Sunday I was on a quest with HansF in search of new pike fishing grounds near the cities of Zwolle and Kampen. I had been to that area a long time ago and still managed to find the way to one of the waters of the Ijssel river delta called "Keteldiep". The Dutch word "diep" means more or less the same as sound. Until 1932 all waters in that area flowed into the sea. A dam was built to block of the inland sea (Zuiderzee) so tidal influences disappeared and water became fresh all the way.


Busy at the Keteldiep.

There where remarkable numbers of Geese in the air and on the surrounding meadows. Also present where the cormorants and quite a few birds of prey. The pike where notably absent though. Not that surprising since the day started with temperatures well below freezing.


Geese in flight.

After fishing the Keteldiep for some time without success we moved on to a new spot. The next location would be the Ganzediep further north.
We drove back to the city of Kampen, passed over the Ijssel river bridge to the Ganzendiep. Problem was that we could not find a decent spot to fish on location nr. 2. This meant just one thing, we had to move on. We left the old mainland and went to a part of the Netherlands that was claimed from the sea, the so called Noordoost polder. This area was lying well below sea level. Drainage canals and pump works constantly pumped out water to keep the land dry. Our next target was one of these drainage canals, the so called Enservaart.


Enservaart


One of the drainage canals in the Noordoost polder.

In the Enservaart I got two hits on the streamer but was not able to haul in the fish. We tried another spot at the drainage canal but without results. With this cold weather fish where just not that active. We where on a quest so further north we went. Our fellow fly-fishers Niels and Robert where belly-boating in a lake not far from us so we decided to visit them.

We arrived at a little village called Belt Schutsloot. The muddy roads and the landscape reminded me somehow of Siberia or Russia.
As we drove past the lake next to the village we saw some strange orange objects drifting on the water. Not buoys but Niels and Robert.


Niels and Robert floating on the lake.



The belly-boat brigade in action.

The guys had managed to land three pike and came our way to meet us. As they paddled towards us we still doing our best to catch a pike.


You got to keep trying.

Our belly-boating friends managed to get on dry ground unharmed even though the boat ramp they used was very slippery. We held a short coffee break in the village and headed back home. No fish for us this time but we saw lots of new fishing locations. Maybe we will get smart one of these days and go fishing when weather conditions are more able.


Not cold at all ! (it took half an hour before he felt his toes again)

Hi Marcel,

You guys are brave to bellyboat this time of year! Fishing in your area seems a great challenge, both to find fish and to brave the cold. Bravo on the report...fine pictures and text.

I've been scouting around Clam Pass and Delmar -Wiggins Pass. Not many anglers are hooking up from shore though. I have seen Snook, but only to spook them. I'd hoped that they would be on the bite as the tide came out today, but I only had 2 hits on sinking line. Not the action I crave. My time will come.

Naples is grand with the weather being in the 80's most of the day. Lots yet to do around the mobile home and the E.A. Shop is getting stocked up big time for the seasonal crowds.

I hope we have some good reports to post up soon. Meanwhile, keep stalking those Pike! Love to see them.

Marsh

hi marcel, looks chilly but i enjoyed the report. is that area a major fly zone in that area? i believ north america has fly zones
hi to mike if you see or talk to him
mark

Marsh, why should you have it better than we had
Those beach Snook are a major challenge, Very tough to catch
but when you finally hook one you will be very happy.
So do you already have a boat? You need one down there.

Mark, we do not have fly zones. We more likely have no fly zones.
The area we where at is the old coastline of the Zuiderzee, translated that means Southern Sea (I guess you figured that one out by yourself).
There whole are is made up of old coastal towns, lakes, canals, swamps you name it. You notice right away when you cross from the old land into the former seabed. Straight roads and drainage canals along the huge fields are the telltale sign of the new land.

So there is a lot of water down there thus lot of fish. But... you have to find them first. Without local knowlegde it gets difficult to catch the Pike, Walleye and Yellow perch that roam the waters. Next time we will go with one of the locals so we can catch fish. BTW It did not only look chilly, it was chilly. Rember hard water? Yeah, you don´t wanna know right