Andrew Burgess

Steve, I have really caught some pike in the rain, probably a fluke I know other pike anglers say fishing for pike in the rain is a waste of time. And I do agree. Don't ask me how I did it . It just come and go

Me and my brother has the pleasure meeting John Sidley at Earlswood Lakes some years ago before John died of Heart Attack. Loving and decent bloke to talk to. Do you rember that Budgie? Having also met Des Taylor and Nige Williams fishing at Patshull Park on my first piking trip to Patshull about three years ago what a day to remember!! I arrived at the great lake (Patshull) very early after Christmas. I have decided to fish oppsite bank of the fishing hut. As I was walking round to get a peg. There was Des Talyor & Nige Williams struggling to set a umbrella up. Des Taylor turn round and ask me if I know anything about Brothel Umbrellas and I reply yes I got one in my quiver bag, Poor Nige Williams was having a job reading the instructions in the dark how to set up the umbrella. So I help the pair out. When umbrella was completion Nige Williams ask me if this water my first time and I reply yes, he suggusted I that I fish in the last peg by the Patshull Golf & Hotel and cast a livebait far out as I could cast out. As I went round to the last peg there was a guy look like Paul Gustafson :confused: already into a big fish (Turn out to be a 20lb+) :mad: And the rummour was that everyone who was fishing by the hut (Even Des Taylor & Nige Williams Thought that I was the one who caught the big pike)nobody else caught nothing that day.

When I finish work early on the Friday afternoon and I go up to my local reservoir to see what going on. eg water level, wind direction and who is fishing up there. On my club reservoir this week there has been some pike activity this week. Our club members have to fill a detail form on what fish have been coming out of the water. Only a handful of pike have come out so far. Mostly have been caught on deadbait (so I couldn't be wrong in the first place about the deadbaits last weekend) And I think I know were is the hotspot is. Unfortuatley I would like to fishing in the midweek but due to work commitment I can't go fishing. So I am going to give it a try this weekend whatever the weather is even it pouring down with rain I will let everyone know how I got on Sunday night.

Yes I have to agree with Budgie about big bait,big fish. What complete and utter rubbish. It is best to do your "homework" first so that you are aware of the drop offs and other unusual features. It seem to me that pike don't want to take the bait. :confused: :confused: Big bait don't alway work when they fancy a meal :confused:

I have tried the sink and draw method at my local reservoir but still had no take. :confused: I have to agree there are nowadays too many pikers and not enough pike in any waters :confused: Surely it can't be the angling pressure on my reservoir.

You are not the only one. I am having the same problem but I live up in the midlands. Tried all sort of baits and different methods :confused: I have seen other pike anglers on my local reservoir and they have the same problem as well. :confused: Going to try one more method (Sunken Paternoster)this weekend

Provided care is taken, the technique of "gloving" make hook removal a forrmality. it should be done with a glove on the left hand (or the right hand if you are lefthanded). You gently slip your finger into the pike's gill opening and your thumb (still on the outside) in a firm grip. The pike may then lifted safely from the water. There is nothing macho about performing this with an unprotected hand, and suffering lacerated or bleeding knuckles from a brush with the pike's toothy gill filaments or secondary teeth on a freezing cold day, belive me - so glove up. Hardware shops stock a variety of suitable gloves. when you are confident that your left hand (or right hand grip for the lefthanders)grip is sucure, lay the pike on it back on the dampened unhooking mat and slowly curl your hand. The pike has no option then but to open it lower jaw. Then remove the hooks with a long nosed artery forceps from the front, or gently through the opposite gill slit if they are well back in the throat. Even really deeply hooked pike can be unhooked this way (this is why semi-barbless hooks are so good), without the use of the gag or any other type of instrument, most of which can dammmage the fish's dentistry. Forceps between 8 and 12 inches long are ideal, and whatever you do don't be afaid of your pike. Treat it with firm respect.

I am not surpised that Chapmans have done under. I have bought a few things over the years but not the one I really want but sent me replacement in another brand name (I did not want)eg. Fox Sunk Float Ex.Large intead I got ET Polyballs 1 1/4" :confused: :confused: Rang up to complain about it but kept fobbing me off or putting phone down on me (few times) I vowed myself I never order from them again

Pebley Reservoir water have been drained :confused: Don't ask me why I just found out on another fishing website!

I have to agreed no pictures. Anyway its mostly flyfishing stuff.

Litter is a big problem on many waters I used to be a bailiff on one of my local water some years ago. One weekend went up there to check what going on the water(what commong out of the water and who was up there etc,etc. But when walking round to check their permit - season ticket - day tickets I was disgusted by amount of rubbish was left behind so I ended picking almost everything (in total 15 full refuse bin liners) :mad: I reported this to the fishing club comittee and spoke about the amount of litter was left behind. The committee decided to send letters out to all our members of the fishing club about the problems of litter. In the letter to the members were that any member who fail to pick up any litter regardless if they there before commmencing fishing or finish fishing. The name of the angler will be put in notice board at the fishery and the notice board of the fishing club The name was check into a log book and the address of the person where they lived everytime the bailiff went to check the permits etc,etc. We even put photograph of these persons in the noctie board who fail to comply the new rule. (Even one who repeated broken the rule was posted in the local newpaper. They were banned from fishing for a certain time period. Since then hardly any rubbish has been left behind

To mount deadbait for sink and draw, fix treble so they are 3" apart by wrapping the wire around the shank of the upper treble, and firmly embed of its prongs into the bait's eye socket. The bottom treble is nicked with the barbed prong only into the bait flank along the lateral line.

Oh you means "barbel" I might not caught one in the River Ebro but caught one on the River Severn on your Tackle!!

Here Bruv, What a Barbell

I have to agreed with Alan Even I don't know him.

Why don't you try Coombe Abbey Pool It's 80 arce shallow estate lake. Carp to 30lbs+ But a very small head of fish, Zander to 15lbs+ most fish over 8lb, Pike 25lbs+, Bream to 8lbs+ , Tench to 8lbs but most around 5lbs Plenty of skimmers and roach. Also is not a syndicate water but can be on a full season ticket Tel:02476 453720 for more information

I would go back 27 years to when I was a young lad and uded to go to Arrow Valley Lake in Redditch,Worcestershire. But more recently my choice would be Tardebigge Reservoir where I quite successful with catching pike. I used to belong to a local fishing club who had access to this water. Unfortunatly they withdrew from here about 5 years ago and it was taken over by a big company (who I do not wish to name). The last time I went up there to have a walk round and the water had been almost drained away and there was no sign of any fish