Time to move on

With the, very obvious, exception of Loch Awe. Since my return to angling I haven't targeted Pike in any situation away from the intimacy of the drains of the East Kent marshes or the Royal Military Canal. Nothing to complain about, as the results have been way beyond my wildest expectations. What I do need to say, however, is that these venues are not particularly challenging from a bait presentation perspective. An under arm flick is as about as difficult as it gets when placing a baited rig three rod lengths out into a fishery! The key to success, under these circumstances, revolves around fish location and the application of watercraft. All pretty straightforward when you've been Pike fishing as long as I have?

15 lbs 15 oz - Linch Hill 1988

This is now my fourth Pike season since retiring and I have found myself really struggling for consistency due to the crazy weather patterns we've been experiencing. Storm Bert, very quickly followed by Storm Darragh, has led to the realisation that I need to spread my focus and seek venues which are better able to cope with influxes of rainwater without complete loss of water clarity. I need a still water and, thanks to Benno & Luke, have been pointed in the direction of one such fishery which might just provide the answer? We've got our Canterbury/Thanet PAC Region "Christmas Meal" tomorrow evening and I am hoping to get a wander around the lake prior to this annual highlight. 

18 lbs 4 oz - Grebe Lake at Emberton Park (Northamptonshire)
5th March 1989

To be totally honest, because it's been so long since since I fished such a venue, I'm not sure what to expect or how I will approach the challenges once I've taken a look? Still water Pike angling is where I "cut my teeth" way back in the 1970's. It is because I am currently reviewing so many old, slide, images of my early adventures that this thought process has been re-ignited and, all of a sudden, I'm quite excited by the prospect of somewhere new. I also need to give Brian (The Pike Blog) a mention, as it was his idea that a "double" from a new venue is a worthy target for the start of each fresh season.

16 lbs 6 oz - Colney Heath (A British Aerospace fishery)
23rd November 1989

These type of situations are exactly why keeping diaries provides such a brilliant resource  For me the ability to scan through notes, made in my distant past, is a priceless edge which can offer an insight into thought processes which have been long forgotten. Already I find myself exploring ideas which have lain dormant for decades. This new fishery is never going to come close to the challenges posed by Wilstone Res. Tring, yet is certainly worthy of effort purely because it's been such a long time since I sought Pike in this type of venue. 

23 lbs 4 oz - Linch Hill 
26th January 1989

Until I actually visit the fishery, I can make no plans for how to approach this challenge beyond acknowledging the fact that three rod lengths won't be a viable option if I'm to exploit the full potential of this venue. The photos that accompany this post are of Pike that have been captured from still waters during my "speccy hunting" days and have only been revisited due to the prep work involved with getting my PAC presentation put together.