Off the Log #10

 

 This one goes back 14 years. We’d managed to put together a couple of days for a fishin’ road trip. Not that there were many miles involved, there’s no comparison between the UK and the USA,. To paraphrase Bill Bryson “In Iowa you’d think nothing of a two-hundred mile drive just to get pizza”, but this side of the pond, at least our trip involved an overnighter.

 My fishing buddy and I started with a day on the Itchen, chasing Grayling, and were only partly successful: we both netted some out of season Brown trout, I managed a half-pound Grayling, plus a five-pound Chub. Next was a bit of a detour to collect a small antique B had bought on-line, then we turned for Gloucestershire. We had booked into a highly recommended Inn, The Plough, for the night. A very enjoyable evening ensued, copious amounts of Landlord before and after an excellent meal, really top scran! Comfortable en suite rooms too, my night’s sleep only disturbed by the electrical storms and heavy rain. Ablutions done, a full English under our belts, tab paid, then a short drive to the fabulous Lechlade fishery where we shelled out for four-fish tickets and a shared boat/punt.

 We moored to the buoy at the far end of the island, and soon noticed there were occasional pods of fish circling around the island clockwise, moving close to the shallow shelf, a good cast from the moorings, precisely why the buoys had been placed just so. I started on an intermediate line, but not casting towards the island but behind the boat towards a clump of trees on the bank. Before long the red-cheeked Cormorant was taken by a heavy fish. A memorable fight ensued, but at last I was able to net a stunning Rainbow, just four-and-a-half-ounces under fifteen pounds! What a start!

 Now, both casting towards that shelf, B had a fish around four pounds. Then, my white, rubber-legged Daddy, on a floating line, was smashed mid-retrieve. I fought this fish for what seemed like an age; three times I managed to pump it alongside, and each time it surged strongly away again. It’s back was very broad, breaking the surface like a dolphin, but on the fourth long run the line went slack … the hook had straightened! Some people say these big stockies don’t fight much, presumably they haven’t battled one of Lechlade’s!

 Later, using the intermediate, a fast retrieve of a Black Taddy triggered a bow-wave from the island then another smash hit. This ‘bow proved to be another belter, weighing eleven pounds fourteen ounces.

After that commotion our sport evaporated, and we decided to take the boat back in and mosey around the banks. The floating line outfit and a green and gold Damsel Lure brought me a nine pounds thirteen ounce Rainbow. From the same spot B took a beautiful, perfectly proportioned Rainbow of over six pounds.

On the drive home I reflected that if only I had managed to net ‘the one that got away’ my four-fish bag would have been over fifty pounds! Amazing fishing!