ManchesterAngler

Latest Booking Info 6 x reserved entries, only 34 left! BOAT = 5 x reserved, only 15 available. KAYAK = 1 x reserved, only 19 available.

FORMAT UPDATE Savage Gear have offered to support the event with prizes depending on end format and interest . It appears that a pairs competition would be a preferred format rather than my original individual competition with random draw for boat partner. This would totally separate the kayak and boat competition with no overall "Grand Slam Champ" but instead two Champions, one kayak and one boat. So therefore, the UK Lure Grand Slam will be competed as a pairs competition for boat anglers and as an individual competition for kayak anglers. I am willing to pair individual boat anglers together if anybody requires this. I need anglers to reserve tickets and indicate their interest within the next few weeks before the event can be arranged and tickets but on sale. You are under no commitment by reserving just showing an intention to fish the "Grand Slam". Cheers Andrew

Sorry folks but it appears that my PM is blocked, don't know why?? Please feel free to email me at manchesterangler@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to reserve a place. Many Thanks Andrew Hoyle

Thanks Phil, didn't realise that my PM's were blocked, I have not done it ???? Maybe because I am new on this forum? Do I have to write a certain amount of posts before my PM is activated ?? Can interested people please let me know via this thread, thank you. Hope all goes well with your new arrival, is it a boy or girl? More importantly have you got a tiny fishing rod ready? . I know how difficult the Pike fishing can be on Esthwaite Water, it is not an easy Pike water hence the "Grand Slam Challenge". Esthwaite Water does however have a superb stock of Trout and Perch, the other two species equally important to complete the "Grand Slam" - it's not all about the Pike you know! Anyway we have lift off. We have a start, I have posted this thread on a few other websites and will keep all threads up to date. 4 x places reserved, only 36 left :wink: 1 x kayak, 19 available. 3 x boat, 17 available.

We have a start, I have posted this thread on a few other websites and will keep all threads up to date. 4 x places reserved, only 36 left :wink: 1 x kayak, 19 available. 3 x boat, 17 available.

I am only canvassing opinions / interest at the moment so please give me some feedback regarding the following idea. UK Lure Grand Slam Challenge 2012 13th & 14th October, hosted by Esthwaite Water. ENTRY: Boat per person = £55 & kayak per person = £45. A unique challenge afloat, incorporating both boat and kayak lure anglers competing to catch the longest combined length of three predators; Pike, Perch & Trout in one day! Only the best multi skilled angler will prevail, in the ultimate lure angler’s challenge. Have you got what it takes to be the “UK Lure Grand Slam Champion”? The competition's origin is from USA, whereby kayak anglers fish over a weekend (Day One: practice & Day Two: competition) to complete the challenge of catching three predators in one day. The longest combined length of a "Grand Slam Catch" is the winner. It's a competition designed to test and challenge anglers in their quest to catch their grand slam whilst competing in a friendly environment. Last year saw the first UK Grand Slam competed by kayak anglers fishing to Esthwaite Water's fishery rules that included the use of dead baits and worms. This year I would like to make it a lure only event, however this is dependant on interest from lure anglers! Because this is an individual event boat partners for the day of the competition will have to be randomly drawn to try and eliminate any cheating. Angler's may partner their mate in a boat on the practice day to work out tactics. All fish have to be photographed against an official measure with a digital camera and then presented to the organiser at the end of the competition day. There will be two prize tables. Kayak: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Boat 1st, 2nd, 3rd as well as an overall "Grand Slam Champ" All feedback be it positive or negative is welcome. I would like to make it a lure only event and include boat anglers. However, both are only ideas that are open to debate. Last year saw eighteen anglers compete, to attract sponsorship the event needs to grow and attract more anglers be them kayak or boat otherwise it is in danger of just becoming a competitive meet with no prizes. Please PM me if you are interested in order for me to assess whether it is viable to organise the competition. Many Thanks Andrew Hoyle

I am only canvassing opinions / interest at the moment so please give me some feedback regarding the following idea. UK Lure Grand Slam Challenge 2012 13th & 14th October, hosted by Esthwaite Water. ENTRY: Boat per person = £55 & kayak per person = £45. A unique challenge afloat, incorporating both boat and kayak lure anglers competing to catch the longest combined length of three predators; Pike, Perch & Trout in one day! Only the best multi skilled angler will prevail, in the ultimate lure angler’s challenge. Have you got what it takes to be the “UK Lure Grand Slam Champion”? The competition's origin is from USA, whereby kayak anglers fish over a weekend (Day One: practice & Day Two: competition) to complete the challenge of catching three predators in one day. The longest combined length of a "Grand Slam Catch" is the winner. It's a competition designed to test and challenge anglers in their quest to catch their grand slam whilst competing in a friendly environment. Last year saw the first UK Grand Slam competed by kayak anglers fishing to Esthwaite Water's fishery rules that included the use of dead baits and worms. This year I would like to make it a lure only event, however this is dependant on interest from lure anglers! Because this is an individual event boat partners for the day of the competition will have to be randomly drawn to try and eliminate any cheating. Angler's may partner their mate in a boat on the practice day to work out tactics. All fish have to be photographed against an official measure with a digital camera and then presented to the organiser at the end of the competition day. There will be two prize tables. Kayak: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Boat 1st, 2nd, 3rd as well as an overall "Grand Slam Champ" Please PM me if you are interested in order for me to assess whether it is viable to include boat anglers within the competition. Many Thanks Andrew Hoyle

Thanks, Rudyard Lake is a beautiful venue that at normal water level produces some excellent lure angling sport for Pike. It's a superb lake for kayak angling, just need more UK freshwater anglers to give it a go.

Venue: Rudyard Lake Club: Day Ticket – cost £4 plus launching fee @ £5 Date: 28th April 2012 My first kayak lure angling session on Rudyard Lake this year was challenging to say the least. Arriving early, my confidence was high despite the poor weather conditions. A cold North East wind gusting to 28 m/p/h would make kayak angling difficult, however due to the lakes potential to produce some excellent lure angling sport during April & May I was not deterred. That was until I saw the lakes water level. It was at its highest level for many a year, unbelievable considering half of England’s counties are supposedly in a drought! High water levels on large reservoirs spell out rock hard fishing in my experience. My original challenge of trying to catch a Pike over 6lb from the lake changed drastically to looking to catch a pike of any size. So low was my confidence with the days prospective sport! It was great to say hello and have a chat with Ray, Rudyard Lakes Warden. After sharing a brew with him and four other Pike lure anglers who were to fish from the electric engine powered boats on the lake, I paddled out onto the two and a half mile lake in search of a predator. All my usually productive spots were barren and no baitfish could be picked up on my fish finder. I eventually located a few pockets of baitfish in one of the most productive lure angling areas of the lake. Unfortunately it was in the roughest water, right in the teeth of the strong north east wind. After fishing the area for a good hour I managed to attract two half hearted takes from a Pike following the lure. My light anchor was slipping when the fierce gusts buffeted my kayak, so I conceded to the elements and searched out more sheltered fishing grounds. A paddle into the shallows revealed where all the baitfish had gone, my fish finder was bleeping frantically as it picked up shoal after shoals. Over the next hour and half I went through every lure in my box and half a dozen tasty looking swims trying to tempt a Pike. Even with so many fish in the area, there were no signs of Pike striking at fish or of any fish life at all! It was time to reflect on my days angling and make some key decisions regarding what tactics to pursue for the remaining two hours of my session. Should I continue to fish the shallows where there was clearly plenty of baitfish or troll a smaller lure in search of a ‘Jack Pike’ to save a blank. I hate blanking, but I also dislike trolling. It would really spoil my fiancé’s Saturday night if I returned home without catching, so off I went on a paddle with a lure trailing behind! I always say every cloud has a silver lining and today’s big black cloud didn’t fail to produce one. Over the next two hours I developed my trolling skills, learning how different lures swim at different depths. By using my fish finder to cover features underneath the water, I was able to present specific lures within two to three foot of the bottom where I thought a lethargic Pike may be lurking. In the last hour I was rewarded with a Pike in the shape of a 2lb 5oz Jack. A post angling brew with Ray, revealed my Pike was the only one caught today on the lake. Maybe I am sadistic, but I get a great deal of pleasure and self achievement knowing that I managed to crack such a tough cookie where other has failed. A real testing day with poor sport every now and again is good for an angler. It makes the angler better and more knowledgeable, but more importantly it makes an angler appreciate the good days and not take them for granted! CATCH RETURNS 1 x Pike @ 2lb 5oz Fishing Duration, 08:30 to 12:00 and 12:45 to 16:15 = 7 hours If you enjoyed reading this kayak angling report why not visit my facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ManchesterAngler