Friday, 31 May 2013
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Record London Pike
I remember looking for this photo a few years ago, presuming that all photos eventually end up on the interweb, but couldn't find it.
Having re-read the account of her capture in Blood Knots by Luke Jennings I had another bash at finding the photo - and it was the author himself who had uploaded it.
The pike was caught in 1994, from Thamesmead by René Berg. And bottomed-out a 40lb set of scales, the pike has since been estimated to weigh 42-45lb, and is the largest pike caught in London - that I can find an account of anyway. I'm glad I have finally seen the photo.
More details of the angler and capture are here.
Friday, 24 May 2013
Monday, 20 May 2013
The Long Month
Two months down, one to go - the long one... The first three weeks of the closed season produced arctic weather, and I was secretly glad I couldn't fish - I would have been sat on the riverbank getting cold. But since then I've been counting down the weeks.
I haven't spent as much time peering into local ponds and rivers as in previous years, but work and weather have been against me, 28 days to go...
Reading Stuff
I have read a quite few fishing books over the past couple of months, mostly while sat on trains and the tube, and here are three recommendations;
The Old Man And The Sea - Hemingway, I read this to stop people saying 'I can't believe you haven't read The Old Man And The Sea' but it was great, an entire book on an epic battle with a monster fish. Tension only a fisherman knows and beautifully written.
Blood Knots - Luke Jennings, brilliantly written memoir chronicles the path of a fisherman from small boy, learning to fish from library books, through a series of teachers & events, and his continuing journey of discovery. In fact this is the second time I've read it, and probably not the last.
50 Fish To Catch In Your Lifetime - John Bailey, this book appealed to my setting targets and going for it. As well as an overview of each fish there is a diary entry the day one was caught. You'd probably need to win the lottery to attempt to catch them all - I've only caught 19... So far...
The Dangers Of Success
Stick Cricket SPL got to number 1 in the Apps List, not just the games list, the whole thing - which is great - take that Angry Birds!
Normal procedure after a game launch is a few beers and we drift off and do our own things for a few months, for me that's designing DVD sleeves, writing comic strips and most importantly fishing.
Not this time. Less than a month after the release a bigger team has been assembled and I find myself working on two more games - and neither one is a fishing game...
Trout, Tench & Weather
Spring is taking its time overpowering the harsh winter, there is the odd nice day or sometimes a few nice days but winter isn't going without a fight - I've zipped the lining back in my coat - roll on summer - please.
I've been out a couple of times chucking a fly at a trout, one blank and one fish, but I'm really waiting for a warm still day when the trout decide to rise and I stand a chance of picking one up on a dry fly. Trout fishing doesn't end when the course season starts so I'm just going to have to be patient.
And I think patience is also going to be the case for tench fishing, although Darren and I are hoping to fit a session in before the season opens (tench don't breed until summer so I've no problem fishing for them). We are both waiting for a run of warm weather but I'm thinking of just picking a day and going for it...
I haven't spent as much time peering into local ponds and rivers as in previous years, but work and weather have been against me, 28 days to go...
Reading Stuff
I have read a quite few fishing books over the past couple of months, mostly while sat on trains and the tube, and here are three recommendations;
The Old Man And The Sea - Hemingway, I read this to stop people saying 'I can't believe you haven't read The Old Man And The Sea' but it was great, an entire book on an epic battle with a monster fish. Tension only a fisherman knows and beautifully written.
Blood Knots - Luke Jennings, brilliantly written memoir chronicles the path of a fisherman from small boy, learning to fish from library books, through a series of teachers & events, and his continuing journey of discovery. In fact this is the second time I've read it, and probably not the last.
50 Fish To Catch In Your Lifetime - John Bailey, this book appealed to my setting targets and going for it. As well as an overview of each fish there is a diary entry the day one was caught. You'd probably need to win the lottery to attempt to catch them all - I've only caught 19... So far...
The Dangers Of Success
Stick Cricket SPL got to number 1 in the Apps List, not just the games list, the whole thing - which is great - take that Angry Birds!
Normal procedure after a game launch is a few beers and we drift off and do our own things for a few months, for me that's designing DVD sleeves, writing comic strips and most importantly fishing.
Not this time. Less than a month after the release a bigger team has been assembled and I find myself working on two more games - and neither one is a fishing game...
Trout, Tench & Weather
Spring is taking its time overpowering the harsh winter, there is the odd nice day or sometimes a few nice days but winter isn't going without a fight - I've zipped the lining back in my coat - roll on summer - please.
I've been out a couple of times chucking a fly at a trout, one blank and one fish, but I'm really waiting for a warm still day when the trout decide to rise and I stand a chance of picking one up on a dry fly. Trout fishing doesn't end when the course season starts so I'm just going to have to be patient.
And I think patience is also going to be the case for tench fishing, although Darren and I are hoping to fit a session in before the season opens (tench don't breed until summer so I've no problem fishing for them). We are both waiting for a run of warm weather but I'm thinking of just picking a day and going for it...
Friday, 17 May 2013
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Technical Carp
I had planned on a few hours fly fishing today but strong winds rippling the surface was going to make spotting the trout difficult, not to mention casting, so I jumped on the train and joined Darren for a spot of carp fishing. I wasn't fishing today, I was just the silent observer.
Darren kicked off his carp campaign a couple of weeks ago and has so far landed four twenties to 26lb and a string of doubles (13lber pictured), and has his eye on a thirty.
Great fishing, but was what was even better for me was seeing some of the technical rigs and gadgets first hand. I'm more of a sweetcorn, bread, running ledger and waggler fisherman when it comes to carp - but there is definitely some stuff to explore here.
I'm still not 100% sure about course fishing in the closed season, even on a lake, but I might take my kit next time... Even if it's just an excuse to chuck the spod about!
Friday, 10 May 2013
Friday, 3 May 2013
Wild Brown Trout
It's half-way through the closed season and a beautiful sunny afternoon, I didn't need any more of an excuse to go and chuck a fly about for a bit! In all honesty I did more exploring, fish spotting and bird watching than fluff chucking but it was great to be out.
I did spot a couple of trout to cast a fly at; the first one ignored me, despite floating a few different flies past him. The second one took, jumped and spat the fly out all in one spectacular motion. I watched the third follow the fly and suck it in... Fantastic aerial fight on light gear and my fishing fix was in the net.
A new PB of 3lb 10oz, but that didn't seem important, an absolutely beautiful brown trout - the photo isn't great but I wanted to get her back as quickly as possible. Right then, tench...
