I've always looked to gravel pits and the occasional river for Pike, or rather the larger Pike. but the quick snoop at google earth pointed to a park pond, not a bad looking park pond, but a park pond none the less.
An accident on the motorway delayed my arrival a little and I dosn't pull onto the car park until 08:30. Not to worry though as John reminded me that the Pike tend to come on the feed later in the day.
Have you ever found that? on certain waters Pike tend to switch on at a particular time of the day, it's strange but it happens, there's been a few times in the past that I've been able to fish a "morning water" then pack up at noon and move on to an "afternoon water". it's certainly put a few bonus fish on the bank for me.
Setting up in the end bay I was quite hopeful of a fish or two on the bank, John told me of the waters Pike fishing history, which while not producing "massive" fish certainly had a reputation of producing twenties and a good average weight.
I was surprised by the depth at 10-12 feet, most park ponds I've fished in the past have only been but a few feet deep and often featureless. Four rods cast out, baited with Herrings and Mackerel. two ledgered at 40 odd yards the others float fished just beyond the drop off...
Stand back, wait.
Sometimes time goes really slowly when you're stood fish-less in the cold, but John's a top bloke and it was good to share the craic with him, but the wait contiuned, with the alarms silent we packed up at 16:00 the blank continues!
But a lesson learnt, actually heres two lessons.
- Never underestimate anywhere, granted most waters wont produce the goods, but big Pike can come from the most unusual of places. pay attention and check them out.
- They come back; many times waters have produced decent Pike only for the water to stop producing. keep a not of the water and give it a rest it will come back, I'm not talking a couple of weeks either, leave it a few years there's plenty of other waters to fish. but never forget what a water has produced in the past.
