Hey Burt!

Well it's been tough going on the river fishing front for quite some time now, hence the lack of blog entries. I just haven't had luck dropping on favourable conditions and the few times i've got out I haven't had much at all to write home about. Today though I managed to swap shifts with a colleague who doesn't like 6am starts, so that meant I could get on the river for an hour or two. Looking out at the river through the day gave me hope that I would catch something, but you never quite know what will happen.

I started with soft rubber lures, working them slowly hoping to catch a lazy cold pike but after about half an hour I switched to jerk baits in the hope I would make something happen. The weapon of choice was the Squirrelly Burt. I'd seen it in action while out with my mate Woody and had to get myself one, even though I knew that some people just don't get along with them. To be honest i've hardly used it much and as usually only ever got it out when nothing was happening. After about five minutes I finally felt a yank on the rod tip and I was in. As I struck in to the fish I saw the pike break surface out in the river, but couldn't make out how big it was and since it then swam towards me I still didn't know much.

Finally I got a fight out of the fish. Stripping line off and testing my new rod as it put a good bend in it. Still unsure as to the size I figured at least a double and as the fight went on and I couldn't get it's head up I knew it was a nice prize, if I could just get it up and in the net. Finally I got it up to the surface and saw it was a good fish and then quickly managed to slip a net under. A great relief having not done too much for a while, and to have a good mid double in the net made me happy as chuff.

The pike went mental in the net so a glory shot, together with Squirrelly Burt in the mouth was ruled out. I got a mate to take a few quick photos and then slipped the beast back. I'm not too happy with how the photos came out as I don't think it really shows how good the fish was at 17lb 6oz , but never mind. You can see the first picture shows a bit of a belly but the front shot isn't a good one in my opinion.

I managed just one more fish and again it fell to the burt. A decent scrap from a jack who seemed to want to break records for how fast a fish can go, even when I put it back it shot off like a rocket!
Happy with my couple of hours on the bank. Just getting out was great but landing another good fish is always a pick me up. That should help me through the dark days ahead. Christmas shopping, here I come!

2012 pike tally
Doubles 34
Total 216

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