First trip with Circle hooks and a BP :-)

[bluerinse]

I took all the advice from the members, I purchased all the bits and made up my trace, and today I finally got down on the Avon at Stratford, first weir at Lucy’s mill, I caught some bleak for live bait and started, I had four runs and could not connect, I wound on to the bites almost straight away, I felt the fish each time but did not hook up. I decided to let the fish run a bit longer on the next run, I wound into a fish, a Zander of about 3lb, I did not miss a fish again all day, I had 4 more Zander of about the same size the largest being about 4lb, The I had a very tentative bite (the Zander bites were also tentative but not like this) As I wound into the fish it went mad, and when it came to the net it was a fantastic perch, it was the only fish I weighed all day, 2.2lb a new PB for me :-)

I then followed up next cast with a pike, the only one of the day, this was about 16lb, I fished on into the dark having 4 more Zander but ran out of live bait and could not see my stick float to catch more.

the Circle hook is a revelation for me, un-hooking is so simple, no deep hooks, the hook holds were all light and I was surprised some fish weren’t lost., No trebles stuck in the landing net, no stress on the fish as they are in and out of the water before they new it. (Apart from the two photos)

It has to be the way forward for predator fishing, I am sure I would not have got the perch if I was using trebles.

 

Top class info from this site has made my season, thanks to all for the advice, what a day to finish on the rivers.

 

Cheers All

Edited March 13, 2008 by bluerinse

[bluerinse]

Forgot to thank the chap fishing along the bank for taking the photo of me and the fish and weighing the perch

[Mark Crame]

Brilliant! Well done.

[Houseplant]

Great result! Well done. I'm thrilled to hear that the circle hooks worked out. And to think I bottled it today!

 

Giving the fish a little time to take the bait is counter intuitive and nerve racking at first, but as I said on the other thread, I've never had a deep hooked fish. As I've gained more experience, I've concluded that circle hooks aren't ideal for all circumstances, but they're my first choice for small baits when the fish aren't being too tentative.

[bluerinse]

Great result! Well done. I'm thrilled to hear that the circle hooks worked out. And to think I bottled it today!

 

Giving the fish a little time to take the bait is counter intuitive and nerve racking at first, but as I said on the other thread, I've never had a deep hooked fish. As I've gained more experience, I've concluded that circle hooks aren't ideal for all circumstances, but they're my first choice for small baits when the fish aren't being too tentative.

 

It was also another first for me, 3 diffrent preditors when live baiting, (pike, zander and perch)

I am a bit miffed that I have to wait till next season to give it another go on the Avon,

[Guest tigger]

Great stuff, It's time I had a day as good as that

[Vagabond]

a fantastic perch, it was the only fish I weighed all day, 2.2lb a new PB for me :-)

That is a superbly conditioned perch - looks every bit of 2 lb 2oz or even a bit more (are you sure your scales haven't diddled you )

 

I was interested to see the greeny-bluish tinge on the LOWER lobe of the tail. I have noticed this on big (over 2 lb) perch at a couple of waters I fish. The smaller perch (ie pounders or less) don't seem to have this tinge, nor do bigger perch from other waters. Has anyone else noticed this feature on their own perch?

 

Catch a few more when the river season opens again and see if this blue tail is a common feature

Edited March 14, 2008 by Vagabond

[Neil G]

Nice one

 

I think circle hooks/singles are without a doubt are the best for perch fishing.

 

As for pike I'm going to stick with the trebles....not had any issues with them so far.

[eamonn321]

Can you tell me how/where you hooked your livebaits?

[bluerinse]

Can you tell me how/where you hooked your livebaits?

 

 

Hi

 

the live baits were hooked top lip,and rested on the center bend.

I Found that letting the fish run for about 30 seconds - 1 Minuet worked well, if the float shot under then I wound down, the bites were very tentative with the float not going under most times just moveing short distences stoping and moving off again, this was when I wound down.