20lb Pike on coaching session - Part I

[Waveney One]

We missed the rush and Barry Fuller my pupil turned up at 8.30 by which time the pike circus was already gathered in the deep water early pegs. After a bit of a chat we took a short stroll to the boards in front of the cafe to set up. I have caught a lot of jacks off there before but nothing of any great size. To be honest neither of the rods Barry had with him were not suitable. One was an out and out waggler rod but the other was a Fladen spinning rod. At least the Fladen had some power in it to cast a bait and some tackle out. Looking at his reels, there was insufficient line on both and what there was was about 4lb B/S. Another trip to the bait shop sorted that out and armed with a bulk spool we loaded up some new line.

I set up my rod for a dead bait with a sliding float and a trace with a couple of small semi barbed trebles. The Fladen we set up with a small Fox Predator Slimline Slider, a sliding stop knot, a couple of beads, a small lead to cock the float and one of my home made traces with a size 4 single Drennan Specimen Barbless hook with a Fox Predator Bait flag on to make sure the bait stayed on and to give a target point. I use a hook to match the size of the bait as I would if I was bait fishing for bream. Showing Barry what I was doing, how to tie a grinner etc. I went through the usual explanation that whilst we may get more runs on the live bait we would probably get larger fish - if any - on the dead bait.