Saturday 10 December 2011

Penton Hook VII

Dan and Darren are both away this weekend so the planned trip to Penton Hook was postponed until next weekend... But with the threat of a big freeze looming, and just enough bait in my freezer I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to head there on my own.

Tackle was stripped down to the bare minimum; one rod, net, unhooking gear, a few ledgers and traces. Bait was leftovers; a choice of sprats, sardines or little roach.


After a far more leisurely bike ride than when I'm trying to keep up with Dan & Darren's ultra light bikes with working gears, I arrived at the island at 9.20am and was fishing ten minutes later.

There was a good frost last night and it was still pretty cold, even so I opted to fish the shallow fast water where we've found pike before. I was soon rewarded with a run on ledgered sardine and a 8lb 5oz pike.


Fortunately a friendly passer by took a photo for me. 'Move the fish back, I can't get it all in.' That's NOT how fishermen do it!

I recast and fished for about another hour without a touch, so I decided to explore some nearby swims. But they weren't playing in the shallow water...

I went in search of some deeper water and found a couple of nice holes off the main current, but the pike weren't playing here either. I've made a mental note of where they are, I'm sure they will produce fish later in the season.

I'm not sure if the bait fish have moved or the pike just weren't feeding today. I ended up with the one run for one fish, still a fish banked is always a good trip!

I left the island just after 3pm, I didn't want to - but a broken bike light meant I had to leave before dark. Hopefully the three of us will fit another trip in before Christmas... Next week, fingers crossed!


So after seven trips my Penton Hook scorecard looks like this:
Total
1
0
3
0
6
4
1
-
-
-
15
Doubles
0
0
0
0
2
3
0
-
-
-
5
Twenties
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-
-
-
0
Total weight: 123lb 1oz, Biggest: 17lb 12oz

Edit: I've just noticed this is a recapture, it's the one that bit me two weeks ago! Nine ounces heavier this time, perhaps they have been feeding like mad for 2 weeks which would explain why they aren't hungry today. Or I could have messed up weighing it - does look fatter in the photo though.

9 comments:

  1. Nice Pike Brian and glad to see that I'm not the only one insane enough to be fishing in these freezing tempratures...Managed a 3lb 7oz chub in Morden after dark this evening, on good old breadflake.

    S

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  2. Lovely looking Pike Brian,well in chap.

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  3. Well done Brian, The score card is looking healthy already,
    Looking forward to seeing you with your first 20+ of the season,
    Good luck,
    ,,,Paddy,,,

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  4. Cheers guys. As for insane, count me in!

    A Thames 20 would be great, but it's only my first proper season there - but the way my luck is running at the moment you never know...

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  5. Well done on getting the fish. Even better getting someone to take a pic for you! Every time I try that they look at me as if I'm a wildman or something!
    Stu

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  6. The funniest one was when I caught a PB carp at Tooting, it was really early in the morning and there was no-one about except a dodgy looking bloke lottering about wearing makeup. I asked him if he'd mind taking a photo, he said 'ooh, I've had some strange requests round this pond, but that's new'. Got the photo though!

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  7. gkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkl,



    (Comment added by my cat, while I was making a cup of tea)

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  8. Nice fish, your pike count already looks healthier than last season!

    I have no problem getting people to take pictures for me if there is someone around. What gets old is the ten minute conversation afterwards about what part of England I'm from, how I got here.......etc When all I really want to do is get another bait back in the water quick while the fish are feeding!!

    Paulos

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  9. Ah, some strange folk in Tooting! lol. Agree as well, prob do the same myself at times (chatting), when like you say all you want to do is get your bait back in the water.

    Stu

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