Storm Ashley made little impact around here, but I decided I was better off chasing pike than braving the coastline. Just a daytrip this one, but back at a quiet, remote loch that has produced for me before.
I used the bike to nip along the forest tracks and cut down on the hiking. However, getting to the water’s edge still requires floundering around in a soggy morass of bog and rotting timber. My reward is a quiet little fishing spot, well away from the rest of humanity 🙂
I lobbed out mackerel deadbaits in various directions and then sorted out my kit. Oops! I’d forgotten the spreader bar for my net, so I’d lugged along a handle and the net itself but not the means to actually connect them. Fortunately the bank here is largely boggy moss so I could probably land fish fairly easily.
After a few hours, the pleasures of peace and quiet were wearing off a little when something finny finally showed some interest. A nice little run on a mackerel tail bait hooked me a small jack pike. It splashed around complaining in the shallows but was soon ashore and quickly returned.
Phew! At least the blank is off 🙂 Only three hours of complete inaction!
Sillence descended once again, and nothing much happened for another hour. Eventually line started peeling off as a pike made for the far side of the loch. I gave it a few seconds and then struck into the fish. Clearly another jack, this one surrendered quickly – until it came close to the bank. Here my lack of a net bit, as it rolled furiously in the water and spat the hooks back at me 🙁
Cursing myself for losing a fish unnecessarily, I cast out again. Another coffee later and my rod twitched as a pike picked up a whole (small) mackerel. This one decided to run towards me with the bait but I cottoned on before he got too far and another, slightly larger, pike stopped by for a quick photo.
Casting out again I only had to wait a few minutes before my next run. This felt decent enough but didn’t hang around too long before throwing the hook. Just as well there was nobody else around to hear my cursing!!
Four fish on, just two landed. Not good! Fortunately another fish obliged just as I was contemplating packing up for the day. This was safely landed and proved to be fish of the day, at 77cm or around 7lbs.
With some pride restored I collected the rest of my gear and stumbled back towards my bike. It was almost dark by the time I made it to the car, and my numb bum reminded me why I don’t cycle too often!
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