Grahams Tip Off
Posted: 16th Sep 2012
Week 24 has now passed and the lads from Macc were great company once again and it turned out a good week in the end.
But on a more bitter note before the catch report, Graham had a fish take him under the Willows on the far bank in peg 3, and he went out in the boat to sort it on the Friday. The fish had shed the hook but he said he thought a fish was tethered because they was a mass of bubbles erupting from under the bush when he was out in the boat, as if a fish was trying to eccape causing a disturbance under the Willow. This was late on Friday so I said first thing Saturday, when you leave I will go out in the boat. Well off I rowed and when I got out to the tree/bush in question I could see how much the branches had grown over the summer after the drain down so I decided to cut all the limbs that were under the water to prevent any more problems. On cutting a branch about as thick as your wrist I could feel tugging and pulling, with line coming off into the murky depths? I cut through and then started a 5 minute tug of war but trying to take it very gingerly to prevent the line parting. I took my time and with the boat slowly difting out from the tree we were in clear water with about 10 yards of line out from this huge limb in my hands and making progress. The fish made a few powerful lunges and then I thought the line had parted as I fell arse over tit into the boat and very nearly going over board!!! I started to gather the line in and then noticed the hooklink still attached but the hook had snapped due to the pressure on the tight line and it had started to rust slightly around the eye on close inspection. Now the bit that really brasses me off is a piece of plastic corn on the hair!!! How many times do you have to spell it out to people and make no mistake, I know the new site rules have not been updated correctly but all anglers get a copy of the rules when they arrive, also I do make it clear about no plastic bait, along with a copy on the wall in the kitchen, so there are no grey areas. I'm not sure what fish it was and how long it had been there but it's the "same old, same old" the few that have to spoil it for the majority, so It's back to checking rigs again whether you're a long standing customer or not. To all our regulars please don't take it personal but I find it an abuse of my good nature that anglers still pull stunts for fish at all costs. I'm not saying it's the sole reason the fish was tethered, but as we all know the rig continues to fish if plastic remains on the hair!! Just hope the fish is not in too much of a state?
Anyway rant over and back to fishing.
It was a funny old week again with not much of a pattern emerging apart from Graham in 3 catching from the off. John down in peg 1 did struggle a bit and I was thinking it would come good at the backend of the week but it never really did. Dave in peg 5 was catching odd fish but same again no real pattern making it hard to know what to do. He kept his spots baited and then the wind picked up pushing down to 5 on the Thursday and it was like a light switch. He started catching with a good 10 fish over the last two days!!! Best of the week was a 45lb to Dave followed by a 43lb to Graham along with a lovely humpbacked male of 41lb 12oz that was like a block of lead. 14 fish over 30lb+ (including 10 of them over 35lb+ to 39lb) 6 grassies falling to Grahams left hand rod all off the same spot, none weighed but all good 20lb-30lb+ fish. 7 x 20lb+ ( including 3 upper 20s) It was not a week of huge fish but I do get the feeling the fish are just starting to put weight back on after the spawnings. It's much later in the season than normal but so much energy and weight was lost this year due to the heavy spawnings.
Snail & Shell, xxx tipped with Bright pop-up's and lots of the Sanctuary pellet.
Even though John in Peg 1 only managed a 36lb best he is such a lovely bloke and so laidback it's untrue, he said it's just a pleasure to be here whether I catch or not. When you have been around as much as he has, no doubt he has seen it all before anyway. I know it's bias but it really does have a very unique feel here, and as all our regulars know She can cast the Sanctuary spell on you that does get under your skin forever.
May long live that feeling for all who pit their wits here.
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