u/br07fk

Managed this lovely Jack on my Mifine nano jig 0.5-2g XUL, Mifine wren Nano 800, 6lb braid & 3lb fluoro. It may not look like much, but this is a very respectable pike for my local stretch. In fact, it’s the 2nd biggest pike I’ve ever had. What a scrap on the XUL, dragging me around the canal for a good 7 or 8 minutes before finally giving in. It took a 5.5cm crazy fish cruel leech in motoroil. I also managed a good few smaller pike & small perch. Anyone any ideas what caused the injury to the perch in the 6th image?

Some BFS Fishing on the canal for once, I don’t take this combo out too much as it’s mainly my stocked trout rod, but today was a bit too windy for proper micro stuff so decided to get it out & do some BFS fishing on the canal. I managed probably 18 fish all together, around half micro pike & half perch. (The grass was very wet in the net picture, due to it having just hammered down).

Nice sunny, warm day on the canal. The fish were fairly active today, definitely on the warmer side though & super sunny. Managed about 13 perch, losing another 2 or 3 & 5 or 6 small pike. Definitely a day for the jacks as I also lost about 13 pike, including 2 that were a good bit larger than unfortunately bit me off. Definitely needing to bring small traces next time if the action is like it was today. Tight lines 🎣

Had my PB mirror today on the method feeder. Not big by mosts standards, but my biggest so far. Caught using SonuBaits Salted Caramel pellets 2mm & Salted caramel wafter 6mm. Also had a few bream that I didn’t take pictures of.

Had my best day of the year on the canal yesterday, also my first time catching fish on XUL gear. my local is a slow waker & catching on lures is incredibly hard until Late July, from then on til about September they are super active & willing to smash lures. I managed 6 perch along with multiple lost. I also had a small pike & was bitten off by another unfortunately. I did also lose a tiny roach on a crazy fish whitebait.

My setup today:

Mifine Illusion Slash 0.2-0.8g

Handing M1 500 Reel

Mifine Devils Wire 0.2mm

MaxCatch Fluorocarbon Tippet

0.6g Tungsten Jighead

Crazy Fish Nimble Craw 4cm

Canal session today, attempting to christen my Mifine Illusion Slash 0.2-0.8g. I landed 6 perch & 1 little pike. I also lost a variety of fish, a few perch, another pike & a small roach. I also had one of the biggest pike I’ve seen on this canal at about 5lb ish I’d say (my local has been drained multiple times & is terrible for large pike, there’s a few large perch though) try to steal one of my perch at the net.

Setup today was:

Mifine Illusion Slash 0.2-0.8g

Handing M1 500 Reel

Mifine Devils Wire 0.2mm Braid

MaxCatch 3lb Fluorocarbon Tippet

0.6g Tungsten Jighead

Crazy Fish Nimble Craw 4cm

My best day so far this year on the canal, my local seems to be a very slow waker, fish aren’t active at all until late July, but are super aggressive & up for smashing lures from then on til about September. Great fun catching these fish on XUL. I enjoyed it so much I’ve just bought a Mifine Nano Jig 0.5-2g & Mifine Wren Nano reel!

I managed 2 fish today, which is actually my 2nd worst day fishing this water, I lost another 2 right at my feet & had another couple swipe at the tail. I spent 90% of the day using the jointed claw in both Pink Back Shad & Raw Whitefish. Ended the day with this monster, no idea on size or weight but chunky & full of muscle!

Few Fish from my last session I thought I’d show!

Anyways, I was planning on heading to my local commercial fishery tomorrow, however winds are to be strong. 19mph winds with 33mph gusts. The ponds are small & one has an island in the middle, which basically makes it an island with a canal around it, the rest are a tad bigger/no islands so more open. I’d be either feeder fishing for carp or float fishing for silvers, maybe small carp. It’s a £10 day ticket, my question is would you guys still fish that?

I was fishing the river today using dry flies. A mix of spiders, olives & Parachutes but they definitely wanted nymphs today. A warm 27c air temperature, which is absolutely melting for Scotland but the fish were still feeding actively, clearly. I had fished a pool with dry flies for a while despite no luck so I moved on. I usually bring my Euro rod but this time decided to fish dries. Once I moved on another angler came into the same pool, I was next pool down, he was Euro nymphing. He managed 8 or 9 fish within 15 minutes in that same pool Euro nymphing. The 1 day I don’t bring my Euro rod & decide to fish dries they are loving nymphs 😆

I did eventually manage to fool this little guy though!

Anyways, I asked him what he was using later on once we met again as we were both leaving. He showed me & it was pretty much this fly. Essentially a zebra midge with an oversized red hot collar except his version, had a red wire rib I only have silver or gold, so opted for silver. I was straight home to tie a few up! I’m not the greatest at tying, these may not fish but I’m sure hoping they will. It’s nice that people share what flies are working on certain waters at certain times.