freeline-104 - Flipbook - Page 80
EXCLUSIVE
bailiff was called and 20mins
later with the light fading fast
he arrived with the mat and
scales, everything was done
in the water, we carefully got
her into the sling and both
eased her onto the mat , once
we had taken the net away it
looked colossal, it took 3 of us
to hold the weight crook and
angling I never have thought
I catch anything like that , a
proper English 60lb common.
I did sling the rods back
out but with no conviction,
I’d done it , I’d caught the
waterside common , a fish I’d
only heard of about 6 weeks
prior and a trip I got invited on
last minute , it’s like the stars
the needle settling on 67.8lb
my head was totally gone !
I’m so glad the bailiffs are on
hand at this point , although
we are all experienced big fish
anglers a fish of this magnitude
is different as well as all
the emotions, mistakes can
happen, he was so calm and
controlled we talked through
what was going to happen and
got everything prepared, with
adrenaline pumping I lifted
the fish with surprising ease
as she behaved perfectly.
Photos
done
and
congratulations all round I sat
there, made a brew and rolled
a smoke, shit what had just
happened, 30 years of carp
aligned and it was meant to be
also while I was checking the
rig out after I noticed my 18lb
fluorocarbon main line and
frayed for around 18 inches
past the lead which you can
clearly see in the photo .
Well, that’s my story of the
waterside common , I fished
hard for 4 days , didn’t lose focus
, kept watching a learning , up
and down trees , my one and
only bite turned out to be a fish
of a life time was that lucky
? Maybe but I worked for that
bite and you can’t choose which
one picks it up , tight lines.
I’d also like to thank Leon
Sprague for the wicked shots
he took.
BigCarp 78
