Not posting this to moan, just to share information and ask for ideas from others on here.

On opening day I went down to the weir pool on my local river that produced so well on the fly last autumn with plenty of Pike including several high doubles. Was there at some ungodly hour (~5am) as in the sessions last year the only time I got fish of any size was early morning and at or just after dusk. Weather conditions were OK, SW wind blowing with occasional heavy showers, water clarity not perfect but OK, water temp 16.5C. All seemed set for a nice day of rod-bending. But it was not to be. I fished right through to 11pm with a 3 hour snooze break about 2:30pm in every likely spot, at every depth with every size and colour of fly - not a sausage, not even little jacks. The casting arm and double-hauling hand were both pretty tired that night!

Anyway I thought this must be a bit of a fluke so went down this evening to good conditions, warmish, calmish day, water clarity good, water temp 15.5C. Fished right through the hottest time from last autumn (i.e. an hour before dusk to 2 hours after) and not even a sniff.

Any thoughts? The obvious one is 'no fish there' but apart from a serious onslaught from our pike-eating Eastern European cousins (which doesn't seem likely as this spot is not easy to find and in general isn't heavily-fished) I can't see a reason for this as it's a large and complex weir pool with aerated water, plenty of cover above water & structure below and a good choice of flow or static water depending where you go.

Or is it time of year related to interest (or not) in a fly? Although I have fished for Pike for many years with lures and deadbaits, last late summer to early winter was my first try with the fly but it was very successful and I suppose i expected to continue where I left off!

Where do your pike go to spawn?

I have found the pike are still quite close to their spawnig grounds, feeduing but not yet fully dispersed.

It's a good question but I'm not sure as it's only fairly recently that I have started to fish and study this section of the river. But isn't it late for Pike to be spawning in the SE, especially with the warm Spring weather?

---------- Post added at 06:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:04 PM ----------

It's a good question but I'm not sure as it's only fairly recently that I have started to fish and study this section of the river. But isn't it late for Pike to be spawning in the South East UK, especially with the warm Spring weather?

i also live in the south east and have found opening day and the day after very tough going i was not pacifically targeting pike i was ultra lighting with lures for chubb and perch with the hope of the odd jack.

I managed chubb and perch but never seen a pike am only guessing but i think it could be all this unsettled weather putting them off. Thats my excuse anyway.

Aslo when i was making my way up the river it looks as though people had already been fishing as the dense vegation to swims had been cleared and looked as though it had been for a while. This may have been people fishing during the close season.

Interestingly enough I had my first trip to my river the Great Ouse and fished my favourite weir pool in near perfect conditions without even a jack having a nibble. The pike may be not quite ready to play yet or just feeling sulky.

Though I am quite suprised this thread has not been hijacked by somebody with their picture of a 22lb er caught first cast on their first trip of the season!

Ed

__________________
www.Troutzilla.co.uk

www.Ilikesheds.com

Pike dont like warm water, they will be off the feed now

Barometric pressure also plays a big part.

Weflyfish...just to oblige!

Opening day...this one broke the FLY LINE...the damn drag was on a sticky bit and stuck when it dived under the kayak.....I had the rod stuck down into the water, but the drag never yielded an inch, it had worked perfectly up to that point. A LOT bigger than this one:


Also opening day:

nice fish @tailing_loop, looks like you were on a stillwater somewhere

@greenie58, what water temperature range do you think is good? my two recent trips were 15.5C & 16.5C. I remember I had one blank at the end of last season (mid-Nov) when water was 10C and that felt pretty cold. The swim is just below a substantial weir so plenty of aerated water available close by

Pike are a cold water species, they prefer and can be caught in very cold water conditions on lures and flies, even when it icing up, personally I will only fish for them when its cold or cool, thats below 10 degrees for me but each to their own.

When the water is warm, ie above 18 degrees they will go right off the feed most of the time, although you will tempt a few small fish.

Tailing loops.....Nice fish....

I myself had another little crack this evening and caught only my dog...and even she was only tangled up in my line.

I d agree the water is a bit too warm for the big girls but I ve been suprised by the lack of jacks.

Regards,

Ed

__________________
www.Troutzilla.co.uk

www.Ilikesheds.com