Catch fish with Mike Ladle.

Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

"HOME."

Information Page

01 December 2004.

Pike again.

My pike fishing season has started very well this year. Following the 26 pounder the other week I tried a different stretch of river - again using my big silver spoon. first cast across a shallow slack there was a fierce take and a mighty boil as a good fish grabbed the lure. Typically the pike fought like stink with one powerful run after another. As the fish battled I was trying to get my bag off my back and to extract the camera out of its case using only my left hand. Far from easy. I knew that the fish was a decent size right from the word go but it seemed to be well hooked so I was in no hurry to land it. Eventually I was able to slide the pike ashore onto a mass of weed in the water margin - sixteen pounds - excellent!

Over the next hour I had three more fish came at the spoon - none of them managed to get hold of it but I was not too bothered after having landed the first one. All three were smaller than the one I caught and they simply missed the lure, probably because I was fishing it with a slight sink-and-draw movement. Even though I know that pike usually have another go I did not persist after missing them but tried somewhere else. Anyway, I was well pleased with the session.

A few days later I tried yet another stretch, this time using bait. Again first cast I saw a slight swirl near the float (my old wine-bottle cork) so I knew that there was a fish close by. I persisted in the same spot for about five minutes (a hell of a long time for me) before a long, green shape slid out of the reeds and engulfed the bait in a leisurely fashion. This one took a while to wake up but when it did it shot off upstream into a strong flow before turning back down and rushing past me. I was on a high bank so the net was essential to get this one out - just over twenty pounds - fantastic! Although the pike seemed to be in good condition it had a growth on its mouth and a bit of a tatty tail - I recognised it as one caught by Joe a year ago. I fished on for another hour or so but this time there were no more bites. Funny things pike!

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

Good start!

Having taken the spoon the pike fought well.

....nearer.

Still battling hard.

....tired.

Eventually the fish began to flag.

....landed.

A handy pile of Ranunculus on the bankside made a good landing ramp. - it looks all of its sixteen pounds.

....and a twenty pounder.

A fine fish which had obviously been feeding well despite its poor mouth and tail.