As the first signs of the colder months begin to show, with the trees taking on there autumn colours and temperatures begin to drop, predatory fish begin to extend their feeding spells, banqueting on huge shoals of fry created by falling water temperatures, and the loss of the lush weed cover that fills so many waters through the summer. To take full advantage of this period, it makes sense to put your bait past as many predators as possible, this is where lure fishing comes into its own, lure fishing has moved on a long way from the chuck and chance method of the past, thanks to imported baits and techniques from North America and Mainland Europe.
To bring my mobile methods fully up to date, I’ve had a few sessions with Danny Parkin’s, one of the country’s leading lights in this ever evolving method. When Danny told me to meet him at 8.30P.M for our first session, I thought he had got confused between a pub outing and a fishing one! On arrival at a local water, the water was like a millpond , which combined with the dark clouded sky, and warm muggy weather, set a slightly eerie scene. Danny offered me a selection of his weed less surface lures to hop across the remaining lily pads, the wake of the lure across the still water and the popping sounds created by the plastic floating spoon I had selected, just had to attract some attention, and it wasn’t long before the first of several pike crashed into our offerings. It was very exciting fishing as pike would appear behind the lure bulging under the surface before crashing in to it, in an explosion of spray which if you weren’t expecting it , certainly made you jump.
Over the next few days I managed to make almost daily visits to local venues, trying a variety of lures, mostly short after work sessions, which with the limited gear required for this type of fishing was easy, with a single rod, a few items of tackle and lures stored in a bait and bits bag and a latex specimen landing net which proved perfect as it is far more treble hook resistant than a net with standard mesh. Results were great with Chub, Pike and Perch falling to artificial’s on one session on my local river, which lasted barely an hour! As well as the excitement of using this method, it has also brought to my attention a couple new areas which I feel should give some good results later into the winter with a more static approach, which will defiantly give me a head start in more difficult conditions.
