Fishing Diary 2014 January part 2

Searching for a monster

After my pair of three pound Perch I made a concerted effort to try and find a venue other than the river capable of producing a genuine four pounder, a real beast. It didn't take me long to find one fairly locally. A lake on caravan park had given up a massive Perch of 4lb 6oz a couple of years ago. The chap who caught it was fishing for Bream at the time and caught it on sweetcorn of all things.

On my next day off I headed to the park and timed my arrival just right as the park was just opening. The man in charge was a glum looking fellow, maybe he didn't see many anglers in the middle of January. I asked Mr Miserable which lake the big Perch came from and he kindly told me (there are six lakes on site). This narrowed down my search somewhat and he also claimed "there are a few threes in there too" rather unconvincingly. I'd already worked out he knew as much about fishing as I do about caravans. After paying for my ticket I rushed around to the lake in question and such was my enthusiasm I got my car stuck on the grass. Fifteen minutes of frantic tooing and froing later and I was back on the roadside.

A quick check on my phone and I found the same peg the Giant Perch had been caught from. "Easy then Phil, catch it first attempt did you?". No. Six frustrating hours in the rain soon brought me back to reality. I tried every trick in the book and all I had to show for my efforts were two micro-Perch and a small Bream. Not sure what else to say. I'd might go back but part of me thinks life may be too short for this specimen hunting lark.

A score to settle

Ken, he with the rucksack and carboot sale tackle put me to shame on our last trip so it was time to get even. I picked him up ridiculously early and we headed over to the river. We arrived so early I couldn't even see to set up. Luckily it gets light super quickly this time of year so I was soon in my favourite spot while Ken wandered about with his lures. He was first of the mark with a small Pike while I waited patiently behind my quivertips. I needn't have worried as I was soon playing a decent Perch. Then another. Both over two pounds they were great fish but nothing unusual for the River. Sounds like I'm being ungrateful but it's the truth.

Ken decided to have a go with some maggots after thrashing every peg to a foam with his lures. He pulled out an ancient looking tip rod. I say tip rod, it was just a very short rod with the end painted red. I lent him one of mine and reassured him that his would come in handy should we need to do any impromptu pole vaulting or cattle prodding. I even tied his rig for him, a simple water knot link leger. Ken wandered off downstream, heading for a spot I had told him about. I even told him where to cast. Ten minutes later he came running back with this, the biggest Rudd I have ever seen......

 

At 1lb 14oz he had beaten my personal best. Jammy git. As I placed it in my keepnet though one of my tips started to move. I struck into it and immediately a battle started. It was a powerful fish and if it was a Perch I was sure it was a good one. It was, and at 3lb 6oz it was a real specimen. "Holy cow, that's the biggest perch I have ever seen" exclaimed Ken, echoing my sentiments about his Rudd. It is the bottom fish in this picture....

One of the two pounders and the 3. 6.......

We persevered for another couple of hours with no luck. I moved downstream, again to no avail. Ken dropped into my Perch peg and snared a decent Pike that came off as he faffed around trying to land it. A short while later we both decided was time for a move, several as it turned out. We fished five or six drains on the way home. Ken had three more Pike while I added a couple and we also witnessed a fairly rare double rainbow along the way.......

Back on the trail

A week later and I was ready to get back out there. A friend had put me onto a Perch hotspot on a drain not to far away from my house. It was still dark when I arrived and to be honest I couldn't really tell where he had caught. Four drains all meet in a massive shallow, weed infested intersection. Totally baffled, I headed upstream to a spot I fancied having found it on google earth. By the time I got there it was raining quite heavily. This combined with ridiculously steep banks made fishing very uncomfortable. The drain was alive though. Fish moving everywhere. Small fish topping and scattering as they were chased by unseen predators. I stuck it out for half an hour catching a couple of tiny perch and a Bream on the tip. With the weather worsening I decided to head over to another spot I reckoned would have some decent Perch, more importantly it had flat banks so I could get my chair and brolly in.

A fruitless hour was spent here and I was on the move again. Yet another river and another blank hour. Heading home at lunchtime wasn't what I had planned. A quick bike ride with the dogs later and I was back out again with the cheese I showed you last month. If the Perch weren't playing ball surely the Chub would? I still had the rods set up and tried all my favourite spots. Nothing. The river was up and coloured but not enough to put the Chub off I kept saying to myself. Sure enough I did manage one of exactly four pounds out of sheer stubbornness to round off a rather miserable day.....

 Kicking myself

The next day I was browsing the Internet again for big Perch. A picture of a barely credible five pounder came up. I recognised the place. It was the drain with the steep side I had fished first-off the day before. My initial hunch was right. The following day I was back there fully prepared. As I pulled up in the car a Cormorant was in the swim but it soon flew off when I got out. Heading over to far bank it was reasonably flat although very muddy. I set up two tip rods, a float rod and a lure rod. I fished the tips mostly but needed to cover every eventuality.  "I suppose you caught that five pounder then did you Phil?". If only. I did catch a great deal of Perch though, thirty eight in total, biggest a creditable 2lb 1oz. Sorry about the rubbish photo but I was keen to get them back in the water......

Strange place though. If I cast to the far bank, I'd get a perch, the near bank, a Bream or Rudd (bearing in mind the drain is only probably twenty feet wide). On two separate occasions people pulled into the layby opposite and just stood staring straight at me. A seagull helped itself to a small fish now and then while a big Pike hunted on the far bank. This is all by a very busy road in the middle of a village. Not sure if I'm any more likely to catch a four pounder from here than my favourite river. It is certainly a lot less pleasant to spend a day at. In total I had twenty five pounds of Perch and silver fish, no wonder that Cormorant was there.

That wasn't the end of the day though. I stopped off at a couple of likely looking places on the way home. I added a few small perch but nothing of any note. Maybe I should have stayed where I was to see if the big girls would have turned up.

Afterword

The last few sessions have taken it out of me. I'm desperate to catch a four pounder but I may be trying too hard. It is all very well knowing where they reside but sussing out a venue can take both time and effort. I'm going to have a week off and just try and relax a bit.

In other news I got a phone call while on the drain. I was asked to fish for my local team in something called the Supercup. No idea what it is and I wasn't keen initially. I'm a specimen hunter now I thought until I gave myself a slap around the face. They have kindly asked me so I'll do it. Besides it's at a local lake where I've had some big perch. Only joking, I'll catch Carp. There are only Perch without brains.

Tackle

Every month I talk to you so I thought it might be nice for you to have a nosey in my tackle bag.

Top left- Tackle Bag is actually a Korum coolbag but is big enough for what I need.
Top Middle- In each end pocket are two reels. These are a Shimano Nasci 4000 for feeder/lure work and a Shimano Exage 1000 for float fishing.
Top Right- My workhorses- Shakespeare Mach 2 reels. One is brilliant, the other a temperamental sod. Three spools with each.

Middle Left- In the main compartment I can get four boxes in. This one is full of rubber lures.
Bottom left- Main lure box.
Bottom middle- Feeder/bits box
Bottom Right- Float box and one I use the most. Hooks/weights/plummets/disgorgers etc

Not pictured- Front pocket. Scales/forceps/gloves/torch/line/baitdropper etc

Please remember

I have to listen to other anglers whinging on constantly about Otters and Cormorants etc doing untold damage to our sacred hobby. The Chub river I fished was meant to have been decimated by Otters. I'll tell you what though, when I was there all sorts came floating by me. Polystyrene blocks, burger boxes, a football, a shoe and that was just the stuff that floated. Likewise on the Drains, the amount of crap on the banks is terrible and I'm afraid, unlike the Chub river, most of it is from anglers. Pike anglers in particular seem not to have any kind of system for storing empty packets and the like. Shame.

Thanks for reading and remember you can contact me anytime via e-mail

the.power@tesco.net

Till next time..............

Fishing Diary 2014 January Part 1

Introduction

I had a tortuous couple of weeks over Christmas where I was so busy at work and with family commitments I couldn't get out on to the banks. Mrs P made me laugh though as we turned in one night- "You know most people count sheep before they go to sleep, I reckon you count fish!" She stated sarcastically. "If that were true I would never get to sleep, I'd be too excited," I replied.

I fear I might be going slightly fishing mad.........

A day wandering about with purpose

I'd arranged a day with our old friend Ken. Mine and Kens' work patterns make trips difficult for most of the year but the lucky sod had a month off over the festive period. After some crackhead nicked his luxury sports moped I had to drive to Skegness to pick him up and he piled a small rucksack and a couple of rods into the boot before we headed towards our destination. 

We started off fishing a selection of small rivers that criss-cross each other a short distance from the coast. It was incredibly windy though and I thought it would tough going. I was fishing with a small rubber lure to target any resident Perch while Ken fished with some of the roughest looking tackle I have ever seen. His reel had about fifty yards of old line on and he was using a rod of dubious vintage and a impossible looking Pike plug. About fifteen minutes of casting and moving around I heard Ken whooping a short distance down on a small bridge pumping his fist in the air. I raced down to him as he played a not inconsiderable Pike. Now I often hear people say "I was pleased for him" and I am never quite sure if they are being genuine or not. To see a fish on such a horrible day though was brilliant and I couldn't stop smiling. Neither could Ken....

We stopped for a while longer before giving it best and moving on. A short drive later and we got to another river and a really promising looking stretch. Ken and I leapfrogged each other for about half a mile, covering as much water as possible. The wind was worsening though and Ken lost his favourite Plug on a snag so our spirits were dampened somewhat. With no follows or takes we decided to go upstream a which entailed another short car journey. This was my banker, A section where I have had some of my best catches. As we pulled bankside I was slightly disappointed to see a couple of Pike anglers in residence. Typically they were in the most sheltered spot so Ken and I hunkered down about a hundred yards upstream under my new brolly to shelter briefly from the wind. A brilliant Christmas present from Mrs P- a Korum fibreglass umbrella.

Ken poured a steaming hot cup of tea from his flask while I set up a couple of tip rods. I was going to try the worm for the Perch. "You know what would make my day now Phil, If I could Perch on the lure," Ken proclaimed. And sure enough the mad sod left the serenity of my shelter to fling a bit of rubber about in a gale force wind. I watched my tips intently. They were in good spots and I was sure a bite would soon be forthcoming. A short time later I heard a familiar shout. Peering from under my brolly there was Ken, rod bent and fist pumping again. Little sod had only gone and caught himself a Perch........

Another cup of tea in the warm later and he was off again. My tips were bouncing around all over the place but alas not from any bites but the wind. Half an hour passed and I began to wonder if Ken had been blown in. Just as I had that thought he appeared and he looked shaken. "It straightened my hook.......big Pike......I'm going back for it," he blustered. We sorted out some more substantial jig hooks and he took his lure wallet and disappeared again. Ten minutes later he was back with this beauty.....

"Have you ever not caught anything here?" Ken asked. "Oh yeah, loads of times," I replied. Ken was keen for me to get off the mark and I think he was quite surprised that I hadn't. Something wasn't right though and I sort of knew my efforts were going to go unrewarded. Only one thing for it and another move was arranged. Twenty minutes later we were a good distance upstream now. We parked up and began fishing all the likely looking spots. We must have walked a mile or so until we could go no further. While neither of us had any luck it did look great and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The sun was going down and the whole valley was lit by the late afternoon sun. We could see all the landmarks we had been by earlier as we looked into the distance. The far-off village lights shimmered in the ever fading light while we had our last casts. I even forgot about the wind until we had to turn around and trudge back to the car.

In the days after, mine and Kens' work mates took turns in giving me some stick about not catching anything and being beaten by a relative novice. Trust me when I say sometimes just being there is enough...............

Besides, I was pleased for him.

Dropshotting

Regulars may remember when I came back back from America with a box full of small lures. Pro Bass World really is an amazing place. I was there in 2004 as well and was mesmerised enough by the sheer variety of imitation fish and worms to bring some home then too. As with a lot of fishing gear though you can never have enough and I ordered fifty tiny Kopyto Shads from eBay. Twelve pounds delivered.......

Dropshotting is a really simple concept. Simply tie a hook about twelve or so inches away from a small weight. Hook the rubber shad, cast it it and retrieve it really slowly lifting the rod tip so the Shad flutters up and down. I needed a venue to try it though and plumped for my local Partney Pit. With very few Pike I wouldn't need a trace or so I thought. It doesn't hold many Perch either but I had caught them on jigs here before so I was reasonably confident. Guess what I hooked almost straight away? Of course I did.......

Luckily the line held and after returning the small Pike I searched the depths for another hour or so with no joy. It was pleasant winter afternoon though, not warm but very sunny. I took one of the Chaos Twins and she had a bonus when another angler left behind a big chunk of luncheon meat which she devoured in one bite. She had to work for it though as it was in a big marginal weedbed and she hates swimming. Watching her was certainly more entertaining than the fishing. Harriet....

Alone I can concentrate

With a bit of rain and another massive tide I was unsure what state the river would be in. Luckily the rivers and drains around here are heavily monitored and controlled by a series of pumping stations and sluice gates. As I pulled up the river was up but still way off the levels I have seen in previous winters. I settled in a spot sheltered from the wind which had come back with a vengeance. I set up a small clear waggler and began trotting down the peg with maggots. It didn't take long to get a bite and a precession of small roach came to hand. About an hour passed before I heard the clatter of the sluices as the tide retreated. The river started to flow rapidly and the fish became harder to come by. I had seen a few bigger fish top a bit further up and I was sure they were Perch. They often show themselves like this and they'll sometimes come clean out of the water.

With the river pulling hard and several dark shapes scattering the Roach all over the peg I decided to go and investigate a those mystery splashes further up. The wind here and the flow made the float impossible to fish and I set up my tip rods. Twenty minutes later I had two worms in position and I was ready to pounce on what would surely be one of the rivers magnificent Perch. Sure enough one tip started to rattle and I struck into something substantial. Whatever it was was putting up a real fight though and I was still sure it was a Perch and a big one at that. Then it surfaced. My initial thought was a a Roach but it couldn't be could it? Was this a fabled two pounder? A couple of minutes later and I was staring at a funny looking creature (it probably thought the same). It turned out to be a Roach/Bream Hybrid.

For the next couple of hours I had fish after fish. It was incredible. I had caught tiny hybrids before but these were a different class. They were interspersed with the odd true Roach, biggest 1lb 2oz. The biggest Hybrid went 2lb 6oz. I photographed the best ones........

Time was moving on and I had been on the river since daybreak. I sent a quick text off to Mrs P to check if she still loved me. The message came back that she did so I took that to mean- 'Stop till dark, I don't mind'. A dangerous supposition if ever there was one. I moved the car and put what I didn't need in the boot. My last peg was a short distance away and I was soon sat behind my two rods on my luxury chair. The wind and flow by now were vicious and I upped the weight needed to hold bottom and fished with a massive bow in my lines to combat the flow. The bites were difficult to make out but I managed to hit a couple of early takers, both decent Perch. I then had a more positive bite and became attached to quite a powerful fish. Could this be a four pounder I thought as it held in the flow mid-river. That moment when your line goes slack is one of the most frustrating times in fishing. It had shaken the hook.

On the next cast the tip whacked around again and I started playing a fish that felt equally as big as the last. I played it gingerly as it powered around as it pleased. It only took one glimpse to tell it wasn't a Perch. It was only another blooming Hybrid. At over three pounds it was a beast. With that out of the way I was back on the Perch. I had seven in total including three over two pounds and packed up, tired but ecstatic at such a wonderful day......

Afterword

I had pushed my luck. After an all-dayer with Ken and then one on my own a few days later the normally very accommodating Mrs P snapped and demanded not only some attention but some dreaded house DIY. Little did she or I realise though that I would make another appearance in the Angling Times with my 3 12 Perch......

I had emailed the details in but not heard anything back. I rather suspect my new friend Teresa Parr from the facebook Perch fishing group had something to do with it. Thanks Teresa.

Anyway surely I could go fishing now, It'd be like Bradley Wiggins not being allowed out on his bike? No such luck and I've been house and work bound for a week. It has given me time to do a bit of thinking though and I've made a new years resolution. I had it in mind to do a bit of livebaiting on my last trip but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I thought if I can't do that then I shouldn't use any fish based baits at all. So that is pellets, fishmeal groundbaits and even krill and prawns off the menu. It wont make a blind bit of difference to the stocks of any of them but it'll sure make me feel better. I can just see my match buddies rubbing their hands together now.

In other news I'm going fishing tomorrow. If it stops raining then I'll be using some of this down the river in the morning.......

Till next time................