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).

A decent chub in low water conditions.

Yesterday I went over to the river for a couple of hours spinning. The water levels were even lower than last time I went and it was gin clear. The only improvement was that there were fewer leaves drifting down this time.

I fished exactly the same stretch of water as last time and true to form the fishing was poor. Takes were few and far between and even the spots that had produced chub a few days earlier failed to generate bites. Still it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and a pleasure to be out. I missed one pluck from a tiny chub in very shallow water so I was still hopeful that I might get something as I came to the last, downstream, fishable place. I started fishng from the cattle drink by casting across and allowing the little Rapala to drift across the current. Nothing! I paddled into the shallow water to enable me to cast upstream past the overhanging willow bushes without getting snagged. Now in years gone by this spot has produced me lots of big chub on the lures and even on my previous trip I had a knock which I failed to hook. I gradually lengthened my casts and slowly walked upstream to cover as much water as possible. The plug plopped in close to the far bank and I began to retrieve with the flow, just fast enough to keep the plug wiggling. Was that a pull? I couldn't be sure but there was no obvious obstruction so I guessed that it had been a fish. I cast again to the same spot and as the lure hit the water it was taken. I played the small chub back across the flow to where I stood and took a couple of pictures before unhooking the fish and releasing it. Well, at least I hadn't blanked.

I paddled back out so that I had an angle to cast back towards the trees on the near bank. A few more chucks then 'last cast!' I thought. Out went the lure and almost at once there was a tap. I kept winding and as the lure approached the rod tip it was grabbed by what was clearly a much better fish than the ones I have caught recently. I played it to the edge and beached it before taking a few pictures. Four-and-a-half pounds, no monster but a fantastic way to end the session. Of course I had a few more casts but no more bites. I walked back to the car in the winter sunshine a happy man.

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

A nice little chub on the plug.

Ready to unhook.

That's more like it.

Couldn't resist a selfie even in the bright sunshine. The fish came from near the trees on the right of the picture.