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Monster Pike – Why Target Them
Back in the Sixteenth Century famous angling author Izaak Walton was describing the pike as a fresh-water wolf! The predator has been blamed for many stories of lost dogs, lost livestock and even lost people! It adds to the mystery of this fearsome predator and provides the attraction to the hunter.
It is Britain’s biggest native freshwater fish and ranks also as one of North America’s leading quarry. Catching the big one needs stronger rods, larger nets and clever tactics. Holding up this heavy beast for the camera makes the hunt worthwhile. Taking the hooks from the pike’s mouth require strong equipment and a stronger nerve. A slip of the hand can result in deep and painful wounds that are easily infected. Many pike fisherman use a steel gauntlet of the type worn by knights of old, such is the danger when unhooking this fearsome beast.
But it is this fear and respect that attracts us to angling for pike. I think back to my last visit to the canal, where it joins the river not far from where I live. It was close to dawn when I left my house, cold and very still. There was no frost but the mist was thick. When I got to the water I found a good spot that would allow me to cast upstream almost to the canal lock where there was a deep pool and also downstream to the far bank around thirty yards away.
I wandered along the bank peering through the gloom hoping to see signs of active pike. The surface of the canal was like a glassy mirror, broken only by the sporadic splash or ripple as a bait fish darted here and there. Something was feeding! Seeing the water like this urges you on, you want to make haste and present your baits to the unseen foe. This desire to challenge and best the majestic fish is what makes us want to seek out bigger and stronger pike.
I quickly tackled up, attaching a still frozen half herring dead-bait to my treble hooked trace. Casting upstream about twenty five yards to the spot where I was walking just minutes earlier, I could just see the splash as the bait hit the water. I thought the line would follow the bait as it sank but something seemed odd. Puzzled, I lifted the rod to take in the slack, only the feel the line go taught. I struck quickly and sure enough, a fish was on and I realized that it did not want to be simply drawn towards the net. After three strong runs including a worrying spell downstream I drew the monster pike over the lip of my oversized landing net. This was my best pike, at just over twenty pounds. Not really a monster maybe, but a success for me. There are reports of thirty pound plus fish at the same venue, and it is this that will lure me back for more!
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Tackle Sale
Tackle Sale Information
I thought it was about time we had a section on the site where we list tackle sales. Please reply to this post if you find something that looks like a bargin. Post the URL and the product price and maybe give us a bit of information about the Tackle Sale item. Please not this is not an excuse for tackle shops to post there links willy nilly all posts will be verified before being accept to our tackle sale list.
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A Tale With Some Fishing Tips
Sometimes you find acquaintances that have that “extra” something special that makes them stand out as fishermen. Sometimes this acquaintance is a friend and this means you will share many experiences and above all you will have the opportunity to observe him in action. It is difficult to pin point exactly what it is that makes them true fishermen.
What it is not, is just one single thing.
After years of fishing together we have managed to work the river with hardly a second glance at each other or need to question anything. We flow as one, although this could be that his expertise has rubbed off on me. Depending on the mood we are in and what the river tells us we may fish together or go our separate ways.
There have been times when we stand together in the middle of the river, cast simultaneously and have a trout strike at the same time. At other times we both use the exact same lure, fish in the same spots and do just about everything alike – just about because he keeps on catching, while I…
On only one or two occasions I have out fished him, to his great frustration – but this is very rare indeed.
I have observed him for over twenty years now and am a better fisherman for it. Here are a few of the things I have noticed that makes him a consistently good fisherman (good as in he never returns empty handed).
- Attitude – he has this saying that a fisherman who doesn’t get wet is not a fisherman. And he always gets wet. We will cross the river when we need to; we will wade; we will fish from the side, from under a tree, from the bank, from the middle, from a rock or from a bridge.
- Perseverance – there have been times when the trout is caught when daylight has all but gone. No matter what, he will fish.
- Love of the sport – something happens to us as we prepare for a fishing trip. And this something becomes even more obvious as we approach the river until it becomes patently obvious as we fish. We are transformed. Life as we know it is left behind and we become one with the sport.
- Knowledge. He knows about trout but still has the ability to be surprised by a trouts reactions. He can read the river incredibly well – and rivers are always different and changing.
- Fishing Gear. Once as we chatted under a tree during the mid day sun, he left his hand dangling in the water. He actually tickled a trout to sleep and then he flipped it out. His gear is always well kept – the reel in superb condition, his lures, his line, his rod – all in top shape. But he can fish with a pole and a shoe lace if necessary.
- Luck. At least that is what he calls it. But after years of observation I now know that it isn’t luck; or at least not too much luck.
Getting into the “fishing zone”.
He, this fisherman friend of mine, has the uncanny ability to focus his whole being while fishing. This not a question of concentration but of changing his whole self, his body, his mind and thoughts, his breathing, his walk, his attitude.
He stops looking and begins to observe. He stops his inner voice and hears nature around him. He notices the light and the shadows. Sometimes I am sure he hears the trout and even talks them out.
He is not hypnotized or absent. He just goes into the zone at will.
Those few occasions that I out fished him were when I was in the zone. The difference is that he does this at will, while I am still learning how to do it.
A long time ago I asked him about it and he just said – “whatever you do, do it with your heart and soul”.
And I guess that, in a nut shell, is it.
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French Carp Fishing
We take a caravan holiday every year to Europe, and we are building up a group of friends in France. Most of these are Brits who have moved over there and opened caravan sites. This is my fishing exploits from this year at such a place.
The site is called Twin Lakes it’s near Montendre in Charente Maritime. It has two carp lakes hence the name. Folk staying on the site get to fish for free and as the lakes are totally on private land no licence is needed either.
The bottom lake
This lake holds Carp (Common, Mirror and Leather) up to 35lb that we know of, I fished this lake at the beginning of the tourist year (May) . The Carp were full of spawn and very lively when you caught them. They are what I would describe as slow runners (they set off as if they don’t realise they are hooked then go like a bat out of hell)
Tactics
On this lake there are two that work surface float fished bread and Dog biscuits and Cat food on the bottom, and the pole is risky. Trust me I went through Boilies, Sweetcorn, Worms, pellets, and host of other esoteric baits without any fish. BUT put a chunk of French Bread on a size 2 hook! you got a fight eventually. On some days the fish were visible especially the one we nicknamed “Jaws” for it’s habit of taking bread of the surface like a Whale going straight up and crashing back into the water, usually about 3 feet away from you when you were fishing around 4 rod lengths out.
The Top Lake
This is a new lake about 7 years old dug by the previous owner of the campsite. It’s still settling down but does hold Carp and a few silver fish Nase and Roach that I know of. The Carp here are a lot easier to catch and a lot more aggressive takers and they RUN.
The baits are the same which upset some anglers when they had been fishing all day with tons of boilies (and a bait boat) and I ambled up showed one of them a certain spot and he cast in only to bank a 10 lb’er within minutes. Same bait and tactics work on this lake too.
I caught quite a few large Carp there during my stay and upped my Personal Bests on a lot of the sub types
Mirror Carp is now 27lb 5oz (although I also had one 23lb that was almost a leather)
Common Carp is 13lb
Leather Carp is now 10lb
The main point of this site for me is that is miles from anywhere “touristy” it’s real France; the site owners Sandra and Garry are brilliant folk from South Yorkshire. The bar is always a happy place and the food is great when everyone gets together and has a real French style eat in.
It’s address is
Twin Lakes
La Faiencerie
17130
Soumeras
Charente Maritime
France
33 5 46 49 77 12
Twin Lakes France: Family Holiday Caravan Park, Tourers, Camping, Fishing Lakes
twinlakesinfo@hotmail.co.uk
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Fly Fishing Reels – Hardy
Fly Fishing Reels - Hardy
I’m currently looking at spreading my wings and trying out some different types of fishing. Fly Fishing is something I’ve only tried once and to be honest at the time it was more watching than fishing.
I’ve come across hardyfishing.com and was looking though the products and came to the one on the left.
I looked though all the specs and then got to the price… £5500 so after getting back on my chair after falling of it I thought I’d make a post and see what the most expensive items you have.
Do you think its important to have the best of the best? and how much difference do you think it really makes? Anyway if you interested in the Zane TI fly fishing reel from hardy here’s the spec.
Zane Ti
Ti stands for titanium, the strongest non-ferrous metal known to man. That’s why this reel is nearly indestructible. That’s why it takes six continuous days of machining to make a single one. Unparalleled corrosion resistance makes this the ideal reel for saltwater, as titanium has the highest strength to weight ratio of any metal. In its pure form, titanium is as strong as steel but forty-five percent lighter. An extraordinary product from Hardy.
- Fully sealed multi-drag system
- Large, easy to use, central drag knob
- Machined from solid bar stock Titanium
- Hand finished and polished by our reel engineers in AlnwickSupplied in Classic horse shoe block leather case
Fly Fishing Reels – Hardy
Categories: General Tags: Fly Fishing, Hardy
Making the Most of Meat as a Fishing Bait
Pork Luncheon Meat
Chub, Barbel, and Carp enjoy meet as much as we do. Even fish as different as dace and catfish will occasionally feast on it. Luncheon meet is the most popular of the meat baits for fishing and sausage meet is also effective.
We have all heard tales of fisherman who, often out of desperation, have hoiked a piece of pork or beef from their sandwiches, attached it to a hook and caught a massive barbel. But being Honest, if cuts of beef mutton and pork were all consistent, we would be using them every day because they are far easier to obtain and use than maggots and worms.
Lovely Luncheon Meat
On rivers as far apart as the Hampshire Avon and the Yorkshire Ouse luncheon meat is both popular and successful. Barbel, Chub and Carp all succumb to it. Luncheon meet is available in tins and fresh form the delicatessen, Both types of their devotees.
Getting Fresh
Fresh Luncheon Meat is easier to keep on the hook than the tinned variety. Buy it in a 1lb block rather than sliced (you can always freeze half for the next time you go fishing. Cut the rest into cubes and store it in a polythene bag to prevent it from drying out.
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Women Fishing in Bikinis
Ok so for a bit of fun I thought I’d make an article about women fishing in bikinis. I know this may seem a little sexist to our female visitors but you are welcome to Post a Male version if necessary (I think lol). The pictures of women fishing in Bikinis below have been give pseudonym’s to protect their identity lol.
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- Fishy Dishy Sarah
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- I’ve got another one in Blue Tracey
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- Slippery Sam
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- Give us a Cast Sarah
Feel Fry to add to the “Women Fishing in Bikinis” Gallery lol, just stick them in the comments.
Categories: General Tags: beautiful fishing women
Fishing Rod Maintenance
Fishing tackle needs care or it will certainly corrode from the salt sea water. If you need help with your fishing tackle, read this article.
Varnishing
On all kinds of rods, periodic varnishing will help preserve the guide wrappings. Graphite rods never require full top-to-bottom varnishing, fiberglass rods need it only for appearance, but cane rods must be periodically revarnished to stop moisture from reaching the cane. Appearance is the signal here: If a rod’s finish is thin and worn in several places, it is time for top-to-bottom revarnishing. Whether doing only a touch-up
or a complete job, apply two or three coats of clear (spar) varnish, allowing 24 hours for each coat to dry. Varnish will discolor winding thread. Before varnishing guide wraps, apply two to three coats of color preservative, letting each dry to touch. Before touching up a worn spot, rub the rod briskly with a piece of felt.
The resulting ultrasmooth surface will be ideal for accepting varnish.
Varnish can be applied with a small paint brush, With a lint-free cloth, or with your fingers. The thinner the coat, the better it will look. Hold rod horizontally and rotate it gently back and forth between your thumb and forefinger. This will allow the varnish to seep evenly over the rod. Smooth over the drying varnish with a finger. Some master rodmakers do the full revarnishing of a rod, three coats, using their fingers only.
Repairing a Cork Grip
Almost all cork grips on rods are built up from standard 1/2 inch wide rings. Both through tackle shops and mail order firms, the cork rings are available. In one method of repair, rings are cut in half and reglued around the rod section, thus eliminating the need to strip the rod of guides and wrappings to slide whole rings on.
Using a razor sharp knife, make first cut in damaged cork about 1/8 inch from nearest good cork on butt side. Cutting at glue line might damage sound cork. After cutting away most of old, damaged cork, carefully shave away shreads of old cork clinging at glue line to face of undamaged cork ring.
To remove bits of cork still sticking to rod and ring face, use a medium grade file or fine sandpaper stretched over a wood block. Work for sharp 90 degree angle between rod and cork ring.
Push new ring down rod to check fit, if at all loose, use ring with boring of smaller diameter. If necessary, use rattail file to enlarge bore so that ring barely pushes on.
Apply small amount of resin-based waterproof glue to rod and face of old ring. Do the same to face of new ring and slide it down rod to fit tightly against old ring. Pass a match flame under the cork and heat will expand it lightly. Let any glue set overnight.
Use coarse sandpaper or a file with rounded edge to begin shaping new rings to the contour of the grip. Finish the shaping by going over the whole grip with medium, then fine sandpaper. If there are cracks and very visible glue lines, fill them with a mixture of clear glue and cork dust. Smooth in with a knife.
Categories: Fishing Tackle, Fly Fishing, General Tags:
Fishing Suits – Price Challenge
OK, so I guess its time I stop complaining about the weather and do something about it. I’m going to use this post to do a bit of research on fishing Suits. I want to find the best suit’s that fit into these prices ranges and I want your help.
£0 – £50
£50 – £100
£100 – £150
So Anyway reply in the forum with an image/price/online store URL and when we have come to some conclusions ill update this page.
Click Here to discuss on the forum
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