Russell Fitzpatrick

the theory for pike picking up baits head first is this,they do it becuase all the fins of the prey fold down and in towards the body thus it shouldnt get stuck and it goes down quicker. i do think on occasion they just engulf baits,and swallow as its engulfed.

havent been down there to much gerry,been fen bound! but,yes the crays! i dont pop my baits up mate leave them hard on teh bottom,using float i still get the movement of crays toying with the bait but tehy dont seem to be as active in the cold,in summer they can and will rip lives apart if near the bottom same with deads,but winter they seem to knip at the bait,doesnt bother me as im sure they scuttle of when a pike comes near the bait,i use a float leger with at least 2oz lead those egg sinkers are no good the crays give ya proper takes with them not with a lead tho! also tough baits lamprey or trout are tops roach are a no no as the crays really like em!strangely i dont get to many probs with sea baits sardines mackrel etc,also i think a cray ripping bits off teh bait and opening up teh belly(they often do that) they are making a nice scent trail for me!

some low pressure cooming in towards the end of the week,as long as it dont rain to heavy, deadbaits should be given the green light me thinks.

not doing to bad so far,not had as many blanks as last year and am up on numbers of fish,mostly jacks tho,5 doubles best 16.3 so far,not complaining tho plenty more to go at yet! i'd say 90% of teh fish i am catching are quite plump definetly got there winter coats on loving the earlier than last year cold weather....

definetly agree high pressure seems to be lives and lures weather,i feel pike respond better to a moving bait in hi pressure, i have had fish on deadbaits in these conditions but not many at all,went today didnt expect much did try putting one bait on a float paternoster to give it soem movement in teh flow....el blanco! hopefully my other river tommrrow will respond better. will be wobbling tommrrow

ahhh pred reading, i have "preadator becomes the prey",fantastic book,very good for location tips and techniques from drains to lochs and river and pits. i have mick browns book,picked up a hell of alot of tips and tecnhiques from thsi one,its difrent too as it is set to teh yearly calendar as opposed to chapters. also recently bought bill plamers "dimples to wrinkles and beyond",cracking read,any piker will love it,tales galore but you can glean tips and knowledge from bills writings.

spot on,good on ya a worm,once you get ya confidence wuth them theres no going back! esox is god

didnt see that one!

better than oils imo is teh use of a block end feeder,teh big drennan ones (2oz) i fill one with say sardine or mackarel chooped into nice small chunks,crammed in using a small twig,fish this on a float-leger or running leger rig,-mass attraction-picked it up from p+p,good tatic fish a half mackrel on teh hooks(i often cut a whole joey's head of just below the gills and use this,teh other half is ya hookbait,saves on baits. have had fish to 15lb on this method,can try it with roach sprats smelts(they work!),none have picked up the feeder its self,if i want attraction i use a feeder not oils..maybe im missing something??

coma fishing! tim...!

pike.....pure and simple the thought of a good'un sitting in my wiegh sling is enougth for me that and being stuck in work in front of a mac all week,thinking of pike! i love being there on the riverbank in the early mornings mist,the smell... ya know that smell...quitely placing my margin rod in the mist....

boozle definetly stay mobile,try leapfrogging down the canal moving one rod over the other,every 15-20 mins, could try fishing a heavy block end feeder instead of a lead on ya FL rig,greater attraction and can bring takes quicker,fish with a half bait on the hooks. i would try sink and draw also as peter said,can be good to fish it past/around your static bait,fish sometimes follow but dont take,a static is easier for em dont concentrate on conditions so much,more location! if you can find out what the air pressure will be doing around on that day.(bbc.co.uk)

not even on a wooden platform or concrete bank peter?...... no its not as sensitve a set up as single banksticks but i have never had any probs when i have had to use my pod.

depends what sort of pod you have ferret,i have a fox satlker,has goal posts that connetc to the buzzer bar,my normal drop offs fit no probs,you could if you dont mind doing it fish bobbins with baitrunners on,or use line clips.

fitzgerald!! mr burgess i am a fitzpatrick! i dont have it i am afraid,got wiped out when boards moved,was in messages,i should have saved dowm a hrd copy,i may heve just cant remeber,have to have a look,dont hold ya breath tho slodger,its happeneing already mate,had several fish take a bait deep recenltly(very mild isnt it) not deep hooked but far back enough for me not to be happy about it thats despite my instantt strikes. does worry me...specially concerning the leave it!..bit longer gang

well...how did ya get on gerry?

that fish is as real as they come,and what a cracker too lovely looking fish. i am on ewho as chevin puts it has extrodinary skils in cutting and pasting(more like photoshop and layered files,oh and access to some top top repro gear.) i reguarly take photos to work and do teh colour on them and erase bits i dont like from the background,i dont and wont touch the fish no need is there. i can also add text makes teh photos look better,to be honest if i was to play with a pic you wouldnt even know.....thats not being big headed its being in repro for 8 years know all the tricks

magic!.....the 5 rules.... i enjoyed that.

good luck to ya gerry and vidar too!

9-am-2pm for pike in winter,most takes seem to come between then,in summer i have had them snatch baits at all times(intended for zeds) however i have been very suprised on some days i have left baits out well into the day and they have not been touched,but come dusk i know one will put an appreance in same goes for dawn,but yes they do take during the day as well in summer a couplke of hours after dawn can be good right up to 8.am(gets light at 4-5). this is with deadbaits and livebiats not lures. forgot to add,that i think alot of waters,especially clear rivers and pits,teh bigger fish feed at night,summer and winter,some will at some point get a meal in teh day,passing prey for instance,but it is something i really beleive in and aim to find out for sure!

ah a new use for my newly accquired fly rod

love braid but also like mono yes mono for close in work is good get more of a cushion when a fish is charging about at ya feet but overall braid does teh job very very well,love it for float fishing,wich is my prefered method,i did actualy changed to 15lb mono a while ago while trotting for zander...big mistake! could'nt feel a bloody thing, couldnt control the float properly either,i likes braid face but dont ask me about lures cos braid or no braid lures give me headaches! (cant catch a thing face)

hey joso another great tatic for new waters is wobbling a deadbait,good way to cover water. as is drifting to,you could infact go with the aim to travel light and move frequently,look for prey fish topping or preds striking(even perch),i would put a dead in teh margins while i work the water infront of me with a wbbled or drifted bait,search the water and move.(ps i cant see the map?) also i got ya PM but all was wiped during the board move,so i will send one soon i can just remeber what was in teh message! hey budgie,long time no speak

no zeds on it fella

i have one with three LEDS either 2 on or 3 plus a "normal light",wich i hate cos it sods my eyes up in the dark much prefer soft "blue" light wich teh LEDS give off. paid 25 nicker for my one,its called LED head light! i post a pic later,had a while LEDS are fine,as is original bulb.