BIG CARP APRIL 2026 RICHARD - Flipbook - Page 195
JOHNASH
KRIS
BINGHAM
THORNLEY
GEDEN
fe ature. A few minutes’ fi gh t a n d a l ove ly s c a ly c a r p o f j u s t
over 15lb graced the net . W i t h t h e b oys s o u n d as l e ep a f te r a n
a d renaline fueled night , I d ec i d e d to t a ke t h e p i c tu re s mys e l f
w i thout waking them and s l i p p e d th e f i s h b a c k w i th m i n i m a l
d i stress. The rod was rewra p p e d , b a i te d a n d re p o s i ti o n e d o n
t h e spot , which I once aga i n to p p ed u p wi t h a fe w Sp o m b s
o f bait and awaited the cal l s fo r b re ak fa st , wh i c h to o k u n t i l
9 . 30am to my surprise… I’ m l i k i n g t h e e f fe c t th i s fi s h i n g h a s
o n them.
Well, with the bites all c o m i ng i n t he h o u rs o f d a rk n es s o r
f i rst light , I wasn’t expect i n g a ny m o re ac t io n , b u t a f ter t h e
b oys had woken, eaten an d d i s cu s s ed h e ad i n g h o m e to o u r
m uch loved Labrador, I wa s s u r p r i s e d by t wo bl e ep s f ro m t h e
r i ght hand rod. On in sp ect i o n , a p a i r o f swa n s h ad j u s t c ro s s e d
t h e front of the swim, and I re f ra i n ed f ro m l if ti n g t h e ro d , b u t
t h e line pulled tight and s la m me d u p a ga i n s t t h e b l a n k a n d
was again into a fairly go o d s i z ed f i s h – re s u l t – a d ayl i gh t
c a pture for the boys to del i gh t i n . T h i s t i m e a mi r ro r o f 2 1 l b
6 o z showed up for the ca m era , aga i n b e hav i n g fo r t he b oys
a n d posing for pictures, al mo st se n s i n g t he n e rvo u s n e s s i n
t h em, and I could not be ha p p i e r wi t h th e re s u l t . We a l l s h a re d
i n the magical moment of se e i n g t he b e a ut i f u l c re a tu re sw i m
o f f happily into the depths to h o p e f ul ly o n e d ay b r i n g a s m u c h
j oy to another angler.
A slow pack up was soon underway as we watched fish rolling
over the spot for the first time during our trip, but I didn’t mind
one bit… My job was done and my heart content knowing that
the buzz for fishing had been carefully bestowed upon two young
impressionable minds. We packed the van and headed home full
of pride… The future can be bright, if you only inspire it.
FR E ELINE 73
