Rutland Zander

Away days

I just love them as I get to book the whole day fishing...yippee!!  I usually need at least a months notice though with my better half .  Once I get the green light I'm like an excited child counting down the days before that special occasion.  To be honest I get far too obsessed leading up to the big event, especially if it's a method or species I'm not familiar with.  I must be a pain in the arse to live with as my focus isn't on doing those long ignored jobs around the house or planning our next family excursion.  Its what rod? what reel? what braid? what lures?!?....Then it's how, where and why?  Research, research, research.  Armchair angling I call it, and there's a few out there that do it I'm sure, especially in the age of social media.  All this research gives you a start at least, but it's nothing compared with actual time spent on the water doing it.

My club have done a splendid job over the past few seasons organising such events.  It's a great opportunity to meet fellow members, enjoy some friendly banter and catch a few fish.  On this day I would be returning to Rutland water.  I have fond memories of Rutland during my youth.  Most memorable was fly fishing with the then England youth coach and the late Mike Childs the day before the England youth eliminator.  I owe Mike a great deal as he helped my fly fishing reach another level that day.  Unfortunately conditions were totally different during the completion and I got found out and never made the cut. I still use that waistcoat some 25 years later by the way. It's a little tight now.

No casting a fly this time though, but learning the fine art of vertical jigging for zander.  With the rod and reel sorted along with a new drogue and selection of jig-heads and assorted shads I was ready to catch my first zander.

After an early start we arrived at Rutland at 7am and were out on the water an hour later ready to fish. Vertical jigging requires a light weight, short but fast action rod with a sensitive tip. So my cheap light TronixPro Rockfish seemed up to scratch. Thin braid is essential so we can fish a light/medium weight jig on a drifting boat to get the best presentation.
It wasn't long before my boat partner Ian was into his first zander of the day. I recall he had caught seven before I even had my first touch. Anyway while he put the kettle on to make a brew I borrowed his rod. The first drop I hooked and landed my first zander.  Not the largest but typical of the size found in this vast water.

...next drop the second fish followed before he had finished making coffee. Reluctantly I handed his rod back and swapped to a similar lure. Fishing was still slow for me while Ian carried on catching some nice zander to over 5lb, though most were in the 2/3lb bracket.
Drastic action was required as I suspect my glass tip was too light, so action was poor with the jig.  Out came the penknife and a few minutes of careful sawing saw my tip reduced by six inches. 

                                          

Sure enough the next drift I started hitting into fish and before long my catch rate was making the big northern lad next to me a little nervous.
Then along came an armada of 10 boats who decided to anchor in 50ft of water in the middle of our drift. Now that's not very gentlemanly is it? and it isn't allowed on Rutland either where we were at least.  The next four hours were interesting whilst we muscled our way through the boats, ducking flying jigs to get to the shoal.  In the end my boat partner and I survived and were dually rewarded with approaching 50 zander between us.  What a memorable day in great company even if he did catch more than me.

Until the next time Rutland...missing you already.