Murkeywaters

Canada - BC! Already done it, live here now (3 years) and wouldn't move back to the UK for love nor money - and there's plenty of love left behind with friends and family (that's the hard part!) Amazing Carp fishing in virgin waters - because no one else out here fishes for them (well very few), great Perch fishing also - but again you won't see it on the web. The Trout and Salmon fishing you will find on the web, that's not bad either (no it's very good!) and at price around the same as a UK anual licence. No day tickets out here! All waters are PUBLIC domain! Down side is you have to drive a lot as it's a big place, but with petrol half the price of the UK I can still afford to do so. cheers, Paul.

Hi guys, I lurk on here daily but am not a big poster on any forums, but having read eelfisher's comments I felt I had to add a post. I'm piking the Swale a lot at the moment fishing straight ledgered Lampreys. Doing pretty well with a double figure fish most sessions (that's good by my standards). I've done a lot of Piking in the past on both rivers and still waters, but the takes I am getting are the most subtle I have ever experienced and re-enforce the need for instant striking. I like to mix things up so I'm actually Piking quite often with a very heavy feeder rod, so I can try for a barbel or chub as well with out carrying to much tackle. OK not a normal approach but the rod is more than capable and I'm using 12lb line before anyone gets on my back about the setup - and yes I am using wire not braid. Anyway my point is I am not getting runs at all, just tugs on the rod tip (open bail with a bobbin so it could take line if it wanted) of the type you'd expect from a chub, I hit these straight away and am not missing any fish and to be honest the hooks are well down, but not causing a problem. But last session I had what I can only describe as a roach type bite, tiny little knocks on the quiver tip that wouldn't didn't register on the bobbin and would have hardly touched the tip of a normal pike rod. I stuck it straight away with no confidence of hooking up and had a 11lb fish that was again hooked fairly deeply, last hook in the entrance to the stomach. Fish was returned fine but it made me realise that the fish are just sitting on the bait and munching it there and then without moving an inch! It just re-enforces the point that you must strike instantly at any indication if you are fishing a new water and are not sure of what’s going on down below, I understand there are circumstances when you'll probably miss fish doing this, but only lots of experience can tell you this, so if in ANY doubt strike straight away, and keep the Pike safe. cheers, Paul.

Perfectly put. Fenboy it was a pleasure to read your post! Common sense rules! ..and I don't hear much of it these days. cheers, Paul

You can get them pre-ground, http://www.hinders.co.uk/pellets/ground-pellet.jsp

Hi Al, just grind them up in a food blender - I tend to use the old ones once they have gone a bit softer - it takes a bit of time but I think it'd be better than scalding as I wouldn't have thought you'd want water in the paste mix. I am sure you can by them pre-ground now as well - from hinder site I think but can't quite remember. Beat a couple of eggs and keep adding the powder until you get the consistency you require. The ground pellets also make a nice ground bait, on it's own or mixed with something else. Fish seem to love Hallibut pellets so I personally see no need to add anything. cheers, Paul.

Newbe (long time lurker) here - so hello all! Phil, I was amazed to hear you saying about Opreys and Golden Eagles around the res' above Pately - do you have any more information at all - I never realised that Ospreys nested in Yorkshire, I've fished along side them in Scotland on the Spey and it'd be great to do the same down here, any info would be most welcome. cheers, Paul.