u/br07fk

Not exactly what I was expecting… nor hoping for! 😂

Always amazes me how much their eyes are bigger than their belly’s.

Moved to a new stretch of canal today, non local to me. It was definitely worth the trip! I had the first fish maybe 40 mins in, of course as soon as I turn my back to the rod the float bounces. I turn back to the rod, reel in the slack & bang fish on. I caught this lovely first jack which was my PB easily. I moved up to the next set of weeds, my dad was also fishing with me at that spot. My float went down, I do strike extremely early, but I’d rather that than deep hooked. No fish on that time but the deadbait was taken, 2 seconds later my dads float just to the left goes down, he also struck early, deadbait stayed on but no pike. After that we moved up to the next set of weeds. After 10 minutes or so there & just 1 hour after the first fish, an incredible subtle take. I watched it play with the float a little longer this time. It must’ve have had it & dropped it as the float bounced, went under for a second then popped up normally for about a minute, then it bounced, bounced again then slowly started moving. I was convinced it was just another micro pike trying to take the bait until I struck it. I’m not entirely sure but I believe the 2nd fish is a little bigger than the first! Water temps on the canals here are between 10-13c currently, both fish were struck early, barbless hooks, I haven’t hadto unhook any pike with deadbait yet, all just popped off in the net! Netted, onto the mat, quick picture then rested in the net as well as released with the net !

My 2nd ever time deadbaiting the canal resulted in another nice little jack. Took a half Lidl sardine on a standard barbless trace. There’s a mat underneath the camera, fish was rested before release. Unfortunately my Wychwood Riot Big Pit broke, only my 2nd time using it & only had 3 fish on it 🤦🏻

Caught on Lidl sardines, head off. These were caught in Scotland, water was tested for temperatures beforehand & Air temps were 14c. Both caught on proper a 3lb tc deadbait rod and trace. They were out the water for just over a minute, landing mat below them, both went off incredibly strong & healthy.

Lure used today was a supercontinent nimble 6.5cm in a Blue colour. Annoyed I lost a really nice pike, maybe 6lb or so right at the net, the weedless hook must’ve been poking out the side of its lip & got stuck on the weeds when he dragged me through them. One shake & he came off & shot right into the weeds.

Decent session today, had around 15 fish. Didn’t take pictures of them all. Gutted to unfortunately have a good sized pike bite me off, probably one of the biggest I’ve ever seen on my local stretch of canal. A good 7lb I’d say. I thought I was snagged, pulling on the rod with both hands trying to free it but it wouldn’t budge… that’s because it was a fish & all of a sudden it started ripping line from the spool like no tomorrow. It did that for maybe 2 mins before refusing to budge again, after a couple pulls it went nuts again then bit me off.

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!