After learning that my bid had been successful, I was contacted by Graham, and after a brief exchange of emails, we agreed on the date of Tuesday 25th May.
This was to be my 3rd time with Graham, having really enjoyed the previous two (barbel on the Trent, and my one and only attempt at fly fishing!).
I must be honest and say the prospect of pole fishing on a commercial didn’t really get me all that excited.
Graham told me that we would be fishing at Border Fisheries, a place where I had been before, and as I am a member of the controlling club, Bay Malton AC, the infamous wallet of Graham’s didn’t have to make an early appearance!
We had agreed to meet at Border at 9.45 am. As I was a few minutes early, I took the time to have a chat with Stewart Godber, the BMAC secretary, who runs things at Border.
On returning to the car park Graham was waiting for me, along with his mate Eric. We then went to the onsite café where we enjoyed an excellent ‘full breakfast’, when the wallet did make a reluctant appearance after much rummaging around and repeated, “I think I’ve left it in the car, maybe even at home!”
Graham then told me that we would be fishing “Robbies Pool” explaining that this held a better stamp of carp than the match waters.
Now, as I haven’t pole fished for a good 15 years or so (last time was on the Woodford River in Cavan) my pole, with its number 5 elastic would stay at home in the loft, and Graham would supply a pole, rigs and bait. So I hoisted my old Riva box onto my back, Along with a holdall containing brolly and banksticks, and prepared to set off on the short walk to Robbies.
It was at this point that I began to realize just how tired/old Mr Marsden is getting. As from the spacious boot of his car came something akin to a Dalek!
A bloody motorised tackle trolley; must admit that it was a tidy piece of kit.
Just the thing for the infirm and incontinent gentleman angler. Although it wouldn’t be much use to me on my favoured haunts of the Ribble, Trent, etc.
Graham being ‘motorized’ led the way. Soon a thumbs up from him, told us that the ‘fancied’ pegs were free. So we settled into adjacent swims. Was it an omen that Graham had put me on peg 13? Graham then explained that I was to fish tight up against the marginal flag iris, in about 18 inches of water. He then set up the pole that I was going to use. (Ron Clay, please note the name of this pole was ‘Rock-‘Ard’) Explaining that it was fitted with 16’s elastic, the rig being 8lb mainline to a 6lb hooklength. After plumbing the depth and making a few adjustments to the rig, Graham then showed me the bait I was going to be using. Feed was to be dampened micro pellet, with a banded hard pellet as hookbait.
It was decided that Graham would fish my swim for a while, hoping to hook a decent carp, and then show me how to play the fish on the pole.
The float started dipping and bobbing almost instantly, with Graham explaining that these were smaller fish attacking the banded pellet. Got to admit that I would have struck at some of these bites!
After around 45 minutes, with just a couple of suicidal roach to show for his efforts, Graham offered me the chance to have a go with the pole. I decided to put a bit of bait in, then rest the swim for a while, so that I could have a look at Grahams’ set up. As he had said earlier that he would be fishing the floating feeder. A method that I had only come across on various angling websites/forums.
So, after watching Graham for a bit, it was time for me to get some fishing done. I soon had a couple of suicidal 8oz roach, then all of a sudden, “bloody hell where’s that elastic going?” As I found myself attached to a decent fish. I was able to ship the pole out and play the fish in open water, as it went one way then the other. Being inexperienced at playing big fish on the pole, I broke the pole down too soon and was left with a wrist aching top two sections, as the fish wasn’t yet ready to be landed.
I eventually managed to net the fish, a nice looking mirror of around 10lbs, and Graham did the honours with the camera. I then fed the swim again and had another break (this pole fishing lark is no good for a chap who rolls his own ciggies!).
I had another roach, then a carp of around 6lbs. Graham and Eric had also had a couple of carp apiece. The carp weren’t really having it, as they had their minds on other things, Lots of them were in one corner of the lake, ready for spawning. We packed up quite early at 6pm, as both Graham and myself had other commitments.
TO SUMMARISE
• Good day weather wise.
• Good food.
• Good company and banter
• An excellent, well run venue, thanks to BMAC.
• Another facet of our great sport done.
Would I do it again? Most definitely!
Dave Bassett.
