Lures for catching Anglers

As I look at my lures, I wonder are they for catching fish or anglers?!?


As you will know, as much as I love fishing, I really enjoy sorting through my tackle. I often get out my feeders, hooks and bits, and re sort them into my bags or on my shelves so they are ready for the next trip.
As I often fish for different species, I like to only take what I need. Although saying that, I always have visions of having Barbel gear on the Swale and seeing a 20lb Pike swim in front of me whilst I only have size 10 hooks and bait droppers!!
I recently heard a story where a friend was Roach fishing and had a huge Pike grab his Roach when bringing it in. He had no Pike gear on him, so had to run back to his car, gather all his Pike kit and attempt to catch the Pike. Obviously we all know how this story ends, so I will not continue..


This weekend, I am not fishing so I decided to sort my lures. I generally have two types; hard and soft. I have always had hard lures, plugs, spoons and jerkbaits but more recently soft plastics. I was introduced to soft plastics by Giles at AT Products and now tend to use them as often as hard lures.


As with everything, it is about confidence of use. I have caught Pike on Shakespeare Big S in Scotland, Fat Boy 110 on the Swale and Vibro shad on the Tees (Perch of course as I have never caught a Tees Pike).


I don't think I change lures often enough, recently when I was fishing with some lure specialists they were constantly changing lures to see what the Pike wanted. I stuck with a few lure choices, they missed 4 fish between them, I had no takes!


I also have thoughts on lure size, bigger is better will spring to mind, however I caught a lovely 8lb Pike in the canal on a tiny pin fry lure, making me think Pike will often target smaller prey too. I don't have many big lures, ones that resemble the size of fish I may try to catch! The large tailed jerk baits or the large soft plastic Roach and Trout are always lures I would like but then I see the price. I think as I develop my lure fishing I will invest in more but for now the below will suffice.


Now I have all my lures out, I will clean them and "service" them. That will entail cleaning off bits of weed and checking the hooks. You will see, most are armed with 2 or more trebles of various sizes and there has been many debates on the use of trebles verses single hooks. I will remove any old trebles and replace them with trebles on the front and single hooks at the back. It is easier to remove single hooks.

If you want to know about any lures, just ask in a comment

Oh, and of course he did not catch that huge Pike!!!

Blogs, Boats and Apps

I recently did a few things that I had not done before (App'ing) and things that I had not done for a long time (boat fishing).

Firstly I was able to go fishing two days in a row, which I have not done in a long time, really it’s something I would normally do on holidays.

I went to a club water lake to lure fish for Pike. It was a short evening session, 5pm till 21.30. No fish caught but it was good to be fishing at that time of day. Usually I would be fishing early doors and leaving by the afternoon. I was using my bait caster which is the longest I have used it for. I had a few birds’ nests but overall it worked well. I was able to adjust the clutch for the various lure types I was using, and swapped between floating frogs, paddle toads in several colours and my new Salmo Roach lure in sinking.

Salmo Roach sinking, bought from Angling Direct

There is something scary about casting a £10 lure at structures, whilst thinking “I would cry if I lost this”. I am sure I will be less blasé soon and will be flinging it with gay abandon until I actually do loose it!

Speaking of losing it, I think Giles from AT Products will still be spewing at the fish he lost late on in the evening!?!

Giles and Rich aboard their boat

The next night it was a different type of fishing; boat fishing on the Lower Tees, again Pike the target, again no fish. We only fished about an hour as it was an experiment of towing and launching the boat and any fishing was just a bonus. We launched at the barrage and quickly, albeit within a speed limit (Giles’s own speed limit) was down in an area that could only be described as ‘pikey’. Reeds, slow, deep, shelves and wide. All good features. However, the river was a peaty colour and no pike were looking at investigating my frog as it came from out the reeds slowly towards the drifting boat. Having the boat was amazing, three of us were able to cast at likely looking areas easily and just the feel of where we were fishing was enough to ensure we all had a great trip. I do like the feel of boat fishing, there is something about being on the water and it really increases the number of swims to somewhere around the billion mark! We saw a few anglers along the Tees and it really was a nice evening to be out.



Barrage position

Pikey area



Lastly, I have recently been recording my trips on a new fishing App, called Finygo. It is somewhere between “Facebook for anglers” and that little school note pad you use to record your catches on.

In terms of modernisation, it is great to have an app to record things and not rely on pencil and paper. I have played around with plotting my position as I moved around the lake on my first trip and was able to add comments which will help me later. The Esthwaite trip looks great as it shows I caught 56lbs of fish and achieved new Pb’s.

Regarding the sharing side, I am still unsure as to what people will share, as I know all fishermen never “know” where the fish are if they are catching and mostly keep things secret. However, as I type this I have had a look and noticed another angler has shared his comments on a recent trip on the Ribble, and the more it is used the more people will be willing to share, after all there are lots of great magazines which are full or people celebrating their catches.

As I use the app more, I think I will get better used to it, it’s like everything and requires more use to get better. There are some premium settings that allow more and I will need to look at upgrading in the future, but for now I am happy to record it as I go and use that information when completing my blog and reviewing the next time I fish a water. As I continue to use the app more I will keep you all updated....

Closed season report

I wanted to discuss what the closed season has meant for me over the years. When I started fishing many years ago, the closed season was for all waters so my dad and I hung up the rods and relaxed!

Then, a local carp water we fished used to stock a nominal amount of trout in its ponds to fish for in the closed season. This was catch and release by us, not sure if all did and by any bait or method. I assume it was a “loop hole” but we happily sat with luncheon meat all day catching carp and the occasional small rainbow trout that would take off like a steam train and generally leap about in your swim.

Next we joined our first club, which was predominately river fishing on the Kennet in Berkshire. The closed season here meant going to their lakes that still allowed it, which in the early days was not all of them! Early trips then had us going to a stretch of canal that we could fish, and I had my first proper Tench bite on Kabanos sausage. I could see the Tench, it was such a dark green colour and broad across the back but sadly I did not manage to land it. That still haunts me to this day and I have yet to catch what I would call a proper Tench.

I then moved North, fishing was limited in the early days due to families, like the spawning fish, I was creating offspring.

I then would look further North for my closed season fishing, venturing over the border into Scotland to fish the Lochs for mainly Pike on lures in the warmer months and still on dead baits the rest. The colder temperature up there coupled with the colder vast water in the Lochs, makes me feel safe that summer does not arrive up there till at least August 30^th!

So that brings me to this closed season. I fished on March 4^th in the Lake District. It was an amazing day. I broke my Pike PB twice with fish of 20lb and then 22lb, with a 14 thrown in between to keep me on my toes. This had me ready to Pike fish throughout the closed season on any waters I could. However, this did not happen.

Work and family commitments have meant that that was my last fishing trip to date; it is now a week before the new river season commences and I have had a proper “closed” season. I have bought new tackle, re spooled many of my reels, cleaned my rods, re sprayed my brolly and practiced my selfie shots with my camera! I feel ready to cast out next weekend revitalised and full of energy, well fishing energy anyway! My goals for this year are a River Tees Pike, a River Swale Barbel and not to blank on our annual River Wye trip.

Tight lines all and enjoy the glorious 16^th even if you have fished throughout! Lucky sods if you have!!

Special trip

After the pb smashing last week, I have been planning how I can get back to the Lake district before 31 March. Unfortunately I don't think that is going to be possible, it would be much later in March and I think spawning would be well underway so best to leave them to it.

So that leaves the rivers.

Time and life has dictated that, I think my river season is done this year too. I was at the point of seeing where and what I can do, then I got a very surprising e mail.

I now have another very interesting  trip planned soon though that I hope you will all enjoy reading about.....

PB broken, twice!!!

This weekend saw me try something different. I decided to fish at Esthwaite Trout Fishery in the Lake District. There is pike fishing available until 31st March from bank and boat, with the added attraction of getting a guide.

I went all out, boat, motor and guide!!! For 7 hours it was me v's the Pike, my obvious target was setting a new pb, my hidden target was to finally get a twenty!!!


Two hours drive at first light was no problem, I arrived at Esthwaite Water a little before 9am. I met my guide Dave, we talked through tactics, bait and plans. The water looked amazing, "flat as a mill pool" would have more ripples on it than the water this morning. It was flat, FLAT, FLAT FLAT calm and looked "pikey" reed beds, bays and 280 acres of the wet stuff!!


Talking to Jim the owner, a 19lb 'er had come out to a bank angler and another boat had already had a pike first cast!!! No pressure.

We set out across the water, to say I was loving it , is just not emphasis enough. It was great!! We arrived at the first spot. An underwater mount that slopped from 10ft down to 25 plus. We were fishing the slope at about 15ft deep. The rods were baited and positioned around the boat, we were ready!
Unfortunately the pike had other ideas, they had clearly either eaten earlier or were still tucked up and not coming out! Not for mackerel, bluey, roach or bass!


Good conversation was had but time was not our friend. We reached lunchtime and the baits had not been nibbled at all. We had to change something. Dave decided we would move, we watched another boat slowly go past us on electric motors and head to where we were going! Thwarted. We had to move to plan c, but had failed to execute plan b.



Dave decided we would head into a bay just around the bottom of the water. Again the rods were set and we waited. Right in front of me the large yellow pike float was laying flat on the water, blink, gone!! " Dave, we are in" I calmly announced. The rod was handed to me and I set the hooks, I was told to keep the rod tip up, I was not used to boat fishing so the added dimension of straight below depth was confusing and the slight slack allowed the pike to roll on the line.  The line was only just wrapped on the fish so it came sideways. Dave quickly netted it so the crimped line would not break. Safe in the net, I saw her. Wow, she was magnificent. Within 2 mins, Dave had set the camera, removed the hooks, taken the pics and she was back in. 20lbs Dave said!! I was so happy, we did not need a number on her, her getting back in was important and Dave has seen so many, his eyes and arms are like scales.

A new pb. Time for more.

Dave cut away the crimped line and expertly re-tackled the rod. No idea how long later, but this time, I saw the float rise and slowly move. Again I wound down and set the hooks. I managed this one much easier, once at the boat, same again. Dave offering me 14 ish for that. Smaller, so I was still smiling from the twenty.

Finish time was 1630, it was ten past so we had time. Again the same rod as the second fish went, the line being taken. I did my business and when she surfaced, she looked amazing. Long and yet deep. Shaking, I brought her to the net. Part of this trip was to see how Dave handled the fish. Again, same procedure. Calm. Net away. Mat. Camera. Hooks. Hold. Picture. Angles. Light. Return. All in under two mins. This time she swam around the boat, I watched as she flashed her tail and was gone. A beautiful pike. 22lb Dave quoted. I was over the moon. Pb's broken twice.

To say the two hour drive home was good is an understatement, although my jaw hurts now. Seems grinning is not my pose! Now as I write, I look at the calendar and think how I can go again before March 31st!!

I must be getting good at this pike fishing, although I told you the venue, did I not mention the bait they were all caught on ...............????😉😉

Catching friends as well as fish?

As the New Year starts, I am starting to think about what my fishing will be in 2017, species, venues and making new friends.

I always tend to fish alone. None of my long standing friends are anglers and do not live near me. My dad was always my fishing partner but he lives a long way away now, so we try to meet a couple of times a year for a proper fishing trip. Last year was on the Wye and although we blanked, we suggested making it an annual trip.

I have a friend I have met in the last few years who I do fish with, but not regularly, we both have family commitments at times and cannot always go at the same time. He also part shares a boat so goes fishing with that partner and sadly there is no room for me. He may plan a trip at the last minute or for only an hour and sadly my geography does not mean I can be sat waiting in the passenger seat within 60 seconds.

The other people I have "met" through on line forums and social media have often suggested meeting up, but it is always hard to arrange or people want to keep swims secret!

I read many anglers blogs and have started my own, whilst doing this, I was always hoping this may lead to finding other local people to fish with.

I am a member of 3 clubs, and aside from the matches, there is no emphasis on meeting new people from the clubs. I know of clubs that have good licensed club houses open for drinks in the evening, but sadly I do not live near those to take it up maybe that is another aspect of angling culture to look at; the distance angler’s travel to fish.

I regularly drive 60 miles plus to my chosen venue as there is not the type of fishing I do where I live. It seems quite normal for people to travel to fishing venues, so the partner needs to be local to where you live or local to the venue or indeed willing to travel. It is the norm now that us anglers are happy to add the miles to the car to be able to fish.

I think the secrecy in pike fishing is valid and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, however I want to find the social aspect of angling and be able to meet someone I have never met before, go for a day’s fishing together, maybe catch some fish and maybe then find a new friend for life, to fish with or until they never want to drive!!

Equipment list aka Tackle!

As my mum would tell you, as a boy, I would very often get all my fishing stuff out of the shed, garage or wherever it was being stored at the time and carry it all into the house, lay it out on the floor and "sort it". The anglers amongst you will understand but for the rest, sorting basically entailed going through all my tackle; throwing out old casters you find in the corners of boxes or aprons, chucking out that small plastic bag or box that you have kept for several years " just incase a small item fits in it" and generally being proud of all the tackle you own! I often hear people say the tackle in tackle shops are just about catching anglers as they are about catching fish!

Unfortunately I still do this now!!

It was during a sort out that I realised I did not actually know all the rods and reels I have gathered over the years and an inventory would be useful. If for no other reason than a) it would be fun and I was not on the bank and b) there is always that rod, that would be perfect for the situation that you find yourself in when you did not know you had it, so it was left at home. I usually am sure what my fishing trips will be for, so I only take what I think I will use. I would hate to have stick float set up with maggots on the river while a big pike was swimming around my silvers, leaving me no chance of trying for her.  Most of my fishing is for pike now but strangely enough I still have tools for the stick float, maybe one day I will find the will to try it, watch this space.......

Rods
Korum 12ft 2lb tc Barbel rod
CK Armaplate 12ft 2.75lb tc Carp rod
Mitchell 12ft 2.5lb tc Carp rod
Leeda Blue Diamond 13ft 1.25 lb tc Specimen float rod
Daiwa 12ft 1.25lb tc Specialist Avon
Chevron 10ft float rod
Keenly 12ft ledger rod
13ft super lights float rod
Drennan Graduate pole
NGT 9ft travel rod cw 20-50g
March series 7ft Lure rod cw 5-21g

Reels
Mitchell excellence 60 special
Shimano 6010 Baitrunner
Abu Garcia 1044 closed face
DAM Camaro LSB 235
Shimano Exage 2500FD
HTO Ventura Baitcaster
Comoran BX LN 30

The carp rods are what I use for my deadbait pike fishing, the other rods more suited to chub, barbel on rivers and occasional closed season forays to carp waters. My first fishing trips were on heavily stocked, easy carp waters where I used the Keenly rod. My old faithful rod, more about those trips later.
The newest edition, the korum is still a virgin as it was used on the Wye. I will maybe venture on the river soon and see if it can tame a Swale chub.
The Baitcaster is pure too, have only cast a few times with it, but thinking of using it this weekend with the travel rod on a lake I have been targeting for pike.

I don't claim to have fancy or up to date tackle but I care for it and love using it as often as I can.