The Newbury & Port Talbot Blanker

Well done with the pike BTG. At 9lb+ well over jack size in my book, as you say.

A question I always ask myself when gathering up enthusiasm to go pike fishing is 'one rod or two?' I assume you were the former?  I associate dead-baiting (from limited experience, I admit) with sitting impatiently by the bank waiting for something to happen. So in theory two rods would reduce the waiting. But, you could argue that when they come onto the feed two pike could take at the same time, a bit like London buses. In fact I seem to remember NAA used not to allow you to have out 2 pike rods at once, presumably for that reason, though you were allowed to have a rod for pike and a rod for chub or bream. Does BTG or anyone else have any views?

Size 18/3.6lb is a bit light for me - would never fish that if there's a chance of a decent chub around. Today for example I was on a 14 drennan super spade (hand) tied to 0.18mm dia (6.6lb). Would rather land what bites I get even at the expense, sometimes, of fewer bites!

Hi FT
Here are the NAA Regulations re two rods with a single angler from the rulebook, I think it answers some of your queries:

- Anglers are permitted to use two rods on Collins, Knotts, Dobsons, Pallets Pool, Bellwood, Brimpton, Aldermaston and Dixons when in possession of a two rod permit
- Anglers fishing with a single rod may use an additional rod for pike fishing. The two rods must not cover more than 10 metres of water, and must be placed 2 metres of each other. It is not permissible that both rods should be equipped and baited for pike. Anglers fishing with two rods on a Specimen permit may not use a third rod for pike fishing. 

Personally, when fishing a pike rod, I tend to fish a light maggot set up too, fished one rod length out, where allowed. This gives me something to focus on while waiting for those rare runs, (I try to keep both pike and waggler floats in the same line of view at the same time). I think that potentially, the loose feeding of maggots may help draw pike in should the silvers start feeding. By fishing so close in, I can quickly throw the float rod out of the way should a pike run start. 

I'd be interested to hear if others have different/better approaches.

 

1 hour ago, Chris Plumb said:

Size 18/3.6lb is a bit light for me - would never fish that if there's a chance of a decent chub around. Today for example I was on a 14 drennan super spade (hand) tied to 0.18mm dia (6.6lb). Would rather land what bites I get even at the expense, sometimes, of fewer bites!

Thanks. Chris. Sound advice. Every session is a school session. I presume it's double maggot on a 14, though this seems a big hook for the task.

Yes - double mag...

Getting back to pike, I like your approach with the maggot rod fished close in line of sight.  I'm so glad there's someone else than me who doesn't like just sitting there with nowt to do! And it seems to work well for you.  My only question is what happens when half an hour goes by with no pike interest, don't you want to search the area, casting to different places? I've experimented (well once) with ledgering with bait alarm, one rod  for pike and one for other fish, but too early to draw any conclusions.