Southampton specialist David Meek sent us this lovely evocative piece on a recent trip to Belgium with friends Gaz Fareham and Marcus Howarth. Click here to read the full story – it will make you want to go angling!
After a long drive, the car was filled with chat and excited whoops. We arrived at the chain of lakes at around 3am, the soundtrack to a few laps were hundreds of trippy toads, gargling into the wee hours, which sounded like monkeys! Soon the lack of sleep was catching up with me and my excitement waned. But it was OK, I had a few nights ahead of me and there was no rush.
MK-3 Stiff Riggers are in the works
For the first night I fished a small point, which was very close to a pipe. This pipe was somewhere that the carp could travel through. I was given some areas to look at and after lowering down a bare lead a few times, I found that the margin was nice and clean and firm. I thought that because generally the fish in this lake were large, that I would just fish hinge rigs on both rods. These were tied up using the new prototype ESP Stiff Rigger pattern and fished on some excellent new Leadcore which I was also given to play with. After testing the hook’s sharpness I lowered them down onto the close in spot and scattered a kilo of red fishmeal’s over the spot.
All through the night I was getting the odd beep, and it was no surprise that the left hand rod signalled a take in the early hours of the morning. Luckily I had placed a peg in front of each reel handle to stop the rods from being pulled in. Playing the fish was fantastic; the buzz you get when you feel like you are out there on your own is fantastic. And I was really savouring the experience, rather than dreading it. Soon enough a fish was ready for netting, after I had slipped him in, I made sure he was secure and put the kettle on for a special cup of tea.
I weighed the lovely fish, and then bagged him up for a couple of hours in the deep margin. I couldn’t sleep, so checked on it every 20 minutes or so. When the time was right I walked down the bank and woke Gaz who was fishing a lake behind me to share my good fortune. A few coffees later and I was soon holding the lovely creature up for few pictures.
The day ahead, brought fine lager, snacks and siestas. When it was time I went about getting the rods sorted for the night. This time the right hand rod was lowered away from the baited area. Again, freshly tied hinge rigs presented in the deep margin.
The night came and went, not a single line bite was had. I stepped out to the beginnings of first light, clutching a green tea. I gazed over the spot, using Jedi mind tricks to make something happen or appear. Well that didn’t work, so I stood there for a little longer, when I noticed a large group of pin prick bubbles a rod length behind the spot. As they dissipated, the right hand rods bobbin hit the blank and the rod was bending in the rests – lovely! The fight again was very enjoyable and not once did I feel myself under any pressure. After a good ten minutes a big grey one was shuffled into my net much to its disgust. I wondered down the bank again to share my good news with Gaz. Soon enough I held up a lovely grey one.
Meeky’s grey beauty!
Sometimes a little break away from everything familiar is all that is needed to reignite some enthusiasm for not only fishing but also life. I had a great time with some lovely friends and made a couple of new ones. It was just what I needed and has given me drive for the rest of the year. Hopefully I will go back this year. But for now I am content with the memories.