Malc, thanks for post, kind words and making a miserable (weatherwise only )day bright!
Yeah , I really enjoyed it and big thanks too to Waxi!, not only for suggesting the day, but for buying the tickets and setting the tone!.
How?, well I arrived early (Yes John! early), but tired, I made my way into car park and fell asleep before 7.00 am.
On waking at 7.20 to discover a message on phone timed at 7.01, (we'd arranged to meet at 7.00 quote ( and here imagine black Welsh humour)
ITS DARK ! AND WET LOL.unquote
On phoning I discovered Waxi was sitting just 50 yds away, outside the car park closed gate, (unlocked) but no doubt deterred by the Guard Dog patrolled sign!
However , we quickly met, hit it off immediately, reached agreement over swims and had not even set up fully before we were joined by Malc, who proved to be yet another thoroughly nice guy and with a wealth of experience,knowledge and ability.
As you may know, I Had mislaid most of my kit yesterday and as the rain started, I sat umbrella less and distinctly damp, BUT was brightened by 2 things. 1st at about 9.00 Oclock, I received a message that my Kit was found!! 40 hours after I left it behind, my brother -in-law collected it from its undisturbed position! Thanks to all the offers from you guys in these forums for spare kit, Alan ,John ,Dave, I wont forget!
Secondly, I caught 1st! a nice little 8oz skimmer came to the Pole!
The rain reached monsoon proportions and I went and chatted to Malc (pinched cover from his brolly too), and could almost forgive him landing a half starved ,skinny (but as near as damn it 4lb bream) in front of me. Well I was seeking sanctuary at the time!
Several times during the day, we wandered to each others pegs for a chat and despite the weather, I honestly believe we all enjoyed the day, no more moment pleasing to me than when Wayne landed his 1st fish!
(Last too, but you shouldnt have been at the Man U 9- Ipswich 0 game!!!!)
My daily disaster, Well that came when my 3rd and 4th Pole sections froze together meaning I could no longer cup accurately, lost the use of a top 3 set up and fell back on catapult feeding!
Subsequently, when i returned home I discovered the top 3 section, still welded to the 4th,has a crack, but thats about par for the course lol
Malc had to work and left at 3.30 ish,with cattying assistance from the Gentleman Welshman, whilst I selfishly fished on as Malc and I were tied at 17 fish each,16 skimmers and a Rudd to Malc, 13 skimmers and 4 minute Roach for me! and I now had the field to myself!
Then, as Wayne was returning from porter duty, I had the best fighting fish of the day! I struck into a magnificent runner! subsequently found that I had foul hooked yet another 8oz Bream in the extreme top edge of the Dorsal fin and calling Wayne to witness the landing, I was not even put off to hear him mutter "I bet you bloody claim that too!"
Well, wouldnt you!, Just because I had an extra hour and even though the 4lbr from Malc,would have been close to my total on its own! 18-17 rules ok LOL
The day had thankfully relented of rain, but darkened quickly and we packed away, with Wayne commenting on how gratful the fish would be as I threw in about 10lb of unused, but ruin-rained unprotected by my mislaid umbrella, bait.
The final knife was a pasing , leaving Regular to the venue, who paused at my swim.
"Fish under that tree?" he asked, pointing to a scrubby non-descript bush to my right. "Best peg on the Lake this, Chub,Barbel, Perch! All come outta there, 3ft from the bank"
"Thank you very much" I muttered bitterly as I quietly hoped he had caught flu or something worse! "Tell me on the way in next time, will'ya?"
Well, the Welsh Camel train took over my kit and we eventually shook hands, with both of us expressing a genuine desire to 'do it again'.
Thanks Wayne, for suggesting the day and I look forward to 30th March, or hopefully much sooner.
Geoff, keep your paintbrush lol, I know where I would rather be!
Malc, Wayne, thanks for a memorable day,
Regards
Trev
Ziptrev your resident
