Today saw us leave the bank and waders and climb on board Big Elbow, we were off for a days boat fishing. We were gonna be using spinners and small jigs in the hope of a Perch or two.
We met (as usual) at 7am and prepared the boat. I threw the rope to Ellis, nearly breaking his nose. " No limp wristed throwing here", I declared.
We cast off and headed upstream. Ellis drove the boat while I tackled up and then we swapped. It meant we were ready to go when we got go the mouth of the Leven. We would fish here for a bit and then work our way back.
Today was a relaxing day, I did alot more sitting than actual fishing. After two days of serious fishing it was just a great day to be on the river. Being on a boat gives a different feel and the gentle rocking certainly is relaxing. Ellis was first off the mark with a blank saving Roach, I kept trying for Perch but soon we were both on the float road with maggots trying to catch "bits".
Eventually I caught one too and I was off the blank. No monsters but with the finger tip approach we could make all fish look splendid. Ellis doing a much better job than me!
Some of the silver's went on as live baits but the predators were not playing ball. The river had an algal bloom all over the slower moving edges and the green pea soup sticky residue covered our line, floats and well, pretty much everything!
We tried swims we had caught Perch and Pike in before but still no joy. We tied up alongside trees and bushes, most of them were in the boat more than alongside!
Eventually we came to where Ellis lost a big Pike a while ago. He cast out his live bait and it swam perfectly straight along the edge of the lillies. Ellis remarked " It's like an ice cream van for Pike, it just needs a little tune" on hearing this, I cracked up. Another classic line for the blog.
Sadly no Pike here so we moved on. We were in another tight swim by some trees when suddenly the Pike float bobbed and sailed away. Ellis wound down to the circle hook and felt the surge of Esox. As quick as it arrived, it was gone. The live bait now dead with tell tale pike teeth marks across it's flank. We tried here for an hour but to no avail.
The wind was getting stronger and I had drunk two litres of water in as many minutes and weed over the side about a million times. It was time for an early bath as I believe "something's coming home" tonight!
It was a relaxed end to three great days fishing. Shame we didn't land the Pike, but I think Ellis is glad I didn't poach it out of his swim like yesterday.
The relaxing is over as I will be going fishing again soon, "Great" I hear you say! Great indeed, I am going again tomorrow!!
My recent trips have definitely been missing something. Fish? Maggots? Chub pics? No, none of those. The answer is, Ellis!! He has been doing some diy as the weather has been helpful, with alot of it now completed he was able to come out with me this time. He suggested the boat, which I was quietly pleased about as it was exactly what I was thinking. We have not been on the boat in a while and we always have a great time up and down the river, so the plan was made.
See, two floats not one!
I met Ellis at the Marina and we loaded Big Elbow with the gear. Perch and Pike the target on lures ( I brought the lure with no tail too) and maybe some live baits if we were able. We would have the trusty float/ maggot/ blank saver rod for silver's too!
First stop was at Disco Corner, we had not fished it for ages and it was some guaranteed silver's, or so we thought. Ellis plugged away on the float and although fish were clearly there, none were obliging. I caught a small Perch so we were off the mark.
We tried a few more swims and eventually caught some small silver's for live baits and I caught another Perch. The Pike did not seem to be interested and the floats only had the bait to make them move, and in some cases even that was too much!
We swapped between the float rod, lures and live baits but still it was proving to be a difficult day. Ellis suddenly had enough, exclaimimg "Pass me my Broomstick!"
I fell about laughing but duly passed him his 150 gram plus casting weight, 130lb braid broomstick onto which he put a large burt lure. He thrashed the water, but to no avail. It was getting desperate.
Plan B was in order, I wondered why it took him so long to do it. When he did, he was soon catching Perch after Perch after Perch. Ellis had set up the drop shot rod!!
We always like to use smaller silver baits for lives, releasing the Perch or better fish. We just do! Ellis catching a great fish that was released.
We discussed how many lures are Perch pattern and obvioulsy Perch and Pike will eat smaller Perch. I just wondered if they prefer fish that are alot less spikey. Anyway, I caught a small Perch and put it on as a live bait. We were in a swim where we had caught Pike before, although there were some large trees in the water here now which were not before. Actually, all along the river there were some large trees looking like potential hazards in the river. I digress, the Perch was cast to where we had just seen a splash.
"What was that?" I asked.
"You will see in a minute" being Ellis's confident reply.
My float was in the water for about 30 seconds when it suddenly sailed away. I struck and was in. A small Pike, 3 to 4 lb shooting off like Usain Pike. It nearly went up the bank, it went round a floating branch and towards the tree. I tightened the drag, but long story short. The Pike escaped and managed to snag me in the fallen tree!! Hindsight is a glorious thing and maybe the swim was too cramped now with the tree, but that is probably why the fish are in it!
We tried many more of our usual swims and although the drop shot produced countless more Perch, the Pike count remained zero.
It was a tough day. Back at the Marina, there was time for a few casts off the bank. Just enough to catch a few branches (or were they broomsticks) each, before jumping in the cars and calling it a day until next time.
Today I left dry land behind and was on board 'Big Elbow' with Ellis for our first lure session for predators.
Meeting at 8am, it was nice to have a lie in, on what was going to be a hot day!
We had lure rods, drop shot rods, light float for catching live bait rods and heavier float for fishing live bait rods!! We had enough rods!
Now to reels. I have been chatting alot recently about these closed faced reels and their drag system. Really not suited to bigger fish, I am sure they are in the right hands. In my hands, not!
My second reel thought and is also a 2020 Target of mine, is to catch on my multiplier reel. I was using this today with the live bait, so fingers crossed.
We set aboard and got ready. With plenty of liquid refreshment in the cool box, we set off. Stopping first to " get a quick perch", we stopped in a shady bend. All we did was annoy rowers here, I lost tackle and no perch were caught!
We headed to our usual spot, and soon enough Ellis was into a perch.
I on the other hand, was trying to not loose a new soft lure that I had. I won it along with three others a few years ago, and have only just got round to rigging it up with hooks. I wanted to catch on it as I had put effort into it, plus using the multiplier reel. It was going to be good.
With tail
A few casts whilst drifting and nothing was happening, so we tied up to catch live baits or perch on lures. Ellis started catching small fish straight away, but we were right in the Sun and it was too hot, we moved to a shady spot and tried again.
I cast my new lure set up along the bank and started a retrieve. Suddenly a swirl on my lure, a fish took it. I struck but the fish was not attached, and neither was my new lures tail!!
I quickly cast again, this time the pike grabbed the half lure near the boat and I played it for about 10 seconds. Sadly it came off. My lure showing clear damage from teeth!
No tail!
We carried on fishing, Ellis catching more bait, a gudgeon and the occasional perch. Me not catching a thing. Eventually, I caught a little silver fish and the blank was avoided.
Soon, it was time for lunch. We were both starving. We decided to set up the live bait rods and cast them out while we ate. We were chatting about last time when Ellis's live bait was taken and how it could be pike or perch. Ellis saying " something is worrying your live bait"
As I said "perch can take live bait too" my float shot away and I struck. Ellis could see the fish and declared it a perch. I quickly brought it to the net and my first ever perch on live bait was my first multiplier reel caught fish! Target achieved!!
We both thought it was about a pound, but on the scales it went 12oz. A great 30cm perch though, and we were both happy.
I put on another bait and waited. After a good 20 minutes, I was thinking nothing was happening so started to wind in my bait. I did this slowly, just in case. I saw a pike come out from near the bank and follow my bait. I was bringing the bait closer to the boat and the pike followed. I was trying to get it to take the bait and as Ellis filmed, the pike opened its mouth and engulfed my bait! A great fight followed, the drag on the multiplier was working fine and I soon brought the fish to the net. Ellis quickly un hooked it and we rested it back in the net.
A few pics and it was back in the water. At 70cm and 5lb, it was a long lean fish. Maybe it only eats fish tails!
We decided to move on. Deciding to fish spots that were shady as the Sun was stronger now. We caught a few more fish, I also caught a gudgeon. Not that common in the Tees, but we have caught 3 between us in recent memory. I caught some sticks too, alot more common!
As the Sun got warmer, and the profanities from kids playing in the water turned from s to f to c we started heading back towards the marina. There was just time for me to loose some more tackle as we tried our usual spots but no fish were caught.
Not strictly speaking the last place we fished, but I will end the blog here. Thanks Ellis, if Carlsberg did fishing trips.......
