Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

Information Page

Freshwater Fishing

For anyone unfamiliar with the site always check the FRESHWATER, SALTWATER and TACK-TICS pages. The Saltwater page now extends back as a record of over several years of (mostly) sea fishing and may be a useful guide as to when to fish. The Freshwater stuff is also up to date now. I keep adding to both. These pages are effectively my diary and the latest will usually be about fishing in the previous day or two. As you see I also add the odd piece from my friends and correspondents if I've not been doing much. The Tactics pages which are chiefly 'how I do it' plus a bit of science are also updated regularly and (I think) worth a read (the earlier ones are mostly tackle and 'how to do it' stuff).

Big grayling.

My last freshwater web page gives an account of how, before Christmas, my pal Nigel and I went grayling fishing and how I managed to delete the picture of his 2lb 4oz grayling. Anyway, for some time Nigel has been trying (and failing) to break the 3lb barrier for grayling. While I was on holiday I suggested that he should try a stretch of the local river which we quite often fish for pike. It seems he did just that and here's his latest email to me -

Hi Mike,

Hope your hols were good will chat soon. Well I finally properly broke the 3 lb barrier.!!!!!!!! I really am a lucky whotsit! not only did I hook it in front of an audience, miles from anywhere, but the hook link (2 lb 4 oz double strength) snapped just as its tail went into the net. Only the current and a swift left handed scoop saved the day. It took triple maggot on the second trot though a steady glide (Very unusual for me to fish a glide!!). I went on to get four more including fish of 1 lb 10 oz and 2 lb 1 oz and only 1 trout. I was trotting towards the footbridge which had two or three "dog walkers" on it at the time.

All the best,

Nige

So, there it is. At least he got a picture of the fish this time - what a grayling!

If you have any comments or questions about fish, methods, tactics or 'what have you!' get in touch with me by sending an E-MAIL to - docladle@hotmail.com

Excellent!