Couple of hours at Himley Sunday.

[barbelblanker]

Couldn't take it any more and had to get out.

My original plan was to fish the Severn, like that was going to happen.

Next was the Salwarpe, a tributary of the Severn. Match. Oh Buggit.

So I though I'd see if the big roach were at it at Himley Hall. They weren't but the birds were and they were driving me nuts.

Ended up fishing a couple of rod lengths out for a few roach and perch.

Also spotted probably the dumbest pike yet.

The end of my net was moving around and I saw this pike (probably about 5 lbs at a rough guess) having a go at the net. So I called this kid over from the next swim who had been piking but was now just going for anything. He grabbed his landing net to shoo the pike off and NO REACTION . So he scooped it in to the net and took a quick photo before returning it. The fish didn't even try and escape the net. Never seen a fish that dumb before .

later on it was back so I got my net out and it had learnt and beggared off.

About three in the afternoon I saw a HUGE pike tail make it's way through the swim (I only caught sight of it in time to see the back half). I have no idea how big she was but BIG comes to mind.

So Himley Hall lake seems to have quite a few pike.

Might give it one more go in the winter for bigger roach but this time I might just leave the float gear home to avoid me messing about.

I've noticed that when you return roach they swim off like a pike is eyeing them up for lunch. Perch seem to go in and FREEZE then hit the gas. Is this because perch are aware that a predator sees movement ? Just a thought.

All in all I had a cracking day and was just glad to get out for a few hours before I went LOCCO!.

[headless]

Hi

I fished numerous lakes in Northern Ireland when I was in my early teens, the largest Pike we caught during our time there was by leaving a dead bait a couple of feet away from the keep net, it would always come up with the biggest fish of the day

Darrell

[NICK R]

Thanks for your report , a enjoyable read

[pingu]

nice session there

dave

[barbelblanker]

I had problems with pike last time I was catching roach here. The roach themselves are in lovely condition and I reckon the constant pike attention is the cause. The week ones just get eaten. Same with the perch , all in lovely nick. The grebes were constantly diving and swimming round too, occasionally coming up with small fish. I do know one thing, I wouldn't want to be a roach in Himley hall.

Sounds like a good tactic for having a go at the pike but as I haven't really fished for them before that'll have to wait till I learn how to unhook one properly first.