Nottinghamshire pike/perch/zander

[wardalan1987]

Hi all,

I have just got myself a baitcaster set up to try my hand at some lure fishing.

I'm a member of the Notts AA so have had a go on the Trent around gunthorpe with very minor success. In two trips I have had two small perch.

Does anyone have any recommendations for good beginners waters that not to far away? I'm based in Mansfield Nottinghamshire

Thanks


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[john step]

Keep at it. There is plenty in the Trent. Binka may be able to give a few tips on methods.

 

[flatsfishing]

Plenty of pike and perch in the Trent or try the canal next to London Rd - I am told there are load of zander in there - 3" shad on a 5g 2/0 jig head and fish it slowly near the bottom.

 

[wardalan1987]

Thanks I will persist it's obviously more to do with my presentation, not a shock as its my first time doing this without any instruction haha.

I've currently tried:

4" soft bait slowly brought it just bounced off the bottom.

Hard body plug deep diving slowly brought in with its nose dragging on the floor (this is what I have had success with so far)

Spinners on a fast retrieve and on a slower.

Poppers erratically brought in along the surface.

To be honest using the baitcaster reel I struggle to cast a lighter lure, anyone else have this issue? I remove all mechanical braking from the spool and just leave 50% magnetic brake to help me avoid the dreaded birds nest as I'm a noob to this style of reel.


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[flatsfishing]

Light lures and baitcaster are more difficult - less than about 20g and it needs to be a really good quality reel balanced perfectly with the casting rating on the rod to cast well.


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[wardalan1987]

Ahhhh that may be a slight issue, to be honest I tend to get decent range from 10g upwards, anything less can be a little bit and miss.

I'm running an Abu Garcia pro max so not a reel that costs the earth as I wasn't sure how I would take to it. To be honest though I now love this style of reel, I could happily use only this configuration of reel going forwards.


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[binka]

Not my specialist subject this lure fishing business but I reckon your best chance is the Trent.

Might be worth altering the times you fish so you're there early or dusk, I've found the perch tend to have an afternoon feeding spell.

Have a look into the Fossdyke Canal, that's not too far away and I've always heard good historical reports from it, if it's not been pillaged yet.

 

[wardalan1987]

I have generally been going out at sun up and walking the bank trying my luck on many swims, stopping for lunch then continuing fishing till about 5ish. That's as good of a day pass I can get off the wife to be haha.

I'm starting to think it may be worth forgetting changing swims and just sticking to one spot learning my lures and mastering the presentation. Guess all the rest will come in time......


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[steve2]

One of the benefits with lure fishing is being mobile don't stay in one spot. Fixed spool reel is for better for light lures. I use a diawa megaforce with fast drag in the 2000 size.

 

[gaznotts53]

I used to lure fish the Grantham canal from behind the supermarket gamston end, walk up towards the golf course and further. mostly crankbaits, but also spinners, spinnerbaits around 15years ago. plenty in there, some good perch too. biggest pike I had was 9lb+ but saw bigger. biggest perch around 2.5lb. had a few blanks, best day landed 14 pike up to around 7lb great fun.

 

[wardalan1987]

Thanks I appreciate the comments, I have had a little success since. I have now started catching at least.

Last session resulted in 7 fish one being a pike the rest being perch. Noting special only around 2.5lb for the pike and 1lb max on the perch, but I'm not complaining as it was easier to handle than a 20lb monster would have been lol.

I will take a look at Grantham always happy to try new venues. A change of location can keep it exciting.

What size lure would you recommend on there would you keep it small or go for a 100mm+ lure to help keep the bits away?


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[gaznotts53]

I always did ok and standard to small size cranks, spinners worked good to and never underestimate a spinnerbait, fairly big cast like a dream and easy as to use, cast and retrieve. lots of vibration and movement their great. just out of interest are you using braid? if not I recommend that more than almost anything else. once you have used it for lure fishing you will never go back to monofilament.

 

[wardalan1987]

Ohhh yes I'm using braid.... Your right though making the change to braid is so different. I can now feel every pebble on the river bed. It really does make and incredible difference. There is no going back now!

Role on Friday, will be good to get out and have another session out and about. Really want to get the lure rod out again but I think the father Inlaw fancies trying his new feeder rod. Guess time will tell, may just have to take a bit of everything


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[gaznotts53]

yeah its amazing stuff, like you said you can feel everything with braid. Monofilament feels like having a bath with your socks on afterwards I might pop on the trent fri evening for an hour at dusk, its right on my doorstep. found a couple of cracking looking swims, I think there might be some decent perch and maybe pike might trot for some live bait and leger a lobbie.