Returning to Pike Fishing

[Derek Ainscough]

Hi all, brilliant finding this site as I’m returning to pike fishing after an absence of too many years (over 20) and relearning new tackle and techniques. I started my pike fishing in the early 60s on the three pools (which in actual fact was only two and subsequently the centre bank was dug out to become one pool and renamed the river Crossens, but if you look carefully at the road bridge you can still see the original three arches). Although in the past I’ve been lucky to catch some large pike, I probable had more pleasure plugging for 5-10lbs on the canal.

[Happy Hayes]

Welcome aboard Derek
Their a good bunch on the pit enjoy
Regards
Tom

[Will Smith]

Hello Derek.

Welcome to the Pit.

Will.

[suffolk si]

Welcome aboard mate

[andrew_nagel]

Welcome

[Derek Ainscough]

Thanks all for making me welcome

[Derek Ainscough]

Slowly going through the posts, there is a lot of good information here. I particularly liked that there is a James Holgate trophy. I was fortunate to meet James on a number of occasions and he was alway free with information, help and advice, particularly around Lancs & Cumbria where I fished.

[Mike J]

Welcome aboard

I was a returnee a while back and found nothing much had changed, still the braggers and boasters at one end and the quite ones saying nowt at the other. End tackle is just the same but these days its hard to buy quality trace wire in bulk spools unlike the early days when it was in most good tackle shops, many hooks are made in China but Japanese and Americian producers still dominate the high quality/price hook market.

I made a few upgrades eg; reels from Daiwa superseded my Mitchell's and a pair of DLSTs weigh 1/3 or my Sportex of the '60's, but I still use my Efgeeco rod rests and poly sea floats when you see the prices of the latest designs you will know why.

Be sure to give circle hooks a try, as a disciple I will not say more except that if nothing else, they make unhooking so much simpler.

[Derek Ainscough]

Thanks Mike, I need to put new hooks on my old lures so I will investigate the circle hooks

[stevie]

Hello Derek. Are you the fella mentioned in Banny’s book a few times. Part of the Southport crew including Lumby from the 80/90’s ?

Cheers Steve

[Stewlaws]

Southport massive ...lumby and Gordy up with the kids

[Derek Ainscough]

Hi Steve, the only ref to me is in my copy of his book where Malcolm wrote a dedication. The Derek in Malcom’s book is Derek Unsworth. My fishing in Southport was in the 60s. By early 70s I had a car and had moved my fishing to Grassmere, in those days there was a campsite on the side of the lake which made for a pleasant weekend. I only know Dave Lumb from meeting him at conferences, the first time probably LAS at Congleton. I’ve never met Gord Burton but heard stories from his brother Cyril.

[stevie]

[Mike J]

Thanks Mike, I need to put new hooks on my old lures so I will investigate the circle hooks

Nooooo!
Sorry I did not realise you were a lure angler or I would not have advised you to try circle hooks.
Circles work well on flies and rigged infront of small soft lure but on hard lures I have never hooked a single pike dispite several different rigging systems.

[Derek Ainscough]

Thanks Mike for the heads up re circle hooks and lures. I’ll ask advice on the lure forum.