Tag Archives: tips

My old (read: antique!) fishing website – despite a couple of updates & minor facelifts – is vastly outdated and not very visually appealing or compatible with mobile devices.  So a couple of years ago I started work on a new fishing website, as a replacement, based on the WordPress platform. A server error lost all of the work I’d done and my backup was corrupted, so I’ve had to start again from scratch! I quickly got the framework in place and I’m working on importing & updating all my old articles, blog posts & photos, along with improving the looks & layout.  Once I’m happy, everything will move to www.just-fish.co.uk and the old site will be no more (2020 edit – the old site is no more! You’re looking at the new one!).  So please check back to see new content & improved looks as soon as I find the time! Meanwhile, I’m also looking for guest fishing bloggers, so if you have a fishy story to share (who doesn’t?!), then please get in touch via my contact page.

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Lure fishing really is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours and if the predators are in the mood, it can be even more productive than bait fishing for them!  By frequently moving swims – and of course by fishing a moving bait – a lot of water can be covered in a relatively short space of time, meaning you’re sure to be pulling a lure past a fish before too long and if it’s hungry, it will generally have a go.  The range of freshwater species you can target with lures in is amazing; besides the usual suspects pike, perch and zander, you can also catch chub, trout, salmon (if you’re really lucky!) and if you get really adventurous, even carp, barbel and bream! Lure fishing in the UK has been a massive sport for a few years now and seems likely to continue to grow in popularity, but knowing where to begin can be bewildering.  As with any faction of angling, everyone has their own preferences toward methods, tackle and of course, lures; so with this article I’ll try to cover some basics of lure angling, so if you’ve never tried it you’ll get an idea of …

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How to tie a wire trace (instructional video) In this YouTube video I show you all you need to know to tie strong, reliable, safe 2-hook wire traces (also refered to as “snap tackle”) for pike & zander fishing with deadbaits. I go through the tools and components you need and then show you how to tie a wire trace from scratch. I have used this type of quality home-made wire trace for the majority of my pike & zander fishing, for over 20 years and caught countless predatory fish using them. I also wrote a step-by-step “how-to” article on making a wire trace here. Related Video: How to unhook pike safely If you are relatively new to pike fishing, you should also view my video to show you how to unhook pike. These fragile predators need good fish care and handling skills to ensure they are not damaged in the process. Approaching the unhooking process with confidence is a key part of this, and hopefully my short video will help with this. More DIY fishing tackle making tips & hacks I’m quite a hands-on guy and I’m regularly tinkering with things to improve them, adapt them or make them …

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