freeline-96 - Flipbook - Page 240
BOBBY
JACK
THOMPSON
COOTE
a n angler like me – if there ’s s o m e th i n g b e t we e n m e a n d t h e
f i s h I will make sure I get t hro u gh i t . N eve r th el e ss t h i s s e c ti o n
o f the lake was full of subm e rg e d t re es a n d f l o o d e d s n a g s –
c a rp heaven – and they di d s e e m to b e ve ry h a p py to fe e d i n
t h is area. I started to intro d u c e a fe w c a ta p u l t s fu l l o f p el l e t s
over the top of the grazi ng f i sh , a n d i t wa sn’ t l o ng b e fo re t h ey
were competing for the foo d an d fe ed i n g co n f i d e n tly. I wa s te d
n o time in threading a co n tro l le r o n a n d t y i n g a s u rfa c e ri g .
I put a sof t hookable pelle t o n , c a st o u t p a st t h e fe e d i n g f i s h
a n d slowly dragged it towa rd s t he m.
I t urned around for a sp li t s e c o n d to th e n o i s e o f p a s s i n g
walkers, and the rod was a lm o s t p u ll e d f ro m my h a n d s wh e n
t h e fish managed to hook i t s el f f ro m th e f u l l i m p a ct f ro m
t h e large controller. I wa s i n to wh at fe lt l i ke a go o d f i s h . I
c o uld see this was a very da rk c o mm o n a ro u n d m i d t we n t i e s ,
a s the water was absolute ly g i n c le a r, a n d i t m a d e me re a l ly
c o ncentrate whilst p layi ng t he f i sh . Wh a t an a m a z i n g f is h to
s t art off the campaign.
A f ter a very hairy fight o n l i gh t t ac k le , I m a n a g e d to f i n al ly
g e t the fish in the net . I co u ld n’ t b e li eve wha t I h a d m a n a g e d
a f ter such a short time fishi n g . I q u i ck ly we i gh e d t h e c o m mo n ,
a n d it pulled the needle aro u n d to t we n ty- f ive p o u n d s . I to o k
a few shots and gracefully s l i p p e d th e ca rp b a c k to h e r h o m e .
W hen being involved with t h e f i sh o n t he b a n k , I tot a l ly fo rg o t
where I was, and as I looke d u p , th e re wa s a s p e e d b o a t g o i n g
f u ll throttle towards me. I b ro ke th e ro d d ow n , ga t h e re d u p
t h e mat and pushed i t as fa r u n de r t h e b us h e s a s I p o s s i b ly
c o uld, leaving only my came ra b a g o ut . I un z i p p e d i t an d sw u n g
t h e camera around my nec k, p re te n di n g to t a ke p h o to s o f t h e
b i rd life. When the man c o n f ro n te d m e , I to l d h i m I wa s j u s t
FREELINE 96
