Catch fish with Mike Ladle.

Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

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Information Page

Freshwater Fishing

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 several 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. As you see I also add the odd piece from my friends and correspondents if I've not been doing much. 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).

New gear.

My son Richard and his family have been staying with us for a week. They come all the way from Brazil so we don't see each other as often as we might. Anyway, whenever we have the chance Rich and I go fishing together. Before he arrived Richard had some new fishing gear delivered to my address and one of his first objectives was to try it out. His new reel was a relatively cheap but robust Okuma Trio RC-40 and the line he'd bought for it was 7.5kg Nanofil. The first thing we noticed was the superb line-lay on the reel which suggested that it was ideal for his purpose of spinning and trolling from the kayak when he got home.

Our first trip out was an evening on the River in hopes of a seatrout. However, it was not to be. Richard's new gear behaved impeccably casting the little J9 Rapala huge distances but no fish were forthcoming. Just before we packed in - well into darkness - I had a pike of about 8lb on my J11. It fought in a spirited fashion but that was all we caught. The following morning I was up early and rather than risk waking the baby I borrowed Richards rod and sneaked out to the river. I landed a couple of small pike and finally a nice chub. I can honestly say that I'd never have had the last fish had it not been for the fine braid. I managed to plonk the little, lightweight lure up against some bankside bushes from a distance which was way beyond any of my normal tackle.

We also did some sea fishing this week but that will have to be another story.

If you have any comments or questions about fish, methods, tactics or 'what have you!' get in touch with me by sending an E-MAIL to - docladle@hotmail.com

Dark pike.

The light wasn't very good for my picture..

Small pike.

This was my first fish on Richard's new reel and line.

... and another.

slightly bigger than the first.

Chub.

About four pounds and hooked at extreme range.