Big Game Hunters

[mithrandir]

We have just returned from a day on the Stour at Wimborne hunting perch.

We arrived at 8 am as the mist was clearing and settled in at our swims, the weather was good, overcast, low wind and not too cold, the swims were a bit more challenging, lots of overhanging trees, very uneven depth and a fair bit of weed. It was going to be an expensive day on the old tackle box!!



Once we were set up and the floats were out in was moments before we were into the first fish of the day, minnows, roach, skimmers and I am sure we have finally caught a Bleak ( the long slender body, blue/green back and upturned mouth)



The day was a frustraing one of catching trees, hooking weeds and bushes, slipping on the muddy banks and stinging yourself with the nettles.

Lots of Anglo Saxon expressions, lots of re rigging floats and lines, a very stressful day in all.

I only had two hints of a large fish in the water, one took a bait of 5 maggots on one hook and bent the rod right over and headed for the weeds, shook itself and spat the hook. The other was on a leger line all of a sudden it burst into action, I grabbed the rod and watched in dismay as I had not set the clutch loose enough as the rod just bent over and "twang" the 6 lb line just popped, the fish did not even notice it had been hooked!

So sure there were fish of a good size it was time to ditch the ordinary rods and tackle and get out my new toy, the big and mighty







Sticklebacker!!!





( here in final test mode by Claudia)



and the catch






MINNOWS!!! 1.5 lb line, size 22 barbless and bits of maggots

This is the tackle to have!!!



No perch, no Pike, but a water to try later in the year when the small fry retreat and the predators come to the fore, and maybe the vegetation will be a bit easier after a couple of frosts.

Mike

[Greenheart]

Sounds like you two had a nice day & probably had a brief encounter with a couple of the local Chub, Barbel or maybe resident Carp. Well done on your first Bleak. Pity about the Perch & Sticklebacks. Saw some nice Sticklebacks in the stream that flows through the beer garden of the George Pub at Longbridge Deverill the other day. Maybe we should have a Forum Stickleback meet there? Any excuse for a drink or three.....

[Norfolkboy]

Bet those minnows fought well on those rods

Cracking pics and report guys.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Great read and sounds a fun days fishing

[baitmaster]

great read there mike well done to both and that looks a nice bit of river

tightlines
kevin

[fishypaul]

well done mike and claudia,looks like you enjoyed yourselves

[Omahayank]

LOL I've never fished for minnows. I do have a few traps: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...raps&noImage=0
I have an Ice rod that might be just the trick: http://www.marmish.ca/ ....since it hasn't gotten cold enough here in several Years to actually try it for Ice fishing.

[Twiddler]

Originally Posted by fishypaul

well done mike and claudia,looks like you enjoyed yourselves

Well Paul, we were a little dissepointed to only catch fry or tiddlers but at list I got 2 more of my list now, bleak and minnow.
Mike is looking into buying a couple of Poles, which would be more ideal at the swim, as there re alot of overhanging trees and bushes, which makes casting almost impossible....which reminds me, gotta go ans spend a few quid to replace all the tackle I lost lol

[Twiddler]

Originally Posted by Omahayank

LOL I've never fished for minnows. I do have a few traps: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...raps&noImage=0
I have an Ice rod that might be just the trick: http://www.marmish.ca/ ....since it hasn't gotten cold enough here in several Years to actually try it for Ice fishing.

lol yes Omaha it looks the ideal rod for those hard fighting minnows lol

[pingu]

looks a lovely place
good report and pics as ever

well done on the bleak, thats one on my list