Tuesday 22 March 2016

Predator Challenge 2015/16


The 300lb Predator Challenge: I have limited time and have to travel to find pike (and the floods are often a pain) so I added other predators to the mix this season. Having failed the previous two challenges I thought some evenings on Bury Hill chasing zeds would push me towards the target and I also hoped to find a pond close by stuffed with fat little perch.

The Barbel Challenge didn't interfere with this one as I only targeted barbel when I didn't have enough time to travel further afield in search of predators.


It didn't go exactly as planned, most of the perch came from The Wye in summer, and I got completely obsessed with zander towards the end of the year - they provided a big chunk of the target weight and a cracking new personal best of 9lb 1oz.

It did keep me searching for pike, no monsters but 3 doubles (2 from new venues) was great. It was a shame The Wye was out of condition for most of the pike season - I had hoped to spend some long weekends fishing it this winter.

But I did achieve 300lb, I kept at it (which was the point of the challenge) and a bunch of chalk stream jacks dragging me over the target - it would have been nice to get into the bigger fish - but I love catching pike no matter what size they are.

Perch1620lb 4oz
Pike23 (3)116lb 2oz
Zander41173lb 0oz
Total80309lb 6oz

Research: Over the closed season I'm going to find some new pike venues for next season, I need to find lakes and canals to beat the winter floods, and I'm sure some new rivers are waiting to be discovered...

5 comments:

  1. you could do worse than the thames around teddington for post xmas stripeys.also throws up zander and bass(not sure if you'd count them?) any ideas on tench fishing near a tube station?.bury hill is too far to travel on public transport from east london.

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    1. Cheers, haven't had much luck with Thames perch - need to give it more of a bash next season. I have to do some more research on local tench, the only place I've fished for them is Marsh Farm but they only get to about 6lb - and I'm after a bigger one :)

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  2. i'd like to beat 3-12-0.it's my one v.low p.b.! there's even a boat that goes out at teddington lock from the anglers pub,for those out of reach spots!

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    1. My best (weighed) one is only 2lb 4oz - really need to do something about that next season. Is the boat Fling Your Hook? Have you been out on it?

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    2. Have heard of some big fish there though, a mate has had a five and I've reliable reports of two high fours. Really got to chuck a spinner about down there in the new season...

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