Hi
First post in here, hopefully not the last. I had my first crack on the Stour today looking for perch. First time lure fishing in freshwater having only started in saltwater for bass back in may. I thought this could cover me for the winter and so I wanted to start looking for places I could go. I was set with a new 1-9g rod, 1500 reel, general bits and lures. I go to my location at 9am today and got the rod and unhooking mat and net out of the car and headed tot he river. I got there to find that it was quite a bit more over grown that I thought it would be. I was starting to think that the pole on my net would be too short, but would have a few casts anyway, when i realised i had forgotten my waist pack with all my lures. So I headed back to the car for them. I thought as I was there I would pop into Argos and bought a new net with a much longer reach, a Matt Hayes jobby, looks ok. I grabbed my lures as well this time and headed back to the river.
As well as the river bank being overgrown, the weed in the river was pretty dense and made it hard to go over it through it and in between it, so i was searching for pre-stamped swims and gaps in the weeds. This was quite difficult in its self. I could see lots of fry but nothing else bigger around. I tried casting tot he far bank, up river and down river and nothing was around, the water was crystal clear
I was tried all sorts of lures on dropshot around the 1 inch length mark (and on 2g and 3g jigs), surface salmo lil bugs, crayfish on jigs. And not a sausage. I walked about a 3/4 mile down the river trying everywhere I could. Nothing!!!
I was getting annoyed with the delicate nature and getting snagged in the weed, most of this down to me needing more practice on the new rod with such light weights. By now it was 12:30 so I decided to head back up the river to avoid the punts that were now coming through every 5-10 minutes and I guess disturbing the fish a bit more. Not sure if they could be reason for bad fishing, other than me of course, but I doubt it.
I walked on past my entry point to the river and found a bridge, there was no weed under the bridge, i guess due to light levels. I thought that this would be my last area to try before heading home. I stuck on the 3.5 inch crayfish lure with a 3g jig head. I started fan casting around, the water only up to 18 inches deep. I could feel the rocks and stones as I jigged and reeled slowly back in. Then I thought I had knocked into a big rock and there was a double tap. Then the rod bent over and the reel started clicking really quickly. After about 2 minutes I had a nice surprise, and was happy that the jinxing of buying a net wasn't applicable, a nice 51cm pike. He jumped a few times clear of the water and gave great account for itself. It looked like he was nibbled on recently under the rubbish in the picture below.
I popped it back and it swam off ok. I then realised I didn't weigh it in all the excitement. So i changed lure to see if it would catch again, but no joy, not surprising really. I then spotted it about 8 feet out and the top was a perfect match to the silt and the fins almost not moving, I am not surprised at how close prey will get to them even in the open crystal clear water before the launch at it.
In your experiences what would a fish this size typically weigh, just to give a guideline?
I am thinking the river might be a bit over grown for me at the moment, so I am going to let it die down before I go back, but at least I have a winter area to go at.
Until next time
Chris
First post in here, hopefully not the last. I had my first crack on the Stour today looking for perch. First time lure fishing in freshwater having only started in saltwater for bass back in may. I thought this could cover me for the winter and so I wanted to start looking for places I could go. I was set with a new 1-9g rod, 1500 reel, general bits and lures. I go to my location at 9am today and got the rod and unhooking mat and net out of the car and headed tot he river. I got there to find that it was quite a bit more over grown that I thought it would be. I was starting to think that the pole on my net would be too short, but would have a few casts anyway, when i realised i had forgotten my waist pack with all my lures. So I headed back to the car for them. I thought as I was there I would pop into Argos and bought a new net with a much longer reach, a Matt Hayes jobby, looks ok. I grabbed my lures as well this time and headed back to the river.
As well as the river bank being overgrown, the weed in the river was pretty dense and made it hard to go over it through it and in between it, so i was searching for pre-stamped swims and gaps in the weeds. This was quite difficult in its self. I could see lots of fry but nothing else bigger around. I tried casting tot he far bank, up river and down river and nothing was around, the water was crystal clear
I was tried all sorts of lures on dropshot around the 1 inch length mark (and on 2g and 3g jigs), surface salmo lil bugs, crayfish on jigs. And not a sausage. I walked about a 3/4 mile down the river trying everywhere I could. Nothing!!!
I was getting annoyed with the delicate nature and getting snagged in the weed, most of this down to me needing more practice on the new rod with such light weights. By now it was 12:30 so I decided to head back up the river to avoid the punts that were now coming through every 5-10 minutes and I guess disturbing the fish a bit more. Not sure if they could be reason for bad fishing, other than me of course, but I doubt it.
I walked on past my entry point to the river and found a bridge, there was no weed under the bridge, i guess due to light levels. I thought that this would be my last area to try before heading home. I stuck on the 3.5 inch crayfish lure with a 3g jig head. I started fan casting around, the water only up to 18 inches deep. I could feel the rocks and stones as I jigged and reeled slowly back in. Then I thought I had knocked into a big rock and there was a double tap. Then the rod bent over and the reel started clicking really quickly. After about 2 minutes I had a nice surprise, and was happy that the jinxing of buying a net wasn't applicable, a nice 51cm pike. He jumped a few times clear of the water and gave great account for itself. It looked like he was nibbled on recently under the rubbish in the picture below.
I popped it back and it swam off ok. I then realised I didn't weigh it in all the excitement. So i changed lure to see if it would catch again, but no joy, not surprising really. I then spotted it about 8 feet out and the top was a perfect match to the silt and the fins almost not moving, I am not surprised at how close prey will get to them even in the open crystal clear water before the launch at it.
In your experiences what would a fish this size typically weigh, just to give a guideline?
I am thinking the river might be a bit over grown for me at the moment, so I am going to let it die down before I go back, but at least I have a winter area to go at.
Until next time
Chris
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