We're busy

Being busy at work taking unfortunately most of our time right now, so it has been a miminum of fishing trips and updates since we came home from Thailand. The plan is that we keep a smaller fish break over the winter and then we come back strongly to the spring pikes in 2013.

Nevertheless you should not be cheated of Jens' 30 kgs mekong catfish that was caught on the last fishing trip in Thailand. The fight was without comparison and lasted 30-35 minutes, so if he looks a little tired in the picture is for good reason. (An hour earlier, he had lost an even bigger fish after 25 minutes of fight). We others were also allowed to play with the slightly smaller specimens, but still crazy fights. A GREAT experience for all :)

30 kg mekong catfish

10 kg

15 kg

Arapaima-fever!

So the first round of arapaima ended happily with a lovely arapaima of about 30 kg, that bit at the last moments in the twilight.

Besides the nice arapaima, we caught several other “smaller” fish. Among others this Siamese carpe around 15 kilo, which put up a crazy fight! Tomorrow we go arapaima hunting again, where the really big fish are to be found.

Siamese Carp

Thailand - Here we come!!

At 2.45 pm this afternoon we take off from Copenhagen airport, bound for fantastic Thailand. 13 days of golf and fishing – YES, it will be great!

The trip last year gave quite a few arapaimas, the two biggest at 45 and 71 kg. This year we hope to play with the really big fish 100 – 150 kg which are to be found in the lakes down there. (Keep your fingers crossed for us)

We will of course keep you up to date from the trip.

Arapaima - 45 kg

Redtail Catfish

Smaller arapaima

Alligator Gar - 8 kg

Danish dream-pike at 17,2 kg

Two hobby fishermen from Fyn caught on Thursday this dream pike a massive 17.2 kg and 132 cm. The pike is possibly the largest Danish pike to be caught on artificial bait. Fantastic fish!

Unfortunately it died, as the rules for fishing the lake was that all pike should be taken home. Although we prefer catch and release, these guys get a hearty congratulation. It’s not every day (or year) a Danish pike in that weight category is caught.

You can read/see more of this catch here:

- http://ekstrabladet.dk/vrangen/article1819262.ece
- http://go.tv2.dk/aftentv/id-55053450.html (TV)

Great zander saves the day

The day after our day trip after pike on Saturday, I had agreed on yet another trip with a friend on the lake. It was a very exciting catch after some varied fishing and weather conditions from sun and rain and quite windy, to millpond still water.

 We left home late and arrived at the boat around 4 pm, and used more time tying new leaders and preparing the boat. The preparations tying new leaders with smaller three hooks to the small roach proved effective later on.

Murky water with algae and no bite! We had rented a new boat in another part of the lake than the previous day. With the forcast of perfect weather and earlier experience, we expected to strike straight away! It didn’t happen. We sailed on through the canal to a new part of the lake which became clear as being a wise choice. The water here was completely clear as opposed to before when it was dirty with algae. In addition we got 2 pike right by the boat in about 2 – 3 meters of water, even before we began to lay the bait in the deeper waters. Both times we though the line was snagging on the bottom vegetation, but these fish were apparently very hungry.! This pike was taken 1 meter from the boat. 

Later it went bad both with bites and our sailing abilities, where we got our bait to go to the bed of the lake. We found a real skipper to take over and altered our tactics to silent fishing, as the water was almost like a mirror. It resulted in a single little pike and a couple of bites. Zander at 4 kg and triple bites! Almost at the last moment on the verge of pulling in the rods, there was a good strike and Henrik had the chance. We quickly felt that it was about 4 or 5 kilos in size and I rowed on calmly whilst the fight was on. A few seconds later there was a sudden and firm bite with the other rod with bottom tackle and roach. I gave the counter strike whilst Henrik fought on with the first, but lost it straight away unfortunately. Shortly after, Henrik got the fish up to the boat and when he shouted that it was a zander there was panic in the boat as rushed to get the net ready. Unbelievably another bite came on one of our flat rods, which we had to ingnore until the zander was in the net. And what a lovely fish, weighing in at precisely 4.02 kg.  

After the pictures there was some time when we had to hold it from laying on its side, and little by little it revived and was released. The last bite turned out to be a perch which had to wait on the hook until we were finished photographing Henriks zander. That gave us the urge to fish on, but it quickly became dark, and there were no more bites.

Super day on Tystrup!

Yesterday, Friday, we both took the day off to give the fishing on Tystrup Lake a chance. Last year at this time, we enjoyed some really good fishing, so we were in high spirits. Luckily the lake lived up to expectations and we pulled 9 fish in the boat – 8 pike and 1 zander (The first of the year!).

The largest pike weighed 6.3 kg and the zander crept up to 1.88 kg. All fish were taken on live roach.

We say thank you to Tystrup for a delightful day on the water, see you again soon.

The big pikes are on holiday.

Slow internet, awful weather and missing pike are the reasons for the few (Read: none) updates here
from our Sweden trip, which ends tomorrow.

The largest pike right now is 4.7 kg.

We will return with a comprehensive update when weget back to Denmark.

Sweden, here we come!

Tomorrow afternoon Jens and I are off on yet another trip to our Swedish paradise, where we are looking at 4 days of hardcore fishing. As usual we shall attempt an assault on the big pike in our local lake plus a trip to Byälven in Säffle, which should support a good stock of ”gös” (zander).

The goals for the trip are:

- Pike 10 kg+ (as always)
- Perch 1 kg+
- Pike-perch 3 kg+

We will be continuously updating about the trip, so remember to look out for the blog and our Facebook page over the next few days.

7,47 kg - The biggest from our local swedish lake so far.

Swedish MONSTER pike - 17,16 kg

The Swedish "Team Champs of Logging" have just caught a monster pike at 17.16 kg – Crazy fish!

A huge congratulations on the enormous fish – We are not jealous at all :)

See pictures of the fish here.

Update fra Sweden

I am at this time on my summer holidays in Sweden with my lovely girlfriend. As she is not the great angler there have only been a few quick morning trips on the lake. Despite the fantastic weather it has been limited with the big fish and the largest so far is a pike at 4.45 kg and a perch of 600 grams.

We are going home on Saturday, so I expect there will be time for a trip or two more – hopefully accompanied by a large pike. Remember by the way to follow us on our Facebook page, where we update daily with pictures from our trips and much more.

Vertical jigging perch 600-700 gram

Biggest pike: 4,54 kg caught on a Westin Jätte

 

My girlfriend just needed one cast to do this :)

MEGA zander: 11.82 kg!

The Swedish zander expert Jörgen Larsson has just caught this fabulous zanderh, a massive 11.82 kg – Just 187 grams short of the Swedish record.

Well done and huge congratulations to Jörgen!

Read more about the catch here.

Maurizio "Pikeman" Rossini

The other day I came across an Italian guy by the name of Maurizio”Pikeman” Rossini on Facebook. After a few minutes in his photo albums, I was totally knocked out. This man has seriously caught some GIANT pike – among others a 24 kg monster. I have included a couple of pictures below – Enjoy.

If you want to see more, so tag and look in on:

https://www.facebook.com/rossinimaurizio?sk=photos

PS. If anyone has links to guided tours in Italy or such things of interest, please feel free to include it in the comments section – thanks:)

Sweden we love you!

Jens and I had decided that this year’s spring holiday was to be used for three days hardcore pike fishing in Sweden. We are so fortunate to be able to borrow a really delightful house in Fengersfors, 2 hours north of Gothenburg, with own boat and located on the banks of a fantastic lake. I was up there for the first time a month ago which ended with three new personal pike records, so our hopes were high as we departed Friday afternoon.

Great company, beers and a beatiful sunset - Does it get any better than this?

We arrived at the house at 9.30 pm just in time for the fabulous sunset – Beautiful! Just had time for
a couple of quick beers, before getting our heads down for a fresh start the next day 4 am the alarm clock rings – out of bed, down to the boat and off out to the pike. We only just managed to throw the first shells on the water before the first 3 kilo pike struck. Super start.

After that though it went a bit slow and we only managed to get 3 pike in the boat that morning, with the biggest being around 3 kilo. A little disappointing. After a huge, delicious breakfast, prepared by my delightful girlfriend, we grabbed a couple more hours on the lake, this time with slightly better results. Jens got a beautiful pike at 5.22 kg, which gave up a fantastic fight, with several long runs. In all we totaled 6 pike the first day.

5,22 kg - 95 cm

Sunday morning we were again up at 4 and out on the lake. It was though not worth missing the sleep over, as it only gave 4 smaller pike. After lunch we went out again, when we amongst others got a rare (for us) double strike of two lovely pike of 4.79 and 4.56 kg. All in all a rather disappointing day, although the nature and wonderful landscape was, in itself worth the trouble. Now there was no way back. Monday morning, and the last leg of the trip, if we were to catch the large pike. Again we started out nice and early. The first couple of hours we were unable to find the fish on the echo-sounder and nothing happened.


Around seven o’clock the fish began to congregate and we quickly got the first pike on one of our large lovely shells. Half an hour later Jens get a serious strike on our favorite Alien Eel. After a rather short fight we get to see the pike and land it easily. The scales say 7.14 kg and it is 105 cm long – Finally!

7,14 - 107 cm

But it wasn’t to stop there. Shortly after, the Alien Eel rod folds in two again and I grab it quickly. Counter strike and hooked fish! It seems unbelievably heavy and I am quite certain this is our first 10 kg+ pike on the line. I do wonder however, why it hasn’t run or even pulled on the rod, but larger pike often follow along right up to the boat before running off. Jens is ready with the net and after a few minutes the catch is in sight…

A HUGE disappointment of no less than 200 cm! The Eel had damned-well caught fast on a tree on the bottom 20 meters down. What was the chance of that happening?

After that big letdown the fishing died out and we sailed in around 10 after having 5 pike out of the water.

The total result of the tour was 21 pike, the largest being 5.22 and 7.14 kg. No giants but really lovely fish anyway. Most of the pike were caught on live roach and the big Alien Eel, fishing 10 – 15 meters down in 20 – 25 meters of water.

We say thanks for the memories and look forward to soon returning to the lovely Swedish nature.

New PB from Furesøen

After a few cancelled meetings I gave myself a half day-off, and it must be spent of course hunting the large spring pikes in Furesøen! I arrived at the lake around 9 and rigged up the boat. The conditions were near perfect – Almost no wind, 13 degrees and full sunshine.

 A few days earlier I bought a couple of Savage Gear 25 cm 4play wobblers in some violent colors, and I chose to start with one of these as well as the little Alien Eel, which gave such good results before. I had not been fishing for 10 minutes before the rod with the 4play wobbler folded completely in half – a quick counter strike and a hooked fish! I could immediately sense that it was a nice fish, which was confirmed when it turned in front of the boat taking a run of 10 – 15 meters.

I hadn’t unfolded the landing net, så I had to land the lovely lady-pike, which was securely hooked in the jaw, by hand. As I didn’t have my trusty fishing partner Jens along, I had to throw the girl into a sack and sail into the yacht club, where a couple of friendly hobby-sailors helped with the photography. After a short photo-session the pike was weighed in at 8.12 kg, 109 cm and not least;
a new personal record – COOL!:)

New PB: 8,12 kg and 109 cm

PB

 After that fantastic start I continued good pike fishing for about 3 hours which led to 3 more fish – 2.21 kg, 3.43 kg and 5.07 kg. All fish were caught by trolling on a 4play orange colored wobbler. The trick was to troll at full speed in 3 -4 meters of water. The 4play wobbler below was the winner of the day with 3 out of 4 fish.

2 kg

5,07 kg

Again a really good day pike fishing on Furesoen, which really gives full value for money on these short trips. Sunday evening we are out there again, so let’s hope the good fishing continues.

Tight lines out there! :)

Start of the Danish pike season 2012

During the weekend it was about prize pike at one of our favorite lakes on Zealand. They were a couple of hard days on the lake with heavy winds and difficult conditions, and we “only” got 11 pike in the boat, with the two biggest weighing around 4.5 kg. The largest number of pike was caught on a little Alien Eel in Firetiger colors. Damn, it was good!

Jens' biggest pike - 4,47 kg

As always the social side of fishing is important, therefore we set aside a few hours Saturday for a delicious grilled lunch with all the trimmings. Highly recommended!

The largest pike of the trip struck on a little perch fished in about 8 meters of water.

All in all a wonderful trip with too much wind, too few pike, and way too much alcohol :)