On a wing & a prayer - never thought I'd land that one
Jun 14, 2015 13:37:47 GMT
johnboy66 likes this
Post by nige_LS7 on Jun 14, 2015 13:37:47 GMT
Claire has got a bit hooked on Monkey Morton, so we were there again yesterday evening.
In truth I'm a bit bored of the place already, and wasn't that focused on my fishing and forgot to bring my most suitable bait runner reel, so pressed my only other bait runner into action,
even though it's a bit cheap, nasty and quirky.
I lobbed out me first cast and kind of was daydreaming when the line screamed off and I struck as if the fish wasn't already hooked and as if the clutch was on tight, and, still daydreaming,failed to tighten the clutch before doing whatever I did - I can't remember -but result was a huge bird's nest with line all round the back of the reel, finding strange crevices that no decent modern reel should have.
The fish meanwhile was splashing around under a tree 40 yards away.
Somehow I got it out of there and managed to free a few coils of line behind the spool and for a couple of minutes I did have a slight ability to use the reel, regaining some line through the tangle, but pretty soon the tangle had totally solidified, meaning that in effect I had a pole with 30 yards of line and a fish on the end. Luckily it was an 1.75 avon rod with a nice parabolic curve to absorb the lunges...
Only one thing for it I thought. Walk backwards 25 yards, fix the line in position somehow (I was looking around for a rock or a log!!!) , then leave the rod there and come back and try to land a hopefully tired fish with my hands pulling the line and a long net
The walking backwards part is not easy at Moor Monkton, and inevitably involves barbed wire, trespass, sheep-scaring, and in this case goose-scaring as well. But if you are going to try it then Cyprio peg 4 is, fortunately as it happens, as good a peg as any.
I didn't want to disturb Claire's fishing, or shout and disturb the whole of the lake, but just then she came over anyway to see what the fuss was about. She offered to clamber over and hold the rod high up 25 yards back in the field, and to take take a couple more steps back when I signalled. Sheep were scattering and various geese turned their hissing wrath from me to her.
Anyway, luckily the 6-pounder was fatigued by now and was landed within a minute of taking the line in my hands and putting a few feet of the lower mainline around my fist and lower arm to make another mini "rod", which was then raised above my head. The confused mirror was returned fighting fit after needing a longer rest that any of the MM carp I've caught so far.
Ah well, fishing is all about learning, eh? And at least I know I've sorted me knots out after a test like that
My corner peg naturally enough was a bit dead after that eventful first cast, so I went back to Front Lake after the match had finished and had a lovely evening there.
******************************************
So folks, what are your stories of fish you never thought you'd see on the bank, but somehow you brought them in safely on a "wing and a prayer"?
In truth I'm a bit bored of the place already, and wasn't that focused on my fishing and forgot to bring my most suitable bait runner reel, so pressed my only other bait runner into action,
even though it's a bit cheap, nasty and quirky.
I lobbed out me first cast and kind of was daydreaming when the line screamed off and I struck as if the fish wasn't already hooked and as if the clutch was on tight, and, still daydreaming,failed to tighten the clutch before doing whatever I did - I can't remember -but result was a huge bird's nest with line all round the back of the reel, finding strange crevices that no decent modern reel should have.
The fish meanwhile was splashing around under a tree 40 yards away.
Somehow I got it out of there and managed to free a few coils of line behind the spool and for a couple of minutes I did have a slight ability to use the reel, regaining some line through the tangle, but pretty soon the tangle had totally solidified, meaning that in effect I had a pole with 30 yards of line and a fish on the end. Luckily it was an 1.75 avon rod with a nice parabolic curve to absorb the lunges...
Only one thing for it I thought. Walk backwards 25 yards, fix the line in position somehow (I was looking around for a rock or a log!!!) , then leave the rod there and come back and try to land a hopefully tired fish with my hands pulling the line and a long net
The walking backwards part is not easy at Moor Monkton, and inevitably involves barbed wire, trespass, sheep-scaring, and in this case goose-scaring as well. But if you are going to try it then Cyprio peg 4 is, fortunately as it happens, as good a peg as any.
I didn't want to disturb Claire's fishing, or shout and disturb the whole of the lake, but just then she came over anyway to see what the fuss was about. She offered to clamber over and hold the rod high up 25 yards back in the field, and to take take a couple more steps back when I signalled. Sheep were scattering and various geese turned their hissing wrath from me to her.
Anyway, luckily the 6-pounder was fatigued by now and was landed within a minute of taking the line in my hands and putting a few feet of the lower mainline around my fist and lower arm to make another mini "rod", which was then raised above my head. The confused mirror was returned fighting fit after needing a longer rest that any of the MM carp I've caught so far.
Ah well, fishing is all about learning, eh? And at least I know I've sorted me knots out after a test like that
My corner peg naturally enough was a bit dead after that eventful first cast, so I went back to Front Lake after the match had finished and had a lovely evening there.
******************************************
So folks, what are your stories of fish you never thought you'd see on the bank, but somehow you brought them in safely on a "wing and a prayer"?
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