Worst Carp Moment of 2002 !

[Andy Thatcher]

Third week of the season saw me and my mate Rich head for Oxfordshire for a 4 day session. Getting to be a tradition for us over the last few years.

 

Apart from lots of small tench neither of us had much joy but on the third morning I was up a spotting tree looking down on my margin swim when a small submarine appeared, with fins ! After mooching about for a while it started taking the occasional B5 bait and disapearing for a while then coming back for some more. I watched this happening for about an hour and a half after having been up that tree half hour before it appeared.

 

Now after a while in the same position you have to move and I had reached that point. Mr Carp was still around but my legs were aching soooo much that I went for it. Trouble is that I dislodged a small twig with 2 leaves on it. That won't cause to much trouble I remember thinking as it helicoptered down to the water.

 

P'ahhh not much trouble ! As soon as it hit the water the carp exited stage left with an distaining flick of it's tail with me up that tree just swearing to be honest. I counted that all I had left in the swim was another 4 baits and the hookbait, so near yet so far.

 

An hour later Rich appeared and over a cup of coffee I told him what happened decribing the rich golden colour of the mirror, He laughed and wandered suddenley interested to see what was in the margins of his swim.

 

A few more Shellfish B5's to the margin and another cup of coffee had me about calm when the guy fishing about a hundred yards to my left came running down the back babbling about a 42lb mirror he had just caught.

 

Yes you have guessed it.

 

Still feel vaguely ill about the whole episode 5 months on.

[Wordbender]

My worst moment of 2002 was a carbon-copy of the worst of 2001, when I broke my right arm, three days after having the plaster removed from my previously broken left.

 

Both arms broken whilst carp fishing, too.

 

The worst moment of 2003 may already be cued-up and waiting, too, as I look like needing a re-break of the left arm after the hospital buggered-up whilst setting it. Nice.

 

Terry