Watercraft the winner!

Last weekend I stayed at The Lakeside, nr York. I fished most of the Saturday with mixed results, using a rod that’s 30 years old and a similar aged Diawa reel.

I used to fish as a teen then stopped (can’t remember why) so my old kit has been around a bit!

On the next peg there was a “carper” - two rods on scaffold, cast out to about 3 miles, (the lake is only a few acres). He caught nothing all day.

He came across to chat (as you do) - and couldn’t believe I’d caught anything on my ancient tackle, let alone the roach, chub and bream to 4lb, all within 3 feet of the peg. He went off muttering in disbelief.

Just before dusk I was fishing in a Jacuzzi 3 feet out, and hooked a 13lb mirror - see pic left.

After I’d landed it, the chap congratulated me and asked me to point out whereabouts I had cast, to land this beauty. So I told him, and he said where? He was looking into the distance and I was pointing to my feet!

He stood shaking his head, just at that moment a bigger carp broke the surface to take a bit of bait. Unfortunately that was too much for him, and he went back to his peg and packed up.

To be fair I’m not having a go at the heavy tackle anglers going for specimen fish, but I thought part of the joy of angling was adapting to conditions and putting your bait where the fish are. Not the 'hit and hope' tactic some anglers take.

Oh well, I must be missing something.

Happy fishing

Regards

Mike Quince