And We're Off!

Farnham AS, Mill Lane Lake

10:00-17:30 / 1-2 Rods / 9 Rod Hours / Blanked

The start of a new Pike season and after a break of a staggering four years I couldn't wait to get out, even if it was 20c and a touch too warm for my liking.

Given that gap in time it was planned as more of a 'getting my hand back in' session than anything else, although with my cousin's husband Paul out with me I was hoping to give him a hand, pass on a few tips and hopefully see him catch. As it was he did far better than I did, three fish, the first at 4lb 2oz within 45mins of starting and two more later in the day around 2-3pm at c. 2lb & 1 1/2 lb!

Fishing wise my plan was to rove with one rod twitching Sprats/Sardines and then have an hour or two's break with a dead bait rod out, as always things didn't quite go to plan but it was a great day out nonetheless and we had a few good laughs along the way too.

Following the Farnham AS Pike Teach In we'd attended I'd decided to ditch the old 7 strand trace wire I had and in future use the 49 strand that the instructor had recommended, it's far more supple and less prone to kinking apparently. So for the roving set up it was the lure rod, Korum 4000 loaded with 27lb Power Pro Braid (more on that later), home made 24" crimped trace with one treble/one single hook or two trebles, depending on the bait size, with a dab of lead putty added for extra casting weight.

I did take a break and put a dead bait out for a couple of hours early in the afternoon, Sardine to start with and then a Herring but not so much as a touch, if they're not 'avin it, they're not 'avin it I suppose?

More on that braid. At the Teach In we'd been told nothing less than 50lb for braid and 20lb for mono, the reason being that when fishing with lures particularly, although logic tells me the same applies to any moving bait real or otherwise, if you get snagged up using 50lb braid the odds are that with a decent pull it'll come free, even if it does mean the hooks straightening out. As it was I genuinely believed that what I was using was actually rated at 60lb and it wasn't until I got home and checked the packaging that I realised it was a lot less.

I've since ordered up a 300m spool of Berkley Whiplash 8 at 50lb and with, believe it or not, a diameter of just 0.18mm?! It's not cheap but it keeps me the right side of the law, which is all about fish welfare after all and as thin as it is will enable me to search out a lot more water in future.... a classic Win-Win in my book.

So, first day out in years and all's good in the world, roll on the next time!

2018/19 League Table

1. Paul - 3
2. Kev - 0
3. Me - 0