A suprise 26lb pike on drop shotting

I’m not saying anything about the rivers nothing seems to change. I do feel really sorry for the guys on the Somerset Levels. I’m not sure what the cause is of the flooding (other than rain)I suspect it is probably several factors of which dredging is one. For sure the one factor that is behind actions that have not been taken after last years floods is the cost and who will pay. It’s the same the world over. Nobody will take action until it’s understood who is paying. You can imagine the various authorities sat around a table discussing the issues and what needs doing. So they agree a plan and depart then when they get back to the ranch the costs and responsibilities and reality sets in and it’s put on the back burner until it happens again the next year. Disgraceful!

Right that’s off my chest!

So with the rivers still too flooded to cast a bait in it was back to some drop shotting on the Kennet and Avon canal near Bath. I had in the back of my mind a stretch where I had seen some fry last year and thinking that the perch must be very close.

The forecast was for rain all afternoon and it lived up the this. Persistent rain fell for the 3 hours I was fishing.

I will share a little insight of the tackle I use. The rod is 6ft 11in long here is the description.

Tronix Pro HTO Rockfish Ul

6′ 11” – 0.5gm – 7gm
The Tronix Pro HTO Rockfish UL (ultra light) has a solid tip and light but crisp action to allow you to work tiny lures. Perfect for fishing ‘down the side’ or for casting.
The Rockfish is finished with lined rings, screw winch and short duplon handle. 134g in weight.

All this for £30 so a nice little tool. I suspect the tip might just snap soon ( I’m good at this) so I may need to fit a quiver tip if this happens.

I use a very small fixed spool with a very good smooth drag. Then I have some 8lb braid and 5lb floro hooklink line.

Please don’t believe I have all the answers on rods etc please do some research. What I can say is using such a light rod is kind to the back.

So I arrived at 2pm and started fishing this Berkley lure, the name I need to look up but it looked good in the slightly coloured water. The aim was to look for features and structures to fish too. Looking up and down the canal there were none.

So I looked for overhanging trees which lowered light levels. In One particular place I had my first perch of the day.

I tried a few more times in the area but nothing came to look. I kept looking out for fish topping but saw nothing. I slowly walk for about 1 mile casting in any likely looking areas. It was starting to get towards 4.30pm and I stopped at the last spot before heading back to where I started just before dark.

I always like to cast along the nearside bank just in case there are fish near my feet.

Bingo I had a very slow take, I struck and set the hook. Next thing the rod arched over and the fish started to move. The little rod arched even further as the fish moved off. Bugger I thought I had foul hooked one of the large carp. The fight went on a bit with the fish powering off and the reel clutch giving line very smoothly. Then I caught sight of a tail then a body which wasn’t a carp but a very long pike. It was very,  very long..

The fight was exhilarating. Next thing was that I had bought my small landing net to save on weight and carrying. It was ridiculously small I’m too embarrassed to mention it here. I took about half a dozen times to get the pike in the net. How I landed it I just don’t know but I did.

I took it away and laid it on some grass. It had taken the lure down close to the throat. How it didn’t bite through the line I just don’t know.

However I unhooked it and slipped it into a carp sack. I was very lucky as a young lady came along who lives in a house boat close by. Bless her heart she held the end of the sack ( the one with the fish in) while I got the scales and camera ready.  She did say that she didn’t know what to think about fishing for fish. So with this done I lifted the fish from the water and the young lady took the photo’s. I then weighed the pike at 27lbs plus a bit but I need to take the carp sack weight off.  I slipped the pike back and told the young lady that even though they look vicious they are in fact delicate fish. She said that she was very impressed that I handled the fish carefully and it was great to see it go back. Hopefully she might look at anglers in a different light now. She was very pleased to see that 26lb pike.

The only negative was that a guy in a house boat nearby saw the pike and came over for a chat, he fishes for pike and says that this weekend him and a few mates will try to catch her. We all know that pike don’t like too much pressure and being caught a few times might not be good.

To be fair as I walked back I spoke to a few of the boat people and they told me that they had seen very few fish fry in the area and this supports me not seeing any fish topping. So as I’m looking out for perch then perhaps I should move on!

A great afternoon none the less.