River Arun, Rowner Mill Pool (B.A.S)

River Arun, Rowner Mill Pool (B.A.S)


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River Arun, Rowner Mill to Wonderful Bridge


This section has a fabulous mill pool as well as several deep gentle meanders. Once again a good head of large river pike with Roach to 2lb, Carp to double figures and Bream to well over 7lb. This section also has a stretch of the Wey and Arun Canal which boasts a very good head of Bream and Tench as well as Carp to double figures.

For more information please visit the Billingshurst Angling Society website.

Closest postcode: TBC

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Spro Big Fish Landing Net

My old Leeda Pike net had served me well, sadly the mice had got to it as well as the sun and it had been repaired more times than I care to remember. Time for a new net that would be good for roving pike sessions along the river, it had to be light weight, and easy to carry...oh and I wanted a mesh that wasn't cotton and could deal with clumsy treble hook snags.

After looking about on the net and reading some nice reviews I decided to give the Spro Big Fish Rubber Coated Landing Net from Harris Sportsmail a try. At £29.99 I thought it was a bargain. As usual, delivery was quick and I couldn't wait to christen it with a large hungry pike.

An ultra strong predator and boat net with extra large mesh and rubber coated mesh to prevent lures or trebles becoming entangled in the net. The strong aluminium handle can be slid upwards so that the net can be easily transported.

• 75cm X 70cm
• 60cm Deep
• 1.60m Total Length

After a couple of successful morning sessions on the River Arun I have to say I am impressed. It is strong, very light and the mesh is fantastic, no more unhooking trebles after a catch.

The handle convienantly slides into the net head so it's a doddle to carry. It may be a short for some people but as long as you can get a foot near the water its fine.

I would thoroughly recommend this net if you need to find something that is good with trebles and lures. It would be a very good boat net too if you are lucky enough to get out on the water. It does not smell if left in the car overnight, as the mesh does not retain water.

John Wilson in How Not To Handle A Pike

Terry Lampard's pike trace construction

Terry shows us his quick, simple method of tying a deadbait trace.

Martin Bowler's roaming pike setup

Martin demonstrates his free rover/deadbait rig. (www.martinbowler.co.uk)

Float Ledger Rig

One of my favourite methods of static deadbaiting for pike in the winter months, the float ledger rig is very versatile and gives great visual comfort when deciding when to strike.

Combined with an audible alarm, this setup will see you through when the water gets colder and the pike seek warmth on the bottom of the water. My personal preference is Billy's Backbiter alarm, as it is another great indicator when deciding to strike. It is the best alarm to show any drop-back bites you may get, indicating the line has gone slack as the pike has picked up the bait and moved towards you.

Please see attached the best diagram I could find, courtesy of P.A.C

My favourite floats are plastic, something I have learnt is balsa floats take too many knocks and when the outer layers are penetrated they start to take on water.

So Drennan have become my number one float, the Zeppler, and the Piker. 

They are both floats that can be fished in three different ways - they are most versatile.   

• Stillwater waggler style with float stops and link swivel
• They are also the perfect river floats and can be fished slider style using a simple stop knot
• Fixed between two float stops at the top and a float stop and bead at the bottom

To stop the float riding up the line I use a rubber bead just above the float and a bit of Shirring Elastic thread to tie a stop knot above that.

On the business end I like a pair of sharp, strong size 8 semi-barbed trebles loosely fitted on a 20 inch steel wire trace of about 30lb. Just above the trace I use a rubber shock bead and then usually a 3oz ledger weight. My mainline is always 15lb Daiwa Sensor Mono, it is great value for money and is very strong for low diameter line.

Pike strikes. Underwater fish camera.

http://youtu.be/ZqvDnsIqJew

Pike Season commences

The piking season is here again, didn't have much luck this Summer due to illness so am looking forward to the coming Winter months for a chance of hitting my target of 30lb.

Started it off down on the Rother, getting to the spot meant walking through a forest in pitch black, had a couple of tumbles as muggins here forgot his LED headlights.
Was a warmish morning for October, ended up fishing in a t-shirt. Both rods set up on ledgered floats, one with smelt, one with a mackerel tail, which I should add were delivered in perfect condition and for a very reasonable price from Baits Direct.

Unfortunately for me, I only managed one run. My new Billy's Back Biter alarm went off on the mackerel baited rod. Now, I don't know why, maybe due to the continuous tone I assumed it was a full on run from my usual carping bite alarms so I struck hard and fast. Sadly, I appeared to strike way too early, I reeled in a smidgen of a mackerel tail that was left hooked on by bone. I can only assume it was a nice sized pike, and maybe the hooks were laying facedown. Stayed a while longer but didn't get any other interest. Am guessing the water could do with a dramatic decrease in temperature for static work.

Went home a bit disheartened, but also a bit triumphant that I know there is a big pike there, will try again sometime this week.

Some of the things I hope to review this year will include Billy's Back Biter, Shimano Super Baitrunners (XTR 10000 RA), Trakker Ultralite & Wrap, ATTs Silent Alarm and receiver and many more bits. My only limit is my health and time being spent on the waters. Here's hoping though...

Summertime is here again...

As the clock ticks slowly towards June 16th a big part of me always gets high on that start of the season feeling. The anticipation, the hope, good weather, cool winds, BIG fish!

Over the last couple of weeks I have been sorting out last years tat, replacing batteries, winding on new line. Packing up my gear ready for the big night, and season beyond. This season I hope to write a few articles on items I have recently acquired, Pomp's Reviews if you like.

The blog has been a bit quiet of late, but I have not been well. Hopefully I will be able to get out and about and enjoy the waterside a bit more than last year this coming season.

I propose a toast to the new season, and that all you readers get your dream catches.

It's snow joke as winter bites

THE earliest widespread snowfall for 17 years has hit many parts of the UK and the beleaguered tackle trade hope this winter won’t be as bad as last year.

In England, initial snow fell mainly across the north-east and east with up to 8 cm recorded with a slight covering across the south-west but the Met Office think the cold snap could last two weeks.

Matches have been called off, lakes and canals have frozen, and many venues have been empty, as people in most regions of the country have had problems travelling.
Woodland Lakes owner Robin Fletcher up in North Yorkshire summed up the thoughts of many: ‘Hopefully this is just short and sweet.’

British Coarse Fish Records

British records are administered by the British Record, (Rod Caught) Fish Committee.

The Committee exists to recognise and publish record weights of both fresh and salt water fish caught on rod and line by fair angling methods in the waters of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, and aims:

If you catch a record fish...

There are many different records to be beaten, National, British, European & World. In addition there are Line class records, and Mini records. To try and clarify the situation we take a look at the different record lists and the "Do's & Don'ts if you want to claim a record.

Let's first look at the different record types.

Huge pike could break the British record!

THE biggest pike of the season has been landed – but the fishery owner thinks the super snapper could potentially threaten the 46 lb 13 oz British record.

Fisheries management student Jake Finnigan boated the giant from North Yorkshire’s Wykeham Lakes near Scarborough during a cheeky hour after he finished a day on his work experience duties.

It was weighed on a set of digital scales with a reading between 40 lb 3 oz and 39 lb 15 oz but Jake was so chuffed he was very happy to settle for the lower weight as his new personal best.

Now fishery manager Mike Heelis thinks with the right management the fish could pack on weight to maybe get near or over the current record from trout water Llandegfedd Reservoir in Wales way back in 1992.

World carp record hits 99 lb

AMBROSE SMITH smashed the World carp record with this truly colossal 99 lb monster mirror, as the global best nears the magic ton mark. But the drama didn’t end there…

The Denham, Buckinghamshire roofer caught the fish known as Scar from his mate Luke Moffats’ fishery Le Graviers in Dijon, France.
The fish created a huge global stir amongst carp fans after putting on 8 lb in just five weeks.

Bristol Avon, Chippenham (C.A.C)

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Section 7

Mainly shallow with some deep glides and runs. Dominated by big chub and
barbel, with some significant roach and perch.

For more information please visit the Chippenham Angling Club website.

Closest postcode: SN15 4LT

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River Rother, Fittleworth (P.B.A.C)

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River Rother (Fittleworth)

For more information please visit the Petworth and Bognor Angling Club website.

Closest postcode: RH20 1EN

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River Rother, Coultershaw (P.B.A.C)

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River Rother (Coultershaw)

For more information please visit the Petworth and Bognor Angling Club website.

Closest postcode: GU28 0JF

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River Arun, Watersfield (P.B.A.C)

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River Arun (Watersfield)

High water at Watersfield is approximately two and a half hours later than at Littlehampton Harbour. Click here for tide times at Littlehampton.

For more information please visit the Petworth and Bognor Angling Club website.

Closest postcode: RH20 1NG

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Churchyard Lake, Chichester (C.D.A.S)

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Churchyard Lake

It holds specimen carp, pike, roach, rudd, perch and tench.There are a number of fish in the high 30's of which one or more are over the magic 40lb barrier at some point each season.

For more information please visit the Chichester & District Angling Society website.

Closest postcode: PO19 8PE

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Fleet Pond, Fleet (H.D.C)

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Fishing and Boating at Fleet Pond

Typical fish stocks are: perch and hybrids up to 2lbs, tench up to 4lbs, bream up to 5lbs, carp up to 10lbs, roach and rudd up to 11.5 lbs and pike up to 18 lbs.

For more information please visit the Hart District Council website.

Closest postcode: GU51 3QY

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