Forecast in south. From Wednesday minus three at night and only a few degrees during the day. Time for the winter kit to come out.
Likewise in the North. Think I'll do a bit of lure fishing on the river.......
In reply to Post #2
I did just upgrade my sleeping bag to one of the Trakker 365 sleeping bags, it's heavy and bulky - but it's really really warm!
I did just upgrade my sleeping bag to one of the Trakker 365 sleeping bags, it's heavy and bulky - but it's really really warm!
In reply to Post #2
Probably do the same,trotting for chub last week.
Probably do the same,trotting for chub last week.
In reply to Post #1
Time to start pike fishing for me.
I did fish last week and woke up one morning with ice on the overwrap, but it rained the next 3 nights.
Time to start pike fishing for me.
I did fish last week and woke up one morning with ice on the overwrap, but it rained the next 3 nights.
In reply to Post #5
any luck mate
any luck mate
In reply to Post #6
No Mate.
Last fish out was 2 weeks ago. Its put on 10lbs in 13months, so one heck of a growth rate. We've got stocking pics, and I had it last August at 14lb.
Weed is still a pain, as are the swans.
No Mate.
Last fish out was 2 weeks ago. Its put on 10lbs in 13months, so one heck of a growth rate. We've got stocking pics, and I had it last August at 14lb.
Weed is still a pain, as are the swans.
In reply to Post #1
Time to get out the stove powered heated blanket, I'm sure there's a guy on here who used to sell them
Time to get out the stove powered heated blanket, I'm sure there's a guy on here who used to sell them
In reply to Post #5
My head dropped when I saw the forecast, been piking for about 6 weeks and it's been pretty decent.
My head dropped when I saw the forecast, been piking for about 6 weeks and it's been pretty decent.
In reply to Post #1
As soon as I saw the big chunks of solid Ice in the footwells of my Kayak outside this morning-it told me it's time for Pike fishing OR Maggot/Feeder or Trotting on the River.
As soon as I saw the big chunks of solid Ice in the footwells of my Kayak outside this morning-it told me it's time for Pike fishing OR Maggot/Feeder or Trotting on the River.
In reply to Post #9
The pike in the reservoir have been a bit skinny, and with the warmer weather I just didn't fancy stressing them out. The local river has been low and still covered in duckweed.
Now time to start looking for the big females, although I'm not looking forward to the walks. Be nice to get another 20 from the ressie.
The pike in the reservoir have been a bit skinny, and with the warmer weather I just didn't fancy stressing them out. The local river has been low and still covered in duckweed.
Now time to start looking for the big females, although I'm not looking forward to the walks. Be nice to get another 20 from the ressie.
In reply to Post #1
Typical a week of work and the weather changes for the worse.
Was going to do 72 hours on a Lee Valley pit (blanking) now im thinking should I just stay at home have a beer and watch the England game
Typical a week of work and the weather changes for the worse.
Was going to do 72 hours on a Lee Valley pit (blanking) now im thinking should I just stay at home have a beer and watch the England game
In reply to Post #12
Make a stew and dumplings and spotted dick and custard for after a day on the river .sod the beer though wash it down with shanky's whip or two.
Make a stew and dumplings and spotted dick and custard for after a day on the river .sod the beer though wash it down with shanky's whip or two.
As long as my water isn't frozen I'll be out Friday to Sunday .
In reply to Post #1
Lakes & Carping = over
Rivers & Maggot Feeder / Mince Meat Feeder & Steak / Trotting = yay
Lakes & Carping = over
Rivers & Maggot Feeder / Mince Meat Feeder & Steak / Trotting = yay
i'm planning to go pike fishing for the first time inspired by this thread and a burning desire to be outdoors next week. i've got a 2.75lb carp rod for a ledger dead bait and a 10ft lure rod for some artificial bait action. will use braid main line, got forceps and a glove and a landing mat and net. kebab rig thingy and some fox double traces. a zepelin float. dont let them get deep hooked. anything else i should know??!
Waiting to see the first few reports of the cod in and then I'm going on the boat..
In reply to Post #14
Wont be any lids on lakes for a while yet...
48 hours for me from tomorrow, air temp might be cold but it will take a few weeks of that to get the water temp really dropping....fishing on those first few frosty days can be really productive, can spur the Carp into action.....especially if your lake has some really deep parts...
Wont be any lids on lakes for a while yet...
48 hours for me from tomorrow, air temp might be cold but it will take a few weeks of that to get the water temp really dropping....fishing on those first few frosty days can be really productive, can spur the Carp into action.....especially if your lake has some really deep parts...
In reply to Post #16
i'm planning to go pike fishing for the first time inspired by this thread and a burning desire to be outdoors next week. i've got a 2.75lb carp rod for a ledger dead bait and a 10ft lure rod for some artificial bait action. will use braid main line, got forceps and a glove and a landing mat and net. kebab rig thingy and some fox double traces. a zepelin float. dont let them get deep hooked. anything else i should know??!
If you've never unhooked a pike before, I would suggest going with an experienced pike angler.
If you can't, then to unhook pike, lay them down on the mat, on their side,or back and straddle it between your legs. Hand in under the chin, and into the gill, minding your hand on the rakers, then with the other hand, unhook with your forceps.
At some point, no matter what, you will get a deep hooked fish. Don't panic, DON'T just cut the trace, same rules, take your time with the forceps to get the hook out.
I would forget about kebabs, simple deadbaits, mackerel, herring, smelt or whatever dead fish, or livies if your rules allow.
I would also suggest an uptrace. It means you can unclip the hook trace as you unhook, with no rods in the way.
i'm planning to go pike fishing for the first time inspired by this thread and a burning desire to be outdoors next week. i've got a 2.75lb carp rod for a ledger dead bait and a 10ft lure rod for some artificial bait action. will use braid main line, got forceps and a glove and a landing mat and net. kebab rig thingy and some fox double traces. a zepelin float. dont let them get deep hooked. anything else i should know??!
If you've never unhooked a pike before, I would suggest going with an experienced pike angler.
If you can't, then to unhook pike, lay them down on the mat, on their side,or back and straddle it between your legs. Hand in under the chin, and into the gill, minding your hand on the rakers, then with the other hand, unhook with your forceps.
At some point, no matter what, you will get a deep hooked fish. Don't panic, DON'T just cut the trace, same rules, take your time with the forceps to get the hook out.
I would forget about kebabs, simple deadbaits, mackerel, herring, smelt or whatever dead fish, or livies if your rules allow.
I would also suggest an uptrace. It means you can unclip the hook trace as you unhook, with no rods in the way.
In reply to Post #19
thanks very much - thats helpful - can i use a regular delkim plus bobbin arrangement for the deadbait ?
thanks very much - thats helpful - can i use a regular delkim plus bobbin arrangement for the deadbait ?
In reply to Post #20
Most Pike anglers use drop off indicators which clip on your rear bankstick via a jubilee clip, and you fish open bail arm. My son is coming with me over Christmas and he only has carp bobbins, so he'll be using them. The key is, as it is with any predator, they don't like resistance, so fish open bail arm if you can.
Have a look on youtube for unhooking tips, I'm sure there will be loads on there. You have to go prepared, no use going with 6" forceps. I have 12" forceps, 12" angled plier things and 12" cutters for cutting thru hooks if you can't get them out. Fortunately, I've never had to use these, but better to have them and not need them than the other way round. Good luck.
Most Pike anglers use drop off indicators which clip on your rear bankstick via a jubilee clip, and you fish open bail arm. My son is coming with me over Christmas and he only has carp bobbins, so he'll be using them. The key is, as it is with any predator, they don't like resistance, so fish open bail arm if you can.
Have a look on youtube for unhooking tips, I'm sure there will be loads on there. You have to go prepared, no use going with 6" forceps. I have 12" forceps, 12" angled plier things and 12" cutters for cutting thru hooks if you can't get them out. Fortunately, I've never had to use these, but better to have them and not need them than the other way round. Good luck.
In reply to Post #20
I much prefer to use a Delkim with a really heavy bobbin, had a low double the other week that gave me two beeps on full sensitivity using braid straight through, no way would this have registered on a drop off. The pike in the river are very often like that where I am, they just shake the rod.
I much prefer to use a Delkim with a really heavy bobbin, had a low double the other week that gave me two beeps on full sensitivity using braid straight through, no way would this have registered on a drop off. The pike in the river are very often like that where I am, they just shake the rod.
In reply to Post #20
I use Delkims set to as sensitive as possible with drop-off indicators, even with a paternostered float setup and a ledgered bait.
You can still get some fish that the indicator twitches up or down but with the Delkim you get a bleep.
The float will often rock before going under or sliding across the surface.
I use Delkims set to as sensitive as possible with drop-off indicators, even with a paternostered float setup and a ledgered bait.
You can still get some fish that the indicator twitches up or down but with the Delkim you get a bleep.
The float will often rock before going under or sliding across the surface.
Well, it's definitely arrived today, absolutely freezing in Stoke. Was going to venture onto the river with a lure rod, might go on the canal instead if it aint got a lid on it.
In reply to Post #24
Yeah definitely arrived today I'm going to get myself over the North Met Pit on Monday for 72 hours going to keep feeding the snags throughout the winter and hopefully 1 of the big old girls makes a appearance
Yeah definitely arrived today I'm going to get myself over the North Met Pit on Monday for 72 hours going to keep feeding the snags throughout the winter and hopefully 1 of the big old girls makes a appearance
thanks for the pike info fellas - i'm feeling good about this trip
In reply to Post #26
Hi mate,
Make sure you look on youtube before you go, regarding the unhooking.
As you no doubt know there is a technique to get them to open their mouths.
This is on of the better ones. (alot don't point out the area you need to hold) :-
https://youtu.be/sS7XBbF4Cf8
Hi mate,
Make sure you look on youtube before you go, regarding the unhooking.
As you no doubt know there is a technique to get them to open their mouths.
This is on of the better ones. (alot don't point out the area you need to hold) :-
https://youtu.be/sS7XBbF4Cf8
In reply to Post #27
ty
ty
In reply to Post #25
Too right it's arrived, just got back from a couple of hours on the canal, it was really cold. After about an hour, the guides on my light lure rod froze, it has really small guides at the tip. Thought I'd go back to the car and swap it for my medium setup, medium duty rod with bigger guides. That froze up within half an hour, decided to pack up, go home and google "how to stop rod guides from freezing". And I blanked.....
Too right it's arrived, just got back from a couple of hours on the canal, it was really cold. After about an hour, the guides on my light lure rod froze, it has really small guides at the tip. Thought I'd go back to the car and swap it for my medium setup, medium duty rod with bigger guides. That froze up within half an hour, decided to pack up, go home and google "how to stop rod guides from freezing". And I blanked.....
In reply to Post #29
That froze up within half an hour, decided to pack up, go home and google "how to stop rod guides from freezing
Spray the rod guides with glycerine before use...
That froze up within half an hour, decided to pack up, go home and google "how to stop rod guides from freezing
Spray the rod guides with glycerine before use...
In reply to Post #30
Yeah, thanks Nick. Just seen a few tips on youtube, so will be prepared next time, but funny that it's never happened to me before though?
Yeah, thanks Nick. Just seen a few tips on youtube, so will be prepared next time, but funny that it's never happened to me before though?
In reply to Post #31
I find when trotting on the pin with light lines when the air temp is less than 3 degrees the line will stick to the guides I just use good old mr sheen the night before applied with a rag over the guides.
I find when trotting on the pin with light lines when the air temp is less than 3 degrees the line will stick to the guides I just use good old mr sheen the night before applied with a rag over the guides.
In reply to Post #28
Pike are such delicate creatures and when unhooking it's all about confidence.
If you can get a piker to come with you all the better.
I would suggest only retaining the barbs on the dead bait the others flatten to make unhooking easier / less risk of pike getting attached to your landing net as well.
Or if budget allows get a landing net with a rubber mesh 👍🏼
Pike are such delicate creatures and when unhooking it's all about confidence.
If you can get a piker to come with you all the better.
I would suggest only retaining the barbs on the dead bait the others flatten to make unhooking easier / less risk of pike getting attached to your landing net as well.
Or if budget allows get a landing net with a rubber mesh 👍🏼
In reply to Post #33
Or if budget allows get a landing net with a rubber mesh
I had a look, there is still stock, and £24.99. If you don't have one, may be worth getting a spreader block
Saber rubber mesh landing net
Or if budget allows get a landing net with a rubber mesh
I had a look, there is still stock, and £24.99. If you don't have one, may be worth getting a spreader block
Saber rubber mesh landing net
In reply to Post #35
Siberia is proper chilly.
Siberia is proper chilly.
In reply to Post #35
-63c thats unbearable
-63c thats unbearable
In reply to Post #37
That geezer looks happy enough in it.
That geezer looks happy enough in it.
In reply to Post #38
It's the cold or the wife indoors,you choose
It's the cold or the wife indoors,you choose
In reply to Post #33
I've got the xl savage gear extendable one and it really is a bloody good net, as long as you're not walking miles
I've got the xl savage gear extendable one and it really is a bloody good net, as long as you're not walking miles
In reply to Post #40
So who's out this weekend?
It looks like the weather will at least be pleasant during the day, I'm tempted to load up the barrow and out!
So who's out this weekend?
It looks like the weather will at least be pleasant during the day, I'm tempted to load up the barrow and out!
In reply to Post #41
Our bird bath froze solid last night. I think a few lakes will have lids on soon.
Our bird bath froze solid last night. I think a few lakes will have lids on soon.
In reply to Post #42
My son reckons some have already, the Monument in Shropshire and Bells Mill in Birmingham.
My son reckons some have already, the Monument in Shropshire and Bells Mill in Birmingham.
In reply to Post #43
My syndicate in Wiltshire had a layer of ice across most of it this afternoon, I'd imagine another evening like last night and that will be across whole lake. Certainly winter now, last 3 sessions I've been on the bank on my own so I've quite enjoyed it
My syndicate in Wiltshire had a layer of ice across most of it this afternoon, I'd imagine another evening like last night and that will be across whole lake. Certainly winter now, last 3 sessions I've been on the bank on my own so I've quite enjoyed it
In reply to Post #44
It's currently -6 down here (Oxfordshire) so I think i'll be best off staying in this weekend :D
It's currently -6 down here (Oxfordshire) so I think i'll be best off staying in this weekend :D
In reply to Post #41
Yeah I'm out in it, fortunately the lake is deep and has not frozen despite the -4 last night, I'll stay for a few days so long as it doesn't freeze over
Yeah I'm out in it, fortunately the lake is deep and has not frozen despite the -4 last night, I'll stay for a few days so long as it doesn't freeze over
Spent today trotting a float on the itchen .
Well it's a bit chilly this morning, targets are a 20lb pike before lunch then a 3lb perch after. At least I know the river will still be wobbly
In reply to Post #1
Can't bloomin wait until the days get warmer, longer and the carp start moving around again.
Roll on spring!
Can't bloomin wait until the days get warmer, longer and the carp start moving around again.
Roll on spring!
In reply to Post #49
It's the long nights what I don't like
On the + side im managing to find alot more features on my syndicate
due to the lack of anglers fishing at the moment
It's the long nights what I don't like
On the + side im managing to find alot more features on my syndicate
due to the lack of anglers fishing at the moment
In reply to Post #49
Sad ,it's still autumn, learn to appreciate the seasons and other species / different forms of angling. Carp must be one of the easiest fish to catch nowadays with so many venues stocked with them and so much tackle and information available. The hardest part is getting on the waters to fish for the ones you want to catch.
Sad ,it's still autumn, learn to appreciate the seasons and other species / different forms of angling. Carp must be one of the easiest fish to catch nowadays with so many venues stocked with them and so much tackle and information available. The hardest part is getting on the waters to fish for the ones you want to catch.
In reply to Post #42
My place is only a couple of acres, but has been frozen for the last three days.
My place is only a couple of acres, but has been frozen for the last three days.
Started snowing here in Medway. Had to move my car in case we get snowed in like last time. I live In a steep sided valley. Impossible to get out of in slightly heavy snow.
In reply to Post #53
I'm between Oxford and Reading, no snow yet - but it can't be far off.
I'm between Oxford and Reading, no snow yet - but it can't be far off.
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