Back to the Predator lake on the Wasing Estate on Wednesday, this time with a group from Reading. The weather was much the same as yesterday but the young people were slightly older and some had a little more angling experience having attended my courses in the Autumn and at Christmas.

All the treble hooks I used today were totally barbless and not one bait was lost during casting thanks to the Solu-Ties. These are really a great find and have already revolutionised my dead baiting as I can use barbeless hooks and make unhooking so much easier.

The first fish was not long in coming and weighed in at twelve pounds twelve ounces but unfortunately the lad who caught it was afraid to hold it.

First fish of the day

The second fish was hooked by a total novice who had never caught a fish before and as soon as he struck I knew we had something a little special. The fish tore about fifteen yards of line from the slipping clutch and kited across the swim in front of us over the top of the other lines. Luckily they had been sunk very deep to avoid the surface drift so crossed lines were not a problem.

Despite his lack of experience he did very well and followed my instructions to the letter.

Big pike

It weighed exactly sixteen pounds and he gained a great deal of credibility within the group by being brave enough to hold it.

It was a little deeply hooked but this gave me a chance to demonstrate safe unhooking procedures and to explain the need for the proper tools.

Unhooking pike

During the day I received a phone call from the estate office passing on the apologies of the manager of the gravel extraction contractors for the boating incident yesterday and the offer of a cheque to the value of £50 for the charity of my choice. The ACA will be £50 better off as a result and is much appreciated.

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