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).

Back home!

While I was on holiday in Crete last week I did a bit of (futile) spinning and I took the chance to try some 'Nanofil' line. I'd never used it before (I generally stick to Whiplash). It's funny stuff - sort of white, very fine and smooth and a bit wiry. I'd simply transferred the entire length on one of my shallow spools and I could see that it was a bit too much but couldn't be bothered to change it.The first thing I noticed was the extra distances I was casting. Even with a lightweight, balsa Rapala it was winging its way much further than usual. I used the normal braid knots and they seemed quite secure. Of course because I'd overfilled the spool it wasn't long before I managed a tangle and I found that it was more difficult to unpick than with my usual braid (if I'm patient I can usually get knots out in a minute or two). After I'd cut off the tangle I had no more trouble, but I was extra careful to make sure the line was tidy on the spool every cast.

Anyway, I probably spun for a couple of hours in all (it wasn't a fishing holiday). When we got back to the UK I decided to have a short, early morning session on my local river in hope of a seatrout and I stuck to the new line to give it a good test. I used my J9f, black and silver Rapala (fitted with new 2x trebles) and found that I had to be careful not to pitch the plug onto the far bank. I adjusted my casting accordingly and after a while I found my range. It wasn't long until I had a couple of small pike, both from surprisingly fast water, but I always use a wire trace so there was no problem.

After a while I came to a deep run under my own bank and made a long downstream cast. I could feel the little plug vibrating in the current as I slowly inched it back. Suddenly wallop! I was in and straight away I knew it was a salmon when it began to twist back and forth. After a few seconds of writhing the fish set off downstream tearing several metres of line off the reel against a tightish clutch. Three times it repeated this tactic before I was able to persuade it to swim back up against the flow. By now I could see that it was a beautiful silver fish of about twelve pounds, fresh in from the sea. I was on quite high bank and couldn't get near enough to lift it out so I walked it fifty metres before I found a spot where I could get close enough to the water without falling in. I slid the salmon onto the dewy grass, quicky removed the hooks and took a couple of picture before sliding it back. After a few seconds it swam away strongly. Anyway, it was an excellent test for the new line and for my knots. Perhaps next time I'll get a seatrout?

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

Pike no 1.

Pike no 2.

Salmon.

Me.