I have had the most amazing and frustrating weekend.
Let me explain.
Went to the Lincoln area and fished the reducing flood waters. as the water began to clear. The fishing was visual and very exciting. The pike were taking small lures and plugs. Whereas the perch were taking larger lures and plugs. These takes were aggresive with only 1 miss.

Yesterday I was fishing in Oxford.
I had 6 takes and no hook ups. this was on plugs. I varied the speed of retreive and even changed the plugs to the trusty rubber bodied Shad. I even saw the pike come charging in "head but" the plug and veer off

My feeling is the spot on the Oxford river is very popular which has been over fished with the result of the predators are now shy.
The question is.
How do I hook into the shy fish?
What alternative methods would produce the takes required?