a friday perch saves me from a blank,

Finally, all this snow-sludge-compact ice has melted away here in Nott'm, although the snow is nice when its 'snowing' it isn't when its settled and then turned to compact ice. 

so i managed to get a session planned for today, chucking lures as usual but I today had that eagerness in me, I woke up around 6:30am filled up on the breakfast. (Bacon buttie and a mug of strong tea)

After filling up I stepped outside the door at around 7:15am making my way to the train station to catch the train and onwards to the canal, 

On arrival I got myself set up and cast the first lure out.

it was a ''swimming raider'' lure that 

Recently I had won with £100 worth of lunkermania lures curtsey of the LAS ( Lure Anglers Society) competition, but unfortunately I done a error cast and the tail ended up breaking off whilst the lure being smashed against a brick wall.

''Never mind nothing lasts forever'' I thought to myself which changing lures to a  lunkermania diving minnow (crankbait), after the swap around i made my way towards the Trent, stopping off at any place that my produce a fish or two.

Well two certainly ticks the category for follows, 1st happened as I lifted the lure out for a recast, and the second seemed to have had a great interest in the lure but nothing of a hit ever occurred.

once at 'Trentside' I had a couple of casts into the river, and thought to myself the conditions are not 'right for fishing' a steady flow and a bit of colour had made me head back onto the canal. 

halfway up I sent a quick message to our trentpiker to know if he's en route to meet up for a couple of hours. Whilst waiting around I had a couple of ducks around, so I though it'd be a fantastic opportunity to play around with the camera, 

so away I went taking pictures of the feathered kind.... (I'm quiet happy how these turned out...)

after around 5 minuets of watching this group of ducks, there was a commotion ''quack-quack-quack''

on observation it appeared that another group of ducks had entered the area, and the first group appeared rather unhappy with their presence, What happened for the next 10mins seemed of a verbal turf war between the two groups, I thought ducks were friendly to one and other? whilst it surprised me I found it rather funny. what's next? ''Ross Kemp goes to Nottingham with 'DUCK TURF WARS' to see the lifestyle of two rival 'duck' gangs in a urban canal'' soon enough they quietened down

Dazz finally turned up and we both made our way to the local supermarket, I was in need of a quick bite and a drink whilst stopping off at a few pegs to have a cast on the way, surprisingly not a single sign of life up the stretch.

We did however got offered a 'top of the range £300 bike' for £50 by a couple of lads but we kindly refused, then a girl slightly intoxicated & around my age stopped us both and told us that she caught a fish with whiskers from the canal. 

Whilst Dazz got a few items for shopping I filled up with much needed refreshments, we headed upwards again to try another section of the canal,

well 2nd peg i stopped at produced a small perch (more than welcome) that followed the lunkermania diving minnow and at the last moment took a lunge for it

I was chuffed, it was the first fish out of the section we had attempted a couple time before. Whilst I was fumbling around in the bag, Dazz had a quick cast with my gear and a Mark Houghton spinnerbait (even though he tells me they don't interest him), no word of a lie first cast and he's into a fish! and i hear''Alex get the net'' upon dipping the net into the water, we both had a good glimpse of the fish, it must of been a nice young double, although we were in distance for landing the fish it somehow managed to shake the hook free. 

Much to dazz's heartbreak and disappointment, I felt it would only be fair to let dazz keep the spinnerbait.

(so Dazz if your reading I hope you do have plenty more fish like that with it) 

a while later with no more signs of fish, we both decided it'd be time to split up head home

that just about sums today's session up,

Till next time,

Alex,

playing with a new compact camera,

my digital camera has gave the ghost recently, well it was around 6-7 years old!.
so the sale of a reel and my funds (i have been saving for another Calera) now gone towards a new camera. I opted for the £49.85 Fuji AV200 package from Jessops camera shop in the city centre, So I get a memory card, camera case, and the camera for less that £50 great for those like me where funds and money are short in these hard times.

so I had a play around with it, I thought that something colourful would do the trick! Lures, they come in all shapes and colours, so here are some i have done,

HRT Shad Z - chub

HRT jointed troll - moss tiger

Rapala SSR14- MH custom

Wychwood minnow - Rainbow trout

Wychwood minnow bass

Cabelas jointed walleye runner - silver blue 

Bill lewis Rat-L-Trap 1/4oz - unknown pattern

Savage gear 19cm 4play - pigment error

Mean lures crayfish - red craw

they came out better than I expected, so the camera looks promising for the quick snaps that often happen on the bankside.

looks like the snow is here for a while so the fishing's on hold. until the thaw, then hopefully I'll get back out there.....

Okuma Calera - First Impressions/out the box review,

Had a delivery today, A few lures from another forum member where a part lures part cash in exchange for my 4 small helltails, which in all honesty didn't work on the waters I fished So I'm happy to let them go to a better chance of hooking fish.

And an Okuma Calera baitcasting reel, to which i have been anchoring after for a good few weeks & with funds allowing I took the plunge.

so I now have a specific reason to do as the title of this post says, so here goes......

The specs from Okuma.......

''The Okuma Calera Baitcaster reel is a low-profile reel with four stainless steel ball bearings and a light weight construction design.

• Graphite 'Low Profile' body construction
• Graphite side plates
• 4 stainless steel ball bearings
• 1 one way roller bearing
• Aluminium machine cut lightweight spool
• External adjustable magnetic centrifugal cast control system
• Only available in left handle wind

Calera LHW: 130m 0.33mm''

Upon opening the large padded envelope I was actually surprised from the size of the box that the reel came in, very small and compact so i have a feeling this is going to be a good'un 

After breakfast i decided to open her up, and inside there it was, well packaged and very secure to ensure it don't get damaged. even the plastic bag in a plus.

So I how have my hands shaking with excitement like a young child opening a birthday present (well we all still are eh?) 

Well I must say this feels a fine piece of engineering, even if it's produce in the far east. it feels strong and not heavy like a common house brick.

Now well here a tricky part for me, this reel has a dual casting brake, which is magnetic and centrifugal so I'm already baffled on how I'll come around setting it up, but on the plus side I'll be likley fishing with a lad next week and hopefully he'll be able to show me the ins and out with this dual casting jibber jabber & it should add an extra string to the bow.

well, that very promising,i have a good feeling it'll be a fine reel for me when I'm chucking lures along the tow-path.

Lets see how it feels on the rod,..................................................................

I've loaded it with 30lb power pro braid 

Well it feels very well balanced on the rod (savage gear butch light), 

not too heavy like I say but just right, 

I'll be getting out for Thursday to try it out. But i feel it's only fair to have a full review after next weeks session with a friend & a few banked fish (hopefully),

Till next time, 

Alex,

starting off 2012....with a welcome jack.......

Well I finally managed to remember my password to sign back into blogger, I had forgotten it!. 

Anyway down to business, I hope your all well and happy with the festive season now over........

Before Christmas I managed a couple of trips, one with the PAC and the others were down the 'cut'(canal). I managed to bank squat in the last of the trips in 2011, although I did have a follow on a maximouse, which is made by Dave Greenwood (DGLures).

Before the festivities began I started to get myself a small lure kit together, I wanted something for chucking mepps style spinners and small plugs, for which I had in mind for targeting other predators such as chub,perch and anything other that will take the bait. 

The rod is a 'geologic trout exactly'(Made and distributed by Decathlon from what I'm told.) at 7ft in length rated from 3g up to 12g this seemed ideal, it came to my possession as an impulse by from eBay, 

The reel that is now paired with the rod is a shimano exage 2500FB(2010), I had been on the lookout for one for a while but with shimano having a newer model (FC) for 2011 it was a waiting game... once again eBay came to the rescue.

The lures well... I'm starting to build the collection , my local provides with some lovely small cranks & poppers made by wychwood & at 5 for a tenner its a bargain! I also have others too..... I had heard of the 'Bill lewis Rat-L-Trap lure' but yet to experience it so I asked around, wondering if they would be worth adding to the collection......  well positive replies came back so i ordered half a dozen in 7g(1/4oz), just to start me off in the collection. 

Line and terminal is nothing special....the braid is the usual for me..... power pro but in 'phantom red and at 20lb breaking, trace wire is some calibre tackle wonderwire in 15lb, it's a nice little kit to get me started with the lighter lures. 

Had a quick afternoon's session with the new kit......... I felt in a bit of a p*ssed off mood this morning so I though I'll brave the weather and a bit of fresh air will do me good. Well the air was certainly fresh... the wind was up and the gusts were almost knocking the rod out my hand whilst I'm attempting to cast.. it all calmed down for a good couple hours, and it helped too. I was really having fun with the new rod and reel, casting with the rod requires no more than the flick of a wrist. with a bit of patiences, discipline(lost a lure to a tree) and concentration  the lures were hitting the water right where I wanted. After walking & casting down a stretch of the canal, I headed back up to my starting point stopped of at a peg that has produced in the past and well.... you won't believe it! 

First cast with a 'Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap' in silver shad pattern, I thoght i caught an underwater snag (with all the wind causing debris) but no, a nice jack of 4lb took off with a attitude of a bull. My heart was racing due to a fewfacts.......
- First fish of the new year,
- On light lure tackle
-On a brand new lure that i have never used........
my heart was piratically beating like a mouses....... my drag was set spot on and the fish was soon in the net....
All in  all an enjoyable day, first one of the new year and hopefully many more to follow...

Alex,

Addiction,

just 1 more lure

just 1 more lure

just 1 more lure

just 1 more lure

just 1 more lure

just 1 more lure

Yes, that is all I can hear in my thoughts when I'm browsing the on-line tackle shops such as Harris sports mail. which I've notice have a sale on, big name brands such as savage gear, Storm, Salmo and many many more.........but unfortunately i can't but the whole stock, I'd love to but I just can't (I didn't win lottery face)

But I have got a few lures coming my way, quiet a few from the forums and one or two I ordered from Harris, But that's not the exciting news no, I've had a call from a tackle shop yesterday informing my my spare section for the broken savage gear rod is on route to me!!!!! Yay! so hopefully come the weekend the canal shall be getting some hammering, maybe even get Trent piker to come along........

Till next time,

Alex

p.s if anyone noticed I've altered the blog name and URL. nothing to worry, just me fiddling with the system

Oh what happy days,

yes yes yes on a semi depressed feeling at the moment, I've now completed my apprenticeship, so in terms i'm qualified at my trade yet out of work, which leaves money at a worry. I don't want to end up on the benifits system, but at the same time, where exactly is the work? Nottingham has one on the highest unemployment for young adults in the UK, which means there is not a lot of jobs floating for the younger society. and there are many more like me, the public media seem to rabbit on how we get lazier each day and just get to stay in bed and not worry about paying the rent, and expecting the fortnightly handouts as it's all guaranteed by the taxpayer.  which then leaves me to wonder what'll exactly happen to me whilst on the system, will they chuck me in any job, be it cleaning the city streets to stacking shelves at the local tescos, well i'm afraid i don't want that, i want to do something i'm qualified at, and that i enjoy (bricklaying). i find it amazing how some people are narrow minded about younger members of the society.
end of that little rant,

As for the fishing side of things, it's good and bad,

went down the canal, last week and ended up breaking my new rod  whilst reeling in half a hand of weed, it was ruled down to something tin the manufacturing, as it was a clean snap but now it's in the shops hands where i got it from they should be sending a spare part soon.

on a brighter note, I've regained contact with an old water i used to fish, which has some cracking perch,

so some of the new lures should be fun to use, 

really really looking forward to it, 

till next time Alex 

work, rain, thunder, BANG,BANG,BANG

With me not having the 'up and go' with fishing recently. I told myself that I'm going on the canal. 

so after a days work rain & thunder, I stated at the bottom of the canal working my way up,

despite the rain we had throughout the day, the water on the canal was clear as gin. so i opted for a 'natural' coloured lure, on that i brought from Mark Houghton,  nothing bright and flashy,

after making quarter of the way up the canal i started too see some action..... not a biggie, but still a nice surprise.............

soon after i got back casting my adrenaline rate was on a high, due to the fact that every cast i had done, i always has a knock and bang then a follow, yet i didn't seem to be setting the hooks, it wasn't until i had a follow by what seemed to me to be a double figure pike, as i said it only followed my lure for half a foot, then it stopped. So did I, (reeling in that is) i started to twitch the bait slightly and the fish soon had the hooks in it's mouth, with a splash and whoosh of energy the fish managed to tailwalk and shake free..........''Bugger''.

but i hadn't been put off by the loss, only encouraged, as i seem to be working the bait right. 

i managed to get up the canal 20 yards before a bunch of school kids up on the road overlooking the far side of the canal shouted '' oi, oi, Mister,there is a couple of pike here, waving the finger down between a tree and bush.. 

as it couldn't be ignored i made my way back to give a cast. 

BANG, BANG, BANG,

that's what i got on the first cast, and ti heard the lads shout that there are now three pike!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

so it couldn't be ignored.........

all my focus and attention was set on the detailing every twitch of the rod to make the lure irresistible. 

my adrenaline was at an all time high. my throat was lodged in my mouth, 

twitch, twitch, twitch, bang, bang, bang,

i lifted the rod to set the hooks... and the young jack burst off with such speed my drag whirred leading out line......

the fish was soon enough netted.

only a small jack, but i really enjoyed the evening,especially having the none stop adrenaline rush,

Alex,

Aka. MrMakk