Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

Information Page

For anyone unfamiliar with the site always check the FRESHWATER, SALTWATER and TACK-TICS pages. The Saltwater page now extends back as a record of over four years of (mostly) sea fishing and may be a useful guide as to when to fish. The Freshwater stuff is also up to date now. I keep adding to both. These pages are effectively my diary and the latest will usually be about fishing in the previous day or two. The Tactics pages which are chiefly 'how I do it' plus a bit of science are also updated regularly and (I think) worth a read (the earlier ones are mostly tackle and 'how to do it' stuff so if you are new to fly fishing or spinning these are the ones for you).

12 August 2008.

Changing lures.

The last time that Richard and I went to the river together was last season. Anyway, after one or two abortive attemps to arrange a trip we finally got together the other morning. We started fishing just before the sun came up in a pool just upstream of the bridge. I tried my bibless lure and Richard a small 'rooster tail' type spinner. After five or ten minutes in which Richard had a pike and two or three perch it became apparent that it was too shallow and weedy for my lure, so I changed to a J11F Rapala.

After two or three casts I had a pike and then a nice perch. Good change of lures Mike! After a few more casts we drove on to fish further downstream. This time the water was deeper and although Richard was still catching my shallow diver was again biteless. Anyway, unlike me (I generally stick to my lures through thick and thin) I switched again, this time to a pike spoon. Sure enough it was the right thing to do and I had several pike (none very large) before we packed in. Neither of us managed a chub or a trout, but it was abeautiful morning and we agreed that we should have another go soon.

As it turned out my pictures from the session were distinctly 'crap' due to the poor light early on and my shaky hands, Richard's were better. I must take more care.

It's on.

A pike.

My perch.

Another perch.