Muskan; 10th April 2016; First Esox of the year for Andy Shaw

Andy popped out to Muskan for his first session of the year after a mild winter here. He legered a bunch of worms and had the usual Silver Bream here and there before a wrenching bite saw him into a powerful fish on a light feeder rod. Landing a 12lb Pike some time later, he was naturally delighted. There is some strange goings on at this venue, as Andy regularly lands Pike on worm here, this not even being his best weight on worm here. Still, all said and done, a nice way to start the spring...

Mälmasjön; The search for Tench; 12th July 2015

A long awaited trip the this famous Tench lake here in Sweden. The lake has a long history amongst anglers here for big, specimen Tench and the lake record stands over 9lb. Here in Sweden, given the harsh winters and relatively short summers, the species does not grow as large as it does in countries further south and a 6lb fish can be considered a specimen.

 Having never fished the venue before we were not sure how to approach the fishing and brought a lot of gear and bait to cover all eventualities. Andy Shaw and I set off at midnight with a fully loaded car, in good spirits and looking forward to the fishing. After a difficult commute due to thick fog and deer on the roads we eventually arrived at 2am and had a look around in the darkness. The lake was a typical eurtrophic lake, with dense marginal vegetation and extensive lily pads. Fishing from the bank would be difficult and we only found one area suitable, though we were heartened by bubbling Tench in the swim and returned to the car and awaited a little more light. We were soon on the lakeside and opted for legering method feeder, a method we have had good success with in the past. This was a mistake as the lake proved to be thickly weeded under the surface and we decided we had to float fish. The next few hours proved frustrating as we struggled in which weed, whilst fish bubbled away in the swim. We were casting over backside vegetation and waterlilies and it took us a while to realise we had to think more carefully about our shot arrangement on the line. By 8am I had caught one decent Perch and loads of small nuisance fish, Rudd and Roach. We decided to head back and collect the keys for the boat we had hired and returned.

Once in the boat the whole lake was open to us, though with a few fish still bubbling in our swim we decided to row around and left the boat in the lilies the lake side of the swim. We needed no anchor, the boat was still and we could now fish under the rod tip if we wanted. I putt a single AA shot 6 inches from my hook, I now knew whether the bait was an the bottom and if the bait was taken and the shot moved, it was registered by the float. Bait was a large prawn to deter small fish. After a short time I struck into a sinking bite and felt solid resistance. The fish dived straight into weed and after a short and subdued fight Andy netted my first Tench from the lake, a superb, deep fish. It was fin perfect and pristine and I knew it would be a Swedish PB before I weighed it. When I did. the scales went around to 5lb. 6oz. I was well happy.

 A Swedish PB for me, a superbly conditioned 5lb. 6oz. fish.

After this things got easier and we gained confidence in out fishing. I quickly had three more Tench, around 4.5lb, 4lb and a 3lb Male. These all fought like stink. Andy missed a couple of bites as the sun rose, before the bubbling stopped and small fish began to destroy our baits, even a large prawn eventually succumbed. We decided the give the searing heat a miss around 11am and went to rest for a few hours.

 Andy with a nice Perch of around a pound and a half...

We returned around 4pm and had four hours left to fish, as Andy had to leave at 8pm. We were both exhausted, though some food and refreshments had perked us up. We fished as we had earlier and it wasn't long before Andy struck into a bite and after a spirited fight netted another good Perch. A bonus fish, though still no Tench for him. The heavens now opened up and we watched out floats from under a large Korum brolly and hopped it would stop. Andy had a number of small fish before striking into another, only to find his rod arch over as a Tench dived for cover. The fish was very strong and after a short and brutal fight it made cover among some pilings and was lost. We both felt it was a big fish and it was tough on Andy. An hour later it did and we got into the boat and began to fish. Some time passed before andy float went under again and the strike connected with what he thought was another perch, though as the fight went on and I became convinced it was a Tench. It bored heavily under the boat, though eventually I netted the fish and its size was noticed, another 5lb fish. It was relief for Andy and I duly took a few photos before were both tried a few other areas with no joy. Typically, as we were packing up the fish began to appear, bubbling everywhere, the evening was coming and the fish were feeding. It was hard to leave seeing this, though we had no choice and decided we would have to come back for a full evening session. The venue had left a serious impression on us, a stunning location to fish in. We will certainly be back...

 Andy's reward for persisting was a stunning Tench, another immaculate dark fish of 5lb.

Lure fishing for Pike; Lidingö; 28th May 2015

A few spare hours in the evening saw Eddie Bowler and I afloat after our old friend Mr. Esox. It was a bright sunny evening, though we felt our chances were good nonetheless as the sun began to drop. The shallow spawning grounds proved uneventful and it was apparent the fish have moved away from these areas. With limited time we decided to try a few more areas with a couple of meters depth and right at the death I had a proper strike on a 22cm Westin Shad Teez, in the colour Official Roach. The fish fought well in water that was 15 degrees, and soon was safely unhooked, photographed and released unharmed, as all Pike should be. Time constraints had meant we struggled to find the fish, though in the end it was great to get one after a few half hearted hits from small fish. Didn't weigh this one, obviously a post spawn fish, though quite long...

Muskan; 14th May 2015

Anothe session for Andy Shaw at Muskan, this time Jones by Emily Shaw, who quickly got going and had several nice Perch and yet another Pike on redworm! Daddy had to get his act together quick sharp, though eventually managed a second jack Pike, again on redworm, a 1lb Rudd on the method feeder, some Perch and last gasp, a very nice Tench weighing exactly 4lb. The venue continues to throw up fish, efforts here will continue. Early days as yet, though there is huge potential here, especially regarding Pike, Perch and Zander. Watch this space...

Pike; 13lb on Redworm; Muskan; 12th May 2015

Sometimes things happen when fishing that you just don't expect, that's what happened to Andy Shaw this Tuesday, whilst feeder fishing at Muskan. We are new to the venue, this being just the third visit, a short feeder session. We know Pike sometimes take worms, even maggots. When it happens to be a thirteen pounder though, on a light feeder Rod, things get confusing. Andy had been catching Silver Bream and lost a nice Tench before striking into another bite only to hook up on something, not the bottom as initially thought, as line started to tear off his reel at a rate of knots. Thoughts of a huge Tench, wondering if it could be a Carp, we're all going through his mind as he played this fish for twenty minutes, before he finally got a look at the beast and realized what he had hooked. The small hook was in the scissors of the Pike, luckily the fish didn't bite through the line and it was duly netted and weighed at 13lb. A new PB for Andy, he was delighted, shocked and confused. Andy is a specialist at taking shite photos and he duly obliged with this clanger of a selfie, on of his best efforts to date, at least he got most of the silhouette in the frame. All joking aside, a good effort by the lad...

Muskan; 3rd May 2015

The biggest Tench of the day which had been badly mauled by a Pike and was not exactly a looker. Just under 4lb.

An immaculate Tench which weighed 3lb. 3oz. and fought like a demon. A really nice looking fish this one...


Our first session on the lake today and we decided to ground bait a swim at the northeast of the lake and lever over it. We used feeders and six 14 hooks, arriving at dawn. It wasn't long before the bites started to come and we were surprised by the species, Silver Bream. We were really bagging up before long and it seems the lake is teeming with these fish. The biggest fell to Andy Shaw at 14oz., surely there are a few specimens over a pound to be had. The real surprise came in the form of two Tench, we had figured it too early for the species, but we were wrong. It bodes well for the future and we may be on for some excellent Tench fishing here as the summer moves along. Next question is just how big do they get here? All in all, a really nice day with some good fish...


Below, Andy with a big Silver Bream of 14oz. These fish don't get very large and a 1lb. fish is a specimen, surely there are a few big one in this lake, which seems to be teeming with these fish..

My new PB Roach; Alan Dalton; Tyresö; 24th April 2015

A nice Roach weighing in at 1lb 3oz was my biggest Roach to date and a nice surprise. Caught on legered redworm/sweetcorn cocktail, fixed paternoster.

Making a run for it, cleanly caught in the end....

Around 15 Roach taken of good stamp, all between 12oz and 1lb 3oz. Most were fat with spawn, possibly larger female fish. Bites came mostly in the evening...

A new PB Pike for Ed Bowler

What a stunning fish this is. A very happy Ed Bowler here with his recent 19lb. Pike taken early season on a CDC Pig Shad. Ed has had a lot of fish in the 6.7kilo bracket and it's only a matter of time before he cracks on a tops this monster. A really stunning fish this, pristine and has probably never seen a hook before...

Big Perch day for Jesper

What can you say about this lunatic? All being said he's gotten into some nice Perch of late and this one was the best of a 50 fish haul taken on McRubber shads, a cracking Perch of 2lb 10oz. On the day he had four fish over the 1 kilo mark. I suspect a 3lb. fish is coming soon...

Avesta; Fishing Trip; April 2015

A 9lb. Pike for Andy Shaw taken on a jerkbait...

Dawn at Avesta..

The bhoys...

Micropike taken on a Busterjerk!

And another micro...

First bit of fishing of the year, a two day trip to Avesta which was tough going fish wise. We went for Pike and arrived to find cold weather, meaning fish were hard to come by. a few very small Pike were taken on the first day, though Phil O keffe lost a better fish close to 10lb early in the morning. Second day we went deeper to find a few fish on large rubber shads, with Andy shaw taking a fish of 9lb. Later the evening Craig deLeon was unlucky to have a very big pike come off after his line sheared under his boat, losing a fish over a metre long, a possibly very big fish...
A great weekend nonetheless and a good start to the season...

Urban Zander Fishing; Stockholm; September 2014

 Karl's first ever Zander, a nice fish of 3lb, which took a small mepps type lure. He followed this with a second, smaller Zander!

Met Karl Stein for a short night session right in the centre of Stockholm city, the aim was for Salmon. On arrival there were Salmon everywhere, jumping clear and top tailing with plenty of fish over the twenty Pound mark. After dark other predators started hunting and we saw several Zander hitting baitfish on the top. Karl switched to a small mepps lure and immediately snagged on the bottom. He managed to free the lure, which was then taken with a rather gentle tap, before the rod arched over and began to buck. when the fish hit the Surface we were delighted to see Karl's first ever zander. which was a 3lb fish. This was followed by another of a pound a short while later when we were joined by a couple of local angler who told us of excellent fishing for Zander here in August, with fish well into double figures, topped by a high double this year, which we saw a photo of. Perhaps a Campaign is in order for a big Zed next summer, the season is comong to an end now. a livebaiting session would be rather interesting here...

Pike; Jerkbait Fishing; 2nd May 2014

Jesper with a stunning double, a particularily nicely marked fish.

A very happy me with a fish of 6.25 kilo, a big female which obviously had not yet spawned...

A day out jerkbaiting for Pike saw Eddie Bowler, Jesper Fröberg and I setting off very early as we had to bring the boating gear. Outboard motor, an electric motor, fishfinder, batteries and fuel tanks were all hauled to the boat and the fishing gear was set up and organized for the day before we set off. the day began with the sun beaming down and flat calm conditions, hardly ideal for Pike fishing. Probably as a direct result we had a quiet start to the day, with nothing happening in the shallows. We moved to a shallow bay close by were the first fish of the day fell to Ed and Jesper. It is always something of a relief to get a fish or two in the boeat and we relaxed somewhat before planning or next move. We all decided of fishing a huge reedbed, an area which saw water of about four metres depth sloping up to a huge stand of last years reed in the shallows. It began slowly here before we experienced our first feeding spell of the day and the Pike suddenly seemed to switch on. Jesper and Ed had a fish here in quick succession before I hooked up and lost what felt o good fish. Jesper was soon in again and this time his rod showed a deeper arc as a powerful fish pulled back. a short while later the first double of the day was in the boat, a cracking fish...

Jesper with the first big fish of the day, this was the start of some incredible fishing...

   As soon as it hard started the feeding spell ceased and we moved back to the bay without a lot of success. We decided to head for dry land as the fishing was quiet at this point and we had lunch. Cumberland sausages and bacon were the order of the day, they were soon sizzling away on the camping stove. It was a superb bit of grub and we were revitalized decideding to head south into unknown water. Using the fish finder we found some superb looking featueres for later in the year, remarkable drop offs and features that will surely hold big Pike, Perch and Zander later in the year. I was rather taken with the potential here for species such as Rudd, Bream and Tench. Despite all this we failed to locate any Pike in the area, perhaps the water was a simply too deep at around three metres in the shallows. We noted that the water was colder here too and figured this was the kiss of death as regards Pike, which were now spawning and we made the decision to head back to the shallow waters at the head of the fjörd. Cloud cover had now formed and duller, overcast conditions saw us head back to the long reedbed. After some time here without any fish we tried the bay, here a couple of small fish followed lures to the boat without taking. It had now been quiet for sometime and we decided to head for the extreme shallows were we had started first thing in the morning...

 

A really cracking fish here, taken by Ed, his largest of the day, also a very nicely marked fish...


We entered the shallows which the fish finder told us were jusy 80cm Deep, the margins were no more than a foot or two and two our north the shallow water was festooned with last years loose, stubby reed stems. It didn't take us long to find the fish, which were tucked into this cover in a foot or two of water. Casting close to these stubby reeds saw violent takes, often just after the lure had hit the water. They were taking right off the Surface with gusto, we had found the fish. They were fish of a very good size as well, the quality of the fishing would prove to be superb. Jesper was at the front of the boat and was on fire, hooking some lovely fish. It was pretty special stuff as the Pike were hitting the jerks so hard, sometimes striking wide of the lures and missing them completely. One fish took Jesper's lure so violently it rocketed clear of the water with the lure in it's jaws as the Three of us looked on. It was during this period that I took my largest fish of 6.35 kilo, a fish which slammed into the jerkbait right on the top in the reeds. After an hour it went a little quiet and we decided to rest the area and moved off to other areas for a while. We had little joy elsewhere and after an hour we made out way back to the shallows...

Jesper with the biigest fish of the day at 6.5 kilo.

As we began to cast it soon became apparent the fish were still present and again it was mayhem. Fish after fish walloped out lures and Ed at last connect with a big fish. Jesper again had the lions share of fish, Ed being a little unlucky to have three fish throw his lure. It went on for another hour and it was truly amazing stuff. As the sun dropped in the sky it broke through the cloud and the wind died completely. The water was now still as a millpond and the best cesed to take out lures. We moved off were Jesper took the final fish of the day from the margins. Incredibly, we had taken 24 Pike into the boat, with eight of these into double figures. The overall average weight was somewhere in the region of 4.5 kilo, which is remarkably good fishing.
   At this point we decided to pack it up. Jerkbait fishing is demanding and we were tired from cranking these large baits all day. We mounted the engined and batteries on to trolleys and wheeled them back to the car. with the hard work done we sat down and fried some 200g homemade burgers off and reflected on what we all agreed was one of the best days angling we had ever experienced. We headed off as the sun sunk over a postcard, a stunning venue...

Sunset captured on the iPhone. A stunning venue to fish...

 

Sik; Tyresö Slott; 6th April 2014

A day of suprises. Arrived just after dawn with Andy Shaw, the intention being to fish for Pike. We both got two dead baits out and the legered a worm in the hope of catching a livebait or two. Nothing happened for an hour, except for both of us getting slowly soaked by the constant light rain. An easterly wind made life very unpleasant indeed. Around 08.20am Andy had a ripping bites and lost a good fish in front of our eyes, there was no doubt that the culprit was a good Sik of about 3lb. Happily, we hade another chance and we managed to hook one Sik each , Andy taking the biggest specimen. These fish fought well, in fact as well ans the two landed we lost two fish. A decent result on a day when Pike were just not interested

Pike; Jerkbait fishing Afloat; Lidingö; 30th March 2014

A typical fish for Ed on the jerkbait....

What can only be described as a great days fishing today with Eddie and Jesper at Lidingö. I jumped at the chance to get onto the boat, although it is a little cramped with three people. I was a little late and by the time I got there The boy had a couple of fish each, averaging about the 5lb. mark. We spent the day fishing jerkbaits and a total of around 15 Pike were taken, with Jesper taling 8 fish, the best of which just making double figures. The action at times was fantastic and we had quite a few fish attacking lures on the surface which we didnt catch. A couple of times there were multiple fish on. A fantastic start to the season which confirmed that these fish have now returned to the shallows and are getting ready to spawn....

This one came from shaded water. All fish were lying in shallow water less than two metres deep...

Jesper with a nice fish of around average stamp...

A very nicely marked Pike here for Jesper, who was on fire today...

Ed unhooking a fish whilst standing up...

The best fish of the day, a cracking ten pounder and happy angler...

A glorious day to be out in the boat...

A tiddler....

Stunning surroundings at this site....

Another nicely marked fish for Ed here...

Tench at Dreviken; Andy Shaw hits green gold...

Andy Shaw has been concentrating on a swim close to home on Dreviken, a superb fishing venue, though a massive water where locating fish can be a problem. Andy's solution was to watch for signs of Tench, before beginning a regular baiting campaign which went on for some weeks. Plenty of hemp, pellets, sweetcorn and crumb mix has gone in and over the last couple of weeks he has really been getting amongst the Tench, his target species. None of these fish were weighed, though one in particular looks every ounce of five pound. Andy has been taking these fish mainly on short early morning sessions, the odd evening sessions have not been as successful. I joined him for a night session just a few days ago and watched him take three Tench, whilst I blanked. All of the good Tench here have fallen to spicy 10mm popped up boilie baits on three inch hook lengths. Sweetcorn/Worm baits have taken some smaller Tench and many Bream, even pineapple pop ups coming in second to the spicy, white baits. Different water, different preference it seems. Some nice fish so far, all those below are different fish, Andy well into double figures with regard to Tench captures, very good on such a difficult lake...

A cracking early morning Tinca for Andy Shaw...

A smaller, pot bellied fish here. 

A night caught Tench here, a fish laden with spawn, very deep. This one put up a great fight...

A beast. A shame this one was not weighed as it may have gone 5lb, a mark which we have not beaten to date in Swedish waters. This one tested Andy's tackle to the limit and fought like a demon..

Below; another dawn fish, typically dark, which all the fish in this water seem to be...