freeline-98 - Flipbook - Page 98
EXCLUSIVE
L e s s t h a n a n h o u r l a t e r, t h e
right-hand rod was nearly
dragged from the pod. The
f i s h b u r i e d i t s e l f i n w e e d,
and I carefully placed the
r o d d o w n o n a s l a c k l i n e. Te n
t e n s e m i n u t e s l a t e r, i t r o a r e d
b a c k i n t o l i f e. W h e n I s a w
it close in, I knew instantly
i t w a s a P B. H a n d s s h a k i n g,
h e a r t p o u n d i n g, a n d w i t h t h e
help of a lad from the next
swim, we landed her: 52lb
7 o z . A w a r r i o r, a r e a l m o n s t e r,
BigCarp 96
and a fish of a lifetime — one
that had been missing for 18
m o n t h s . Fo u r f i s h i n a s i n g l e
d a y — a d o u b l e, a 2 9 , a 3 4 ,
and a 52 — left me utterly
speechless.
E v e r y m o r n i n g, P a u l w o u l d
pop round for coffee and a
catch-up, small chats that
became one of the highlights
o f e a c h d a y.
T h e n e x t d a y, s t i l l r i d i n g t h e
h i g h f r o m t h e p r e v i o u s d a y,
just before 12pm the same
