Winter Predator Fishing Recap.

 I must confess that before this season started my predator fishing exploits were a little on the light side to tell the truth as I have mentioned in the past. Now being a father I find time to go fishing at all is rather difficult and having ramped up the amount of work I am also taking on, partially to offset what the better half isn't earning and that as we are entering the final throws of buying a house I have found much of my spare time is devoted at home.

 Most of my predator angling this winter has been focused on the rivers in the south of England. As my miniature campaign approached the hallway mark (around late December) I caught my third twenty pound river pike of my life and first of the season, the efforts for hard work were being rewarded and now we find ourselves in March I have ceased Pike fishing. Mainly owing to the fact most Pike down here spawn around mid-Feb onwards I don't want to be targeting knackered specimens when they should be left to recoup after their exertions.

 So to the recap now.

 I managed a total of 10 trips out, 9 on a river somewhere and the other on a ticket stillwater, where for the most part I was successful on all those adventures bar one. In those nine visits to flowing water I managed a total of seventeen fish with eight over the ten-pound mark and one over the magical twenty pound barrier. For me I couldn't have asked for much more.

 Then on to the Zander where I embarked on three trips, one a blank effort on the boat, the other two trips were a blazing success as I landed no fewer than 3 personal bests in 28 hours or so, I was chuffed like you wouldn't believe. One of those three was also over the magical ten pound mark which to begin with was a pipe dream. Awesome fun too.

 It has been a winter worthy of remembering and even if my two Perch exploits both ended in failure I still thoroughly enjoyed them as I continue to seek another three-pound plus specimen. Not as easy as some make out I tell you! I will continue to try, starting from tomorrow if I shake this stomach bug!

 These, the best of each species this winter.

A tidal Thames double. 11lbs 9ozs.

A Lea system twenty. 20lbs 8ozs.

 Let's hope for more next Winter, it was great fun.