WEATHER MOST FOUL
After my minor but nonetheless enjoyable success using deadbaits on the Avon, I was excited to switch my attention to the canals for two very good reasons. Firstly there seems to be hardly anyone making the effort locally to catch pike from them and secondly, despite the CRTs futile efforts to shut the stable door, there are loads of Zander to add runs, targets and interest to what could easily be a soul destroying quest.
Where to try though? There's a fair bit of canal water on the Leamington book but I had my eye on a stretch of the North Oxford close to Pete's house. We have had many decent perch from one particular area but being close to the access point the Zander are regularly fished for and possibly removed. I have caught them there myself but they've all been small and not really what I am hoping for.
Back in our lure fishing days we did find a spot out in the countryside maybe three quarters of a mile from the car that produced one or two better Zander in the 5 - 7lbs range. Granted they didn't seem to be there in great numbers but then this part of the canal was always reluctant to give up fish to lures, probably due to its heavy boat traffic and resulting colour. I decided to begin my quest there.
I can tell you now that nothing is more depressing or more disheartening on a miserable, cold, wet and windy day than watching a couple of floats guarding a couple of dead fish. I can also tell you that nothing is more exciting than seeing one of those moribund floats suddenly come to life. What is it? How big is it? A 1lbs Zander or a twenty pound Pike? Well it was neither but I was happy enough with a three pounder and it reminded me once again what a marvellous, handsome fish the Zander is. How it gets the evil, devil fish tag that seems to be slapped on it by the press, the match angler and the so called 'conservationist' is unfathomable. I can only think it is a mixture of the predator's animosity to other predators and the traditional English antipathy toward Johnny Foreigner.
Whatever the reason, I'm all fired up now and will be back out there soaking dead fish as soon as I can.
Where to try though? There's a fair bit of canal water on the Leamington book but I had my eye on a stretch of the North Oxford close to Pete's house. We have had many decent perch from one particular area but being close to the access point the Zander are regularly fished for and possibly removed. I have caught them there myself but they've all been small and not really what I am hoping for.
Back in our lure fishing days we did find a spot out in the countryside maybe three quarters of a mile from the car that produced one or two better Zander in the 5 - 7lbs range. Granted they didn't seem to be there in great numbers but then this part of the canal was always reluctant to give up fish to lures, probably due to its heavy boat traffic and resulting colour. I decided to begin my quest there.
I can tell you now that nothing is more depressing or more disheartening on a miserable, cold, wet and windy day than watching a couple of floats guarding a couple of dead fish. I can also tell you that nothing is more exciting than seeing one of those moribund floats suddenly come to life. What is it? How big is it? A 1lbs Zander or a twenty pound Pike? Well it was neither but I was happy enough with a three pounder and it reminded me once again what a marvellous, handsome fish the Zander is. How it gets the evil, devil fish tag that seems to be slapped on it by the press, the match angler and the so called 'conservationist' is unfathomable. I can only think it is a mixture of the predator's animosity to other predators and the traditional English antipathy toward Johnny Foreigner.
Whatever the reason, I'm all fired up now and will be back out there soaking dead fish as soon as I can.
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