Hi Guys

Popped up the canal yesterday morning (Forth & Clyde) with an eye to catching Perch.............. i was using my 9' 3wt

And trying out a big white Humungus Clouser that i actually tied up for a Brown trout water i know.

Water was full to bursting with tadpoles and i saw a number of leeches swimming on the surface.

I saw a Pike right out in the middle of the canal in about 7 feet of water just under the surface sucking up tadpoles ! Never seen that before ...........

I only catch one fish a wee 10"-11" pikelet ! yet again the Perch alluded me



It never ceases to amaze me just how many of these tiny pike are in the F & C !



The White Humungus Clouser is tied on a size 6 B175 and has heavy brass dunbell eyes so it fishes upside down, no problem casting it on the 3wt Cult even with a 13 ' leader, in the water it looked amazing ! It was "buzzed" a number of times by roach ! some a good 8"-10"

I didnt see a single perch although the normally gin clear water, had been mucked up by boats and was down to a couple of feet.

__________________
Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel

Hello Englander,How much hingeing of you'r flyline was there when you were casting such a fly with a 3 weight?Was the turnover acceptable or were you having to duck on the forward cast?

No problem at all mate and the wind was howling

I tie up a tapered leader example 4ft of 12lb, 4ft 8lb, 4ft 6lb all joined with 3 turn water knots

Some times i simply use ...........say 8ft of 8lb or 6lb and simply add 4 ft of 6lb ot 4lb

The Vision Cult has alot of "flex" and bends right down to the handle, yet is a powerful spring, key to casting big flies on light rods is leader make up i.e line heavy enough and tapered and "timing" with your casting.

No ducking mate ........... unlike some times when im casting 6/0 pike flies with my 9wt

__________________
Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel

Thanks for the reply.I've been toying with the same idea(perch on the fly) for some time now.Being only 5 mins walk from the canal,I can only put it down to laziness and not knowing what type of fly to use.I've tied up some pink worms and was wondering if they would "do the trick"?

Got to put a fly in the water to catch mate

Bead head or chain eyes seem very important as they produce a "dipping" action which seem to really get the perch going.

By far my best results have been sight casting at them in brigh sun with a size 16 gold head bloodworm, great fun a very productive 16 fish in that session nothing big but great sport.

Trouble you will have is one finding a "consistent" pattern (im still searching) and two the vast numbers of tiny pike in the F & C taht get in the way

I caught a few perch recently fishing blind with a bright pink lure size 10 gold head pink chenile body and bright pink marabou tail.

__________________
Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel

Thanks again Englander.If I ever get round to getting a camera I'll let you have a look at these "flies" I've tied.More coral than pink.

Having read this, I'm off down the canal now. Wind is howling, but hey!
Dave.

__________________
Englander

"Barbless since 2008"

Vision GT Four catapult 9' 6#
Vision GT Four SW 9' 9#
Vision 3 Zone 9' 5#
Vision Cult 9' 3#
Shakespeare Trion 9' 5/6#
Cortland Endurance 9' 6#
Shakespeare Expedition float tube
Vosseler DC3 reel
Okuma Helios 8/9 reel
Greys G series 3/4 reel
Snowbee Geo 3/4 reel