Trip to a new canal 25 January 2014

I decided this last week i would like to try out a new canal,i spent ages on google earth looking at specific areas to fish.I made my mind up to fish 3 areas.The first area would be from the bridge to the lock,then behind the lock,approx 700 yards of leapfrogging two float fished deads,bait choice,roach and smelt.

The starting point.............................................

I had probably made my way to the half way point,no signs of fish movement at all,i had fished one rod far bank and the other down the track,rotating them as i moved.I saw something to the left of my far bank rod and thought it was a pike striking,how wrong i was,it was a minx,working its way across the far bank undergrowth..I had just moved my right hand rod when i noticed my float was now in an upright position,i picked up my rod and struck..................................

I slipped my net under this jack..................................

I moved the rod to the far bank,as i was tightening up to my float i saw the minx heading over towards my other float,dived and went for my dead bait,as i got to my rod the baitrunner was going,i struck hoping it would drop the bait,fortunately i lost the bait and the minx won........................

By now i had approached where i wanted to end up,i decided to walk back to the van,have a butty and a drink,then fish the other side of the canal.

I arrived at the other stretch hoping to get into some more fish.I leapfrogged along and moved above the lock,the sky was lovely until i moved for the second time and the sky was black,hoping it would blow over,but it didnt,thunder and lightning ,hail and now rain.There was no way i was touching the rods just yet,i crouched behind a bush till it cleared and aborted the fishing and back to the van.I had took some perch gear with me and was hoping to do some for the last 2 hours of the day,this will have to wait as i decided to call it a day,due to the weather turning bad.As i sat in the van having a brew i googled no 1 water to see how far away i was,7 miles.As i would be going near there on the way home i decided to head there and if the rain cleared i could be fishing by 2-30.................................

I arrived at the lake,set up in a swim with deep margins,there were 2 anglers carping and one other pike fishing.I stayed till it went dark,still owes me a fish this place,ill be back.

Now its time to get my headspace right and re-group and see where i go from here,Tight Lines.........

On the river with the st helens crew 19-1-14

Last weeks  pike session saw a return to my  no1 choice water,i blanked again.........................
This week i decided to look into going somewhere else,i made 2 choices,the canal or the river.I was at home on saturday and the phone rang,it was kieth,you fancy the river mate,didnt need asking twice.
We arrived at the river just after 6-30,myself,kieth,bernie,sefo and young mike who is having a cracking season.The stretch of the river had roughly 5 swims,we all dropped into our chosen swims,mine needed a bit of gardening to get it fishable,bernie dropped in 50 yards to my left and kieth,sefo and mike headed to the swims further down river.

I fished both rods on pat rigs as the river can be really snaggy,better to lose your lead  rather than your trace.
My baits were smelt and lamprey,both fished close in one a rod length out,the other on the edge of a crease
next to a bush.

The morning was going fast till bernie cracked the sausages open,time for a butty,thanks bernie,better than wyreside..............................

I moved my baits about a few times in the morning ,we had a late sausage butty again.
kieth text me to say he lost one.I changed over one rod to a free roving livey,then kieth text me to say mike had a jack.

I had to leave at about 4-30 to be home to visit my mum who,s in hospital again,had a great day out with the lads as usual,great company,good crack and belting buttys......................................

As i was leaving kieth text me to say he had a double,so even though i blanked at least fish were  banked today................................................................

Two of my favourite cloud shots today..............................................

Korum Grub Feeders 10-1-14

After last seasons dissapointing tench sessions where they just didnt want maggot,and after modifing various in-line feeders that either fell apart of just exploded as they hit the water.A change of tactics to method feeders and boilie saw me up my pb to a 6 on the dot tench.

Anyway later on in the year i read about the korum grub feeders,basically a method feeder with a cover that opened,what a brilliant idea,i couldnt wait to see them in the flesh.So when i went to the tackle shop the other day,they had arrived.

They come in 30g 60g @ 90g.i opted for the 60. I will be fishing them bolt rig with a swivel not with the free quick change bead that comes with them.

Here some pics and a description......................................

Here is the feeder closed,the bigger holes are at the base..........................................

Un do the latch on the side,fill the feeder in the palm of your hand and close.................................

Front of the packet.............................................................

Instructions on the back,with an interesting small line grip on top,either to present buoyant baits,or another handy option when fishing for chub,if there attacking the feeder,clip your line in to get your bait right on top of the feeder....................................£1.99 for the 30 and 60.£2.19 for the 90. Roll on april,found a gravel pit that holds tench to double figure that like maggot,but thats another blog...........................................

Tackle Shop Advice On Trace Wire9-1-13

Today i went to my local tackle shop for a few bits,ill reveal them at a later date.While i was looking at some flurocarbon i over heard the assistant manager say to a customer,this is the only wire we have,them horrible spinning traces,that are absolute garbage and i wish they would not sell them.The customer said there not  strong enough,and me being me said theres wire over here mate,and i dont even work there.

Ive worked in a shop before and its not hard to know your products,this is a big shop.Anyway the chap came over and i pointed out 23,28,30 and 45 lb wire,he settled on the 45,job done in my eyes,and i dont work there,pike safety to me is top of my list where protecting them from evil wire.

When i first got into pike fishing i bought the fox ready made traces,if you cant make your own there spot on till you can,theres a few out there Drennan,middy and lynx to name a few,theres enough info on line to go out select a decent wire,whether you twist or crimp,its great making and catching on something you have made yourself.

Tip for today stay away from ready made traces on cardboard behind the counters in tackle shops,there cheap spining traces and are Rubbish,Make your own,have fun and Tight Lines..............................

Back To Basics 5-1-14

I was reading another blog sometime back,it went something like this,ive read quite a few blogs lately,they seem to be either not fishing or there not catching.Well im fishing but im not catching,so ill carry on bloggin.

After my last session i started to evalulate where i have either been going wrong,or the pike are just  not feeding .I decided to go back to the begining of my start in pike fishing,float fishing for them,but with  a more mobile approach.

The weather again this week has been unsettled with heavy rain and strong winds.I checked my weather channel,which by the way is bang on,i could of either gone saturday or sunday,there was going to be some rain either way.

I left home this morning early,so i could arrive just before first light.There was a slight frost on the van,and the temp was around 4 degrees when i arrived,the water was coloured.

I made my way to the swims at the bottom of the lake,the plan was to fish a swim for 30-40 minutes.
At 11 am i saw a pike strike on the far bank,i was now in my fourth swim.i moved again to my fifth swim when it started to rain,i decided as i wasnt far from the van to grab the umbrella and head to the other side of the lake,i set up in a peg i fancied and fished one rod mid water,the other next to lillie pads.

At 2-30 i packed up,put the gear in the van and headed to an area i hadnt fished and chucked lures for 20 mins.Today i have learned more about the water ie the depths and im sure ill be back.........................

Scary Tree.............................................

Another scary Tree.............................................................

I will be out again soon,need to get my enthusiasm back,i hate blanking,but sometimes it cant be helped.
Tight Lines........................................................................................................

Happy New Year 2014

Just like to wish all my followers and bloggers a happy new year 2014.Tight lines,stay safe and enjoy your fishing year ahead............................................................

Lets hope this unsettled weather were having at the moment settles down and we can get into winter mode.
I will be out pike fishing at weekend,a new water,new challange,hoping to get back on track to catch a few.
Looking forward to tench and bream come may and june then its barbel time,excited ,bring it on..........