Loch Awe pike fishing

[korky]

I do believe anything above 8 lb ish is female certainly one at 17 lb so can producle a lot of finglings pikelets just doesn't sound right

I only ever lure for them down to the fact I am restless sitting about on a bank my chosen tool a jerky critter rod and multiplier reel with braid..my favoured lures are spring dawgs I bought of Neville Fickling in Gainsborough well known angler in Pike circles.

Re records two old blokes I bumped in to on my travels both independently told me the same thing River Trent some very large fish at Dunford Bridge

My favourite and most productive spot was warping drain which runs into the Trent I cant fish there nowadays as the Police club as leased the water magical spot, Pike Kingfishers darting about and the only place I have seen grass snakes swimming that is a sight to behold, going like the clappers stopping for a rest ,,perching its head on a water lily before disappearing into the undergrowth

Channa

Brings it all back Channa. My first area was Lower Trent as I replaced Neville when he left the NRA.
There are some huge pike in the Trent throughout much of it's length.The upper tidal is particularly good and used to be lightly fished for pike.There were some very large carp in the tidal stretches too,don't know about now as the river has cooled down a lot with the phasing out of coal fired power stations but the climate is warming so who knows.My mates fish it for barbel from the Dove confluence right down into the tidal.

 

[Channa]

Brings it all back Channa. My first area was Lower Trent as I replaced Neville when he left the NRA.
There are some huge pike in the Trent throughout much of it's length.The upper tidal is particularly good and used to be lightly fished for pike.There were some very large carp in the tidal stretches too,don't know about now as the river has cooled down a lot with the phasing out of coal fired power stations but the climate is warming so who knows.My mates fish it for barbel from the Dove confluence right down into the tidal.

You have me reminiscing now,as a boy my father lived near Mansfield and was a keen angler on the Trent took me to Hazleford a lot and a bottle of pop at the star and garter, My grandfathers pal was akeen fisherman on the Trent and had a sideline making the trent float from the quills of swans feathers, the idea sat in the water despite a fast flowing current

This thread has got me thinking buy a licence and have a dabble in the Calder and Hebble perch and pike in there I am sure

Channa

 

[Wully]

Pike recipe

Take one pike nail to a nice piece of mature oak wood pree saoked in water bit of salt pepper then rub in some garlic butter have a good fire going about 200 degrees put on some wet grass to get a good smoke effect cook over fire for 20 mins take pike throw in bin proceed to eat you’re perfectly cooked piece of oak.

 

[oppy]

Firstly I feel that I must apologise for my comments that may have incensed one or two of us, 'twas not intentional. My problem is that once my tongue is firmly in my cheek, I kinda run with it, sorry. I have not held a licence for more than 30 years, then there was much different brain set to what now exists. The local trout are brought to us together with some rabbits by a local hunter gatherer and my coarse fishing is now only done whilst we are in France, and the local pond near to us has a bounty on pike. So once again, my apologies for the ruffled feathers, just by the way, my carer loves Tesco's version of martini, so there's always a couple of bottles in the van

 

[korky]

Firstly I feel that I must apologise for my comments that may have incensed one or two of us, 'twas not intentional. My problem is that once my tongue is firmly in my cheek, I kinda run with it, sorry. I have not held a licence for more than 30 years, then there was much different brain set to what now exists. The local trout are brought to us together with some rabbits by a local hunter gatherer and my coarse fishing is now only done whilst we are in France, and the local pond near to us has a bounty on pike. So once again, my apologies for the ruffled feathers, just by the way, my carer loves Tesco's version of martini, so there's always a couple of bottles in the van

No offence taken here Oppy.
On the subject of eating them I think it depends very much on the water quality.
The Derbyshire Derwent is full of them in parts and in the mid to higher reaches they would not have been there historically and do not belong.They have been illegally introduced to the river and to Ladybower Res. by pike anglers.My mate was tasked with removing them on his club stretch at Cromford and swore they were delicious having only fed on trout and grayling.
I caught a 4lber from the Trent at Beeston weir in the 80's that was deeply hooked and was bleeding badly.I clonked it and took it home. On cooking it the whole house stunk like a Trent weir. Organic and very detergenty.The cats wouldn't eat it, neither would the dog and she liked eating maggots. My girlfriend nearly threw me out, except it was my house. I was never tempted again.

 

[barryd]

I havent been fishing for years but a group of about ten of us including one Frenchman used to go to Ireland on the Shannon and Lough Derg every year for the May Fly trout fishing. We went in an old Commer Caravenette but hired a 30ft motor cruiser for a fortnight. We discovered that Pike fishing on Lough Derg was great fun and there are some absolute monsters in there. You would chug along at about 1 knot or so with a massive great copper spoon (Spinner) trolling behind miles out and just sit there like you were in "Jaws" drinking beer and generally fooling about then eventually one would take and ive never seen them leap out of the water like they did there, then the fun would begin.

We found a local hostelry as you do where the landlord offered to cook the Pikes for us. He marinated them in Cider the day before and then we would turf up and eat them. lovely. They were fantastic holidays those. I Dont think many of us took the fishing that seriously really and spent most of the time drinking, singing and playing guitar in the pubs or chasing the local talent. Happy days. The Pike were easier to catch than the bloody trout to be honest which were also enormous by British standards.

 

[angelaa]

My best is 17lb and is that was some fight with it tail walking and shaking it’s head. As you say apex predator and should always be safely returned to fight another day. Loch Awe has some huge specimens and also holds the British record Ferox Trout.

My hubby caught a 26lb from loch awe years ago.

 

[oppy]

No offence taken here Oppy.
On the subject of eating them I think it depends very much on the water quality.
The Derbyshire Derwent is full of them in parts and in the mid to higher reaches they would not have been there historically and do not belong.They have been illegally introduced to the river and to Ladybower Res. by pike anglers.My mate was tasked with removing them on his club stretch at Cromford and swore they were delicious having only fed on trout and grayling.
I caught a 4lber from the Trent at Beeston weir in the 80's that was deeply hooked and was bleeding badly.I clonked it and took it home. On cooking it the whole house stunk like a Trent weir. Organic and very detergenty.The cats wouldn't eat it, neither would the dog and she liked eating maggots. My girlfriend nearly threw me out, except it was my house. I was never tempted again.

Thank you, a 4lb pike from down near Beeston was probably weaned on the local sewerage farm outfall, but generally a good pike, especially one off the moors (yes, even those that were introduced) truly is the queen of fish. They do need some preparation though to lighten the earthy taste (like some peaty malts), but take the trouble and you'll be blessed with a fish that graced the tables of royalty