Haven't managed to get out fishing at all over the hols so as today is my last day I managed to squeeze in an hr and 1/2 down the canal.

Only my second attempt at fly fishing for pike so I was very pleased to catch one just a little jack but not just my first on a fly, but my first ever pike and also the first fish landed on a fly I tied myself

Needless to say I'm quite chuffed with myself ...now I'll need to catch some bigger ones

Nice one Euan, not something I've tried myself but is on my "to do" list

Gary

Top Banana hopefully I'll be out at the end of the week giving it a go

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I used to like fishing because I thought it had some larger significance. Now I like fishing because it's the one thing I can think of that probably doesn't.

Were you aiming for Pike or was it a lucky catch??

Nice one buddy, just wait til summer when you see them bow waving to hit a surface/shallow fished fly

Sorry just read you were targeting them. Well done mate.

Nice one Euan. That's you off and running.

Thanks guys yes it was what I was targetting I thought winter pike would tide me over till the trout season starts again. So far, I'm more successful at pike than trout though!
Sorry for the dodgy pic I was rushing to get it back in the water so didnt want to faff trying to get a good one.

I better try tying some more flies for them I guess - I only had 4 with me that I'd tied using what I had to hand (after the mutt ate most of my tying materials!!), mostly marabou and tinsel. I got it on a green and black jobby with an orange head - my attempt at a perch imatation

Having read what fighters they are it was slightly disapponting how little resistance it put up - probably because of its size compared to the rod I suppose.

Winter pike aren't renowned for being great fighters a couple of short bursts and some gill flaring but get the same sized fish in summer and there completely different