After another hectic week here at the Millpond we were both looking forward to this weekend off.
Angela needed to get off site for some retail therapy which apparently women need to keep marital harmony!
My therapy involved sitting beside the lake for 9 hours fishing.
Angela planned to catch the ten o’clock bus and I was set up and fishing by half past eight. I had a text from Angela saying she was on the bus and she had locked the van keys inside the van……lucky I had a set on me! She was obviously thinking of what to spend her money on too much and not concentrating.
I began to catch right away, mainly Roach but I did catch my first Crucian Carp:-) 
The sun was shining although the forecast was for showers. Brian had kindly lent me his big fishing umbrella which came in handy for both of us! I noticed the rain clouds heading our way but hoped that the wind would keep them from us. I saw Brian on his walk around the lake to check the fishing permits at about half past ten when suddenly the heavens opened up. I gathered all of my things under the brolly and decided to wait until it past when Brian came seeking refuge.
Once again he gave me more advice on how and where to fish and he also gave me the new bands as promised. They are smaller, a bit more fiddly to use but hold the bait better.
Later in the afternoon I had a phone call from Angela saying she was drinking a large glass of white wine in the pub having a spot of lunch. Apparently this is what you do whilst having retail therapy!
She came to see me straight from the bus stop and I was pleased to see only three shopping bags. Obviously this was just a top up retail therapy session and not a big one as has been known!
These were two of her purchases…………………
She kindly went back to the van to make me a sandwich and came back to sit with me for a bit bringing herself a chair and a book to read.
When she left I said I would fish until five then pack up and come home. Best laid plans…………………………….
At five o’clock I was beginning to pack up. I took apart my landing net gathered my things together and took down the umbrella. I only had a bit of bait left so thought I would have a few more casts. As I threw a bit of feed in I noticed the carp coming up to take it just in front of me, teasing like!
I decided to put a floating biscuit on and cast it in front of them to chance my luck. I had a few bites and lost the bait. I got down to two bits of bait left, one on the hook and one to throw in after my cast. I could see this great big carp mouth sucking the bait towards it. As this was happening I was willing it to take it when all of a sudden it disappeared as did the float. I struck and immediately knew I was into a big fish. When I fished before I always used barbed hooks but here you are only allowed barbless hooks. Apparently it is less damaging to the fish (although this is now being discussed) and it gives them a chance to get off if they are given any slack.
As I began to reel in the fish decided it was not ready to come in and the phrase ‘screaming reels’ came to mind. Lucky I had the clutch setting right as the fish took off towards the island. By now my heart is thumping with excitement. The record for this season so far is Brian’s 29.8lb common carp. I was sure I was on the way to beat it!
I got a chance to reel in some more line when it suddenly decided to wanted to head off in another direction, towards Jules and Andy (people on site), Andy said would you like me to net it this side? once again I began reeling in towards me and saw the fish close to the surface, it left a wake behind it. I said to Andy that I had taken my landing net apart and another fisherman next to me came and offered the use of his. I told him it was not ready to land yet at which point it took off again and my arm was now beginning to ache.
I suddenly saw my float which meant that the fish would soon be visible but it took off again to my left and towards some reeds when all of a sudden the float and hook came flying out of the water towards me!
Brian appeared not long after as he had seen Andy talking and looking towards me which then drew Brian’s attention thinking I must have something special so he had his camera phone at the ready.
I explained all and he said it sometimes happens:-(
It has not put me off and I am looking forward to tomorrow……weather permitting!
Angela is doing the Race for Life at Worcester Racecourse tomorrow! Good Luck with that.
