Ground Baiting for Robins

Thursday's fishing trip, originally planned some time ago, was a bit of fluff chucking for pike on the A & C Navigation with a couple of other people. By this time an area the size of Lake Windermere had flooded along with several roads in the area. Although it didn't affect the canal as such it was decided to stay away from the area as we were really just unnecessary traffic that the emergency services could do with out. Pock canal was over it's banks. The rivers that were back within their banks were tanking through and any still waters we had access to were surrounded by trees, so his little adventure was postponed.  I decided to head to the gravel pits for a spot of dead baiting. The pit had filled up nicely now despite that the water was remarkably clear. I decided on a corner swim that scrams predators, but which I'd avoided due to it been very shallow until now. I wasn't sure if the bright sunshine would cause problems though.

Tactics to start with were a float fished roach near tree roots to my right and a headless sardine out in front near a dead weed bed. Some chopped sprat was also thrown about to foot from the roots in the hope of tempting the pike out from among them. An hour after I'd cast in small fish scattered near the sardine rig. There seems to be two distinct feeding periods here, although you can get the occasional run at any time. The first is around midday until two and the second around five. Sure enough, just after midday the roach rig moved away. A quick strike was called for as it was heading towards the tree roots. Nothing, the only marks on the bait were from the hooks slipping. Swung back out to the same spot the float moved parallel to the trees the moment the bait hit bottom. This time I contacted with what felt to be a small fish. Then a big fish. Then a branch. Then up popped a dinky little jack apparently hooked in the belly. The front hook was in it's mouth, but the rear one had snagged it under the belly as it had turned. Quickly unhooked an returned. Another roach was tossed out to the same spot. A while later, just as I was tucking into lunch, the float bobbed about, but nothing came of it. In the mean time I'd moved the sardine further to the left where there was a bit of ledge.

Another angler had popped down who'd been fishing the estate lake for pike, but blanked. There had been several people piking but nobody had had a run as far as he knew and nor had they on previous occasion he'd fished there. I had heard anglers had tried night fishing for pike, but with no real success. Not sure what's going on there as the pike are still present. Fish are seen scattering and those fishing for silvers report pike attacks or follows. Meanwhile it had all gone quiet at the gravel pit. No sign of any fish activity at all. There was though a marked increase in water fowl since last week and now I'd finished listening to the new  Fly Culture podcast a robin took up residence to the right of me and started singing. It quietened down when I put a little pile of groundbait out for it.

Just before five the float by the tree roots bobbed about before moving away. What felt like another little jack turned out to be bigger than it fought and felt heavier than it looked. At 80cm and 8lb 7oz it was quite a chunky little fish. Another angler that had popped down was quite surprised at the weight. I assured him I'd checked the scales recently as a couple of previous fish had weighed two pound heavier than they'd looked. Just after he left the float above the sardine appeared to move. After giving it a Paddington style hard stare it disappeared and a strike momentarily contacted with something which nicked the sardine. I put both rods back out for the last rather cold hour, as the sun had now dropped behind the trees and the breeze had got up again. Nothing else happened, even the robin had given up singing.

It had been quite a peasant day in the sun, despite the chill breeze. A couple of anglers popping down for a look and a chat helped the day along as well. There are one or two spots that may well fish better now the level has risen to it's normal winter level and the pike appear to be packing on weight ready for spawning.

I must sort out starting the action cam. I keep setting it to photo mode and not video mode. I also need to make sure it's pointing in the right direction. One bit of video was just white out as it was pointing straight at the sun.

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