freeline-107 - Flipbook - Page 153
TONY GASKIN
CLOUD
NINE
I decided to go down to O l d mi l l L a ke s a n d d o 24 - h o ur s es s io n
o n Birch La ke. After a chat w i th th e ow n er, I went wa lk i n g a ro u n d
t h e lake to see I could see a ny s i g n o f f i s h sh ow i n g . A f te r a b o u t
h a lf hour of walking arou n d t h e l a ke , I n o t i ced s o m e f iz zi n g
i n a swim called Double s. I wa l ke d b a c k to t h e ca r to get my
ge ar and set up in there. I p u t th re e ro d s ou t w i th a h a n d f u l o f
o fferings over each rod. T h e d ay p a s s ed w i th o u t any a c t io n , so
I d ecided to move one of my ro d s to a n i sl a n d to my r ig ht j u st
b efore it got dark and baited w i t h a b o u t a k i l o o f 1 2 m m b o i l i es .
The night passed wi th j ust t h e o d d l i n er, a n d t h en a ro u n d 7 a m ,
t h e rod I put out j ust befo re d a r k s i g n a l ed a co u p l e o f b l eeps .
T h e bobbin pulled up tight , s o I st ru c k i nto i t . I t h o u g ht i t wa s
a stockie at first because i t d i d n ’t p u t u p mu c h o f a f i g ht . T h en
i t got to the margin a nd ro l l ed , w h i c h wa s w h en I kn ew i t wa s a
go od fish. It then went on a go od r u n , c h a rg i n g a rou n d t h e sw i m
b efore finally, probabl y 20 m i n u tes l ate r, i t gave u p a n d ro l l ed
over the net cord. I knew it h a d to b e a n ew p ers o n a l b est ! I go t
o n e of the lads to come hel p m e w i t h th e we i g h in g a n d p h o to s
a n d was absolutely buz zing w h en th e s ca l e s we nt ro u n d to 4 6 l b
3 oz. I’m on cloud nine !
FR E ELINE 35
