Hello all you anglers and would be fly casters. With longer days and a hint of warmth in the sun at lunch time, thoughts are beginning to turn towards our annual shot at the monster pike of Windermere. Last season was just superb with the best fish a wonderfull 29.10lb but we had plenty of upper double figure specimens as well, and I’m looking forward to geting back on there come the middle of the month. The bait freezer is full, reels serviced, traces checked and all we need now…is pike!! On the game angling front, with a return to proper wintry weather the grayling fishing has been hard goiing- so hard in fact that the latest visit to a favourite beat on the Eden had me sucking ice from the rod rings. Needless to say we packed up shortly after that!! This months main picture is posted with more than a hint of sadness- Alan Postlewaite, one of my longest serving clients and a regular feature of the summer perch fishing has been called away to fish another place and will be sadly missed . We had lots of shining times on his annual visits over the years and he will be fondly remembered. I will not be surprised if I hear ” nice Perch” in a proper lancashire accent coming over the water when I pull in another one off the river mouth this July. But the world turns and seasons change. We have had a few sucessful pike sessions so far this year and with lots of adventures planned- Loch Awe, Chew Lake, Chubbing on the Severn and Wye, Bassing and all those salmon and trout waiting to be upset…heres to the warmer days and I look forward to meeting up again.

Best wishes, Eric

Alan Postlewaite. Favourite lunch place.

One like this will do !!!!

First pike of the year from Derwentwater