Deano Johnson had this cracking 26.02 common from Lower Slade on his first visit having just purchased our all waters ticket.
Shaun Freeman who has these two commons from Tamar a few days ago. 20lb 3oz and 22lb. Both caught on Mainline Cell pop ups fished on a stiff hinge close to the bank.
Shaun Freeman who has these two commons from Tamar a few days ago. 20lb 3oz and 22lb. Both caught on Mainline Cell pop ups fished on a stiff hinge close to the bank.
A late Autumn day and pike seemed to be the perfect match so with a light South-East wind forecast I decided to head for Lower Slade Reservoir. I set up in the bay that was filled with large amounts of Canadian pond weed a mixed blessing as it makes fishing difficult but holds plenty of food for the fish.
I tend to keep on the move when pike fishing giving it an hour or so in each swim. As I reeled in the baits to move a pike emerged from the margin to seize my small herring, a shake of its head and it was off.
I posted recently about the new rules that prohibit the use of treble hooks. Below is my new pike rig ensuring the size 4 single unimpeded.
I moved to the roadside and replaced the baits. The day drifted past as fishing days do and it was exceedingly mild for early November.
Mid afternoon and I baited up with the only smelt I had brought along having found it tucked away in the freezer as I grabbed my baits this morning. Was it coincidence that the float bobbed immediately after casting this out resulting a pleasing jack of around 4lb.
The rest of the afternoon passed by with clouds and reflections upon calm waters.
As the light faded I was reluctant to pack away the rods and left them out until the last minute dismantling bite alarms, packing bags etc until just the rods were left.
Late autumn is a time when many coarse anglers start to target pike a species that has always been associated with the colder months. North Devon has only a handful of waters that contain pike so it is essential that anglers take every possible precaution to ensure that valuable stocks are not impacted upon by careless handling or use of inappropriate tackle. Pike are not the most robust of species and it is often quoted that they thrive in waters with limited angling pressure.
Pike have a formidable set of teeth so it is essential that a wire trace is used to prevent the fish severing the line leaving hooks within the fish. South West Lakes Trust has introduced a ruling banning the use of treble hooks on waters within their control. A size 2/0 single hook is the maximum sized hook allowed. Anglers fishing for pike should have a suitable sized landing net, long handled forceps, long- wire cutters and a large unhooking matt. Anglers unhooking pike should ensure that they hold the fish carefully and firmly and may find specialist gloves beneficial to reduce the risk of cuts. Many anglers find unhooking a large pike an unnerving experience and should ideally seek advice from a regular pike angler before fishing for the species alone.
Mark Kendall fished Lower Slade Reservoir near Ilfracombe to tempt this stunning 27lb 10oz common carp.
Simon Orman from Tiverton fished Slade for the first time on Friday the 26th and was rewarded with a fully scaled mirror carp weighing an impressive 27lb fish was caught on cc Moore. Anthony Hunt did a quick session catching a fine upper double mirror iain Ross has also been among the fish landing 2 upper double commons also caught with cc Moore. Bailiff Paul James squeezed in a quick overnighter catching a fine common of 24 12 caught on home made baits.
Simon Hill fished for a few hours at Lower Slade landing five carp off the surface with the biggest being a fine 25lb common. Stuart Wade has been among the fish again landing a cracking mirror carp at just over 20 lb Kevin Geary doing a session landing 3 carp all mid doubles Toby Bassett has also been on the carp with a fine 19 lb fish caught with in the first 20 minutes being in the swim.
Anglers are reminded to follow guidelines of social distancing.
“A friend of mine recalculated the statistics earlier this week: the UK has 11% of recorded global Covid-19 deaths but just 0.8% of global population, with deaths still rising sharply at the point of easing lock-down. You are all clever people, so draw what you may from those stark figures, recognising also that they are based on at best fragmented data given no widespread testing. Repeating what is at the head of this note, stay well, stay safe and stay sane!”
Toby Bassett banked this fine 11lb 8oz pike from Lower Slade Reservoir.
A big well done to Graham Currington who weighed in 11lb 12oz of tip caught skimmers from peg 6 which was the middle of the wall, road side, next peg was Chris Morris who pushed him all the way with 11lb 8oz of mainly whip caught roach, this was easily enough to give Chris the overall win of this years winter league.
Third was Nathan Underwood from peg 9 with 6lb 10oz mainly pole caught roach, and 4th was Paul Elworthy with 4lb 10oz, including a nice perch.
With a nasty wind blowing onto the far bank all anglers were pegged on the road side, unfortunately for myself and Wayne Murton we ended up by the car park and between us Wayne thinks he might of had a sucked maggot.
Stuart Wade had this stunning 21lb mirror from Lower Slade.
(Below)Aaron Bunning has this lovely 19.12 mirror from Upper Tamar recently. His first carp of 2020. Nash baits scopex squid boilies as always for Aaron.
(Below) Barry Lee has this cracking 14.10 common from lower Tamar over the weekend in pretty cold conditions. Barry cast to showing fish at 120 yards range and caught on a tiny popup and stick bag.
(Below) Toby Bassett with a double figure pike from Slade Reservoir.
