I just enjoy my time out and each fish is a result in it's own right. I've had some good success recently on the lures so I'm not chasing monsters or PB's I'm still just out to have some fun. Every now and again though something happens in pike fishing that drives you on, makes you think about pike fishing more and more and makes you want to get up early or out at every occasion no matter how short, in search of that special fish. A few days ago I very nearly had another monster.

One of the five

I was out in the morning and had a pike lunge at my Reel Eel. I kind of saw it's head come out of the water but struck and hit in to nothing. I couldn't tempt it again but I said to myself that it was another decent fish. I went home, did some chores but was back that evening to see if it was still lurking. Nothing happened in the first half hour or more but I did grab a few fish to keep up the interest, yet no sign of that bigger fish. Maybe it wasn't that big after all or maybe it had just moved on. Looking down on my lure I moved it slowly over a snag and through a gap where there's a bit of a deep hole. It seemed like slow motion and seemed to last for ever, but this huge pike, with a back on it like a gorilla slowly came up from the depths with a kind of wiggle which I won't forget for some time. It casually grabbed my lure yet I felt nothing and for what seemed an eternity I didn't know what to do. I glimpsed the tail of the eel hanging out of it's mouth and struck.....

Nothing. I didn't even feel anything. The hooks just didn't set and the monster returned to the depths. What do you do now, well once you've cast and recast over the top? I suppose I could sulk, curse my bad luck or even cry. I simply took it on the chin and got on with fishing. I've had some good fish recently and I'm not about to spoil my fishing by putting targets up or expecting to catch a monster every time. I want to enjoy my fishing and moments like this one, no matter how frustrating, cruel or heartbreaking are all part of fishing for me.

I still see this fish quite clearly in my head and while I'm at work counting down the hours I'm hoping I get another chance at her. While I'm sat browsing the internet I'm checking the weather and river levels to see if I can get out the next day. Fishing is a bit of an obsession at times and it's no wonder when there's mysterious magical fish out there keeping us up all night.

I love pike fishing.

2012 pike tally
Doubles 30

Total 196

Largest 22.5lb
Twenties - 2
Bonus Perch 35
Largest 2lb 7oz
Bonus chub - 1

Firetiger brightens the mood in failing light

Having a crap day at work, stuck on afternoons and a still only Monday, what a downer. To make it worse, I can see the light fading fast as my shift draws to a close. I'm not even going to have chance to throw a lure about. As I make my way to the car there's still ten minutes of light left easy, time for a fish then!

The river had been clear and in clear water I tend to use bright colours. I stuck on the Reel Eel in Firetiger pattern and you could still see it easily. I tried a couple of swims but no joy. Light was fading fast, but still time for one more swim to try. I threw out the eel, it landed and I started to retrieve. I can remember thinking, "any second now keep focussed" and then BAM!

The fish stayed low at first, but the water is pretty shallow here and I got it's head up and to the surface. It's head came out of the clear water and I couldn't see the lure. This pike had swallowed the whole lure and so I was confident it was a solid hook up so I gave it a bit of stick to get it in. I failed with the first net attempt and then there was a bit of a stalemate where the fish never moved away or closer. She then turned her head and that let me guide her towards my net and she was in!

On the bank, the stinger treble was hanging out of the mouth and tangled in the net. I managed to get it out of the lure weave net pretty easily (thank god for that purchase) and then I decided I needed to make that stinger safe. Those stinger hooks on the larger reel eels are quite big and I didn't fancy that in me. I got the cutter out and snipped it off, then got the forceps and safely secured the treble in those and put them to one side so that I didn't end up kneeling on the treble later in the dark.


I opened the pikes mouth and could hardly see the lure. It was way way way down it's throat. I needed to work fast because light was fading and I'd left my head lamp in my other bag. Luckily there's only a single hook to find and then I spotted it as I looked in through the gills. I got the pliers in easily and pulled the hook free and then had to drag the lure out, at least it wasn't a hard plastic right down there. With the hooks safe I put her in the net and got her in the water for some oxygen. I left her in there for a good ten minutes, it was absolutely pitch black by now but there was no way I was letting any fish go belly up on me. She had an occasional wriggle and I figured she was doing pretty well. Time to get her out, weigh her and get  a few photos.

In the pitch black using my mobile I could make out she was 17lb and that was very pleasing indeed. You only need a fish like this on the lures every now and again to keep you buzzing and I've probably had more than my share to be honest. The pictures aren't the best, heads and tails missing in some but I managed to get a few decent ones out of the lot and I'm happy I could get a souvenir. What an absolute stunning fish. I can't describe how much a gorgeous fish she was, in perfect condition and a proper example of a river pike.

17lb pike

 

2012 pike tally
Doubles 30

Total 188

Largest 22.5lb
Twenties - 2
Bonus Perch 35
Largest 2lb 7oz
Bonus chub - 1