Catch Fish with
Mike Ladle

Information Page

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 four 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. 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).

28 June 2005.

Lake and river.

Last week I went to two places that I haven't fished for some time (years and months respectively). The first was a lake complex containing a variety of fish species including carp (which I fished for). It was a hot afternoon by the time I arrived and there were a number of 'bivvies' on some of the lakes. I chose a small lake with no one about and threw a few bits of bread onto the surface. I waited and watched for a few minutes. Nothing happened. A shoal of rudd found one bit of crust and spent five minutes head butting and tearing it apart.

I remembered a spot which had consistently produced carp in years gone by. It was an overhanging willow with branches dangling in the water. I dropped three or four bits of breadcrust under the branches, baited my hook with another piece and lowered it in. It was a while before there was any sign of carp activity. As I stood another angler passed by and commented that he had "had three earlier on but they had gone off." Eventually there was a bit of sucking and wallowing under the branches as a carp mopped up a couple of free offerings - it was clear that it was not going to venture out of it's lair to feed. I rebaited and flicked the bait into the 'jungle'. Within a few seconds the rod tip bent and the fish was on. It rushed out of the bush into open water and after a bit of a tussle was landed and returned. Wonderful! I did no more fishing but walked round all the lakes (quietly) to refamiliarise myself with the likely spots.

The next day I went to the river. I was spinning with a small, new plug that I fancied the look of. First chuck it was taken by a chub - which came unstuck! Then a pike bumped it twice and was not hooked. In the course of an hour or so I had half-a-dozen reasonable bites and landed only one perch. Now I know that when I am spinning I sometimes miss bites, everyone does. Sometimes it seems like a curse and on other days I hook everything that sniffs the lure. However, Five misses out of six seemed too many for me so next time I'll change the hooks and try it again.

Close in.

Nice fish.

My perch.

ready to go back.