After returning from my trip to Ireland, my fishing was decidedly scratchy. Every guiding session produced the occasional pike but it wasn’t until November 15 that we started to enjoy some proper sport. It was as if someone had thrown a switch. Instead of struggling we were suddenly fishing. The old estate lake became alive. On November 22, I took out a chap who was writing an article for The Field about fishing on Capability Brown lakes. I duly caught him a pike to order and had an electric final hour that produced six good pike topped by a hard fighting 17lb fish. It was obvious that the pike were hunting – prey fish were leaping out of the water and pike were swirling as they pursued them.

Last Wednesday, I was being filmed for Sky Television. Eleven pike wanted to be film stars and Paul Armishaw, who was driving the boat for the cameraman, had another five. Andy Ford, the presenter was delighted to have such lively sport for his film and I was relieved that we had such a successful result. The programme will be broadcast early in January and should make for entertaining viewing.

Up until a few years ago, I could rely on the pike switching on early in October but it has been noticeably later recently. We no longer seem to have four equal seasons. Instead, spring and autumn have contracted, whilst summer and winter have stretched out. It means that there are fewer good fishing days in the year and my catch totals (for brown trout as well) have been much less impressive.

My guiding diary is reasonably full but, as I write this, the windows are rattling and the rain is battering on the roof. Bookings will have to be rescheduled. Masochism is best left to masochists! When I take someone out on the boat, the aim is to have an enjoyable time. That’s hard to achieve when the wind is gusting at 50mph and it’s hammering down with rain. The five day weather forecast promises an improvement in conditions with the gales abating and the temperature turning mild again. I have a few pre-Christmas guiding dates so, hopefully, we will have some more good sport. I’ll be fishing on the winter solstice day which would be a magical time to connect with an alpha female pike. The summer solstice produced a couple of big twenties and it would be great to achieve a corresponding winter triumph. However The Lake chooses to treat us, it will be a pleasure to be on the water whilst others are coping with the nightmare of Christmas shopping!

The bottle of Laphroaig is looking sadly depleted. I will retire to bed and dream sweet dreams of perfect winter days when the pike will want to play. I hope to have good catches to report in my next post.

I wish you all a happy Christmas, free from hangovers and free from the pressures of the crazy economy.