Aims and targets for 2013

[robtherake]

Hoping for a two pound roach from my "secret" pond this season. The fish are there; I just need to put one on the bank. There are some good perch in there too - to over three - so with a little luck....

[Brian Carragher]

My target is the same as every year, try and catch a river 30lb plus pike, has one out at 25lb 3oz this year and theres been a couple of heavier ones that I know about so its possible, possible but very very hard and its the expectation thing that gets me going, I also like to have a target of double figure barbel when I aim for those and some years manage it sometimes not but again its the not knowing what takes your bait that gets me out on the bank

 

Catching fish of any size of your target species is what the plans all about but when it all comes together and you get a real lump out then its one of those red letter days you remember for years

[redtail]

Hoping for a two pound roach from my "secret" pond this season. The fish are there; I just need to put one on the bank. There are some good perch in there too - to over three - so with a little luck....

now that would be a nice brace, a 2lb roach and a 3lb perch!

[redtail]

My target is the same as every year, try and catch a river 30lb plus pike, has one out at 25lb 3oz this year and theres been a couple of heavier ones that I know about so its possible, possible but very very hard and its the expectation thing that gets me going, I also like to have a target of double figure barbel when I aim for those and some years manage it sometimes not but again its the not knowing what takes your bait that gets me out on the bank

 

Catching fish of any size of your target species is what the plans all about but when it all comes together and you get a real lump out then its one of those red letter days you remember for years

Good luck with your targets, my pike target is a little more modest at 10lb but I would also love to catch a double figure barbel - awesome fish

[Tony U]

Targets for 2013:

Coarse Fishing: to actually do some.

Sea Fishing: to experiment with Light Rock Fishing, I am just waiting for the Blenny run to start.

Trout and Fly: Do some wild Brown Trout fishing in Urban areas (Like in the book "Trout in Dirty Places). Catch a decent Bonefish.

Destination Fishing: Bonefish as above, catch a Sailfish, Permit on a Fly

[redtail]

Targets for 2013:

Coarse Fishing: to actually do some.

Sea Fishing: to experiment with Light Rock Fishing, I am just waiting for the Blenny run to start.

Trout and Fly: Do some wild Brown Trout fishing in Urban areas (Like in the book "Trout in Dirty Places). Catch a decent Bonefish.

Destination Fishing: Bonefish as above, catch a Sailfish, Permit on a Fly

Thats a great set of targets, good luck and I hope you bag them all

[Dales]

I think I would love to learn how to gut fish properly. I think I can do ok at Mackeral or Trout but it would be nice to know how to prepare coarse fish. Learn how to gut and dress a Pike or Zander or a decent sized Common Carp, my initial thoughts are that Mirrors and Leathers would be a little easier to descale.

 

I have always wondered if Carp would make good cut bait for predator fishing. Buffalo is popular in the US for Gar so why not use Carp fillets for Pike. I bet little Carp make most excellent live baits.

 

EDIT: Just had another aim, see how many species I can turn in to bait this year, a kinda bait rod race based on seeing how many species I can use as bait live or dead.

 

ADDITIONAL EDIT: Doh, I already know that little Carp make great baits, so no need to wonder :-)

Edited March 21, 2013 by Dales

[Errrm]

Normally I know what I want to do each year...... this year I'm struggling though.

 

Last year I had more fun fishing then I had for a while learning to lure fish and doing lots of small sessions fishing for Pike and then as the season went on perch and chub (chub on a lure are so much fun!). This year I'm not sure if I should try something different or carry on lure fishing.

 

Currently I'm thinking about trying to target bigger perch and chub on lures (biggest after 1 season 1lb 1oz perch and 3lb chub) so I'd like to aim for a 2lb perch on a lure and 5lb chub. Also Pike fish with weedless frogs on the weedy venues near me.

 

So probably nothing new, just a continuation from last year with higher aims...... unless an interesting oppurtunity comes along :-)

[Phone]

Dales,

 

You own a hard hat?

 

Flathead catfish like 3 or 4 lb carp. We have become so lazy we mostly filet fish and throw 1/2 away. Very wasteful.

 

Phone

[Dales]

Phone, no need for a hard hat around here. ANers for the most part hate Carp and blame all the ills of the world on the Carp and or Carp anglers.

 

Thanks for the tip for the flatheads, I would love to catch one some day and you can't beat local knowledge on how to fish abroad.

 

I might need a hard hat if I was to suggest Tench as live baits which I think are a much better choice as those big paint brush tails keep them active for ages. That's why I suggested Carp but between you and me a Tench is better.

 

Cats can certainly take a good sized bait, the one in my avator wolfed down a huge Carp.

 

In Phone fashion. Note to self: Sometimes those Tench baits bury themselves in the weed, so some sort of pop up presentation or sunken float patternoster rig might be necessary :-)