First of the season.

[salokcinnodrog]

I finally managed my first pike of this season yesterday.

I've really struggled with getting up early so camped out Tuesday night by the lake under the umbrella. After coffee yesterday morning I got the rods out and within an hour had the 15lb pike on float fished dead roach.

 

A while later I had a pick up on ledgered mackeral, which was dropped, a recast and a little later I managed an 11lb pike, as I netted it, the hooks fell out.

I also had 3 more dropped takes on mackeral, which leads me to believe that mackeral has been hammered as a bait.

 

[Carpbell3]

That is a nice one I like lure fishing for perch but you get more Jack's and small zander than anything else  canals are packed with zander near me all mini fish and chips size.

[salokcinnodrog]

The first swim this morning from 7am until 12.30, not a touch.

Had to move, and it immediately paid off. Both on the same rod, first before I had even cast the second rod. 

First one was 11lb, unhooked, weighed and returned it, bait was still in good nick, so I cast the second rod, got the first one back in, and almost instantly had the second pike at 10lb and ounces, both on the same whiting deadbait.

 

And number 3, long and lean at 14lb on a dead coarse fish.

I'm slightly miffed, I  broke my chair, but still have a seat in the emergency boat.

I should mention that I have a glove on my left hand. At the end of 2023 I got a severe case of blood poisoning leading to abscesses in my throat. Pike rash was a possible cause, so to avoid it I try to remember to wear a glove. They have rubberised palms and are soft leather, they were my American football receivers gloves. 

For the 3rd fish, the fish opened its mouth itself, and a quick twist with forceps the hooks fell out.

[jules007]

Nice fish mate well done

[salokcinnodrog]

On 01/03/2025 at 06:39, jules007 said:

Nice fish mate well done

Looks like my pike fishing season has ended, they have started spawning and pike don't need the extra stress as they simply can't handle it.

So back onto carp.

[jules007]

Good on you for putting fish welfare 1st mate, some anglers forget the Pike is a bit of a delicate fish in some ways

[salokcinnodrog]

5 hours ago, jules007 said:

Good on you for putting fish welfare 1st mate, some anglers forget the Pike is a bit of a delicate fish in some ways

I often see the males group up in an area just before spawning, with the bigger females moving in a couple of days to a week later. It's when you catch that female, and she is followed in by a male or two you know that they are just about ready to go. 

It's at that point I change species. I don't know if it's worth a couple of roach sessions on the reservoir in the next few weeks before the carp show at Redgr.... as the big known common normally comes out early April at around 42lb from the shallows. A bit of swim clearance coming Friday while other members are otherwise busy.