Short session at Stanley Ferry.

[biggun]

Trip number 5 for the year saw me and my young padawan Todd down at Stanley Ferry near Wakefield. It was a nice warm day but the boats were being a pain!



I set up my float rod and sat back to enjoy the sunshine!



Todd was set up to my right with his lure rod. Three foreign looking lads walked passed and down to the river. Todd decided to go down and tell them they couldn't fish it yet but they were having none of it!



So I went down and took their picture so they knew we were serious and I told the one that could speak English that he couldn't fish the river until June 16th. He said he had been down last week and his friend had told him he could use a spinner on the river! I told him to get on the canal or "Do One!" They moved up near us on the canal for a bit then went!

Soon after another mate Woody and his Dad arrived and started to lure fish too. I hadn't had a bite on the float rod so packed up and got out my lure rod too. We all went to the other side of the bridge where you are not supposed to fish and started to throw the lures about.



My set up was a bit on the heavy side as I had forgotten my small spinning rod and so Woody, the Gent that he is lent me his and he used mine. We had a steady walk down the side of the canal toward the next lock. There was nothing about at all. We had been at it a while when I had a little interest from something on my Rapala shadrap. I reeled in and there was a large scale attached to one of the trebles.
I cast out again but nothing. Then Bang, right under my feet! I had scored first blood. Literally first blood. The greedy little sod had almost swallowed the shadrap. It took some time for Woody to get the lure back out and after some snipping and swearing the fish was back in the water! A little Jack of about 2lb. So a new PB for lure caught Pike for me!



Nice one Woody, like I said at the time it would have been in trouble if I was there alone! I replaced the now useless treble and started to cast again.

Woody was next to catch, a new PB! Yes a new PB Todd! The swim stealing pikey was at it again but Woody being armed with my rod and 50lb braid had shown Todd not to poach swims by casting over him and reeling him in!



Todd had to cut his line and start again! Nice one Woody!

Next real hookup went to Todd with another Jack of about 1.5lb.



We kept moving down the canal and eventually Woody was into a Pike too. Another little Jack about the same size as mine.



Big Hands (it's just got to be done!)



And it was away unharmed. We went all the way down to Birkwood lock to where the canal comes under Walton Angling Club. We had a few throws down by the lock and then walked back up to where the cars were parked.



I thouroghly enjoyed myself and once again, no blank!

Woody is a top man spending time showing me how to cast the Baby bait-caster and I learnt a lot so Cheers Woody for a great afternoon.

I can't wait to give them lures another go on an easier water!

[BaggieRich]

Well done Rich. Sounds like a good day.

[biggun]

It was a great day. It is a nice section of the local canal and my kind of fishing (free!).
Woody is a good bloke. He has shown me so much about Pike fishing but I still have lots to learn.
We did an over nighter a few weeks back and he caught his new PB!



24lb 3oz and well deserved! We all packed up for the night but he stayed at it an landed this beauty at about 23:30.
I shall be having a go for her later in the year!
I will be fishing Lakeside fisheries in Leicestershire next weekend with a few mates off another forum and can't wait.
Hopefully I will be meeting an old friend from on here who can show me how to fish for some real big Carp!

[pingu]

another great report
looked a fun day


dave