Gary's day

After a very cold week all the local lakes were frozen so it was a trip to the Backwater. Even that had a few sheets of ice in slower sections. With a -7c at the draw pulling out peg 14 was welcome as it can be good for a few perch.

It was the usual start on bread punch to get a few fish in the net but the bites were very delicate and the fish small. At least though I was getting a few bites and the odd fish. Mark a couple of pegs up was also getting bites and having the same issue with hitting them. After 90 mins or so the bites disappeared and then a big flash near the float revealed why as the first of many pike strikes occurred. 30 seconds later the float went under l and the strike was met with firmer than expected resistance which then started moving. After an exciting minute or so the line went slack as the poor roach that must have been grabbed by a hungry pike came off.

After that I struggled to get a few fish together with them being very unhappy about the pike in the area. A couple of fish further down the peg on maggot proved a false start and the float never wobbled whilst trying for perch. Above me Tony was struggling with only a couple of fish but below, on 14, Phil was getting some better quality roach. Fred on 18 was also having pike problems but managed to get a small jack of about 2lb in the net. Mark was having a strong finish with a few better roach on pinkies. With a steady dripping of melting ice from the trees and not being able to see the float in the failing light the final whistle was welcome today.

After a very cold but thankfully dry day it was going to be close and all down to whether you managed to catch a better quality of fish. 1st Mark Halverson 2lbs 12oz, 2nd Phil Whitmill 2lbs 8oz and 3rd Gary Pickard 1lb 7oz. Photo today is Mark and Tony at the very cold and misty start of the day.