Session #5 (Pike) - PikeSaber's First Outting Session, Chichester Canal

Having bought the rod over a week ago today was the first chance I had to get out with it. I headed out to my usual haunt, the local canal.

Here she is...

I was using a #9 weight floating line due to the canal only being 3-7 feet deep. I was worried that the line might be a little too light for the rod and it did appear like that sometimes. There are a few areas where I can get a full cast going and the flies flew a lot further with a bit more line loaded into the rings. I think with a bit more room and some better casting from me this beasty will propell the flies great distances. The turn over I had from it was excellent and the flies that caused issues on my #8/9 rod have gone. It feels light and has a very comfortable grip and action. I am no expert by any means but the quality is felt in each cast.

I did manage to cast the last section into the canal but got it back, luckily the line did not snap. Note to self - put the bloody rod together properly or there'll be tears...

Here are the flies I tested out today with the rod:

Can't wait to try it out on the Chew Valley trip next weekend. I will report on it then as well.

Another Blank...

Was intending to pop out to the Chichester Canal Basin this morning at first light but the wind was too high to be safe down there, so back to bed. I headed out this afternoon though, wind had died a little and it was lovely out, albeit cold.

There were three aims to the session:
1) to catch something, anything
2) test out casting the new Orvis Depth Charge 300 line, which cast beautifully
and
3) to test out the new flies I tied. The ones I tied all looked great in the water and moved very well. I had used a strip of copper wire tied to the hook under the materials. They sank really well. (images at the bottom of the post)

Anyway, I fished a miles section of the canal and the waters were very murky from all the rain we have had. I had several pulls which sent the old heart racing, but that turned out to be under water debre from the January snows. Well that was the total excitement for the day.

I dod chat to another fishman and he explained where he had seen the pike before so I headed for those areas, but still no joy.

Here are the flies used today:

Decievers

Session #3 (Pike) - The Tree that broke the Tracers Back

I popped down to my local canal again for a quick 60 minute session. I tried out my ostrich feather creation and after a few adjustments it looked pretty good in the water.

I fished a 200 yard stretch this time. The water still mirky from the waters running in from the fields. I managed to cast for about 40 minutes with no joy and then caught a tree for my efforts. It was too high to grab so had to pull very very hard to get the fly back and then bang... the wire trace broke and the fly remained in the tree. After reelling in the line I only had to poke at the fly and it fell down. At £9 a pop, it's an expensive thing not to check.

So the morrel to this story is "check if you can get it, before yanking too hard..."

Session #2 - After the snow has gone

Headed out to the canal again today, slightly warmer than the last time, with a chance of rain. The water was murky from all the rain and melted snow running into the canal. I fished a 3/4 mile stretch casting several times every 20 yards differing speed and depth. But again, no fish.

Chatting to other fisherman out for the walk and not the fish, there wasn't anyone else fishing the canal. I tried out a couple of flies, but not even a sighting of the wolves. It will happen someday, I hope...