As lucky as Al

Sändasjön; 11th Febuary 2009

A Brace of Rainbow Trout..

Rainbow Trout(.52kilo)

Close up...

My first Rainbow Trout, a .48kilo fish...

Nice to have a few fresh fish for dinner....


A really fine day in every way, the weather was stunning, a beautiful sunny winters day. Ice fished at Sändasjön in the hope of a Rainbow Trout with Ed and Simon. Just after arriving lost two fish which were undoubtedly trout, the second pulling my unattended ice rod through the hole in the ice, I managed to recover it by plunging my arm after it down the hole, only to lose the fish! A short while later I was delighted when my bait was again taken and I duly landed my first Rainbow Trout after a nice scrap through the hole in the ice, a fish just over a pound in weight at .48 kilo. Ed then had a monster bite and was bitten off, most likely by a Pike. A bonus followed when I hooked and landed another very slightly heavier Rainbow Trout of .52 kilo, a really purple fish this, which was really well marked. Both these fish are worth a total of 6 points on this years table. All in all a really fortunate day for me, the lads not so lucky with no trout, though plenty of small roach were caught on a day we all enjoyed...

Moon Phase; Full Moon+2 Days

Moon Low Point;01.07; Moon Set;07.41 Moon Rise;19.39

Ice Fishing; Flaten, 11th January 2009

Winter Perch

Karl's first fish from under ice...

Jack Pike

Another monster....

Scouse eskimo fishing in a hole...

At last, for the first time in three years the tempature has fallen enough to allow ice fishing around Stockholm. A really enjoyable few hours spent on Flaten enjoying a form of fishing new to us all. Managed to catch a few Perch between us on vertically jigged lures, mostly tiddlers, as well as a single jack Pike which netted me the first point of 2009. A lot to learn about ice fishing, hope the cold weather holds so that we can try some predator fishing, with Pike, Perch, Zander and Burbot all possible from under the ice...

Final Point's Table; 2008

Another year passed already, so time to post the final points table for the year 2oo8. As always, bonus points are now added for the biggest points scoring fish of each species caught over the year, with a reward of 12 Points for each. In addition a further 12 Points are awarded for the heaviest fish of the year outright. The following fish are awarded points;

Pike; 14lb. 14oz., Dreviken. Al (24 Pts., also largest fish of the year.)
Zander; 3.8kg., Lidingö. Ed (12 Pts.)
Perch; 1.2 kg., Lidingö. Ed (12 Pts.)
Burbot; 6lb. 5oz., Tyresö Slott. Al (12 Pts.)
Eel; 1lb. 4oz.,Aspö. Karl (12 Pts.)
Rudd; 2lb. 3oz., Tyresö Slott. Al (12 Pts.)
Bream; 3lb. 9oz., Varmdö. Al (12 Pts.)
Tench; 4lb. 2oz., Nyfors, Al (12Pts.)
Ide; 1lb. 4oz., Aspö. Al (12 Pts.)

All of this means the final table looks like this...

1st. Al (194pts.)
2nd. Ed (53pts.)
3rd. Karl (28pts.)
4th. Simon (13pts.)
5th. Tom (3pts.)
6th. Kevin (2pts.)

Again in 2008, several species were not caught at all. Notably, these include Salmon, Brown Trout, Seatrout, Rainbow Trout, Grayling, Char, Chub, Dace, Silver Bream, Carp, Crucian Carp, Asp and Flounder. Several of these are easily available with a little effort and time and offer good opportunites in 2009. Other species, like Roach, a commonly caught species were not caught at sufficient size to register points on the table. Burbot, Eel, Ide and Zander were all caught for the first time during 2008. Hopefully 2009 will bring some more great fish and enjoyment for you all...

Stockholm Strömmen;15th October 2008

11lb. Seatrout (male)

Five hours were spent fishing this evening between 8pm. and 1am., alas, without a fish for Ed, Karl or myself. A couple of hours alone yesterday evening produced the same result and it seems the peak of the Salmon run here has passed and the fish are scarcer now. Seatrout however will pick up over the next month or so and will continue to be present into the new year, the fish photographed above was caught early this evening, a reminder of what can be taken with a little luck, or perseverence, a superb male Seatrout that weighed 11lb.! A well coloured fish that has been in the Ström for some time, these fish are silver when they first come in from the baltic, gradually gaining darker colouration as the weeks pass.

Pike fishing was quiet last Monday also and a half day on Malaren produce a single jack Pike for myself and a brace for Jamie on what was a poor day overall, despite promising conditions. The seaon is drawing to a close now for many species as the winter closes in....

Malaren; 9th October 2008

6.60kilo(14lb 9oz.) Pike for Jamie....

6.60kilo(14lb 9oz.) Pike

4.20kilo(9lb 5oz.) Pike at dusk....

4,20kilo(9lb. 5oz.) Pike

3.80kilo(8lb. 6oz.) Pike for Simon during the morning...

Simon and the head of the beast....


A superb days piking from the boat with Simon and Jamie on lake Malaren. Fished from 10.30am through until 6.oopm. with lures all day. First fish came to Jamie with a fish of around a kilo, followed by another simular fish for myself. A couple more takes and small fish came before Simon had the first really good fish of the day when he took a 3.80kilo fish on a green Zalt Wobbler, a lovely fish for him to start the day. The afternoon proved rather quiet with a handful of small fish lost on the strike before Jamie connected with the best fish of the day, a cracking 6.60kilo fish on a Buster Jerkbait. Simon landed another small fish, as did I before the light started to fade. I was delighted to get a really nice 4.20kilo fish ar dusk, also falling to a Buster Jerkbait, which gave us all a good fish during the day, which was thorughly enjoyable....

Lidingö; 29th September 2008

The head on that....!

6lb. Pike...

Lidingö the venue for Karl, Ed and myself on a day when new moon fell and it was rather dissapointing in all honesty. On the plus side the weather was glorious for the time of year....

A total of six livebait rods between us and just a single Pike, albeit a really hard fighting, exceptionally nicely marked and well proportioned 6lb. fish. The livebait was a small Roach. Ed had a dropped take, as I did during the day. Later I had another good run on a Perch bait which released the bait on the strike, these fish were probably all big Perch...

Vaxholm; 22nd September 2008

Ed and 6lb 1oz. Pike

1lb 3oz. Perch

Karl with 2lb 9oz. Bream

A really nice day today, great weather and a few fish as well. Vaxholm was the venue for Karl, Ed and myself and we all legered a worm on the bottom anf fished a livebait. Quite a few Perch caught during the afternoon, with fish actively hunting baitfish in front of us. Ed took the larggest, a 1lb. 3oz. fish that bagged him 2 points. Soon afterwards Ed's livebait was taken and after a lively struggle a really nice Pike of 6lb. 1oz. (2pts.)was landed and relased. Not to be left off the points table Karl landed his biggest Bream to date, a fish of 2lb. 9oz. (1 pt.)on the leger. All in all a nice day with Perch, Pike, Bream, Roach and Ruffe all taken...

Stockholm Strömmen; 2nd September 2008

8lb Seatrout...

7lb 8oz. Salmon from Strömmen

Brace of Salmon around the 10lb. mark....

A fine trio, Seatrout and Salmon, all around the 8lb mark...

Evening spent again at Strömmen with Karl from 5pm. until 11pm. A really frustrating evening in all honesty, hooked no less than seven fish between us and landed none! Particularily depressed myself after hooking no less than five fish, one of which was a very good Salmon. A lot of fish were landed tonight of a high average size, some cracking Seatrout in particular were witnessed. Have taken some photos of some of the catches made and posted here for interest. Did learn a lot tonight about fly choice and hook strength in particular, as well as several other tips for the future, feel it won't be long before a good fish is landed....

Stockholm Strömmen; 1st September 2008

Strömmen Seatrout...

Strömmen Seatrout...

A few free hours in the late afternoon today, thought I would try the Ström again for a couple of hours and arrived at 15.20, I was surprised to find myself the only fisherman there before I was joined by a swedish fisherman, the pair of us having it all to ourselves. Several jumping Salmon made sure the adrenalin was high with fish well into double figures active in the water below us. Fished the traditional fly method here, which involves an 80 gram weight, three way swivel and long leader to the fly. After 40 minutes, having just changed to a dark blue tube fly, I was hit hard in a savage fashion, the fish giving phenomenal resistance as it sulked across the river. I was only barely managing to hang on and keep contact for three minutes when it decided to make off downstream under the bridge where it easily snapped me off just above the fly. The albeit short fight left me in no doubt as to just how strong these fish can be and wondering how large a fish I had jusy hooked. Needless to say I was gutted...

Perhaps 45 minutes later at 17.30 the swedish lad beside me had a take, also on a blue fly and after a brief struggle landed a really beautiful Seatrout of around seven pounds weight, a slightly coloured fish, suggesting it had been in the freshwater for perhaps a week or two. Really nice to be able to net this fish for the guy and get a good look at the fish. Took a couple of snaps which I have posted here. The concensus after seeing this fish caught was that I had probably hooked a good Salmon or perhaps a very large Seatrout, and though a little disapointing not to have landed a fish, it is good to have finally connected with a fish.

Stockholm Strömmen; 27th August 2008

A 10lb. Salmon from Strömmen...

A 5lb Seatrout taken just after dusk...

Popped down to Stockholm Ström for a couple of hours in the late evening and fished an hour into darkness. The late autumn run is begining now with both Seatrout and Salmon coming through in big numbers, with some colossal fish present. Seatrout run well over 20lb. here and Salmon as large as 50lb.!

Fished a tube fly on a long leader from a three way swivel, with an 80 gram weight required to get the fly down in the very strong flow and happily lost very little tackle. No fish fell to my rod but fish were taken by others during the evening, a couple of which I took snaps of and have posted here to whet the appetite! Will be getting out over the next few months and into the winter in pursuit of that dream fish, a large Seatrout really would be something special...

Lidingö; 19th August 2008

1lb 13oz. Perch

1lb 2oz. Perch

4lb 15oz. Pike

Simon and Perch


A fine day at Lidingö today with Karl and Simon, fishing principally for Perch. Perch came early on the legered worm, particularily to Simon who had three nice fish around the 12oz. mark. Karl then had a free roving Perch Live bait taken by a Pike of 4lb 15oz. which gave him a scare or two as it did its best to entangle itself in the reeds to our left before it was landed. A nice fish barely under five pounds gave him his first single point of the day for the table.

Next came a really nice fish for myself, a lovely 1lb 13oz. (4 Pts.) fish with rather faded markings, presumably an older female fish. This fish fell to legered worm and gave a brief but powerful account of itself on the swingtip rod. Then to wrap the evening up Karl had a large Roach livebait taken before he failed to hook what most probably was a good Perch. This was followed by a fish of 1lb 2oz. , a 2 point fish that went into the reeds and was fortunatly landed all the same, which was a great way to end the session before we packed up at 19.30. Happily all todays fish were released and swam away strongly to fight another day....

Lidingö; 12th August 2008

2lb 2oz. Perch

2lb 2oz. Perch

1lb 6oz. Perch

An evening session was long awaited at this spot, had been itching to try for big Perch, probably my favourite species to catch when they are bigger specimens. Began at about 4pm., with two float paternostered livebaits set up, complete with bobbins and bite alarms. Fished another rod on the bottom with worms on a fixed paternoster.

A frustrating start was had due to a lack of suitable bait sized fish coming on the worm, no shortage of Perch though with constant action with medium sized fish. Lost two fish in the reeds that might of topped a pound, my own fault for not carrying a landing net. Finally got a couple of bait sized fish, a small Perch and a Roach. The perch was the first to be taken at 18.10, the culprit a lovely 1lb 6oz. Perch(2pts.) which was landed after a few anxious moments after the fish kited into the reeds...

Things went quiet after that and I occupied myself with more modest Perch and Roach on the worm. Decided to fish into dusk and was rewardered at 21.10 when a roach livebait was taken suddenly, a screaming run and fabulous fight followed before a cracking Perch of 2lb 2oz. was landed, a 6 point fish and my best Perch for some time. A nice way to end the day...

Lidingö; 30th July 2008

0.9kg Perch

1,2kg perch

1,2kg Perch

Out at my favourite spot this morning hopin for another Zander or a pike. Arrived about 07.30 and started catching small perch on worm straight away. About 10.30 the livebait float went under and I struck into what I thought was a small pike. Was very pleased to see a huge perch instead! Weighed in at about 1,2kg. 10 minutes later the other float went under producing a good perch just under 1kg. Both caught on small perch livebait.. I'll be going back again soon!

Malaren 14-15th June

Bream

My first ever lure cought pike!! about 1.5kg

Second ever lure cought pike, 2.6kg

A nice weekend away at a friends country house on the island of Alholmen (somewhere after Ekero) Tried lure fishing for the first time ever and to my surprise, actually caught something. Caught both pike within 10 minutes at the same spot. All in all a pretty quite weekend though but some good spots so worth a return trip soon.

Waxholm; 26th June 2008

4lb 13oz. Pike

11oz. Perch

Grabbed the rods, reels, scales, camera, a few weights and a packet of size 10 hooks and headed out to Waxholm for a few hours light fishing for Perch. My first cast produced a good bite and I struck into a very strong fish that absoloubtly hooped my 12 foot swingtip leger rod over. I was dreaming about a monster Perch for 5 minutes as it stayed deep and took line every time I tried to bring it to the surface. When it did break the surface my dreams were dashed, a Pike of 4lb 13oz. had taken my worms of the bottom! The fish was well hooked in the scissors of the jaw, away from the teeth and it was landed, photographed and slipped back in. A truly unbelievable fight on the ultralight rod, it only it could of been the Perch I thought it might be!

Lots of Perch biting, all small at first, but things did improve steadily as the sun dropped lower, leading to three fish over .75lb before I had to leave at 19.15 to watch the Euro '08 semi-final! Might be well worth an evening in the area with small livebaits for, hopefully, a big, big Perch...

Trehörningen; 26th June 2008

1lb 14oz. Tench

Tench

Crayfish

A few very enjoyable hours spent fishing in the evening for Tench with Linda, Jim and Ollie. Groundbaited carefully on arrival and was into a Tench of 1lb 14oz. on just my second cast using a strawberry flavoured maize and redworm bait on a paternoster rig, a rapid result. Things then went rather quite with small Roach here and there until the sun dropped and the odd Bream and Rudd were then taken, though nothing of any size. A Crayfish was caught after it tangled itself in my line on my second rod which was fishing a method feeder rig and boilie on a hair. A really good sized Cray it was too! Had two good runs on the method feeder but figure the hair link was too long as neither fish was hooked. At 21.45 a second small Tench of about 1lb. was taken on my paternoster rod, again on the strawberry maize and redworm hookbait. Both Tench gave me 6 points for the evening, though neither was very large, this lake appearing to hold a lot of small fish, though may not be a great site with a view to a big specimen. Still, a beautiful place to spend an evening all the same...

In addition, Simon took three small Pike from the boat on Malaren a few days ago, which gives him three points towards his point total for the season. The points table is now fully updated...

The Zander....

Hi guys, well, first addition from me. Had to add this one. Out fishing on May 31st from about 7.30 am at kyrkaviken in Lidingö. A beautiful sunny day, well over 20 degree's. Fishing on the float for smaller fish and two livebaits out for pike (had 6.5kg pike here before) Around 9.30am the livebait float went under and I struck into a very solid fish. Felt very strange from the start as the fish went straight out for open water and very deep!! After about 10 minutes fight I finally caught a glimpse of the monster and was shocked to see a very angry zander (my first ever).  On my very poor scales it weighed in at around 3.8kg, a beautiful fish. I'll be going back again to try for more...