EsoxEcosse Magazine 21
the unexpected days are the best
t h e U n e x p e c t e d day s
Are The Best!
Leaving early on, in the quiet darkness of the morning I picked up my cousin who has been along with me a few times, the
last time he was with me I had my PB at 19lbs so I consider him a lucky charm as well as a nets man, photographer and
Sherpa...two guys can carry plenty gear for a full day, brollies, cookers, scran, chairs, etc for maximum comfort.
Approaching the banks just before first light we decided to
the bail arm over and struck hard into a fish. It felt very
change swims, for no reason other than Scott, my cousin,
heavy and stayed down which had me thinking this could
thought the 2nd choice swim looked better, why not. We
be the new PB and once netted I knew she wasn't far off,
got the brolly up, gear stashed away and I started to as-
a fat fish in mint condition, she went 18.6oz, close but not
semble my rods. My usual set up of three different dead
yet. We were delighted to get off to a flyer, it's always a
baits out, at varied distances, set on bank sticks with front
relief to get a fish early and a high double and we felt con-
alarms, open bail arms and fox droppers.
fident of more action. So quickly got another fat piece of
lamprey cast back into the same spot and it felt good,
As Scott got the kettle on I cast out
a light wind and overcast sky was
a big piece of lamprey, along with an
almost text book weather, warm
albino trout on the centre rod and a
enough to leave the heavy jackets
wee joey to the left, set everything
in the brolly, it couldn't have been
and the waiting game began. A cou-
more ideal, the scene was set! Eve-
ple of hours passed, several cups
rything was quiet for the next hour,
of tea drank and nothing was hap-
feeling a little impatient I wanted to
pening so I decided to move the
make things happens so I decided to
bait about and swapped the posi-
change the wee joey on the left hand
tion of the trout and lamprey. As I
rod, so reeled it in and dug out a big
set the rods on the stand I said to
oily piece of herring from the bait bag
Scott, that lamprey will go, I know
and tried to hit the horizon with it, as it
it. It was now the middle rod and
ripped off the trebles and went its own
in the slighter deeper water, we
way, it splashed in on top of the piece of
all get that feeling from time to
lamprey and within seconds the alarm
time and it was correct, after
let out a single beep, I turned and looked
ten minutes the alarm beeped
and the indicator twitched so I put down
twice, I lifted the rod off the
the rod I had cast and although I thought
stands, and as a turn of braid
the piece of bait must of hit the line in the
skipped off the spool, I flicked
water causing the single beep I wasn't
taking any chances, as I went to pick up
"we all know we are there for
the beep, the run and the
anticipation of what could be..."
the rod from the stand the indicator pung
and braid slowly started peeling off...bail
arm over and strike!! Initially there didn't feel much there
and for a second wondered if I had missed her, then she
woke up and wasn't best pleased, slowly and steadily braid