Up the Creek With a Paddle

 With the busiest time of the year upon us, the Christmas / New Year period, it was still a genuine surprise to find a small piece of solitude tucked away up the creek. I’ve been fishing this tight water for close to 30 years now, usually slipping in three or four times a year when the opportunity presents itself.

Over the past three days I’ve been pushing right up into the tight, narrow sections and snag-choked water, and haven’t seen another soul (other then my son who tagged along on one of the days) It’s a good reminder that there are still quiet creeks and backwater systems out there if you’re willing to paddle a little further.

What this place lacks in size, it more than makes up for in numbers. Each session produced between 10 to 20 bream landed in a short 1to 2hr session, and that’s after actively pulling the lure away from the smaller fish. Around most snags, small packs of bream could be seen tracking and following the lure right to the SUP

We did lose a couple of better fish after parting ways, and yes, three lures were sacrificed to these little brutes. That’s creek fishing. Tight quarters, sharp structure, and the price you pay for fishing properly in close.

All signs point to one thing, it’s time to produce more of these slim, jerkbait-style lures, purpose-built for creek bream fishing, tight water, and close-quarters casting.

Some places are still yours, if you’re willing to go looking.