Post by philpot on Mar 17, 2013 18:29:33 GMT
I met up with Simon from Pike Shack on the 13th, the last chance to have a go on the river for a pike. The 13th was a bit of an omen but nevertheless I needed to sort out the fly rod that I was going to settle with and Simon had offered to take a few down for me to try out.
I had borrowed a Redington Voyant which I liked but after a few trips, I just felt it was not quite right.
I arrived at the chosen venue, the River Derwent at Draycott near Derby and upon being slightly early, I had a quick look at the river. The river bends and turns with great regularity offering quite a few quiet spots where the pike may lay up.
Simon arrived and we had a good chat about the rod type that would suit me best. After wafting a few rods around, we thought to take both the Redington and a Greys Carnivore as that had a faster tip.
The first spot was between a couple of low trees leaving a decent gap, if it wasn't for a footpath sign bang in the middle.
It only took a few casts for Simon to see that my casting style was not suited to the Redington and handed over a 9# Greys Carnivore. Now although I had been using a 10#, Greys had not sent the 10# through in time to test on that day.
The Greys rod was superb, very crisp action and faster than the Redington. I do not have one of these poetry in motion type casts, more of a brutal attack but it gets the job done and this Greys rod suited me well.
we tried quite a few pike hot spots that Simon knew so well but not a sign of a pike anywhere. There were a number of mackerel laying at the bottom of the banks in most of the swims so it looked a though they had been hammered on the previous few days. This did not bother me one little bit as my task was to find the rod that really suited me-----mission accomplished.
During the walking of which we did quite a lot, I was getting very warm and dropped my coat off at the car as we were walking to another swim. Time for a fag and let Simon have a go----would you believe it SNOW and I have no coat but it was only for a few minutes.
Simon was gutted and most apologetic for not finding me a pike but no matter, I was happy. It was a great stretch of water where the kayak would have been very useful but it is club waters and at £200 a year, I did not think it was viable.
We got back to the car as the phone rang, Simon's wife calling to say the 10# Greys had just arrived, Oh well sod's law plays it part, after all it was the 13th.
I enjoyed the afternoon and Simon's company with words of wisdom. All I could do now was to wait for the rod to be delivered. I am going to use the outfit for both pike and salt water with bass and pollack as the target species in the summer. Now what I have not mentioned was that I found a fantastic Vision GT11 reel with spare spool on ebay used only once and although I really wanted it, the price of a new rod made it out of the question. My wife, Trish, bless her, saw me drooling over the reel and bought it for me. The Vision reel is fully salt water proof so would fit the bill all round----I'm a lucky lad.
Friday I was waiting for the post to arrive at work, Simon kept emailing me to see if it had arrived but no rod. Eventually about 3pm the phone rang, there is a parcel in reception for you came the response. Now I don't run much but I confess I walked very quickly to collect my new green wand.
Who's a happy chappie---------ME
Now all I want is to get a pike on one of my flies, I don't care even if it is just a little jack, that will make my day. High winds and rain today so I have just been casting in the field over my wall, A LOVELY OUTFIT.
Phil
I had borrowed a Redington Voyant which I liked but after a few trips, I just felt it was not quite right.
I arrived at the chosen venue, the River Derwent at Draycott near Derby and upon being slightly early, I had a quick look at the river. The river bends and turns with great regularity offering quite a few quiet spots where the pike may lay up.
Simon arrived and we had a good chat about the rod type that would suit me best. After wafting a few rods around, we thought to take both the Redington and a Greys Carnivore as that had a faster tip.
The first spot was between a couple of low trees leaving a decent gap, if it wasn't for a footpath sign bang in the middle.
It only took a few casts for Simon to see that my casting style was not suited to the Redington and handed over a 9# Greys Carnivore. Now although I had been using a 10#, Greys had not sent the 10# through in time to test on that day.
The Greys rod was superb, very crisp action and faster than the Redington. I do not have one of these poetry in motion type casts, more of a brutal attack but it gets the job done and this Greys rod suited me well.
we tried quite a few pike hot spots that Simon knew so well but not a sign of a pike anywhere. There were a number of mackerel laying at the bottom of the banks in most of the swims so it looked a though they had been hammered on the previous few days. This did not bother me one little bit as my task was to find the rod that really suited me-----mission accomplished.
During the walking of which we did quite a lot, I was getting very warm and dropped my coat off at the car as we were walking to another swim. Time for a fag and let Simon have a go----would you believe it SNOW and I have no coat but it was only for a few minutes.
Simon was gutted and most apologetic for not finding me a pike but no matter, I was happy. It was a great stretch of water where the kayak would have been very useful but it is club waters and at £200 a year, I did not think it was viable.
We got back to the car as the phone rang, Simon's wife calling to say the 10# Greys had just arrived, Oh well sod's law plays it part, after all it was the 13th.
I enjoyed the afternoon and Simon's company with words of wisdom. All I could do now was to wait for the rod to be delivered. I am going to use the outfit for both pike and salt water with bass and pollack as the target species in the summer. Now what I have not mentioned was that I found a fantastic Vision GT11 reel with spare spool on ebay used only once and although I really wanted it, the price of a new rod made it out of the question. My wife, Trish, bless her, saw me drooling over the reel and bought it for me. The Vision reel is fully salt water proof so would fit the bill all round----I'm a lucky lad.
Friday I was waiting for the post to arrive at work, Simon kept emailing me to see if it had arrived but no rod. Eventually about 3pm the phone rang, there is a parcel in reception for you came the response. Now I don't run much but I confess I walked very quickly to collect my new green wand.
Who's a happy chappie---------ME
Now all I want is to get a pike on one of my flies, I don't care even if it is just a little jack, that will make my day. High winds and rain today so I have just been casting in the field over my wall, A LOVELY OUTFIT.
Phil
and im sure a big girl will come your way soon enough 
