The Only Way Is Esox

The Only Way Is Esox

The penultimate day before the closed season in unenclosed waters and Pike were in prospect



Last time  I lure fished the fens with my brother he won out; this time I was taking no chances and I looked to squeeze every 1% advantage I could and took a longer tippier spinning rod and a multi jointed "Savage Gear" plug same as the one Pete had used to good effect last time ( bottom one in this pic)


Leaving nothing to chance I pulled on my new Jack Pyke jacket in Wild Trees pattern just right for hiding in the Fenland reeds - as it turned out today was much warmer than yesterday, the wind had gone and the jacket was too warm but siddle it I've bought it and I'm going to bloody well wear it!

5 casts in and it was fish on!
And there we have it,
Esox Lucius



Hang on, I'll hold it out towards the camera so it looks bigger...



The Pike however seemed largely absent as we tried several spots around the junction of three counties.



The drain bottom was breaking up with clumps of muddy scum rising to the surface and the Pike were probably gathered somewhere else preparing to spawn, the temperature was rising, the water looked lazy and off came the jacket! ( no worries, not taking any chances I'd several layers of camo on!)





As the sun climbed it was turning into a full on beautiful day, the Woodpigeon were summer flighting and high above us two fighter jets practised close quarters dog fighting turning back and in on each other in mock combat Top Gun style



At the water's edge two brothers were locked in a friendly combat of their own

It was nearly lunchtime as I worked along a dyke, spotting water tumbling out of a drainage pipe in the opposite bank and I reckoned that must be pouring in worms and stuff the small fish might be attracted to and a predator may be around.

Flicked the plug out, whipped the rod tip this way and that and watched the plug surface , roll and dive like a wounded fish, (the life like way this plug swims is a joy to watch, it's like taking a pet fish for a walk)

Then a silver flank caught the sun a foot behind my lure, turned in for the kill and then pulled its punch, turned over then sank back - like the jets practising dog fighting above us.

Then just as I'm thinking that's that, the jack pike stood on its tail and this time closed in for the kill and seized the lure;



The take was visually exciting but not much of a scrap to be honest, a thin fish, with leeches on its flank but I'd beaten Bruv two nil on his home waters, ticked the box, evened the score on the trout from the day before I'm Top Gun for today and now we could leave the fish in peace.

Another great day comes to an end, I'm well jel of Pete's Fenland playground but the fish are just a bonus!

Well done Paul another great report
It's the camouflage that did it
You are our very own sunnyrhyl Rambo

Well done Paul on a cracking report and pictures. I would say it's definitely the jacket that did the trick. :http://www.for:http://www.for

Another cracking report paul well done chaps

Great report and pics Paul,you can be my wing man anytime

Very good report Paul really enjoyed reading that