On a Roll

Last year it all seemed so difficult - everything felt difficult and my fishing reflected this. But I've come to terms with a few issues not least my inability to leap great buildings with a mighty bound or to walk half a mile without hurting. My new found positivity has reflected in my fishing - so far - and when you are on a roll it all feels just so easy.

I snuck out on a warm day to stalk the lake. On the approach track I found a young lady sat in her car and wound down the window just to check she was alright. She was delighted with her first close up sighting of a kingfisher and we chatted 'birds' for a while. I could not place the accent but she said she was from Sweden and then told me she was an au pair. "Wow, a Swedish au pair" I exclaimed, "are the rumours true". She blushed and I didn't press the issue.

Arriving at the area I intended to fish I found coloured water where the early morning feed had taken place but all the fish I saw were dozing in areas where there was no hope of getting to them without youth, agility and a reckless disregard for one's safety... and I fail on all counts. I baited a couple of spots but nothing settled on the feed, they were all just snoozing.

I arrived at a spot that's worth a few hours and put a bait out. I then sat back and finished my copy of 'Little Grey Men' by BB. Having read the entire book whilst sat in deep woodland with its rustling accompaniment from the undergrowth, it is easy to immerse one's self into the tale especially here where the bank has little caves beneath the tree roots, idea properties for the little people. As I put the finished book down a couple of squirrels noisily chased each other around a tree making me smile.

I had a doze and dreamed of alternate endings to meeting my the au pair. I needed a coffee to get me going again. It was around the time when the fish would normally move into the area and a couple of loud crashes indicated they were on cue. The reel screamed its alarm and I was up and into action.

My old Hardy rod took on its battle curve and the line ticked off the old Cardinal reel, a very lively fish headed for lily beds and tree roots with alarming pace, I waded up to my knees in the silty margins to get a better angle on it and, after an arm aching tussle, I netted a beautiful linear carp. At last I have one of the pretty fish.

It was a bull headed brute that went 25.14 - like I said, when you are on a roll....

That was enough. I could have moved to another likely spot but I was sated and I strolled with squelchy footsteps back to the car.