Time Is Running Out - February 2018

Time is running out, at least as far as the current pike fishing season is concerned. That's how it feels for those of us who haven't, so far, been enjoying the best of seasons. Clearly time, or the lack of it, will not be weighing quite so heavily on the minds of those who have been enjoying success at their fishing. Oh to be in that situation?

SENPAC's February seems to have continued where January left off. Some really nice fish reported by some of our number, a complete lack of fish for many others and perhaps the worst of all, hooked fish refusing to stay hooked for others like me.

The one aspect of SENPAC's results this season that has gradually become apparent as the months have passed is that generally fewer fish are being caught, however, the average size of the fish being caught is increasing. Why that should be I've not a clue. We are fishing the same waters at the same times of the year and most other variables remain fairly constant so I guess it all comes down to the one constant that will always and has always governed our fishing. The influence of TAP. Now the science of the TAP influence is not understood despite the fact that it has an immense effect on all aspects of our everyday lives, not just our fishing. The guy who eventually works out the mechanics of how the TAP influence operates will be a very wealthy man as long as he keeps it to himself and the most unpopular man on earth if he shares his discovery.

The Tap influence, well, Time And Place of course. The difference between getting it right and getting it wrong is immeasurable depending on the circumstances but, as far as the fishing is concerned will always be the defining  influence as far as I'm concerned. Skill, perhaps, TAP certainly.

And so to those that were in the right place at the right time in February. The Region outing in February was north of the border this time and like the January outing was largely fishless for those that attended. Largely is the operative word here as one of our number unlocked the secret of our chosen water just as he did on the January trip ( skill perhaps?) with a belter of a fish. The journey home for Chris Graham will have seemed much shorter than it did for the rest of us with this to look at on his phone.........

Chris Graham's 23lb-12oz Belter 

A week or so later and on a small fishery on our side of the border, one of our lure fishing fans manage to repeat his January success with another lure caught cracker ( not skill surely?) this time using a yellow Spanish jellyworm lure as opposed to his faithful spoon. Spanish, well purchased in Spain on his earlier trip to the Ebro.

                     Dave Gardner's 20lb-8oz Lure Caught Fish

Dave Gardner, fishing for the first time in a long time with Son Wayne also managed a 7lb'er as did Wayne so no doubt an enjoyable bankside reunion for Father and Son.

As for the rest of us, well, the only other notable capture also fell to one of our lure fishing specialists, Steve Sandiford, not so much because of the size of the fish caught but more from where they were caught. Fishing one of our more local waters which has suffered one of its least productive seasons so far ( little or nothing having come out since early December) he managed to extract two fish in a morning session. Hopefully a good sign for the future.

Looking forward to the final month of the season and hopefully a busy month for the SENPAC troops. Menteith to look forward to in a few days for four of our number, weather permitting. As I write this it's snowing hard outside and with meteorological mayhem being predicted in increasingly emotional terms by those who are supposed to know about these things, that outing may well be in doubt.

However we also have our season finale to look forward too with our four day jolly boys outing to Scotland in the middle of next month. Hopefully right time right place will kick-in for all concerned on that trip. If not then I will just have to make do with keeping my new best fishing buddy entertained.....................................................

                          

The Outing - January 2018

Back down to earth with a bump would be a fair description of the Region's January outing. Seven members turned out on the day for, as it transpired, a thankfully modest journey to the chosen venue. Six of those members were grateful for that thankfully modest journey home as their drive was not buoyed by memories of fish caught.

The only fish caught, Chris Graham's 13lb-8oz pictured in the previous blog. As for the rest of us, well, a lot of staring at the water whilst sheltering from a very mean wind and for at least one of our number the opportunity to break out the camera gear.