The slow part of the season...

This month saw proper winter weather finally arrive upon us with plenty of snow, low temperatures and ice on the canal. The bad conditions along with increased work obligations contributed to the fact that I've done very little fishing comparing to last year.. Albeit I have managed to get fish from the salt later than ever before in the UK so I cant complain too much..
I did a few sessions on the F&C canal with the best results coming before ice up a couple weeks ago.. I've yet to encounter any perch but got a few jacks. A day just before the really cold weather came through was particularly good with the jacks getting really aggressive but I only had limited time and managed one jack while losing two that attacked a spinnerbait. I was fishing a light rod and couldn't set the large hook properly..

Pretty jack.

Icy...

After that day the canal has been pretty quiet and thus today despite the low temperature warning and brisk wind, I decided to head up to loch Fyne as I knew I would catch something there.
It was sunny for the most part with a cold NW wind and the occasional snow falling, making for an unusual fishing day but in the end I did manage some fish although as expected it was hard work.
I started with long dropshot rigs and heavy leads of over 10gr and various scented lures. As the tide receded I switched to cheburashka and paddletails as I could now work them better and with fewer losses since the current was weaker and didn't drift and snag my lures. I lost a better fish on the cheburashka and other than a few missed bites all fish were caught on the dropshot rig. This was to be expected as the fish have slowed down their metabolism and prefer more static presentations. Moreover scented lures where clearly more effective today again due to the low temperatures and sluggish fish. All fish were caught around midday.

Nice camo on this one..

They dont shy away from larger lures..

Clear cold and windy... Not ideal!

I should've scaled down and played with these guys..

Some notes from the day:

• Smaller lures would probably have been more effective as I would target the tiddlers specifically but instead I gambled for something better that didn't materialise..
• Fine wire, extra sharp hooks are a must.. Losses in winter due to weak hook-holds are more strongly felt!
• The larger fish were absent this time. Smaller fish always more active..

I think we are now in the hardest part of the year fishing-wise and any opportunity/chance of success should be exploited. Its a time for improving presentations and general fishing efficiency with usually meagre results. I do feel though that a decent fish in this time of the year is much more valuable and memorable than one in the warmer months..
In the following weeks I think a visit to some more protected marks is in order and time for the lightest/finer approach with small lures to take place. This includes the canal were I've yet to fish with UL cheburashka..

Tight lines!

Gear used.
Rod:  MC KG Evolution, KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g.
Reel: Shimano Stradic ci4 2500f
Mainline: Sunline Tenya PE 0.7
leader: P-line Halo fluorocarbon, 10lbs
lures: Scented worms, prawns on dropshot.

First fish for 2015!

Today I made my first outing for 2015 and as I wanted guaranteed results I visited Loch Fyne again and expected to have a similar session like last time..
The conditions were almost identical  although the waters were very high and slightly stained after the rains.
I was going to begin with small inchiku jigs (14g) working them on the bottom after filling their muppet with scent. This worked very quickly and I got the first codling of 2015 up. So far everything seemed similar to last time and I had high hopes for the outcome of the session...

The weather has been unreal!

Filling the muppet with scent...

First fish of 2015!

Alas, for the next couple hours I was getting very few tentative bites and only a couple tiny pollock and poor cod to show for my efforts... Moreover due to the strong current and the high water taking my line through rocks and kelp deep down. I lost numerous lures (all my inchikus) and practically emptied my reel of braid!
Disappointed, I walked to the car and picked up my UL dropshot gear with 6lbs fluoro mainline. This setup doesn't cast far really but I hoped that the abrasion resistance of fluorocarbon would help and plus I had no other choice!
I tied a new long dropshot rig with a #8 slim offset hook and a 8g metal pilker for weight. I used various lures, from worms and prawns to paddletails with the latter being more successful at the better fish..
The fish finally started to show towards late afternoon and a couple codling entertained me on the ul gear. Because of the lack in casting distance I wasn't able to target the deeper areas and thus decided to call it a day before 4 o'clock. I new more fish were hanging deep as a fellow angler with much heavier gear and metal jigs, managed some coalies and pollock although he struggled as well..

Even poor cod were few and far between...

Nano pollock..

Better codling showed in late afternoon.

On the prawn..

Good fun on the Ul gear..

This was by far the worst session I ever had in this mark and I believe the most serious reasons for this are the possible emptying of the adjacent fish farm cages (no fish-no feeding-no leftovers) and the stained/high waters due to the heavy rains.. Still it was another spectacular sunny day and getting those few first fish for the year a good start to my 2015 fishing. Moreover its another example of how differently fish can behave in otherwise similar days, with the exception of a couple small factors. Learning every day as they say...

Tight lines and best wishes for a good fishing year in 2015!

Gear used.
Rod:  MC KG Evolution, KGS-832ST 2.53m, 3-15g. Awa Shima Qlite spin, 1-5g, 2.40m
Reel: Shimano Stradic ci4 2500f, Tica Libra 2500SA
Mainline: Sunline Tenya PE 0.7, Sunline FC guide special fluorocarbon, 6lbs
leader: P-line Halo fluorocarbon, 10lbs
lures: 14g inchikus, various worms, prawns, padletails on dropshot.