first Esox of 2009/10 season

first fish was this cracking mint 16.08 followed by another low double.

both taken on deadbaits...float feedered half herring, both takes to the same rod in the same spot.

now had a few blanks and a couple of lost fish, not been out much so far.

Frozen Out....3/01/09

The first Piking session of 2009...

My self and Mr bowles arrived at out stillwater quite late in the morning, around 9am, we met up with another friend Matt Rand, upon speaking to the lake owner and having a walk round the lake..it was frozen solid..up to half an inch thick!! DAMN!!! the temperature was -4, overnight it had been up to -6 to -7!! As Matt said..'that's got a proper lid on it!'

We quickly had to re-think our options!..i knew a River was nearby, which was unlikely to have froze due to the flow..
Using his phones GPS Matty found a good looking spot..we set off to investigate.

We walked through a couple of fields and came to a river..it looked good, fishing as mobile as possible, we tried various spots, but could not get any takes..

Eventually we came to a spot where the river met a side part, like a canal, this came out into the river at its side, a good looking spot!!

Matt had a take but unfortunately it came off, we thought it to be small tho, So we all blanked!! but we had a laugh, hopefully it wont be long before the lake thaws out..and when it does..the pike will go on a feeding spree..it will be carnage!

19.04 Sept 04

Braving The Elements...13/12/08

On my last piking mission, me and my fishing partner Mr Bowles braved horrible weather! we arrived at our venue, A small water we are trying for the first time, a little late...The rain was already hammering down, a cold northerly wind had kicked up. Our main plan had been to fish mobile style, hopping our rods from one spot to another after trying each spot for 30-45Min's.
Tho upon our arrival in the present weather conditions we decided on a static approach, we opted to get all the gear to our chosen swim and put up the shelter first..this in its self was a mission, after getting soaked and wrestling with the shelter in the wind for a good 20Min's! we proceeded to bait our rods.

The swim we fished had alot of open water in front of us, hidden below, is a deep hole, 16ft deep,with the surrounding water being on average 9ft some areas being 13ft.

On me left hand rod i fished a ledgered Sardine, a favourite and successful bait of mine, i cast this out around 30-40yards into 9ft of water, as i set my drop off indictator, the braid was pulled from my fingers tips! looking at the rod tip it nudged..and again!..TAKE!! i wound down and was in!
Bowles done the honours with the net, the fish being lightly hooked by the bottom treble too! lucky!!














she was in good condition, very pale in colour, but fat and well fed, weighed 11.02.

later that Afternoon while talking to Matty Rand on the phone i had another take, on my right hand rod-my ledgered Turbo Smelt 50yards out in the 16ft hole..on striking into this fish it appeared to be feel big! really thumping the rod tip down..and taking a little line, after a short spirited fight bowles..again..netted the fish, she had taken the bottom treble down to just into her throat entrance, it came out without fuss tho,
no blood, no problems. She weighed in at 12.08 and like the first fish was very pale, but had amazing green back with tortoise like patterns/markings. I have caught other doubles from the same water that are more green in colour..hmm odd!.



Bowlesy's Baits remained untouched, despite us fishing fairly close to one another, it was Ratty's turn to take the honours! we had fun even if we did question our sanity at times, handling fish and unhooking with hands like ice blocks hurts like hell! but its always worth it..cos the next one might be a twenty...

Ratty's Pred Pics..