A dead heat....

This morning’s Zander session down the Grand Union Canal was my most hectic yet; I’d fished this area before but only using a lure rod and had my P.B. of 5lb 4oz but for this trip I’d fish my two rod approach. A sleeper rod with a running set-up and a Roach deadbait and the main rod a light lure outfit. I alternated between the ultimate bass hook and the Raptor to see how they differed.

I only fished for a few hours but I’d banked about 12 or 13 Zander, all but one on the Roach deadbait and apart from one lost fish all runs had successful hook-ups. The biggest went 3lb 14oz with the majority around the 2lb range. Every swim produced a fish too and on manky deadbaits that you wouldn’t have thought fish would look forward to dine upon. The biggest difference I’d say between the two hooks was that the Ultimate Bass hook because of the long shank and thin gauge was far easier to remove and every one could be removed by hand. The Raptor probably had the better hook hold and all but one had to be removed with pliers. Even though I crushed the micro barb once the thicker gauge hook had penetrated the Zanders tough mouth it wasn’t coming out. I’d use either hook to be honest and the Raptor probably made more sense because of the small baits I was using.

They don’t pull that hard but they give such a spirited fight it’s great sport so much so they are going up my favourite fish list and the cut it full of them it seems. Plenty of schoolies to be had and bigger fish likely to be roaming around too. I need some better deadbaits but as the method was that successful I might even swop the lure rod for a float set-up.

I’ve an eye on a few areas on the Avon that look like they may hold some fish, a weir pool, a deep area with bream present and also a deep stretch with roach present. The Avon holds pike though so I’d be adjusting my rigs to suit, one being trace in-lieu of heavy braid.