Long Time Coming

The blog has been neglected since the last post, this has been for a variety of reason including pike fishing most weekends, long hours at work, studying, DIY, pestering the Environment Agency (EA) with FoI/EIR's and writing for others.

Pike Fishing, So far...

I been fortunate to have been out most weekends for a day on the banks in pursuit of my favourite species since October, but I have been surprised but the lack of sizeable pike considering venues I've been targeting should hold bigger pike.

Most session have rewarded me with a number of pike, but sadly nothing bigger than mid double. This have been
Whilst the size may have been small the average per session is three or four, so that not a bad average considering some of the venues are very difficult.
One of the most memorable session so far was on a local still water. I ventured down for dawn and had decided that I need to catch a few pets to using during the session. It was a bitterly cold day with a heavy frost on the ground and I was expecting a slow day.
Out with a mackerel tail first in area were I'd caught being and a lamprey on a float ledger next to the reeds. The float was just settling on the float ledger when the alarm sounded on the rod baited with the mackerel tail. I wound down and I could feel a weight at the end of the line. After a short scrap a low double was netted. At little over 13lb she was not a monster but was most welcome. The mackerel was still attached so it got chucked out again.

I quickly tackled up the float gear and baited with a couple of maggots. After about an hour, I had a few pets in a bucket ready for the session and soon had one out underneath a float. This plodded around the swim for a while before the float started dancing and then when sailing under. Tightening up a lively jack was soon at the edge and as the trace only had a single treble which was neatly in the scissors it didn't take much to nick it out and release the jack.
Another pet was attached and cast back out.

The float had hardly settled being it was buried again and another jack was soon reeled in and attached. This scenario went on for most of the morning, sling a pet out get a run, attach another cast it out get a run.

It was then the turn of the mackerel tail to have another run and and another jack decided that it would try to swallow a bait half as big as its self. This was soon returned without its meal.
The final run of the day was late in the afternoon on another pet. This time the pike was not a jack but another low double.

Finished the day with seven pike landed and two runs missed. Nothing huge  but very entertaining.


Pestering the EA with FoI etc

For the last year, in the region where I reside, its been noticeable that the EA are simply not spending money on the rivers in these parts. So I wanted to find out more. Que FoI and EIR for some answers and answers is what I got. F*ck all. I'm not going to go into depths as this is forming evidence for a show down with EA, but quite frankly it is a disgrace how much of the rod license money is not going back towards improving the rivers or angling.


Writing for others

I have also been trying to get some answers for an article I've written for Pikelines,which is the Pike Anglers Club quarterly club magazine. The article is about Windermere and its declining pike populations. I was asked by the Club's Secretary, John Currie to find out as much as I could about the water going into Windermere from United Utilities treatment work. The article was published in November 2016.

This has been quite time consuming article and it wasn't helped by the long time its take to get answers from both the Environment agency and United Utilities, but the end result was very rewarding and enlightening.

There is also a new magazine on the horizon so watch the news stand for Catch Cult which is being producer by Rob Shallcroft.

PAC Convention 2016

Feeling Rather Proud

Feeling rather proud today, it has been announced that I will be the recipient of the Pike Anglers Club Colin Dyson Award for 2016 in recognition of my work in pike conservation.

I will be presented with the award at the Pike Anglers Club convention 2016 on Saturday 17th September at Kettering conference centre.


Full details of this and the other award winners can be found here:- Pike Anglers Club Awards 2016

Will you be going?

LAS & PAC Teach in & Fish in (Junior Event)

Broadland Pike - The Film

Here is the finished film on Broadland Pike made by the Norwich & District Pike Anglers Club, the Pike Anglers Club and and funded by the Environment Agency

Chapter 1

Intro & History 

Chapter 2:

Safety & Safe Fishing - Capture Release Methods with Mick Brown

Safety & Safe Fishing - Pros & Cons of Seasonal Fishing with Mick Brown

Safety - Launching a Boat Safely with Steve Rodwell

Chapter 3:

An Intro to The Importance of Kit

The Importance of Kit - Bite Indicators

The Importance of Kit - Safe Use of Nets

The Importance of Kit - Tools & Unhooking Mats

The Importance of Kit - Tools & Kit in Action with Mick Brown

Chapter 4:

The Future - An Intro

The Future - Pike Tagging Project

The Future - What Can We Do & Conclusion

PAC Convention 2012

New Role

Hi All,

The Suffolk RA08 region of the Pike Anglers' Club of Great Britain has been relaunched with a new website http://suffolkpac.blogspot.co.uk/, new contact email suffolkpac@hotmail.co.uk .

Oh and we have a new RO, me, Jason Skilton

Feel free to contact me using the new Suffolk PAC email.

 

I am also interested to hear from all existing PAC Suffolk Members and any new members on you captures, reports of any pike welfare issues or anything else pike related. I'm here to help!!

 

I will be working on a Autumn/Winter programme of meetings and speakers, so keep watching the Suffolk PAC website.

Tight lines!!!

Friday and Monday - Again

Friday and Monday saw me at the same alternative venue and what a difference a few days make.

The Friday was a reccy mission to see how the place was fishing and to see what level the lake was at.

I arrived before 7am and the water was busy with anglers. Of course it was busy as it was still half term and the lake hadn't been ice free for the last couple of weeks, so every man and his dog was out fishing.

I headed off to one of the few deep water swims free and proceed to chuck two baits out to the far side of the lake and one in the margins.

It was evident that the pike were on the move today, as one of the anglers hooked and landed a twenty pounder within a hour of setting up. It was a short fat fish that would soon be heading to the spawning grounds.

After a hour of bait inactively, I recast two of the baits, chummed up the marginal rod and got the lure rod out for a spot of spinning. It didn't take long for the fire tiger rapala lure to get hit by a jack and it was soon gloved out. Removing the hooks was easy, but getting the actual lure out of its mouth was another problem, as this jack was determined not to let go of it. After a talking to him, he released the lure and was soon back on his way.

Soon enough an hour had passed by with nothing hitting the lures, a third bait rod was baited up with lamprey and cast to the far ban. I just standa cuppa, when the BBB sounded and with line peeling off the spool, I tightened down and lift into a fish. The rod hooped over and soon a pike was fighting at the end of the line, this was short lived and the line fell slack. I reeled the rig in and the bait was still attached, but it had a few additional puncher marks on it.

This was recast back out and I went and finished the cuppa, but added a choccy biscuit to replenish the energy levels.

During one of the walkabouts to the waters edge, I spied a very small jack with its head in the reeds. A target for a lure, me thinks!!! So after a rummage in the lure box, a micro shad was attached and cast over to the miniature predator. After a couple of casts, the pike noticed the mini shad and after positioning its self, it followed it to the bank, but alas it saw me and swam off before taking the lure.

But what was this micro hunter doing with its head in the reeds?. Well after 5 mins after the toothy fishy had left, a sickly looking carp of about 3lb came out of the reeds and slopped off into deeper water. Had the pint sized pike sensed the death knoll of the carp. I wonder.

The rest of the morning was uneventful, so after a spot of lunch (beef stew), the baits were freshened up and repositioned.

Early afternoon, soon changed to late afternoon and a run on the marginal rod was on, but even before I could get to the rod, the line had stopped peeling away from the spool and the float had resurfaced.

The bait was mashed up and was not reusable, so with the light fading, I packed up and headed for home.

PAC Day Out

Its Monday and I'm not at work again. Huuuuuuurrrrrrrrraaaaaa, I said as I woke from my slumber and got myself for a PAC adventure.

The fish-in on the lake was due to commence at 8:30am, so there was no point in hurrying myself.

On arrival I was greeted by the event organiser and was amazed to find out that the others were already there and fishing. Oh bath buns!!!

So, after a (cough) short chat, I head off to find a swim.

It soon became apparent that the swims I wanted were the same swims that the others wanted. So with only 1 and 6 pegs remaining (of the ones worth fishing), I unloaded the gear and head off.

I settled into the swim quickly and baits were soon out, the morning was cold and we had, had a couple of frosts the previous two nights. I wasn't hopeful of much action and only had one run all day from a grebe.

But I did take photos of a couple of PAC members captures for them. All in all, it was nice to meet up with like minded fellas and have a chat with them. They had come from far and wide to fish today and I had hoped that some of the lumps would appear, but alas they didn't. The biggest of the day was a 12lb 12oz fish which fell to the guy, whom I had convinced to fish peg 1.

Where is you mama?

I on the other hand, went to peg 6 and blanked. Ho hum.

Preparing for the Season Ahead

So its less that a month to go to the glorious 1st October, sadly I won’t be on the banks that weekend as I be at the Pike Angling Club Convention at Kettering.


I will be helping out on the day so give me a look.

But just because I’m not fishing on the 1st October hasn’t stopped from think and preparing for the pike season ahead. The first big job was to pack my bait freezer with all sorts of standard and non standard baits. So a bulk order duly arrived at the beginning of August. The only bait I will not be using this year is eel section. This is a decision by me in support for of the N.A.C preservation campaign. My stocked bait will be supplemented with a supply of freshly despatched roach, rudd, & skimmer bream from a pond were I have an agreement to remove up to 30 fish for the winter as bait. This fresh bait will be used in the first part for September on a couple of trips for Zander.

New lines has been bought, Berkley Big Game (17lb mono) and Hi-Seas Hi Viz floating braid (65lb) and loaded onto the reels.

Trace wire (Mr Softee), hooks, swivels have been bought, and I’ll end up making new traces the week before my first trip. New batteries will be fitted in the camera, thermometer and backbiters. Check nets, weight sling for any hole.

One rod has been replaced with a new rod from Mr Lumbs' stable. I purchased one of his 12 foot 3.5tc Baitcaster rods (BB350) for long range fishing or as a drifter rod. I hope to add a second BB350 in the coming weeks.

So if you haven’t thought about it yet, you better get your gear together and see what needs doing. Its only 2.1/2 weeks away after all

Tight lines for the season ahead

P.A.C Convention 2011

PAC Convention 2011 Link

Looking Forward

Having a week off work at the moment, but alas no fishing on the cards as have DIY and other stuff to do for the Cancer Research UK, Cast for Life charity match on Saturday the 13 August at Suffolk Water Park.

The match is a sell out and I have collected all the raffle prizes I have been promised, so roll on  Saturday. A full write of the days proceedings will be posted up here  with pictures, but if you want a sneak preview of what will be going on, I doing a on air chat at 06:50 on BBC Radio Suffolk with Rob Dunger before the event.

On the fishing front, I have the PAC convention in Kettering on Saturday 1 October helping out on the day and will be looking forward to seeing some of the legends of the pike fishing community. Including Mike Brown, Neville Fickling and hopfully Eddie Turner as well. It would be also good to catch up with a few people I been speaking too on line from further a field.

Preparations for the new pike season are going well with baits and new line being delivered. On the mono front, I decided to go back to the Berkley Big Game line this season, but have uprated it from 15lb to 17lb. The Diawa sensor didn't let me down at all, but it didn't handle abrasion as well as the BBG. Also bought some new floating  braid from Eddie Turner for the drift floating. Its a method that I used to use alot, but having have a good catch rate last season, I neglected to do it much, but this will change this season. It will also allow me to get baits in areas that have been unfished. So I'm hopeful that it will increase my catch rate.

Messing About on the River - End of Season

With only a week left of the river season and with the knowledge that the pike would be either pre spawning or spawned out, I took the invitation of a session afloat for pike on a friends boat with glee.

John has a nice boat which is kitted out with the usual bits and piece to make a days fishing very pleasant indeed.

I met John at his house and got things ready on the boat before we head off to the river.

On route, the wildlife was in abundance and I saw my first Barn Owls of the year swooping low over the meadows and marshland looking for their prey. Its always nice not to drive because it give you the opportunity to see the sights along the ways and look for new places to fish.

We arrived in good time, loaded the rods, bait and launched the boat it into the river.

We set off to the first spot and found that we had been beaten to it by a couple of bank anglers, so we proceeded up river so John could catch some fresh bait for the day ahead.

John located a likely spot and we settle in with deadbaits and a feeder rod for the silverfish.

After an hours of no movement whatsoever, we upped mud weight and moved up river in search of our prey.

After a couple of further moves due to inactivity, we went to our furtherest point of no return and caught sight of another pair of bank anglers. These gents had landed a small jack and were just about to returned it when we came around the bend. We could fish this area which was a shame but did not it for the return and anchors some 5mins river away from them.

We soon dropped the mud weight and fanned out the 6 rods front and rear with a  mixture of sea baits and coarse baits. We settled back and enjoyed the warm March Sun with the easterly wind on our backs.

After an hour one of Johns floats showed signs of life. He disengaged the baitrunner and wound down into a fish.
After a short scrap the first fish of the day was soon landed, unhooked and returned. Nothing huge, but a welcome sight.

Up in the sky a buzzard with cricling up high using the warming thermals to soar with ease to scan the area for carrion. Minutes later a flight of pigeon whizzed passed with a Marsh Harrier in hot pursuit in the general direction of the Buzzard. The pigeons soon scattered and in turn lost the pursing Harrier as he too caught sight of the circling Buzzard. Now the Buzzard is not a small bird and infact must be three times bigger than the Marsh Harrier, but that didn't seen to faze it because within minutes of the two spotting each other, they began to circle together in a what can only be described bird of prey acrobats. It was amazing to see these two magnificant birds sizing each other up before the harrier had the sense to break off and retreat to leave the area to the Buzzard.

After a couple of hours and a short snooze in the sun, we started out returned trip to the launch.

We fish a couple more spots with baits and lures, but nothing else was forthcoming.

Back at the launch area, we noticed that an area past the the moorings was now vacant. So motored down river and dropped the mud weights. Baits were soon cast out and within half an hour my smelt deadbait came to life. Wind down and I hooked into the fish, after a spirited fight a low double was soon on board photographed and returned.

We settle back in a John put his feeder rod backinto action to try to catch some silver fish. He soon was briefly into something big, but after a short fight it was off. Bream on the Maggots? or Pike on the Feeder?

It was getting late in the day and we were starting to complentate retiring back to the launch, when his close range ledgered bait was on the move. Baitrunners was spinning and he hit into a fish. To start with it didn't fight, but on seeing the boat the fish charged off taking line from the spool.

John soon had the fish at the boat, buit she wasn't finished yet and when off again.
The fish tired and was netted, unhooked and weight as a high double. The old girl was in good condition pre spawning for her age, but had signs that she getting to the latter stages of her predatory life.
She was blind in one eye and was lighted than normal in her colouring compared to the other fish. But she was still a great catch and a season best for him.

After some nice shoots by me, we returned her gracefully back into the depths of the river to travel off to spawn.

The drove back with the sunsetting, whilst reflecting on the end of the river season and soon arrived home in the dark.

TL

Bluebell Lake - P.A.C Event

Sunday 27 Feb 2011 was my first P.A.C event that I've attended since being a member.

This event was being held at the Bluebell Lakes fishery complex at Tansor, near Peterbough. The 30 members who turned up for the event were to fish the Blue Bell lake. A long lake of approximately 20 acres with a variety of fish including bream, carp, silver fish and of course pike.

The event was due to started at 8:00am, late started for fishing for me, but the complex only allows day fishing from that time. I left the hour at 05:30 for the 1hr 14min drive up from home.

The morning was pleasant and fairly warm, but as I head across the border in Cambridge, it started to drop to nudging 1.5 deg C. I arrived at the fishery at 7:30am, signed in and got my peg number (no 5) for the day.

The 30 odd pikers then sorted themselves out and when off to the lake, expectations were high.

Pegging was little close for comfort, but lucky on my right I had a vacant peg and managed to spread myself out abit. Three rods were allowed for the event, but it was difficult to spread them out as the lake was only about 70-80yrds across, so I was limited on the distance on the third rod. So I had one closed in the margin on a float with the whole herring just touching bottom at 10 foot. A enhanced blue on a ledger and a mackerel on the third rod. I did bring the spinning gear, but decided to opt for dead bait for the morning.



I then settled back and started to cook breakfast and the smell of freshly brewed tea and sizzling bacon was soon wafting about the lake.

 After breakfast had cooked I had a chat with the two gents next to me and all of us were expecting a good day. Alas, it was not to be. Apart from one of the lads on the disable platforms who lost a low double at the net, were was not much action. One of the guys actually fished the afternoon session on the adjacent river, but again lost a small fish at the net.

The rain then came in mid morning and we were all soon huddle under brollies. The rain finally stopped early afternoon and I turned to the lures with no success apart from the zebra mussel beds.

I packed up at 16:00 and said my good byes before heading home.

All in all a pleasant day, just a shame the pike did not show up. I think I 'll give the lakes a crack in the summer for the other species of fish.

See the pikelines write up here PAC Bluebell Event

Tightlines

Its Raining Cat & Dogs, but its Nice Weather for Ducks

Saturday was yet again fishing time, but with the forecast of heavy rain, I was hoping that at least it would hold off for me to get to the water and set up for a days pike fishing.

The alarm went off at 05:30 and it was the usual thoughts for 15 minutes before I got up, showered, dress and headed down stairs to feed the matrix cats and get the gear ready.
I was out of the house by 06:30, but was somewhat delayed due to having two hitchhikers on the back seat. Buster and Spike, whom had been let out for their daily antic's, but had decided that a days fishing would be a great adventure. After 10 minutes of chasing them in,out and back in the car, I rattled the cat treats and lured them back into the house in order for me to make a hasty get away.

I arrived at the water by 7ish and as I was putting on the bib n braces, one of the other local angler drove into the car park. We exchange pleasantries and discussed where we were going and both set off on our way.

I had decided to fish a large bay, hoping that the maybe some of the big females had started to follow the jacks into the bays for spawning.

By 07:30 all rod were baited up and cast out around the bay at different ranges. Usual baits were on two rods, but a golden oldie was on the third, a sprat. Now sprats aren't a bait that I have used for many years. Usually they are bought to be crushed up for prebait or to fill up the baitbombs with. But as I had a number of large ones, I decided that I would give them a go again.

By 08:00 the rain had set in and i quickly setup the brolly and pulled the rucksack and other bits underneath it. I must admit, I don't like fishing under a brolly as it takes the edge off a days fishing and means that I tend to sit under it and vegetate. But today would be different as i had picked up the wind up radio from the utility room on my way out.

So radio was charged up and turned on to a local radio station and the boredom book came out. The boredom book as I call it is a book that i pack at the beginning of the season, but knowingly does not comes out very often due to fishing with others and or catching fish, but because I was tucked up under the brolly, it seemed appropriate that it should come out to accompany the radio.

By 09:30, the baits hah, had a good soaking and recasts were in order, but on the bluey rod I decided that I would add a bait bomb with home made filling.

Baitbomb with homebait attractor

After the third rod had been recast, I hear a snaffling sound behind me, i turned around to find some type of dog with it nose in the cooler box. The owners were no were to be seen, so El dog O was ejected nicely from the cooler box and off he ran up to the top path.

As nothing much was happening on any the rods by 11:30,  I decided that I should present one of the bait higher up in the water. So one of the ledger rigs was reeled in and as I was re rigging it as a roving float, the enhanced bluey tail was off on a run. I got over to the rod and tighten up and struck. Solid resistance was felt and I was into a fish, but just as my thoughts were of what sort of size it was, it was off and i reeled in the rig to find a nicely mangled bluey tail.

Somehow the pike had picked up the bait, whilst missing the two trebles, run off with it and then ejected it once i had tighten up. Oh well, ho hum.

Midday came and it was again time to recast and rebait. The sprat had remained untouched so was replaced with a smelt and the mackerel was re juiced and send back out.

Lunch was consumed and snack bar shared with the ducks and I laid back in the chair and my mind started to drift onto the end of the pike season and the start of the bream/tench season in April.

Know I love my winter pike fishing, but this winter has been so cold at times, I really haven't wanted to go out. Instead i wanted to be under the warmth of the spring sun fishing for big bream and tench. I'm also think that on one of the waters I fish, they have some big Roach and Rudd. So I hoping to get some of them too.

Anyhow, back to the rainy pike session.

My thoughts are disturbed by a swirl to my right and a pike has caused a commotion on the surface within ten feet of the bank. The roving smelt, is quickly reeled in and cast underhand to the location of the swirl. For ten minutes its retrieved and cast out in the general area, but nothing take it.

The afternoon is soon upon me and the rainy is still lashing down. I starting to feel abit bedraggled and my thought are of packing up and head home in time for the Man U game. No I not a Man U fan, but the wife is, so i wanted to be home so that I could watch it with her and spend some quality time with the missus.

A wet net, but only due to the rain

15:30 comes and I pack up and walk (slipping/sliding) back to the car. The wet gear is load into the boot of the car and I'm away.

Not the best of days in terms of fish, but sometimes it is nice just to be out.

Next weekend is my long awaited trip to Bluebell Lake,  Peterborough with the PAC, so I have that to look forward to, whilst I get through a week of work.

Tightlines

Busy Weekend

Its that time of year when the PAC Convetion 2010 is upon us. Its on Saturday 25 September 2010 at the Kettering Conference Centre, door Open at 9:00am all welcome, use the link for details.

Sadly, I won't be there as I will be on a boat fishing for the first pike of the season, but told tell the pike police.

There is lots to do, see and hear from some of the top predator anglers in the country, including Eric Edwards,Mark Ackerley, Julian Chidgey & Gary Knowles.

There will be stalls galore including new and 2nd hand equipment all geared to get you ready into a hopefully sucessful season of piking.

There also the PAC Mega Raffle...oh, I hear you cry....

Ticket prices are as follows:-

Adult Member - £10
Adult Non-member - £15
Parking per car - FREE!

Junior Concessions.

Non-members joining on the day get a £5 discount off of PAC membership, if offer is taken up on the day.

Get yourself along and support PAC, they are one of the few bodies that can keep us an future generation piking.

TL.....