Pike Blog

Summer fishing.

One idea for my next summer challenge is a River Lugg barbel (not an easy task).

Well I've finally worn through my fishing boots - it took 13 years and thousands of miles!

Afternoon chucking a lure about and two lost jacks before the one above stayed on the hook.

Target: 50 carp, including 10 doubles.

Twenty-six Clouded Yellow butterflies spotted - beautiful!

Just wandering about on the Small River, flicking a piece of meat at the fish I spot.

It's good to be back on running water...

Last trip to The Farm Pond before hitting the rivers - although I will be back later in the year after those perch (and possibly a winter carp).

Last trip of the year to The Puddle (probably).

It's raining.

Location: You need a large, flat, grassy area (comfort is king).

Just needed one more carp to hit 200 this summer - any carp would do.

Carp 199 of the season - ensuring at least one more trip...

Looks like rain on the horizon.

On August 7th Adam C (of the excellent blog Fishin' Impossible) commented "Four to go?

The nights are drawing in but pike-time seems a long way off - still in drought and yet another heatwave.

Another trip to the Farm Pond and the second part of my Carp Challenge - 50 carp - cracked (excluding commerical pond carp).

Cracking on with the Double Challenge, three carp landed from 12-18 inches of water (boilies & crust) - including double #18 at 10lb 5oz.

A couple of hours wandering around The Puddle - and two carp stalked off the top on floating crust.

Still no perch.

I was watching the perch in The Wye - can't wait to get cracking at a three plus Wye perch.

Decided to make life difficult for myself; a carp on the fly.

Quick mission to the Farm Pond and three carp landed, including double #14 - a long, lean fully scaled mirror - scraped in at 10lb 0oz.

Not big, but I really wanted a tench from The Puddle - success!

With the hot weather continuing more and more of the bed of the Farm Pond is being revealed - look at the size of this swan mussel, probably the biggest I've found.

Back to the Farm Pond - one livebait out for perch, one alternating between crust & boilie.

Few hours stalking carp on The Puddle.

Nine barbel found the net - taking my season total up to 21.

I've caught 139 carp so far this season - and none of them made me work harder than this Small River gem.

Couple of hours on the Small River searching for a carp.

Back to the Farm Pond - and not a run on the livebaits.