My Fishy Hols

[Simon Bolivar]

I am all packed & off at 0500 tomorrow morning. Catching the Eurostar to London & Train & Ferry to the Isle of Bute for a weeks pike fishing. Got quite a few sticks packed but have been unwell last few days so will hold off smoking for a while, need to be fighting fit to survive a wks fishing with showers predicted for the next 5/7.
Let you all know how it goes next Thurs from the rig.

[cohibaIV]

Enjoy bud.... And try to enjoy a few sticks too...

[Jacobwaits]

Happy hunting

[bigbarneyhotdog]

Good luck Simon, looking forward to the how big the one that got away was story

[Simon Bolivar]

Well back from the hols & back on the rig. Just taken a couple of days to sort myself out & catch up on my notes. fficeffice" />>>
Due to the weather & legal restrictions for smoking on the Isle of Bute there are no cigars in this story (until the last night) so this will probably only be of interest to fellow fishermen. As not to disappoint Big Barney at least, here's a brief run down on a very wet & windy week.>>
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Wed: I left Antwerp @0500, to catch the Eurostar; caught the Euston to Glasgow train, then the train to Wemyss Bay & the ferry to Rothesay, arriving @1800. After sorting out my gear I managed to get to Loch Ascog by 2100 for a quick half hr session. Ascog is the Isle's water supply & holds on course fish. Although there is a good head of pike there aren't many 15lb+. Long enough to pick up an 8lb'er on a spinnerbait. Good omen for the rest of the week?May 2011 022.jpg>>
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Thurs: Down to Loch Fad, this is a trout water, with trout to 20lb+ & pike to 35lb+ although a 42lb'er was caught some yrs ago & returned alive. I took a boat out & despite the continuous rain managed three jacks (a pike under 6lb) & one of 10lb. That evening went back to Loch A & had 5 jacks for 21lb in 2hrs.May 2011 029.jpg So a generous total weight for the day of 45lb.>>
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Fri: Today the rain was merely intermittent. Loch Fad picked up a jack on a sub surface lure (mostly too cold for surface of sub-surface lures during the whole week), then in the afternoon had a 12lb'er on float ledgered Smelt, May 2011 041.jpgwhich was a Personal Best for a Scottish pike for me & then at the end of the afternoon session, I was trawling a lure, when I hooked a very hard fighting double that had another lure hanging from it's mouth. Although the previous would be capture had used a wire trace, third braid mainline had parted on a rock or snag. I eventually managed to get the fish in & had to cut all 12 points of the trebles off, to free it from the net & the lures. It was a bit messy but it swam off strongly after a rest, @ 13lb 03 it was another PB.May 2011 037.jpg>>May 2011 039.jpg
That evening at Loch Ascog, May 2011 058.jpgI had 4 jacks for a day?s total of 45lb 8. So I had already achieved my target of catching 100lbs+, with just over 2/7 fishing!>>
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Sat: Loch Fad, weather awful & fishing hard. Managed a couple of jacks on luresMay 2011 056.jpg. Loch Ascog in the evening, 5 pike for a days total of 31lb. I went off down town & had a Chinese & a couple of beers. Raining outside so no smoke.>>
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Sun: I took the morning off to see the Landlady's daughter was christened. Had lunch in the local hotel & then went to loch Ascog for 1630 - 2130. Had 6 up to 8lbs for a total of 36lb+May 2011 047.jpg. Every evening was spent drying out my clothes & tackle to so time to go ashore again.>>
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Mon: Worst day weather wise, it just heaved down all day. It was the first day I had really got wet & the annoying thing was I had ordered a pair of chest waders to be delivered before I arrived but they had to be chased & didn't arrive until Mon so I didn't get to use them until Tues. >>
Anyway I stuck it out on Loch Fad & against the odds managed 4 pike up to 12lb. I caught the 12lb'er around midday on a SSR lure & it caused a problem when, despite being as careful as I could with a lively fish, the pike managed to whip a hook point across the tip of my left middle finger slicing it open. Which of course if preferably to having the hook stuck in beyond the barb, whilst still attached to the pike!>>
I managed the photo with a non-sterile towel wrapped around the wound May 2011 066.jpg(see photo with balaclava), after returning the fish I set about healing myself. Alcohol wipes & then superglue managed to seal the wound & stop the bleeding, clean waterproof dressing & I was able to carry on fishing. Would have really ruined my day to have to find the clinic on the Isle.>>
That evening I was so wet I just went straight to Loch Ascog, without going back to the B&B, as I didn't want to take my wet clothes off, just to have to put them back on again. I managed 6 pike on dead baits to 10lb for day?s total of 62lb 09; this was a new day's PB, something to warm me a little. The landlord took pity on me & gave me some whisky to further aid re-warming.>>
Tues: Today was due to be as bad but with more wind. Trying to secure the row boat in high winds that funnel down Loch Fad was just not going to be possible with the poxy anchors & ropes they provided s I choose to spend the whole day at Ascog. I had a late start as I had run out of deadbait & had to go to the tackle shop in town. I didn?t start fishing until 1030 but by 1200 I had 48lb, the pike falling to lures, lamprey & smelt. As I had been getting 45lb+ in the evening sessions it dawned on me that 100lb could be possible. It's a big jump from 62lb 09 but I knew it was possible if I managed to keep finding feeding pike. I moved swims every half hr if I didn't get a run, every hour if I did. By 1300 I picked up a 10lb'er & 2045 an 11lb'er. So I was due to be picked up at 2130& had 45mins to catch one more fish of 2lb+.>>
I had been working myself up, especially the previous couple of hrs, so near & yet... I called the landlady at 2105, during a pause in the rain to ask if I could get picked up 15mins later but it wasn't convenient. Just catch the fish, she replied. It would have been a bitter blow to have gone home without that fish but at 2115 my float dithered & then moved away. I waited a few extra seconds to ensure I connected & wound down; a good fish fought back. A 7lb'er was duly landed & I had managed it on time - joined the 'Ton Up' Club. >>
I was now 16lb 08 short of 350lb & only 4hrs Wed morning to cross that line. What I was really interested in was catching a UK PB, which for me is a modest 14lb but try as I might, that's the one record that I couldn't break. I did get three more pike to 7lb to give me an over al total of 57 pike & 351lb 07!>>
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Once I got on the ferry I cracked a tin of Blackthorn cider & smoked my first cigar of the week. May 2011 089.jpgYes it was finally dry & sunny; the Belinda Princess lasted until we docked on the mainland. I arrived in Aberdeen @2030 & after a rare steak retried to my room for an excellent Monte No2 form 2004. May 2011 094.jpgIt was certainly worthy of the occasion. So a wonderful holiday, made possible by the pike finishing spawning a couple of wks before & therefore the pike were ravenous & the cloudy weather meant they fed more or less throughout the day.>>
Can't wait till next yr, when I'll be concentrating on finding an upper dble but enjoying every pike caught. >>

[Jacobwaits]

Glad you had a great holiday and those are some fine pics.

[Gordonbcb]

Great post and some excellent pics. Looks like you had a great time in spite of our Scottish weather.

[HabanoSy]

Brilliant account of hols and some great pics...

Cheers, HabanoSy

[Simon Bolivar]

Thanks for the kind comments guys, glad it amused some of you. Just re-booking for next year, although the odds on hitting the exact time post spawn are slim, I reckon I'll be happy enough if I just have half as many fish. Just going 7 days without a blank is worth the money & hassle alone.

[berry1]

Looks like you had a great one mate... Ive been fishing for perch once and i did catch a pike.

[Simon Bolivar]

I caught my first pike accidently, whilst using worm for tench. Later caught a 6lb'er on a maggot & was hooked. After 2lb tench & carp the 6lb pike looked enormous & was such a beauty & since '85 when I caught my first dble,Pike.1985.03.11.11lb14.BC.jpg I have been fishing for them ever since.

[Bigboned]

Haha can't believe your mum posted a 'baby' pic.... No wait you did it yourself!!
Sorry mate just my warped humor - looking good looking relaxed nice one
Andy

[berry1]

Hahaha lol, You do look chilled mate, nice pike also

[Simon Bolivar]

I had given my camera to a couple of kids & was abit over cautious about dropping the fish but I was actually 25yo! Just baby faced