Because I am a highly innovative and original angler, whatever everyone else is fishing for on the Trent, I do the opposite. OK I fib about being innovative and original but it has got your attention.
Now I never asked for zander to have turned up in the Trent but they are present and there is nothing we can do about it. People go on about zander being a threat to other coarse fish, but experience has shown that it is other predatory fish which are more likely to be impacted. We are where we are so I’ve been zander fishing since June 16th.
Unlike previous seasons I’ve actually caught a few zander, 22 in all. The big change has been because I’m sure the zander are hungrier than they were in past years. Unfortunately the runs they have given are not like those I’d expect peckish zander to give. The buzzer bleeps, the line tightens and the rod tip bounces. If you do not pull the line out of the clip, give line and then whack them one they either pinch the bait or drop it. Obviously to catch 22 so far I must have done things right a few times!
Most of the zander have been 3 to 4lbs with three better fish of 9-08, 8-08 and 8-04. I’m still waiting for my second Trent double, the first one having come in 2007. So far I’ve been fishing with my standard pike gear, 3lb Missions, my old BR reels and 50lb braid. I might try scaling down, but I do worry about hooking a surprise big pike and then taking too long to land it. It’s probably unlikely to happen, but you only have to kill one big pike from over exercise……….
Good Fishing
Nev