Pike puts man in spin.

[BaggieRich]

I went out spinning for Pike for the first time on Saturday and I've gotta say; Wow. What a great way to fish.

After a few tales of spinning from Pingu and the Bass being on the way soon, I went out an bought myself a spinning rod last week (Shakespeare Purist 9ft 10-30gr) and was so desperate to give it a try I managed to convince another mate of mine to go down to Exeter canal and give it a whirl.

After a fairly heavy session the night before, we arrived at the canal near Exminster at about 09:30am. To say I was still a little grogy would be an undestatement. Conditions were okay, a bit of wind but no rain to start with, which was great as long as I could stop the top of my head unscrewing and floating away.

Once all the gear was setup, we set off up the canal towards Exeter. I started out using a 4" shad and was really only trying to get the hang of the rod to be honest. I had a few problems with the new line I'd put on, but if I'm fair, I think it was more down to my casting style than anything else.

By 12:00pm we'd made our way down to the double locks pub, and it was here that I caught my first sight of Mr Essox. After a short cast straight out over the canal and right at the end of my reteive, I noticed a flash of green and silver and all of a sudden my line went tight. Of course like the prat that I am, I struck the rod so hard it must have pulled the damned shad straight out of Mr Pikes mouth and the moment was gone. Gutted.

Not to be out done, I cast back to the same spot and to my delight right at the end of the cast the fish started to follow again. This time I could see it a lot better and so left it a little longer before striking, however once again the shad came back in without hooking the fish. B**ger. What was I doing wrong? I cast out again, thinking that there was no way the fish would still be interested, so I was amazed when again the fish follwed the lure only this time I didn't strike at all. After what seemd like ages, I saw the fish take the lure, slowlly lifted and what do you know? Fish on.

I've got to say that it wasn't the biggest Pike in the world (I reckon about 15" and maybe 1 1/2 - 2 lb) and it didn't really put up much of a fight, but the buzz you get from seeing the thing following your lure is emense. What a rush.

About ten mins later my mate had a better fish of about 5/6 lb, just past the locks of the doble locks pub, but after that we didn't see much of anything. We fished about another mile past the pub, and then truged all the way back before setting off towards Topsham, but by then we'd been well and truly soaked and the wind was picking up, so I had a bit more of a play with the rod before packing up and making my way home.

What a great day and a superb way to fish. Light and mobile is definately the way forwards, and I can say with out a shadow of a doubt that I'll be doing this again in the near future.

Of course, now I can't wait to try it out for the Bass either.

Rich.

[biggun]

Nice one, Thought about it myself but seem to have gone over budget on the fishing this month (that e-bay has a lot to answer for).
Looks like you enjoyed yourself anyway.

[Norfolkboy]

Well done Rich mate.

I never forget seeing my first follow. An 11lber, brilliant to see.

[pingu]

well done rich
tried myself there on thurs for no luck
cant believe you went past the pub
you must have been feeling rough

will try again later in week

[wellyfish]

sounds like a good day rich , wont be long before your plugging for the bass....

[BaggieRich]

Cheers guys, you're right. It was a top day, and the perfect hang over cure (Apart from another couple of pints, but I was ropey to be driving down there in the first place to be honest!)

Originally Posted by wellyfish

sounds like a good day rich , wont be long before your plugging for the bass....

And that's what I'm talking about..... Roll on the bass mate. I'm looking forward to your lesson at Oddicombe......

Gotta say though, I'm gonna go back for the Pike. Great fun. Must take a few lures though, my mate wasn't best pleased when I lost one on the opposite bank!

Rich.

[wellyfish]

it wont be oddicombe for the bass rich it will be the deep gullys at the bottom of the cliffs hows your head for heights ....

[Greenheart]

Cracking report Rich If the Forum Smutt meet works out OK maybe we should think about a Forum Bass plugging / spinning meet on Portland or somewhere as there seems to be a lot of people interested in the subject. Well done on the Pike mate

[BaggieRich]

Originally Posted by wellyfish

it wont be oddicombe for the bass rich it will be the deep gullys at the bottom of the cliffs hows your head for heights ....

Ahem. Errm, yeah well.... Errr, I'll be fine mate, as long as I've got a safety rope.



And the coast guard standing by.




And a couple of shots of whiskey inside me.




And a couple of hundred JCB's just to knock the height of the cliff down to a sensible level. Ten foot should just about do it.

Originally Posted by Greenheart

maybe we should think about a Forum Bass plugging / spinning meet on Portland or somewhere as there seems to be a lot of people interested in the subject.

Sounds like a damned good idea to me. Like I say I've not tried sea spinning yet, but if it's half as enjoyable as the weekends piking then I can see it rapidly becoming my favorite form of fishing.... Let's just try and organise it for later in the summer/early autumn eh? One small event to go first which I have to say will kill my fishing for a while..... 8 weeks and counting. And it's not like I've got an entire house worth of DIY to get through first or anything....

PANIC!



Rich.

[geffski]

great report mate! nothing like catching a fish on a lure! any fish!!!!