Went Pike fishing on Sunday.

[pikergonecarpin]

I've been trying to get out pike fishing since christmas but the weather has just been abysmal every Sunday I've thought about it. Yesterday was different, i had a look at the forecast and it looked ok, wind dying down from gale force to a light breeze and no rain forecast until late afternoon. The only problem, it was bloody freezing, it would only just struggle above freezing all day. At least i could get 5 or 6 hours in before the weather turned back to nasty again.

 

Sunday arrived and i looked out the window, it looked a little grim with a fair frost, but at least it looked a nice calm morning. Alison my wife then looked at me and said, you're going out in that? are you mad? Guess i must be, as i was soon winging my way to my chosen spot. I could at least try out the thermal gear i'd got for christmas.

 

Arrived at the water at about 8am and thought perfect, hardly any wind and bright and clear. The Loch was a good few feet higher than last time i'd been and many of the easier to get to swims were flooded. The swim i picked was about 3ft in the margins sloping out to about 7 or 8 ft. It wasn't my first choice swim as the deeper areas were near impossible to fish due to the high water. Got myself set up and the rods in the water as quick as i could and sat back in my chair and awaited some action.

 

Little happened for the first couple of hours apart from the usual chat with the dog walkers and sunday strollers. Decided on a change of plan and changed over to ledgered baits on all rods as the wind was starting to pick up and there was a fair chop on the water making the float fishing tricky. Baits were my usual favourites smelt, roach and sardine.

 

The weather then started to look a little threatening, some black looking clouds were looming ominously in the distance. I started to consider whether to put up the titan or just pack up early (it was about 1pm) but didn't get the the chance as i got a call from Alison asking if i'd caught anything yet.... don't you just hate having to say no?

 

Just as the conversation was about to end, the bait on my left hand rod started to move off. Quickly said bye to my wife and grabbed the rod, hit the fish and thought "hmmm... not bad at least there's a bit of weight there". After a minute or two the fish was in the margins, a little disappointingly as it had come in relatively easily after the initial excitement. Then we spotted each other and i thought "woah, thats not a bad fish you know" as it roared of on a 10 yard run. We plugged away at each other for a further 5 minutes with me gaining a little line then the pike deciding it wanted it back. I love the sound of the clutch gently ticking away when a big fish is powering slowly away.

 

After what seemed like ages i nearly had her beaten, over the landing net and she was mine! Take a peek in the landing net, yep it's still a big fish. Onto the mat and quickly unhooked. I couldn't help thinking that maybe i'd just beaten my PB . It's been 11 years since i set my benchmark of 24 1/2lbs but i tried not to think about it as i'd come so close before. The fishery manager was close by so i gave him a shout and he give me a hand with the weighing and photos. Slipped the fish into the weigh sling and lifted the scales, round the dial once.... it's over 20.... and keeps going until we settled on a weight and new PB of 28lbs 4 oz's. I was completely made up, in the last 10 years i've upped my pb's in almost every other species, but this one, the most special to me had eluded me.

 

Even this morning as i write this i'm still grinning thinking about it.

 

Paul.

[Steve Burke]

Many congratulations! Great fish, great story.

[Anderoo]

What a cracker! Well done, that'll keep you grinning for a few weeks yet! Fancy sharing a photo?

[pikergonecarpin]

Didn't realise the pictures hadn't appeared.

 

 

 

Paul.

[Anderoo]

Great photos - that is a proper croc! I'm very jealous, I STILL haven't been piking this 'winter'!

[KAYC]

Fabulous mate, Makes me a bit ashamed I think I might be turning into a fair weather fisherman. I will definately be going out this Sunday. (unless the medways flooded,...... or If it`s raining/snowing ......A bit cold/cloudy.....icy)

[luckyjim]

Nice one mate ...what bait was it on, the smelt, roach or sardine?

[pikergonecarpin]

Nice one mate ...what bait was it on, the smelt, roach or sardine?

 

The successful bait was a dead 6oz roach. Which kind of surprised me as the water was heavily coloured, and i half expected that if i did get a run, it would be on the smellier baits.

 

Paul.

[BoozleBear]

Congrats on a truly beautiful fish mate.

 

Simon

[poledark]

Nice one Paul, you look like my kind of angler

 

Den