On the Arm again

[Maddison_Twatter]

I thought Id have another try an Torksey loch?... lock? the thing with the big wooden gates ??
Anyway.. arrived at the water just before first light and decided to fish a peg that was close to the water as I was alone and its a 15 foot drop off in some places so I didnt fancy going for a swim while landing a pike.

I continued with the usaul set up baited with herring and macky.
All was quiet until aroung 9 oclock, the line started twithing so I reeled in thinking I had snagged some weed but as I I reeled in I felt a pull, I was in !

After a fairly short fight I landed this 8lb 6 0z croc. not the biggest but as its my first pike session alone and I am still fairly new to predator fishing i was chuffed.



I unhooked the "beast" without any problems and back in he went.
Im glad I learnt how to gill the pike as its miles easier to unhook them this way rather than trying to pry open their mouths.

After this a friggin crane boat decided to pull up opposite my swim and started churning the water and making shed loads of noise.


Needless to say the was swim ruined so I decided to ditch the gear and try a bit of roving. I took my mat,net and unhooking gear further along the bank and had a few runs but no fish unfortunately.

Went home about 2pm.
One question..... how many times can you freeze and re-freeze dead baits as the lamprey especially are expensive and dont like to waste em ??

[Mark78]

well done,mate another cracking pike, shame about the boat interfering.

[blackwater]

Well done.

The question about deadbaits is a tough one... I tend not to let my baits thaw before i use them and keep the baits in a cooler bag when on the bank. So the baits i dont use tend to stay frozen all the time which keeps them nice and fresh. You should try that.

[Bluesbro]

Nice fish matey, i recon pike fishing may turn me to trying my hand at Freshwater angling

[Baz T]

Great report - and a lovely pike too. At least you can be confident of fishing alone for pike now, seeing as you handled that one fine, and got it back in the water safe and sound.
As Justin says - keep them in a cool bag - frozen - and hopefully any left at the end of the session can be chucked back in the freezer. I usually have bait left over, as I am worried in case I run out when pike fishing so take too much probably, and as you say it can work out expensive if you keep ditching bait at the end of the day.

[Maddison_Twatter]

Originally Posted by Baz T

Great report - and a lovely pike too. At least you can be confident of fishing alone for pike now, seeing as you handled that one fine, and got it back in the water safe and sound.
As Justin says - keep them in a cool bag - frozen - and hopefully any left at the end of the session can be chucked back in the freezer. I usually have bait left over, as I am worried in case I run out when pike fishing so take too much probably, and as you say it can work out expensive if you keep ditching bait at the end of the day.

will the baits be able to leak oil/blood ect if they are frozen or are we counting on it defrosting in the water ?

[Baz T]

I cover my deadbait in either smelt or lamprey oil, before I freeze them and the oil is absorbed by the bait as it freezes, and then released into water when cast out and it starts to defrost. Other option is to inject the deadbait with some oil, on the bank, before casting it out to add more scent in the water. Even frozen bait if you put a couple of puncture holes in it, or cut it a few times on one side will still give out scent, though obviously not as good as fresh bait oozing blood, but it doesnt take long for frozen bait to defrost in the water.