stooby

Here is a link to all fisheries in the Midlands... http://www.fisheries.co.uk/midlandsindex.htm If anyone know of any of these that could be good contenders please shout! It would just be a case of contacting them then to ask about the crazy idea!

I absolutely love the sound of this, would be a great laugh! I might need to make a couple of rods, as I'm sure twigs with cotton attached wouldnt last too long... So, do we have a date? Venue?

Thank you everyone for all your help and advice!! I'll be sure to try my hand at Lure fishing for Pike on my return from my holiday in 2 weeks time.... Off to Jamaica, maybe I could get a day sea fishing out there! now that would be ace! Thanks again... Stu...

Right then - so I'm after a bright coloured fire tiger rattler lure... sorted! .....oh and then of course some Pike! Cheers! Stu...

How about one with a rattle as well? advantageous or not? - or like most other aspects of fishing, depends on the location?

Hi all, I have a load of lures, but the hooks are barbed. What is the best way to remove the barbs from the hooks as being new to Pike fishing I thought it might be better all round for me and the fish if I used barbless. Would it be a simple case of using pliers to flatten them down? Also, when lure fishing, does the water have to be clear for the fish to see the lure, or do they pick up on the water vibrations of something moving near by if the water is a muddy brown after recent rains on the river? would an oily dead bait be better in these murky conditions rather than a lure? Cheers, Stu...

Thanks to all of those who posted well wishes... I am pleased to let you know, he is feeling much better and in fact came out of hospital yesterday evening! - He was very happy to hear from you all and sends his many thanks, and he hopes to back on AN very soon to say a personal thank you.... Thanks again everyone! Cheers, Stu...

It hasn't put either of us off, and he said yesterday to me when I visited him that the best way to recovery is to relax.... and the way to relax is sitting on a bankside fishing! and I totally agree... however, it has made us more aware of our environment that we fish in and not to take any chances with cross contamination. Thank you... Stu...

Thank you all for your kind comments, I will ensure I print off all your well wishes and pass onto him when I visit next... Thank you again... Stu...

Morning all, It seems as though my nephew, known on AN as "scottca" has suspected Weils disease. He was feeling unwell over a week ago, and had bad flu symptoms, after a couple of days he was unable to walk and support his weight, after consulting the NHS walk in centre they admitted him to hopsital immediately. That day tests began and his Kidney and Liver were not functioning properly, and he had traces of muscle damage. The following day, he had swelling of the brain and thought it could be meningitis. Further test were undergone and we mentioned to the hopsital that we do a lot of fishing and could it be Weils disease as I understand the sympoms of that are similar to Flu, and after reading what happened recently to the Andy Holmes who contracted it from the water and unfortuantely died we thought it was worth a mention! They had already began testing for this, and as it currently stands it is believed that is what he has got... There are 5 stages of Weils disease, and it seems as thought the hospital caught it at stage 3, where the organs start to shut down. He is starting to feel better with treatment and yesterday for the first time in about 5 days was able to stand, all be it, for a few minutes, but he seems to be getting better... I wanted to mention this to you all, as we all have contact with the water on a regular basis so please bear this in mind when eating down at the bank, be wary of how clean your hands are before touching your food and cover up any cuts you may have on your hands before going fishing. He has been very unwell and I think the more known about this the better. If you do have flu symptons, it is most likely to be exactly that, flu.... however, if you do start to get much worse, its always worth getting checked out. Many thanks, Stu...

Morning all AN, What are the best weather conditions to fish for Pike from peoples experience? and do different conditions and colour of water decide if you lure or deadbait? Cheers, Stu...

Good call... I'll stick them in my bag when I get home...! thank you!

I hope so, I have a large landing net, unhooking mat, 10" long forceps, and a glove if need be! - Is there anything else crucial that I've forgotten? Cheers, Stu...

Its ok Dales, it makes perfect sense! thank you... And I'll bear that in mind Budgie, I feel I have so much to learn as this weekend will be the first time fishing for Pike! ......but I cant WAIT! Cheers, Stu...

Hi all, I have a question with hooking the deadbait onto the hooks, should you hook it so that the point of the hook is pointing towards the head, or towards the tail? Also, where abouts on body of the fish would you suggest putting 2 trebles? I have a ready made wire trace with 2 trebles and wondered where abouts people hook the deadbait? Many thanks, Stu...

Hi All, After insisting for many weeks to my fiance that all I wanted for my birthday was fishing stuff! it actually worked! Luckily my nephew (known as Scottca on AN) was there to help her and offer assistance! Anyway, it was my birthday yesterday and I now have a new Pike/Carp rod made by Chub and it is sweeeeeet! plus a new big landing net for when I net a MASSIVE pike (or at least I hope to!) and some wire traces, and other essential pike gear, plus as I now have 3 rods she bought me a lovely rod hodall that I can now keep everything in, rods, reels, rod pod, landing net, umbrella! so.... I was a very happy birthday boy yesterday! and to top it off, I pulled the green card and insisted I go try it out this weekend for a good few hours! Wish me luck at my first hand at Pike fishing! I will be sure to post some pics if I get lucky! Cheers, Stu...

Cheers Austin, I might go take a look at that in the coming weeks!

Hi Dales, I think my Perch was more luck than judgement but it has made me want to catch a monster of a Perch! so if anyone knows of any likely spots around the Northamptonshire area let me know.... Out of curisosity Dales, the "Good Uns" you have caught, what size were they? Cheers, Stu...

Not quite as young as some of you when you started, but I was 30.... so, basically the first time I went fishing alone was this year! I did go a few times when I were about 6-7 with my Dad and my brother, but then didnt touch a rod for over 23 years until now, and now I LOVE IT....

If you do update the links be sure to let me know, I am going to try my hand at Piking this winter so need all the help I can get! And yes, I reckon stick on the link, would go well with the ones you already have! Thanks Andy - you see, it does show people take note of the little links and articles after peoples names... I knew I had seen it somewhere!

Thanks for the Link BUDGIE some good stuff on there!, and yeah it was Andy, I knew someone had it! Cheers, Stu...

Bingo Bango, Thats the one! Thanks Elton

I have seen him on here so many times, basically he has a lot of useful Pike information in links at the bottom of every post he posts.... but I can't remember which AN member it is! I am trying to read up on Pike fishing and I thought this would be a good place to start! If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be much appreciated Cheers, Stu...

Lovely fish! - Wouldnt mind a 3lb+ Perch!.... I've only just got my PB of a 1.5lb Perch would love to catch one double my PB!!! Nice one!

Thanks for your comments everyone!! I only started fishing this year and I've got into it in a big way, and I can only see it going further and further! I knew the AN crew would appreciate the pics a little more than some of the non anglers people at home / work... Thanks again for the nice comments!... Next on the list is a nice big pike this coming winter.........hopefully! Cheers, Stu...