PikeGirl

Pottery was not good! Was a paid for birthday present & was really looking forward to it. Twice the advertised price (website out of date). Owner was very nice & told me where to park myself for pike - not a sniff all day. Whole very tiring day in gorgeous weather but only 2 fish between us - one roach, one Rudd. Can I ask is Preston park same as bousfield stretch?

I'm obviously not trying the right bit of river! I have tried some of the recommended bits but to be honest I don't know what to look for. I know pike like to ambush their prey so they will lurk in or near reeds etc. Strensall is to be a bit of a lesson. I know there are pike in there so I'm hoping this trip will enable me better fish for them elsewhere. I'm not expecting great things but I'm hoping to learn quite a bit. To catch one would be a fantastic bonus.

Hi all not been on here much lately too busy fishing lol. Almost a year since I joined forum & thanks to some good advice I've had a fabulous year! Lots of good fish from various stretches of the Tees & earlier this year joined Aycliffe Angling Club mainly to fish their pond. Had some species not available to me where I've normally fished so I is a happy girl. Mr (& Mrs) pike still eluding me. Probably the main reason for this is I can't fish in the winter as can't bear the blooming cold. Late last year some kind soul recommended Pottery Pond as a good day ticket water for a chance of a pike. Scaling was another. Finally this Sunday I'm off to Pottery for a days fishing it wins over Scaling due to option of other coarse fish. Going to fish 2 rods one set for pike the other for whatever other coarse fish comes along. Not really bothered about dustbin lids but would not say no lol. Can anyone offer any advice or fished Pottery recently in regard to placement or tactics for catching a pike? Planning to use sardines & sprats as bait. Have collected lots of pike spinner lures but sure I read somewhere that spinning banned there due to some people using sea fishing rigs to catch monsters. Have looked around on net & general consensus is that Pottery doesn't fish like it used to not letting that put me off as chatter says that about Aycliffe pond but I seem to have done alright there. Then again I'm just happy to catch don't really mind what it is or how big lol. Be grateful for any advice

Does anyone know of any free fishing spots on River Wear at Bishop Auckland?

Hello boys & girls I've finally awoken from my winter hibernation - can't stand the bloomin cold tried it twice before Christmas - not for me! Did get to river one day in late Feb & caught (or rather he attached himself to my hook as didn't realise he was there till I pulled rod in to re-bait) a nice Chub around about 2lb - my biggest fish to date from river. To my query re the close season. I have a standard rod license - not the more expensive one & am a little confused by conflicting info being given to me about the close season. According to the blurb on back of license - no fishing on rivers for 'coarse fish or eels' on river. However, mate's dad is telling me this doesn't apply to trout (rainbow not brown I know I can't go for them till May). My thoughts are how would the EA man know what I'm fishing for & more to point how would the fish? Can someone please clarify for me - can I fish on local river (Tees) for trout only? Or do I have to stay away from water completely till bloomin June! Now weather bit warmer, I'm dying to get out again, but funds are limited so can't afford expensive carp places. If I do have to stop off river - can anyone recommend anywhere that is relatively cheap for a day's fihing. Many thanks

God forbid I get a 20lb-er first go, or even a 10 for that matter. A nice little jack will do me nicely to start with. Already realised about the water levels. That site marker is ace ta for that. We should of been at Derwent yday, but my friend's dad was put off by the weather, so we raced home collected our gear (even bought blooming maggots) & legged it to the Tees. Only to find it was a raging torrent, we walked it a little & further down it was flooding over the footpath, so we turned round & came home again (gutted!) Hopefully, this will settle by weekend, though not sounding good from what you've said. At least that site will save me trips up to Broken Scar - closest bit to me & seems to be good for a whole range of species, though regretably not Mr Pike.

Thanks Brian - helpful as ever. I thought Scalaing would be closing shortly, as is Grasholme (trout mind). Like the sound of the place near Thirsk, but I can't quite get my head around livebaiting & prefer using dead 'uns - would this be no good? Scotland sounds great & not so far away, but a bivvy or tent in this weather is out of the question I can't stand the cold! A caravan on the other hand I could live with. LOL. Back to the Tees then - all through the summer I've heard tales of pike coming out on piece, however they obviously not feeding when I get there as I can't see any evidence, though to be honest I don't start till lunchtime Change of tack this weekend, up & out at dawn.

Can anyone tell if there is anywhere reasonably close to me where day fishing for pike is allowed or even better encouraged. Fishing the banks of local river I'm told there are numerous carp places araound & about me but nothing for pike - I ask everyone LOL I know of Scaling, but assume as with all other NWL waters they will be shut for the winter. NWL site tells you nowt, so does anyone know if this is the case... & is it any good? I'n angling (like the pun?) for a day out as a Christmas present. 7 lakes is a little too far, but if that's the closest then so be it, but a little closer would be good.

This might sound like a daft question but I have to ask... ...how do you keep a worm on a barbless hook? As I understand it you need to be using barbless hooks (I'm all for this by the way) when fishing rivers. So, how do you keep the bloomin worm on the hook? I've tried all sorts, sweetcorn, small piece of rubber, etc. Worm gone - little or no bite detection (most of the time it's in my hands), but sweetcorn, rubber, etc still there! Driving me mad. Help please.

wash your hands in cold water before showering/bathing - this usually works for fish, onions, garlic, etc

Like Watatoad - I check my barometer before I go & again on return from fishing. I only live around 2 miles away from where I'm fishing regularly at mo so I think this suffices - though I do like the sound of the weather gadget - will have to add it Christmas wish list & see what happens.

When I first started fishing I came across an old paperback from the 50's - which by the way was very informative & useful even today I've found. Mentioned in it was a small paragraph on the changes to air pressure & fish feeding habits'. Since reading it I've kept a small 'catch diary' where I record bits of info on weight, length, health, time, weather, etc., & I've noticed that changes in the pressure do tend to have an effect. I don't catch millions, just a few each time (& getting to be less blanks LOL), but if the pressure drops even slightly I've noticed I catch less or have to work harder to catch. Anyone else noticed this - or am I just being dense & every fisher knows this as read?

cheers Budgie & thanks for posting piccie

what's a 'gonk'?

since reading 'Dales' post & loving the magical attractant properties of bread paste I did try washing my hands in the water after baiting on the hope of attracting a pike or two... ...still no pike so have to disagree with the carp stats - bread can't be 60%!