Gary's day

Today was Beggars Hall. After a cooler week and some cold rain the day before expectations of a bite filled day were low. At least we were going to be dry if a little cold.

At the draw out came peg 16 and I had a chance as the peg was still fishing well although other usually good pegs are not at the moment. Before the all in we had an unexpected catch. There was a long length of line trailing in the water near peg 18 and, on giving it a pull to remove it, up popped Phil's rod and reel that took a trip into the deeps a couple of weeks back.

Back to the fishing and it was a slow start for me although Rob on peg 17 was getting liners from the off. Unknown to us Mark on peg 20 had gotten off to a flyer with a carp on the first cast and another shortly after. About 45 mins in I started to get some liners and then the feeder rod tip went round and a very carefully played carp was in the net. Blank saved. Rob then had a carp and we were suddenly expecting a good days fishing.

Another hour later the good days fishing was fizzling out with even the odd liner disappearing. A change to a bomb and meat brought another bite and a carp; a feisty mirror that thought it was a lot bigger than its 5lbs or so. And then nothing. A change to a cage feeder and maggot snuck another biite and carp after I spotted a couple of small bubbles break surface in the open water.

Then another hour of waiting for a bite but this one came off right at the net. At this point there was a flurry of activity on the lake with Mark and Phil also getting a carp.

The last 2 hours produced 2 more bites and 2 more carp. Rob had had a very quiet 4 hours since the early carp and it looked like it was between me and Mark. With Mark looking like he had also had 5 carp it was all going to be down to average size. 1st Gary Pickard 43lbs 2oz, 2nd Mark Halverson 29lbs 3oz and 3rd Phil Whitmill 9lbs 9oz.

Photo today is Mark, Phil and Fred rescuing Phil's rod.