The Search Continues

I've had no chance to blog for the past couple of weeks. I have managed a few short sessions though.

I tried a different canal last weekend. Hoping for some bigger perch, and despite coloured water I did manage a few around half a pound, but still no specimens.

I've been concentrating on jigging 2" shads, as most of the better stamp fish I have caught have fallen to them, rather than the slimmer and more "swimmy" curly tails. Only problem is, pike seem to love them.

I've hooked more pike than perch in the last 2 canal sessions. Yesterday I hooked 6, landing 2.
They must be shoaled up, as I hooked 3 different fish in a stretch of about 20 yards.

They certainly put a good bend in the rod, and I'm certainly not going to complain. With lots of pike around, I thought there might be some bigger perch too, but still I'm only picking up fish around 4 - 6oz  on the shads.

I'll keep on searching!...

Mini Bites

I haven't had the chance to get my fill lately, but I have managed a few bites. Three short sessions, none more than an hour or so.

The first was on the canal. Another stretch I haven't fished for years. It was nice to walk the length,which was where I fished my very first match back in school. That day I weighed in 8ozs of roach and perch. This time it was just perch, but the total weight was probably about the same.

All standard canal perch, 1-2oz a piece. I'm sure there are larger perch in the canal, but it seems to be tricky wading through these nippers. 

Next stop, another day, I grabbed an evening session. It had been pouring down all day, so I didnt hold out too much hope. When the clouds did part, I headed to a spot I've been thinking of fishing for a while.  As I arrived, some workmen were repairing the lock gate. They were about to open the lock, so I only had time for a few exploratory drops around it before the pulled the plug and churned up all the silt.

First drop, a perch. The lure barely hit bottom. 

 

Second drop, something bigger, a strong pluck, but it let go. Third drop,another strong pluck, and then a thump, thump. For a few moments I thought I had hooked a monster perch, but as I slowly worked it towards the surface, a pike showed itself.  

It was a nice fish in good condition. Lure right in the middle of the top lip again, as if the fish had just been kissing it. Hook fell out in the net as usual.  I called on one of the workmen to take a photo. 

I managed a couple more perch, and lost another pike (shook itself off the barbless hook) before the light faded and it was time to head home.

The third session was to a lake. The water was coloured like coffee after the heavy rain, so I persevered with grubbing small grubs along the bottom. When I wasnt catching leaves or twigs, I managed a few stripeys. Nothing big, but enough to keep me interested. 

As much as I enjoy exploring new swims, and every fish is welcome,  I have now caught a serious number of perch without breaking the pound barrier. Might have to up my game and go and seek out come bigger specimens next time...