freeline93 - Flipbook - Page 193
KEITH PICKET
W ith caution, I slowly guid ed h e r towa rd s th e n e t , a n d a f te r a
c o uple of heart-stopp ing m o me n t s o f h er t wi s ti n g a nd t u r n i n g
u n der the rod tip, I had h e r he a d u p , a n d s h e wa s ta k i n g h e r
f i rst gasp of air. Over the c o rd o f t he n e t s h e we n t a n d a b i g
s i gh of relief before I p eere d i n to th e n e t to s e e wh a t my p ri z e
was, and wow what a p rize – th e Fa t L i n – I wa s i n awe o f h er.
A four-year quest , and I h a d o n e o f my m a i n t arg e t s a n d th e
b e st carp in the lake lyi ng i n t he b o t to m o f my n e t ! ! S t a n d i n g
t h ere on my own, in the da rk , s o a ke d t h ro u gh , cove re d i n m u d ,
j u st me and her, is a memo r y I s h a ll n eve r, eve r forg e t .
She was safely placed o n th e m a t , u n h o o ke d a n d s l ipp e d
i n to the sling to recover an d wa i t fo r f i rs t l i gh t a n d fo r G a ry
f rom the next swim to com e an d h e lp wi t h t h e we i gh in g a n d
p i ctures. I then set about g e tt i n g t he ro d b a c k o u t , s o as n o t
FR E ELINE 6 7
