Chappa

That's what ignorance will do mate. People making up rigs like that often have no idea what it'll do should it break off. They wouldn't give a thought to doing a bit of research on the net before pike fishing. Looks like the pike had a lucky break leaving that lot with you though!

Hello mate. I'm up in Newcastle this weekend. I'll be doing a full day on Monday (as long as it's anything but lashing down!) at The Angel of the North fishery. I'm targeting crucians, commons and tench. I'm certainly no expert (our pb's are simillar) but you're welcome to tag along, we might learn a bit from each other! Let me know, cheers Chappa

Hi all, I'm off to Lakeview tomorrow for a full day of fun! I've fished there 2 or 3 times but never in the winter, and am hoping for tench and carp. Does anyone have any tips for bait and methods for this time of year? I'll be using a quiver tip and carp rod, (I don't do poles!) Any advice would be much appreciated, even which lakes are fishing as there seem to be dozens there! Cheers Chappa

Thanks guys, that's my mind at ease a bit! The venue is just off the A50 mate, about 5 miles from the city centre. Thanks again, Chappa

I was out at my local fishery in the midlands this weekend and despite the mild weather the water temp still seemed quite cold and the fish pretty elusive, (well that's my excuse!) When cold the only thing that seems to land a fish here is to zig-rig sweetcorn or flavoured foam between 1 and 3 feet off the bottom. So I put out said rig with 1 fake corn flavoured with pineapple with 1 real corn hair rigged. On Saturday it produced the only fish of the day in the form of a nice clean 7lb mirror. Not much to shout about as I was really hoping for an elusive tench from another rod with luncheon meat on a swim feeder, still at least not a blank. On Sunday I went all out for the carp and at 11am hooked into something solid. Once in the net (which it bent!) I was horrified to see the fish (another mirror-12lb) was covered nose to fin with what looked like small leeches or worms, pale in colour about 1/16" thick and 1" long. There were around 2 dozen of them on her and they were even climbing through the gills I cleaned the fish up as best I could and got her back into the water sharpish, then cleaned off the un hooking mat etc. The only other fish out of the lake was to some lads 5 pegs down about 4 hrs later. I ran over to get a look and it was another nirror around 6lb in a right mess with these parasites. It had an open wound on its belly around 2" accross with these things hanging out of it. To be honest I found the whole day quite distressing, I've never seen fish affected like this before, and I fish here at least once a month. Coupled with the attitude of the guy collecting money, (no interest in what's going on or how the place is fishing) I shan't be going back. What's more there's rubbish everywhere (bottles cans and tins, the usual stuff left by non-caring dross), the place is starting to look very neglected. My biggest concern is; is the plight of the fish serious? Perhaps down to the extreme weather causing the fish to shoal up for prolonged periods in one place? And is this something I should report to the EA? Or am I over-reacting and is this condition seasonal/common and non threatening? The "Bailiff" wasn't around again after the cash exchange and there were no phone numbers published to contact anyone, so the guys that own the place might not know. There are 3 lakes at this venue, and as far as I know only this one lake (lake 1 ) has this problem. Any advice would be much appreciated Cheers Chappa

Well done mate, you've done a top job there! I've only landed 2 pike, both easily unhooked thank goodness. I'm still very much a pike novice so I hope it's a good long while before I'm in that situation. In the mean time I'll keep fishing for pike with someone with a lot more piking experience in case the worst happens. Top Man

I've got her wll trained mate!!!

Blanked!

I've just spotted a river close by google earth! Looks like a shallow wide-ish stretch of the Mersey by Cheadle bridge, has anyone on here fished there? If I have a go I might try for barbel? Any advice much appreciated as I knock off at half past one today! Cheers Chappa

Well I finish work at 13:30 today, whereupon I'll get myself down to a small canal near Warrington with half a pint of maggots and hope in my heart! I might add at this point that I have fished there twice before and blanked both times, and last night it was around -3C. Last time I fished there I said never again, but hope springs eternal eh? I have seen others catching small roach and perch, so I'll keep my tackle light, start by fishing on the bottom (feeding little often), and alter my depth and swim to suit. I'm only really having a go in these conditions for 2 reasons.... 1 I never seem to catch in cold weather and it's really starting to annoy me! 2 I'll be in London the rest of the week, unable to fish because of work, then Saturday I'm off to Thailand to off-road (dirt-bike) through the jungle for my honeymoon- no fishing for 3 weeks! Still at least I'll be warm. I'll be back on with a catch(!) report tomorrow, good luck to anyone else venturing out. Chappa

Well done Stew

Well I finally got down to the Soar on Sunday morning about 9am, just past the locks in Birstall village. There were two guys there set up already, one piking and the other on a pole. It was a trully beautifull cold crisp morning, and I set up on light tackle with my maggots. I then spent the whole day trying various swims accross a half mile stretch; fast, slow, junctions, a wier, shallow, deep you name it I tried it, and yes you guessed it, not a twitch of the float all day. By the time I left at dusk having stuck it out all day, at least another 8 guys had come and gone and I didn't see anyone pull a fish out. That is with the exception of two young lads who "borrowed" half a pint of maggots from me, and promptly pulled in 3 small perch. Doesn't that just make you sick? It would seem the -4C temp of the night before had affected just about everyone's day. Just a small point though, whey does anyone take a mobile phone fishing? (with the exception of using it as a camera?) Then proceed to turn the volume up to max with a late 80's rock ballad as a ring tone, and talk loudly about "the lads" for 20 minutes? Ban them at the water-side!!! On the plus side though, even though it was freezing (literally) my new cold weather boots were brilliant, I never felt the cold in my feet once all day. Oh and the wife popped down and dropped off a sandwich and some chocolate, very welcome. Next time I'll wait for the temperature to pick up a bit more, I hate blanking! Cheers Chappa

I like your style mate! It's a great feeling pulling fish out when you've little or ne experience to go on. I went out in the cold a couple of weeks ago on my local carp lake and pulled out a lovely common of a couple of lbs, and a nice 5lb mirror, but only once I'd followed my gut instinct and cast my feeder into what looked like an unlikely spot. I'm going to try trotting maggots on my local river this weekend to see what comes in, just hoping the weather holds out and the fish are in the mood! Well done Chappa

Thanks mate, that'd be great. I was looking at the north end of the river from Thurmaston lock onwards unless there's any contrasting advice forthcoming? Thanks for the reply Chappa

Just a bit of advice I'm after please? I'm going to have a go at a bit of river fishing on the Soar in Leicestershire this weekend. This'll be my first try on a river (believe it or not!), so can anyone give me a good location, and any advice on specioes to target? I was thinking of targeting roach with maggot/caster and maybe try lobworm for perch. Thanks for taking the time to anyone willing to reply to another new-guy question! Cheers Chappa