I arrived for my annual social with Pete on his syndicate water and headed straight round the far side of the lake where he was set up. If I’m honest I didn’t really have my fishing head having received some bad news over Easter and just chucked 3 rods out more in hope than anything, and to cut a long story short I blanked although Pete managed to bank a couple including a stunning low 30.
I left the venue knowing that I didn’t deserve anything, I just needed a good laugh and the social did me the world of good.
I had to drive down to Devon with the family for a few days after the social and whilst down there I managed to get my head together a bit so on the Saturday evening whilst sat on the beach I made the call to Pete saying that I wanted another crack on his syndicate and that I wouldn’t be beaten this time! He just laughed and said “I will see you Monday then!”
I made the journey home up the M5 on Sunday afternoon and once home got the car loaded ready for the off on Monday morning.
I arrived at the Pit slightly later than planned, but was more than happy when I noticed nearly all of the bank holiday anglers were packing up so I left the kit in the car and took a stroll round the lake to Pete who had fished the previous night but with nothing to report. I sat in his swim and had a brew whilst the last few anglers vacated their swims then we set off on a circuit of the lake trying to find something to have a go at, but after two circuits we didn’t see a thing!.
Pete had seen a few the previous night in front of him so we decided to stay put, I barrowed my kit round and dropped in next to him.
I got a rod sorted and had a feel about in front of me, I managed to find a nice bar about 20 yards out so decided to place a bait at the foot of the bar, the other two were fished to the right of the bar at about 50 yards range.
Once I was all sorted I rolled a smoke and had a brew, it was great to be out again although I’m not sure who’s idea it was to set up on the end a freezing cold easterly, although it was quite pleasant out of the wind under the oval.
I was just enjoying my umpteenth coffee when my left hand rod pulled up tight and ripped off, I was on it in a flash although Pete had a good giggle laughing at me trying to get my waders on whilst in full battle and nearly falling in the lake! After a good scrap I pulled an old looking warrior over the net cord, we weighed her at 21lb 10oz then safely returned her.
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| An old looking warrior.... |
I must have had the best night’s sleep I have had in ages because I can’t remember my alarm clock going off, it was 07:30am when I finally crawled out from under the Oval!
I had a brew whilst thinking about what I could do to winkle out another before I headed off a few hours later. I decided to re-do the left hand rod, and a few minutes later it was back out and at the foot of the bar.
The smell of bacon was soon drifting out from under the Oval as I devoured a whole packet , I laid back on the bedchair to rest my stomach and then an hour later the left hand rod pulled up tight and roared off again, the Neville was screaming for my attention! I lifted into it and instantly had to loosen the clutch as the unseen culprit ripped 50 yards from the spool, it weeded me up several times but after a long battle, she was mine.
Pete looked down into the net then looked at me and said “you’ve got the Pretty One, You C%&*!”.
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| The stunning "Pretty One" |
We weighed her at 31lb 2oz then took a few trophy shots before returning her to the crystal clear waters of the pit, I was tempted to pack up but in the end decided to give it another hour and then 10 minutes later a big tench made an appearance, I quickly returned it then decided to have a slow pack up. I was chuffed to bits to land one of the most sought after fish in the lake, it’s far from the biggest but one of the lookers that’s for sure.
I headed for home a happy man and with my confidence restored I may just head back to the “Snag Pit” to continue my quest for ‘’The Linear’’ tomorrow night....
Until then,
Smithy
