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Was planning to go to a rock mark at first light this morning but as it was pretty windy I opted to get the kayak out and have a try for some Pike at Llyn Maelog.
Arrived at the lake at about 8:00 there was a bit of a chop on the water and the wind was blowing a fair bit. I have realised that I need a drogue to slow my drift down.
I was starting off at the end of the lake that the wind was blowing from so I started to drift at quite a speed down the lake. I figured that trolling a feed shallow mullet down the lake might be a way to start - nothing. I then paddled back against the wind and dropped anchor at a likely looking spot tried the feed shallow for a few casts then switched to a black spinner bait after a few chucks just as I was about to lift the lure from the water I saw a large pike head. I stuck with the spinner bait for a few more minutes and decided to try a toby lure for a bit.
I moved back up the lake stopping off at likely spots and trying various lures out trolling the feed shallow between stops. After getting back to the top of the lake I drifted back down the opposite bank and anchored up in a nice sheltered bay, put the spinnerbait back on and after a nicely aimed cast just next to some reeds everything tightened up it was fish on! After a short lived scrap I had the fish within reach of my lip gripper, after a few attempts at waiting for the mouth to open, shoving the grip towards it, missing, waiting again - I eventually got the grip and slid the fish into the kayak. A jack of about 2.5 lb. It was unhooked, photographed and returned to the water within 30 seconds and swam off strongly.
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The photos both have either a strap or glove in front of the lens unfortunately. But I have now christened the kayak and had my first lure caught fish of the year so all in all a good day.
Arrived at the lake at about 8:00 there was a bit of a chop on the water and the wind was blowing a fair bit. I have realised that I need a drogue to slow my drift down.
I was starting off at the end of the lake that the wind was blowing from so I started to drift at quite a speed down the lake. I figured that trolling a feed shallow mullet down the lake might be a way to start - nothing. I then paddled back against the wind and dropped anchor at a likely looking spot tried the feed shallow for a few casts then switched to a black spinner bait after a few chucks just as I was about to lift the lure from the water I saw a large pike head. I stuck with the spinner bait for a few more minutes and decided to try a toby lure for a bit.
I moved back up the lake stopping off at likely spots and trying various lures out trolling the feed shallow between stops. After getting back to the top of the lake I drifted back down the opposite bank and anchored up in a nice sheltered bay, put the spinnerbait back on and after a nicely aimed cast just next to some reeds everything tightened up it was fish on! After a short lived scrap I had the fish within reach of my lip gripper, after a few attempts at waiting for the mouth to open, shoving the grip towards it, missing, waiting again - I eventually got the grip and slid the fish into the kayak. A jack of about 2.5 lb. It was unhooked, photographed and returned to the water within 30 seconds and swam off strongly.
The photos both have either a strap or glove in front of the lens unfortunately. But I have now christened the kayak and had my first lure caught fish of the year so all in all a good day.
and not good for the fish if you damage them)... if the fish isn't in the water when unhooking it is important to support the fish on a mat/something inert... not grass/gravel etc - I like most folk hate seeing crocs being held aloft with their full weight being taken on the gill cover for the glory photo... probably teaching granny to suck eggs - apologies if I am...
