Lives or deads

Thirteen days into the traditional pike season and I was yet to wet a pike bait. Most of the fishing we do is of a weekend and with family commitments most of the sessions tend to be very short, maybe just a few hours. This Sunday was to be a rare dawn till dusk, day long session on a local water that we've been visiting from time to time over the last 18 months or so. The venue is very big and much unexplored by our motley crew, usually this time of the year we would prefer to experiment and try out new swims but with a full day available we decided to fish a spot we had recently discovered that had produced good numbers of fish into the low doubles. Our little fishing club comprises of just four members, Brian Sephton (Sefo), Bernie Brennan (B), Myself Keith and our newest and youngest member Michael Ward AKA golden balls (my 13 year old son). I had a good feeling about this session until my alarm had gone off, to many beers and a very late night before a fishing trip equates to lack of effort when it matters.  We met up at Sefo's house at around 6am, packed the van and headed off. I finally started to wake when we got to our venue, I opened the van door to a light but chilly north easterly breeze, all the gear was unloaded and we headed off. Me and Mikes swim was the closes to the van, about 500 yards with Bernie and Sefo  60 yds or so further along the bank, it was still dark when we got to our swims and the forecast was light rain from 7am so we put the brollies up first and then set about putting the rods together. This was to be a good call, as soon as the last peg went in it started to rain, all the gear got thrown under the brolly and I began to help get Mikes 2 rods set up, baited and in the water. I finally got round to putting my rods out, our plan was to each fish one rod on live bait and one rod on dead bait, my livey went out first with the dead bait to follow. I opted to use a mackerel tail section and fish it close over chopped up mackerel and herring, all to be delivered to my chosen location by the bait boat. I controlled the boat Mike had the rod, Mike said "Dad, what would you do if we got a run now why your putting your bait out" I didn't have time to answer, Mikes live bait rod went off, I quickly put the handset down hit the run and asked Mike to put the other rod down so I could give him his rod back. By the time I'd got the landing net Mike already had the fish to the bank, I put the landing net in the water but the net wasn't fully opened and the fish that Mike had hooked had a flying treble which inevitably got caught in the net, that was the only thing in the net as well. I managed to get the fish up the bank on the waters edge and as I put the fish and net down the remaining hook came free from the fish, I quickly chinned the fish to take it to the unhooking mat for weighing and photos, as I got over the mat the fish decided it didn't want me holding it and lashed out, I felt one of its big teeth stick deep into my left thumb, I think the bone stopped it from going any deeper, I let out a big girly scream as the fish landed on the unhooking mat. It didn't end there, my mat placement wasn't the best in the world, right next to a ditch, I'll give you three guesses where the pike went next, you guessed it down the ditch, I got the pike back on the mat, Mike put the fish in the recovery sling and took it to the water for a minute why I tended to my new battle scar. We finally weighed the fish, 8lb 5oz took photos and put it back. While all this was going on I had a text from Bernie, he had just had a 7lb pike on a live bait, his run came straight away why he was putting his second rod out.

We finally managed to settle down, confidence was high, we'd only been fishing for half an hour and 2 fish had graced to net, Mike's backbiter once again broke the silence, this time a very small pike of just over 3 lb, it took a 7" live bait, both hooks firmly set in the greedy little buggers mouth. He re baited and cast to the same spot, clipped his bobbin up and sat down only for his bait to be taken again, the fish was taking plenty line so Mike wound down and struck, he missed it, gutted, he put a fresh bait on and cast back out. The bait was only in the water for a few minutes when he got another run, this time a better fish than the last one but no double, a scrappy little jack of 7lb. Once things finally settled I had a quick walk over to Bernie and Sefo, all was quite on the pike rods, they told me that a few fish had struck in their swim. Sefo had the tip rod out and was catching plenty baiters, some good sized roach, perch and skimmers, I wished them good luck and headed back to my swim for a bite to eat. Mike then headed over to Bernie and Sefo to tell them of his 3 fish, it wasn't long before he came back, "dad, get the camera, Sefo's got a double" he said. I headed over and sure enough there it was 13lb 1oz, Sefo's first double of the new season, I took some photos and back she went, I congratulated him and headed back to Mike.

It wasn't too long before I was back with Bernie and Sefo again, Sefo had bagged another double, 10lb 3 oz, I took some more photos and set off to my swim wondering when I would be on the other side of the camera. It was now mid day and I was the only one not to have caught, I decided to do two things, firstly change my dead bait for a live bait, Sefo had caught loads by now so there was no need to ration them out, all the fish that had been caught that morning came to live baits, secondly I opted to fish in the deeper water further out. This move paid off, I had a run on my left hand rod, no monster but a very welcome 7lb jack. I've had it lucky, I started my pike fishing campaign in early September, I had done five sessions and managed to catch on all of them, make that 6 out of 6 now. 

As the afternoon drew in things slowed, Sefo had a small jack but kept himself busy on the tip rod, I had a good run on me left hand rod again, I hit the run and it felt solid, then a kick, I only had the fish on for a few seconds it gave a good pull then the hooks came free. I quickly grabbed another bait as I thought it could have been a good fish and maybe stood another change of hooking it, It was then I noticed one of the hooks on the lower treble had been straightened. I quickly made a new trace with bigger and stronger hooks on it with the intention of putting out the biggest live bait I could lay my hands on. I hooked up an 8" rudd and flicked it to the same spot as the last run, clipped it up and turned my alarm on. The bobbin came off, at first I thought it was the bait so I re clipped up but set the tension on the line clip a little firmer sat down and watched the bait working away. The tip of the rod jolted round and then I got a drop back, the bait had certainly been taken so I reeled up tight and struck, talk about gutted, this pike wasn't a gram over 2lb. All the excitement ended by a tiny pike but hey hoe it was another fished on the bank. I managed another few jacks bringing my tally for the day to 4, I sat down and fell asleep dreaming of catching a big fish but was rudely awakened by an erratic Bernie Brennan running towards my shouting "I've done it, I've done it" I said done what, he said "I've got a twenty, grab your camera and scales". We quickly run back to look at the catch of the day and sure enough it was a big fish, a really big fish. Sefo had unhooked the fish why Bernie was getting me but in all the excitement Bernie forgot to ask me to bring the weigh sling so Sefo put the fish in the net and returned it to the water for a breather, I returned with the sling and fish was transferred over, Bernie took the scales but couldn't hold them still enough to take an accurate reading, Bernie was shaking with excitement so Sefo took the honour of weighing Bernies new PB and first twenty plus pike of 22lb 3oz



We both shook Bernies hand and congratulated him, he gave a big shout out (a bit like Gordy) and then posed for the camera before taking his prize catch the water, he stood there for a few moments relishing the moment and admiring his catch before finally releasing her to her watery home. We still had a few hours fishing left but nothing came of it, we finally wrapped up and headed back to our vehicles in the dark, put our gear away and headed home for a well deserved drink before bed.

More memories were made today, fishing in good company and a clunker of a fish, what more could you possibly ask for.