A short piking session on the River

With the river being high on my local river, i decided on the lower reaches. The water was still pushing through here, but easily manageable.

With most of my river piking, location is simple. There is a fair depth by my feet, so i simply look for features such as overhanging trees. However, here the water is inches deep by my feet, but gradually slopes away to a fair depth. Also, there isn't sufficient flow to be able to read the water. I'm pretty new to stretches like this, so decided to start pretty far out, and gradually bring it closer in further up the slope until i connected. Bait was half Mackerel (i have a freezer full to use up!) using float ledger tactics. Third cast out, and about 2 rods out, i had a take after 30 seconds or so, which ended up with this low double ar 11lb 4oz. 

Despite a short move downstream, the only other action was trying to catch a pike by my feet, which bolted. All in all, a nice few hours on the bank. 

Birdflight Goit, Saltburn - 29/08/11

I decided with the nice sea on to have a wander round huntcliff to an exposed gulley called birdflight goit. I got there with the sea too far in to get round the cliff, so a wander on the beach got me a couple of nice pics, including this seal which was intent on getting away from me as quickly as possible...

The gulley was round the other side of this cliff, a fair walk in rugged terrain and to try and maximise my time there, i had to get past the cut off point at the earliest opportunity which meant dodging waves and being careful of rocks falling from the cliff!

Once there, i set up a pennel pulley rig with size 3/0 Sakuma hooks, 60lb shockleader and 30lb main line. Long casts weren't necessary into the relative depths of the gulley, and crab / mussel was used as bait. Unfortunately, the fish werent having it but it was a big tide, with the sea pushing further out than normal. Might have to try it late one evening on a smaller tide, with some nice sea running. I've heard that big cod are present with persistance, so i will be back!

A word of warning with this venue, i've been recommended to leave approximately 1.5hrs after low tide. The nearest cut-off point is a good 20 minutes walk away and i wouldnt want to be stranded! Also, falling rocks are a serious risk.

Back to the sea

I've been trying for some bass lately. The first occasion was on Friday, going to a mark i chucked some lures out for an hour or so without success, however i knew from experience that it fished well at HT+1. Low and behold, at just the time i was expecting it, i started seeing terns diving after sandeels. Suddenly, a big shoal of sandeels appeared at my feet, clearly 'herded' by some bass and then i witnesses a couple of them splintering the pack and attacking the prey fish. Amazing! A quick change of lure, and i was into a small bass first cast which unfortunately got off as i was bringing it in (lightly hooked!). As quickly as they came, the sandeels had gone and with them the bass, i was a little annoyed!

I got back out again this morning for some bass at the same mark, but conditions were bright and water very clear. The bass were uncooperative but i managed a mackerel which made a lovely lunch! I'm definitely back into sea fishing mode...

Mashed Bread for Roach - 09/07/11

I decided on an evening trip to the River Tees, and with a bit if extra water in, mashed bread was to be the target. I dont know why, but with a foot or two extra in, it seems to do the business for me. To make it, i get a cheap loaf of white, and blend half of the slices (crusts and all so you have some floating bits in your feed). Throw in a few balls of bread lightly compressed in your hand over a 20 minute period to get the fish in a confident mood, and you can get a few fish in quick succession - at least thats the plan.

Using a feeder full of mashed bread and a piece of flake the same as a 10p coins on the hook is the tactic...

As usual, with this tactic, i got lots of slight pulls, knocks etc. I always find the best thing to do is to simply ignore this, literally sit on your hands until the rod pulls round. I was hoping for some quality roach, with a chub or two to add to the mix (oh, and i had my barbel rod out to the far bank - you never know!). It wasnt long until the first fish was hooked, a nice plump roach

After this, i missed a succession of bites and finicky knocks. They were losing confidence and i knew why - my feeder kept getting attacked by a pike on the retrieve. I hooked i at one point (and it felt big as well!) but it came off. The only time i dont take my pike gear as well!! A few more small roach followed...

I fished on into dark, hoping for that elusive barbel but again it wasn't to be. It's proving a decent challenge this (a Tees barbel), i know it will come good for me soon though...

More river Pike, but still not Barbel! 03/07/11

Got up at 4.30am for a dawn start today on the middle river. A beautiful morning, and i hoped to pull a fish or two out before the sun got too much.

I had a barbel rod out, with cage feeder tactics and sweetcorn as bait cast to the far bank near some tree cover and a raft of weed. On the near bank, i used a smelt deadbait cast downstream to some dead water under a tree in the hope for a pike.

I quickly started getting indications that fish were about on the barbel rod, but decided to ignore the twitches in the hope for a good pull. Suddenly out of nowhere the rod slammed down and i struck expectantly, but with no response. It was either a chub or barbel, and i was annoyed at missing it! I was just getting ready to cast, when the nearside rod started flying away to a pike run. I lifted into it quickly, so as not to deep hook the pike, and was met with a solid response. After some fun and games for 5 minutes or so, i netted my second double of the year at 10lb 2oz.

I'd guessed that this might have ruined the swim, so a change was required and a quater of a mile later reached my next swim. By now the sun was high, and despite efforts, i struggled to get anymore bites. I brought my deadbait in, unclipped the lead and cast the deadbait out again to try a bit of sink and draw. Third cast, and the bait was hit by this small pike.

By now, it was sweltering and i called it a day. A nice morning out, and now i'm off for a pint. Going to be trying for some bass again soon, so here's hoping.

River Piking, 26 June 2011

Armed with a selection of deadbaits, i decided to go to the river this morning. However, despite trying mackerel, sardine & lamprey and various tempting swims, all i got was the odd dropped run. It was so slow going, i decided i would try my hand at wildlife photography!

Back to the fishing, i brought in my deadbait, moved swim again, and hooked the smelt for wobbling, a tactic i have seldom tried and to date without success. Second cast in, and a small jack of 4 1/2lb struck under my rod tip, very exciting in the clear water! After a short tussle, with a few leaps, this was the result...

Following this, i decided to call it a day. I nice morning, by a glorious river!

Two stretches of river, two pike - 19/06/11

With the rivers now in full swing, i eagerly got out fishing today with pike in mind. The first session was on the morning, i took my nephew out to see if he could catch a couple, which he did, but i thought it would be rude not to put a smelt deadbait out as well. This quickly resulted in this pike of 6 or 7 lb...

Later on, i got out to another stretch of the river, again with pike in mind. The swim was overgrown and out of the way (perfect)...

Within minutes i had a run, again on smelt, which I quickly hit. This fish fought like a demon, as you expect from summer pike. Once landed, and at 10lb 1oz i was chuffed to get my first double of the season. Hopefully one of many....

Bishopton Mill - 19 May 2011

This has been my first opportunity to get out for a while, due to the newborn! A short day session to Bishopton Mill was the opportunity, and i was armed with light gear and maggots / caster for bait.

I started off fishing 3 rod lengths out in 4 foot depth, and was getting smattering of bits (including a huge gudgeon!) before putting some groundbait out - this seemed to kill the swim so i laid off on the latter and concentrated on the former!

Other species continued to be caught including bream, roach, rudd but i was really hoping for one of the large tench that were present. A switch to caster started bringing swirls on top, and i noticed the few that fell short were being taken by fish on the surface. I shallowed up and fished one rod length out to find out the culprit, rudd. Constant spraying of feed got them feeding more confidently, and i was getting into a rythm until i struck into something more substantial which tore off, me having to flick the anti-reverse on my old mitchell (i'm never fond of using the clutch on 2lb line). I instantly thought 'tench' and after a good 5 minute battle it neared the net. However, it curiously turned out to be a Roach / Bream hybrid of about 3lb, a fish i have never caught but they fight like demons!!

I had to call it a day shortly after - can't wait for the rivers to open in 4 weeks time!

Hemlington Lake - 17-04-11

This will no doubt be my last session for a while, with the imminent arrival of a baby! Woke up at dawn and travelled to hemlington lake. Using maggot and caster for bait & feed, 2lb bottom and size 20 spade end for anything that came really. Bites came instantly with the odd roach, then i struck into something solid which refused to move much. It eventually straightened my hook, and i have a feeling it was a tench. Back to the roach again, and i got 5 or 6 on the bounce with the odd decent one in there of 6 or 7oz. This was followed by a perch of 1/2lb or so.

As the sun came up, bites slowed but i soon got them on the feed again. Noticing a couple of bubbles, i had a feeling what was coming next and stepped up to a size 16. A carp was clearly interested in the feed i'd been trickling in, and it was long until i struck into something solid. I played this carefully on my light tackle, but it touched a snag close to me and the hook flew out! Never mind, a nice mornings fishing.

A morning session...

Got out this morning on what used to be part of a river, but time and a change in the course of the river has left it a stranded (it's occassionally topped up with fish and water when the river is in flood though!).

I cast out to a large swirl (which i presumed was a pike) with a trout deadbait, and 5 mins later had a slow take which i eventually hit into. This provided a small pike of 5 1/2lb.

Following this, i float fished worm to see if there was anything about. Despite plenty of activity with fish, i only managed one quick bite which was missed.

Back to the pike, i tried a large ondex spinner which was chased and attacked by 3 fish, each of which i somehow managed to fish. There was every indication that some large pike were present as they were attacking the bait fish. Unfortunately, no more fish came to my rod. But it was a fun morning, and a place i'll have to try again.

Still no bass

With a big spring tide today, I chanced a go at the bass. I knew it was unlikely in March, but always worth a shot. Using my Maria Chase for the first time, which had a great action and half decent casting ability. It dives to maybe 30cm or so making it perfect for rocky shorelines.

Despite my repeated casting, for an hour or so trying various different places, i has no success, but it was a good afternoon to be out.

When i was considering calling it a day, a seal popped up with a fish of a pound or so. It looked silvery and very bass like, so perhaps they are there! I only managed a brief shot of it when it came out a bit further away. Better luck next time i guess

A cold morning...

I managed to get out for a few hours this morning at my local hemlington lake. Before the sun came up, it was bitterly cold and when it did start to warm, the wind picked up and hit me straight in the face. This wasn't ideal, it's a shallow lake and i knew the fish wouldn't bite much. I found myself fishing lighter and lighter until i ended up with single maggot on a size 22 hook and a 1lb hooklength. Ony then could i tempt a fish, a very small roach.

Dissappointing really; and all i could think about was the rivers! Can't wait to get among the barbel, chub & pike.

Last river session of the season......

I decided to have one final river session this year, i'm certainly going to miss them for a few months. Woke up at 5.30am and drove straight to the River, only to find it in flood...

This wasn't the best news, but i had a feeling the rain water might not have affected the other local yet, so jumped in the car and half an hour later i was by the river. I walked to my favourite little swim, feeding in liquidised bread while i sorted my pike gear out. After half an hour or so, i made my first cast with bread flake expecting a quick bite, which came. I struck into something big, and played it carefully for 30 seconds or so - it may have been a barbel or a big chub. Unfortunately it got snagged and got away, which indicated it was time to move to the next swim.

Same technique again, pike rig went in whilst i fed bread into the swim. Just as i was about to cast some breadflake out, my ledgered smelt tore off from a deep hole on the near bank. I hit into it and shortly after landed an underfed pike of 6lb or so....

Eventually, my breadflake was cast out and, same as before i had an immediate take. This ended up being a small chub of 1lb or so., but still a welcome fish...

Time to move on! By this time, the river had started rising rapidly, the rainwater had caught up with me. I wandered downstream for a mile or so, until i found a nice bit where the river came back on itself and underneath a tree.

I fed liquidised bread, and felt this was my last chance of a fish as the river was visibly rising fast. A flicked cast landed perfectly under the tree, and minutes later i had a savage take. I had to hold on tight to stop this fish making for the tree, but it was soon landed. At just under 4lb, I was a happy man!

Walking back to the car, i noticed the river had risen a good 4 feet and the odd tree was starting to come downstream!

Until next time rivers........

22lb 8oz pike revisited..

I caught this pike in January 2011, before i started my blog so haven't told the story of my PB. Having blanked on my previous 5 fishing trips (all in 2011), i wasn't expecting much but the conditions seemed spot on for a pike or two. If anything, it was a chance to get a bend in my Mike Ladle sure spin before the bass come in later in the year!

I got  down to a local stretch of the River with smelt as bait, and cast towards a dead tree on the far bank next to some slack water. I didnt have to wait long at all for my rod to start moving, i gave it 10 seconds or so before hitting into the fish. I thought that i must have snagged the tree, because it didn't move or do much and just felt like a solid lump. It wasn't until i managed to give it some stick that it came to life, and there wasn't much i could do about it when it did move! It surfaced after 4 mins or so and it was then i realised it was a double. I managed to get the fish near the bank before it went off again, and this time it was heart in mouth time until my clutch slipped at the right moment. Every time the fish surfaced, my estimate of it's size got bigger, and 6 mins into the fight i was guessing about 15 pounds. Suddenly it was over as the fish came into the net which my brother had skillfully placed. It wasn't until i lifted the net that i realised i could have a 20!!!


It weighed in at 23lb, with the net taking up 1/2lb so i settled at 22.5lb! Not bad for the first fish of the year.....

22lb 8oz pb

Nothing else happened for the rest of the morning, but i wasn't that bothered!!

Too early for the bass....

With the lighter nights and warm sun I started thinking of bass today. Early in the year, yes - especially for the North-East. In reality they aren't a worthwhile proposition until May. But you do get some that over-winter, and as the warm sun got me thinking of bass again, i checked the tide tables. It turned out to be perfect; a spring tide, with high tide just before sunset. It was worth it just to give my new spinning gear a go and try one or two lures.

Unfortunately it wasn't to be! However, a nice evening and I used a daiwa Saltiga lure for the first time. It costs a bomb, but casts like a bullet and, being a very shallow diver and looking minnow like, is perfect. A recommendation to anyone....

Back to the sea!

Daiwa Saltiga lure

River Swale Pike!

An interesting day out! Got to the River Swale about 6.30am, and walked 1/2 a mile to my swim. I was keeping all options open, trying ledger tactics for chub (with liquidised bread for feed and breadflake on the hook). My other rod was cast to a deep section where the river came back on itself under a tree. For this rod, i had a small ledgered smelt deadbait in the hope for Pike.

I was starting to get indication that chub were there when my pike rod tore off! I quickly hit into the fish to avoid deep hooking, and not suprisingly it went straight for the tree. I managed to hold hard and stoppped it's run, just short of the snags. After that it went for a few interesting runs which were stopped short. This is when the fun started! As i was preparing my landing net, the bank caved in and i was standing in half a foot of water and the same depth of sticky mud. Completely stuck, i managed to land the fish but couldn't get back up the bank! Trying to get my foot free, i fell into the mud and, taking care not to harm the fish, ended up on my arms and knees. Eventually, i managed to haul the fish up and at 17 1/2 lb i was well pleased. In summer, it probably wouldnt be anywhere near that because it was a short stocky fish. Stangely, it seemed to have a healed bite mark on its flank. I want to catch the pike that did that!

Try as i might, i didn't get that chub - they must have all been eaten!

Fat Pike!

The Pike's lair!

Old vs. New

My recent pike fishing has been done with modern rods, baitrunners and bite alarms which are good to use and efficient. However, there is a certain sense of achievement when you use vintage, collectable items to catch fish. It also proves that all you need is rod, line and luck to catch. Which is why this weekend, i will be using my original john wilson signature avon quiver and mitchell reel to try and tempt chub & barbel.

Both these items are built to last and with a bit of maintenance can give a lifetime of success. Reels should be rinsed after each outing with warm water and with an annual clean, oil and grease (watch out for my step-by-step guide).

Line should be changed regurlarly, at least once and perhaps twice a season depending on usage. The last section should also be checked on each cast for any damage.

My rod comes with a selection of tips, one of which snapped at the end due to my clumsiness. Cutting this back has provided an excellent tip to use when fishing fast flows for barbel.

You can pick a good condition vintage Mitchell Reel for £30 or so, and i would recommend it to anyone.

Old

New