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Thursday I flicked another roll up dimp into the Westerly waves and away it drifted down the margin, i had sat on 'Freezing Point' for over an hour and an half.. f*ck all. Where are they?
Intermittent sunshine combined with a good stiff Westerly, perfect conditions. No one on and a chance to fish any swim on the lake is a bit of a rarity nowadays.. no gut feeling, no idea and i'm doing one if nothing shows in the next half hour.
A small group of Coots close to the bank on the far side, shrieked out in alarm and gathered in a circle peering into the depths below.. they backed away (looking at each other.. as if to say, What the f*ck was that down there?) calling out alarms to each other then decided to get off... sharpish.
The Coots were spooked out big time, i lifted the barrow to make my way round and looked over at the spot ( a decent pike could have give em the sh*ts).. f*ckin ell man it's a long way for a couple of hours fishing. The black shape lifting out of the waves had me running like a mad man, whooahh! slow down fella. The rods were baited and sat on the rests waiting and hoping that another show would pinpoint exactly where they were.
That will do, another fish pushed out in the waves.. then another to my right. Lined up and marked with trees on the far bank. Rods in position with a scattering of baits round each, i sat back and poured a brew. There was someone else on, right up the other end, i had been unable to clock their bivvy because of the trees. The fish started to show out about every five minutes or so, and i was literally sat on the edge of my seat. The bushes at my side opened out and a guy came into my swim.. I knew who he was but had never actually spoken to him, allright tudge? Yeah sound mate. It was Jimmy, older brother of Eddyj.
He noticed the fish boshing out within minutes of being sat with me.. kinnel man, they are here ain't they. There, there's another.. he looked at the angle of my line and turned and looked me in the eye.. they on it? Yeah, it will go in a minute. He laughed and commented on how cock sure i was. Over the space of about half an hour we chatted about he's nights blank over the other side and things in general, when the left hand rod interupted us.. go on tudge!
We laughed and joked as i played the fish and he gave me a running commentary of how i was doing. I netted a common after the fish weeding me up solid and a few hard runs up the margin. Twenty? Upper double was Jimmy's verdict. Weigh it tudge. I weighed the fish simply to give Jimmy the satisfaction of knowing how close he's guestimate was.. 17lb 8oz. He was actually bang on which brought about another bout of laughter.
An enjoyable couple of hours was spent in the company of Jimmy. He's enthusiasm and ideas about carp fishing was pretty infectious. He had me asking many questions, and hopefully answering a few. The afternoon flew by and i begrudgingly reeled in and bade him farewell. I smiled on the walk back to the car park and burst out into laughter once or twice, another friend found and one of the better type's of characters in the carp angling scene.
Friday I was meant to be visiting another water(in the darkest parts of sshh! Cheshire)for the afternoon and evening. Time and a gruelling day at work said no. There was an angler a swim up from the previous days action and i sat on 'Freezing Point' again, hoping!!
I shouldn't have bothered. I made my way round to the other side and out of character i simply settled for a swim because it was comfy.. Why am i here when i should be lay in bed getting some hard earned rest? I flicked em out in the margin and laid my head back on the chair and in the afternoon sunshine drifted off.
I must have been f*cked, i had slept for an hour. Bleary eyed i looked down the lake and noticed a splash, i tried to focus and wait for the dog to hit the surface.. eh! I waited, then stood and stretched out my weary bones. That was a fish fella.
I was stood opposite the spot with the gear within ten minutes.. it wasn't a mirage, and i was proved correct as another fish popped out it's head to the gill plate. Ten baits and and a stringer and i am drifting off again, when the spool decided to empty at speed. Steep bank, half asleep.. oh yeah, i tripped and tumbled and nearly took out a couple of tons worth of rod. I don't know how i landed it, i struck with the free spool on and untangled a small birds nest before i gained some momentum and sorted it out. Jimmy had given me the guestimate bug,(20lb on the nail?) i weighed it with a smile on my face.. 18lb 6 oz common, it looked bigger or was it simply wishfull thinking? I laughed, Jimmy would have got it bang on, i know he would.
Enjoyable couple of hours in good company and another friend made, with a couple of fish to boot. It really is good sometimes.
I will try and get the rest in over the next week, before i forget.
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