freeline-105 - Flipbook - Page 216
DAVE HYDE
CHRIS
CONNAUGHTON
a round midnight by anothe r ve r y t wi tc hy t a ke . A s t h e b o b b i n
fe ll back down and started to s lowly ri s e a ga i n , I j u m p e d o u t o f
my sleeping bag and lifted th e ro d , fe el i n g a g re a t re s i s t an c e
s l owly plodding alon g. Th i s fe lt a l o t b i g g er, a n d a f te r a n e rv y
b a ttle snagging me aroun d an i s l an d , I s o o n h a d my f i rs t U K
4 0 in the net and a new PB ! I t wa s a f i sh k n ow n a s S t a r, a n d I
m ust say a massive thank- yo u to To ny th e f i s h e ry ow n e r a n d
J a mes for coming and help i n g m e w i th p i c s e tc . B u z z i n g w i t h
t h e biggest of grins, the r i g we n t b ac k o ut , a n d I re t re a te d
b a ck to my bivvy.
At 2am, the unexpected h ap p en e d , an d I h a d a n o t h e r t a ke o n
t h e same rod. This felt unb e li eva b ly b i g a n d wa s j u s t p l o d d i n g
a l ong before stripping lin e li ke n o to m o r row. I wo u l d g e t i t
i n to the bank, but it just b o l te d a ga i n a n d a ga i n . I t h o u gh t
t h is had to be something sp ec i a l. W ha t c a m e n ex t t ho u gh I
c o uld never be prepared fo r… A s t he f i s h ro s e to th e s urfa c e
i n the light of my head torc h, I n o t i c ed i t wa s a fi s h k n ow n a s
B l ackspot and a previ ous P B o f m i n e a t 3 6 lb , b u t s h e l o o ke d
g i gantic!
She went into the net (o n ly j us t ), an d I re a l i s e d wh a t I j u s t
h a d and how special this mo me n t wa s! I h a d n o t o n ly h a d
my first UK 40 but a bra ce o f U K 4 0 s i n t h e w i n te r f ro m a
D evonshire venue! We got he r o n th e s ca l es , an d s h e we i gh e d
4 4 lb 4oz, my second ever U K 4 0 , b u t i n t h e s a me n i gh t as th e
f i rst and another PB! It’s s a fe to s ay I di d n’ t s l e e p a f te r t h a t ,
a s I was buzzing, and I s t i ll am n ow. A ll f is h wh e re c a u gh t
u s ing Sticky Baits frozen M a n i ll a b o i l i e s, h i n ge d -s t i f f ri g w i t h
s i ze 6 J Precision hooks, Ho m em a de h o o k b a i t s u s i n g M a n i l l a
h o ok bait kit but with extra a d d i tive s a n d 4 o z L a ke b e d L e a d s
i n l ine dung lead.
FREELINE 38
