Bankside thoughts
by Martin Whitehead

In sun and wind the rainy days
we travel so afar
in search of gold you hear me say
I've found a gravel bar
the silt, the weed, a plateau
to a gully and some rocks
this all goes down on the map I need
and I know I need some luck.

So out she goes just one last time
to find that hidden place
well there it is
so up she pops, my lady of the lake.

Now out with rods
and they stand to, ready for my inspection
a twisted eye is what I find
I'm glad I brought rig glue

Now that jobs done it's time to think of how to reach my goal
I've changed my rigs a pop-up too
if that don't work
then something new
end of my inspection.

I'm ready now and baited up
boilies on the hair
it's time to cast my 60 yards I hope I don't hit her
now out it goes a near-on cast
slightly to the left
I feather down a gentle touch and then she comes to rest
to my pod I put her down
with butt in the air
and tip to the ground
now tighten the clutch and up I clip
a flick of my thumb and up with the switch
ready for my inspection.

Five hours past and I need to sleep
laid back on my bed and up with my feet
when out of the blue comes a bleep, bleep, bleep,
that's my interception.
I race to my rod and up in the air
I say to myself such a wonderful prayer
she kites to the left
and then to the right
I feel the fish kick - man it gives you a fright
I'm gaining now she's coming in
I look up to heaven
please don't let it ping

When up like a sub with a glorious crash
they think its all over
she went off with a dash
a little side strain and into the bank
what could I say and who did I thank

With fish in the net and onto the mat
my first ever twenty and a common at that


Written by Martin Whitehead
of Westward Ho!
North Devon