Despite the weather being very windy and wet (again!), I was determined to complete my first predator session of the season in the fens today. I visited two parts of the drain. One in the northern end and one at the southern end.
Northern End
Started fishing just after 6am. The conditions seemed perfect. The drain had a nice chop on it, and plenty of features to work with. I worked the water very hard, but just couldn’t get into them. I was using dead baits (Course and Sea) and various lure methods. Just nothing. I think the main issue here was the lack of prey fish. The whole time I was there, I didn’t seen one fish surface.
The area I visited is usually a popular autumn/winter quarters for the silver fish population. After speaking to a friend, this spot has been like this for a couple of seasons now which is very strange. Obviously if the prey fish are not there, the predators will not be there either.
Southern End
I moved here about lunchtime, what a complete contrast. Still very choppy and rainy, but this part of the level was alive with prey fish, splashing and rolling everywhere. I knew straight away I was in for a chance here.
I was using two rods, one on sea baits and one on roach dead baits. I cast the roach out and within minutes of hitting the water I had a run. It was weird how it happened, as I couldn’t get the rod to settle the alarm kept on going off and the drop back indicator being pulled up the line. At first I thought it was the wind or a lump of weed caught round the line, but couldn’t see anything suspicious. That’s when I struck into the fish.
It put up as lovely fight on braid, and when I landed it I noticed how pretty it was. Immaculate. Not a mark anywhere. I then weighed it and took a photo, then returned her. The run happened so quickly, I didn’t even get a chance to set the camera up for a self take, which was a shame. She weighed 13ib 8oz.
Then I had a fry up. Hard work bringing these cracking fenland pike in!
After I had lunch, the action stopped for a bit. Then there was explosion of fish scattering and then a couple of minutes later the rod went again, but this time I missed. On checking the bait, it looks like I lost a zander. It had the characteristic pin pricks of it’s vicious teeth on both flanks. Gutted I lost it, as zander aren’t as common as they used to be in the Middle Level. I am thinking a pack of zander were on the hunt, and grabbed my bait after there ambush. It went very quite after that, but the prey fish were not budging. Had intended to fish for the zeds into the night, but ran out of time.
Overall it was a great, but hard day on the level, but I will be back very soon.
Next trip in a couple of weeks, but looking at trying the twenty foot drain this time.
Will return to the level when it gets a little bit colder. Will keep you posted!