Quick flick for Esox

[Swainiac]

After taking down a few tonnes of willow over the Itchen, I was given the oppertunity to fish a stretch that is only given 35 days fishing a year, so took the light spinning rod and a box of small shads along to have a few flicks for some late season Pike.

 

The last few days of dull overcast weather had fish moving from the first cast, an on looker was amazed, (no more than myself), when the first cast directly in front of the fishing lodge produced a fish, nothing huge, but a good indicator for the day.

Three casts every ten paces brought quite a few takes, with four fish topping 11lbs on the bank in the first 22 minutes, not a bad start. Then a small trout for my troubles, unhooked and slipped back to sip a mayfly later this year, and a move across the river to the opposite bank to flick a few casts along the bank I had missed.

 

Five more fish, a tad smaller, biggest going 9lbs, all taken on a tiny tiny stormy Fire Tiger.

 

I then met the River Keeper, and took him along to man the net, as takes were fast and furious. Walking upstream towards Twyford, I managed three more doubles, but no crocodiles showing, so I have arranged to go back later this weekend, and fish the deeper stretches and the junction with the canal, to see if the twenty can be taken.

 

The pressure looks good, as does the forecast, so I'll be back to see about another few hours.

 

Interestingly enough, only one fish came to an upstream cast, which was a poor percentage really, but I'll give it another go this sunday.

 

Rich

[Paul J]

Sounds fun Rich- i thoight you'd forgtton how to fish

 

PJ

[Swainiac]

PJ, if you fancy a day on this one, or a morning/afternoon, you're more than welcome. We have a few windows of oppertunity left before season end, so give me a bell/PM.

 

Rich

[DommyBoy]

Sounds like top sport for a chilli february day mate, well done.....jeallous....not at all mate .

 

Nice one mate.

 

Dom

[Gnasher]

Nice read rich, and well done.

I took the boat out piking up the stour a couple of days ago, and blanked in style but Dom was out a day or two before on the boat and had a nice perch of 2lb.8oz (? can't remember quite what the weight was) that took a shad.

 

[Mike Y]

I had a cracking day on the upper Stour on Friday after roach and chub - a few pike showed up too - seemed to be a good day for them with a bit of clarity in the water.

Glad you got out after the pike Rich - not long before those early bass!

Mike