Pit Stop

A couple of rekkies to The Severn, wading about in mud - no pike yet - but I've found a few areas that need further investigation. So far I've just fished lures but I think I'll do a few bait 'n' wait sessions. Looking forward to getting back on there (plus a few other sections lined up).

On route home I've stopped off at the abandoned match pond to chuck a lure about. Four more mini-jacks, was starting to think that was all there was - but a bigger pike swirled at my lure - a potential double? That, plus some nice sized perch spotted will see me coming back...

New Year, New Venues

New year. New venues. New pike? First up was an abandoned match pond - heard rumours of pike (there's always rumours), and seen photos of a couple of nice zander, so I spent an afternoon working my way around with a deadbait rod & a little lure outfit.

A few bumps and takes around the dilapidated fishing platforms (you wouldn't want to step on these), and three jacks found the net. Don't know if it holds a double - but definitely worth further exploration. Might even find a zed?! Happy new year.

Jaws: The Revenge

Beautiful frosty morning, the kind of morning that makes you glad you're mad enough to go out in it & back to pit two. A few hours later without a touch, I thought I'd have a chuck in pit one - what's the worse that could happen? Unlikely to catch that same pretty pike again...


Yup. She was as happy to see me as I was to see her! A run is always exciting - but I'd rather catch a new jack than recapture a double! So even though I'm sure there are many more pike here, and I know there's a bigger one - that's the last trip to The Pits this season.


Have a ticket for a new river & pond starting tomorrow anyway...

(Non) Frozen VIII

The traditional Xmas fish-off saw me, Steve and Dyl head back to Kingfisher Pond. And to cut a long story short; great company, lovely looking pond, fantastic breakfast - but the fishing was tough! The fish just didn't want to play - I think everyone* blanked!


*Everyone that is except Steve. He was on top form, while me & Dyl (and everyone else fishing) couldn't buy a take - he was on a flier! Steve banked seven rainbow trout! Sometimes everything goes your way - well done mate, superb fishing. Rematch soon? All fish returned alive.

Pit Two

Exploring another gravel pit (and pond), in fact I'd put about 10 or 12 hours in already - without a run, take or follow. But I had it on good authority that there are pike there.

Using two bait rods I fished leapfrog style right around the pit - and just as I'd convinced myself there were no pike - I had a run. A little jack proved me wrong - that'll keep me coming back...

Double Dilemma

The Wye: It was tough going on The Wye, but eventually I convinced a pike to hit my lure - beat, I steered it out of the fast water into a bay - then slipped down the bank trying to net it! Not only did she shake the hook, but probably had a good laugh as she swam away!

The Pits: A run on The Pits, turned out to be the pretty pike from a couple of days ago. Out of interest I weighed her again - 1oz heavier today - doesn't look like getting caught put her off her food. But I really don't like recaptures - which leads to the dilemma...

I have spotted the pike I'm after in this area on a couple of occassions before. So there is an upper-double to be caught - but I don't want too many recaptures on route. I'll leave it for a while - but I will be back. There is another pit, pond & the river in the meantime.

Oh and, Merry Christmas bloggers!

Show Pike

It was a long drive followed by a long walk for just one run - but when the pike look like this - who cares? A 12lb 1oz Xmas beauty!

Season totals: 20/50 pike caught, 7/10 doubles (so far).

Searching

The pits are quite vast, and as they only occasionally see an angler - information is pretty scarce. Time for a bit of exploring! I chucked out a deadbait, then lure fished around it for 20 minutes before moving on and repeating the process - covering as much water as I could.


Eventually I found a couple of jacks. Always fantastic to see a pike on the bank - but perhaps more importantly I've found another shoal of baitfish - and who knows what else is watching them? Plus added my first recapture - the only non-mint-condition pike I've seen there.

Lucky 13

The Wye is back in it's banks - but still too high really - so to The Pits. And pike grabbed my still frozen sardine, first cast, as it hit the water, great fight on the light rod and a new venue best - 13lb 3oz


An hour or so later a second run produced a 13lb 1oz pike (quite different shape to the first). And a jack on a lure rounded out the action. It's lovely fishing in dry conditions - would recommend.

Escape To The Pits

With the rivers flooding into the fields I headed to The Pits to chase my pike fishing fix. Horrible weather, but you can't catch 'em at home!

Six runs, one take on the lure and only one pike landed - a lot to work out - but a pike on the bank is always a great result in my book!