Pike like the Orka shad tail

Sunday morning saw me out in time for the first of the early rain showers that steadily increased in intensity throughout the day, while I walked a stretch of local river. After searching for likely spots to cast a lure I eventually headed back to the car to get my gear and start at then nearest swim with the intention of working back downstream till it was time to go.

First lure out the box was the medium Big S in perch flavour, I haven't had a fish on this yet but I've had a pike swipe at it and miss, so it should only be a matter of time. Not sure why I have to catch a  fish on it but I suppose it's just because I remember reading all about the Big S so much as a kid and before I really knew anything about pike or lure fishing or was able to afford the luxury of splashing out on specialist pike tackle. I did have a small original one at some point during the 80's that I must have found on he bank somewhere minus its diving vane and hooks. I never managed to renovate it as planned and had long since threw it out regrettably.  On Sunday though after a few casts with it I couldn't get it to manoeuvre around or under a bunch of streamer weed  splaying out from the near margin as I wanted. So I swung it out to change for a  jig type lure that I could sink under the streamer. As I began to unclip it I noticed a smallish pike sidle up in front of me fins alert and obviously attracted by the movement of the lure. I selected on a new curly tail jig lure that had yet to make it out of the packet. A suitable jig hook was selected and she was clipped on. Out she went for her maiden swim to be followed in by the fish I had just seen.

I stumbled upon these on the AGM website and thought they looked a bit eely really !

Next cast and the lure was just about to be lifted from the water when it was side swiped by a hungry jack of 6lb

As I dealt with the fish I heard a voice shout over from above me on top of the bank,

"You can't fish there, there's a match on soon, Oh, your piking well that's OK, are you putting that back" ?

Me:  "Of course I am" !

"Why"?

Me: "Because I love pike, and I'm not really into match fishing so I"...

"Oh right "...

Before I could finish saying that I didn't agree with the notion of needlessly slaughtering pike, which is not really the right way to maintain a balanced fishery, he'd disappeared in disgust, and before I had the chance of enlightening him on the benefits to all anglers of a well balanced Eco system that includes both predator and prey.
I understand why the match lads must hate the pike but they need to realise the pikes role as designated weeder outer of the weak and diseased that helps to maintain a healthy stock of silver fish, so they can then go ahead and pass on their superior healthy genes to the next generation.


I've managed about 10 casts with the new lure so far and landed two fish and had two follows, so not a bad return I don't think.  Here's the second taken on a short 15min session on the way home tonight.
A fish that appeared to be fat with spawn still, either that or it was fat with match sized fish ?

8lb still with spawn ?

Random photo of Fox gloves... well, it is summer !!