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I found an amazing stalking spot under a large tree on my mates side of the swim at Parco, completely overgrown and un-fished. I climbed up and could see a good depth of water and no branches under the water and more trees to the right, the depth in the edge right under me was 6-8 foot, dropping down to a shelf of prob 10-12, then the abyss. With a little bit of work it was more than fishable, I excitedly climbed down and told him to come and see. My mate spent the rest of the trip up that tree watching monsters feeding inches from the bank at times, smashing 20k of feed between a small number of fish each day, just as the light started to fade. When he could see well enough to select a fish he lowered freelined corn onto its nose - can you imagine, fish to high 60's, it freezes, the lips move, the bait vanishes, the gills flare and WHAM set the hook and hang on for dear life! 10 hours standing on a branch watching, no food, drenched to the skin and just 10 mins fishing each day saw him catch some stonkers in the best way possible IMO - selective stalking, and freelining - it doesn't get any better. What scenes, experiences that will stay with us forever, sheer magic!

I fish my Syndicate lake for Pike every winter but I like using plugs , great fun but most are jacks around the 2 to 6 lb bracket ,doubles are few and far between and my biggest is 18:15 from their caught some years ago. Great fun on a Drop Shot rod , Low double .

As my current water is not particularly carp friendly, I've been exploring its pike potential with a few trips this year. Over 4 trips a mate and I have had some good fish, pike from 2 to 21lbs, normally a couple each trip, although we did manage a blank between us each day. The mate in question is the friend who managed to catch the twenty I lost last year, really into his fishing now, and enjoying it. Our first pike trip produced 3 to me, and Colin saved a blank with the small jack last knockings. My fish were two around 6lb, and a scrappy 16 with a missing pec. The next trip, Colin managed another couple of jacks, and again I had 3, topped with a 17. The 17 was a bit of a nightmare, not the fish, but the idiot dog walker who as I was unhooking it, got so close to the rod tip, moved it away from his face, and pulled the treble under my nail, more problems unhooking me than the pike. Unfortunately we both blanked next trip, but hey ho. A week later we were back at the venue, after a couple of casts I cast a whole joey mackeral, and within minutes, a finicky take with just a few bleeps and a nodding rod tip, no line pulled out the clip I hit into this beauty at 21lb The smile is very real, only my second ever pike over 20, worthy of a new PB at 21. Chuffed

I’d just like to take the time to thank you lads, it’s a tiny little percentage of the internet this forum but just what I needed... I may not have the bottle to post to much on here but love reading the stuff you lads post... 👍

Your one of the best mate, the amount of knowledge you give away on here is great. Keeps this place going. We all know how secretive this carp game can be 😂👍

You've got some good rose tints on there. Who fishes tiny ponds for wildies now, these places don't exist, typical carping is now sizeable gravel pits, possibly distance fishing, margins that are probably not suitable for close work under the tips. Are you going to watch the line all night? The opportunities to float fish and freeline are so limited on typical big fish waters that I've only stalked in the edge on one water out of my last six or more and I am a mobile, roving, stalking angler at heart and would choose that style first and foremost over anything else. I'd summarise to say that the opportunities have gone not the skill set. Old kit - don't even go there

You seem to have developed a speech impediment buddy. I didn't say you need a heavy lead to get a bite. I said "with no lead to pull the hook home and no tension on the clutch to do the same, 30 yards out, you were lucky to hook it". And how would you know when to strike with no float and no lead to pull the hook home? He wasn't float fishing. He was free-lining. Floats have nothing to do with this. They are legends so I wont hear a bad word said against them. But you have to bear in mind these are the guys that spent 25 years fishing a 3 acre lake with 100 carp in it and struggled to catch 1 fish some years. They were learning as they went along. Pioneering. They used par boiled potatoes too but I wouldn't recommend them either. I can guarantee you that the younger of the guys mentioned (Rod, Yates etc) did not free-line at 30 yards in their later years.

Just a bit mate he was blown away, pulling the bait away from 50s WTF but you know I'm totally calm to have around doing pics etc lol 🤣 We were both blown away - get the saddle out!

I have some for that very reason buddy😅

I’ve used a few over the years. Plum has been reliable too-usually as a topper/snowman with fishmeals. The only one I failed with is the Nutty Maple. Oh and the Black Beauties were great on a water where foam zigs were banned😉

Free-lining is great for stalking, when you can physically see the fish take the bait. But, with no lead to pull the hook home and no tension on the clutch to do the same, 30 yards out, you were lucky to hook it imo buddy.

Well it is pike time again, so its resurrect an old thread This mornings view and the result of a day's pike fishing. 15lb (and a bit) last gasp fish came as the sun set and took a headless joey mackeral on the pike float.

I feel for you mate. From my late teens til well into my 30's I suffered from severe anxiety. I still get it now but I'm in control of it much better now. It stopped me doing untold things in the past but with the help from counselling, amazing family and friends I've all but conquered it. On Wednesday my dad passed away after a long battle with cancer, years ago this would have had me going into complete meltdown and having all kinds of negative thoughts and dare I say doing some stupid things. But through the counselling its taught me so much about coping strategies etc .I was holding my dads hand as he passed, something that would have been impossible in the past. My mum said I've been her rock throughout my dads illness but especially in my dads last weeks, days. Hope you conquer whatever you're dealing with.