The Flying Tench

It was the 2nd page of the Pike and plastic lures thread, last post 2nd Jan. Some of us were looking for some Abu Atoms. We can probably order from Denmark, but if you know of a UK source that would be good.

Some great ideas, thanks. I don't think it's eels - we get very few here, and it's much more violent than usual cray activity. I think your ideas will sort it!

You get to read a quiver tip, don't you? The pecking of small fish, the instinct when a bite is going to come. But there's one thing, which happened today, and I've only known with worm, is when it seems like some joker is under the water and he gives it a few yanks, just for a laugh. I'm talking about pulls of about 4 inches, hard and fast, several times. Does anyone know what this is? I did catch the culprit once. He was a 2lb tench in a small weirpool, and each time he did it he bit off a bit more of the worm, In the end, when the only small bit of worm remaining was on the hook, I caught him. Other times it's happened when I'm after perch. Sometimes they bite off part of the worm, but today they didn't. I assume that it's a perch playing a game of some sort, but maybe it's not. I suppose it could be a small fish. Does anyone have any knowledge on this, or any ideas how to convert the yanks into proper bites?

Yes, thanks Tim.

Chris says the same thing, I note, but I bought a Beta light some years ago, and it was no-where near as bright as the night lights you can only use once. But maybe the ones you mention are more powerful?

Can you say more on the different approach for perch and pike, Tim? Also any comments on location. My limited experience of fishing for perch in a small weir-pool is that they're either at the tail of the pool where it starts to get shallower, or in the back-eddy, but this is with worm - I've had no success with lures, though I've found lures successful in the canal.

Archie Braddock reckons that winter at night is the best time for big roach, chub, barbel and pike - though not, I think, perch. And he does most of his winter fishing on rivers. Also, on a mild night, it's not too tough doing it, you needn't lose any sleep. Yet, apart from barbel anglers, you don't often see people fishing on after dark in my area on rivers. Nor do I. The few times I have fished on for an hour or so after dark haven't justified wasting a night light on the quiver or float! But maybe we're missing an opportunity? Do others have any experience to share?

Thanks, Argyll. Certainly shows the wisdom of specialising and getting to know a stretch of water well. Problem with Newbury is we've got such a variety of fishing that I can't resist having a crack at something new before I've even half-mastered the old!

What you say makes a lot of sense, but it still doesn't completely explain the lack of perch and chub wobbling, in my view. But I must try a bit more wobbling with sprats, which I haven't done for a while, or with gudgeon. Incidently, I'm a bit surprised you say that chub and perch don't live in the same areas as pike. I can see the perch might push off if a big pike arrives, but my impression on the Kennet, and indeed the local canal, is that you'd be pushed to say what was a pike spot as opposed to a perch spot just by reading the water - though, admittedly, you don't quite say that you can. I realise I'm talking to an experienced pike angler, so any comments on how you'd distinguish between a chub/perch spot and a pike spot would be of interest. I'm also interested that no-one has said they've been winding in a fish and had it snaffled by a perch or chub. That takes some explaining, doesn't it? Could it be that a caught fish being wound in is a fish in distress, which attracts pike more than perch and chub?

Budgie, Steve or anyone else interested, I e-mailed the grejonline site on Steve's post of 16 Dec, and they'll only ship to UK if I order £40 worth. It's about 10.5 Krone to the £. Let me know what you'd like from that site, and even if our total doesn't come to £40 I'll ask if they'll send if I pay postage for a joint order.

How effective is wobbling deadbaits for perch and chub? You'd think it would be good, but while I catch a fair proportion of perch and chub when spinning, when wobbling it's usually pike, though I did have a 1lb perch grab hold of quite a hefty herring a few weeks ago. Admittedly I generally use sea-baits, but can't see why this would make such a difference when wobbling. Also, while I've had pike snaffle my catch when winding in a roach or grayling, i've never had chub or perch do so, even with small gudgeon. Any experience/theories?

Great stuff, but I really meant when I kick over the maggot box by the river. Others must do it, but the place doesn't seem to be infested with flies. I assume most of them die?

By the way, thank you everyone for some really helpful replies. The kind of stuff you don't get in books.

Yes, I hate you Chris, but it's encouraging at the same time. Congratulations! You have PM.

How essential is it to recapture the little fellas if they escape, like when I kick over the maggot box? How likely are they to turn into bluebottles?

I was fishing today at a swim on the Kennet next to a footpath. Third time there, but the first time I didn't need a landing net - I was mainly after chub and perch. Weather conditions were good, so what went wrong? There were a few more anglers and walkers than usual, and I wondered if this put the fish off. It was only about 3 feet deep. It raises a wider question of whether fish get used to walkers, cyclists etc on canals, for example, or whether, for the better fish, you need to be there when the walkers etc aren't - early morning, in a thunder storm etc - neither of which specially appeals to lazybones here. I was reading an article on carp fishing yesterday about a lake with plenty of swimmers etc (I'm not sure what the etc amounted to). The author said that carp like a bit of human activity! Surprising. Does it vary from species to species? Any thoughts?

I agree with you, though, we have to somehow hold on to both aspects.

This is brilliant stuff!

Huge in my book, specially since, unless I'm mistaken, you were fishing somewhere most people don't bother with. I once visited someone in one of the houses along there and asked what fish there were in the stream. The answer: 'The only thing you'll catch there mate is a cold!'

Is this a new thing for SH? As I understand it he's always been open on the question of God, but I wasn't aware he had a particular stance - though I admit I've never read even one of his books!

There's not much we can do practically apart from an old-fashioned donation to, eg www.oxfam.org.uk

In the main the Bible simply reflects the society of the time where animals were used both for food and as beasts of burden. The use of animals for sacrifice was, of course, a massive thing in Judaism. Whatever one thinks of that it clearly doesn't reflect a vegetarian society. I would say it depicts them being used for food and for transportation purposes equally.

This is the kind of humour on AN which really cheers me up - but I did notice your next post was 2.08am!

I suspect you're thinking of Genesis 1:28-30, but it doesn't specify eating. But there are plenty of other less general verses, such as Exodus 12:8.

Sorry, I didn't get the quotes right. In the last post the second para in bold is a reply by me, not part of Fenboy's post that I'm quoting.