The River Arrow - Killers and Kilfud-yoking

I didn't really know where to go or what to do for this session because for starters I didn't have that long and looking back at my blog, when the conditions are brass monkey's like it was today, not much bites now does it. Even the dace which I fancied targeting like many other species become somewhat torbid, or perhaps a better description would be refrigerated. 

Dace are no exception and, I believe, when their metabolism slows down through intense cold they move in to water with a little less flow. Anyway I bumped in to an angler on the stretch recently and he said 'there were pike in the weir', so it would be rude to not have a go now wouldn't it. 

This would be a double dipping session however as I'd also try for a chub with bread or cheesepaste where after an hour in the weir trying for a pike I'd get on the rove and get the blood flowing. 

Now to me the joy of angling for pike is that the pike is at his best in winter. I have never caught a proper proper specimen pike my largest came from the canal and weighed 17lb 8oz but winter is the most likely time for the really big ones. 

And winter fishing has its own peculiar attraction. It is cold we know, but we can wrap up to keep warm, and there is a greater sense of quietude beside the water than at any other time. 

Have you ever noticed trees in the mists of late November? The leafless branches look like fairy lace-work. I'm not quite sure that the winter scene isn't more delightful than the summer. But there isn't any season when the waterside isn't delightful.

However, let's get back to the pike. I must confess that I don't like him. An old countryman friend of mine summed him up: 'Yes, 'e's a wicked old devil.' That's just about what he is, too. He is a ferocious killer, and I suspect that he doesn't always kill because he is hungry.

You have probably heard of a big pike near you that no one can catch and that it isn't safe to swim in that water. There are many lakes, ponds and rivers in which a monster pike, capable of nipping off a swimmer's foot is supposed to live. 

Don't take these stories too seriously. However, there is no doubt of the pike's ferocity. I have seen pike grab a swimming water vole, drag a waterhen underwater, and even wild duck have fallen prey to them. I know of one bit of water known as the Tunnel Pool, near a little place called  Wall Grange in the north Midlands, where it was believed lived a monster pike which once killed a terrier dog. I don't think anyone ever produced evidence to prove the matter, yet possibly a monster pike could do so.

There are authenticated stories of the pike's ferocity that are really quite extraordinary. One has always stuck in my mind. It was noticed that a swan was floating around with its head under the water, and as it continued to do so for an hour or more investigation was obviously indicated. 

The mystery was solved. A pike had attacked the swan, which is a formidable bird when angered, there had been a fight and the pike had grabbed the swan's head. The swan was killed, but the swan's head and neck had choked the pike.

Because of all these horrifying yet strangely fascinating tales about the pike, he has grown into a legendary fish who offers a dangerous challenge which no true angler can ignore.

Anyway enough of that better get fishing !!! (2 ish hours)

Well it was rather wintery I must admit with the water temp only 3.5 degrees and like I said in my experience bites can often be at a premium when it's this cold. I've caught chub when the water has been 2 degrees mind you, and 2 swims without even a bobble on the pike float with a smelt under it, it was time to get on the rove and target the chub only.

It took a while to get the first bite where after about the 5th swim eventually after about 15 minutes of the garlic oil tainted bread being out a couple of pulls on the tip it went confidently round and I've hooked in to a nice chub. 

I knew it wasn't massive after the first couple of dives for cover but a fish is a fish and in these conditions I wasn't complaining. Well I was when I handed the fish and took a quick pic because boy it was like a block of ice. You have to love chub though, as they can often give the angler that blank saver.

After that fish I fished another couple of swims without any more bites so I decided to retrace my steps and drop on to a pre-baited swim, which was the second swim I fished.

By now the sun had already set and walking to the swim I must admit despite being wrapped up in my winter gear it was clearly going to a cold night because the sky was clear and already rock hard under foot.

I settled in to the swim and the bite came really quick, within a couple of minutes where after a couple of pulls, the line when slack and then a few seconds later the tip pulls round properly and again I've struck and hooked in to a nice chub.

I had a curfew for this session as the Wife was off to yoga and I had to be back but to be honest I probably wouldn't have had another fish from that swim anyway. So two chub in a short session but rather enjoyable I must admit. There was two kingfishers playing on the stretch and they didn't appear to be feeling the cold, they were as active as ever.

The walk back to the car was only a few hundred yards and yet in that time the landing net had frozen solid. Back out in the morning ? well yeah a stupid question, I've been not be able to get out all week, and it does wonders for ones mind, needs must and all that.