Monday 3 November 2014

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.

5 comments:

  1. Zed bagging machine! Well done Mick - you seem to have them pretty well sussed out on that canal.

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    1. Seems to be full of them Sean, don't think I've blanked in about 10 or so trips.

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  2. Good little experiment Mick. I always find the raptors hook in the scissors or deep into the bottom fleshy part of the mouth. Definitely get yourself out on the Avon, I'd suggest starting in the weir swim fishing on the edge of the flow. First or last light best and baits fresh as you can get (shop bought will work ok). Get ready for a stronger fight from the river zeds. Don't worry about using a wire trace zeds are just not that fussy.

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    1. Cheers for the tips Lee, I'm looking forward to a new challenge to be honest.

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  3. Funny how as soon as I catch one of these all the blogs about then suddenly become a million per cent more interesting. Personally caught a lot of perch on wire traces too and can't really conclude that they are that fussy about them either! In fact I've changed to nylon hook lengths when bites have dried up (generally fishing livebaits) and still not caught. So I'm assuming if they want it they'll have it regardless of whether it's on a trace. It's all guesswork though. Wire is forced on us down here anyway - jacks everywhere!

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