Catch fish with Mike Ladle.

Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

"HOME."

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 November 2006.

Pike time.

The mild spell following the recent cold snap suggested that it might be an ideal time to try a spot of piking. My first attempt was only an hour in duration. I went to the river to try spinning with a view to seeing whether I could locate any decent pike. Using my bass spinning gear (Spinning rod and Stradic 4000) I started off with a long, eel-like rubber lure and switched, in mid-session, to a spoon. Both were equally effective and I landed seven pike from a range of places but all were small (3-8lb). The fish generally attacked either lure ferociously as it passed them for the first time so it was obvious that they were well 'on the feed'.

A couple of days later I was joined by my son Richard, desperate for a chance to do some fishing after a long lay off and because of my success we opted to try piking again, this time with float-fished baits. We shared a rod (it was my 1-3oz 'Surebass' which proved to be excellent for the purpose, so much so that Rich suggested that we rechristen it the 'Surepike') and on the first drop it was obvious that my previous success had been no fluke. Within a minute or so away went the float (=cork) and we were into a fish. It was not a big pike but it was fat, in good condition and put up a spirited battle. Shortly afterwards we had one a bit bigger which caused no end of a problem by plunging into a mass of weeds and brambles but was eventualy landed.

This was the first time Rich had seen circle hooks used for piking and he was very impressed at both the security of hookhold and the subsequent ease of unhooking. We decided to have another go the next day on a different stretch of river and I'll talk about that next time.

Spooned

Small but beautifully marked.  One of my spun pike..

Banked.

The fish slides into the margin ready for unhooking.

Better pike.

Still not large but a decent fish on the spoon.

Patience.

Rich works his float fished bait into a likely spot.

It's on!

Within a minute or two a pike takes the bait and is hooked.

Crash,splash!.

The second pike plunges away in a bid for freedom.

Nice fish.

Rich is well pleased with his catch and ready for another session next morning.