Hi Guys

Tonight on the forth and clyde canal.....finally gave up casting small nymphs at the roach with no luck

I put on a big glittery damsel nymph i tied up for winter rainbows to cast at all the small jack pike i could see when this greedy ****** shot out the weed bed and nailed it

Funny the same fly/lure seemed to frighten the **** out of the wee pike



Englander

__________________
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

Lovely wee Perch Englander.

I've found that a small Yellow/orange bucktail to be very good for them too.

Dougie

What a fine young perch that is perfect condition, nice markings to.
Perch are a great fish to pursue on the fly, more people should fish for them.

Hehe... he's still looking at the fly in the photo! How's that for predatory instinct?

__________________
Adam
"Dum vivimus, vivamus."

http://www.adamhughes.net

even a big fozzy dog is deadly for the odd perch or two!!!!!

Why were you casting at pike with no wire trace?

The F & C canal is "littered" with wee pike and when i say "wee" pike, im not taking about the wee pike i used to catch down south wee down south ment 2lb-3lb i never saw one smaller.

In the canal is full to bursting with the smallest pike ive ever seen loads "pencil" size even more "jumbo mars bar" a good'N is over 12"-14"

That fly is tied on a 8 long shank no probs for casting over wee pike by wee i mean under 10"

Dont get me wrong there are big buggers in there, best ive hooked were 5lb-8lb range all when im float ledering worms for perch on 3lb mono and size 12 hooks ! When i trace up to spin or play with my big old pike fly's...........Zip

I have never seen so many pike so close together, if im perch fishing float and worm im plagued with wee pike sitting in one spot i have hooked 8,10,15 wee pike in a days perching They are a real pain a few years back i set up a small treble big bunch of worms chucky perch float and "trace" and fished only for these little buggers guess how many i caught in one month ?? By casting just off the reeds i bagged just over 60 of these litle pests in less than 1/2 mile of canal. I have never seen pike so densly packed .....................any ideas why ?? Is this the reason for so many "wee" pike ??

Englander

__________________
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

Hmm I've never come across a water so full of tiny pike like that one - sounds like many of the larger ones that would normally thin them out are 'missing'. Maybe some self-taught 'fishery scientists' have been trying to 'control' the pike population?

I do know one venue with very small pike in it, but for a very different reason. It's an old disused canal that is slowly silting and weeding up, it probably averages no more than 18-24" deep. As far as I can tell it contains only pike and sticklebacks. Most of the pike you will see as you walk along it are about 8-10" long, but there aren't hordes of them by any means. I think they are stunted by their poor environment and poor diet - they probably eat more insects and worms than fish. I've even seen them that size going through spawning rituals in the spring!!!
I did once see one that looked about 6-7lb - that must have been a really old girl for there.

I think you might have hit the nail on the head re "missing pike" the "locals" mostly spin, i was amazed when i moved here 14 years ago or so noboby float fished or sit still they looked at me sitting watching my waggler like some sort of mad man !! they couldnt believe i was using 3lb line and not the "standard" 15lb

Only fishing i saw was ruddy great bubble floats with bits of dead fish kids guys spining, no nets , no forceps ..........all too often you see youngsters large pike killed held aloft like the tigers of yaw ..........

Education is needed but sadly lacking ........... when youngsters see me catch a nice perch or a wee pike and ask if they can have it or why im not killing it i always say "if i put it back and can catch him again and he will be bigger next time " I hope sometimes the message gets through........

Englander

__________________
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

For perch and pike what would you use as a trace?