Pike Fishing Dvds and Videos

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Fishing DVD review 3:

Pike fishing DVDs and Videos Review by www.fishing-fan.co.uk

This is the third video made by Andy Commons of UNCUT FISHING video productions, and is the first that I have had the privilege of seeing, having been given a review copy from Andy. The DVD Box has an interesting introduction as follows

"Being a carp fisherman Pike fishing was of no interest to me...Or was it ? Bob Brown an avid pike angler and old friend persuaded me to hang up my carp rods (for the time being) and give it a try. Bob took me on 3 waters which are on the Bolton Anglers permit, Smiths Lodge, The Bunk and Firwood where I landed my first ever 20lb+ and the excitement didn't stop there! We netted over 120lb of pike in just five short sessions. (Talk about
smoking spools)"

Well did the video live up to the claims ? The short answer is a definite YES!

The DVD footage is shot as some of you may have seen in the previous two videos in the series on budget equipment not Hollywood Jurassic Park style kit, but that's not to say the image and sound is wanting. I found the video clearly watchable on a 28inch widescreen TV and the sound was clear and perfectly audible. What is also different from this and some studio produced productions is that it is not dull! The action comes fast and furiously after a slightly slow start (for them on the fish front) and Andys' and Bob Brown (who is a bailiff on the lakes) enthusiasm shine through. I watched this with a non fishing person who was also
not at all bored by the video.

Much of the action comes in the form of Pike around 20lbs, with
some great action footage of the pikes being played and landed. The fish they haul in certainly make the Bolton Angling season ticket of 20 odd pounds look excellent value for money.

Andy claims in this video that it was made as an entertainment video and not on an educational basis (he's planning another video on fishing rigs) I for one learnt a thing or two about Pike fishing (I normally fish rivers for other types of coarse fish) including how to handle them, as they do explain their rigs etc as they haul them in, all be it in not over detail.

If there is a criticism of the video it would be that the location is perhaps overly plugged in the speech, but that's probably down to the "uncut" style of the making of the video with the commentary not always being perfectly scripted as they fight the fish, but then I don't think I could think about much else than the fish on the line with the size of some of the pike that are caught here. The biggest pike was just over 20lbs as I recall with several other great specimens around the same mark or just under.

Having criticised the plugging I must admit to being impressed with both the presenters enthusiasm and additionally the lack of any bad language, given the situations they are found in, making "Pike with a Bite" perfectly suitable for family viewing.

Fishing Fan's Verdict: 8/10 As Andy is fond of saying on the video "Jackanacanory!". Well worth a watch.

Reviewer: www.fishing-fan.co.uk

Pike with a Bite

A video from uncutfishing.co.uk
Video or DVD. Running Time: 59 Minutes Price: Ł9.99

Make no mistake, Andy Commons is back to his piscatorial best with this video (or DVD, if you wish) presentation of the exciting times to be had when angling for Pike.

After the less than favourable reception given by this reviewer to Andy’s previous video offering, I’m glad to say that this third video from the Uncut Fishing stable is much improved in every direction.

Andy, putting his carp rods aside for a while, is accompanied on three waters in the Bolton, Lancashire area by pike fishing guru Bob Brown. By his own admission, Andy is something of a novice when fishing for pike, but with an experienced angler like Bob for company (and tuition) our host is soon reeling in some cracking specimens.

As is emphasised in the video, fishing for pike is not something to be entered into lightly or trivially and getting the best advice and tuition you can is always recommended. You could tell that Andy was prepared to give a powerful pike the respect it deserves by the fact that his faithful canine companion was nowhere to be seen on this latest jaunt.

Moving from ‘The Bunk’ (a nice looking water where Andy blanks) to the unprepossessing and weed strewn (not to mention pallet strewn) Firwood Fold, Andy’s luck changes for the better. Firwood Fold looks more like a watery land-fill site than a premier pike fishery, but that illusion is soon shattered as Andy lands an immature 3lb-plus pike and then quickly moves into the double figure variety.

Exciting stuff; especially for Andy, who is obviously delighted as he lands a classic 20lb personal best fish. Another pike in the same heavyweight mould, landed by Bob Brown, turns out to have someone else’s trebles embedded in its mouth. After removing all the offending steelwork from the pike’s gullet, Bob (a bailiff on this water) is incensed to find that the secondary trace is attached to line of no more than 4lb breaking strain, resulting in a specimen pike swimming about with a pair of potentially lethal trebles in its mouth.

Despite his righteous indignation that such an irresponsible angler is using the fishery, Bob himself finds that even a well prepared and experienced angler can be surprised as his line is snapped by a particularly powerful pike forging directly away from him, leading to another set of trebles cruising around.

A further pike water at Smith’s Lodges, Bolton, is shown in cameo fashion, but the main action takes place at Firwood Fold, which has been promised Ł60,000 to improve its facilities.

While Andy goes out of his way to emphasise that this fun video is presented as entertainment, and not in any way educational, it must be said that the float rigs and trace tackle used are explained carefully and graphically, and video captioning of sites and locations is excellent. The whole video is much more brightly presented than was its predecessor, and Bob Brown’s contribution, in both lecture and practical mode, gives the outing an authoritative air.

While recommending this video to all anglers (and not just those with pike ambitions or aspirations) it must also be noted that Andy Commons’ vocabulary is improving. Whereas once upon a time he would resort to the words “Jurassic Park” to express his delight at landing a big fish, it seems in this regard he has added “Jackanackanory” to his Lexicon. I make that an astounding 14 letters (or less if you spell it as Andy does).

And they call us COARSE anglers!

Regards to you all

David Wheat

Many thanks to Dave for this review, you can learn more about Andy's adventures at Uncut Fishing. - Ed. Visit AnglersTimes.

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