A ruffe day on the canal

[mithrandir]

Hi all,

Well we got our day out on the canal yesterday, weather was overcast and no wind so it was a perfect day for a bit of float fishing on the canal. Popped into Devizes on the way to get a couple of day tickets ( £3-50 each) and a pint of maggots then it was off to Honeystreet for a dabble on the canal.

We found a nice little spot and set up for float fishing, it was a good exercise in plumbing depths and floating for us, we are both new to it and needed the practice.

Here is our swim




We both set up floats with no14 hooks and maggots and fished the centre of the canal, did not fancy catching trees and reeds this early in the day!
I didn't expect to catch anything too exciting and it was not too long before we started to pull out the expected roach and rudd.



After about an hour we both hit some nice bream, alot more fiesty that the ones we are used to catching on a commercial pond and better sport to play in.

Here is Claudia with her first bream from the canal



It was not long before the barges started to interrupt us, it was like playing football in the street when I was a kid, we had to keep stopping and letting them pass before we could carry on.

Then Claudia brings in a smallish fish and calls over it is something she has never seen before, I go over and have a look, it has a very spiney back and spines on the gills. Not being sure what it is we carefully unhook it and return it having photographed it looking a bit like Mick Jagger as it still has the maggots in its mouth looking like big red lips!

We believe this to be a Ruffe, but I am sure you Guys can confirm this for us.



The morning continued with Roach, Rudd, Bream and Claudia kept pulling out Ruffe ( I still have yet to get one).

As the barges were becoming a pain we decided to try and bag some different game, so a change of peg saw us stalking the Barcat, Lagerfish and Spitfires





Refreshed we moved along the Canal and setup again where it was more Ruffe for Claudia and the expected roach rudd and bream.

Then as evening fell we returned home for a few more pints and a curry, as Claudia celebrated a new species to her list.

A grey day that turned into a pleasant day out with two happy happy anglers in the end.

Mike

[fishypaul]

well done mike and claudia another entertaining read

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Well done and great pics on what looks a nice day out

P>S mmm looks a nice pike water

[mithrandir]

Hi Richard

Been told the best pike runs are in the stretches to the west of devizes, this was east, but yes it is pike water and a day ticket of 3-50 or a seasons membership for under £30 seems to me to be a good deal. I have the details if you are interested

Mike

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Might well be up for a days pike there mate if you ever fancy showing a nice but dim bloke around

[mithrandir]

I would be more than willing to spend a day showing you around, Claudia would love to do some Pike fishing, and watching an experienced angler at work would be very helpful.

Weekends are best for us as we both have to work, tell us when and we can arrange a day.

Mike

[Norfolkboy]

Great report Mike and well done to both of you.

The fish Claudia caught was indeed a ruffe, well done claudia, not caught one of them for a couple of years, lovely fish.

[kiwimarty]

Nice report.

Thank you.

Kiwi

[..::Pike Pirate::..]

looks like a nice little canal there, well done on the ruffe though! ive never caught one of em lol. some good pics there as well

[Twiddler]

I just would like to add that I caught the ruffle on a cocktail of maggots and casters.
When I caught the first, I wouldn't touch it as I didn't know what it was and I didn't want to get pricked by the spikes on the dorsal fin and the gills.
Mike came to my rescue and showed me how to carefully handle them. ( I know typical girly lol)
It was great to catch something else for a change other than carp, bream roach or rud.
Definitly want to go back there to try some piking.....I know I want run before I can walk (or should it be swim before I paddle)

Claudia