How each species of fish fights when hooked

[Anderoo]

I think most anglers would agree with your sentiments Anderoo.

 

Worth watching out for a John Wilson DVD though - A John Wilson Go Fishing special on float fishing, slider and stret pegging.

Fishing a secluded Norfolk lake from his boat, he catches nine double figure bream up to 14lb. "Magic, absolute magic."

 

And these bream really do put up a bit of a fight.

 

I don't think he's just exaggerating for the camera because with the fish staying down deep in the 13 foot deep swim, they didn't appear to give up too easily.

 

And 14lb is quite some fish. "What a clonker!"

 

Yes, I've seen that - absolutely amazing! In the second DVD of Catching the Impossible, Martin Bowler sets his 'impossible' bream weight at 14lb, so to catch one that size on the float is really incredible, and possibly unique?

[lutra]

I think most anglers would agree with your sentiments Anderoo.

 

Worth watching out for a John Wilson DVD though - A John Wilson Go Fishing special on float fishing, slider and stret pegging.

Fishing a secluded Norfolk lake from his boat, he catches nine double figure bream up to 14lb. "Magic, absolute magic."

 

And these bream really do put up a bit of a fight.

 

I don't think he's just exaggerating for the camera because with the fish staying down deep in the 13 foot deep swim, they didn't appear to give up too easily.

 

And 14lb is quite some fish. "What a clonker!"

I was used to do quite a bit of bream fishing out of a boat (around the time he made that film which must be going on 20 years ago now?) and i can say they aren't as easy to land in a boat.

 

The bream i used to fish for back then where only up to about 8-9lb tops but i was only using light rods and hook lengths (3lb). When you bring them up to the boat to land them they still sit vertical in the water unlike when your bank fishing and they slide in on their side. Because of this if you ease off at all (like when you reach for the landing net) they just go straight back down to the bottom, which is a pain when your in 20 foot of water and you have start pumping them back up again.

[Will Wilkinson]

One fish that I neglected to mention is the lovely rudd.

 

I have never been lucky enough to catch one of any size.

 

I assume they fight like a roach but that is a complete guess.

Anyone here been lucky enough to catch a large rudd? How do they fight?

 

My PB Rudd of 2 1/2 lb fought very much like a large roach-bream hybrid - lots of short powerful runs, all heading straight for the bottom of the lake. It was caught on a very deep and clear clay pit on the pole which may have had some effect on the fight. It certainly out fought its weight though. My previous PB of 1lb 14oz was caught on a dry fly and fought rather differently, still a powerful fish for its size, but stayed right on the surface and never dived at all. All the runs were short, fast and powerful; it also never really gave up, still fighting right until I mugged it with the net as it shot past my rod tip.

 

Will

[samytee]

What about the catfish?

 

When i first caught one i was after the pike..... and it felt like id hooked the bottom when i struck into a run......then within a second it took off and nothing i could do could stop it....... it was like hooking the back of a narrow boat...... like a big carp steams off.... but you could feel the wafts of its tail....ultimate freshwater power

 

..... my favourite scrapper has to be the tench though...... when your hearts going coz youve nearly got it to the net but its diving into snags around your peg..... like taking a staffy for a walk!!!

[Vagabond]

Grayling fights are what I think I love most. Especially on light float tackle or on the fly. Their ability to hold station in fast water and to increase drag with that big dorsal fin whilst indulging in some terrier-like head-shaking is enough to put you off your guard.

 

When I trot the Upper Medway in late summer for a mixed bag of silvers, trout and grayling, my first impression upon hooking a grayling is that I have contacted an eel. The same side-to-side wagging, and the impression the fish is trying to swim backwards.

 

Re Rudd

I have had a few over 2lb, and they fight like roach but seem a bit friskier.

Also had a few big rudd-roach hybrids which are very lively indeed - had a tremendous tussel with one of 3-12 on a winter evening - was fishing a trout reservoir and thought it must be a rainbow trout at first.