Saturday 12 March 2022

Pike Quest

My season has been very light on pike - so I thought I'd join James on his three day southern river barbel quest - he was keen to add another barbel to his 40 rivers challenge - I'd be targeting pike...

Day 1: An early start and we headed to The Stour. I'll leave James' trip to his blog. I wandered about with a deadbait and the lure gear - and soon hit a jack on a plug - not a monster but a great start...

The afternoon was cold and windy - I added another jack - before a big pike swirled at the lure, upper double, perhaps even a twenty - but I couldn't tempt her on deadbaits or a lure...

Day 2: After a very cold night on the riverbank, I went back to find the big pike. No luck - moved? Wasn't feeding? - I did land jack number three - but it was time to move on...

A faster paced section of The Stour - so I abandoned the pike and rolled meat. A few knocks in the fast water before I connected with a hard fighting 5lb 8oz chub - my best of the season...

Day 3: Arriving at The Itchen before midnight I tried to find a roach (I don't fish at night but this was my best chance). No roach but 6 bream to about 5lb before sunrise - and some early season butterflies...

It got brighter and the fish disappeared - final river - The Bourne on the way home. No pike but a few small roach and perch in the sunshine was a nice end to the trip (and season). Cheers James.



Three days made me realise just how difficult James' 40 rivers, 40 doubles Barbel Quest is going to be. If you missed it - double number 12 of 40 is here. Edit: and number 13 is here!

8 comments:

  1. Sounds like a lovely trip, hard work but fine rewards

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    1. Would have been nice to land or at least hook that big pike - but yeah, ended the season on a high!

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  2. Great session, good end to the season.

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    1. Nice 3 day session to end the season - left it very late to bag a 5+ chub - but a beauty.

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  3. That Chub (5.8) that you had was the highlight of the trip, it is so tough out there, but putting myself in the right places and locating fish, I will invariably catch them, time and time is all I need! Well done on the Pike too, nice to see some rod bending going on!

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    1. Tough going all round. Best chub of the season, hard earned! Yeah, time and location and it’ll all come good...

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  4. Nice one Brian, got to be pleased with that chub

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    1. Oh yes, was convinced it was a barbel for the first 20-30 seconds if fought so hard!

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