Strike Three

Friday morning after a night of snow, sleet and freezing temperatures the car took some defrosting. I soon arrived at the fishing spot I intended to fish on Monday. This time I wasn't thwarted by a match, but I'd forgotten I'd be facing straight in to the sun for a large part of the day. The river was now only a couple of foot up, but it did rise a few inches during the session. The area I was fishing was classic territory, on the inside of a bend with over hanging trees creating nice slack areas.  It had also produced some good weights in the last couple of matches held there.

The usual tactics were employed, float-ledgered, paternoster, trotted and even ledgered out in the middle. Mackerel, lamprey, trout, sardine, and roach were used as baits. I fished four different swims. It wasn't until the last swim that I got my one and only run of the day. As I made my last cuppa of the day the float shot away. Before I could put the kettle and cup down the float had popped back up and all I ended up with was a chewed sardine.

If these pike don't start to frame themselves I think I might have to take up chub fishing.