Simon and Wigans Pike Fshing trip

[Simon Bolivar]

Wigan, I seem to be missing some of my early pics of the skinny cigars? Hoyo & Party Margaritas ect, do you have them on your laptop, know we down loaded some so I could take more?

[butternutsquashpie]

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This was this morning just before going home.

The overalls...... the beret...... the sweater..... the smile......
This is so adorably, and iconically British, it tugs at my heart strings. I'm gonna go creep the rest of this thread hoping for more adorable pictures of Master Wiggelz.

[Simon Bolivar]

OK, apologies for the delay in Pt 2, or Post Wigan part of my hols, been a bit crazy here on the rig. OK, as soon as Wigan left things began to improve run wise. This is known as sods law & has happened before to my guests. One reason might be the continual throwing in of perfectly edible fish into a couple of swims, finally attracts a dozen or so fish that then become catchable. Thurs pm I moved down to the Beach swim, lit up a Hoyto des Dieux 2008SAM_7082.jpg & waited for the evening runs to begin. Was worried it might rain before the cigar finished (see how dark it came over),SAM_7084.jpg infact I caught two whilst smoking it, here's the biggest. SAM_7090.jpg Had 6 that evening. Next day I went to Loch Fad, ?40 for a day on the boat. tried the fly, lures & baits. Had a 9lb'er on bait & had to take fresh Water Lice samples from it & stick the them in a pot for analysis by Glasgow Uni, not something I usually have to do when fishing at home! Smoked the NicaragianSAM_7098.jpg from the Herf. SAM_7095.jpgNot bad, strong for a morning smoke. showery during the day so didn't get another chance to smoke until the end of play, waiting for my taxi, I had a R&J Julietas from Cathryn. Frankly pretty awful, which is a shame as they look great little sticks.SAM_7099.jpg Saturday & my Island friend picked me up at 06:00 & we went back to Ascog for an all day session. The weather was very bright & sunny, not normally good for pike fishing but didn't seem to worry these residents much. At one time I was playing apike, Andy was playing a pike & the chap fishing opposite us, was playing one too. For once Andy had more runs than meSAM_7131.jpg but I landed the biggest, SAM_7133.jpgcan't complain then! Had a some nice fish SAM_7123.jpgthough. SAM_7128.jpgI had a Party Short '05 after breakfast,SAM_7120.jpg not normally recommended but the decade of age had SAM_7116.jpgmellowed this little powerhouse a bit & went down fine. Here's the business end of a Scottish Pike, put your fingers in that maw & you'll never play the piano again!SAM_7113.jpg Later a JL from CJ (cheers mate, it was a windless day & the aroma was superb as promised. SAM_7135.jpg More later.

[Wigan]

Wigan, I seem to be missing some of my early pics of the skinny cigars? Hoyo & Party Margaritas ect, do you have them on your laptop, know we down loaded some so I could take more?

I coped all to a usb stick once I got home will look later or in the morning

[wayne_w]

That looks like it was a fun trip. Well done lads

[Simon Bolivar]

Cheers Wayne, it sure was. I have just added the story to the 'Ok, apologies' post, couldn't do it this afternoon, PC crashed.

[Simon Bolivar]

Last photos. Lit a Cohiba Especials old label Sunday afternoon, truely exquisite.SAM_7142.jpg SAM_7145.jpgFinally a pike that had regained some weight post spawn. SAM_7140.jpg & SAM_7152.jpga final fish extracted from the beach swim on Sunday afternoon, a jack on a handmande loz Harrop Mini DarterSAM_7154.jpg.Evening swim, near the farm. Lit a Hoyo PR SAM_7159.jpg& had another fish, SAM_7157.jpgso a rare photo of cigar & fish!SAM_7162.jpgLast day, I just had a from 07;10 to 10:00 at the Dam end with a single jerkbait rod & 6 lures, yes really Wigan! I had dropped my spinning rod in the water by the beach to grab a jack that had come off, managed to grab & beach the fish but when I tried to use the reel again, grit & sand had entered, urgh! So JB rod only today. I walked up to the bay opposite where we had fished most of the week, it's shallow & full of giant rocks SAM_7164.jpg(water was formed by quarrying), very hazadous for lures & hooks. 2nd cast on another Loz Harrop lure, a floating Bull. This could be allowed to rise when it hit a rock, & suddenly I was into my final dble of the trip.SAM_7169.jpgSAM_7168.jpg Not much later I moved back towards the Dam so I could fish right until the taxi arrived. I had these fish there,SAM_7172.jpgSAM_7173.jpg the last 2mins before the taxi was due. SAM_7171.jpgThere were another half dozen atttacks, which didn't connect to the hooks. Two fish leaping clear out of the water to shed the hooks! The final total was 35 Pike, for 222lb. Only 50% of the number of fish I caught in a very exceptional yr, last season but 2/3 of the weight so bigger fish on avge; can't wait for next yr! SAM_7175.jpg 'Haste ye back'

[wolfie]

Enjoyable and interesting read as always Simon , great pics

[Simon Bolivar]

Cheers Wolfie, 05:00? You on nights mate?