Haydn Clarke
Senior Member & Supporter
Mine was back in the summer. I intended to fish the Great Ouse at a section near home but on arrival I found the river very low, very weedy and gin-clear, all on a very hot midsummers day. My hopes of catching anything quickly evaporated and I decided to head off down to some near-by gravel pits instead.
Once at the pits I spotted several good sized Upper double figure carp amongst some lilly pads only yards out from the edge. Trembling, I just about managed to thread up a free-lined piece of bread flake, gave it a quick dip to give it some weight, and then under arm flicked out to the further side of the pads. No more than ten seconds later a large pair of lips emerged from the depths and swollowed up the bread. The cane rod that I had recently restored bent all the way through to the butt, the Speedia wined as the line went off, but both coped admirably though, and a short time later a 15lb 8oz immaculate conditioned, almost leather carp graced my unhooking mat. The first one of the top for me in some time. However, the rest of the carp had gone heads down so I decided to chance my arm an the river after all.
Back on the river, at the stretch I had originally intended to fish, and a short while later, once again the rod is bent and the reel is screaming. This time it's a new P.B 6lb 1oz chub. Very happy I was by then. And even happier still, when a few hours later, and after a move upstream, I hooked into one of the few barbel I managed to catch this year, a 7.lb'er.
So, only a few hours fishing, on a glorious day, in less than perfect conditions, no monsters, but by far and away my best days fishing of the year. All fish caught on my own bait and with a rod and reel I'd restored myself. I walked back to the van that afternoon with a bit of spring in my step.
Your best days fishing gents?
Once at the pits I spotted several good sized Upper double figure carp amongst some lilly pads only yards out from the edge. Trembling, I just about managed to thread up a free-lined piece of bread flake, gave it a quick dip to give it some weight, and then under arm flicked out to the further side of the pads. No more than ten seconds later a large pair of lips emerged from the depths and swollowed up the bread. The cane rod that I had recently restored bent all the way through to the butt, the Speedia wined as the line went off, but both coped admirably though, and a short time later a 15lb 8oz immaculate conditioned, almost leather carp graced my unhooking mat. The first one of the top for me in some time. However, the rest of the carp had gone heads down so I decided to chance my arm an the river after all.
Back on the river, at the stretch I had originally intended to fish, and a short while later, once again the rod is bent and the reel is screaming. This time it's a new P.B 6lb 1oz chub. Very happy I was by then. And even happier still, when a few hours later, and after a move upstream, I hooked into one of the few barbel I managed to catch this year, a 7.lb'er.
So, only a few hours fishing, on a glorious day, in less than perfect conditions, no monsters, but by far and away my best days fishing of the year. All fish caught on my own bait and with a rod and reel I'd restored myself. I walked back to the van that afternoon with a bit of spring in my step.
Your best days fishing gents?
Last edited:
