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).

Mixed luck on the river.

This is a piece sent to me by my pal Steve Pitts. We've fished together for many years now but Steve lives in the west-country so it's a fair hike for us to meet on the river bank. Anyway, I thought that Steve's recent lone trip was an excellent example of what you may be missing if you don't explore your area and of good and bad luck in one session:-

As luck would have it my services weren't required this morning for mucking the horses out, digging the allotment or chauffeuring the wife to the Sunday market so I chucked the rod in the car and drove all of a-mile-and-a-half to a little stream that I have been meaning to fish for years. Luckily there was no-one else fishing or it would have been a bit of a bind as my plan was to wade up the stream, casting into all of the trouty-looking lies that I could find. So off I set and 20 minutes later had covered most of the first stretch without a bite. I climbed the bank (why do the branches you grab hold of that look sound always end up being rotten?) and just managed to avoid sliding all the way back down. I threaded my way through the undergrowth to gain access to a little mill pool that was surrounded by 'Private' signs from a footpath that I know to be a public right of way - lucky me. It was a bit of an awkward job to cast from under the trees but with a low flick I was able to get the lure into a good spot alongside the mill race. First cast with a jointed Rapala slow sinking plug and I feel the jag - jag of a fish which turned out to be a nice little perch.

Another perch of similar size followed a few casts later and then my luck changed. I got too ambitious and tried to cast to the far side of the mill race. My lucky plug hit a stone wall and when I started the retrieve the lure refused to dive. Thinking that the line may have tangled around one of the hooks I skipped it back across the surface but on closer inspection found the lip of the lure had broken off - unlucky or just bad angling? A quick change of lure and on the next cast I could feel a good fish pulling in the fast water. This turned out to be a nice brownie and I could have done with a landing net so I just grabbed the fish by the head and lifted it.

When it wriggled (I just knew it would) it dropped in my lap but the spare hook on the lure went straight through a fold in my waders so the fish was stapled to my crotch. I backed the hook out of the fish easily - a quick snap and then slipped it back into the stream.

Since the hook had gone through a fold in the waders it left not one but two holes in the waders - unlucky! I decided that my luck was changing so gave it best and headed back for the car where I met another angler who just getting his gear out of his car. We exchanged hellos and I placed my rod ontop of my car while I got out of my boots and waders. I thought that I would drop into the allotment to pick some beans so, as it's only a mile or so away from the stream, drove up the hill to find that my Mrs was already there. When I opened up the back of the car to put the veg in I noticed something on the roof.

I'd say that was lucky!!!!!! (see last picture)

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

Nice perch.

Close up.

A brownie.

Lucky or what?