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).

01 March 2009.

Mixed pike.

All my pals seemed to want to go piking on the River last weekend (it's the mild weather I suppose). As it turned out not everyone went but it was still pretty crowded. There were half-a-dozen pike anglers on the stretch that I'd chosen to fish and that's about five more than usual. We're all friends so it's not too much of a problem but even though the river was falling back the number of 'pikey' places was limited.

Certainly the fishing was not hectic but all in all I think that we hooked (or failed to hook) about a dozen pike between us. The best was almost 9kg (I didn't see that one) and I landed one getting on for 7kg. Most of the others were five or less. Perhaps the most exciting action was when Steve Pitts and I hooked fish in the same pool simultaneously and Steve said that two pike had attacked his bait at the same time.

We gave each spot a fair try and, as you might expect, some produced but most didn't. Anyway, the weather was good and an enjoyable time was had by all concerned so, following the snow, ice and floods of recent weeks I suppose we shouldn't complain.

Steve and Ben.

Steve's in!

One of Ben's pike.

Try another spot!

Nice fish.