2nd PB Pike in 4 days

Saturday morning we all met early at the lake. After my success of fishing on the wall, my mates Justin and Wilks, decided that it was their turn to fish there and so I opted for a position just to the right in a shallow bay – still close to the wall.

Dam wall to the left

Setting up I noticed that both of my mates were casting out well away from the wall where I had caught the pike just days before. I flicked out the dead smelt out on running rigs just a few feet from the back where there were some dying reeds and lilies. Once all the rods were out I got the shelter up and kettle on. The temperature was down to 0 degrees and there was even some ice from the night before on the water. I didn’t expect anything quickly and was just warming my hands on the hot tea cup when my left hand rod let out a flurry of beeps. Jumping up I struck into thin air! A little gutted that I had not waited and missed a bite so quickly but got the rod back out on the spot to see if the fish was still there.

 

The morning passed and I had noticed a few pike striking at the other side of the lake. I was contemplating a move when Justin came over and said he was going to have a little move round my side and fish next to me. Brilliant, I will now be able to jump into his swim and fish the other side where I has seen the pike striking – he obviously had not been watching the water otherwise he would be staying put! Upping camp was hard going as the winds decided to pick up and the heavens opened as well! Typical..... but should be worth it!  

Nigel who had gone a little further down the lake shouts over that he has a monster in his net. Justin wonders over and reports that it was 24lb on the nose. Another monster pike and caught once again from a rod length out on the old faithful smelt.

Small bay where pike love to lie in wait

As the day wore on I was beginning to become a little disheartened and decided to have a little recast and check that the baits were all alright. Flicking back out the first bait I saw a large swell just off a jetty that juts out into the water. This had to be a pike moving that amount of water. Both the other rods were placed either side of the jetty and if that pike was to return then I should get a bite! AND nothing!!!

Another 2 hrs passed and I hadn’t had a beep.

Neither had my mates but that was beside the point. I was there to catch another big pike.

Talking to some walkers about the conditions of this terrible weather we were having I noticed that my line was moving in the water but not registering on the alarm. I ran down and hit this early and had a healthy bend in the rod. A short but powerful run ended as soon as it begun and the fight lasted no more than 2 minutes before another pike was in the net. And what a pike it was.

Wilks said it was the biggest one he had ever seen and I have to say I think it was a new PB too.  Striking early helped as the pike must have been sitting there swallowing the bait, the hooks were already quite far down the throat, but came out easily enough with long nose pliers.

24lb 12oz - Notice the Jetty behind

Dropping the scales at 24lb 12oz was a new PB and my second 20+ pike in 4 days of fishing!

Making sure that I was always watching the water and ready for a move even in the worst conditions paid off and was delighted with a new PB.

Tight lines and be lucky!