Well you've got to start somewhere

My first outing today after spending 6 months researching and collecting my Pike equipment.A local still water packed with Jacks thought it would be a good exercise,land a few, unhook a few get the feel of my rods and try a few rigs out.

Well i got there at the crack of dawn took me ages to get set up (now were does this go were does that go) Finaly got the Ledger rig out then i built my Pencil float rod and cast that out.

NOTHING not a sniff of anything..Well a dog tried to get my deadbait on the bank and was really lucky not to get hooked with a treble....Why do owners let them sniff round your stuff ? Seriuosly though i have never attracted as many dogs.

I did get worried at one point as a Gooseander dived close to my ledger rig....What happens if

I did learn a few things and i suppose.
How hard is i to cast a Mackral at distance
I now know I'll smell like a fish monger all day long
I will have tonnes of spare time waiting.
I'm now an expert at moving round the water with two full setups....
Be prepared for MUD everywhere fishing in Winter

keep at it mate a bird watcher once told me that birds cant swallow underwater so you will know if they have your bait and be able to set the hooks jk

Good effort mate, at least you're out giving it a go! Totally agree with you about the dogs sniffing around your stuff, I had one run off with a nice fat sprat which was ready to go on the hooks, just lucky it wasn't yet attached to a set of size 6 trebles! Another time I turned around and saw a dog having a pi$$ on my bag Then there was the time carp fishing with chum mixer....

Good luck tomorrow!

Chum Mixer and Dogs

dont worry too much about coots etc feeding near your baits mate, they almost never get hooked and i myself have never managed to get one yet despite a good 10 seasons of almost exclusive shallow park lake fishing and alot of "runs" from them when they've picked up baits, just watch them and pick up your rod as soon as you get an indication from one, they let go almost immediately as you wind up to them.
although last season i had a seagull pick up a sardine ledgered in 18ft of water that DID get hooked. good job i had an extra pair of hands with me to pin it down in the net while i unhooked it

Don't panic mate, I too went out for a throw today - got cold, rained wet, and caught nothing............but still had a great time and will be spending my last day of leave on wednesday doing exactly the same....

BTW - great pics!!!

stick with the ledgerd float setup for the canals bradfordlad and try sprats ive had loads ov pike out ov the canal on them i get mine from morrisons on there fish stall!
i use 4 on a dubble trebble setup! semi barbless 2 hooked through the root ov the tail on the barbed hook! then i use fox bait flags to hold the other 2 on the semi barbed side
works a treet!

Looks a good area of a decent water there, Bradford Lad. I have had doggy visitors, too! Not after my Chum Mixer, though!

A Gooseander Your lucky the area wasn't covered by Twitchers with telescopes...

Hope both you & Duane have a better day during the week, stick at it..

i'm relativly new to piking this year as well bradford, i also had my first blank this weekend, as did most people on the lake, but still had great fun trying
i have known a dog take a baited trebble, barbs stuck in the tonge and a very large vet bill for the removal for my friend to pay.
as for the mackerel casting, have you try'd fox casting clips? they take all the weight of the hooks with a very simple set up. also removing fins and tails helps but i dont like doing this as the bait don't look right to me that way



good luck next trip mate

Well out toady crack of dawn....Local canal.
Didn't get a sniff. Fished Roach,Mackeral and Smelt with a Pencil float ledgered setup.Lost my traces twice (see my other thread)
https://pikeangler.forumotion.com/general-pike-fishing-f1/snaggedbaited-wire-traces-t663.htm

Had a good time learning,great to be outdoors...

Looks like a good spot there mate.

Chumley Warner wrote:Looks like a good spot there mate.

yhe! think i no were it is! sent u a pm!

had a few myself from that exact spot! mate
sprats and half sections ov lampray work best there! if there not working
spinning mepps and vibrax work well and small plugs

Or thanks mate,what a photo....Really love the tips.What methord did you use ?
When did you fish there ?

i fish there quite often just ta see how its getting on! cought that on
float fished sprat just off the bottom! i allways float fish the canal theres just too many snags in there for ledgering!

Spent the last day of my holiday fishing a local water which one of our forum brothers was kind enough to put me onto a few weeks ago.................
Got out early, armed with a variety of deadbaits and an assortment of lures, and spent the whole day until about a half an hour after dark trying for my first Pike.
Unfortunately, the fish gods did not shine on me and the day ended with another "blank" (which I will be marking up to experience).
On a positive note, I managed to figure out a few more ways how not to catch a pike and enjoyed a glorious day relaxing next to the water where I also had the pleasure of meeting a few friendly old gents who were more than eager to impart some of their experience and knowledge.

nice pic duane! that spot looks great just keep putting the hours in like u are and the rewards will come! try differnt baits,setups anything even a move or recast can result in a pike on the bank! just keep at it mate!

Guys

Before everyone posts pics of their favourite spots onto the forum please be aware that every picture paints a thousand words. You might find that the next time you go fishing there are a bunch of guys queuing up to get in.

Now you have seen each others pics PLEASE EDIT YOUR OWN POSTS and remove the pictures and PLEASE USE PM's FOR PASSING ON VENUE SPECIFIC INFORMATION.

You will be thankful in the end.

Andy Webster

no probs Andy edited the pic and keeped the venu name to pm!
my mate bailifs that part ov the canal!

POST EDITED - Sorry about that Andy, I did however check the photo thoroughly for identifying landmarks before posting it................thanks for the advice though.

Thank you Patch and Duane

Andy

Andy has a valid point. Alex & I put a photo of a venue we recently fished at on here the other day. Trent Piker immediately recognized the swim & said he had fished there. I think he was trying to give us a hint that the photo made the venue a bit too obvious.

Bazz wrote:Andy has a valid point. Alex & I put a photo of a venue we recently fished at on here the other day. Trent Piker immediately recognized the swim & said he had fished there. I think he was trying to give us a hint that the photo made the venue a bit too obvious.

Oh S**t I ERMM DELET THAT ONE thanks BAZZ

Done

MrMakk wrote:

Bazz wrote:Andy has a valid point. Alex & I put a photo of a venue we recently fished at on here the other day. Trent Piker immediately recognized the swim & said he had fished there. I think he was trying to give us a hint that the photo made the venue a bit too obvious.

Oh S**t I ERMM DELET THAT ONE thanks BAZZ

There's nothing wrong with a good old "slap on the wrists" to give one a "wake-up call" every now and again..........

Not intended as a slap on the wrist, Alex,,

More like...Trent Piker gave us a kick up the bum!