|
WOLDVIEW CATS BY ADAM JOHNSON |
|
I’VE BEEN A CARP ANGLER FOR ABOUT 4
YEARS AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THROUGH SOME FRIENDS TO SECURE A PLACE ON ROD
HUTCHINSON’S WOLDVIEW SYNDICATE IN 1997. TALKING TO ROD AND SOME OF THE
MEMBERS I WAS TOLD THERE WERE 15-25 CATS THAT HAD BEEN STOCKED IN 1992. I WAS
TOLD NO-ONE FISHED FOR THEM. DURING THE 1997 SEASON I ONLY FISHED FOR THE
CARP, BUT AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST THAT YEAR I CAUGHT AN 8LB 4OZ CAT ON A
MULBERRY FLORENTINE BOILIE. THIS ACCIDENTAL CAPTURE SPARKED MY INTEREST AND I
DECIDED THE NEXT YEAR I WOULD SET MY STALL OUT AND CHALLENGE THESE CREATURES. 1998 SEASON. I WAITED FOR THE WARMER WEATHER TO
COME AND IT WAS THE SECOND WEEK IN JUNE WHEN THE WEATHER AND CONDITIONS WERE
RIGHT. I ARRIVED ON THE 10TH JUNE,
CONDITIONS WERE EXCELLENT, WARM AND HUMID WITH THE CHANCE OF A THUNDERSTORM.
I FISHED WITH 3 RODS (DIAFLASH 2 1/4LB TREST), 12 LB SYNERGY MAINLINE WITH A
1OZ KORDA RUNNING LEAD AND 12LB THE EDGE HOOKLINK VARYING IN LENGTH FROM
15-20 INCHES. I USED A SIZE 2 PENETRATOR HOOK TO WHICH I ATTCHED A 3 INCH
HAIR. I THREADED 4 WORMS ON AND THEN A CORK BALL FOLLOWED BY 3 MORE WORMS AND
A BOILIE STOP. THEN I PLACED A SOLAR DEPTH CHARGER ON THE LINE TO POP UP THE
WORMS 6 INCHES. THE SWIM I CHOSE HAD SHALLOW AND DEEP WATER AND IS KNOWN TO
THE SYNDICATE AS THE CUPBOARD. TO THE RIGHT OF THE SWIM THERE IS A SHELF WITH
DEPTHS UP TO 13 FEET. I FANNED MY RODS OUT TO COVER THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
WATER. I FISHED THE FIRST DAY WITHOUT ANY ACTION, BUT AS DAWN BROKE THE
FOLLOWING MORNING MY LEFT HAND ROD INDICATED A SLIGHT KNOCK ON THE TIP. I WAS
FISHING WITH SLACK LINES AND AS THE LINE BEGAN TO TIGHTEN I GRABBED THE ROD.
THE FISH GAVE SOME DEEP SHORT BUT POWERFUL LUNGES. I KNEW IT WAS A CATFISH BECAUSE
I COULD FEEL IT’S POWERFUL TAIL TOUCHING THE LINE. AFTER A 10 MINUTE FIGHT I
SLIPPED THE NET UNDER A SMALL CAT OF 10LB. NO MONSTER BUT A GOOD START AND I
WAS WELL PLEASED. I REBAITED AND CAST BACK OUT TO A
SIMILAR AREA. AROUND 6.30 THE SAME ROD WAS OFF AGAIN. I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT
BUT THIS TIME IT WAS A LONGER AND HARDER FIGHT. AS I DREW THE FISH TO THE NET
I COULD SEE IT WAS A LARGER FISH. ON
THE UNHOOKING MAT I UNHOOKED IT AND WEIGHED IT AT 22LB 8OZ. THE FISH WAS
PHOTOGRAPHED AND SLIPPED BACK. I WAS WELL CHUFFED. AFTER RECASTING THE ROD I
SAT BACK ON MY BEDCHAIR AND PUT ON THE KETTLE FOR A NICE CUPPA. THERE WAS NO MORE ACTION THAT DAY BUT
THE FOLLOWING MORNING AT ABOUT 8.30 I HAD ANOTHER TAKE ON THE SAME ROD. THIS
TIME IT WAS GRADUALLY PICKING UP SPEED AS I STRUCK INTO THE FISH. THE ROD
HOOPED OVER AND LINE WAS TAKEN AGAINST THE CLUTCH AS THE FISH SWAM ACROSS THE
MIDDLE OF THE LAKE. |
|
THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED ON THE 25/04/05 |