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.

Youtube video updates - Pike

Another batch of videos that I wanted to bring to the attention of those that haven't already seen them. It's finally time to get in among the pike with hopefully a few of us bagging a big girl. I've already seen a few people on social media who have been lucky enough to bag a beast already, fantastic! These videos don't show any huge pike but they might at least get you in the mood while you sit at home on the dark nights. Hope you enjoy.



This one is an ultra light pike fun video. Ok yes I know it's serious piking weather finally but don't forget to enjoy your fishing. Don't get caught up in just chasing big girls. This video proves that pike of all sizes are just great fun to catch and I love 'em.

Me and Woody went out with the jerk baits, had a few fish but the action caught on film wasn't any good for a video. However I had to share this fish as it was such a gorgeous looking fish.

Here's one with some nice small pike action and a few of my fishing pals doing what they do best when we are out. Tongue in cheek of course! ;)

Youtube video updates - perch

Here's some of my latest videos for those that haven't subscribed to my channel. This lot is a batch of perch videos with some real lumps on show. It's a great time for perch is Autumn, as the fish start to shoal up and the perch start to heard them and then smash them. Something we witnessed first hand recently. The small fry and 2-3inch perch were getting a right battering from 8oz plus perch and presumably a few bigger stuff. For about 40 minutes the water was alive as everything chased whatever was smaller than them and even a big flock of seagulls were in on the act.

This is the newest video and has a couple of stonking perch for both me and Woody. One I'm sure most will enjoy.

This one is me with a couple of unweighed (schoolboy error, forgot the scales), good two pounders. Two in two casts which proves the theory of right place right time.

And to finish off the perch videos, here's me fishing multiple locations with plenty of perch caught, which backs up what I constantly harp on about, keep mobile and find them.

How to unhook a pike

Here's a video I made to help show how to unhook a pike.

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.

Making a perch video, can't stop catching pike.

I work shifts, earlies, days and then afternoons. I love my early shift as I used to do twelve hour shifts from 6am so now an eight hour shift from 6am is an absolute doddle, plus I can often fish afterwards. Days is usually crap, especially in winter as it's dark before and after work. Afternoons is pants, but at least I get to go fishing on a morning so it has it's perk. I was due a week of afternoons but various things happened and I ended up swapping shifts and just doing two lates, which meant two days fishing. I'll talk about the first day here, but the second day out needs a post all to itself!

I get plenty of messages on my various pages and a young lad named Lewis was asking about ultra light fishing, braid choice, lures and the rest and also commented on how he liked my ultra light videos. So I thought I needed to make another one and on Wednesday that was the plan. We all get a little confused at what lures to buy as everyone always says you need this, you need that and then we end up with all sorts, much of which is just another version of something else. Soft shads and a few cranks and you're away. I love the jointed Rapala shad rap and suggested Lewis get a couple of those. I set off fishing with the intention of catching some perch on that lure, I had to prove it works.

I wasn't up super early and arrived at the canal for just before 9am. By heck it was grand weather again and so the shorts stayed on and my legs got some air to them. Probably not a good idea as I'd also get bit to death by all manner of blood sucking insects but never mind. I was trying to keep cool so also travelled as light as I could. Hardly any lures and not much else but my net.

I was out for perch with the hope that a decent one would show it's head. I'd not fished here for a while so no idea what to expect. Turned out I couldn't find any perch because the pike kept showing their heads. I love pike on the light gear, it's great fun. I think I lost one and ended up with five including one which was about 12lb, a nice chunky fish in good condition. My ultra light perch video wasn't going too well.

Pike on jointed rapala shad rap

I wasn't complaining one bit. It was great fun catching pike. I had a couple of spectacular hits and that's why i love lure fishing. Everything about it all is fantastic and whether it's tiny lures or big lumps of wood you can expect a pike to be along soon to add to the thrills. But I needed a perch, there had to be one somewhere and then eventually I got a hit, and the fight was something different, this wasn't a pike. I knew it was a perch, and a decent one at that. I'm trying to think of a way to explain the fight but can't. No lunges like a pike, no ten foot dash in one second like old esox. The tiny perch do a little dance and shake themselves about as much as possible. The bigger ones do the same, but you can feel a bit of weight to them as they shake their head about trying to throw them hooks. As the perch came in to view I hoped that those head shakes wouldn't shed the hooks. A perch battle always seems to last forever when often they are over pretty quick. Usually because you shit yourself at the thought of losing a big perch and so the net is forced under it it at the first chance you get. I still do that. The fight was over and I finally had a big perch to show Lewis.  Job done with a 2lb 12oz perch in the net. It was the last fish of my session and I headed back to the car and ate my lunch as I drove to work for the dreaded afternoon shift. I know i've said it before though. These afternoon shifts aren't so bad.

Perch on jointed Rapala shad rap

The video

Musky Mania Squirrely Burt

Long time readers will have heard me talk about the Squirrely Burt before. A favourite lure of mine after being put on it by Woody. I also know this lure to be a favourite for Neil too. It accounts for plenty of fish between us and for me personally I know it's bagged me hundreds and hundreds of fish over the years. However some people are totally unaware of its existence while others own the lure but struggle to catch anything with it.

The thing with Burts is that they are often a little random out of the box. They aren't perfect and sometimes you have to tinker with them. I recently covered this in an article where I explained how I re weight my Burts. That is the one thing you need to do, take a bit of time and set up your Burt to suit your water. Having a few Burts, in my case usually at least half a dozen, I can set them all up differently to help me tackle lots of situations. Now when you add this to different retrieve styles too you have a lure that can do so much. You just need to spend time setting it up and getting to know both the lure and your waters.

After writing that re-weighting article I got out and fished. First time out I did some instructional work, capturing it on video and then went and caught a nice low double pike within minutes. I was all set to make a nice video when somehow I managed to delete all the files. This meant I had to wait a few days before I could get out to do it all again. When I did get out I had an even better time with the fish so the video ended up being split, a tutorial and one just full of pike action and a surface Burt video as a bonus.

I believe that with the article I wrote before, and the videos I made I have pretty much covered everything with the Burts. Spend time reviewing this information and watching the videos and I'm sure your dust covered Burts will be catching you plenty if you give them the time in the water they deserve.


This first video is the tutorial. Use this, along with this article, to set up the Burts to suit, and then get out and practice with them.

This second video is all the proof you need to give you the confidence that they do work, especially after having a tinker.

Finally, the third video shows you another way to use the Burts to have some fun. Straight out of the box, these lures are often a great surface bait.

Grabbing a chance while we can - Make time for fishing.

I'd not fished with him for a few months and then I heard he'd not even had much of a chance to get out and fish. So I dropped Neil a text to try and sort something out. We needed a catch up and a chilled out couple of hours on the bank and since the weather was cooling off a little we fancied some pike. We'd had some rains a few times and the waters were cooler and had even been up and down a bit a couple of times so we fancied a chance of a pike or two. Getting to the chosen swim was a little tricky as it was well over grown so we had to hack our way through. Neil sent me first to trample down all the nettles and find out where all the hidden trip hazards were. I think we both stuck on a jerk bait to start with and I chose one of three I'd had made by Mark Houghton and not had a chance to use yet.

Chatting and casting around and it wasn't long before we had some attention. Neil had a follow which he only spotted right at the end of the retrieve when the pike turned away then a few minutes later I had a pluck but missed it. I can only put it down to being a bit rusty. It wasn't a proper hard hitting take but I was a little slow reacting and failed. However not too long after, possibly the same fish, hit again in the same spot. Though this time a combination of it hitting harder and me reacting faster meant I was in. A nice bright fish that must have been easily a low double and the new lure from Mark was now a proven fish catcher.

Back fishing and chatting and we were switching things around and trying to get another hit. I thought we'd have had at least another jack by now as time had moved on a little since the last fish, but no luck. Neil chose a smaller Fox Replicant and lobbed it out. He could get this lure down a bit deeper and hope to run it past a toothy predator. The tactic worked and I heard a noise as Neil shouted that he had one on, ah no, then off. Wait, no it's still on. The fish steamed right at him and at first he thought it was off but then quickly realised what was happening so wound like mad to try and get some line back in. Once back in contact with the fish he got it under control and after a head shake and a jump, it was in the net. Again this fish was a nice low double and we were both happy at that. Both of us off the mark on the night but also just great to be back catching a better stamp of pike. Summer ultra light fishing means we still catch pike but on the whole they are small fish. Being back out with the big lures means bigger fish, and we do love pike.

We worked hard, moved pegs a few times and switched lure types and styles to try and get something else but a lively start ended with nothing much more. Just one more fish came and that was to Neil, and again he bagged it on the small Fox Replicant. This time a smaller jack of five or six pounds but we were happy enough. For me I was happy to be back on the pike and I'm sure Neil was just glad to be on the bank after his limited fishing in recent weeks. I know he got out with Matt not too long ago for a frogging session and they had a few fish and even more recently he got out on the boat with Woody for some fun. We all work and have other things to do so sometimes you need to make time for a bit of fishing. It's easy to get out of the habit and not fishing often leaves you not thinking about fishing. I'm sure we'll be out again with the jerk baits now it's much cooler for those hungry pike.

Since Neil hasn't really been out fishing he's not featured in any of my videos yet so I thought I'd knock up a short video from that evening. RiverPiker welcomes Neil to Youtube, I'm sure there will be more to come in the future.

Blogs are for blogging, so I'll blog.

Finally the rains came

I don't think I've got much to write about. Hang on, that will mean this entry is as long as the rest and I'll rattle on about something, of which at this very second I have no idea what that will be. So yeah, nothing much to write about. Why do I always feel like I'm waiting for some part of the year that always seems so far away? I'm waiting for proper piking weather. Not the depths of winter, I'm not wishing the sun away so soon, I would just like it a bit cooler, the odd bit of rain to keep some water in the rivers every now and again. For the last month or two it's been like a proper summer, there's been no rain and the river has been that low I keep expecting to see the pike beached somewhere and the spiky dorsal of the perch cutting the water every where I look.  Anyway, finally after weeks and weeks we had some rain, and boy did it rain. We had a bit of hurricane Bertha smack us right in the face, tail end my arse. For a full on hour it rained so hard even the streets around me on top of a hill were flooded. The 20mph speed restricting chicanes on the road created something the slalom canoeists would have loved as river rapids raged down the main road. At the bottom of the hill in town cars were underwater, the local tackle shop owner was fishing in the streets and Neil was planning a porte boat session up his street if it got any worse. I also managed to capture a lightening strike on film. The rains cleared, to be replaced by and epic lightning show in the sky. After all that, the river rose, peaked and dropped again over night. Not a sustained flood but at least it got a wash through.

 
I didn't even get on it. I ended working an extra night shift over the weekend and then a mixture of being too busy and not been arsed to get out because of something more important than fishing, of which I will explain later. I did grab a short hour one day midweek when it was cool and another hour another day to do a bit of filming. I decided to knock up a lure video to answer those unanswerable questions. What's your favourite lure? Which lure catches most fish? What's the best lure for pike? and so on. I decided the best answer, a go to lure for me, was the Savage Gear Lowrider. A lure that can often trigger a hit when everything else seems to be failing. A lure that will catch fish so if you have one and you are struggling, whip it out and use it and only it, you will catch. So On that hot day I got on the bank and just filmed me talking for a bit about the lure and you can see that video below if you wish. The day when it was a bit cooler I had a few fish. I had the ultra light rod, a tiny 2 inch kopyto and I was looking for the perch. But me being me though, that meant I ended up with nine pike and a tiny perch. Can't complain, I do like pike.

So a few weeks have passed and I haven't done too much at all. I never really like the full on summer, it's too hot, not piking weather and the banks are either full of other anglers on the popular stretches or an absolute nightmare on the unpopular stretches as there's nine foot of growth everywhere and just walking 50yards takes an hour and 19,000 calories. I sweat enough at work (not cos I work my balls off but because it's already hot) so me working up another sweat for fun is not on my agenda. That's where getting out on the boat with Woody works perfectly for us but to be honest we haven't really done too much. Woody was sorting his engine and so the last couple of times we haven't really gone at it serious and then more recently I've been working or otherwise engaged so not been at all. That needs to change, we need to fish.

So what, apart from sun, work and lack of being arsed on my part has kept me away from fishing? What is so important that I would turn my nose up at a much awaited river running off or a chillaxing session with Woody and Tyke on the boat bagging fish after fish? The other love of my life which I have touched on occasionally though never probably gone in to detail with. I'm a northerner, a Yorkshireman and us proper northern Yorkshire men love rugby league. Flat caps, pigeons, whippets and rugby league. Actually most of that lot isn't so much the case for us Yorkies unless you're from Featherstone and then it's still all of them in that case. Not to be mistaken with the posh southern sport of Rugby Union, this game is played by coal miners, steel workers and anyone who spits and swears for a living. Hang on a minute, like the whippets, all that's changed now too. We have a game fit for TV now with super human athletes who run and bash each other non stop for 80 minutes, with a bit of biff and some cracking entertainment to boot. If you haven't yet discovered it, tune in to Sky Sports on a Thursday and Friday evening (days subject to change because Sky piss us about all the time) and we even make the good old BBC sometime, last weekend being one and weekend after next being another. (Read on)

My other love is Castleford Tigers. A small town team holding our own in the top league. It's like Blackburn Rovers or Huddersfield in the Premier League, with the exception that those towns are probably five times bigger than my tiny town. Ok league isn't anywhere near as big as football and since in the main it is confined to the M62 corridor and Yorkshire and Lancashire there's not a full nation of towns and cities to compete with. Still, it's a tough life kicking it with the big boys like Leeds and Wigan (pah! Wigan. *lolz* We smacked them in the quarter final at their place.) and for the last ten years it's been frigging hard. Relegation, promotion and then relegation again for us to claw back up to the top tear where we've lived 99% of our life. Money comes hard and we've struggled to compete but this season, this season it has been different. We're only kicking ass! We're fecking spanking them all you know. Only a couple of points off the top with a few games to go and in with a chance of winning it. But forget that, at least for now, we're fucking off to Wembley you know! We're fucking off to Wembley!

Last weekend I didn't fish because we had a massive semi final against Widnes Vikings and we cruised it, winning easily and sending my tiny town mental. We've got Wembley fever here and I can't even think about fishing. They say if you are not fishing you are thinking about fishing. Not for me old lad, we're off to Wembley. We're the famous Castleford Tigers and we're off to Wembley! And guess what, guess who we play? We play that big city team, our long time rival, the dirty Leeds Rhinos. The place is going to be packed and this tiny town of mine will be a ghost town. Every man, woman and child will be there, wearing black and amber and singing our hearts out. Come on your 'Ford! Tune in to BBC1 on Saturday 23rd August, wear anything you have that is black and amber and if you haven't got that, yellow or orange will do. Cheer on my boys, the tiny town underdogs against the big city bastards. Be a Cas fan for the day, and I promise you this, you'll be a Cas fan for life afterwards.

Here's a picture of me from the last time I visited the capital.

Video updates.

I just thought I'd share my last few video updates on here just in case any of you lot have missed them. I'm trying to keep them a little bit different each time so it's not just the same thing all the time though eventually I guess it might just be me and Woody catching more fish, and then some more. Where I can though I'll try to keep it fresh if I can manage to be creative enough.

Anyway this first video was posted up to my Youtube page about over a month or so ago and it's just a bunch of pike action shots, slow motions and just general spectacular stuff that happens when pike fishing. It's why I do it.

Next we have one of my best productions to date. Out with Woody on his boat there's a few fish and some few high speed boating fun. A short fast and loud video for those with a short attention span like my kids, and probably most other peoples kids too.

 

Then we have a little video from a few weeks back where I went off on my own to a new bit of water looking for a few fish. I had no idea what to expect as I'd not even scouted out the place before. I was met with a hot day, peace and quiet with a few fish to the ultra light rod and the trusty Kopyto shad.

Finally we have another boat ultra light video with a few more fish caught and a few laughs on top. It won't be a box office smash but it shows what we get up to through the summer while we wait for proper piking weather, not this hot and sweaty crap we have right now. What's all that about?

Frogging video uploaded

A little heads up for frog lovers out there. Ten minutes of top water action on the river with explosive takes, misses, lost fish but I won in the end.

Link to video

Highs and lows.

Thought I'd round up the week a bit. It's been one of mainly highs with a massive downer at the end. Fish wise I've caught a few and social media wise I've done pretty good. Going right back to last Sunday and the Epic pike take I actually had a few more fish that day which I didn't write about. I was chucking the 2 inch Kopyto shad around in the hope of perch and spotted some chub cruising the surface but every time I cast at them they ignored the shad. I kept picking up small perch but never found any bigger stripeys in the swim, may be they're not there? Casting around trying to find out where the fish were I got a whack and the rod bent double. I wasn't filming at the time but quickly switched on the camera to capture the majority of the battle and a decent low double pike. This time of year the pike are strong as hell and put in a fight and this fish gave me a good run for my money but with a steady approach I eventually got it in my undersized net. I'd only brought the perching net so the fish only just squeezed in. If you follow my Facebook or Youtube you might have seen this already but if not here's the fishy video below.

That was actually the first pike of the day with another four esox coming in total. One more to a kopyto and the others to free lined livebait as I wrote in the last entry. I did lose a couple of pike too which I didn't manage to set the hooks in to but that was to be expected on an ultra light rod. Back on the Kopytos I'd had a few more perch and spotted loads of bleak and small chub cruising the surface with those bigger chub evading me, at least two I'd guess with one a little bit bigger than the other. I'd kind of given up on them and was slow retrieving the shad, no jerks or pauses just a slow as possible motion. It was whacked again and all though at first I couldn't help think it was a pike it wasn't long before I realised I'd finally hooked a chub. Camera switched on quickly as again I wasn't even ready to film. It turned out to be a nice fish pushing 4lb but not quite there I guessed. I put it back and not long after swapped banks, crossing over at the lock gates. This gave me another angle to cast the lures and no sooner had I started my first slow retrieve it was smacked again. You'd think by now I'd have had the GoPro suckered to my forehead but no, silly arse had it in the bag so had to whip it out and catch the last bit of battle with what turned out to be the bigger of the two chub I'd seen and this chub went four and a half pounds, super fish. I reckon I'd just dropped on this spot at a perfect moment, fish of all sizes everywhere in a mass feeding frenzy. If only all fishing was that easy. The tiny Kopyto was simple tactic to use but it bagged up, wire trace and the lot. Just shows that pike, perch and chub don't care about a bit of wire. If you want to see the chub action watch the video below.

So midweek I had some spare time in the evening a couple of days. I could go back but fancied a change of scenery. Somewhere different that would throw up a new set of challenges for me. I do get bored easily and don't always go for the easy option. I arrived at the new canal to find it crystal clear. Not usually the best for lure fishing I find when you add the bright sunshine on top. It was nice to be out though after busy days art work and being alone with mile after mile of canal and not another person let alone angler in sight was great. I set off up canal with all the gear and no sooner had I gone 100m a massive cloud came over. A cold wind came in and the sky turned dark. A distant rumble of thunder had me on alert. When I looked around, the highest object around seemed to be me. I didn't fancy conducting electricity down my two rods so sharpishly headed back to the car. I chucked the gear in and sat watching as the rain lashed down and the storm gave me some fantastic viewing. I wish I'd have had time to set the GoPro up as I might have got some great footage, especially a couple of the strikes which went horizontally across the sky. Proper wow moments.

When the storm past, a good twenty five minutes later I was back out and back to where I'd left off before. Again I carted loads of gear which had be casting the rapala first then having a chuck with a heavy jerkbait before moving on. This was hard work, especially when the cold front moved off to be replaced with flat calm, blue skies and scorching hot sun. I was sweating buckets now and after a good haul and no fish I about turned and went back to the car. I was now heading for a massive blank and had to figure out how to save the day. Everything went back in the car all except a couple of items. Of course a rod, the ultra light set up was chosen and one lure. My trusty 7cm jointed Rapala shad rap. Rather than bright colour I'd chosen a more natural light blue and white version. I left the net, lure box and bag, scales and even the camera. The only other item were a pair of long nosed pliers in the back pocket and off I went.

I kept seeing fish, some nice perch were about but they were not interested. They were settled on the canal bed and even knocking them on the head wouldn't interest them. I think they had already had a feed and were just sat digesting their food. If I could find a jack though he might help me save a blank before I finally had a bit of interest but it was a half hearted take from a 1lb plus perch who wouldn't come back for another go. When it seemed like I was running out of time and water I spotted a movement. A single chub was cruising the surface coming towards me. I cast past it and brought the lure right across it's path and as soon as the chub saw my lure it darted straight for it. The blank was saved with a fish about 2lb. This was then followed up by a take in the deep channel in the middle of the canal with what turned out to be a super looking 2lb stripey. A great result in the end and I went home happy. Pictures taken on the iPhone.

Chub - Rapala Jointed shad rap

Perch - Rapala jointed shad rap

I was out again the next day but where to? Should I go to where I had so much success or back to the hard grind and crystal clear waters? I chose the hard grind, I guess I'm a sucker for punishment. I had a crack with the Rapala again but after an hour or more of no joy I decided it was time for a change. The tactic often worked but it wasn't really now so I went for the Kopyto, though a 2.5inch bright green effort. Often I was casting out and just bringing it in but then I would also mix it up with bottom bouncing and even really, really slow retrieve along the bottom. Trying to puff up a cloud of dust to interest something. By the time I was back at the car I'd probably fished a good 500m of bank in total for no reward, not even a pluck. Today I would blank for sure. Tail between my legs I was nearly at the car and was going to avoid the starting spot and just go home but I gave it one last go. Five perch in total with this the pick of the fish. Luck? Skill? I'd say just perseverance in the end.

Perch - Relax Kopyto

This week I had a few fantastic offers via other fishing related folk on the internet. One is a rather generous offer to fish with a total stranger, but no doubt fantastic bloke, some time in the future. One I won't say much more on just now, only that when it happens I'll gladly tell the story as it will be a fantastic experience. Another was interest in my Youtube video making and fishing skills combined. Another that when it comes off you'll be the first to know. Someone with awesome skills and that I can't wait to work alongside. Then finally late this week an offer of sponsorship for my Youtube videos. There's a new lure shop out there with the name of Lure Lounge and my videos will feature a little plug for his website. While very new, it only opened on Friday, there is already a good stock of lures. Some well known such as Savage Gear and some not so well known to us here in the UK but it seems the lures he is stocking are well known in places such as the US and Australia for starters. That is part of his plan, to bring in and supply not just the easy to get hold of lures but stuff we often struggle to find. So get yourself over to LureLounge.co.uk and have a browse. There's already a bit of variety and some interesting looking lures to try so next time you're needing a lure fix grab some gear from Lure Lounge.


Finally, after a great week of all things fishing for me I ended with a fishing free weekend. I was planning to get out with Woody somewhere, if only to catch a bit of sun. But right at the end of the week I was dealt a massive blow when my best mate suddenly fell ill. My best mate, like many of you lot too no doubt, was my dog Poppy. A real character and genuine, perfect, family loving dog. An absolute gem of a mate and one I am going to miss deeply. RIP Popples.

Poppy

Epic pike take

I was out this morning with the ultra light lures, well one in fact. Just a simple white 2 inch Kopyto shad. I only had a couple of hours in front of me as I had stuff to do in the day and had to be home early. I just bundled the ultra light kit in the car and set off for the canal, no idea what condition it would be like after the recent rains. Often the canals muddy up and lure fishing can be poor when it's like this but when I got there it was ok, result. The few times I've been after perch they've seemed a bit finicky so instead of the usual 2.5 inch kopyto I went for the smaller option hoping the nibbles could be hooked easier. I started catching small perch and having a nice steady bit of fun.

Then it went a bit mental. I caught a small pike about twelve inch long and as it came to the surface a figure appeared. A giant compared to the tiny pike, another pike was very interested in this little fella. I quickly pulled the tiny pike away to safety and the bigger pike sank to the depths. Lucky escape for the little chap. Next I kept getting more perch but then every now and again a perch would get nabbed, they weren't so lucky. My ultra light rod went from steady taps as I brought in a perch to a solid bend. Twice this happened, my perch were getting taken. If you are lucky the hook transfers from perch to pike but with such a soft rod that doesn't always work. Both times I lost the perch and the pike.

With no heavy gear in the car I had to get my thinking cap on. I couldn't come up with much except I tied a new wire trace with just one treble hook. I lip hooked the first small perch that I managed to get through the gauntlet unscathed and lobbed it back in the spot where the perch kept being snatched. With no float I was using my finger as a bite detector. Being careful not to let the perch get to the bottom I only gave it a short run of line, and I kept the slack line tight so that I could feel every thing. A few twitches to keep the perch moving and then I felt the perch panic before the rod just bent and the line tightened on my finger. It was out less than twenty seconds.

Now there's no need to wait. No counting to three or five that's just daft. A tiny perch will be engulfed in one by a pike. So I just flicked the bail arm over and bent in to the fish. The pike was already off and the battle was on. It's not easy with an ultra light rod and a pike on the end. However I was confident I could land the pike, I've caught umpteen on this rod. I wasn't so confident the hooks would be in the pike though. There's no back bone in the soft rod to set the hooks in a mouth that's already full of fish. Then all of a sudden after a minute or so of the fight, it went slack and the perch shot up to the surface. My thoughts were right.  I froze and within a fraction of a second the pike was back on it. It hovered just behind the tail of the perch, I watched in amazement and then BANG! The pike engulfed the perch again and we were off once more. A truly awesome sight and one I can normally only keep to myself but thanks to the purchase of my GoPro I can now share with you all. Just have a look at this.

Link to video

Trout videos uploaded

Nothing of note to write about as I've not been out, so this is just a heads up to let people know I've finished my trout videos and they are available to view on my Youtube Channel.

The first one just sets the scene. No talking, no fish caught, it just gives you a look at where we were. I love fishing rivers. I've had some good successes from canals but after fishing the river it really hammered it home how boring canals can be and how much more interesting rivers are. Every bit of water was a target for a reason, not just because you are covering the water but because you wanted to hot the rapids, the slacks the shallows or the pools and getting in, under or around trees and bushes was a nightmare and a pleasure.

Link to video

The second video is simply us catching, or losing fish. The trout are a bit mental and hit at super speed, combine with their hard mouths and it means you lose often more than you land. Well I did anyway. We had some nice fish and for a start it was a great result. Woody bagged the pick of the fish but I was happy with my results too.

Link to video

Third and final video in this trouting series is the bloppers. We always seem to have a laugh at something, each other or someone else and the banter is a great part of our day out. It helps us through the hard times and enjoy the good times even more. I missed Woody falling in the canal a month or so ago, had that been on camera it would have racked up a million views by now. At least I managed to capture a few of the funny moments from our sessions for you all to enjoy.

Link to video

Trout fished

I normally spend the closed season going to a few local spots for an hour or two before or after work, but so far that hasn't really happened. My fishing has been pretty much restricted to Saturdays with Woody and this weekend was no exception. I did earn some fishing tokens on Thursday which should have seen me out Friday after work, but as 2pm came all I could see was a wet and miserable world and so I just toddled off home. I had also pencilled in Sunday morning for a sneaky, get up early session. But I woke at 3am with a migraine and was out of it for the next couple of hours and then when I finally shook the pain I was sound asleep until 9am, I'd definitely missed my slot by then.

So it was just Saturday, but this time it was an all day effort. We had decided to go back for some more trout fun, have a look around and see what else was hiding. We even went like proper trout anglers. Woody had his boat launching waders and I had a pair of black waders I'd got free from work. They looked like a pair of NCB waders for anyone from up north who might remember those, nothing like the posh southern fly anglers gear but they'll keep me dry and let me get to a few unreachable spots. With in no time of paddling, me and Woody were in to some small trout and we were off the mark.

The fish kept coming most of the day and it was another bumper session. For me though it was slightly frustrating as I saw more big fish follow than ever but never got any to connect, all except one which was like a submarine and shook the hooks as it launched out of the water. I'm guessing well over four pound, a probable underestimated weight to try and make myself feel better about it though deep down I know it was a clonker. Woody was picking up fish but he had the odd slightly larger fish among his captures. He then went through an absolute purple patch where he was landing big trout after big trout to the point he was throwing them back without a photo. I did managed to grab one though before it went back, another stunning fish. We usually have a similar days sport and catch roughly about the same each and it's great to not be in competition, though I can safely say this time I was well and truly out fished.

Another top day out and a change from our usual stuff. We covered some distance and got to see some new bits of water. We found a few new lovely looking swims and found some fish and it was great to be fishing a river again. I know some nice canals and get some good results from them at times, but they're a dull place to fish compared to a beautiful river. I enjoy much more trying to work out where the fish are. Fishing all the fishy looking spots and even those that you don't expect or can't normally get at. We were hanging out of trees and nearly falling in as we tried to cast that little bit further under or around a branch. It's actually hard work fishing like we do, switched on all day fishing as hard in the first peg as the last. With the stunning surroundings, super weather, the birds tweeting, squirrels scampering about and all the rest it should be a nice relaxing day out but we end up coming back shattered. We were both trying to work out if our waders had leaks or if we'd just been sweating so much. Another reason I was struggling was the fact I'd left me sarnies back in the car. We sat down at mid day for a drink and a bite to eat when it dawned on me I hadn't brought them. Disaster for me as I need about 19,000 calories a day just to keep my fighting weight and not forgetting poor little Tyke who looks forward to eating half of my dinner. Lessons learned for next time anyway.

Another plus from the day was the fact I took the GoPro and managed to capture a bit of footage. Putting some of it together tonight it's not too bad either. I might have to get another day out with Woody and the trout and do a few more things before I release it. Since it's something I won't do all the time it would be nice to have a proper put together video rather than just a few clips. I'll speak to Woody later and we'll work on getting a few more angles, close ups and the rest. In the mean time, and though not on a trout theme but on a GoPro theme I have released an ultra light pike fishing video. It's not the best as video productions goes but it has some pike footage and we all love a bit of that. It does however show you why, and it highlighted to me the fact, I want to do a bit more with the trout video. Anyway, have a look and see for yourselves. Comments and suggestions, as always are welcome.

Link to video

I think I've lost it

There are many obsessive and compulsive orders in fishing and most anglers have one or two and some have umpteen. Whether it be noting moon phases, temperatures and the rest or just simply hoarding thousands of lures with most never touching the water. I started this blog a couple of years ago to act as a kind of diary if only for myself but I feel it's grown a little from that initial idea. That diary thing is often something anglers do, make a note of as much information as possible in order too pinpoint good things in fishing so that you can replicate it and predict the good fishing. For me the diary was a way of keeping a tally of fish caught and the first year I put my results up for all to see.

The second year in fishing and blogging I decided to not post the stats as I felt I would always feel like I was trying to beat the previous year, and for me fishing isn't so much targets it's just catching fish, and mostly in the style I love most. Despite not publishing the stats, my obsession had me still keeping a running tally behind curtains and it even went a step further with me noting which lures caught most fish. If you're interested Squirrelly Burts caught most pike, Kopytos and rapala shad raps most perch, With the Burt I know that is because of two things, it's a great lure and I like to use it so two reasons why that lead the captures. For the perch, kopytos for jigging and getting to deep water and shad raps for trolling or coloured canals. Fish wise I did end up catching more pike than the first blogging year and perch wise I smashed it as I got in to light lure fishing more and more and the perch were no longer a bonus capture but a fish of target.

So this year do I keep a tally, try to beat my previous years achievements or what? We're in April and I have no idea the numbers of fish I have caught. I've not kept any record except a few photos or the bigger fish. I now go out and fish and have big trouble even remembering how many fish I had and a week later I have no idea what I had exactly. Have I finally shook the stato habit? I think I have you know.

The other day I went fishing, caught some perch and some chub. The only stats I can remember were the chub which I had to weigh as it was a lump and went five pounds, and that I had two chub in total also loosing another one off. Perch, well I had some. No lumps or I would have weighed them, though if this fellow below had stuck I would have been weighing it.

Enjoyment in fishing is the reason I go. I love being outside and the constant battle to try and tempt a fish with the reward of the capture what I like, but I can also take great joy out of missing a big fish as in the little video above. If I can pass on anything to anglers out there it's don't get caught up in big fish chasing, targets and silly competitions just go out and enjoy what you love.