[building up a swim]

Thank you finding a way to express these nagging questions that I (and maybe a lot of others) have. Liking the answers so far!

 

I sometimes feel like I'm the only one not catching anything other than the stupid little rudd and gudgeon that a child would catch!

 

You're not alone m8, I've started fishing a new fisheries and caught nothing but little Bream or small Perch all day just for the match guys turn up at half four and continually pull in carp and big Bream two pegs away from me

[Matt Hayes Limited Edition Range]

O Fortuna is probably best known to people of a certain age as the music on the Old Spice aftershave ad that was around late 70's, early 80's, was also in the film Excalibur

[Loch Ken]

I went fishing there twice last year, stayed at Loch Ken holiday park, one week in April, then two weeks in October. Yes the Crayfish were a pain, but I still caught fish off the bank and in the boat. The Pike weren't massive, probably max 4lb's and caught the big Perch trolling with spinner.

 

The Pike I caught off the bank were with Mackeral by both floating them and using the popped up bait system, in the boat I caught them by trolling with a rubber lure, the best results were with one I got from a pound shop which surprised me, again best results were in he first and last few hours of daylight.

 

I'm back there for two weeks in September

[Does Spam work better than Luncheon meat?]

Thanks for all replies guys I was getting really frustrated, the pit was frobably no bigger than 30 metres by 15 with a sunken island in the middle, he's now admitted he hooked the 15 lb'er on its side not in the mouth and thinks he just hooked it when striking another fish bite, jammy bugger

[Does Spam work better than Luncheon meat?]

As the title says really. I spent 5 hours last Sunday fishing a pit with a mate, I used Luncheon meat, he used Spam, we were at opposite ends of the pit and he caught about six (Tench and Carp) and I got just two bites all day. So was this down to the fact he used Spam and I used Luncheon meat (was a brand name not own brand if that makes any difference)?

[Loch Ken fishing festival thrown lifeline]

Any news on how this went?

[Have you ever had to produce your Licence ever?]

What powers do Bailiffs have if they find someone fishing and they refuse to produce their licence, what if they pack up and walk off, what can the bailiff do?

[Loch Ken fishing festival thrown lifeline]

Good news for the local tourism, not too sure it's good news for the chaps attending, thanks for the updates Elton, be good to see if it was a success or not afterwards I'm up there for a fortnight in September

[Crayfish occupation sinks popular festival]

The only fishing of any use there now is Piking and spinning for Perch

[Crayfish occupation sinks popular festival]

I go to Loch Ken and personally think it's too late to sort out the Crayfish on there, there's so many of them that unless they're properly dealt with over a long period of time then it's the end of Loch Ken as a fishing venue

[Surface Lures and Weedless Lures]

Not sure about surface lures, but for weedless spinning you can try These

[MONSTERS IN OUR RIVERS AND LAKES]

Not a fish but the Signal Crayfish has already destroyed one of my fave places to fish, Loch Ken. And has steadily moved South, virtually ruining fishing wherever it gets

[Better fish on deads]

When you fish using dead bait do you just chuck it in and leave it or do you 'sink and draw' ?

[Un-hooking mat..Sling...Scales?]

For scales These seem a good choice, I've not seen an unhooking mat like what you say, mine is just one off fleabay that cost about a fiver, same too with the sling.