Catch fish with Mike Ladle.

Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

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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).

Rapala.

My little J9 Rapala has been so successful with the seatrout recently that I decided, for a change, to have a go spinning for my personal 'grand slam' of trout, perch, pike and chub. Although it was a sunny afternoon I was quite optimistic. The river was relatively clear and still had plenty of water in it (a bit too much for wading in some of my favourite spots). The first thing I discovered was ahole in my left side wader, not a good start. Anyway, for a while there was nothing doing and then, fishing one of my 'banker' spots, i hooked a perch not much bigger than the little plug. Well, it was a perch so that was one up to me.

I moved to the tail of a big pool and first cast I was into a fish. It was certainly bigger than the perch and it turned out to be a modest chub so that was two species to the score. I wandered on downstream and it was probably twenty minutes before I had another bite. This time I was fishing down and across some weedy rapids. From the first second there was no doubt what I had hooked as it exploded from the water in a shower of droplets. I played the trout (perhaps a pound in weight) to my side and unhitched the camera but as I was about to take a picture the fish gave a final wriggle and came off. Ah well!

Time was marching on so I trudged back upstream to where I'd started and had a last cast across a slck surrounded by reeds. The rod banged round and i was into a pike. Again it was no monster so it was not long before It was posing for a picture in by the bank. Nearly a full set of pictures. The Rapala is a versatile lure.

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

Tiny.

The first of the 'set' a pidgy little perch well hooked on my J9.

Chubby.

I do like catching chub on lures even if they don't fight much.

Pike.

My last fish of the session - pity about the trout.